Pianist Eve Egoyan brings work of Maria de Alvear to pro series stage

BRANDON – The 2018-19 pro series continues with a piano recital featuring Toronto-based musician Eve Egoyan.

Egoyan will perform on Tuesday, Oct. 30 at Brandon University’s (BU’s) Lorne Watson Recital Hall. An explorer of sounds and textures, and one who pushes the limits of the keyboard, she returns to Brandon, having last performed a solo recital here during the 2010 Eckhardt-Gramatté National Music Competition, for which she also served on the jury.

“I look forward to reconnecting with Brandon audiences as well as with faculty members Patrick Carrabré and Megumi Masaki, whose work I greatly admire,” said Egoyan, who has 12 recordings to her credit, 11 of which showcase works by living composers.

Her latest recording features the composition she is presenting in this pro series recital: the diptych De Puro Amor and En Amor Duro (“Out of Pure Love” and “In Difficult Love”) by German-Spanish composer Maria de Alvear. Several years ago, Egoyan gave the North American premiere of this piece. During its performance, this ground-breaking work displays the symbiotic relationship between the performer and the composer’s intention.

“It is written in loose proportional notation; pitches are selected by the composer leaving exact durations, voicing, and pedalling open. The score is a map which both challenges and invites its interpreter into a new type of dialogue, allowing room for the performer to adjust to the given acoustics of the performance space, the piano, and the shared energy between performer and audience,” Egoyan said. “It is a tour de force blending composer, piano, pianist and audience into an emotionally charged performance experience.”

Egoyan added that it is with great pleasure that she brings this two-part work to pro series audience members. She explained that it will be an opportunity to witness the performance of an innovative creation by a pioneering composer.

“It is a chance for Brandon audiences to hear a rare, extended piano piece by a woman composer in her prime,” Egoyan said. “For me, it is an opportunity to share Maria’s vibrant, challenging, emotional, compelling and communicative compositional voice. Performing this piece is also a celebration of one of my most significant creative partnerships. Over the years, Maria has written me two piano concertos as well as the solo piano piece Asking, released on Mode Records.”

A few years ago, Egoyan joined de Alvear in Madrid as the latter received the National Music Award in composition from the King and Queen of Spain. This invitation underlined the depth of their fruitful collaborations.

“It is especially inspiring to welcome Ms. Egoyan, a pianist who is not only a highly respected musician, but also someone who supports and is involved with the continuing evolution of music,” said Greg Gatien, the Dean of Music at Brandon University.

“Not only is she one of top concert pianists in our country, but she is also a leading proponent of contemporary music. I hope you will join me in welcoming her back.”

The pro series recital will begin at 7:30 p.m., in the Lorne Watson Recital Hall, located in the Queen Elizabeth II Music Building at BU. Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for students, seniors and alumni. Tickets are available at the door or in advance in the Main Office in the School of Music.

Jazz drummer Ethan Ardelli and his ensemble will be up next in the pro series season. That concert takes place Monday, Nov. 5, at 7:30 p.m., at The Music Studio, 940 Rosser Ave. Admission to the event is free to BU Music students and pro series subscribers only, as seating is limited.

The School of Music gratefully acknowledges the generous support of the Canada Council for the Arts, and the Province of Manitoba, through a Consolidated Arts Programming Grant through Culture, Heritage and Tourism.

Please note that seating in the Lorne Watson Recital Hall is limited and that programmes are subject to change. For up-to-date listing of pro series and student performances, please visit Events.BrandonU.ca/events/category/music.

So that pro series events may be enjoyed by all, please contact Joyce Burba in advance with any accessibility considerations at 204-727-9631 or Burba@BrandonU.ca.

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