The sixth season of Mattina Musica continues at the Sid Williams Theatre on Dec. 7 with clarinetist extraordinaire François Houle.
Italian for “Morning Music”, Mattina Musica is a six-concert series of classical music, hosted by pianist Sarah Hagen, taking place on select Monday mornings.
Audience members are warmly invited to attend a reception of coffee, tea and treats in the Sid lobby before each performance.
For their December concert, Houle and Hagen have selected an autumnal sonata of Brahms and a fabulously Parisian work by Francis Poulenc.
Lauded as “a spectacularly versatile clarinettst who appears to have no limitations stylistically or sonically” (LA Times), Houle has established himself as one of today’s most inventive musicians. Whether he’s performing works by Mozart or Messiaen, appearing as a featured soloist with orchestra, or improvising and embracing live, interactive electronics, Houle demystifies music for audiences everywhere. A sought after soloist and chamber musician, he has been listed by Downbeat magazine as a “Talent Deserving Wider Recognition” and has been hailed as a “Rising Star” in Downbeat’s Readers and Critics’ Polls.
His extensive touring has led to solo appearances at major festivals across Canada, the United States, Europe and Australia. A prolific recording artist, he has released over 20 recordings as a leader, earning multiple Juno Award and West Coast Music Award nominations. Houle studied at McGill University, went on to win the National Debut competition, and completed his studies at Yale University. He has been an artist-in-residence at the Banff Centre for the Arts and at the Civitella Ranieri Foundation in Umbria, Italy, and was a featured soloist in the International Clarinet Association’s 2007 and 2008 ClarinetFests.
From the Comox Valley, Hagen enjoys a busy and varied concert schedule that has taken her from the Sid Williams Theatre to Carnegie Hall.
Individual tickets are $22 (SWTS members) and $27 (regular). Coffee and tea is served at 9:45 a.m. and music begins at 10:30. For more information on the Mattina Musica series, visit www.sidwilliamstheatre.com or call 250-338-2430.