FROM CHOPIN TO WEINBERG: A POLISH CLASSICAL EVENING

This concert will last approximately 115 minutes, including a 20-minute intermission.
Prices include service fees and taxes.
Artists and program are subject to change without notice.
Ticket purchases are non-refundable and non-exchangeable.
Please note that each child’s free ticket must be accompanied by a purchased adult ticket.
Berri-UQAM metro station and Salle Pierre-Mercure are accessible to persons with reduced mobility.

The Concert:

Embark on a journey through Poland’s rich and varied musical landscape. Mieczysław Weinberg’s Polish-influenced Chamber Symphony will open the evening, followed by Québec composer Maxime Goulet’s Histoire de pêche with its beautiful juxtaposition of strings and solo clarinet, featuring Polish-Canadian clarinetist Kornel Wolak.

The sensitive artistry of the magnificent young Polish-Canadian soprano Karoline Podolak will be on full display in the moving aria “Dumka Zuzi” from Stanisław Moniuszko’s opera Verbum Nobile, and in “Sempre Libera” from Giuseppe Verdi’s La Traviata.

The program will also feature Frédéric Chopin’s Mazurka in B-Flat Major, Nocturne in C-Flat Minor, and his famous Piano Concerto No. 2 featuring Quebec pianist Jean-Philippe Sylvestre. Led by conductor Andrei Feher, it’s an evening OCM audiences won’t want to miss.

This concert is presented by:

With the support of:

Repertoire

Chopin, F. – Piano Concerto No. 2 (arr. N. Arman)
Mazurka in B-flat Major, Op. 7, No. 1
Nocturne in C Minor
Weinberg, Mieczysław – Chamber Symphony No. 1, Op. 145
Goulet, Maxime – Histoire de pêche
Kilar, W. – The Ninth Gate: Vocalise
Moniuszko, S. – Dumka Zuzi from Verbum Nobile
Verdi, G. – Sempre Libera from La Traviata

Artists

Kornel Wolak, clarinet
Karoline Podolak, soprano
Jean-Philippe Sylvestre, piano
Andrei Feher, conductor

Program notes:

Written by Olivier Bergeron

Born in Poland, Frédéric Chopin is a central figure of Romanticism, celebrated for giving the piano a deeply personal voice. Composed in his early twenties, the Piano Concerto No. 2 already reveals his refined lyricism and bel canto–inspired melodic style. In N. Arman’s arrangement, the lighter orchestration places greater emphasis on the soloist. The piano writing combines elegance and virtuosity without excess. The intimate, poetic slow movement contrasts with the youthful energy of the outer movements, making the concerto a quintessential expression of Chopin’s lyrical and expressive world. The Mazurka in B-flat major elevates a folk dance through distinctive rhythmic accents, flexible rubato, and refined harmonic color. In contrast, the Nocturne in C minor reveals a darker, more introspective voice. Inspired by Italian bel canto, its expressive melody unfolds over a gently pulsing accompaniment, shaped by subtle harmonic shifts. Together, these works highlight Chopin’s unique ability to unite national identity, intimacy, and emotional depth within compact forms.

Polish-born Mieczysław Weinberg, who spent much of his life in the Soviet Union, developed a powerful musical voice shaped by adversity and exile. His Chamber Symphony No. 1 concentrates intense expression within a compact ensemble. Sharp contrasts, driving rhythms, and introspective passages define the work’s dramatic arc. Despite its modest forces, the symphony carries strong emotional weight, balancing tension with lyric restraint. Weinberg’s clear, urgent writing reflects a deep concern for human experience and emotional truth.

Canadian composer Maxime Goulet is known for his imaginative, theatrical, and audience-friendly style. Histoire de pêche is a vividly descriptive work that humorously portrays the events of a fishing trip. Through contrasting moods, lively rhythms, and evocative gestures, the music unfolds like a wordless narrative. Beneath its playful surface lies a finely crafted score that demonstrates strong orchestral technique and a keen sense of musical storytelling.

A leading figure in Polish music, Wojciech Kilar is widely known for both his concert works and film scores. The Vocalise from The Ninth Gate exemplifies his restrained, atmospheric style. Built around a wordless vocal line, the piece creates a sense of mystery and contemplation. Dark-hued harmonies and sustained lines generate subtle tension, allowing emotion to emerge through color and mood rather than thematic development.

