Yoav Talmi
Well known and celebrated on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean, Yoav Talmi is currently in his 12th season as Artistic Director and Conductor of the Quebec Symphony in Canada and Principal Guest Conductor of the Israel Chamber Orchestra in Tel Aviv.
During this season, Yoav Talmi will continue his impressive international career, conducting – among others, the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra in Tel Aviv, Rochester Philharmonic in the USA, Calgary Philharmonic, Rio de Janeiro, Mexico City to name but a few.
In June 2009, Maestro Talmi was named “Officer of the National Order of Quebec”, the most prestigious honor by the Quebec Government, while in August 2008, Talmi was presented with Québec City’s official 400th anniversary Medal for his invaluable contribution to the city’s anniversary celebrations.
In July 2008, Maestro Talmi was warded the top cultural award – the Frank Peleg Prize from the Israeli government, for his high-level artistic achievements throughout long years of activity.
In March 2008, Talmi led the historic performance of Mahler’s 8th Symphony at the Quebec Coliseum with 1000 performers. Twelve thousands enthusiastic spectators heard this spectacular event – celebrating the 400 anniversary of the city of Québec.
To end the celebrations, Maestro Talmi presented in August 2008, Tchaikovsky’s massive 1812 Overture and Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana to an audience of 60,000 people in a performance that brought over 300 artists together on stage.
Maestro Talmi carries also an honorary doctorate from the Laval University, in recognition of his contribution to Quebec City’s cultural life.
Yoav Talmi and the OSQ
Since the appointment of Yoav Talmi as artistic director of the OSQ, the Orchestra flourished in many respects: Under his direction, the Quebec City’s based orchestra has realized its first Canadian tour, has made eight recordings and has regularly participated in such prestigious festivals as Lanaudière, Domaine Forget, Festival d'été de Québec and the Montreal Symphony’s Mozart Plus Festival.
Talmi’s recording with the OSQ of the ‘Children’s Corner’ by Debussy continues to receive unanimous critical acclaim. The Belgian magazine Crescendo awarded the recording its Joker Prize and both the French and English critics of Classics Today gave it 10 out of 10. The OSQ’s latest recording, ‘Bach Métamorphoses’, received the Joker Prize from Crescendo and was nominated for the JUNO Awards 2009. Talmi/OSQ’s recording with pianist Alain Lefèvre reached and held the number one position in Classical CD charts in Canada for several months and won a Félix for the “Album of the year - Classical/ Orchestra and Large Ensemble”. French Showpieces with violinist James Ehnes also won a Félix. This CD was named ‘Record of the Month’ by the French recording magazine Répertoire and received a perfect mark in Diapason. Talmi/OSQ’s televised performance of Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana at the Lanaudiere Festival won a Gémeaux Award from Radio-Canada for the best TV classical production. His performance of Mahler 8th Symphony at the coliseum in March 2008, won the OPUS Prize as The Concert of the Year.
Guest conductor
Yoav Talmi is regularly invited to conduct prestigious orchestras all over the world. He has conducted the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, Amsterdam’s Concertgebouw, the St. Petersburg, Oslo, Stockholm, Warsaw and Israel Philharmonic Orchestras; the Prague, Hamburg and Vienna Symphony Orchestras; the Orchestre National de France, Zurich’s Tonhalle, the Santa Cecilia Academy in Rome, as well as all the leading orchestras of London. In North America, Yoav Talmi has conducted the orchestras of Pittsburgh, Detroit, Saint Louis, Houston, Montreal, Indianapolis, Dallas, Vancouver and Seattle. In Japan, he has conducted frequently the NHK (Japanese National Radio Orchestra) Symphony, as well as the New Japan Philharmonic, the Tokyo Symphony and the Sapporo Symphony Orchestra.
