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The first, Stockholm Saxophone Quartet, is an innovative leader and pioneer of Swedish contemporary music, bringing a new perspective to the saxophone. The second, the Stenhammar Quartet, is one of Sweden's most emblematic string quartets, both in contemporary and classical music. What do they have in common? Being part of Le Vivier's program!

The Stockholm Saxophone Quartet meets Montreal quartet Quasar on October 24, to celebrate their 30th anniversary. This international collaboration is far from being the first for these 8 saxophonists. At the renowned Salle Bourgie, they will be performing works by Gordon Williamson, Martina Tomber and Yannick Plamondon. Quasar has also chosen to pay tribute to the recently deceased composer José Evangelista, with the work Saxoctet. As usual, an incendiary meeting takes place before the concert.

“We are currently in Sweden with the Stockholm Saxophone Quartet. What a joy to be reunited with these wonderful colleagues, with whom we share the same pleasure and commitment to creation. These are intense moments of work and sharing.   We can't wait to be back in Quebec to share these new creations with the public”, Marie-Chantal Leclair.

You'll just have to wait a few days (Sunday, October 27) for the Stenhammar Quartet, making their Canadian debut. Swedish composer and pianist Wilhem Stenhammar is the quartet's namesake. Swedish and Scandinavian music predominates in their repertoire, both classical and contemporary. The program for the “Tales of strength” concert with Le Vivier is no exception, with three of the five pieces by Swedish composers.

For this evening, Stenhammar quartet imagines a committed and resilient program, imbued with strong messages: “This title [Tales of strength] is very evocative. It highlights struggles that are important to each of the composers, and which can also affect us personally,” explains Mats Olofsson, cellist with the quartet. Canadian artist Tanya Tagak, for example, evokes the meeting of cultures and the human condition in today's society. Struggles as a predominant theme are also addressed, through the pandemic (Anna Einarsson: Courage, mon amie) or alcoholism (Karl-Erik Wellin: Residuo), but with a note of hope and resistance.

Only Caroline Shaw's work (Entr'acte) seems to stand out, concluding the program on a happier note: “This piece, inspired by a passage from a work by Haydn, demonstrates how music combined with our imagination can plunge us into a world as whimsical as Alice in Wonderland” (Matts Olofsson).

There will also be a pre-concert discussion with the quartet.

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Quasar and Stockholm saxophone quartet - Saxoctet
Thursday, October 24, 2024
7:30 p.m. (pre-concert with the two ensembles starting at 6:30 p.m)
Salle Bourgie
Info and tickets

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Stenhammar quartet, Tales of strength
Sunday, October 27, 2024, 
7:30 pm (discussion with the quartet from 6:30 pm)
Espace orange . Wilder Building
Info and tickets