Young Professionals Circle
Concert Information
Illia Ovcharenko, piano
7:30 pm, Tuesday March 4
St. Lawrence Centre, Jane Mallett Theatre
9:30 pm post-concert social and meet-the-artist
The Flatiron - A Firkin Pub, 49 Wellington St E (back room)
We are looking forward to welcoming you back to the Jane Mallett Theatre on Tuesday March 4th for the third YPC event of the 2024-25 season.
Illia Ovcharenko is a 23-year-old Ukrainian pianist whose dynamic artistry and profound musical insight have made him one of the most exciting young performers on the international stage. Since winning the prestigious Honens International Piano Competition in 2022, he has gone on to receive numerous accolades in Europe, including top prizes at the Busoni and Horowitz competitions, as well as first prize at the 2024 Kissinger KlavierOlymp in Germany. Now based in Berlin, Ovcharenko continues to captivate audiences with performances that combine technical brilliance with deep emotional expression, bringing fresh interpretations to classical repertoire. His program for Music Toronto will showcase the power and intimacy of solo piano music, featuring works by composers whose compositions have shaped the landscape of piano literature.
If you arrive early, join fellow YPC members for a pre-show drink at the west end of the Jane Mallett Theatre lobby. After the performance, we invite you to continue the evening at the Flat Iron - A Firkin Pub for a post-concert meet-the-artist and social gathering. The pub is a short walk away, located at Church and Wellington.
The Composers
Ovcharenko’s recital program spans multiple centuries and musical traditions, featuring works by composers who each left a distinct mark on piano literature.
Domenico Scarlatti (1685–1757) was an Italian Baroque composer best known for his 555 keyboard sonatas. His music is characterized by vibrant rhythms, intricate ornamentation, and Spanish influences. The Scarlatti sonatas featured in this program (Sonata in B Minor, K.87 and Sonata in B Minor, K.27) highlight his ingenuity and flair for dazzling passagework.
Franz Liszt (1811–1886) was a visionary of the Romantic era, known for his groundbreaking contributions to piano music. His Sonata in B Minor is one of the most demanding and profound works in the repertoire, blending virtuosic brilliance with an innovative, single-movement structure that explores a vast emotional landscape.
Levko Revutsky (1889–1977) was a Ukrainian composer and pianist deeply rooted in the country’s folk traditions. His Preludes, Op. 4 & Op. 7 and Sonata in B Minor, Op. 1 showcase his fusion of lyrical Ukrainian melodies with rich harmonies and expressive pianistic textures, offering a deeply personal reflection on Ukrainian musical heritage.
Valentin Silvestrov (b. 1937) is one of Ukraine’s most celebrated contemporary composers, known for his introspective and poetic style. His Three Bagatelles, Op. 1 capture moments of nostalgia and serenity, blending simple yet profound melodies with atmospheric harmonies that invite deep reflection.
Frédéric Chopin (1810–1849) is synonymous with the Romantic piano tradition. His Polonaise in A-flat Major “Heroic,” Op. 53 is a triumphant and exhilarating work, celebrated for its bold rhythmic drive and sweeping grandeur—an electrifying conclusion to Ovcharenko’s recital.
The Music
Ovcharenko’s program for Music Toronto balances lyricism and intensity, highlighting both technical brilliance and artistic depth. The evening opens with the elegance and expressive subtlety of Scarlatti’s sonatas, before moving into the emotional extremes of Liszt’s monumental Sonata in B Minor. After intermission, the recital shifts to a powerful exploration of Ukrainian musical voices, blending Silvestrov’s meditative miniatures with Revutsky’s deeply expressive preludes and sonata. Finally, Chopin’s Polonaise provides a dazzling finale, filled with heroic energy and virtuosic flair.
The Performance
Illia Ovcharenko has mesmerized audiences worldwide with his ability to bring both technical mastery and deep emotional insight to the piano. His Music Toronto debut will offer a compelling interpretation of these masterworks, showcasing his versatility and profound connection to the music.