Often regarded as the father of Polish national opera, Stanisław Moniuszka blended operatic tradition with folk-inspired melody. The Dumka Zuzi from Verbum Nobile is rich in lyricism and gentle nostalgia. The dumka form alternates reflective melancholy with livelier passages, while the warm, expressive vocal line emphasizes emotional sincerity and melodic simplicity.

Giuseppe Verdi stands among the greatest opera composers of the nineteenth century. Sempre libera from La Traviata captures Violetta’s inner conflict between love and independence. Brilliant vocal writing demands agility, brilliance, and expressive intensity, while beneath the sparkling surface lies deep dramatic tension foreshadowing her tragic fate. The aria exemplifies Verdi’s genius for uniting vocal virtuosity with emotional truth.

Artist’s biographies:

Andrei Feher, chef

“Talent has taken him from Montreal to Tokyo” (The New Classical FM)

Canadian-Romanian conductor Andrei Feher has earned a reputation for his musical maturity and integrity, natural authority on the podium, and an imaginative and intelligent approach to programming. He is hailed for his “ability to connect with his players, using their skills as if they were the piano and he the pianist” (The Record).

Following a memorable concert of French music in November 2024, Andrei Feher was appointed conductor of the Orchestre classique de Montréal. This will be an exceptional opportunity to work long-term with the OCM to develop as many projects as possible to share classical music with the entire Montreal community.

Feher regularly appears with top Canadian and European orchestras. His noteworthy 2019 debut with the BBC Symphony Orchestra, performing Stravinsky’s Divertimento from The Fairy’s Kiss, was recorded and airs on BBC Radio 3. Subscription appearances include Symphony Nova Scotia, Tokyo Symphony Orchestra, Orquesta sinfónica RTVE Madrid, and Orchestre de Chambre de Lausanne. Additional highlights include appearances as guest conductor with Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal, Orchestre Symphonique de Québec, Les Violons du Roy, Orchestre Philharmonique de Monte-Carlo, Orchestre National d’Ile de France, Orchestre Métropolitain de Montréal and Romanian Radio National Orchestra.

Feher’s 2023/24 Season marked debut appearances at Scottish Chamber Orchestra, Enescu Festival in Bucharest and at Orchestre Symphonique de Laval.

In 2018, at age 26, Feher was appointed Music Director of the Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony, making him one of the youngest to lead a major Canadian orchestra. During his five-year tenure as Music Director, Feher is credited with seeing the Orchestra through pandemic closures with 12 full-orchestra online programs and transforming the symphony’s relationship with French speakers in the region and beyond. Performance highlights under his artistic direction include Carmen, La Traviata, and Mahler’s Second Symphony, with numerous sold-out shows held at the Raffi Armenian Theatre within the Centre In The Square, a concert hall seating over 2,000.

Having gained early experience as assistant to Fabien Gabel at the Orchestre Symphonique de Québec, at the age of 22 Feher joined the Orchestre de Paris as Assistant Conductor to its Music Director, Paavo Järvi. During this time he collaborated with conductors including Zubin Mehta, Valery Gergiev, Christoph von Dohnányi and Jaap van Zweden. Feher has collaborated with some of today’s most eminent performers including Emanuel Ax, Marc André Hamelin and Erin Wall. In 2013, he was awarded the Prix-Opus Discovery of the Year.

A strong advocate of contemporary music, Feher has recently performed works by Eric Champagne, Pierre Mercure, George Dimitrov, Ciprian Pop and Abigail Richardson, as well as the world premiere of Thierry Besancon’s opera for children Les Zoocrates with Opéra de Lausanne. In November 2015, Feher conducted the world premiere of Soleil Noir by Pierre Jodlowski with the Orchestre de Pau-Béarn, which resulted in an immediate invitation to conduct the work in Toulouse in November 2016.

Born in Romania into a family of musicians, Feher began his musical education as a violinist in his hometown Satu-Mare with Nagy Margareta before continuing his studies in Montréal at age 13 when his family immigrated to Canada. An accomplished violinist, he studied at Joseph-François-Perrault and at the Conservatoire de musique de Montréal with Johanne Arel and Raffi Armenian. Feher is based in Montréal with his wife and two young sons.

