Tag: Chamber Music

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Nostos: Duo Aster’s Debut Album

(Halifax/Kjipuktuk, NS) Leaf Music and theAster Duo comprising saxophonist Clio Theodoridisand pianist Jonathan Nemtanu announce the upcoming release of their new recording, Nostos (LM306), in digital and physical formats. Nostos is an ancient Greek word translating as “homecoming” or “return.” The album for piano and saxophone features a major work by Spanish composer Pedro Iturralde (Suite hellénique), and Ocres Rouges by French composer and clarinetist Alexis Ciesla (who draws his inspiration from klezmer). Also featured is Turkish composer Fazil Say’sSuite for alto saxophone and piano, Op. 55. The album is rounded out by Canadian composer Mathieu Lussier’s Récit et Lied, Op. 31.

Born in Athens, Clio Theodoridis performs regularly as a saxophonist in Quebec and internationally. Her career has taken her to renowned stages across Europe, Asia, and North America, including the Jiangsung Grand Theater (China), Denkibunka Hall (Japan), Théâtre du Châtelet (France), Aegean Arts Festival (Greece), as well as major Canadian events such as the Domaine Forget International Festival, La Virée Classique de Montréal, and Jeunesses Musicales Canada.

She has taken part in several prestigious international events, including the World Saxophone Congress SaxOpenin Strasbourg and the NASA Conference (North American Saxophone Alliance), and her musical work has been recognized in various competitions, notably third prize at the Stockholm International Music Competition and being named a laureate of the National Young Talents Competition X.O.N in Athens. 

Clio holds a doctorate’s degree in music the highest distinction (“exceptional”) from the University of Montreal, a performance degree and State Teaching Diploma from the Strasbourg Superior Academy of Music and is also a prizewinner of the Lyon Conservatory. Since 2020, she has been teaching saxophone at the Saguenay Conservatory of Music, is a guest professor at the Domaine Forget International Academy and serves as an ambassador for Henri Selmer Paris. 

Trained as a pianist, Jonathan Nemtanu leads a committed career combining artistic excellence with cultural leadership, performing regularly as a chamber musician in Canada, China, Greece, the United States, and France, where he is praised for the finesse of his playing and his gift for musical dialogue.  He studied under Hervé N’Kaoua at the Conservatoire de Bordeaux, Avedis Kouyoumdjian at the University of Vienna, and Jean Saulnier at the University of Montreal, where he earned a doctorate in piano performance with the rarely awarded distinction of “exceptional.” Complementing his path as a performer, he also holds a master’s degree in international arts management from HEC Montréal, allowing him to extend his engagement beyond the stage and actively contribute to cultural development. 

He has collaborated with renowned artists such as Nicolas Ellis, Julie Boulianne, the Isidore Quartet, Hélène Collerette, and Marie-Ève Munger, and performed at prestigious festivals and venues including Radio France, the Jiangsu Grand Theatre in China, and Orford Musique in Canada. He has also appeared as a soloist with orchestras such as Pro Arte, Das Klassik Orchester aus Prag, and the Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean Symphony Orchestra. Deeply committed to nurturing the next generation, Jonathan Nemtanu has taught at the Conservatoire de musique de Saguenay and frequently serves on juries, including for the Canadian Music Competition. 

Jonathan founded and directs the Le Baptême concert series in Quebec and currently serves as Executive Director of the Studio de Musique Ancienne de Montréal.

The album was recorded in September of 2025 at Domaine-Forget.

Leaf Music is an independent recording label based in Halifax, Nova Scotia and Nashville, Tennessee, making and distributing high-quality classical music recordings by artists and composers from across North America. Our growing catalogue of solo, orchestral, and chamber music is distributed by Naxos of America to the world’s most important music retailers, download providers, and streaming services. Leaf Music is also a provider of professional audio and video production, post-production services and integrated music marketing and distribution in North America.

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For more information/photos or to arrange interviews, please contact Ai Lynn Ang, ailynn@leaf.music

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Sankofa: Reaching Back to Move Forward

“As conductor, Burashko keeps a steady hand, and allows the score to unfold as it should, telling its own story. Stravinsky is truly speaking through him…a Canadian treasure.” – Ludwig van Toronto


(Halifax/Kjipuktuk, NS) In recognition of Black History Month, Leaf Music, Andrew Burashko and the Art of Time Ensemble announce the upcoming digital release of Stravinsky: Sankofa, The Soldier’s Tale Retold & Histoire du soldat Suite (LM304), recorded in March and April of 2025 in Toronto.

Sankofa, The Soldier’s Tale Retold is a reimagining of L’Histoire du soldat, the 1918 theatrical work for three actors and septet, with music composed by Igor Stravinsky. While the original libretto was written by Swiss poet Charles Ferdinand Ramuz, this new version was created by Nigerian-born, Edmonton-based poet Titilope Sonuga. The narrative centres on a fictional Black soldier who the Devil tricks into trading away his identity and dignity in exchange for service in the Canadian army. The release also includes Stravinsky’s Histoire du soldat Suite, an instrumental work drawn from the musical highlights of the original score.
As in the original, Sonuga’s libretto retains the same characters (Soldier, Devil and Narrator) and maintains the expressive use of rhyming verse. This reflects Andrew Burashko’s intention to create a new version of A Soldier’s Tale that pays homage to Stravinsky’s structure, including the Devil’s appearance in different guises and a libretto that aligns seamlessly with the music. A renewed interest in the work emerged in 2020 when Burashko heard Canadian hip-hop artist Shad’s album A Short Story About War, which inspired him to centre the tale on a Black soldier in a white army. Sonuga then set the story around a fictional Black soldier whose experiences draw from the real-life No. 2 Construction Battalion, Canada’s only segregated all-Black battalion during the First World War. The Battalion, formed in Pictou, Nova Scotia, in 1916, performed construction and labour work, and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau issued an official apology in 2022 for the racism experienced by its members.

