Classical Outing 2025 | Pianist Martin Helmchen: Passion and Intensity by the handful

Interview by Frédéric Cardin
Genres and styles : Classical / classique

Additional Information

The German pianist Martin Helmchen will give two concerts on the same day during the 2025 Classical Spree in Montreal : one in the morning at 11:00. and the other in the early evening at 18:30. The first is dedicated to chamber music and will be performed with his partner, cellist Marie-Elisabeth Hecker, the other in concert format, with Rafael Payare and the Montreal Symphony Orchestra. At 11:00. in the Cinquième Salle of the Place des Arts, it will be a ‘’Dialogue through the seasons’’, with four works of remarkable expressive writing, Dvořák’s The Calm of the Forest, Fauré’s Papillon, three excerpts from Schubert’s Winterreise, and the Sonata for Cello and Piano No. 1 by the modern Schnittke, described by Helmchen as dark as a rainy autumn day, a rarely heard work, recently recorded by the same duo (remarkable album on Alpha classics) and a musical universe of visceral and powerful expressiveness. At 18:30, Helmchen will meet Rafael Payare for the first time in the performance of Mozart’s magnificent Piano Concerto No. 24, K. 491, whose Adagio certainly gives its title to the concert itself, Love Metaphors. I discussed with Martin Helmchen, winner of the Clara Haskil International Piano Competition in 2001, the works on the program and his time in Montreal, among others under the direction of Rafael Payare.

DÉTAILS AND TICKETS FOR THE CONCERT DIALOGUE THROUGH THE SEASONS 

DÉTAILS ET BILLETS POUR LE CONCERT MOZART AND ELGAR : LOVE METAPHORS

Latest 360 Content

Trio Garibaldi: The Album In Faded Sepia | Viola, Piano, and Clarinet in Service of New Creation

Trio Garibaldi: The Album In Faded Sepia | Viola, Piano, and Clarinet in Service of New Creation

Remi Bolduc unveils his Groove Quintet

Remi Bolduc unveils his Groove Quintet

5ilience | Devinim, When Sounds Move Through The Reeds

5ilience | Devinim, When Sounds Move Through The Reeds

Caribbean Love: Richy Jay, Between Heritage and Tropical Rhythms

Caribbean Love: Richy Jay, Between Heritage and Tropical Rhythms

Caprice au 9e | Telemann and The Traveling Musicians of the Baroque Era

Caprice au 9e | Telemann and The Traveling Musicians of the Baroque Era

The Sheepdogs, or How to Become a Classic “Outside the Storm”

The Sheepdogs, or How to Become a Classic “Outside the Storm”

Semaine du Neuf | Collective Improv Night with No Hay Banda, Ana Maria Romano, and Limules

Semaine du Neuf | Collective Improv Night with No Hay Banda, Ana Maria Romano, and Limules

Semaine du Neuf | Lovemusic et Protest of the Physical : the body (of musicians) has its reasons

Semaine du Neuf | Lovemusic et Protest of the Physical : the body (of musicians) has its reasons

Semaine du Neuf | Nous perçons les oreilles, improvisation at the center of bodies

Semaine du Neuf | Nous perçons les oreilles, improvisation at the center of bodies

Semaine du Neuf | Ictus: Ula Sickle on Gestures of Resistance

Semaine du Neuf | Ictus: Ula Sickle on Gestures of Resistance

Esencia: Akawui tells the story of his journey through words and music

Esencia: Akawui tells the story of his journey through words and music

Semaine du Neuf 2026 | Quasar, saxophone quartet, on equal footing with dance

Semaine du Neuf 2026 | Quasar, saxophone quartet, on equal footing with dance

Semaine du Neuf | Bozzini, an evening where the Nine converge

Semaine du Neuf | Bozzini, an evening where the Nine converge

In memoriam Nazih Borish (1982-2026)

In memoriam Nazih Borish (1982-2026)

Arion Orchestre Baroque | Marie’s Tears According to Marie… van Rhijn

Arion Orchestre Baroque | Marie’s Tears According to Marie… van Rhijn

Semaine du Neuf | Hide to Show: A Metaphor for Our Behaviour in the Digital Age

Semaine du Neuf | Hide to Show: A Metaphor for Our Behaviour in the Digital Age

Quigital Corporate Retreat from Architek Percussion and Sarah Albu : It’s a mad, mad, mad, mad corporate world

Quigital Corporate Retreat from Architek Percussion and Sarah Albu : It’s a mad, mad, mad, mad corporate world

Palais Montcalm | The Flower Kings: Longevity and Open-Mindedness

Palais Montcalm | The Flower Kings: Longevity and Open-Mindedness

ATMA Classique Acquired by GFN Productions: New MD and Shareholder Comments

ATMA Classique Acquired by GFN Productions: New MD and Shareholder Comments

ArtChoral and Ménestrel | Chants anciens au 9e… de 5 à 6 !

ArtChoral and Ménestrel | Chants anciens au 9e… de 5 à 6 !

Semaine du Neuf | Krystina Marcoux: Speak No Words and sound those gestures

Semaine du Neuf | Krystina Marcoux: Speak No Words and sound those gestures

Gus Englehorn: The Claw, The Slide, The Iron Lung

Gus Englehorn: The Claw, The Slide, The Iron Lung

Ta da da daaam! Beethoven and Mozart performed by Caprice and ArtChoral

Ta da da daaam! Beethoven and Mozart performed by Caprice and ArtChoral

Classica | A Fully Committed 2026 Program

Classica | A Fully Committed 2026 Program

Subscribe to our newsletter