Hamilton Conservatory for the Arts, André Laplante: January 15
HCA Piano Series Presents: André Laplante
Sunday, January 15, 2012, 2:00 pm
Program: Debussy: Estampes
Ravel: Oiseaux tristes and La vallée des cloches from Miroirs suite, Sonatine.
Liszt: Sonata in B minor
Over the last decade, Canadian pianist André Laplante has firmly established himself as one of the great romantic virtuosos. He garnered international attention after winning prizes at the Geneva and Sydney International Piano Competitions, then capturing the silver medal at the International Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow. Critics have compared him with Ashkenazy, Horowitz and Rudolph Serkin, placing him in the elite circle of virtuoso pianists who do not hesitate to take risks.
In 2005, Mr. Laplante was honoured to be named an Officer of the Order of Canada. In that same year, he was awarded the Prix Opus for Best Performer of the Year. In 1999, he received two Opus Awards for live performances: “Best Concert in Montréal” and “Best Concert in Québec Province.” Most recently, in 2010, he received another Prix Opus, this time for Best Concert of the Year.
In recent years, Laplante has appeared as orchestral soloist with the Montréal and Chicago Symphony Orchestras, the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra at Carnegie Hall and the Kennedy Center, the Minnesota Orchestra conducted by Sir Neville Mariner, on tour in Europe with the Toronto Symphony under Andrew Davis and with the Royal Philharmonic under the baton of the late Sir Yehudi Menuhin during their extensive North American tour.
An active recording artist, he has recorded for CBC and Melodia: his performance of Jacques Hetu’s Piano Concerto No. 2 for CBC Records won the2004 Juno award for orchestral recordings, as well as the Western Canadian Music Award. His recording of Tchaikovsky No. 1 with Joav Talmiand l’Orchestre Symphonique de Québec, was nominated for the 2001Felix Award ; and in 2010 his recording of Liszt’s Années de Pèlerinage was awarded a Felix Award for Best Classical Solo Album of the Year.
Hamilton Conservatory for the Arts Recital Hall
126 James St S, Hamilton, ON
Tickets: Regular $27, Senior $22, Student $15
www.HCArts.ca or call 905-528-4020