The Soldier’s Tale Retold is available only in Canada and Japan, with worldwide release restricted until 2042. This limitation reflects decisions made by the parties overseeing Stravinsky’s estate, which restrict the distribution of this derivative work because it reimagines the original narrative while remaining faithful to the original musical structure and scoring.

This decision raises timely questions about who is permitted to reimagine canonical works, how artistic legacies are stewarded, and whether classical music can fully engage with urgent social histories while remaining bound by traditional gatekeeping structures.

The recording features the following musicians: Andrew Burashko (musical director); Ordena Stephens-Thompson (Narrator), Olaoluwa Fayokun (Soldier), Diego Matamoros (Devil), Benjamin Bowman, violin (concertmaster, Metropolitan Opera Orchestra); Eric Abramovitz, clarinet (principal, Toronto Symphony); Amy Horvey, trumpet (associate principal, National Arts Centre Orchestra); Robert Conquer, trombone (principal, Canadian Opera Company Orchestra); Kris Maddigan, percussion (principal, National Ballet of Canada Orchestra); Joseph Phillips, double bass; Thomas Roy Rochette, bassoon.

For the last 25 years, Art of Time Ensemble has been on the cutting edge of the performing arts in Canada, fusing music with theatre, dance, film and literature in unique and unprecedented ways. Founded in 1998 by pianist and artistic director Andrew Burashko, the Toronto-based ensemble has produced over 80 unique productions and recordings, commissioned over 300 works of music, dance, text and film, and performed over 400 concerts throughout North America and Europe. Art of Time brings together some of Canada’s leading classical and jazz musicians – including concertmasters and principal players from major orchestras – and has collaborated with over 350 artists. The list of illustrious artists who have collaborated with Art of Time includes Margaret Atwood, Peggy Baker, Brent Carver, Barbara Hannigan, Branford Marsalis, Michael Ondaatje, Madeleine Péyroux, Jackie Richardson and many others.

Before founding Art of Time Ensemble,  Andrew Burashko had established himself as one of Canada’s foremost concert pianists. Known for his passionate performances and eclectic repertoire, Burashko performed as a soloist under the batons of some of the world’s leading conductors such as Marin Alsop, Sir Andrew Davis, Yannick Nézet-Séguin, Jukka-Pekka Saraste and Pinchas Zukerman, among many others. As a chamber musician, he has performed with many of Canada’s top string and wind soloists. He was also involved in a 20-year-long collaboration with renowned contemporary dancer Peggy Baker; together they toured internationally to great acclaim.

Leaf Music is an independent recording label based in Halifax, Nova Scotia and Nashville, Tennessee, making and distributing high-quality classical music recordings by artists and composers from across North America. Our growing catalogue of solo, orchestral, and chamber music is distributed by Naxos of America to the world’s most important music retailers, download providers, and streaming services. Leaf Music is also a provider of professional audio and video production, post-production services and integrated music marketing and distribution in North America.
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Tacamis Records Bach’s Goldberg Variations for Double Reed Trio

“Each…a fine soloist in their own right, performing now as a tightly knit, cohesive ensemble…listeners…discern individual contrapuntal lines woven throughout the Baroque tapestry of sound.” – Winnipeg Free Press 

(Halifax/Kjipuktuk, NS) Leaf Music and the Tacamis Trio announce the release of their new recording, J.S. Bach Goldberg Variations (LM307), in digital and physical formats. The beloved work is arranged for double reed trio by Caitlin Broms-Jacobs.  

One of the most profound musical creations, Bach’s Goldberg Variations was composed for harpsichord around 1741, inspiring numerous interpretations because of its unparalleled counterpoint, harmony and expressivity. With its steady, 32-bar bass line (ground bass) and expansive emotional range from tranquillity to complex and fast-paced variations, Bach’s monumental work is highly adaptable to re-instrumentation. Now reimagined for oboe, English horn and bassoon, this timeless masterpiece receives a new warmth and transparency with Tacamis Trio. 

Formed within the Manitoba Chamber Orchestra, Tacamis Trio comprises Caitlin Broms-Jacobs (oboe/arranger), Tracy Wright (English horn) and Allen Harrington (bassoon). The artists conceived the project during the pandemic, and out of isolation came a celebration of resilience and collaboration with the framework of Bach’s 30 variations. Featured several times on the Manitoba Chamber Orchestra’s main concert series, their performances of the Goldberg Variations have been critically acclaimed by the Winnipeg Free Press. 

Caitlin Broms-Jacobs is principal oboist of the Manitoba Chamber Orchestra, praised for her “gorgeous singing tone” and “sensitive musicality” (Winnipeg Free Press). She performs widely across Canada as a soloist and chamber musician and is one half of the oboe-piano duo Fierbois; their debut album on Leaf Music, Sing to Me Again was released in January 2025 to critical acclaim. 

Tracy Wright is the English hornist of the Manitoba Chamber Orchestra and performs with the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra. Known for her expressive sound and collaborative artistry, she appears regularly in chamber, orchestral, and new-music performances across the Prairies.  

