Pianist Jane Coop, cellist Antonio Lysy, composer Ludwig van Beethoven: this mighty triumvirate joins musical forces at the first Coast Recital Society (CRS) concert of the 2009 season, 2:30 p.m., Sunday, Feb. 1, at the Raven's Cry Theatre in Sechelt.
"Coop and Lysy are a brilliant collaboration of talent," said CRS artistic director Frances Heinsheimer Wainwright. "They have been thrilling audiences across the continent and in Europe with performances of the complete cycle of Beethoven's cello sonatas and plan to record them later this year."
Sechelt audiences will hear three of Beethoven's five cello sonatas, numbers two, three and four. The artists will be available to meet the audience at 1:30 p.m., before the concert, to discuss their concert program. While on the Sun-shine Coast, they will also take part in two CRS Artists in the Community events, performing for the senior residents of Christenson Village in Gibsons on Saturday, Jan. 31, and for students at Chat-elech Secondary School in Sechelt on Monday, Feb. 2.
Coop is one of Canada's most distinguished musicians. She tours extensively throughout North America, Europe and Asia, performing in recital and as soloist with the principal orchestras of Canada, as well as the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra of London, the Seattle and Portland Symphonies, the Hong Kong Symphony and the Radio Orchestras of Bavaria and Holland. During her long performing career, she has collaborated with international artists at chamber music festivals in Canada, the U.S., Europe and Japan. When home in B.C., she is professor of piano and chamber music at UBC.
Lysy appeared at the 2007 Pender Harbour Cham-ber Music Festival. Also an artist of international stature, his solo performances have taken him to the world's major concert halls and to concert dates with leading orchestras throughout North and South America, Europe and the Middle East. He lives in Southern California where he teaches at the University of California in Los Angeles and is a frequent guest artist at recitals and festivals. Lysy plays a Carlo Tononi cello made in Bologna in 1700.
For more information about the concert, call Mary Lea Bell at 604-886-8330, or visit the newly refurbished CRS website at www.coastrecitalsociety.ca.
