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New Album Release in December 2023

Link to the Article on Naxos

Zygmunt Noskowski & Władysław Żeleński

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Violin Sonatas (NAXOS)

DECEMBER 2023

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Albums

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  • Ferdinand Rebay - The Complete Sonatas for Violin & Guitar and Viola & Guitar - Laurence Kayaleh, violin/viola - Michael Kolk, guitar
    1 – Ferdinand Rebay (1880-1953)icon-downloadicon-download
    Ferdinand Rebay - The Complete Sonatas for Violin & Guitar and Viola & Guitar - Laurence Kayaleh, violin/viola - Michael Kolk, guitar
    1. The Complete Sonatas for Violin & Guitar, and Viola & Guitar – Excerpt // 1 – Ferdinand Rebay (1880-1953)
  • Joachim Raff - Complete Violin Sonatas, Vol. 2 - Laurence Kayaleh, Violin - Jean-Fabien Schneider, Piano
    2 – Joachim Raff (1822-1882) - Vol. 2icon-downloadicon-download
    Joachim Raff - Complete Violin Sonatas, Vol. 2 - Laurence Kayaleh, Violin - Jean-Fabien Schneider, Piano
    1. Sonata for Violin & Piano No. 3 in D major, Op. 128 – Allegro assai // 2 – Joachim Raff (1822-1882) - Vol. 2
  • Joachim Raff - Complete Violin Sonatas, Vol. 2 - Laurence Kayaleh, Violin - Jean-Fabien Schneider, Piano
    3– Joachim Raff (1822-1882) - Vol. 1icon-downloadicon-download
    Joachim Raff - Complete Violin Sonatas, Vol. 2 - Laurence Kayaleh, Violin - Jean-Fabien Schneider, Piano
    1. Sonata for Violin & Piano No. 3 in D major, Op. 128 – Allegro assai // 2 – Joachim Raff (1822-1882) - Vol. 2
  • Georgy Lvovich Catoire - Laurence Kayaleh
    4 – Georgy Lvovich Catoire (1861-1926)icon-downloadicon-download
    Georgy Lvovich Catoire - Laurence Kayaleh
    1. Sonata No. 1 in B minor, Op.15 (1906) – Allegro non tanto, ma appassionato // 4 – Georgy Lvovich Catoire (1861-1926)
    2. Sonata No. 1 in B minor, Op.15 (1906) – Barcarolle : Andante // 4 – Georgy Lvovich Catoire (1861-1926)
    3. Sonata No. 1 in B minor, Op.15 (1906) – Allegro con spirito // 4 – Georgy Lvovich Catoire (1861-1926)
    4. Sonata No. 2 in D major, Op. 20 “Poème” (1906) // 4 – Georgy Lvovich Catoire (1861-1926)
    5. Elegy in D minor, Op. 26 (pub. 1916) // 4 – Georgy Lvovich Catoire (1861-1926)
  • 5 - Arthur Honeggericon-downloadicon-download
    1. Sonata for solo violin in D minor, H. 143 (1940) : (I) Allegro // 5 - Arthur Honegger
    2. Sonata for solo violin in D minor, H. 143 (1940) : (III) Allegretto grazioso // 5 - Arthur Honegger
    3. Sonata for solo violin in D minor, H. 143 (1940) : (IV) Presto // 5 - Arthur Honegger
    4. Sonata for violin and piano No.1, H. 17 (1916-18) : (I) Andante sostenuto // 5 - Arthur Honegger
    5. Sonata for violin and piano No.1, H. 17 (1916-18) : (III) Adagio – Quasi allegro –
      Allegro assai – Adagio // 5 - Arthur Honegger
    6. Sonata for violin and piano in D minor, H. 3 (1912) : (I) Largo – Agitato – Largo assai // 5 - Arthur Honegger
  • Nikolaï Medtner - Vol. 2
    6 - Nikolaï Medtner - Vol. 2icon-downloadicon-download
    Nikolaï Medtner - Vol. 2
    1. Sonata for violin and piano No. 1 in B minor, Op. 21 : (II) Danza: Allegro scherzando // 6 - Nikolaï Medtner - Vol. 2
    2. Sonata for violin and piano No. 2 in G major, Op. 44 : (I) Allegro appassionato // 6 - Nikolaï Medtner - Vol. 2
    3. Sonata for violin and piano No. 2 in G major, Op. 44 : (II) Tema con variazioni (variation 6) :
      Allegro risoluto // 6 - Nikolaï Medtner - Vol. 2
    4. Sonata for violin and piano No. 2 in G major, Op. 44 : (III) Finale (Rondo) : Allegro risoluto // 6 - Nikolaï Medtner - Vol. 2
    5. Canzona No. 2 in B minor, Op. 43 – Andantino cantabile // 6 - Nikolaï Medtner - Vol. 2
  • Nikolaï Medtner - Vol. 1 - Laurence Kayaleh
    7 - Nikolaï Medtner - Vol. 1icon-downloadicon-download
    Nikolaï Medtner - Vol. 1 - Laurence Kayaleh
    1. Fairy Tale No. 1 in B flat minor, Op. 20 (arr. Jascha Heifetz) // 7 - Nikolaï Medtner - Vol. 1
    2. Sonata for violin and piano No. 3 in E minor, Op. 57, “Epica” : (II) Scherzo :
      Allegro molto vivace e leggiero // 7 - Nikolaï Medtner - Vol. 1
    3. Sonata for violin and piano No. 3 in E minor, Op. 57, “Epica” : (III) Andante con moto // 7 - Nikolaï Medtner - Vol. 1
    4. Sonata for violin and piano No. 3 in E minor, Op. 57, “Epica” : (IV) Finale :
      Allegro molto – Allegro eroico // 7 - Nikolaï Medtner - Vol. 1
  • The Royal Bow - Laurence Kayaleh
    8 - The Royal Bow
    The Royal Bow - Laurence Kayaleh
    1. G. Pugnani-Kreisler – Praeludium und Allegro // 8 - The Royal Bow
    2. Niccolò Paganini – Moses Fantasy (variations for the G-string on Rossini’s Moses) // 8 - The Royal Bow
    3. Franz Waxman – Carmen Fantasy // 8 - The Royal Bow
    4. Maurice Ravel – Tzigane // 8 - The Royal Bow
    5. Christian Sinding – Suite in A minor, Op, 10 : (I) Presto // 8 - The Royal Bow
    6. Christian Sinding – Suite in A minor, Op, 10 : (II) Adagio // 8 - The Royal Bow
    7. Christian Sinding – Suite in A minor, Op, 10 : (III) Tempo giusto // 8 - The Royal Bow
    8. Johann Sebastian Bach – Chaconne for solo violin // 8 - The Royal Bow
    9. Dvorak-Kreisler – Slavonic Dance No. 1 in G minor – Allegretto Melanconico // 8 - The Royal Bow

News

01 January 2024

2024

I wish you a new year filled with happiness, love, good health, as well as the fulfillment of your dearest wishes. My deepest thoughts go out to the victims who are experiencing excruciating suffering around the world. The language of music transcends words. It brings people together, enriches our souls and soothes our hearts. Music is a magnificent and universal source of beauty and inner growth. With it, borders fade and the human communion flourishes. May the Art of Music continue to bring as much Peace as possible in 2024…

Laurence Kayaleh is performing on Radio VM - Canada
27 November 2023

Laurence Kayaleh & Bernadene Blaha presented by Philippe Adelfang – Interview with L. Kayaleh

Date & Time :
  • 03/12/2023
  • 11pm
Artists :
  • Laurence Kayaleh, violin
  • Bernadene Blaha, piano
Program :
  • Noskowski & Zelenski : Violin Sonatas – NAXOS Records 8.574220
Radio VM Channels :
New Album Release (Naxos Records) - December 2023 (Worldwide)
14 October 2023

New Album Release (Naxos Records 8.574220) – December 2023 (Worldwide)

Zygmunt Noskowski & Wladyslaw Zelenski Violin Sonatas (Naxos Records 8.574220) – by Laurence Kayaleh

This new artistic adventure which was to learn, perform and record the violin sonatas by Polish composers Zygmunt Noskowski and Wladyslaw Zelenski was, for pianist Bernadene Blaha and myself, most captivating. The musical and instrumental potential the pieces embody is admirably substantial.

Both works were written in the heart of romanticism. Passionate, and yet respecting the sonata form, they often evoke a lyrical character with subtle dialogues between the instruments. These sonatas have the characteristic of being very contrasting in atmospheres and moods, moving quickly from a dramatic and fiery character, to an espiègle and a humorous one, including phrases imbued with remarkable beauty and innerness.

While listeners can appreciate the influence of Noskowski’s symphonic writing within his sonata in A minor – for which the composer was particularly renowned, having been a great conductor himself – they will enjoy the crystalline writing, as well as the influence of Polish folk music in Zelenski’s sonata in F major.

Zygmunt Noskowski, who was one of the most famous Polish pedagogues of his time, was the teacher of the prominent Karol Szymanowski, a composer I am particularly fond of.

