Orchestre symphonique de Montréal (OSM) presents

The Double Concerto for Two Pianos by Glass

Conducted by Fabien Gabel, the OSM welcomes to its stage pianists Katia and Marielle Labèque. Glass’ Double Piano Concerto, written for these two artists, is a work in which soloists and orchestra weave a tapestry of sound in constant flux. The melodic sensuality of Richard Strauss’ Dance of the Seven Veils and of Schmitt’s La tragédie de Salomé bring a touch of exoticism to this program.

Artists
Orchestre symphonique de Montréal

Fabien Gabel, conductor

Fabien Gabel is the newly appointed Music Director Designate of the Tonkünstler-Orchester Niederösterreich, a position which begins with the 2025/2026 season. Elsewhere, he has established an international career of the highest calibre, appearing with orchestras such as London Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestre National De France, NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchester, Oslo Philharmonic, Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra, Chicago Symphony, Seoul Philharmonic and Melbourne Symphony Orchestra. Praised for his dynamic style and sensitive approach to the score, he is best known for his eclectic choice of repertoire, ranging from core symphonic works to new music to championing lesser-known composers of the 19th and the 20th century.

Having attracted international attention in 2004 as the winner of the Donatella Flick conducting competition, Fabien Gabel was Assistant Conductor of the London Symphony Orchestra 2004-2006. He was music director of Orchestre symphonique de Québec 2012-2021 and Orchestre Français des Jeunes 2017-2021.

Born in Paris to a family of accomplished musicians, Fabien Gabel began playing the trumpet at the age of six and honed his skills at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique de Paris and at the Hochschule für Musik Karlsruhe. He played with various Parisian orchestras under prominent conductors such as Pierre Boulez, Sir Colin Davis, Riccardo Muti, Seiji Ozawa, Simon Rattle and Bernard Haitink before embarking on his conducting career. Fabien Gabel was named ‘Chevaliers des Arts et des Lettres’ by the French government in January 2020.

Katia and Marielle Labèque, pianos

“ The Labeque sisters are tremendous…great performers, and great interpreters. ” – Philip Glass

Katia and Marielle Labeque are sibling pianists renowned for their ensemble of synchronicity and energy. Their musical ambitions started at an early age and they rose to international fame with their contemporary rendition of Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue (one of the first gold records in classical music) and have since developed a stunning career with performances worldwide.

They have played with the most prestigious orchestras and have had the privilege of working with many composers including Thomas Adès, Louis Andriessen, Luciano Berio, Pierre Boulez, Bryce Dessner, Philip Glass, Osvaldo Golijov, György Ligeti, Nico Muhly and Olivier Messiaen. At Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles they presented the world premiere of Philip Glass’s new Concerto with the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra under the direction of Gustavo Dudamel, the world premiere of Bryce Dessner’s concerto at Royal Festival Hall with the London Philharmonic Orchestra and John Storgards and the new concerto written by Nico Muhly « in Certain Circles » was premiered by Orchestre de Paris with Maxim Emelyanichev in 2021 and New York Philharmonic with Jaap van Zweden in 2022 at Carnegie Hall.

Program
RAVEL, Le tombeau de Couperin, M. 68a (17 min.)
GLASS, Double Concerto for Two Pianos (25 min.)
R. STRAUSS, Salome, op. 54, TrV 215: “Dance of the Seven Veils” (9 min.)*
SCHMITT, La tragédie de Salomé, Symphonic Poem, op. 50 (24 min.)

Maison symphonique
Wednesday, May 8, 2024 at 7:30pm
Thursday, May 9, 2024 at 10:30am (*Dance of the Seven Veils will not be performed at this concert.)
Saturday, May 11, 2024 at 2:30pm

To purchase your tickets visit: www.placedesarts.com