Allen Harrington is professor of woodwinds at the University of Manitoba’s Desautels Faculty of Music, where he teaches bassoon and saxophone. A versatile performer, he appears frequently as a soloist and chamber musician and serves as principal bassoonist with the Manitoba Chamber Orchestra.  

The album was recorded in June of 2025 in St. John’s Anglican Church, Winnipeg, with support from the Manitoba Arts Council and the Winnipeg Arts Council. Listen to J.S. Bach: Goldberg Variations (Arr. For Double Reed Trio by Caitlin Broms-Jacobs) on your favourite streaming platforms or get your CD copy.  

Leaf Music is an independent recording label based in Halifax, Nova Scotia and Nashville, Tennessee, making and distributing high-quality classical music recordings by artists and composers from across North America. Our growing catalogue of solo, orchestral, and chamber music is distributed by Naxos of America to the world’s most important music retailers, download providers, and streaming services. Leaf is also a provider of professional audio and video production, post-production services, and integrated music marketing and distribution in North America. 

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MEDIA CONTACT: 

For more information/photos or to arrange interviews, please contact Ai Lynn Ang, ailynn@leaf.music

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Little Red Riding Hood with Beethoven

(Halifax/Kjipuktuk, NS) Leaf Music, together with Calgary’s StoryMusic (storymusic.ca), announces the distribution of a new digital recording, Little Red Riding Hood with Beethoven (SM2026). This adaptation of the classic children’s fairytale pairs Beethoven’s fiery String Quartet No. 11 in F minor, Op. 95 with singer-narrator Julie Freedman Smith in a recording of an acclaimed theatrical show created for listeners of all ages. 

It’s all the brainchild of violist Liza Scriggins, who’s taken inspiration from Disney’s Fantasia, adapting stories to accompany chamber music. Other Calgary-based musicians on the album are Genevieve Micheletti (Violin I), Diane Lane (Violin II), and Andrea Case (Cello). The recording follows a sold-out show in Calgary, a video with the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, and popular performances in Calgary schools. 

Beethoven’s String Quartet No. 11 was written in 1810, around the same time he was composing the Egmont Overture (also in F minor). Appropriate for this story about a menacing wolf, it’s the only quartet for which Beethoven gave a subtitle: Serioso. 1810 was also the year Napoleon invaded Vienna for the second time in four years, and Beethoven had just experienced a failed love affair, and continued to suffer from financial insecurity and worsening deafness. Nevertheless, his music shines through, persevering just as Grandma and Red do in this fresh retelling. StoryMusic’s version invites families to experience this classic tale through the expressive voice of classical music – perfect for car rides or cozy afternoons. 

Listen to Little Red Riding Hood with Beethoven on your favourite streaming platforms beginning January 9, 2026. The new album was recorded in June-July 2024 at OCL Studios, Chestermere, Alberta by Sound Engineer Zana Warner with support from the Alberta Foundation for the Arts and mastering by Jeremy VanSlyke. 

Leaf Music is an independent recording label based in Halifax, Nova Scotia and Nashville, Tennessee, making and distributing high-quality classical music recordings by artists and composers from across North America. Our growing catalogue of solo, orchestral, and chamber music is distributed by Naxos of America to the world’s most important music retailers, download providers, and streaming services. Leaf is also a provider of professional audio and video production, post-production services, and integrated music marketing and distribution in North America. 

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Leaf Music and Essential Opera Present December

(Halifax/Kjipuktuk, NS)Leaf Music and Essential Opera present December, a one-act opera by award-winning composer Monica Pearce, available digitally on December 5. The EP features sopranos Maureen Batt, Erin Bardua, and Danielle Buonaiuto, conducted by Tara Scottwith a string quartet comprisingJennifer Jones, Anne Simons,Alexandra Bates, and Hillary Brown.

Commissioned by Essential Opera with support from SOCAN, December follows Julia and Natasha as they prepare to visit Julia’s parents together for the first time as a couple at Christmas. Between airport security, last-minute packing, and the quiet tension of family introductions, the opera is a celebration of queer joy, featuring queer artists. It captures the anticipation, vulnerability, and humour that accompany love in its early stages. 

Founded in 2010 by sopranos Maureen Batt and Erin Bardua, Essential Opera creates productions that explore what is most vital about opera today. From its debut performance of Le nozze di Figaro to world premieres of new Canadian works, Essential Opera has evolved in response to changing artistic and social landscapes. Its mission is to present opera in its most essential form, through classical repertoire, contemporary works, and digital and film adaptations, while engaging audiences through storytelling that reflects the world we live in. With a strong commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion, Essential Opera champions underrepresented voices and actively commissions and re-performs new operas.

Soprano Danielle Buonaiuto maintains an active performance career across the United States and Canada, with a focus on contemporary music and the creation of new work. She has appeared at major festivals and companies including the Prototype Festival, the Canadian Opera Company, and Tapestry Opera, creating new roles in Eat the Document (Glover/Rourke), Pomegranate (Marshall/Hale), and RUR: A Torrent of Light (Lizée/Billon). Her album Marfa Songs was released on Starkland in 2020. A founding member of ChamberQUEER and Duo Calisto, Buonaiuto also performs with the Metropolitan Opera’s Extra Chorus and is pursuing a doctorate in musicology at the City University of New York’s Graduate Center, where her research applies queer and feminist perspectives to opera and vocal music.

