Ensemble Made in Canada, the nation’s premier piano quartet, opened the 15th Anniversary season of the Lyell Gustin Recital Series with a concert drawing on the artists’ unique Mosaïque Project. Part of an innovative nation-wide performance tour, the recital included newly commissioned piano quartet music by 14 Canadian composers––each work inspired by a region of Canada––as well as interactive participation by listeners through informal art responding to the music. A specially designed website is documenting the audience-generated artwork from all ten provinces and three territories as part of this boldly imaginative music-art celebration of the rich diversity of Canada! 

Ensemble Made in Canada comprises musicians with outstanding individual careers and a wealth of worldwide musical experience: pianist Angela Park, violinist Elissa Lee, violist Sharon Wei, and guest cellist, Trey Lee. The recital took place at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church in downtown Saskatoon. A pre-concert talk was presented jointly by the Ensemble artists.

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Rolston String Quartet. April 3, 2019

A warmly enthusiastic audience at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church heard the Rolston String Quartet perform glorious music from the rich string ensemble repertoire: Haydn’s “Sunrise” Quartet; an early Ligeti composition inspired by Bartók and Beethoven’s Razumovsky Quartet No. 1, one of the composer’s finest chamber works. First Prize Winner of the 12th Banff International String Quartet Competition, the Quartet–violinists Luri Lee and Emily Kruspe, violist Hezekiah Leung, and cellist Jonathan Lo–has toured extensively in North America and Europe, appearing recently at New York’s Carnegie Hall and London’s Wigmore Hall. The recital, a co-presentation with Prairie Debut, was preceded by a talk given by Ms. Kruspe and Mr. Lo. 

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Songs of Reflection and Delight — How Can I Keep From Singing? June 2, 2019

Gustin House welcomed springtime with a Sunday afternoon program of music for voice and piano. Soprano Adria McCulloch and pianist David L. McIntyre performed compositions by Mr. McIntyre–settings of Psalm texts and of poetry by Ogden Nash–concluding with several Broadway favourites. Both based in Regina, the artists were especially pleased to give the Saskatoon premiere of the Ogden Nash songs; these new compositions, sparkling with wit and brilliance, were warmly appreciated by the gathering at Gustin House. Mr. McIntyre also performed a set of his colourful marches for solo piano.

David Jalbert, Piano. August 21, 2019

Pianist David Jalbert, acclaimed for fiery virtuosity along with elegant style, gave the closing recital in the 15th Lyell Gustin Recital Series. Recently named by CBC as one of the best Canadian pianists of all time, and recipient of four Juno nominations and six Prix Opus awards, the artist inspired and enchanted with a wide sweep of repertoire from Bach to Shostakovich. Excerpts from a rarely-heard work by Haydn were a central and special feature of the program. Known for charismatic connection with audiences, Mr. Jalbert introduced the music in sensitive detail in his pre-concert talk. 

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Voices of Spirit and Light, Calling Across the Ages — Cello, Piano, Poetry, October 27, 2019

Left to right; Gregory Schulte, Henry Woolf, John Payzant

Welcoming autumn and opening the new season at Gustin House, cellist John Payzant and pianist Gregory Schulte joined in playing works by Boccherini, Brahms and Schumann for a joyful audience. As soloist, Mr. Payzant performed Bach’s Suite No. 1 in G major for Unaccompanied Cello, and Mr. Schulte, Schumann’s Romanze in F-sharp major. The afternoon gave attendees an opportunity to hear and celebrate these longtime and central members of the Saskatoon musical community. Henry Woolf, S.O.M., actor, director, and professor emeritus of drama, read selections of his own composition, “Poems of My Life.” His commanding and spirited presence, graced with lightheartedness, brought the rich insights of a distinguished artist known and praised across our nation and abroad.

Letters of Bessie Trounce, English immigrant of 1884, with Piano Music of the 1800s and beyond, November 24, 2019

Left to right: Michael Pomedli, Katherine Dowling, Marguerite Rashley, Sue Barrett

A program celebrating the role of women in cultural life featured readings from a unique collection of letters, dated 1884-87, and written by Bessie Trounce to her family in England. Living in the Trounce House at what is now 512-10th Street with her husband Harry and children, Mrs. Trounce contributed to life in the young Temperance Colony at musical, social, church, and festive gatherings, described in exquisite detail in her letters. Sue Barrett and Marguerite Rashley presented excerpts from the correspondence of Bessie Trounce; Michael Pomedli, gave an introduction.

Like many young women in the 19th century, Bessie Trounce played the piano commendably. Pianist Katherine Dowling of Regina performed works well known during the 1800s: Beethoven’s Sonata, Op. 57 (”Appassionata”) and Schubert’s G-flat Major Impromptu, Op. 90, No. 3. Dr. Dowling also played a contemporary piano work composed by Alice Ping Yee Ho, who immigrated to Canada in the mid-20th century, and who like Bessie Trounce, has given of her talents for the cultural enrichment of her new country.