Virtuosic Women with violinist Sheila Jaffé

I Musici de Montréal presents

Virtuosic Women

with violinist Sheila Jaffé

In Virtuosic Women, you will be amazed with Sheila Jaffé playing the the Gypsy Airs by Sarasate and the marvellous variations on the themes of the opera Carmen. Works by Janáček, Dvořák and Quebec composer Linda Bouchard will complete the program. Replacing guest chef Nil Venditti, the concert will be conducted by our talented and dynamic artistic advisor and first guest conductor, Jean-François Rivest. The webcast of the concert will be available from February 3 to 20.

“A Montreal violinist, the legendary character of Carmen as well as the Gypsy Airs by Sarasate: this program gives women the platform they rightly deserve in our musical world. Since we are talking about virtuosity, you will be amazed with Sheila and the marvellous variations on the themes of the opera Carmen.” —  Jean-François Rivest

Sheila Jaffé, violin

Sheila Jaffé was born into a family of musicians and was fascinated by classical music from a young age. Born in Montreal and raised in South Florida, she returned to her native Quebec at the age of thirteen to live and study with her second cousin Catherine Dallaire, concertmaster of the Orchestre Symphonique de Québec and professor of violin at the Conservatoire de Musique de Québec. Chamber music and orchestral playing is at the core of her musical passions.

Sheila continued her studies in Berlin, Germany with a Master’s program at the Hanns Eisler Hochschüle für Musik, during which she also was accepted into the Deutsche Symphonie-Orchester Akademie for a one-year position. During this time she also co-founded the Alondra String Quartet, who were invited to the International Musicians Seminar Prussia Cove as well as the Toronto Summer Music festival. The members of this quartet are now in leading orchestras around the world. In 2013, at the Rosebud Chamber Music Festival in Alberta, Canada, she co-founded the Rosebud String Quartet (RSQ), with whom she currently performs regularly. Sheila is also the violinist and violist of the Array Ensemble, specializing in new music.

In 2015, Sheila joined the Canadian Opera Company as a violist while continuing to nurture her love of chamber music on the violin with her string quartet as well as other chamber ensembles and various solo performances. She has also recently been appointed as principal viola of the National Ballet of Canada Orchestra. Her first album, featuring works by Franck, Elgar and Britten in collaboration with Welsh pianist Huw Watkins, is due to come out in 2022.

Sheila Jaffé plays on a Stradivarius violin and Sartory viola on generous loan from Canimex.

Program
Janáček
Idyll, (mouv. 1, 5, 7)

Linda Bouchard
Réfraction (2015)

Sarasate
Gypsy Airs for violin (arrangement for strings)

Bizet-Waxman
Carmen Fantasy for violin (arrangement for strings)

Dvořák
Serenade for Strings in E major

Webcast
February 3-20, 2022

To purchase your virtual ticket visit: www.imusici.com