Monica Pearce is a Canadian composer recognized for her distinctive voice in opera and chamber music. Her works have been commissioned and performed by leading ensembles including the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, Orchestre symphonique de Montréal, International Contemporary Ensemble, and TorQ Percussion Quartet. Her debut album Textile Fantasies (2022) features collaborations with prominent Canadian musicians and has been widely acclaimed. Pearce co-founded the Toy Piano Composers collective, which premiered more than 120 new works, and is also an accomplished librettist whose collaborations have been presented by Essential Opera, Loose Tea Theatre, and Bicycle Opera Project.

December was recorded at The Peggy Corkum Music Room (Halifax, NS) and Swan Studios (New York City). Essential Opera is set to release a full-length album, Some of My Stories: The Operas of Monica Pearce, on April 17, 2026.

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MEDIA CONTACT: 

For more information/photos or to arrange interviews, please contact Ai Lynn Ang, ailynn@leaf.music

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Joel Miller’s What If? – Where Genres Connect

(Halifax/Kjipuktuk, NS) Leaf Music and composer/saxophonist Joel Miller announce the distribution of a new digital recording, What If?, a classical crossover album showcasing original compositions and reimagined works by Debussy, Chopin and Pachelbel, featuring Cuban Canadian pianist Silvio Pupo and the Resonance New Music Ensemble.  

Inspired by his partner Mel’s idea of “the & space” – What If? imagines a musical world where jazz and classical traditions coexist rather than compete. The album traces Miller’s personal journey through jazz, Afro-Latin influences and classical; for example, he reimagines the famous Pachelbel Canon in D, sharing the familiar ostinato amongst the entire ensemble. Jazz sax, vibraphone, piano and violin mingle in a unique accompaniment to Joel’s life story and explorations about family and musical traditions. 

Joel Miller is an award-winning saxophonist and composer based in Fredericton, New Brunswick. Raised in a musical family, he studied Jazz Performance at McGill University and has performed with notable artists including Geoffrey Keezer, Brian Blade, and Kurt Rosenwinkel. Miller’s career highlights include winning a JUNO Award for Best Contemporary Jazz Album with Swim (2012), ECMA awards for Swim, Dream Cassette (2016), and UNSTOPPABLE (2019). He has received multiple grants for composition, recording, and residencies, and leads workshops internationally, continually exploring the intersection of jazz and contemporary music.  

Led by bassist Andrew Reed Miller (Joel’s brother), Resonance New Music Ensemble is a New Brunswick–based group dedicated to performing experimental, improvised, and contemporary classical music. Supported by the not-for-profit Motion Ensemble, Inc., (founded by Andrew in 1998), the ensemble has premiered nearly 100 works by Canadian and international composers including Joel Miller, André Cormier, and Kaija Saariaho.  

Cuban-born pianist Silvio Pupo studied classical piano in Holguín before relocating to Atlantic Canada in 2009. Known for his dynamic blend of classical and Latin jazz styles, Pupo has become a sought-after collaborator, recording and touring with artists like Ben Caplan and Alfie Zappacosta. Based in Moncton, he is celebrated for his versatile musicianship, charismatic stage presence, and regular performances at Halifax’s iconic venue The Local.  

Listen to What If? on your favourite streaming platforms beginning October 17. Additionally, the ensemble will celebrate the new recording with live performances in the Maritimes in November:  

November 14 BMO Theatre Saint John, NB 

November 15 Steel Recital Hall UPI, Charlottetown, PEI 
November 16 Brunton Auditorium, Sackville, NB 
November 26th Le Laundromat, Moncton, NB  
November 28th Charlotte Street Arts Centre, Fredericton 

The new album was recorded in New Brunswick in 2025 at the Centre des Arts et de la Culture de Dieppe Inc. with support from the Fredericton Playhouse Intermission Artist Residency, Arts NB, MusiqueMusicNB, the Canada Council for the Arts, the Dieppe Cultural Centre, Catapult and ArtsLinkNB.  

Leaf Music is an independent recording label based in Halifax, Nova Scotia and Nashville, Tennessee, making and distributing high-quality classical music recordings by artists and composers from across North America. Our growing catalogue of solo, orchestral, and chamber music is distributed by Naxos of America to the world’s most important music retailers, download providers, and streaming services. Leaf is also a provider of professional audio and video production, post-production services, and integrated music marketing and distribution in North America. 

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MEDIA CONTACT: 

For more information/photos or to arrange interviews, please contact Peggy Walt,   peggy@leaf.music 

(902) 422-5403 (office) or (902) 476-1096 (cell).

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CBC Music’s 30 under 30, Olivier Bergeron releases his debut album, “Nuits blanches”

(Halifax/Kjipuktuk, NS) – Leaf Music announces the release of Nuits blanches, a new digital recording featuring French-Canadian artists Olivier Bergeron (baritone) and Olivier Godin (piano).  

Named one of CBC’s 30 Under 30, baritone Olivier Bergeron makes his recording debut with Nuits blanches. Featuring five song cycles by Ravel, Debussy, Fauré, and Jolivet. The album explores the many shades of love through the intimate lens of mélodie française.

At its heart is Debussy’s elusive Nuits blanches—a haunting, long-lost song cycle with texts by the composer himself. Une nuit blanche can be translated as “a sleepless night;” (the full expression is “passer une nuit blanche.)” In the case of the new recording, it is love causing the sleepless nights, best exemplified in the text of Claude Debussy’s sensual, intense Endless night: “Nuits sans fin. Tristesse morne des heures où l’on attend!” From the shimmering innocence of young love to the fragile vulnerabilities of jealousy and regret, the eclectic repertoire unveils a different emotional hue in popular melodies like Gabriel Fauré’s Mélodies « de Venise » (a setting of poems by Paul Verlaine), paired with rarities such as André Jolivet’s cycle, Poèmes intimes, dedicated to his wife, Hilda. Like Fauré’s, Jolivet’s cycle comprises five poems; the work was premiered in 1944 in Paris. Curiously, the first three cycles were premiered at the same venue in Paris, as part of the Société Nationale de Musique concerts, where “serious” French music was presented from 1871 (during the Franco-Prussian War) until 1939. 