In addition to having been a composer, pianist, conductor and teacher, Zelenski also held a PhD in Philosophy, this aspect certainly having had a significant influence within the artistic depth of his work.

A recording session will never allow the singular communion a musician experiences on stage in the presence of an audience. This energy is (fortunately!) unparalleled. However, recording offers the musician the opportunity to achieve, through the process of listening, a distinct – and yet equally exhilarating – artistic work. This experience allows for a deeper understanding of the work and its conception, while experimenting with different approaches to interpretation.

It was a memorable musical journey exploring these astounding works together with my colleague, Bernadene. We had the pleasure of performing them on stage, and it was with great emotion and enthusiasm that they were received by the audience.

These sonatas are still too rarely performed around the world. I sincerely hope that this recording will allow a wider audience to discover them, and more musicians to treasure and perform them! This is also what our vocation as interpreters consists of: drawing on the colossal artistic heritage left to us by our predecessors, and exposing it…

A sincere « thank you » to the Naxos record company which promotes such projects, showcasing gems from the gigantic musical repertoire.

©Laurence Kayaleh – violinist

My track selection and comments :
Zygmunt Noskowski: Violin Sonata in A minor – Prestissimo:

This movement was particularly interesting to perform. It inspires the musician to vary considerably the effects, dynamics, and dialogues between both instruments. Written in a Tarantella form – a traditional dance born in Italy – we had to emphasise the dancing character of the piece.

On a more technical level, this movement allowed me to play with the many colours and the pearly, vigorous and sparkling characters which are specific to the Spiccato, a bow stroke which offers a multitude of descriptive facets to interpretation.

In this movement, flawless complicity between the musicians is crucial, and contributes to the essential fluidity within dialogues, an important characteristic of the Tarantella style. It was a source of great enjoyment to perform it with Bernadene!

Wladyslaw Zelenski: Violin Sonata in F major, Op. 30 – Allegretto:

In this movement, it is the influence of Polish folk music which constitutes a particularly interesting material. We’re focusing on the playful and colorful moods – including moments of great flexibility required by this musical character.

Transitions between voices and contrasting sections of the movement must always be carried out in a most natural, flexible and clear manner. We therefore explored agogic rubato relating mainly to the musician’s emotions and perception, and to what the artist wishes to engrave in their interpretation.

©Laurence Kayaleh – violinist

Link to the Article on Naxos

New Season 23-24 - Laurence Kayaleh
01 September 2023

🎶 2023-2024 🎶

I hope that you all enjoyed a beautiful summer, despite the massive wildfires. My prayers go out to all the victims…

I’m very excited to start this musical season, with new projects, collaborations & artistic discoveries!

♦️📀 My new album (Polish Violin Sonatas) recorded with pianist Bernadene Blaha will be released worldwide on Naxos Records in December 2023.

More projects will include a violin & cello Concert Tour with Canadian cellist, Elizabeth Dolin; a musical program dedicated to Central European music, and a Canadian piece composed for us by Guy Fouquet.

I’m also looking forward to our new collaboration with pianist (and ER doctor!), Mathieu Gaudet (including Beethoven’s Trio, Op. 70, No. 2…a long-held dream of mine).

‼️ STAY TUNED – more details to follow in the next few weeks!

Wishing you all a fabulous concert season!!

Laurence 🎻

02 June 2023

Intensive Violin Course 2023 with violinist Laurence Kayaleh – From May 24th to June 1st, 2023 – Montreal, Canada.

It was such a pleasure to work with talented violinists during the Intensive Violin Course 2023 that I led in Montreal, from May 24th to June 1st.

Dear Students, continue to dedicate yourselves to the great Art of Music. Develop your thirst for knowledge and TAKE THE NECESSARY TIME to learn, to tap into your musical (and human!) potential, and to define your artistic message. Don’t get overwhelmed by the many (and often, worthless) distractions surrounding us. The world needs you more than ever! Wishing you all a wonderful summer and looking forward to seeing (and hearing) you during the new musical season filled with great music & inspiring human exchanges!

Official News of Laurence Kayaleh, Violinist
08 April 2023

Intensive Violin Course 2023 with Violinist Laurence Kayaleh – Montreal, Canada

Intensive Violin Course 2023 with Violinist Laurence Kayaleh, from May 24 to 31, in Montreal, Canada. Sessions focused on the violin repertoire, and left hand, bow, vibrato, sound production & practice techniques – including a session on J. S. Bach’s Sonatas & Partitas for Solo Violin. For detailed information, please submit your request using the contact form.

Official News of Laurence Kayaleh, Violinist
18 March 2023

Interview with researcher and musicologist, Dr. Karin Martensen, from the Technical University Berlin

It’s been a great pleasure to be interviewed by researcher and musicologist Dr. Karin Martensen, from the Technical University Berlin, during her visit at McGill University as part of her study of the process of collaboration between performing artists & record producers/engineers in the creation of recordings of classical music.

Official News of Laurence Kayaleh, Violinist
17 February 2023

Concerts in Mexico

04 January 2023

Concert in Switzerland – Mozart, Schumann, Bartok & Stravinsky

Artists :
  • Laurence Kayaleh, violin
  • Florent Héau, clarinet
  • Ioana Raluca Avramescu, piano
  • Vincent Aubert, actor
Program :
  • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart : Violin Sonata in B-flat major, K. 454
  • Robert Schumann : Fantasiestücke Op. 73 for Clarinet & Piano
  • Igor Stravinsky : Suite from l’Histoire du Soldat for Clarinet, Violin & Piano
  • Béla Bartok : Contrasts for Violin, Clarinet & Piano, Sz. 111
Les Concerts de Coppet
  • Temple de Coppet
  • Coppet, Suisse
21 December 2022

Season’s Greetings!

Dear Friends and Music Lovers,

The year 2022 is coming to an end and the time has come to reflect on the events that marked our year, on our actions and on what we wish to share with people around us. Music unites all nations into one and uplifts our souls. The emotions it creates represent a wealth that nothing can take away from us. Music isn’t tangible. No one can hold it in a treasure box. But it only takes one time for it to penetrate our hearts forever… May this end of the year bring you all Happiness, Love and Serenity!

Laurence Kayaleh

20 December 2022

Recording Session – Naxos Records

Stay Tuned for more updates about this new album!

With pianist Bernadene Blaha and Record Producer, Martha de Francisco.

Many thanks to pianist Kevin Fitz-Gerald for the pictures!

19 November 2022

International Music Competition, Paris, France (Les Musicales du Centre) – 2022 Edition

It is with great pleasure that I’ll join the international jury of the 2022 Edition of the International Music Competition, Paris, France (Les Musicales du Centre).

70 candidates to discover! Looking forward to hearing these emerging young musicians.

GOOD LUCK TO ALL THE PARTICIPANTS!

15 November 2022

Concert Review (excerpts) – November 13, 2022, Los Angeles, USA – LA Opus by David J. Brown

Classical Crossroads Concert Series – Streamed on Vimeo

« Altogether, Żeleński’s Violin Sonata was a real find, played with whole-hearted commitment and skill by the Kayaleh/Blaha duo… »

« As for the finale, (Noskowski) plunges with the merest preamble into a headlong Prestissimo that the Kayaleh/Blaha duo made into a real moto perpetuo thrill ride… »

«…Laurence Kayaleh and Bernadene Blaha thoroughly justified their choice of this rare repertoire for an entire recital rather than cozying audience ears with something more familiar, and it is good news indeed that they are going on to record this pair of almost-forgotten 19th century violin sonatas by two fine Polish composers for Naxos… »

LA Opus
by David J. Brown

See all press reviews

Official News of Laurence Kayaleh, Violinist
07 November 2022

Polish Music for Violin & Piano on November 13, 2022 – Los Angeles, California, USA – Classical Crossroads – Second Sundays at Two !

Artists :

  • Laurence Kayaleh, violin
  • Bernadene Blaha, piano

Program :

  • Wladyslaw Zelenski : Sonata for Piano & Violin in F major, Op. 30
  • Zygmunt Noskowski : Sonata for Violin & Piano in A minor
28 June 2022

Concert on June 30th, 2022 – update

Regrettably, pianist Bernadene Blaha, who contracted COVID, will not be able to perform our concert on June 30 as part of Musique de chambre à Sainte-Pétronille, near Quebec City. Pianist Meagan Milatz will join me in Grieg’s & Franck’s sonatas for violin & piano. I’ll be performing J. S. Bach’s Chaconne for Solo Violin in replacement of Smetana’s Aus der Heimat. A big “thank you” to Meagan, and wishing Bernadene a speedy recovery!

