Virtuoso youth (23/05)

Youth and genius go hand in hand in this program featuring works by composers who were already brilliant for their young age. A case in point is Mendelssohn's Symphony No. 1, written when he was just 16! It was thanks to this symphony in particular that the German composer and pianist conquered the London public and acquired a solid international reputation as a musical prodigy. Similarly, Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 3, written at the age of 30, established his reputation in Viennese circles. It will be performed by Alexandre Tharaud, a true ambassador of French piano, whose talent was also recognized early on. Kelly-Marie Murphy offers a tribute in her work On Rethinking Heroism, which quotes passages from Beethoven's Symphony No. 3 while blending her own rhythmic musical language and sumptuous harmonies. And who better than Nicolas Ellis, a 32-year-old Quebec conductor with a well-established career, to embody this program of early works with decisive stakes for the recognition of their creators.