All but Debussy’s Nuits blanches were published during the authors’ lifetimes. The manuscripts of his unfinished Nuits blanches project were found in composer Arthur Honegger’s library in 1991 by his daughter and just published in Paris in the year 2000. 

The two acclaimed musicians bring a refined lyricism to this repertoire, drawing listeners in to the hushed elegance of the fin-de-siècle salon, where poetry and music once breathed side by side. 

A graduate of the Verbier Festival Academy, French-Canadian baritone Olivier Bergeron studied at the Conservatoire de musique de Montréal and the École normale de musique de Paris. He has appeared with Les Talens Lyriques under Christophe Rousset, with Fabio Biondi, and at major venues including the Philharmonie de Paris, Wigmore Hall, Opéra Grand Avignon, and the Festival de Lanaudière. In 2025–2026, he joins Les Arts Florissants and William Christie on tour as part of Le Jardin des Voix and Hervé Niquet with Le Concert Spirituel at the Chapelle Royale de Versailles.   

Pianist Olivier Godin has been Artistic Director of Montreal’s Bourgie Hall since 2022 and was appointed professor at the Conservatoire de musique de Montréal at age 25. He has recorded over 30 critically acclaimed albums and performed at Wigmore Hall, La Monnaie, and the Palazzetto Bru Zane. A specialist in mélodie française, his discography includes complete songs by Poulenc, Fauré, Duparc, and Massenet’s 333 mélodies..  

The new album was recorded in 2023 in Passavant, France. 

Leaf Music is an independent recording label based in Halifax, Nova Scotia and Nashville, Tennessee, making and distributing high-quality classical music recordings by artists and composers from across North America. Our growing catalogue of solo, orchestral, and chamber music is distributed by Naxos of America to the world’s most important music retailers, download providers, and streaming services. Leaf is also a provider of professional audio and video production, post-production services and integrated music marketing and distribution in North America.

(Halifax/Kjipuktuk, Nouvelle-Écosse) – Leaf Music annonce la parution de Nuits blanches, un nouvel album numérique réunissant deux artistes québécois : Olivier Bergeron (baryton) et Olivier Godin (piano).  

Nommé parmi la prestigieuse liste des « 30 under 30 » de la CBC, le baryton Olivier Bergeron signe avec Nuits blanches ses débuts discographiques. L’album propose cinq cycles de mélodies de Ravel, Debussy, Fauré et Jolivet, et explore les multiples nuances de l’amour à travers l’intimité de la mélodie française. 

Au cœur de ce programme se trouve les énigmatiques Nuits blanches de Debussy, écrites sur des poèmes du compositeur lui-même. Ce cycle, dont seulement deux des cinq mélodies ont été retrouvées à ce jour, expose les tourments amoureux qui gardent le narrateur éveillé, comme en témoigne le texte sensuel et ténébreux. De l’innocence éclatante des premiers émois aux fragiles vulnérabilités de la jalousie et du regret, ce programme éclectique dévoile toute une palette émotionnelle : des mélodies célèbres comme les Mélodies « de Venise » de Gabriel Fauré (sur des poèmes de Paul Verlaine) côtoient des raretés telles que le cycle Poèmes intimes d’André Jolivet, dédié à son épouse Hilda. Comme celui de Fauré, le cycle de Jolivet comprend cinq poèmes ; il fut créé à Paris en 1944. Fait étonnant : les trois premiers cycles de ce programme furent créés dans la même salle parisienne, dans le cadre des concerts de la Société Nationale de Musique, qui présentait la « musique sérieuse » française de 1871 (durant la guerre franco-prussienne) jusqu’en 1939.  

Hormis les Nuits blanches de Debussy, toutes les œuvres furent publiées du vivant de leurs auteurs. Les manuscrits inachevés du cycle Nuits blanches ont été retrouvés en 1991 dans la bibliothèque du compositeur Arthur Honegger par sa fille, puis publiés à Paris en 2000.  

Les deux musiciens québécois offrent un lyrisme raffiné à ce répertoire, plongeant l’auditeur dans l’élégance feutrée du salon fin-de-siècle, où poésie et musique se répondaient dans un même souffle.  

Diplômé de la Verbier Festival Academy, le baryton Olivier Bergeron a étudié au Conservatoire de musique de Montréal et à l’École normale de musique de Paris, où il a complété un Certificat Spécialisé en Mélodie Française sous la tutelle de François Le Roux. Il s’est produit avec Les Talens Lyriques sous la direction de Christophe Rousset, avec Fabio Biondi, ainsi que dans de prestigieuses salles telles que la Philharmonie de Paris, le Wigmore Hall, l’Opéra Grand Avignon, la Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier avec l’Opéra de Montréal, et l’Amphithéâtre Fernand-Lindsay du Festival de Lanaudière. En 2025–2026, il rejoindra Les Arts Florissants et William Christie pour une tournée dans le cadre du Jardin des Voix, Hervé Niquet et Le Concert Spirituel pour un concert à la Chapelle Royale de Versailles et fera ses débuts à la Maison Symphonique de Montréal.