Buy a ticket
View event

21 June 2022

Season opening concert – Musique de chambre à Sainte-Pétronille – Smetana, Grieg & Franck

June 30, 2022 – 8:00 PM
Eglise de Sainte-Pétronille, Île d’Orléans, Quebec, Canada

Artists :

  • Laurence Kayaleh, violin
  • Bernadene Blaha, piano

Program :

  • Bedrich Smetana : Aus der Heimat
  • Edvard Grieg : Sonata for Violin & Piano in F major, Op. 8
  • César Franck : Sonata for Violin & Piano in A major

Buy a ticket

22 April 2022

LA OPUS, LOS ANGELES – CONCERT REVIEW EXCERPT – by David J. Brown (November 15, 2021)

Bernadene Blaha & Laurence Kayaleh, Second Sundays at Two, Southern California, USA

« The limpidity with which Ms. Kayaleh floated the first theme made one marvel once again how something so gentle and apparently self-contained could become the source of such resourceful and unpredictable development as ensues, while Ms. Blaha’s no less eloquent handling of the second subject underlined the originality with which Franck makes each of the two instruments “own” their respective melodies.

Ms. Blaha unerringly clarified the leading voices within the tumble of piano figuration that launches and underpins much of the dramatic second movement—effectively the work’s scherzo but not thus named—while Ms. Kayaleh was truly molto dolce in her projection of the poco più lento and Quasi lento sections that Franck intercalates into the tumult.

Again, in the seemingly-improvisatory-but-not-really Recitativo-Fantasia that is as original a take on the role of “slow movement” as its predecessor is a scherzo, both players were unfailing responsive to Franck’s multiplicity of expressive indications, so that when the finale opened with its plain-spoken but indelibly memorable main theme, it seemed like a thankful homecoming after a long, unpredictable, and sometimes perilous journey. What a masterpiece this sonata is, and how masterfully the Kayaleh/Blaha duo realized it. »

29 March 2022

Suk & Tchaikovsky’s Trio Op. 50

The Raven’s Cry Theatre, Sechelt, British Columbia, Canada

More details on the event page.

13 December 2021

Happy World Violin Day and a joyous Holiday Season!

It is the extension of my being
The voice that expresses what no word can describe
It enriches my mind, and nourishes my soul
My violin, my reason of being…

Happy World Violin Day on Monday, December 13, to all violin lovers – and wishing you all a joyous Holiday Season!

© Laurence Kayaleh

18 August 2021

New Video on Monday, August 23, 2021

« From inner balance to musical expression… »

Musician’s Health, Violin Posture, Illustrated & Commented Exercises, Interview with Physical Trainer, Kevin Arteta, and much more !

STAY TUNED to my Official YouTube Channel !!

Laurence Kayaleh - News - Update COVID-19
29 April 2021

Update (COVID-19)

Dear Friends & Music Lovers !

I’m so excited (& grateful) about rescheduled dates for my previously postponed concerts for the upcoming summer & fall – Switzerland, Quebec/Ontario (Canada), Los Angeles (USA). More details will follow soon ! Fingers crossed. Although, the situation remains uncertain around the globe, it brings tremendous joy and energy to mark these concerts on the calendar … Miss you all ❤️

Ferdinand Rebay - The Complete Sonatas for Violin & Guitar and Viola & Guitar - Laurence Kayaleh, violin/viola - Michael Kolk, guitar
07 September 2020

F. Rebay – Album Review – David Denton

REBAY, F.: Sonatas for Violin and Guitar / Sonata for Viola and Guitar (Complete) (Kayaleh, Kolk)

Naxos 8.573992

In a life spanning seventy-three years, where he is said to have composed around nine hundred works of various genres, Ferdinand Rebay is now totally forgotten.

Born in 1880, he was a piano and composition student at the Vienna Conservatoire, his career as an educationalist then giving him time to write operas, oratorios, symphonic and chamber music. By far the largest part was guitar music that came into his life when a friendship with Jacobus Ortner, another teacher at the Musikhochschule and his niece, a leading European guitarist in the first half of the 20th century, opened up a new world of music. In total he is said to have composed around 600 pieces for guitar, much of it in the ‘classical’ mode. Among that massive collection are three duo sonatas, unusual in the fact that they are equal ‘voices’, without either consigned to an accompanying role. Rebay was said to have composed in the style of Brahms, the works, as represented here, are too lightweight for such a connection. We know that 1942 was the composition date for the violin/guitar sonatas, but the date of the viola work is unknown. In many ways I find this the most persuasive, the darker colours of the viola bringing a much greater contrast to the guitar, while Rebay was here finding more attractive melodic material as he explores the use of solo passages for both instruments.

Rebay has the good fortune of having Laurence Kayaleh doubling on violin and viola, her perfect intonation and thoughtful phrasing mirrored by Michael Kolk’s excellent guitar playing. Still want persuading? Well try track 5—the opening movement of the Viola/Guitar duo—and I doubt you will make a more beautiful discovery this year?

© 2020 David’s Review Corner

All press reviews

Ferdinand Rebay - The Complete Sonatas for Violin & Guitar and Viola & Guitar - Laurence Kayaleh, violin/viola - Michael Kolk, guitar
04 September 2020

Full album stream on ici-musique.ca – Radio Canada – F. Rebay

September 4, 2020 to September 11, 2020.
Ferdinand Rebay : Complete Sonatas for Violin/Viola & Guitar (NAXOS Records 8.573992).

ICI Musique

Ferdinand Rebay - The Complete Sonatas for Violin & Guitar and Viola & Guitar - Laurence Kayaleh, violin/viola - Michael Kolk, guitar
13 July 2020

New Album Release – Ferdinand Rebay (1880-1953)

Ferdinand Rebay (1880-1953) (Catalogue No. : 8.573992)

  • The Complete Sonatas for Violin & Guitar and Viola & Guitar.

Artists

  • Laurence Kayaleh, violin/viola
  • Michael Kolk, guitar

Release Date

  • July 24, 2020

Official News of Laurence Kayaleh, Violinist
30 January 2020

Swiss Newspaper “24 heures” – Laurence Kayaleh, de part et d’autre de l’Atlantic

Classique

“La violoniste vaudoise s’est installée au Canada. Elle joie Tchaïkovski à Montreux le 31 janvier.”

Matthieu Chenal
27.01.2020 24 Heures

Read the article

Joachim Raff Complete Violin Sonatas (volume1) - Release Date
29 December 2019

ALBUM REVIEW (January 2020) – Joachim Raff : Complete Violin Sonatas Vol. 1 (NAXOS Records 8.573841)

One is immediately struck by the excellence of the violin sound in the first sonata. … III also shows off Raff’s violinistic writing, with plenty of barriolage and octaves as well as engaging accompanimental material given to the violin, and Kayaleh does not shy from producing an original conception with plenty of slides. Raff is not a writer of melodies but is good at harmony and pacing. … In IV I caught glimpses of why I fell in love with the violin, courtesy of Kayaleh’s marvelous playing. … Raff’s run-on sentences can be difficult to navigate. The ease and bravado that Kayaleh displays as she deals with fiendishly difficult material in the developmental sections carry the performance. Most impressive of all might be how she manages to sound good playing those awkward high chords. … This is an excellent performance, particularly by Kayaleh, lifting average music into an elevated state. … it is a pleasure to hear the violin played so marvelously.

Ned Kellenberger
© 2020 American Record Guide
Laurence Kayaleh, violin & Jean-Fabien Schneider, piano – Joachim Raff : Complete Violin Sonatas, Vol. 1 (NAXOS Records 8.573841 – Sept. 2019)

See all press releases

Joachim Raff Complete Violin Sonatas (volume 1 & 2) - Date de Sortie - Laurence Kayaleh Violoniste
15 November 2019

Full album stream on ici-musique.ca – Radio Canada

November 15, 2019 to November 22, 2019.
Joachim Raff Complete Violin Sonatas (NAXOS Records 8.573841/42).

ICI Musique

Official News of Laurence Kayaleh, Violinist
11 November 2019

Music of France (Debussy, Fauré & Ravel)

Artists :

  • Laurence Kayaleh, violin
  • Elizabeth Dolin, cello
  • Claire Ouellet, piano

Program :

  • Claude Debussy : Sonata for cello & piano
  • Gabriel Fauré : Three Pieces for violin & piano (Berceuse op. 16 / Romance op. 28 / Andante op. 75)
  • Maurice Ravel : Piano Trio

See all events

23 October 2019

REMINISCENCES de la Tchécoslovaquie à la Russie

Friday, January 31st, 2020 at 7:30pm
Fairmont Le Montreux Palace, Salle des Congrès

Artists :

  • Bernadene Blaha, piano
  • Laurence Kayaleh, violin
  • Elizabeth Dolin, cello

Program :

  • Josef Suk : Elegy Op. 23
  • Leos Janacek : Pohadka for cello & piano
  • Bedrich Smetana : Aus der Heimat for violin & piano
  • Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky : Trio in A minor, Op. 50

Tickets are now available !

