The JUNO Awards got out over the weekend of March 22 and 23, with the classical class included within the non-televised Saturday night time festivities. The winners of the 4 classical music classes showcase a spread of music and composers inside the genres, in addition to a various group of musicians.

Together with the 4 particularly classical classes, a fifth win provides to the highlight on the province of Québec.

Right here’s a have a look at those that took residence the trophies

CLASSICAL ALBUM OF THE YEAR, SOLO ARTIST: James Ehnes | Nielsen: Violin Concerto, Symphony No. 4

A real worldwide famous person, violinist James Ehnes wants no introduction to classical music followers. He’s been broadly praised through the years not just for his mastery of method, however his delicate sense of interpretation. Nielsen’s Violin Concerto, written in two actions, premiered in 1912, with the composer himself conducting the Royal Danish Symphony.

It falls into the extra melodic of Nielsen’s works, with a Neo-Classical construction, and regardless of a string of notable recordings, has not grow to be a part of the standard orchestral repertoire in North America. Maybe Ehnes’ win will change that.

CLASSICAL ALBUM OF THE YEAR, LARGE ENSEMBLE: Orchestre Classique de Montréal, Jacques Lacombe, conductor | Maxime Goulet: Symphonie de la tempête de verglas

A local of Montréal, composer Maxime Goulet studied on the College of Montréal, acquiring each his bachelor’s and grasp’s levels there. He’s recognized at the moment as a composer of works for orchestra and in addition video video games. His works have bene carried out throughout Canada, together with by the TSO, together with the Houston Symphony Orchestra, Normandy Regional Orchestra, and others.

The Symphonie de la tempête de verglas (Ice Storm Symphony) is a considerable work of 40 minutes that defies simple categorization. The OSM and Jacques Lacombe are totally dedicated of their rendition of the evocative and emotionally vibrant rating.

CLASSICAL ALBUM OF THE YEAR, SMALL ENSEMBLE: Constantinople | Il Ponte di Leonardo

Constantinople is a novel chamber ensemble that was based in Montreal in 2001 in Montreal by its creative director, Kiya Tabassian, a grasp participant of the setar. The group weaves world cultures collectively to create music that pulls inspiration from the Center Ages and Renaissance, and cultures from the Center East, via the Mediterranean area and Europe.

The ensemble, together with Tabassian consisting of Didem Basar on the kanun (or Turkish zither), Patrick Graham and Hamin Honari (percussion), and Tanya LaPerrière (Baroque violin and viola d’amore), has launched greater than 20 albums via their historical past. Il Ponte di Leonardo is known as after Da Vinci’s revolutionary bridge design, one that might by no means be realized. Like Constantinople the group, Da Vinci noticed his design as a bridge between East and West. They’re joined on the album by Italian tenor and musicologist Marco Beasley.

CLASSICAL COMPOSITION OF THE YEAR: Nicole Lizée | Don’t Throw Your Head in Your Palms

Born in Gravelbourg, SK, Nicole studied music at McGill College, the place she obtained her M.Mus. As a composer, her inspirations embody movies and popular culture, and her items have been carried out by ensembles from the Kronos Quartet to the Australian Artwork Orchestra, San Francisco Symphony, TSO, and lots of extra. She has gained a number of prizes for her work, together with the 2019 Prix Opus for Composer of the 12 months. Previous to this win, she was nominated for a JUNO twice.

Don’t Throw Your Head In Your Palms was composed for violin and karaoke machine, and the outcomes are evocative and stunning, to say the least. The monitor comes from her 2023 album Describe Your self.

FRANCOPHONE ALBUM OF THE YEAR: Les Cowboys Fringants avec l’Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal

A shock addition to the checklist comes from the Francophone Album of the 12 months class, the place the winner was Les Cowboys Fringant En live performance avec l’Orchestre symphonique de Montréal (sous la route du chef Simon Leclerc).

Baritone Dominique Côté and celebrated soprano Karina Gauvin sing together with Les Cowboys Fringants and the OSM, creating maybe the proper mixture of québécois and classical music.

Given the preponderance of the Québecois within the classical music classes, each as nominees and winners, it appears hardly stunning.

Vive le Québec classique.

Discover the total checklist of 2024 JUNO nominees and winners right here.

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Anya Wassenberg is a Toronto Metropolis Editor at Ludwig Van. She is an skilled freelance author, blogger and writing teacher.

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