Le pianiste Olivier Godin est directeur artistique de la salle Bourgie à Montréal depuis 2022 et a été nommé professeur au Conservatoire de musique de Montréal à l’âge de 25 ans. Il a enregistré plus de 30 albums salués par la critique et s’est produit au Wigmore Hall, à La Monnaie de Bruxelles et au Palazzetto Bru Zane. Spécialiste de la mélodie française, sa discographie comprend l’intégrale des mélodies de Poulenc, Fauré, Duparc, ainsi que les 333 mélodies de Massenet.

Cet album a été enregistré en 2023 à Passavant, en France.  

Leaf Music est une étiquette indépendante, basée à Halifax, en Nouvelle-Écosse, ainsi qu’à Nashville, au Tennessee. Leaf Music produit et distribue des enregistrements de musique classique de haute qualité où figurent des artistes et compositeurs provenant de toute l’Amérique du Nord. Notre catalogue croissant de musiques solo et orchestrale et de musique de chambre est distribué par Naxos of America auprès des plus grands détaillants internationaux de musique et de fournisseurs de téléchargements et services de streaming. Leaf offre également des services professionnels de production audio et vidéo, de postproduction, ainsi que des services intégrés de marketing et de distribution musicale au Canada. 

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MEDIA CONTACT: 

For more information/photos or to arrange interviews, please contact Peggy Walt,   peggy@leaf.music 

(902) 422-5403 (office) or (902) 476-1096 (cell).  

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Leaf Music, Frédéric Lambert and Chloé Dumoulin Present Nouveau lyrisme

(Halifax/Kjipuktuk, NS) Leaf Music, violist Frédéric Lambert and pianist Chloé Dumoulin announce the upcoming release of their new recording Nouveau Lyrisme (New Lyricism) (LM300) in digital format. This celebration of the ever-evolving Quebec music contemporary scene is an ode to inner landscapes, murmurs, and brilliant dialogues between viola and piano, with works composed between 1990 and 2025. 

The album opens with Trois poèmes by Jeanne Landry, a work rooted in the Western tonal tradition, flowing with expressive contrasts that mirror the upheavals of the 21st century. Next is Alain Payette’s Romance pour alto et piano, inspired by his time at Les Choralies in Vaison-la-Romaine. Michel Edward’s Sonate pour alto et piano, Op. 37, is a work exploring a lighter, more playful side of his typically serious compositional style. Alto-Neptune by Denis Gougeon, part of his Six thèmes solaires, offers a contemplative and mournful chant, an invitation to gaze into the universe with infinite tenderness. Alejandra Odgers’ Discusión unfolds as a fierce musical argument between viola and piano, shifting between tension and resolution. The album closes with Julie Thériault’s Nocturne boréal, a meditation on the human experience within vast northern landscapes—solitary, awe-inspiring, and deeply introspective.  

Photo credit: Brenden Friesen

Frédéric Lambert received a doctorate in viola performance at McGill University under the direction of Professor André Roy. During his studies, he became a founding member of the award-winning Lloyd Carr-Harris String Quartet. In 2007, Frédéric joined the Molinari Quartet, an ensemble devoted entirely to twentieth- and twenty-first-century string quartet repertoire. The group’s 2016 recording of the complete György Kurtág quartets received the prestigious Echo Klassik award and a Diapason d’Or. First viola of the Orchestre symphonique de Laval and Orchestre Métropolitain violist, Frédéric is regularly invited to appear with ensembles such as Les Violins du Roy, the Société de musique contemporaine du Québec, and the Orchestre symphonique de Montréal. He teaches at the Schulich School of Music of McGill University as well as the Université du Québec à Montréal. He previously released Iridescence on the Leaf Music label in 2023. 

Named one of CBC’s 30 top musicians under 30, pianist Chloé Dumoulin is recognized for her sensitive touch, refined sense of colour, and artistic depth. She holds a double master’s degree in solo and collaborative piano from the Conservatoire de musique de Montréal, where she also specialized in chamber music. In 2023, she was awarded the Leverhulme Arts Scholarship to pursue an Artist Diploma at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London under Ronan O’Hora. Founder of the award-winning Quatuor Vatra, she has performed at the Montréal Chamber Music Festival, Maison symphonique, and Bourgie Hall. She has also appeared as a soloist with the Orchestre symphonique de Montréal and the Orchestre Métropolitain. Her performances span Canada, the U.S., Europe, and China, supported by numerous foundations.  

The album was recorded at Domaine Forget from January 6-8, 2025, with assistance from le Conseil des arts et de lettres du Québec. Listen to Nouveau Lyrisme on your favourite streaming platform.  

Leaf Music is an independent recording label based in Halifax, Nova Scotia and Nashville, Tennessee, making and distributing high-quality classical music recordings by artists and composers from across North America. Our growing catalogue of solo, orchestral, and chamber music is distributed by Naxos of America to the world’s most important music retailers, download providers, and streaming services. Leaf is also a provider of professional audio and video production, post-production services and integrated music marketing and distribution in Canada.  

(Halifax/Kjipuktuk, N.-É.) Leaf Music, l’altiste Frédéric Lambert et la pianiste Chloé Dumoulin annoncent la sortie imminente de leur nouvel enregistrement intitulé Nouveau Lyrisme (LM300), qui paraîtra en format numérique. Cette célébration de la scène musicale contemporaine québécoise en constante évolution est une ode aux paysages intérieurs et un hommage à ces murmures et brillants dialogues entre alto et piano que nous livre le répertoire choisi, qui se situe entre 1990 et 2025. 