  • Concert only : +41 21 962 10 10
  • Room & Concert Package : +41 21 962 11 00

See all events

Joachim Raff Complete Violin Sonatas (volume 2) - Date de Sortie - Laurence Kayaleh Violoniste
05 October 2019

Joachim Raff Complete Violin Sonatas (volume 2) – Release Date

Joachim Raff Complete Violin Sonatas (Volume 2) will be released on November 8, 2019 on NAXOS Records (Catalogue No. : 8.573842)

  • Sonata No. 3 in D major, Op. 128
  • Sonata No. 4 in G minor, Op. 129 « Chromatic Sonata »
  • Sonata No. 5 in C minor, Op. 145

Laurence Kayaleh is performing on Radio VM - Canada
12 September 2019

Radio VM, Canada « Carte Blanche »

Sunday, September 15, 2019 at 9pm – “Carte Blanche” :

Violinist Laurence Kayaleh and pianist Jean-Fabien Schneider will be performing Joachim Raff’s Sonata No. 1 in E minor for violin and piano, Op. 73 on Radio VM, Canada.

Album available tomorrow, Friday September 13, 2019 on NAXOS Records 8.573841 (Complete Violin Sonatas – Vol. 1).

See all events

Joachim Raff Complete Violin Sonatas (volume1) - Release Date
09 September 2019

ALBUM REVIEW (Sept. 2019) – Joachim Raff : Complete Violin Sonatas Vol. 1 (NAXOS Records 8.573841)

Somewhere in the plethora of music composed by Joseph Joachim Raff, the five violin sonatas have become neglected, though at the time they were well received. It is said that the violin, which he was taught as a child, was his favourite instrument, which becomes a strange comment when in these two sonatas he gave so much to the piano that it became far more than an equal voice. The First dates from from 1854 while he was working for Liszt, who had just saved the young man from destitution, its structure, in the conventional four movements, having a very happy scherzo coming followed by a fulsome and passionate slow movement. Finally an intensely active finale with the exhortation by Raff that it should be ‘very determined’. The Second Sonata was completed in 1858, by which time he had become financially self-sufficient and had found a personal style of composition that moved him towards the musical world created by Schubert. Raff added a genial disposition, and, at times the bustling action, the tempo indication to all four movements being of urgency. The scherzo of vigorous charm, and even the ‘slow movement’ has the qualifying statement, ‘not too slow’. In both works the Canadian-based violinist, Laurence Kayaleh, is a most persuasive advocate, her intonation immaculate and her celebrated Guarneri violin sings eloquently. The French-Canadian pianist, Jean-Fabian Schneider, brings a welcome virtuosity to passages, such as those in the mercurial finale to the Second. Excellent sound engineering, and a discovery that offers many delights.

David Denton
© 2019 David’s Review Corner
Laurence Kayaleh, violin & Jean-Fabien Schneider, piano – Joachim Raff : Complete Violin Sonatas, Vol. 1 (NAXOS Records 8.573841 – Sept. 2019)

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Joachim Raff Complete Violin Sonatas (volume1) - Release Date
28 August 2019

Joachim Raff Complete Violin Sonatas (volume 1) – Release Date

Joachim Raff Complete Violin Sonatas (volume1) available as of September 1st, 2019 on NAXOS Records – Catalogue No: 8.573841

Un grand merci à Monsieur Roger Dubois & au Groupe Canimex !
15 June 2019

Special thanks to Mr. Roger Dubois & Canimex Group !

Here is a picture taken this morning in Drummondville, Canada, with Mr. Roger Dubois.

It was time to return the beautiful viola after playing on it for 13 months in preparation for a special recording project – Ferdinand Rebay : The Complete Sonatas for Violin & Guitar and Viola & Guitar with guitarist Michael Kolk (soon available on Naxos Records) !

Heartfelt thanks to Mr. Dubois & to Canimex Group for their exceptional generosity !

Laurence Kayaleh - CD Recording Session (Violin & Guitar) - June 2019
12 June 2019

CD Recording – NAXOS Records (Violin/Viola & Guitar) – June 2019

Having a wonderful time recording with guitarist Michael Kolk & producer Drew Henderson – The Complete Sonatas for Violin & Guitar and Viola & Guitar by Ferdinand Rebay (1880-1953). Stay tuned !

Laurence Kayaleh - Recording for NAXOS Records - Ferdinand Rebay
11 June 2019

Recording for NAXOS Records – Ferdinand Rebay : Complete Sonatas for Violin & Guitar and Viola & Guitar.

Happy Birthday, Ferdinand Rebay (Vienna, June 11, 1880 – November 6, 1953) – Looking forward to recording this week for NAXOS Records his complete sonatas for violin & guitar and viola & guitar with guitarist Michael Kolk & producer Drew Henderson. Thank you Groupe Canimex for giving me the opportunity to play on a viola from Mr. Roger Dubois’ collection for this project.

Laurence Kayaleh, Violinist - my debut in Los Angeles, USA
26 May 2019

Concert in Los Angeles, USA – English music of the twentieth century.

So glad to announce that I’ll be performing in Los Angeles, USA, next season with the pianist, Bernadene Blaha, as part of our concert tour dedicated to English music of the twentieth century !

  • Ralph Vaughan Williams : Romance & Pastorale (1923).
  • William Walton : Sonata for violin & piano (1947-49).
  • Edward Elgar : Sonata for violin & piano in E minor, Op. 82 (1918).
Musique d’Angleterre - Laurence Kayaleh - Bernadene Blaha
14 March 2019

Great News – Music of England

GREAT NEWS !! I’ll be performing the following program dedicated to Music of England with the outstanding pianist, Bernadene Blaha (detailed program below).

Our concerts will take place during the spring/summer of 2020. Stay tuned for the complete concert schedule !

Presenting this special musical theme has been a dream of mine for a long time. Can’t wait to explore this superb repertoire with Bernadene…

  • Ralph Vaughan Williams : Romance & Pastorale (1923).
  • William Walton : Sonata for violin & piano (1947-49).
  • Edward Elgar : Sonata for violin & piano in E minor, Op. 82 (1918).
Tribute to Brahms Concert - Laurence Kayaleh
12 March 2019

A Tribute to Johannes Brahms

There are only a few seats left for Sunday’s concert (March 17 at 2pm) – “A Tribute to Johannes Brahms” !

Quai 5160 – Maison de la culture de Verdun, 5160, Boulevard LaSalle (Montreal, Canada).

Artists :
  • Claire Ouellet (piano)
  • Laurence Kayaleh (violin)
  • Elizabeth Dolin (cello).
Program :
  • Sonata for cello & piano, Op. 99
  • Sonata for violin & piano, Op. 108
  • Piano Trio, Op. 101
Official News of Laurence Kayaleh, Violinist
06 March 2019

On CBC Radio, Canada !

Laurence Kayaleh (violin) & Michelle Mares (piano) on CBC Music, Canada, in April (works by Edvard Grieg & Karol Szymanowski).

More details to follow soon

Stay tuned !

Czech music concert announcement
05 March 2019

A Tribute to Johannes Brahms

Sunday, March 17, 2019 at 2pm, Maison de la Culture de Verdun, Montreal, Canada “Hommage à Johannes Brahms”

Can’t wait to immerse myself in Brahms’ superb music with my dear colleagues cellist, Elizabeth Dolin & pianist, Claire Ouellet !

News Laurence Kayaleh - Musique française
04 March 2019

An all-French program

Super excited to play my first Maurice Ravel Piano Trio in the fall as part of an all-French program – including other works by Gabriel Fauré & Claude Debussy – stay tuned !

Laurence Kayaleh (violin) & Michael Kolk (guitar)
03 March 2019

Violin & Guitar Concert Tour

The violin & guitar concert tour with guitarist Michael Kolk ended at Toronto’s Heliconian Hall on March 3 – Syrinx Concerts Toronto. A sincere and heartfelt THANK YOU to all the presenters & beautiful venues, the enthusiastic and very supportive audiences, the photographers, the hosts, friends & family members who drove and accompanied us throughout this journey – not to mention the wonderful restaurants ! Check out the souvenir pictures.

Photo credit : Pascal Boudreault, Pier Carlo Liva, Joao Cardoso & Julie Glick.

CHAPELLE HISTORIQUE DU BON-PASTEUR, MONTREAL, CANADA.

CHAPELLE HISTORIQUE DU BON-PASTEUR, MONTREAL, CANADA.
PHOTO CREDIT : PASCAL BOUDREAULT.

MAISON D’OPERA ET DE CONCERTS DE SHERBROOKE, CANADA (PLYMOUTH-TRINITY CHURCH).
PHOTO CREDIT : PIER CARLO LIVA.

FAIRMONT LE MONTREUX PALACE, SWITZERLAND (SALLE DES CONGRES).
PHOTO CREDIT : JOAO CARDOSO.

SYRINX CONCERTS TORONTO, CANADA (HELICONIAN HALL).
PHOTO CREDIT : JULIE GLICK.

Official News of Laurence Kayaleh, Violinist
26 February 2019

VIOLIN & GUITAR CONCERT TOUR – Laurence Kayaleh, violin & Michael Kolk, guitar

On my way to Ontario, Canada, for the final leg of the violin & guitar concert tour with the wonderful guitarist, Michael Kolk.