Jean-Phillipe Sylvestre, piano

Renowned for his dazzling technique and vivid imagination, Jean-Philippe Sylvestre has been described as a “poet of the piano” by Yannick Nézet-Séguin. Originally from Sainte-Julie, Québec, he has received numerous honours, including the Virginia Parker Prize — the Canada Council for the Arts’ highest distinction — as well as First Prize and the Audience Prize at the Orchestre symphonique de Montréal Competition, and multiple First Prizes at the Canadian Music Competition, including one year with the highest overall mark of the entire competition.

Invited to perform on some of the world’s most prestigious stages — the Berlin Philharmonie, the Musikverein in Vienna, the Rudolfinum in Prague, Salle Gaveau in Paris, and the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam — he has also recorded several albums, including one as soloist with the London Symphony Orchestra on the CHANDOS label. His tours across China, South Africa, South America, Australia, and Europe have been met with great success, and he regularly gives masterclasses around the world, notably in Paris.

He has just returned from major engagements in Europe: a solo recital at the prestigious Warsaw Philharmonic, a concert at the Musée Jacquemart-André in Paris, a recital at the Ehrbar Saal in Vienna, and a masterclass at the Conservatoire de Boulogne, near Paris.

Karoline Podolak, soprano

Karoline Podolak is an internationally acclaimed Polish-Canadian soprano and recipient of the Bronze Cross of Merit from the President of Poland for her artistic achievements. She is a Grand Prize winner of the George and Nora London Foundation Competition (New York), the Nuits Lyriques International Competition (France), and the Canadian Opera Company Centre Stage Competition. Karoline has performed leading roles with major opera houses, including the Canadian Opera Company, the National Opera and Ballet of Bulgaria, and Silesian Opera, with acclaimed portrayals of Violetta (La Traviata), Adele (Die Fledermaus), and the Vixen (The Cunning Little Vixen), among others. She has appeared at Carnegie Hall and as a soloist with orchestras across Europe and North America. She has been praised as having a “gleaming tone, with excellent agility for the treacherous runs, showing fine musicality, attractive stage presence, not to mention that intangible something called star power” (Joseph So, Ludwig van Toronto). Karoline is a graduate of the K. Szymanowski Academy of Music and an alumna of both the Atelier lyrique de l’Opéra de Montréal and the Canadian Opera Company Ensemble Studio.

Kornel Wolak, clarinet

Highly acclaimed for his musical imagination and astonishing versatility. “Control, and a smooth, elegant expressivity… are what make Wolak shine.” (John Terauds, the Toronto Star)

Winner of Debut Atlantic Tour, Prairie Debut Tour, British Columbia Touring, Allied Concerts Tour (USA, 2016), the Royal Conservatory Concerto Competition and the Presser Music Award. Mr. Wolak performed with the renowned Quartetto Gelato. Recently, he tours internationally with his acclaimed Bridge & Wolak Duo (clarinet and accordion)

He continues to expand the clarinet repertoire by commissioning new pieces. Regularly appears in recitals as chamber musician and as soloist with American and European orchestras. Featured on over a dozen award-winning albums including soloist on the 2024 JUNO Awarded Best Classical Album of the Year in Large Ensemble category as well as “Fryderyk” nominee, Poland’s highest recording award. He is a regular fixture on the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, Classical 96.3 FM, Public Radio International, and in the US, National Public Radio. His 2020 release by DUX Records label with Weinberg complete symphonies was nominated to the “Fryderyki” awards for best classical music album of the year.

As a soloist/clarinet clinician, he has toured and taught master classes at various Universities and Colleges in Europe, Asia and both Americas. Since August 2015 he is actively involved in research on the role of oral articulators in clarinet playing at Speech-Language Pathology Department at University of Toronto. Results of the preliminary studies have been presented at Clarinet Fest 2017 as well as at the 7th International Conference on Speech Motor Control, Groningen, the Netherlands. And will also be presented at the Music and Health Research Collaboratory at the University of Toronto in September 2017.

Dr. Wolak is a regularly published author of articles on clarinet-related issues in Your Muse, the largest music magazine in Poland, in which he is an editor and contributor of a section called “Clarinetist’s Vademecum”. His newly published books “Articulation Types on Clarinet (and Saxophone)” and “Embouchure Types | Clarinet” have been very well received and gained much popularity throughout world woodwind community.

From 2018-2025 he was on the faculty at Dan School of Drama and Music at Queen’s University. He is also the founder of Music Mind Inc., an initiative that produces and promotes music education programs for artistically inclined youth.