Stéphan Sylvestre

Stephan Sylvestre
Stéphan Sylvestre ranks among the most sought-after and brilliant Canadian pianists of the new generation and enjoys an active performing career as a recitalist, orchestra soloist, chamber musician and recording artist.  Critics on both sides of the Atlantic have bestowed lavish praise on his performances:  “…his natural talent reminds one of the great Artur Rubinstein…” (La Presse, Montreal), “…somewhat reminiscent of the young Kempff” (La Scena Musicale, Canada), “… He is one of those musicians who plays a work, first, for its own sake, then for himself, and finally, for the audience, which is privileged to be witness to his search for the very heart of the work.” (Le Droit, Ottawa), “…masterly brilliant virtuosity and monumentality,” (Flovo Cultury,Czech Republic), “…such effortless simplicity is a joy.” (Edinburghguide.com).  The New Winnipeg Magazine also described him in the following terms:  “ Some pianists are able to coax their instrument into doing just about anything. With seemingly little effort and a few quiet sorrowful notes they stir up a passionate response.  Stéphan Sylvestre is such an artist”.

His numerous concert tours and performances have taken place in major concert halls, universities and concert organizations throughout Canada, United States, Brazil, the Middle East, France, Italy, Scotland, Ireland, England, Czech Republic, Russia and the Netherlands.  Notable venues include the Concertgebouw (Amsterdam), St. Martin-in-the-Fields (London), the St-Petersburg Conservatory (Russia), Place des Arts (Montreal), the National Arts Centre (Ottawa), the Four Seasons Centre (Toronto) and Massey Hall (Toronto).  He has appeared with several Canadian orchestras and he has performed in the major international festivals in Canada, including Ottawa, Parry Sound, Lanaudière, Domaine Forget and Orford.  Mr. Sylvestre was also recently Pianist-In-Residence at Barrie’s Colour of Music Festival in Ontario.  Stéphan Sylvestre is heard regularly on the French and English networks of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, Radio Suisse Romande and has performed live for the BBC in the United Kingdom.

He has collaborated with internationally renowned artists such as James Campbell, James Sommerville, Ransom Wilson, Martin Beaver, Rivka Golani, Susan Hoeppner, the Penderecki String Quartet, the New Zealand Quartet, Quartuor Arthur-Leblanc, Quatuor Alcan and members of the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra among many others.  He was also a member of Trio Contrastes until 2002.  His first two recordings on the Atma label were selected among Outstanding Records of the Year by Radio-Canada’s weekly record review.  His third recording, a live recital of works by Martinu, Schumann, Chopin and Ravel, and his fourth recording with James Campbell and James Sommerville released on the Marquis label were also praised by critics. His latest recording of Brahms’s late solo piano works was recently released on the label Prod. XXI:21.  A critique in WholeNote magazine recently said:  Sylvestre masterful performance is a welcome presence in our sometimes harsh and too-technologically advanced world”.  Stéphan Sylvestre is invited regularly to give master classes and conferences abroad and he has been a member of several national and international juries, including the Canadian Music Competition, the Montreal Symphony Orchestra Competition, the Glenn Gould School and the Montreal International Piano Competition.  In addition to his active performing and recording schedule, Stephan Sylvestre is also Assistant Professor of Piano and head of keyboard studies at The University of Western Ontario.  He is presently working on recording the works for violin and piano by Karol Szymanovski with violinist Jerzy Kaplanek, which has been supported by a residency at the Banff Centre for the Arts.

 

 

CD recordings of Stéphan Sylvestre:

E-mail: ssylves4@uwo.ca

 

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