Butterfly Lovers

Enchanting melodies, a poignant narrative, and a subtle dialogue between Eastern and Western traditions shape the sublime Butterfly Lovers’ Violin Concerto. Inspired by a legend of star-crossed lovers, this iconic work from the Chinese repertoire unfolds with vibrant orchestral richness. The FILMharmonique Orchestra, under the baton of Francis Choinière, featuring violinist Guillaume Villeneuve, will bring out the full depth of this score for an evening where emotion meets virtuosity.

The program will also feature the world-premiere of Concerto for Pipa and Orchestra “Dragon” by Quebecois composer Christian Thomas, performed by renowned pipa player Liu Fang. One of the most prominent pipa players in the world, she has been described as the “empress of pipa” (L’actualité) and “an ambassador of Chinese music, but above all an ambassador of soul and musical spirituality” (La Scena Musicale).

Artists
FILMharmonique Orchestra

Francis Choinière, conductor

Hailed as a “promising young conductor” by Christophe Huss (Le Devoir), Francis Choinière is a versatile musician, conductor, composer, and concert producer. In 2024, he conducted in North America’s most prestigious venues, including Verizon Hall in Philadelphia, Symphony House in Boston, and Carnegie Hall’s Stern Auditorium/Perelman Stage. In the coming season, Francis Choinière will once again conduct nearly 75 concerts in some twenty different concert halls in Canada and the United States.

Liu Fang, pipa

Liu Fang is an internationally acclaimed virtuoso for pipa and guzheng. Born in 1974 in Kunming in the province of Yunnan, China, she began playing the pipa at the age of 6, and by 11, she performed before Queen Elizabeth II. Her studies at the Shanghai Conservatory of Music broadened her musical range to include the study of the guzheng. At the age of 22, Liu Fang immigrated to Canada and she currently resides in Montreal.

Since 1999, she has performed hundreds of solo concerts featuring Chinese traditional and classical music on her two solo instruments, at such prestigious venues as the Théâtre de la Ville in Paris, the Philharmonic Hall of Liège, Belgium, and the Bath International Music Festival. Her profile has risen rapidly due to her rich and deeply spiritual performances and her extensive repertoire. Described in the media as the “divine mediator” (World, France), ” a great ambassador for the Chinese music ” (de Volkskrant, The Netherlands), Liu Fang is known as “possessing virtuoso technique, grace and a unique empathy toward the music she plays – whether it is a traditional and folk tune or a modern Western composition” (All Music Guide, USA). “

Guillaume Villeneuve, violin

Chamber musician, soloist and orchestral concertmaster, violinist Guillaume Villeneuve thrives in a vast repertoire ranging from baroque music to contemporary works.

Opus Prize “discovery of the year” 2023, Guillaume is a founding member of the Cobalt Quartet, of which he is the artistic director. The ensemble is artist in residence at the Chapelle Historique du Bon-Pasteur for the 2022-2023 season.

A graduate of the Schulich School of Music at McGill University and with a master’s degree with the highest distinction from the Université de Montréal, Guillaume has studied with professors Gilles Colliard, Annick Roussin, Jean-François Rivest and Jinjoo Cho.

Program
Christian THOMAS, Concerto for Pipa and Orchestra “Dragon”
He ZHANHAO and Chen GANG, Butterfly Lovers
Igor STRAVINSKY, The Firebird Suite (1919 version)

Maison symphonique
Thursday, January 30, 2025 at 7:30pm

To purchase your tickets, visit: www.placedesarts.com