Pianist Bernstein and CUC String Quartet Receive Standing Ovation

Sunday evening's concert featuring pianists Alex Bernstein, Debra Bakland, and CUC's string quartet was one of the best-attended and musically most exciting concerts of this year's Sunday@7 series.  Bernstein began the programme with a heart-stopping performance of Bach's Prelude & Fugue in C# major.  He then played the last piano sonata written by Beethoven, Number 32 in C minor, a piece one historian calls, "a work of unmatched drama and transcendence . . . the triumph of order over chaos, of optimism over anguish."  Bernstein concluded the first half of the program by playing a duet, Mozart's Sonata in D Major, with his former teacher Debra Bakland.

Receiving a well-deserved standing ovation are, from left to right, Alex Bernstein, Josias Sanchez, Aaron Boscanin,
Joshua Flynn, and Greicy Perez.

Following intermission Bernstein was joined by CUC's string quartet for a performance of Shostakovich's quintet.  Canadian University College's string quartet consists of an international group of students: Aaron Boscanin, violin (USA), Josias Sanchez, violin (Mexico), Greicy Perez, viola, (Venezuela), and Joshua Flynn (Canada).  A short video excerpt from the scherzo movement is provided below.

The outstanding performance of Shostakovich's demanding work drew a standing ovation from the audience.  Bernstein rewarded the audience with an encore, playing Liszt's transcription of the final movement of Wagner's opera Tristan und Isolde.  A short video excerpt is provided below.