HAMILTON, ON – The Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra is thrilled to present our next Mainstage concert, Mozart in Paris, on March 25 at 7:30pm. We welcome Pierre Simard as Guest Conductor and HPO Principal Flute Leslie Newman as soloist. We are also pleased to present a premiering work from one of our Composer Fellows, Jesse Plessis. Coming just in time for Women’s History Month, Juliane Gallant joins us as Assistant Conductor as part of her involvement with Tapestry Opera’s Women in Musical Leadership Program (WML) in which the HPO is a participating orchestra.
This concert program is full of colourful and majestic works that together create a French theme. Leslie Newman will perform the virtuosic solo of Ibert’s Flute Concerto, written in the French flute tradition centered around pace, tempo and suppleness of tone. Mozart’s Symphony No. 1, the “Paris” Symphony, is inspired by Parisian life and architecture, and was his first symphony to incorporate the clarinet, which was a new instrument at this time. The softness of Ravel’s of Pavane pour un infante défunte is contrasted by the drama of Montreal-born Samy Moussa’s Polarlicht: Etude No. 2 for orchestra. We will also hear a brand-new work by our 21-22 Composer Fellow Jesse Plessis, a playful piece inspired by his beloved dog.
“The concert takes us on a romantic musical trip to Paris with four miniatures that are each full of magic,” says Gemma New. “When we think of miniatures we might think, ‘What am I missing out on?’ But you’re not missing out on anything with this program. It’s like a beautiful cupcake, or a wonderful little delicately painted toy. There is so much wonder and fantasy inside each of these pieces.”
Leslie has been Principal Flute with the HPO since 2008. As soloist, Leslie has performed with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, CBC Vancouver Orchestra, Manitoba Chamber Orchestra, Oregon Bach Festival Orchestra, Edmonton Symphony Orchestra, Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony, Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra, Sinfonia Toronto and the Montreal Chamber Orchestra.
Pierre Simard is a prominent conductor, composer and arranger who was formerly Artistic Director with the Vancouver Island Symphony. Amongst many distinctions in Canada and the United States, Pierre Simard was granted an Award in Orchestral Conducting from the Canada Council for the Arts, two Opus Prizes from the Quebec Council of Music, and many prizes recognizing his outstanding artistic contribution.
This concert includes an Inside the Music: Pre-concert Talk, starting at 6:30pm.
Event Listing:
Mozart in Paris
Saturday, March 25 at 7:30pm
FirstOntario Concert Hall
1 Summers Lane, Hamilton
Twitter: @H_P_O
Instagram: @HamiltonPhilharmonic
Facebook: facebook.com/HamiltonPhilharmonic/
YouTube: youtube.com/HamiltonPhilharmonic
About the HPO: For over a century, the Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra has presented orchestral music and education programs with a mission to enrich the wellbeing of the greater Hamilton region. Music Director Gemma New and the professional musicians of the HPO present dynamic orchestral performances ranging from standard classical repertoire to popular music and world premieres by living composers. As one of Canada’s leading professional orchestras, the HPO has proudly contributed to the shaping of Hamilton’s cultural landscape and continues to uphold values of high calibre, inclusive and accessible orchestral music and education for all.
About the WML: Women in Musical Leadership (WML) is a three-year program designed to collectively develop the next generation of women and non-binary conductors and music directors in Canada.
Led by Tapestry Opera with lead orchestral partner Toronto Symphony Orchestra and lead partner Pacific Opera Victoria, the program addresses a historic gender inequity on the podium by providing women and non-binary conductors active mentorship with leading conductors in the field, deep and varied experience with professional companies, and a robust artistic network.
WML provides conductors with the opportunity to assist, observe, conduct, and build experience within a range of organizations in symphonic, chamber, operatic, and contemporary repertoire – giving conductors the professional experience and training that will enable them to take the podium anywhere in the world.