Concert dates :
  • February 27 (Kitchener/Waterloo Chamber Music Society)
  • March 1 (Toronto)
  • March 2 (Caledon Chamber Concerts)
  • March 3 (Syrinx Concerts Toronto)

Stay tuned 🙂 !

Photo credit : Joao Cardoso (Picture taken at the Montreux Palace, Switzerland)

Laurence Kayaleh (violin) & Michael Kolk (guitar)
23 January 2019

Laurence Kayaleh (violin) & Michael Kolk (guitar)

Dear Friends,

The violin & guitar concert tour will start in two weeks (please find below the concert dates) – great venues & repertoire from Italy, Austria, Spain, Canada & Argentina (Piazzolla’s Histoire du Tango !). Stay tuned & share the information around you. Hope to see you in great numbers !

TOUR DATES :
  • February 7, 2019 at 7:30pm – Montreal, QC, Canada : Chapelle Historique du Bon-Pasteur
  • February 10, 2019 at 3pm – Sherbrooke, QC, Canada : La Maison d’Opéra et de Concerts de Sherbrooke (Plymouth-Trinity Church)
  • February 16, 2019 at 7:30pm – Montreux, Switzerland : Fairmont Le Montreux Palace (Salle des Congrès)
  • February 27, 2019 at 8pm – Kitchener/Waterloo, ON, Canada : Kitchener-Waterloo Chamber Music Society
  • March 1, 2019 at 7:30pm – Toronto, ON, Canada : By invitation only.
  • March 2, 2019 at 7:30pm – Caledon, ON, Canada : Caledon Chamber Concerts (St. James Anglican Church)
  • March 3, 2019 at 3pm – Toronto, ON, Canada : Syrinx Concerts Toronto (Heliconian Hall)

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Pro Music Series, San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato, Mexico
22 January 2019

Concerts in San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato, Mexico – January 18 & 20, 2019

Laurence Kayaleh, violin & Claire Ouellet, piano

B. Smetana Aus der Heimat / K. Szymanowski Sonata Op. 9 / R. Strauss Sonata Op. 18 / R. Schumann Sonata No. 1 / J. Brahms Sonata Op. 108 / E. Grieg Sonata Op. 45 – Encores : M. de Falla/F. Kreisler Spanish Dance & Gluck/Kreisler Melodie.

Photo credit : Barry Weiss

Official News of Laurence Kayaleh, Violinist
18 January 2019

Pro Musica Series, San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato, Mexico

Event Poster
Official News of Laurence Kayaleh, Violinist
17 January 2019

Pro Musica Series, San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato, Mexico

Artists :
  • Laurence Kayaleh, violin
  • Claire Ouellet, piano
January 18, 2019 – Program :
  • Bedrich Smetana : Aus der Heimat (From my Homeland)
  • Karol Szymanowski : Sonata in D minor for violin & piano, Op. 9
  • Richard Strauss : Sonata in E-flat major for violin & piano, Op. 18
January 20, 2019 – Program :
  • Robert Schumann : Sonata No. 1 in A minor for violin & piano, Op. 105
  • Johannes Brahms : Sonata No. 3 in D minor for violin & piano, Op. 108
  • Edward Grieg : Sonata No. 3 in C minor, Op. 45
Press review :
05 January 2019

Saturday, February 16th, 2019 at 7:30pm : Salle des Congrès, Fairmont Le Montreux Palace, Switzerland

Laurence Kayaleh, violin & Michael Kolk, guitar. Tickets are now available !

Ticket booking :

  • Concert only : +41 21 962 10 10
  • Room & Concert package : +41 21 962 11 00

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Official News of Laurence Kayaleh, Violinist
24 December 2018

Holiday Season 2018

Dear Friends of Music !

I wish you and your dear families a beautiful Holiday Season, and may the New Year bring your most valued projects and dearest wishes to fruition !

Official News of Laurence Kayaleh, Violinist
18 December 2018

Laurence Kayaleh with eminent violin maker Roland Baumgartner

Laurence Kayaleh with eminent violin maker, Roland Baumgartner, at his workshop in Basel, Switzerland !

© Violinist Laurence Kayaleh – 2018

Press release - Coast Reporter
24 November 2018

Press release – Coast Reporter

Press release – Coast Reporter, Sunshine Coast, British Columbia, Canada – Concert on Sunday, November 25, 2018 at 2:30pm (The Coast Recital Society) : Laurence Kayaleh, violin & Michelle Mares, piano (Sonatas by Szymanowski, Brahms & Grieg).

Merci à La Maison d’Opéra et de Concerts de Sherbrooke, Canada
22 October 2018

Thanks to La Maison d’Opéra et de Concerts de Sherbrooke, Canada

Heartfelt thanks to La Maison d’Opéra et de Concerts de Sherbrooke, Canada, for yesterday’s memorable welcome ! What a great audience and truly outstanding acoustics. On the first picture (L to R) : Mr. Roger Dubois from Groupe Canimex (who is giving me the opportunity to play on a superb Italian viola from his collection for my upcoming recording), pianist Claire Ouellet, Mr. Pier Carlo Liva, cellist Elizabeth Dolin & violinist Laurence Kayaleh.

See all photographs

Official News of Laurence Kayaleh, Violinist
20 October 2018

Czech Concert – Janacek, Smetana, Dvorak

A sincere thank you to my magnificent colleagues, Claire Ouellet & Elizabeth Dolin, to the Conservatoire de musique de Montréal & to our fantastic audience tonight – such an unlimited source of inspiration, artistically & on the human level… MERCI ❤️ ! Back on stage tomorrow in Sherbrooke city, Canada. Can’t wait 😊

Official News of Laurence Kayaleh, Violinist
12 October 2018

Czech Music Concert

Heartfelt thanks to the Lakeshore Chamber Music Society for the warm welcome. Great audience tonight, beautiful acoustics & superb repertoire ! Upcoming performances next weekend (Oct. 20 & 21) at the Conservatoire de Montréal & La Maison d’opéra et de concerts de Sherbrooke. Laurence Kayaleh (violin), Elizabeth Dolin (cello), Claire Ouellet (piano). Czech Music (works by Josef Suk, Leos Janacek, Bedrich Smetana & Antonin Dvorak).

Laurence Kayaleh Violinist - JT Art Hall, Tokyo, Japon
02 October 2018

Recital Photographs – Tokyo, Japan – September 21st, 2018

Laurence Kayaleh, violin
Yusuke Kikuchi, piano

JT Art Hall | Tokyo, Japan

Program :
  • Johannes Brahms – Sonata No. 3 in D minor, Op. 108
  • Richard Strauss – Sonata in E-flat major, Op. 18
  • Edvard Grieg – Sonata No. 3 in C minor, Op. 45
Encores :
  • Manuel de Falla (arr. Fritz Kreisler) – Spanish Dance from La Vida Breve
  • Gluck/Kreisler – Melodie (this Encore was dedicated to the recent victims of Typhoon Jebi & the earthquake in Hokkaido, Japan)

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Official News of Laurence Kayaleh, Violinist
22 August 2018

Recital in Tokyo, Japan – September 21st, 2018

Laurence Kayaleh, violin
Yusuke Kikuchi, piano

JT Art Hall | Tokyo, Japan

Dear Friends of Music,

It is a great pleasure to visit Japan and perform again in this beautiful country in
September ! I still keep very dear memories of my last stay in Tokyo and of the audience’s
appreciation for music. Such a journey is a significant source of inspiration as an artist.
Audiences aren’t always aware of their contribution to the musician’s interpretation. But the
public plays a crucial role in the unique communication and communion we, musicians,
experience on stage. I still remember the magical moments in concert halls in Japan filled
with people enjoying every note of music with such passion and respect !

The sonatas I will be performing in Tokyo on September 21st are masterpieces which I
have been playing for many years. The musical writing and structure of these works
represent a world of endless artistic (and human !) exploration… I feel privileged as a
musician to be able to come back regularly to such great musical literature with new
musical ideas, impressions and maturity. I have been recently performing Richard Strauss’
Piano Quartet in C minor, Op. 13, hence the choice of performing his magnificent violin
sonata, together with Johannes Brahms’ Sonata in D minor, Op. 108 and Edvard Grieg’s
Sonata in C minor, Op. 45.

My heartfelt thanks to the organizers for having me back !

Laurence Kayaleh

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Official News of Laurence Kayaleh, Violinist
22 May 2018

Happy Birthday, Alicia de Larrocha (May 23, 1923 – September 25, 2009)

Photo : July 29, 1999, New York, USA

Official News of Laurence Kayaleh, Violinist
03 May 2018

Recital in Tokyo, Japan – JT Art Hall

September 21, 2018 at 7pm

Johannes Brahms – Sonata for violin & piano No. 3 in D minor, Op. 108
Richard Strauss – Sonata for violin & piano in E-flat major, Op. 18
Edvard Grieg – Sonata for violin & piano No. 3 in C minor, Op. 45

Laurence Kayaleh, violin
Yusuke Kikuchi, piano

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15 March 2018

Au tournant du 20e siècle

Sunday, March 18, 2018 – 3:30pm. Conservatoire de Musique de Montréal, Concert Hall.
  • Gustav Mahler – Piano Quartet in A minor.
  • Richard Strauss – Piano Quartet in C minor, Op. 13.

