The “Big Two” of Vienna

The Vancouver Symphony Orchestra presents The Big Two of Vienna, performing three timeless masterpieces by Viennese composers, Beethoven and Mozart, February 23rd and 24th at Skyview Concert Hall.

DETAILS

The orchestra shares the stage with distinguished Spanish pianist, Ignasi Cambra. First-place recipient of several international prestigious competitions and praised by celebrated conductor Valery Gergiev, Cambra joins the VSO in performing Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 3, a piece praised in its time for “a new kind of slow movement,” long and drawn-out romantic melodies over the tinkling of piano keys.

The orchestra begins its 40th Anniversary Spring program with Mozart’s The Magic Flute and Beethoven’s Symphony No. 4, two masterworks indicative of Viennese classical style: boisterous, yet elegant and refined. Symphony No. 4 showcases that classical style, a graceful composition flowing from mysterious, lingering sections to light and quick. Composer Hector Berlioz “claimed [the second movement] was the work of the Archangel Michael, and not that of a human” (Wiki). Music Director and world-renowned conductor Maestro Salvador Brotons returns to Skyview Concert Hall for his 28th season.

Concert Steinway piano generously provided by Michelle’s Pianos.

About Ignasi Cambra – Hailed by legendary conductor Valery Gergiev as “someone who can talk to me at the piano,” pianist Ignasi Cambra was a Jacobs Scholar and recipient of a 2010 scholarship from Juventudes Musicales de Madrid. He was awarded a Bachelor of Music degree and artist diploma from Indiana University while simultaneously taking classes in finance, economics and mathematics. Subsequently awarded a prestigious fellowship from Spain’s La Caixa Foundation, he has amassed a singular collection of competition wins, concert appearances and fellowships in short order. Born in Barcelona (Spain) Ignasi Cambra was educated at the French Lycée in that city, where he became fluent in English and French, in addition to his native Catalan and Spanish. A first price winner at the Verga International Piano Competition, Vilafranca Piano Competition, Ciudad de Murcia International Piano Competition, Ciudad de Toledo International Piano Competition, Barcelona Piano Competition and Barcelona Chamber Music Competition, he began musical studies at age six at the Escola de Música de Barcelona with Mª Lluïsa Alegre and Albert Attenelle, and started playing concerts and participating in both solo and chamber music competitions at an early age. He also received awards at the Carlet international piano competition and at the Infanta Cristina piano competition in Spain, and had his orchestral debut in Barcelona at age 15 with conductor Jordi Mora and the Vic chamber orchestra while also appearing at Minato Mirai hall in Yokohama that same year. A student of Edward Auer, Menahem Pressler and Alexander Toradze at Indiana University, he is currently working with Jerome Lowenthal, Matti Raekallio and Choong Mo Kang at the Juilliard School. A fellow at the Music Academy of the West in 2012 and a participant at the Cincinnati Conservatory’s international piano institute in Prague in 2011, Ignasi has worked in masterclasses with Arnaldo Cohen, Ingrid Flitter, Joseph Kalichstein, Emanuel Krasovsky, Robert Levin, Seymor Lipkin, Robert McDonald and others. An avid chamber musician he has received coachings from Alon Goldstein, Franz Helmerson, Alexander Kerr, Mihaela Martin, Anton Nel, Peter Salaff, and members of the Miró string quartet. Cambra’s performances have taken him to Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center’s Millennium Stage in Washington DC, the United Nations in New York City, the Auditori and the Palau de la Música Catalana in Barcelona, as well as the Ravinia Festival’s Bennet Gordon hall in Chicago, the Mariinsky concert hall in Saint Petersburg, and other venues in Zaragoza, Madrid, Miami, Santa Barbara, Toronto and Indianapolis. He has collaborated with such conductors as Valery Gergiev, Tsung Yeh, Jordi Mora and Daniel Endai, performing and with the Mariinsky Theatre symphony orchestra, the South Bend and Miami symphony orchestras, the Vic chamber orchestra and the Orquesta de Cámara Andrés Segovia in Madrid.
In 2014 Ignasi was artist in residence at La Pedrera in Barcelona, where he presented a solo recital and also invited other musicians to collaborate with him in chamber music recitals. A fellow at the Ravinia Festival’s Steans Music Institute in 2014, he has been invited to return in 2015. Cambra has also been featured on radio and television in Spain, the United States and Canada, including National Public Radio’s Prairie Home Companion. Ignasi Cambra is planning to release his first solo CD in 2016. www.ignasicambra.com

About Salvador Brotons – Now in his 28th season leading The Vancouver Symphony Orchestra as Music Director and Conductor, musicians and classical music enthusiasts still delight in having Dr. Brotons lead them. Salvador Brotons was born in Barcelona into a family of musicians. He studied flute with his father and continued his musical studies at the Barcelona Music Conservatory where he earned advanced degrees in flute, composition and conducting. In 1985 he won a Fulbright scholarship and moved to the U.S. where he obtained a doctorate in music from Florida State University. In addition to The VSO, in Spain he has been the music director and conductor of the Orquestra Simfònica de les Illes Balears “Ciutat de Palma” (1997-2001, 2009-2013) and the Orquestra Sinfónica del Vallés (1997-2002), and is presently the conductor of the Barcelona Symphonic Band.  In 2005, he received the “Arts Council” award by the Clark County and the city of Vancouver and the Kiwanis Rose Award. He has guest-conducted orchestras internationally in countries like the US, Israel, France, Germany, China, Poland, South Korea, Mexico, Uruguay, Colombia, as well as the most prestigious Spanish orchestras.

About The VSO – Now in its 40th season, The VSO has been a cornerstone of Southwest Washington’s arts community, providing world-renowned classical music, promoting young musicians, and opening doors to classical music for young audiences through events such as the annual In-School concerts, Young Artists Competition and various family-styled special events and performances. A full-sized professional orchestra of over 70 core members performs a multi-concert classical season every year. Symphony performances are at Skyview Concert Hall, 1300 NW 139th Street, Vancouver.

About our Sponsors – The VSO is generously supported by individual donors, Morel Ink, All Classical Portland, Oregon Public Broadcasting, The Community Foundation of SW Washington, The Columbian, The Heathman Lodge, PeaceHealth, and Michelle’s Pianos.