His ability to balance the grandeur and subtlety of this repertoire sets him apart as an artist. This performance promises to be a thrilling experience, offering audiences a chance to witness the next generation of great pianists in action.
Don’t miss this opportunity to hear Illia Ovcharenko in an intimate recital setting, surrounded by fellow YPC members. We look forward to sharing this exceptional evening with you!
Read Illia’s an interview with Leslie Barcza on the Barcza Blog.
We look forward to seeing you on March 4th
Rachel Fenlon,
soprano and pianist
7:30 pm, Tuesday February 11
St. Lawrence Centre, Jane Mallett Theatre
9:00 pm post-concert meet-the-artist
University Club, 380 University Avenue
We are looking forward to welcoming you back to the Jane Mallett Theatre on February 11th for the second YPC event of the 2024-25 season.
Rachel Fenlon is a soprano and pianist whose artistry brings a fresh perspective to classical music stages worldwide. With a unique blend of singer-songwriter sensibility, she delivers captivating song recitals. Rachel will present classical composer Franz Schubert's monumental Winterreise (Winter’s Journey), at Music TORONTO in a unique way, as both soprano and pianist.
If you arrive early, join fellow YPC members for a pre-show drink (first drink is on us!) at the west end of the Jane Mallett Theatre lobby. The concert will start at 7:30. After the 70 minute performance, we invite you to continue the evening at the University Club (380 University Avenue, just north of the American Consulate) for a post-concert meet-the-artist and social gathering. The Club is a short Uber ride away, located on the west side of University between Queen and Dundas.
Keep reading to learn more…
The Composer:
Franz Schubert (1797–1828) was an Austrian composer of the late Classical and early Romantic periods who lived a tragically short life, dying at just 31 years of age. Despite his short life, Schubert produced an astonishing body of work, including over 600 songs, symphonies, chamber music, and piano works. He had a profound interest in song cycles, such as Die schöne Müllerin and Winterreise, where his masterful fusion of poetry and music created deeply expressive and enduring narratives.
The Music:
Winterreise is an intensely introspective and emotional work that explores themes of unrequited love, alienation, loss, and existential despair. The cycle follows a lonely wanderer, rejected in love, as he journeys through a bleak, wintery landscape that mirrors his inner turmoil. Written by Wilhelm Müller, the poetry and music resonates deeply with listeners because of its raw and honest portrayal of human vulnerability. Schubert composed the cycle near the end of his life, when he was in ill health and facing his own mortality adding another layer of depth and authenticity.
The Performance:
Rachel Fenlon defies our expectations with her own take on the art song recital. A traditional performance would include two musicians, one singer and one pianist. But, in this concert Rachel will take on the roles of both, balancing the vast emotional range of Müller's poetry with Schubert's intricate piano music. Rachel’s performance will be 70 minutes long and there will be no intermission.
To add another layer of complexity, the cycle is written from a male-perspective. Here is what Rachel had to say about her gender-defying performance in an interview with Leslie Barcza on Barcza Blog:
"Something I would love to comment on with regards to your question on gender is that, whilst I am female-identifying, I have never in my life felt as close to a character as I do when I’m singing Winterreise. I feel I embody it with my entire being. I don’t change the pronouns of myself to be a woman, nor my love interest to be a man, nor do I imagine my sexuality differently. It transcends that for me. It truly does. We live in an interesting time in history where there are many beautiful, open conversations happening around gender. For me with Winterreise, it’s not about me being a man, woman… it’s about being a human and what it is to grieve, to feel, to lose, to have hope, to love, to suffer, to be alive."
See what Rachel has to say about her recently released Winterreise recording here.
We look forward to seeing you on February 11th!
Factoid: Music TORONTO Artistic and Executive Director Roman Borys studied cello with the famous cellist Janos Starker, grandfather of Juno Award winning and Grammy nominated songwriter and performer JP Saxe.