Laurence Kayaleh, violin
Frédéric Lambert, viola
Elizabeth Dolin, cello
Jean-Fabien Schneider, piano

Laurence Kayaleh's Season 2018-2019
31 January 2018

Laurence Kayaleh – 2018-2019 Season

Dear Friends !

Here is a brief outlook on my upcoming musical season ! Events will include concerts at the JT Hall in Tokyo, Japan, with pianist, Yusuke Kikuchi ; new album releases on NAXOS Records, working with sound engineers and producers, Martha de Francisco & Drew Henderson ; a special violin & guitar concert tour with Canadian classical guitarist, Michael Kolk, including works by Paganini, Rebay, de Falla, Roux & Piazzolla ; performances of Tchaikovsky’s monumental Piano Trio, Op. 50 with cellist, Elizabeth Dolin & pianist, Bernadene Blaha ; performances in British Columbia, Canada, including a concert for The Coast Recital Society with pianist, Michelle Mares ; performances in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, for the Pro Musica Series with pianist, Claire Ouellet ; Czech music concerts in Montreal with cellist, Elizabeth Dolin & pianist, Claire Ouellet ; including works by Strauss, Grieg, Brahms, Suk, Smetana, Dvorak, Tchaikovsky, Szymanowski, Schumann. I will also be making my viola debut 😉, and will be conducting a public Masterclass in Japan, in September 2018.

I’m very much looking forward to all these events and collaborations with my wonderful colleagues !

Stay tuned for more exciting news to come ! For detailed information, please click the button below :

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Practice Tips by Laurence Kayaleh - January 2018
23 January 2018

My first video of 2018 will be available on my YouTube channel on February 1st

A conversation with my father, violinist and professor Habib Kayaleh, at the Kayaleh Violin Academy, Switzerland. We will discuss teaching concepts related with the violin technique, our special teacher-disciple relationship and much more. Stay tuned !

Official News of Laurence Kayaleh, Violinist
06 January 2018

Interview – Sarasate Magazine (Tohru Isurugi Sase), Japan (October 2017/Vol. 78)

English translation will follow

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Official News of Laurence Kayaleh, Violinist
20 December 2017

RECORDING SESSION – DECEMBER 2017

Recording Session (Pollack Hall, McGill University – Montreal, Canada) – Working with amazing sound producer & engineer, Martha de Francisco ! (Laurence Kayaleh, violin / Jean-Fabien Schneider, piano).

© Violinist Laurence Kayaleh – 2017

Holiday Season's Greatings 2017 - Laurence Kayaleh Violinist
18 December 2017

Happy Holiday Season !

Dear Friends and Colleagues !

I’m playing for you Edward Elgar’s Salut d’Amour (Love’s Greeting) in this video with pianist, Jean-Fabien Schneider !

Thank you so much to all of you for your continued support and for attending my performances this year ! I’m deeply grateful for being surrounded by such wonderful friends and colleagues…

Wishing you a most magical Holiday Season and may the New Year bring you happiness, peace and prosperity !

Access to my YouTube Channel

Série Vivace - Tout Brahms - Laurence Kayaleh, Violinist
13 November 2017

A Tribute to Johannes Brahms

  • Saturday, November 18, 2017 @ 7:30pm :
    Music Conservatory of Montreal (Concert Hall) « Série Vivace » – Montreal, QC, Canada.
  • Sunday, November 19, 2017 @ 3pm :
    Cultural Centre (Stewart Hall) – Pointe-Claire, QC, Canada.
  • Saturday, December 2, 2017 @ 7:30pm :
    Caledon Chamber Concerts (Great hall) – Toronto, ON, Canada.
  • Sunday, December 3, 2017 @ 2pm :
    Private Event (by invitation only) – Toronto, ON, Canada.
Testimonial - Alicia de Larrocha - Laurence Kayaleh, Violinist
15 October 2017

Testimonial – Alicia de Larrocha

By going through archives, I came across this beautiful document I am sharing here for the first time (see English translation below).

Meeting and playing for legendary pianist, Alicia de Larrocha (1923-2009), remains one of the most moving and inspiring experiences of my musical life.

« Still under an indescribable impression, I want to make clear that Laurence Kayaleh (whom I had the immense pleasure of hearing yesterday) is an incredibly sensitive artist, with an extraordinary musicality, a fabulous, stunning technique and who possesses a sound with her Guarnerius that I do not recall ever having heard! Such a volcanic temperament always controlled by her good taste and great musicality. Laurence Kayaleh is a violinist whom everyone should know! Her future is an immediate sensation.
Alicia de Larrocha »

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Japan Concert Review by Kyousuke Hasegawa - Laurence Kayaleh
16 August 2017

Concert Review by Kyousuke Hasegawa – May 5th, 2017

Ongakunotomo Magazine (Ongaku No Tomo Sha) / August 2017

Laurence Kayaleh, Violin
Yusuke Kikuchi, Piano

Ichigaya Lutheran Hall – Tokyo, Japan

Read the Article

Official News of Laurence Kayaleh, Violinist
06 May 2017

Recital in Tokyo, Japan, Violinist Laurence Kayaleh with Pianist Yusuke Kikuchi

Dear Friends of Music,

Here are some pictures of last night’s concert in Tokyo, Japan, with wonderful pianist, Yusuke Kikuchi. Beautiful concert hall, magnificent acoustics and extraordinary audience !! A big « thank you » to the organizers for their particularly moving and inspiring welcome… ».

© Violinist Laurence Kayaleh – 2017
Photo credit : Kumiko Kasugai

Official News of Laurence Kayaleh, Violinist
29 March 2017

Some ideas on music & musical program – May 2017 – Tokyo, Japan By Violinist Laurence Kayaleh

Dear Friends of Music,

Laurence Kayaleh

Since the early stages of my artistic life, I was eager to learn new repertoire. Of course, there is always endless beauty to discover in music, even in the regularly performed repertoire. The musical literature is incredibly rich, inspired, and inspiring. Every time I work on a Brahms or Beethoven sonata, or any work of the standard repertoire, I approach it as if it were the first time I read it, even if I have already performed it many times in concert. Music grows, as we grow as human beings. The general conception of interpretation, and the understanding of composers’ indications become much deeper with time and experience. A genuine artist never knows a work completely, even after years of dedication. The artistic evolution is constant; it never ends. This is also the beauty of the Arts.
The repertoire written for the violin is vast (although not as vast as the piano’s!).

Even though I regularly perform and cover well-known repertoire ranging from the Baroque through the contemporary eras, I believe it is also my role, as a performer, to present lesser-known works but very inspired to a larger audience. There are some remarkable jewels out there yet to be explored—a real gold mine.

Karol Szymanowski’s Sonata for Violin & Piano in D minor Op. 9 was composed in 1904, in Warsaw. It was created in April 1909 by violinist Paul Kochanski and pianist Arthur Rubinstein. The work was composed in the style of late Romanticism which he highly appreciated and respected at that time. The work is dedicated to Bronisław Gromadzki, an amateur violinist and good friend of Szymanowski. The young Szymanowski, a pupil of Zygmunt Noskowski, was then 21 years old. He demonstrates in this work a very fine mastery of the classical form.

Gabriel Fauré

Gabriel Fauré’s Sonata for Violin & Piano No. 2 in E minor, Op. 108 is a masterpiece of artistic depth. It was written in 1916, five years before his sublime Piano Quintet in C minor Op. 115 (1921), and only eight years before his death. The human and musical evolution in the 40 years between his first and second violin sonatas is quite striking. The work certainly reflects and expresses World War I torment and human suffering… The musical writing demonstrates great inspiration and maturity.

Sonata Op. 108 was written during the third period of his life throughout which Fauré was suffering from hearing loss problems.

The gorgeous theme in the Andante from the discarded Symphony in D minor of 1884 is full of beauty and expression.

The work was premiered by Lucien Capet and Alfred Cortot on November the 10th, 1917 at the Société Nationale de Musique. The sonata is dedicated to the Queen of Belgium, Her Majesty Elisabeth.

After Szymanowski’s and Fauré’s lesser-known sonatas, the program will conclude with the superb and one of César Franck’s best-known works, his Sonata for Violin & Piano in A major. The sonata was written in 1886. It was Franck’s wedding present to the young violinist and composer, Eugène Ysaÿe. Ysaÿe performed the work for the wedding guests with pianist Léontine Bordes-Pène. Both Ysaÿe and Bordes-Pène gave the first official public performance of the sonata on December 16th, 1886 at the Museum of Modern Painting in Brussels.

May 5, 2017
Recital in Tokyo, Japan
with pianist
Yusuke Kikuchi

The role of a performer is quite subtle. One must follow and respect the musical text and the composer’s indications, while in a way “reimagining” the piece using the eloquent and precise indications given by the composer. There is a distinct but fragile line between what the performer can do or not to serve the composer’s intentions without it being detrimental to the personal interpretation.

