When Place des Arts music teachers Barry Tan, Stefan Nazarevich and Geeta Das were trying to figure out what pieces to play for the Coquitlam venue’s final faculty concert of the season, they turned to the public for help.
They had different musical backgrounds as well as styles and strengths but the trio agreed they would be most comfortable performing together the period of French Impressionism — that is, the emotive music of the late 19th and early 20th centuries made famous by Debussy and Ravel.
Last fall, they put out a survey to see what classics their audience would want to hear.
And the results weren’t a surprise, Nazarevich told The Tri-City News yesterday (Monday), as people cast their votes for the most well-known compositions.
Saturday, the teachers will showcase the fan favourites in a recital called L’Innovation: French Classics by Request, performing: Gymnopedie no.1 by Erik Satie; Habanera from Carmen by Georges Bizet; and The Swan from Carnival of the Animals by Camille Saint-Saens.
As well, Nazarevich, a music undergrad at SFU, will also present his new French Impressionism-inspired composition he wrote specifically for the show, titled Flowering.
“It’s my way to pay tribute to them,” he said of the French writers.
To keep in tune with their rebellious spirit, the trio is also shaking up their performance by adding some twists. For example, Das, who plays the flute, clarinet and trumpet, will use electric guitar pedals to give more audio effects to her flute playing.
“We want to continue to push the boundaries because it makes the experience more interesting,” said Nazarevich, a Port Moody secondary IB graduate, “and we think the Impressionists would approve with our experimenting.”
• Tickets at $21/$16 are available by calling Place des Arts (1120 Brunette Ave., Coquitlam) or online at brownpapertickets.com.