L’album débute avec Trois poèmes de Jeanne Landry, oeuvre ancrée dans la tradition tonale occidentale et débordante de contrastes expressifs qui reflètent les bouleversements du XXIe siècle. Elle est suivie de la Romance pour alto et piano d’Alain Payette, inspirée de son passage aux Choralies de Vaison-la-Romaine. La Sonate pour alto et piano, op. 37 de Michel Edward explore un côté plus léger et ludique du  style de ce compositeur habituellement grave. « Alto-Neptune » de Denis Gougeon, extrait de ses Six thèmes solaires, offre un chant méditatif et mélancolique, une invitation à contempler l’univers avec une infinie tendresse. Discusión d’Alejandra Odgers se déploie comme un débat musical acharné entre alto et piano, oscillant entre tension et résolution. L’album conclut avec Nocturne boréal de Julie Thériault, une méditation sur l’expérience humaine au cœur des vastes paysages nordiques – solitaire, grandiose et profondément introspective. 

Photo credit: Brenden Friesen

Frédéric Lambert a obtenu un doctorat en interprétation de l’alto à l’Université McGill sous la direction du professeur André Roy. Durant ses études, il est devenu membre fondateur du Quatuor à cordes Lloyd Carr-Harris, lauréat de nombreux prix. En 2007, Frédéric s’est joint au Quatuor Molinari, un ensemble entièrement consacré au répertoire du quatuor à cordes des XXe et XXIe siècles. L’enregistrement de l’intégrale des quatuors de György Kurtág, paru en 2016, a reçu le prestigieux prix Echo Klassik et un Diapason d’Or. Premier alto de l’Orchestre symphonique de Laval et altiste de l’Orchestre Métropolitain, Frédéric est régulièrement invité à se produire avec des ensembles tels que Les Violons du Roy, la Société de musique contemporaine du Québec et l’Orchestre symphonique de Montréal. Il enseigne à l’École de musique Schulich de l’Université McGill ainsi qu’à l’Université du Québec à Montréal. Il a précédemment publié Iridescence sur étiquette Leaf Music en 2023. 

Photo credit: Brenden Friesen

Nommée au palmarès de la CBC parmi les « 30 meilleurs musiciens de moins de 30 ans », la pianiste Chloé Dumoulin est reconnue pour sa sensibilité, son sens raffiné des couleurs et sa profondeur artistique. Elle est titulaire d’une double maîtrise en piano solo et en piano d’accompagnement du Conservatoire de musique de Montréal, où elle s’est également spécialisée en musique de chambre. En 2023, elle a reçu la bourse Leverhulme Arts pour poursuivre un diplôme d’artiste à la Guildhall School of Music and Drama de Londres sous la direction de Ronan O’Hora. Fondatrice du Quatuor Vatra, ensemble primé, elle s’est produite au Festival de musique de chambre de Montréal, à la Maison symphonique et à la salle Bourgie. Elle s’est également produite en soliste avec l’Orchestre symphonique de Montréal et l’Orchestre Métropolitain. Ses concerts se déroulent au Canada, aux États-Unis, en Europe et en Chine, avec le soutien de nombreuses fondations. 

L’album a été enregistré au Domaine Forget entre les 6 et 8 janvier 2025, avec le soutien du Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec. Écoutez Nouveau Lyrisme sur votre plateforme de streaming préférée. 

Leaf Music est une étiquette indépendante, basée à Halifax, en Nouvelle-Écosse, ainsi qu’à Nashville, au Tennessee. Leaf Music produit et distribue des enregistrements de musique classique de haute qualité où figurent des artistes et compositeurs provenant de toute l’Amérique du Nord. Notre catalogue croissant de musiques solo et orchestrale et de musique de chambre est distribué par Naxos of America auprès des plus grands détaillants internationaux de musique et de fournisseurs de téléchargements et services de streaming. Leaf offre également des services professionnels de production audio et vidéo, de postproduction, ainsi que des services intégrés de marketing et de distribution musicale au Canada. 

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MEDIA CONTACT: 

For more information/photos or to arrange interviews, please contact Peggy Walt,  peggy@leaf.music 

(902) 422-5403 (office) or (902) 476-1096 (cell).

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About Fredéric Lambert
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Leaf Music, Tim Brady, and Warhol Dervish String Quartet Present “The Possibility of a New Work for String Quartet.”

(Halifax/Kjipuktuk, NS) Leaf Music, composer Tim Brady and the Warhol Dervish String Quartet announce the upcoming release of their new recording The Possibility of a New Work for String Quartet (LM293) in digital format. 

Composer Tim Brady and the enigmatic Montreal-based Warhol Dervish String Quartet present Tim Brady: String Quartet Nos. 3- 5 – The Possibility of a New Work for String Quartet. Stemming from Brady’s compositional challenge—”so many string quartets have been written, there’s literally nothing left to do with the medium”—these works push the boundaries of the genre, treating composition not as a written score but as an ever-evolving process of music making.   

The album opens with Quartet No. 3, an instruction-based score that invites performers to “compose” their own quartet. Quartet No. 4 unfolds as a slow, meditative work, marked by its sparseness, transparency, and expansive melodic line. Next, Quartet No. 5 is a five-movement piece that challenges the musicians’ rhythmic agility and ensemble acuity, bringing the album to a dynamic close.   