The artists need to emphasize the coherence in the sound colors to create a total “communion” between the instruments, thus favoring the general atmosphere and respecting the color of the harmonic architecture. This is always a very critical step in chamber music, made even more complex by the uniqueness of every musician.

© Violinist Laurence Kayaleh – 2017

Access to my diary

Concerts - Laurence Kayaleh - La Série Vivace
08 March 2017

Inspiration Russe – Concerts – March 11, 12, 16, 19, 2017

Inspiration Russe – Concerts – March 11, 12, 16, 19, 2017

Official News of Laurence Kayaleh, Violinist
11 February 2017

May 5, 2017 – Recital in Tokyo, Japan, with pianist Yusuke Kikuchi

Works :
  • Karol Szymanowski – Sonata for violin and piano in D minor, Op. 9
  • Gabriel Fauré – Sonata for violin and piano No. 2 in E minor, Op. 108
  • César Franck – Sonata for violin and piano in A major
Artists :
  • Laurence Kayaleh, Violin
  • Yusuke Kikuchi, Piano

Event details

Radio VM - Canada - Laurence Kayaleh
09 February 2017

Radio VM Interview Excerpts – Les trésors cachés de la musique classique

Audio excerpts from the recent recording of Georgy Catoire’s Complete Works for Violin & Piano performed by Laurence Kayaleh & Stéphane Lemelin (NAXOS Records) now available on this website.

Radio Interview with violinist Laurence Kayaleh and pianist Stéphane Lemelin on their new Naxos Album dedicated to Georgy Catoire with host, Frédéric Cardin “Les trésors cachés de la musique classique” (Radio VM, Montreal, Canada).

Radio VM (Montreal, Canada) – Laurence Kayaleh & Stéphane Lemelin
  1. 1. Radio VM (Montreal, Canada) – Laurence Kayaleh & Stéphane Lemelin

Broadcast :

2pm-4pm, Tuesday October 4, 2016

Listen to Album Excerpts
All Laurence Kayaleh’s interviews

Official News of Laurence Kayaleh, Violinist
23 November 2016

French Sonatas – Laurence Kayaleh & Stéphane Lemelin in Recital – Novembre 26, 2016

French Sonatas – Laurence Kayaleh & Stéphane Lemelin in Recital

Radio VM - Canada - Laurence Kayaleh
01 October 2016

Radio Interview – Les trésors cachés de la musique classique

Radio Interview with violinist Laurence Kayaleh and pianist Stéphane Lemelin on their new Naxos Album dedicated to Georgy Catoire with host, Frédéric Cardin “Les trésors cachés de la musique classique”.

Broadcast :

2pm-4pm, Tuesday October 4, 2016

Where :

Radio VM 91,3 FM Montréal, Canada (Please, check frequency outside Montreal on Radio VM website)

Links :

Website : http://www.radiovm.com/
Radio show Facebook Page : https://www.facebook.com/groups/tresorscachesradiovm/?ref=bookmarks

10 September 2016

Press Review – Manuel Stangorra – klassik.com (Germany)

Georgy Catoire’s Complete
Works for Violin and Piano
(NAXOS 8.573345)

Laurence Kayaleh ist aber so wunderbar vorbereitet, dass ihr das scheinbar gar keine Mühe bereitet. Sie konzentriert sich auf die Musik, die sie dem Hörer wie etwas Eigenes mitteilt. Ihr Klavierpartner Stéphane Lemelin fügt sich da nahtlos in die Regie der begnadeten Violinistin, die schon vor bald 30 Jahren als Wunderkind in Europa herumgereicht wurde. Ihre Wege führten sie über die berühmtesten Konzertsäle von Moskau, Paris, Zürich, Genf, Tokio, Washington und Montreal, und das teils an der Seite von Persönlichkeiten wie Ida Haendel oder Igor Oistrach. Sie spricht musikalisch in einer Deutlichkeit, wie selten erlebt und kann Spannungsbögen schaffen wie nur wenige ihrer Zunft. Da ist sie mit David Oistrach gleichauf, der in den 1950er Jahren ebenfalls die Sonaten Catoires einspielte. (…) Sie hat ein ausgeprägt dramatisches musikalisches Temperament und singt immer mit Seele. Ihre 1742er Guarneri ist ihr dabei ein unverwüstlicher Partner. Schließlich zählte diese Violine einst zum Besitz eines Carl Flesch. Ihr strahlend-durchdringender Ton begeistert sicher nicht nur eingefleischte Fans, sondern auch neugierige Entdecker. (…) Klaviersatz und Violinstimme verschmelzen hier wiederum zu einer untrennbaren Einheit. Dieses Idyll – zunächst mit Dämpfer intoniert – entfalten die beiden Solisten und machen daraus große Kunst. Hier macht sich ‚saftiger‘ Klang breit, aber auch Zurückhaltung und Demut werden spürbar. Doppelgriffe gelingen Kayaleh mühelos, ihre Intonation ist blütenrein. Diese Platte ist unbedingt empfehlenswert.

Complete Review on Klassic.com
More Press Reviews

Gramophone - The Classical Music Magazine
08 September 2016

Press Review – Richard Bratby – GRAMOPHONE MAGAZINE

Georgy Catoire’s Complete
Works for Violin and Piano
(NAXOS 8.573345)

Large-scale music, then, and Laurence Kayaleh and Stéphane Lemelin give it large-scale performances […] they’re both powerful players and the music often suits a red-blooded approach (listen to Kayaleh from 6’19 » in the Second Sonata to hear her low register in all its gutsy glory). They’re at their best in Catoire’s grand, cascading climaxes.

More Press Reviews

10 August 2016

Broadcast for The Grand @ 101

Broadcast No. 194 – September 5, 2016

Works by :
  • Georgy Catoire : Sonata No.1 in B minor, Op.15
Artists :
  • Laurence Kayaleh, Violin
  • Stéphane Lemelin, Piano

Broadcast No. 281 – August 15, 2016

Works by :
  • Georgy Catoire : Sonata No.2 in D major, Op. 20
  • Georgy Catoire : Elegy in D minor, Op. 26
Artists :
  • Laurence Kayaleh, Violin
  • Stéphane Lemelin, Piano

Infos :

http://www.ckwr.com/

FM 98.5 – Ontario, Canada
“Women in music” host/animateur : Tom Quick

06 July 2016

Horizon Magazine – Consulate General of Switzerland in Montreal (July-August 2016)

Horizon Magazine – Consulate General of Switzerland
in Montreal (July-August 2016)

Complete Review

Click to read better – Horizon Magazine – Consulate General of Switzerland
in Montreal (July-August 2016)

30 April 2016

First play and online streaming – Radio Canada

July 1-8, 2016

Georgy Catoire’s Complete Works for Violin and Piano (NAXOS 8.573345)

New Album Release – July 2016 :
  • Laurence Kayaleh, Violin
  • Stéphane Lemelin, Piano
Links

Radio Canada

16 December 2015

Year-end news and wishes !

Dear Friends of Music,

Photo credit : Guy Fouquet

Herewith, you’ll find a live recording of a performance I gave with cellist, Elizabeth Dolin, at the University of Victoria on November 18th 2015, during a successful concert/teaching Tour in British Colombia, Canada. We were welcomed with such care,
warmth and generosity throughout the tour. It was a memorable journey !

Photo credit : Andrew Fyson

A heartfelt thank you to Elizabeth for her inspiration, to the organizers for their remarkable work, to the warm and enthusiastic public, to the teachers and their students for their exceptional welcome at the Victoria Conservatory of Music and the University of Victoria, and to our wonderful hosts !

Live Recording
Maurice Ravel – Sonata for Violin and Cello
Zoltán Kodály – Duo for Violin and Cello, Op. 7
Recording Engineer : Kirk McNally

Photo credit : Guy Fouquet

Another year comes to an end ! As always, I would like to express my gratitude for your precious support towards the Art of Music by attending concerts.

I wish you all a very Happy Holiday Season, and hope that 2016 brings you happiness, health and prosperity !

