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www.insideHALTON.com · OAKVILLE BEAVER Friday, November 18, 2011 · 34 Musician learned Exclusive art show at awards show Continued from page 33 AT GALLERY: Y Oakville Galleries hosted an exclusive reception at Gairloch Gardens for a one-day art exhibit featuring well-known Canadian and international artists. Works on display were provided by local collectors. Pictured (l-r) are Richard Rumi, Charlotte Rumi and Joseph Rumi standing beside a painting by William Percival Weston, titled Wyhtecliff, Old Fir. JAMES HOGGETT / SPECIAL TO THE BEAVER got to meet and speak with Al, Olson and pianist David Osborne. "The whole time at the music awards people treated me fantastically," she said. Furthermore, the awards show is a source of inspiration, Simpson said. "People aren't just looking at each other and going, `Oh, that person is winning that award.' They're looking at each other and saying, `Wow, that could be what's next. That can be the new trend of where everything is going.' You then go home and it inspires you. It's this Elyse Simpson continuous cycle in a really positive way of creativity." In 2010, Simpson received a Canada's Top 20 Under 20 award for her Jangle Records independent music label, which helps up-and-coming musicians. Her single, Scarlett Rabbit, is available on iTunes. To learn more about the musician, contact www.elysesimpson.com. Stradivarius player at symphony concert By Dominik Kurek OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF When the Oakville Symphony Orchestra decided to tackle a difficult but masterful piece of music for the violin, it decided to recruit one of the top players of the instrument in the world. Violinist Philippe Quint will join the symphony at its pair of concerts, titled Musical Splendour, this weekend (Saturday and Sunday) at The Oakville Centre for the Performing Arts. "He's probably the best violinist of his generation right now. He's Russian born, based in New York and travels all over the world. We're really delighted to have him here," said Roberto De Clara, artistic director. The orchestra will play music by Franz Liszt and Gustav Mahler and will conclude the concert with Ludwig van Beethoven's Violin Concerto. It is the German composer's only concerto for the violin and is considered one of the best. "It's like the Mount Everest of violin concertos," De Clara said. "It's about 42 minutes long and it's just so incredibly profound. It exceeds on so many levels. It forces the orchestra to be extremely sensitive in its accompaniments and yet plays such a prominent part." For the concert, Quint will bring the Stradivarius violin he has on loan. Stradivarius violins are considered to be the best in the world and Quint's is considered an elite of the elite, having been built by Antonio Stradivari in 1724 and later belonged to Romantic violinist Pablo de Sarasate. "(Quint) plays a marvelous instrument and he's a wonderful person and a great musician," De Clara said. The violinist is not the only guest of the symphony. Oakville's own mezzo-soprano soloist Wendy Hatala Foley will perform the Mahler music with the orchestra. "We have someone who has sung across the world but chooses to make Oakville her home to raise her family," De Clara said. The music is based on poetry written by Ruckert Lieder and is a series of five songs. "The five Mahler songs are completely different because they're based on the poems of Ruckert Lieder, who is a very influential German poet of the 19th century. There is a very dark one called Midnight, which is just astounding. Others are really light. They're all very romantic," De Clara v said. "We're ending with the softest of the lot because it's almost an autobiographical song on Mahler's part because the text says `I'm lost to this world.' It's saying, `The world hasn't heard from me in such a long time. I'm shying away and I'm living in my own cocoon.' That's very much like Mahler." Les Preludes by Liszt will open the program. "They're all very contrasting works, yet there is a thread through them all in that both Liszt and Mahler were huge admirers of Beethoven, who set the path for so many composers," De Clara said. The concert is also a celebration of the composers whose music will be performed. "It's a very special program because in the first half we're celebrating the bi-centennial of the birth of Franz Liszt. Then we're celebrating the centennial of the death of the great Gustav Mahler," De Clara said. Saturday's concert begins at 8 p.m. and Sunday's show starts at 2 p.m. Regular tickets cost $51. For tickets, visit www.oakvillecentre.ca. Dominik Kurek can be reached at dkurek@oakvillebeaver.com or followed on Twitter at @DominikKurek. Oakville Galleries would like to thank the generous partners & supporters of A RT PR I V É The event was a great success, raising crucial funds for ongoing artistic and educational programming in our community. We extend a special thank you to the collectors who shared their exceptional artworks with us. Presenting Partners With additional support provided by Pierre & Carolyn Gagnon www.oakvillegalleries.com | 905.844.4402