“One of those special talents that comes along once in a
lifetime.” – Toronto Star
Blake Pouliot is a dazzling young Canadian violinist who brings a youthful passion and rock star charisma to the stage.
Since his orchestral debut at age 11, Pouliot has performed with orchestras around the world. He’s a regular soloist with the National Arts Centre Orchestra, recently toured Spain with the Prague Philharmonia in Spain and appeared with the Los Angeles Philharmonic at the Hollywood Bowl. He’s also served as Soloist-in-Residence with l’Orchestre Metropolitain under Yannick Nézet-Séguin.
He won the Grand Prize at the 2016 Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal Manulife Competition and was named First Laureate of both the 2018 and 2015 Canada Council for the Arts Musical Instrument Bank.
Pouliot released his debut album of 20th century French music on Analekta Records in 2019. The recording received critical acclaim, including a five-star rating from BBC Music Magazine and a 2019 JUNO Award nomination for Best Classical Album.
Learn more: Blake Pouliot
“astonishingly confident technique” – Cleveland Classical Review
Pianist Henry Kramer is developing a reputation as a musician of rare sensitivity who combines stylish programming with insightful and exuberant interpretations. In 2016, he garnered international recognition with a Second Prize win in the Queen Elisabeth Competition in Brussels. Most recently, he was awarded a 2019 Avery Fisher Career Grant by Lincoln Center–one of the most coveted honors bestowed on young American soloists. Earlier in his career, he was awarded prizes at the National Chopin Competition in 2010, the Montreal International Competition in 2011 and the China Shanghai International Piano Competition in 2012. In 2015, he earned a top prize in the Honens International Piano Competition.
Kramer graduated from the Juilliard School and earned a Doctorate of Musical Arts from the Yale School of Music. In the fall of 2022, Kramer joined the music faculty of Université de Montréal.
Learn more: Henry Kramer
PROGRAM
Robert Schumann – Violin Sonata no. 1 in a minor, op. 105
Antonin Dvorák – Zigeneurlieder op. 55 (arr. Blake Pouliot)
Gabriel Fauré – Song Selections op. 7 nos. 1-3 & op. 23 nos. 1-3 (arr. Blake Pouliot)
Ernest Chausson – Poème, op. 25
Jeno Hubay – Carmen Fantasie Brillante for Violin and Piano
