The Coast Recital Society’s stellar 2018-19 concert season begins this Sunday, Sept. 23 at the Raven’s Cry Theatre. The concert begins at 2:30 p.m. with a pre-concert chat at 1:30 hosted by CRS artistic director Frances Wainwright. The concert will feature harpsichordist Alexander Weimann; Soile Stratkoskas, flute; Chloe Meyers, violin; and Beiliang Zhu, cello.
The program evokes the caffeinated atmosphere of Café Zimmermann, the most successful coffee house in the 18th century German city of Leipzig. Café Zimmermann provided the backdrop for a series of now legendary public concerts led by Johann Sebastian Bach. The concerts featured the first performances of some of his own instrumental works, as well as music by many of his favourite composers.
Weimann is internationally known for his expertise as a conductor, keyboard soloist and chamber music partner. He is the conductor of Vancouver’s Pacific Baroque Orchestra, music director of the Seattle Baroque Orchestra, and regular guest conductor of ensembles including the Montreal Symphony and Symphony Nova Scotia. Finnish-born Stratkauskas has performed throughout Europe and is the founder and artistic director of the Victoria Baroque, Vancouver Island’s early music ensemble. Meyers is concertmaster of the Pacific Baroque Orchestra and principal second violin with Montreal’s Arion Baroque Orchestra. Zhu won first prize at the prestigious 2012 International Bach Competition in Leipzig, the first string player to receive this honour for performance on a Baroque instrument.
Weimann will perform on a double-manual harpsichord built by Canadian harpsichord builder Edward Turner, modelled after an 18th century instrument built by the French harpsichord maker Pascal Taskin. The harpsichord has been restored by Craig Tomlinson of West Vancouver, and is part of the Early Music Vancouver Instrument Collection. The Coast Recital Society: www.coastrecitalsociety.ca. Ticket info: 604-885-0991.
