Orchestre symphonique de Montréal (OSM) presents

Symphonic Brilliance: From Ravel to Barber

Ravel’s orchestral version of Le tombeau de Couperin, premiered in 1920 and paid tribute to friends who died on the front lines. It features four vividly coloured dances in the Renaissance style filled with human warmth. In contrast, the young genius Lili Boulanger’s D’un soir triste dispenses with warmth to express awareness of her imminent death due to illness. During the interwar period, France welcomed young and promising composers such as Copland, who wrote his first Symphony for Organ and Orchestra guided by Nadia Boulanger, and Barber, who completed his First Symphony in the French Alps.  In this concert, the fullness of French influence, extending over the Atlantic, shines through.

Artists
Orchestre symphonique de Montréal

Gemma New, conductor

Sought after for her insightful interpretations and dynamic presence, New Zealand-born Gemma New is Music Director of the Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra and Principal Guest Conductor of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra. Hailed by the St. Louis Post-Dispatch as “a rising star in the musical firmament”, New is the recipient of the prestigious 2021 Sir George Solti Conducting Award.

The 2020/21 season saw Gemma New make notable debuts with Seattle Symphony, Atlanta Symphony and Basque National Orchestra of Spain. She led three subscription programs with Dallas Symphony Orchestra in her second season as Principal Guest Conductor. Over the course of the season, Gemma returned to her home country to conduct three programs with New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, including Handel’s Messiah on a global IDAGIO livestream.

In Summer 2021, New made her debuts at the Hollywood Bowl with the Los Angeles Philharmonic and at the Aspen Music Festival and Grand Teton Music Festival. In Australasia, she debuts with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra and leads the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra’s Winter Festival in three programs.

New’s 2021/22 season includes subscription appearances with National Symphony Orchestra, Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal, Baltimore Symphony, St. Louis Symphony, Atlanta Symphony, Minnesota Orchestra and Kansas City Symphony. Increasingly in demand in Europe, New will make debuts with WDR Sinfonieorchester, BBC Philharmonic, Hallé Orchestra, Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra and Orchestre National d’Ile de France.

Alcee Chriss III, organ

A featured star in the PBS documentary Pipe Dreams (2019), Alcee Chriss III is an organist and keyboardist from Fort Worth, TX. Dr. Chriss is the winner of the 2017 Canadian International Organ Competition and the Firmin Swinnen Silver Medal at the 2016 Longwood Gardens International Organ Competition. He has been celebrated for his “grace, skill and abundant proficiency” by the Journal Assist  News, Albuquerque. And of his most recent solo recording at Montreal Symphony Hall, Art et Rhapsodie  (2019), the American Record Guide wrote that “he plays with clarity, imagination, musicality, virtuosity, and yes, personality.”

Dr. Chriss has performed throughout North America and Europe. Recent and upcoming  performances include the International Orgelsommer (Stuttgart, Germany), Stockholm City Hall  (Sweden), and as soloist with the Montreal Symphony in a performance of Copland’s Symphony for Organ and Orchestra. Other engagements include the Princeton University Chapel, Spreckels Organ Pavilion and International Organ Summer Karlsruhe, Germany.

In July 2019, Dr. Chriss was appointed as University Organist and Artist-in-Residence at Wesleyan University, where he teaches courses in organ and keyboard skills. In October 2019, he was awarded his Doctorate of Music degree from McGill University, where he studied with Hans-Ola Ericsson. He previously studied at Oberlin Conservatory of Music where he received his Master’s degree in historical keyboard and a Bachelor’s degree in Organ Performance, studying with Olivier Latry, Marie-Louise Langlais, and James David Christie.

Dr. Chriss is active as a church musician, guest lecturer, and remains engaged with his lifelong love of gospel and jazz music. He serves as the Minister of Music at Saint Stephen’s Episcopal Church in Ridgefield, CT. He also serves on the editorial board of Vox Humana magazine.

Program
Ravel, Le tombeau de Couperin, version for orchestra (17 min.)
Copland, Symphony for Organ and Orchestra (22 min.)
Boulanger, D’un soir triste [Of a Sad Evening] (11 min.)
Barber, Symphony no. 1, op. 9 (20 min.)

Maison symphonique de Montréal
Thursday, December 2, 2021 at 7:30pm

To purchase your tickets visit: www.osm.ca