Min-Jeong Koh & Sarah Nematallah, violins; Caitlin Boyle, viola & Rachel Desoer, cello

The Canadian and Russian Gold Medallists of the world’s foremost international music competitions, on their winners’ tour. Program TBA. • $33/15

Attacca Quartet

Amy Schroeder & Keiko Tokunaga, violins; Luke Fleming, viola & Andrew Yee, cello

The Attacca Quartet is the hottest classical ensemble in New York – now performing all 68 Haydn string quartets on a special series they created in that city. They fly in to make their Winnipeg debut on our stage following their stunning capture of the top prize in the 2011 Osaka International Chamber Music Competition. “The Attacca plays…with precision and passion…and with fierce dedication. A sensational concert” (The New York Times) • $43/25

“Rolf Schulte is one of the most distinguished violinists of our day” —Andrew Porter, New Yorker. He returns to Winnipeg to perform a special program of works by Janáček, Ravel, Stravinsky, Schubert, and Beethoven’s Sonata in G. • $33/15

Véronique Mathieu, violin, André Micheletti, cello & Jasmin Arakawa, piano

The artists of this new international piano trio are from Canada, Brazil and Japan, and all three are completing their doctorates at Indiana University. They bring an international program of Latin composers – Piazzolla/Argentina, Fernandes/Brazil, Moleiro/Venezuela, Arbos/Spain – and Beethoven too. • $33/15

The genius of Mozart shines in his magnificent Piano Concerto No.9 —Jeunehomme, “the first unequivocal masterpiece of the classical style” according to the eminent pianist and prolific writer Charles Rosen. Peter Vinograde’s 2008 all-Bach concert with the WSO Players was “the best live performance this reviewer has heard to date. It was captivating” —Gwenda Nemerofsky, Winnipeg Free Press. Mozart’s mentors are represented by Haydn, J.C. Bach, Salieri and Leopold Mozart. • $33/15

With our new season well underway, we are announcing a major change for the December 3 concert, “Mexico Meets Manitoba”. Due to the expected funding from the Mexican government falling through, Mexico (ie, the San Luis Potosi Chamber Orchestra) and Manitoba (ie, pianist Alexander Tselyakov) won’t meet after all, at least not on our stage.

Instead: In celebration of the 200th Birthday of Franz Liszt in 2011, we are proud to present the phenomenal pianist ADAM ALEKSANDER playing the complete TRANSCENDENTAL ETUDES of Liszt – a monumental project never before performed in Winnipeg (to our knowledge).

When he completes this concert tour, he will enter the recording studio to create a CD of this work.

Dr. Aleksander is an extraordinarily exciting, internationally renowned virtuoso. He is an expatriate Canadian who, as a teenage prodigy, won a full scholarship to study in Poland for five years. He returned to the United States for further studies and a Doctorate and is now teaching in Miami (Florida, not Manitoba).

Critics from around the world have been rapturous about his artistry:
“…Aleksander gave a staggering display of his powers at the keyboard…a breathtaking barrage of double octaves, dangerous leaps, rapid runs and chords…all with the utmost control and poise.” (Michael Green, Durban, South Africa)
“…rare depth and substance…subtlety and grace…fire and brimstone…exhilarating.” (P. Leitch, Coral Gables Gazette)
“…one of the greatest pianists of his generation.” (Ruch Muzyczny, Warsaw, Poland)

But it is the Virtuosi Audience as Critic that counts, and I know that you will be as thrilled by his playing as I was when he sent me a live-concert recording only two months ago.

We are so fortunate that Adam Aleksander could step in on such short notice.

Click here for complete programme details.

This is a change from the original brochure
Critics have hailed Adam Aleksander’s playing as having “rare finesse…gorgeous sonority and nimble fingers…generous of feeling, mood and tonal resources” (Cleveland Plain Dealer); Born in Edmonton, Canada, Adam Aleksander has been performing to the acclaim of audiences worldwide since his debut with orchestra at the age of fourteen with the Chopin Piano Concerto in E Minor. His teachers include Sergei Babayan and Regina Smendzianka at the Chopin Academy in Warsaw. • $33/15

Elissa Lee violin; Sharon Wei, viola; Rachel Mercer, cello & Angela Park, piano

Canada’s pre-eminent piano quartet gave our 2007 audience “a dazzling performance” —Winnipeg Free Press. “The Ensemble’s energy and depth is breathtaking” —Anton Kuerti, pianist. They return by popular demand with quartets by Mozart and Brahms, and Virtuosi’s first performance ever of Mahler. • $33/15

“Andrianov plays like a god, with masterly noblesse” —Berliner Tagesspiegel “…and profound musicality” —Zubin Mehta. The Van Cliburn winner Alex Kobrin will be remembered by our Virtuosi audience as a “blazing talent” —London Times, following his stunning recital last season. They will each perform solo works (TBA) and duos by Beethoven and Schumann. • $33/15

Overall, we present a great variety of chamber ensembles – two chamber orchestras, two piano trios, three great string quartets, and Canada’s 
best established piano quartet, Ensemble Made 
In Canada.

And there are pianists galore. Alexander Tselyakov appears with the San Luis Potosi Chamber Orchestra from Mexico. Peter Vinograde performs with the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra Chamber Players. Honens winner Georgy Tchaidze comes from Moscow to collaborate with the Banff winner, the Cecilia String Quartet. James Winn accompanies German violin sensation, Rolf Schulte. Van Cliburn winner Alex Kobrin returns to Virtuosi Concerts, along with fellow Russian, cellist Boris Andrianov. 
To top it off, two piano recitals feature two great artists long celebrated on the world’s stages, 
Anton Nel and Cyprien Katsaris.

The second President’s Concert in May, 2012 is all-Manitoban. Camerata Nova features the stunning soprano, Maria Luz Alvarez, along with the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra Chamber Players. This special event 
will have three performances in Convocation Hall. And so, this season has something exciting 
for everyone.

You can help us build the future for Virtuosi Concerts – subscribe to all fourteen concerts and share the joy 
with others.

Harry Strub
Artistic Director