Janet Scott Hoyt and Lidia Khaner perform a musical recital

There is something fitting about pianist Janet Scott Hoyt and oboist Lidia Khaner opening the winter portion of St. Albert Chamber Music Society’s concert series.

Both are outstanding musicians in their own right and as a duo, they are adventurous, introducing new repertoire that always seeks fresh expressions.

As both a performer and a pedagogue, Scott Hoyt has enjoyed a rich career both on the concert stage and the teaching studio at the University of Alberta.

On the other hand, Khaner studied oboe in her native Poland at the Warsaw Academy of Music and toured the world playing both orchestral concerts and solo parts. She joined the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra in 1996 and is now principal oboist.

Although from different backgrounds, their musical communication is on the same wavelength, and on Saturday, Feb. 4 at Red Willow Place they will let the music speak.

The two met back when Khaner joined the ESO under Grzegorz Nowak. David Hoyt, Scott Hoyt’s husband, was principal horn and he introduced the two musicians.

Since then, they have paired up for recitals and released three albums together. Their latest release is Inspiration under Edmonton’s Arktos Recordings.

Scott Hoyt attributes their special musical chemistry to good communication in a natural way.

“It’s like having a conversation with someone. Think of musical phrases like sentences. Think of someone very comfortable to be with and you can have a deep conversation – someone you know and trust and don’t have to search for words. You let the music speak.”

The duo’s repertoire varies from Canadian composers Robert Schumann, Violet Archer and John McPherson to French composers Francis Poulenc and Camille Saint-SaĂ«ns.

From the French masters, the duo has selected Poulenc’s Sonata and Saint-SaĂ«ns Sonata Opus 166.

“Saint-SaĂ«ns is more romantic than Poulenc, but both have an unwavering French sensibility with beautiful lines and beautiful melodies.”

An equally dynamic selection is John McPherson’s Piece for Oboe and Piano that premiered at the 2015 Edmonton Recital Series. McPherson is the ESO’s principal trombone player and composer in residence.

“John is also a beautiful jazz musician. This has a lot of jazz in it. It describes the feel of the outdoors and the wonderful sky we have in Alberta.”

Scott Hoyt takes a stroll down memory lane with Archer’s Sonatina.

“Violet Archer was one of my first teachers. She was a force of nature and I’m so happy to play this piece. She is one of our great Canadian composers. She was able to say something in her own musical language. The chord structure, the melodic line. It doesn’t sound like anything you’ve heard before.”

The opening piece, Schumann’s Adagio and Allegro, is one of the great works that will test both musicians’ virtuosic technique.

Emerging pianist Alicia Krips will perform Chopin’s Nocturne, Opus 32, No. 1 and Canadian composer Alexina Louie’s Changes.