Blueridge Festival Celebrates ‘Three Queens’ with Remarkable Concert

The Blueridge Chamber Music Festival recently marked its fifteenth season by honoring three significant Canadian composers—Violet Archer, Jean Coulthard, and Barbara Pentland—during a special concert titled “Three Queens.” The event took place on August 13, 2023, at The Annex in downtown Vancouver, celebrating the 25th anniversary of their passing in 2000.

This year’s festival featured a diverse range of performances, showcasing works from various composers, including the late Victorian figure **Samuel Coleridge-Taylor** and contemporary German composer **Helmut Lachenmann**. The concert dedicated to Archer, Coulthard, and Pentland stood out, presenting a well-curated selection of their music, reflecting their unique contributions to Canadian classical music.

The program included **Coulthard’s** three piano trios, **Archer’s** final string quartet, and **Pentland’s** Piano Quintet from 1983. These compositions, written during the late stages of each composer’s career, reveal their distinct yet often underappreciated musical identities. The evening began with **Coulthard’s** Lyric Trio, an elegant piece performed by members of the **Microcosmos String Quartet**, including violinist **Andrea Siradze**, cellist **Zolton Rozzy**, and pianist **Jocelyn Lai**. Their interpretation highlighted the work’s lush lyricism and formal intricacies, engaging the audience from the outset.

Following the Lyric Trio, the performers tackled **Coulthard’s** one-movement **Legend of the Snows**, crafted for a trio of distinguished Canadian musicians who later achieved notable success. The piece’s evocative nature added depth to the concert, demonstrating Coulthard’s range and ability to captivate listeners.

The second half of the program featured another **Coulthard** piece, **The Birds of Lansdowne**, performed by violinist **Marc Destrubé**, cellist **Zoltan Rozsnyai**, and pianist **Jane Hayes**. This composition draws inspiration from avian artwork and incorporates recorded birdsong, showcasing Coulthard’s environmental concerns—an enduring theme in her later works.

The concert also included **Archer’s** Third String Quartet, described as an ambitious and intense composition. Archer, a student of **Paul Hindemith**, pushes musical boundaries while maintaining a distinct voice. The performance by the **Microcosmos** was both powerful and committed, reflecting the quartet’s intricate structure.

The evening concluded with **Pentland’s** Piano Quartet, one of her final works. Recognized as a significant figure in Canada’s musical landscape, Pentland had the unique experience of studying at the prestigious **Darmstadt** summer music sessions. Her later compositions evolved towards a richer, more relaxed idiom, and the Piano Quartet exemplifies this transition. Despite its technical demands, the performance was executed with finesse by the **Microcosmos**, featuring pianist **Manuel Laufer**.

As the festival continues, concert three, titled **Lachenmann at 90**, was scheduled for August 14, 2023, with the festival concluding on August 15 with an event named **Happy Blueridge Birthday**. Both performances commenced at 19:00 at The Annex, offering audiences a chance to immerse themselves in innovative classical music.

For those unable to attend in person, the festival provides live streaming options through **VEEPS**, a music-focused streaming service now available in Canada, ensuring broader access to these exceptional performances. The Blueridge Chamber Music Festival not only enriches Vancouver’s cultural landscape but also honors the legacies of its significant composers, making this celebration of music a poignant and memorable event for all attendees.