Past Positions, Awards, Recordings
Born in Israel, Yoav Talmi was a recipient of the prestigious Koussevitzky Memorial Conducting Prize at the Tanglewood Festival, and laureate of the Rupert Conductor’s Competition in London. Maestro Talmi was Music Director of the Arnhem Philharmonic in the Netherlands (1974-1980), Principal Guest-Conductor of the Munich Philharmonic (1979-80), Music Director of the Israel Chamber Orchestra and the New Israeli Opera (1984-88), Music Director of the San Diego Symphony in California (1989-96), and Chief Conductor of the Hamburg Symphony (2000–2004).
Maestro Talmi has recorded for the CHANDOS, NAXOS, DECCA, TELDEC, EMI, PRO-ARTE, CBC, ANALEKTA and ATMA labels. His recording of Bruckner’s 9th Symphony with the Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra was awarded the prestigious Grand Prix du Disque in Paris, while his recording of Schoenberg and Tchaikovsky with the Israel Chamber Orchestra was chosen "Record of the month" by Germany’s ‘Fono-Forum’ magazine.
In June 2009 Maestro Talmi was appointed to the position of Head of Orchestral-Conducting Department at the University of Tel Aviv’s Buchmann-Mehta School of Music. |
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Airat Ichmouratov
Born in Kazan, Russia, Airat Ichmouratov studied clarinet at the Kazan State Conservatory. In 1993, he was appointed as Associate clarinetist of the Tatarstan’s Opera and Ballet Theatre, and of the Kazan State Symphony Orchestra, with which he toured Europe. In 2000 he obtained a Master degree at the University of Montreal. He then founded the Muczynski Trio, who won the 1st prize and Grand Award at the National Music Festival (Canada, 2002) and 1st Prize at the 8th International Chamber Music Competition in Krakow (Poland, 2004). The Muczynski Trio toured Eastern Canada with La Jeunesse Musicales in 2006, and participated in the Topaz Series with Pro Musica at Place des Arts (Montréal). The Trio has also recorded for CBC and has given performances in Iqualuit (Nunavut), China, Russia and Europe.
Also In 2000, Mr. Ichmouratov joined the klezmer group Kleztory, where he plays clarinet, composes and arranges. In 2004, Kleztory recorded unique CD – klezmer music with world - renowned orchestra I Musici de Montreal and Yuli Turovsky for the “Chandos” label (Great Britain). In 2007 Kleztory’s last album “Nomade” won Opus Prize. With Kleztory, Mr. Ichmouratov appeared as soloist with several orchestras including the Montreal Symphony Orchestra, the Quebec Symphony Orchestra, I Musici of Montreal and Brussels Chamber Orchestra.
Holding a Ph.D in orchestra conducting from University of Montreal, Airat Ichmouratov has frequently been invited as the guest conductor of the Tatarstan’s State Symphony Orchestra, the Kazan Chamber Orchestra “La Primavera” (Russia) also l'Orchestre Métropolitain du Grand Montréal, Laval Symphony Orchestra, New Brunswick Symphony Orchestra, I Musici of Montreal and 13 Strings (Ottawa). During 2007-09 Mr. Ichmouratov served as Conductor in Residence of Les Violons du Roy in Quebec city. One of their recent concerts “Russian Impressions” under Ichmouratov’s direction which also presented world premiere of his Cello Concerto won Opus Prize in category – Best concert of the year. In 2009, Airat was appointed to the position of Assistant Resident Conductor of the Orchestre Symphonique de Québec.
Airat is also prolific composer; his compositions have been performed in Canada, USA, Russia, Israel and Europe. His recent works such as “Fantastic Dances” and Second String Quartet was recorded by I Musici de Montreal for “ANALEKTA” label and Alcan Quartet for “ATMA”.
Since September, Airat Ichmouratov has been a guest professor at the Université Laval Music Faculty.
Mr.Ichmouratov currently resides in Montreal with his wife Elvira, a violist, and their two daughters Alina and Louisa. During the few moments of free time that his schedule of activities and travel affords him, he enjoys his big hobby - Reef Aquarium. He also likes to do rock climbing, windsurfing, alpinism and scuba diving…
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