Founded in 2007, the Warhol Dervish (Facebook Page) brings together some of Canada’s most innovative musicians. Known for their adventurous programming, they have performed at major festivals, including the Ottawa Chamber Music Festival, Toronto Summer Music Festival, and Festival International de Lanaudière. Their projects span a wide musical spectrum, from Morton Feldman’s Piano Quintet to collaborations with Lukas Ligeti and Sarah Pagé. Recent highlights include a national tour with Basia Bulat, a five-concert Beethoven series exploring the last five Beethoven string quartets (The Late Quartets), and a Maisons de la culture tour exploring Yiddish music with Socalled. The members are Alexander Read (violin), Chloé Chabanole (violin), Pemi Paull (viola), and Jean-Christophe Lizotte (cello). 

Composer and guitarist Tim Brady has pushed musical boundaries, seamlessly blending classical, jazz, and rock influences. A virtuosic electric guitarist and prolific composer, he has toured internationally as a soloist and with his groups Bradyworks and Instruments of Happiness. His works span operas, symphonies, and concertos, with commissions from major orchestras, including the Orchestre symphonique de Montréal and Symphony Nova Scotia. A recipient of multiple Opus Prizes and a JUNO nominee, his recordings have earned critical acclaim, including praise from The New York Times. His music, defined by rhythmic intensity and bold textures, continues to captivate audiences worldwide.  

The album was recorded in St. Augustin Church in Montreal from February 4 – 7, 2023, with assistance from the Canada Council for the Arts. Listen on your favourite streaming platforms. 

Leaf Music is an independent recording label based in Halifax, Nova Scotia and Nashville, Tennessee, making and distributing high-quality classical music recordings by artists and composers from across North America. Our growing catalogue of solo, orchestral, and chamber music is distributed by Naxos of America to the world’s most important music retailers, download providers, and streaming services. Leaf is also a provider of professional audio and video production, post-production services and integrated music marketing and distribution in Canada. 

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MEDIA CONTACT: 

For more information/photos or to arrange interviews, please contact Peggy Walt,  peggy@leaf.music 

(902) 422-5403 (office) or (902) 476-1096 (cell).

Stream/Download
Listen to Playlist
Warhol Dervish

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Leaf Music and Bela String Quartet present their latest EP 

(Halifax/Kjipuktuk, NS) Leaf Music and Bela String Quartet announce the March 28 release of their new EP (LM2047). 

Sharing with its release title, Bela String Quartet presents a collection of Nordic folk melodies reimagined through the lens of classical and folk traditions. Inspired by the Danish String Quartet’s celebrated collections Wood Works and Last Leaf, this EP captures the joy, camaraderie, and timeless beauty of traditional Nordic tunes. They recorded three beloved arrangements by the Danish String Quartet: Waltz after Lasse in Lyby, Stædelil, and Sønderho Bridal Trilogy, Pt. 2 at the St. George’s Round Church, a National Historic Site built in 1812.

From left to right: Catherine Little (cello), Anna Wedlock (violin), Carrie VanSlyke (viola), Anthony Rissesco (violin) 

For over a decade, the Bela String Quartet has delighted audiences across Canada’s East Coast. They blend their diverse musical backgrounds to create heartfelt and refined performances. 

Anna Wedlock is a fiddler and violinist. She’s collaborated with many pop and folk artists, including India Gailey, Cassie Josephine, and The Big Country Ramblers. As the leader of the Bela String Quartet, Anna has arranged and performed work with Terra Spencer, Jenn Grant, and Gianna Lauren. She lives in Halifax with her partner and dog.  

Anthony Rissesco is a versatile violin player and teacher who tours regularly with award-winning singer-songwriter Lennie Gallant and with roots-rock band Pogey. As a member of the neo-traditional trio Papilio, Anthony has garnered ECMA and Nova Scotia Music Awards nominations. He is also a member of the popular Halifax band The Gig Dogs. Anthony has played with Symphony Nova Scotia, Anne Murray, and Peggy Seeger. 

Carrie VanSlyke is a classical violist who has performed worldwide, from the Sydney Opera House to Aspen and Banff Music Festivals. A regular with Symphony Nova Scotia since 2014, she has collaborated with Rod Stewart, Nelly Furtado, and Weezer. She relocated to Nashville after over a decade in Nova Scotia. Carrie holds Viola Performance degrees from the College-Conservatory of Music in Cincinnati and McGill University. 

Nova Scotia-born cellist Catherine Little is dedicated to bridging classical music with diverse audiences. She has performed with Nouvel Ensemble Moderne, Symphony Nova Scotia, and the Orquesta Sinfónica Nacional de Colombia. As part of Trio KLM, she engages her audiences by performing arrangements of classical greats, as well as well-loved pop and rock. Catherine’s discography includes two albums with pianist Gregory Myra – the 2022 Nova Scotia Music Award-winning “Taking Five” (2021) and “Light & Dark” (2024). Catherine holds an Honours Bachelor of Music degree from Wilfrid Laurier University (2007) and a Master’s in Music Performance from the Université de Montréal (2010). 

Leaf Music is an independent recording label based in Halifax, Nova Scotia and Nashville, Tennessee, making and distributing high-quality classical music recordings by artists and composers across North America. Our growing catalogue of solo, orchestral, and chamber music is distributed by Naxos of America to the world’s most important music retailers, download providers, and streaming services. Leaf is also a provider of professional audio and video production, post-production services and integrated music marketing and distribution in Canada. 

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MEDIA CONTACT: 

For more information/photos or to arrange interviews, please contact Peggy Walt,   

peggy@leaf.music 

(902) 422-5403 (office) or (902) 476-1096 (cell). 

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