Contemporary / musique contemporaine

SMCQ | À la croisée des pianos 2 : Contrasts and Classics of the Contemporary Repertoire in the Spotlight

by Elena Mandolini

From November 3 to 5, the SMCQ presents a veritable piano marathon. A series of eight concerts will be presented in the concert hall of the Conservatoire de musique et d’art dramatique de Montréal, making this a not-to-be-missed event in contemporary piano. The PAN M 360 team attends the event and shares their impressions with you throughout the three days.

The second event in the series of eight presented by the SMCQ featured two pianists, Viktor Lazarov and Philippe Prud’homme. Having been active for some time, the qualities of these two performers are already well known, and they were able to reaffirm them in a program that was apparently very personal to them.

Viktor Lazarov began with Bolero in Dark Red by Snežana Nešić, a work with a very contemporary language, exploring the sonic potential of the piano. The second piece was a complete contrast. Waltz, by Leon Miodrag Lazarov Pashu, composed in 2008, recalled the waltzes of the Romantic era, with its bewitching theme and powerful rubato passages. Two works with completely opposite idioms, but which showed a great variety of 21st-century works. Lazarov did full justice to both works, demonstrating his versatility as a pianist.

For his part, Philippe Prud’homme also offered a journey through compositional styles for the piano from the second half of the twentieth century to the present day. His recital also highlighted the extent to which contemporary composers are striving to expand the sonic possibilities of the piano. His program included “classic” works from the contemporary piano repertoire, by François Morel and Silvio Palmieri, as well as Francis Battah. Here too, Prud’homme’s playing stands out for its contrasts of nuance and tone. His expressive playing is remarkable, and he clearly takes great pleasure in sharing these pieces, which have been with him for several years now.

This second concert in the À la croisée des pianos series was all about contrasts. This skilfully-constructed program demonstrated the wide variety of the current piano repertoire. It promises to be a most interesting weekend!

To find out about upcoming concerts in the À la croisée des pianos series, click HERE.

For the complete SMCQ season, click HERE.

Latest 360 Content

Lifeguard – Ripped and Torn

Lifeguard – Ripped and Torn

Brainwasher – At Least It Beats an Actor

Brainwasher – At Least It Beats an Actor

Nicholas Daniel – Complete Works for Oboe by Madeleine Dring

Nicholas Daniel – Complete Works for Oboe by Madeleine Dring

Christine Tassan; Marie-Véronique Bourque – Bruissement boréal

Christine Tassan; Marie-Véronique Bourque – Bruissement boréal

Lanaudière Festival | Metropolitan Orchestra/Yannick Nézet-Séguin/Marc-André Hamelin: When Nature Drives the Concert

Lanaudière Festival | Metropolitan Orchestra/Yannick Nézet-Séguin/Marc-André Hamelin: When Nature Drives the Concert

Festival de Lanaudière | Sol Gabetta : Queen of the cello meets les Violons du Roy

Festival de Lanaudière | Sol Gabetta : Queen of the cello meets les Violons du Roy

The “rodas de samba” That Never End

The “rodas de samba” That Never End

Friday night at the Dômesicle – All night long with Jump Source

Friday night at the Dômesicle – All night long with Jump Source

Éli Doyon et la Tempête – Attraper le ciel avant qu’il tombe

Éli Doyon et la Tempête – Attraper le ciel avant qu’il tombe

Barbara Hannigan; Katia et Marielle Labèque – Electric Fields

Barbara Hannigan; Katia et Marielle Labèque – Electric Fields

Fire, Fungi, and Family Fun: The ShazamFest XX Experience

Fire, Fungi, and Family Fun: The ShazamFest XX Experience

Festival de Lanaudière | Kent Nagano: The eternal, and always welcome, return

Festival de Lanaudière | Kent Nagano: The eternal, and always welcome, return

Tyler, the Creator – DON’T TAP THE GLASS

Tyler, the Creator – DON’T TAP THE GLASS

Off Piknic with Gorgon City, Dennis Ferrer, Riordan, and Linska

Off Piknic with Gorgon City, Dennis Ferrer, Riordan, and Linska

Jeff Bridges – Slow Magic, 1977-1978

Jeff Bridges – Slow Magic, 1977-1978

Piknic Electronik | DJ Fuckoff Turns Up The Heat for Pep Rally

Piknic Electronik | DJ Fuckoff Turns Up The Heat for Pep Rally

Orford 2025 | Collectif9: folk that innovates and grooves

Orford 2025 | Collectif9: folk that innovates and grooves

Nuits d’Afrique 2025 | The next global star of Tuareg blues is born, and it is in Montreal

Nuits d’Afrique 2025 | The next global star of Tuareg blues is born, and it is in Montreal

Ruby Creek – Forget Me Not

Ruby Creek – Forget Me Not

Clipse – Let God Sort Em Out

Clipse – Let God Sort Em Out

Ross Lee Finney : Landscapes Remembered

Ross Lee Finney : Landscapes Remembered

Lanaudière Festival | The Sparkle of Strauss, Schumann, and Brahms in Joliette

Lanaudière Festival | The Sparkle of Strauss, Schumann, and Brahms in Joliette

Wet Leg – moisturizer

Wet Leg – moisturizer

Sister Ray – Believer

Sister Ray – Believer

Subscribe to our newsletter