Music from the heart

At first glance the guitar and violin may seem like unusual marriage partners.

However, in concluding season six, the St. Albert Chamber Music Society has organized a rather suave recital to showcase the two string instruments this coming Saturday night at Don's Piano Place.

Violinist Guillaume Tardif and classical guitarist Trevor Sanders once again pair up to play a repertoire that primarily celebrates 19th century Italian and 20th century Spanish music.

Guillaume, who performed a debut recital of Niccolo Paganini's 24 Caprices at New York's Carnegie-Weill Hall, specializes in works by the Italian composer.

The duo opens the evening with three of the violin virtuoso's shortened works for both instruments – Centone di Sonate No. 1, Grande Sonata and Il Carnevale di Venezia.

Interestingly enough, although Paganini is usually associated with the violin, his passion was the guitar.

“Paganini spent half his life playing guitar. It was his favourite instrument. His music was often inspired from guitar playing. It was his preferred instrument because of the acoustics. You can go into soft nuances and it gives contrast and richness. It's not in playing louder that you find richness,” noted Guillaume.

And Sanders, whose forte is Spanish flamenco and Latin classical music, advocated for Manuel de Falla's Siete Canciones Populares Espanolas and a Pablo de Sarasate quartet including Zapateado, Malaguena, Romanza Andaluza and Carmen Fantasy.

Interestingly, there is a common assumption that the guitar generally provides accompaniment to the leading sweeter violin notes.

Not so say the two musicians. While exploring the subtleties of each composition, both instruments will share front and centre roles in tandem.

Emerging guitarist Travis Luckert opens the recital with Isaac Albeniz's Asturias and Carlos Rafael River's Cancion.

Not only is the program filled with evocative and poignant moods, but this is also the last recital concert to be performed at Don's Piano Place. Rental increases have forced the recital hall's shutdown.

However, the music society's co-founder Nancy Watt has confirmed a new venue for season seven and will announce the location at the recital.