Laurence

Access to Live Recordings

Official News of Laurence Kayaleh, Violinist
02 December 2015

Masterclasses given by Laurence Kayaleh – Kayaleh Violin Academy – Dec. 17th & 19th, 2015

Masterclass given by Laurence Kayaleh
Kayaleh Violin Academy – Dec. 17th & 19th, 2015

Official News of Laurence Kayaleh, Violinist
21 October 2015

Music of Germany – Chamber Music Concert – October 24, 2015

Music of Germany – Chamber Music Concert – October 24, 2015

17 June 2015

Migros Bank Concert, Switzerland
(Vivaldi – The Four Seasons – June 11, 2015)

Photo credit : A. Othenin-Girard

22 April 2015

Canadian composer, François-Hugues Leclair, dedicated his violin and piano piece « Le Retour des Oies » to Laurence

Official News of Laurence Kayaleh, Violinist
09 March 2015

Chamber Music Concert – March 15, 2015

Chamber Music Concert – March 15, 2015

Official News of Laurence Kayaleh, Violinist
25 February 2015

Concert – February 28, 2015 – Georgy Lvovich Catoire – Complete Works for Violin and Piano

Georgy Lvovich Catoire – Complete Works for Violin and Piano

07 December 2014

Vœux de Fin d’Année 2014

Chers Amis de la Musique,

Le temps passe vite et nous voilà déjà à la veille d’une autre année qui s’achève, remplie de beaucoup de musique, de voyages, de belles rencontres, de partages et d’émotions. C’est l’occasion de vous remercier très sincèrement pour le soutien continuel de beaucoup d’entre vous, d’année en année. Les musiciens ne seraient pas grand chose sans un public de fervents mélomanes qui sait apprécier et comprendre le grand Art de la Musique – cette parole universelle qui saura toujours atteindre le coeur du monde, quelle que soit la culture… La musique est un équilibre vital dont nous avons tous besoin. Comme le disait Nietzsche « Sans la musique, la vie serait une erreur »… Ainsi, la communion qui naît dans une salle, entre les artistes sur scène et le public, crée l’inspiration propre à cet instant qu’est le concert. Cette énergie humaine contagieuse incite le musicien à créer, à donner le meilleur de lui-même et à communiquer un message au-delà de toute parole…

Je vous retrouverai sur scène dès le mois de février 2015 dans l’intégrale des superbes oeuvres pour violon et piano de G. Catoire au Conservatoire de Musique et d’Art Dramatique de Montréal et à la Chapelle Historique du Bon Pasteur à Montréal avec le pianiste Stéphane Lemelin, ainsi qu’auprès de mes chers collègues, Lambert Chen et Elizabeth Dolin, pour d’autres concerts incluant le Trio à Cordes en sol majeur op. 9/1 de Beethoven, le Duo de Kodaly et la merveilleuse Sérénade pour Cordes en do majeur op. 10 de E. Dohnanyi – Les Rendez-Vous du Dimanche : De l’Allemagne à la Hongrie.

Je vous souhaite à tous de Joyeuses Fêtes auprès des vôtres, et une nouvelle année 2015 heureuse et prospère !

Joyeux Noël, Frohe Weihnachten, Buon Natale, Merry Christmas !

Laurence

Official News of Laurence Kayaleh, Violinist
05 September 2014

In concert, Geneva, Switzerland – June 2014

Photographs : Loïc Oswald

14 August 2014

Greetings from France !

visuel_annonce_txt_journal_fete_savoie_0814_large

Here are pictures of my stay near Annecy, France, where I performed this week with Georges Kiss (August 12).

The musical program was dedicated to Bach and Mozart. We ended up playing two encores, including J.-S. Bach’s Sarabande in D minor for solo violin.

The sound and the beauty of the church were breathtaking…We enjoyed it tremendously !

A heartfelt THANK YOU to the organizers of the Festival « Les Fêtes Musicales de Savoie » for their generous welcome, to my wonderful colleague, Georges, and to our awesome audience !!

Laurence on the road.

Photographs : A. Othenin-Girard

More articles in My Diary

10 June 2014

Un Voyage Musical Estival !

Chers Amis de la Musique,

Quelques mois se sont écoulés depuis ma dernière “carte postale” ! Le temps passe trop vite et les activités s’accumulent, toujours aussi passionnantes et inspirantes. Et entre temps, des éléments techniques du site devaient subir des mises à jour.

L’hiver fut très froid au Canada cette année ! Mais la Musique ne cesse d’illuminer nos cœurs, animant chaque instant de ma vie par le partage qu’elle inspire au quotidien…

Mes étudiants à l’Université de Montréal, en violon et en musique de chambre, ont merveilleusement bien travaillés cette année. L’investissement et les résultats de chacun d’entre eux furent très gratifiants en tant que professeur. J’ai eu le bonheur de voir naître des étincelles dans leurs yeux au sein de chacune de nos séances de travail. Et sans le savoir, nos élèves nous apprennent d’innombrables merveilles humaines, artistiques, et instrumentales. J’analyse sans relâche mon travail instrumental personnel, tels que les aspects techniques, la conception générale des œuvres etc., mais on ne cesse jamais d’apprendre (et heureusement !). Les caractéristiques de chaque élève, les éléments à développer ou à acquérir, me poussent à aller toujours plus loin dans mes recherches…

Nous avons conclu la saison musicale par une très belle sortie de classe le samedi 3 mai 2014. Je joins quelques photos de l’événement à ce texte !

Quant à mes concerts, l’hiver fut intense avec la reprise du Souvenir de Florence en février dernier, à Montréal, ainsi que des concerts violon et violoncelle avec la violoncelliste Elizabeth Dolin, au mois de mars, incluant une prestation à l’Eglise de la Visitation qui possède une acoustique tout à fait exceptionnelle pour les instruments à cordes. Quel bonheur que de pouvoir y interpréter les œuvres du grand J.-S. Bach !

Je me trouve actuellement en Suisse où je me produirai au Festival du Château de Bossey, près de Genève, en concerts de musique de chambre et dans la superbe Suite pour violon et alto no. 3, op. 19 que j’interpréterai avec ma sœur Céline, à l’alto.

Le Festival réunira sur scène les brillants violonistes de la Kayaleh Violin Academy, ainsi que des musiciens qui se retrouvent souvent à l’occasion du festival annuel du Château
(www.festival-chateaubossey.ch).

Le programme du concert du 20 juin 2014 sera consacré à des œuvres écrites pour différentes formations de musique de chambre, mettant en valeur la beauté très complémentaire du violon, de l’alto, du violoncelle et du piano. Ce voyage musical vous transportera en Allemagne avec le pétillant Octuor de F. Mendelssohn et le Quintette pour piano de R. Schumann que ce dernier composa à l’âge de 32 ans et qui fut créé en 1843 avec Clara Schumann au piano. Les prochaines escales du concert auront lieu en Pologne avec la Suite pour deux violons et piano de M. Moszkowsky, au Royaume-Uni avec le Sextuor pour cordes du compositeur et merveilleux altiste, F. Bridge et enfin, en Russie avec le fameux Souvenir de Florence de P. I. Tchaïkowsky, œuvre d’une grande profondeur et d’une structure musicale exceptionnelle !

Le Concert Gala du Kayaleh Chamber Orchestra aura lieu le samedi 21 juin. Cette année, l’orchestre mettra à l’honneur la Scandinavie et la noblesse très intérieure de sa musique pleine de grâce, d’intimité et aux ambiances des plus inspirantes…

Ces deux concerts permettront aux mélomanes de découvrir les nombreuses couleurs et subtilités que renferment tous ces instruments et qui seront mises en valeur dans leur beauté la plus pure.

Aussi, l’artiste-peintre, Catherine de Saugy, exposera ses tableaux tout au long du festival.

Une belle semaine de partage artistique et humain s’annonce au cœur d’une météo déjà
très estivale !

Je me produirai également à Toronto, au Canada, cet été, où j’entamerai la préparation d’un nouvel enregistrement prévu en automne, ainsi qu’en France, près d’Annecy.

D’ici les prochaines nouvelles de mes aventures musicales, j’espère que vous profiterez tous pleinement d’un début d’été ensoleillé et reposant !

Avec mes pensées musicales d’Europe,

Laurence

22 January 2014

New Video on Youtube

NEW VIDEO NOW AVAILABLE ON MY OFFICIAL YOUTUBE CHANNEL

Maurice Ravel – Tzigane

Violin – Laurence Kayaleh
Piano – Ingrid Hoogendorp

Album : The Royal Bow

Access to the Video

03 December 2013

2013 end-of-year : Thank You & Happy Holidays to all !

Dear Readers !

A huge and heartfelt THANK YOU for your amazing support throughout the year, for attending performances and for sending me some very touching messages !

The Art of Music is a vocation, a passion. Expressing oneself through this universal language is certainly a God-given gift and privilege … It is also very demanding, including self-discipline and a tremendous amount of daily physical and intellectual efforts, with some difficult moments as well ; questionings, fatigue, low energy and even, doubts. Despite those natural “ups and downs” of life, a musician is asked to “function” immediately, anytime, no matter the circumstances. And behind the musician, there is a human being living, with emotions, impressions, and vulnerability. The great Maria Callas would have turned 90 years old on December the 2nd, 2013. She represents for me this supreme combination of superhuman strength and human fragility, fears and need to be surrounded with care…

Therefore, I’m deeply grateful for a supportive public throughout the years, to my wonderful friends and brilliant colleagues, to my dear students from whom I’m learning everyday, and last but NOT LEAST, to my devoted and cherished parents and family who are my inspiration …

I wish you all a magical Holiday Season, and a New Year 2014 filled with happiness, good health, lots of great music and love !

I’ll be back in 2014 with new projects, including another complete work recording, concerts in France, exploring more violin teaching via Skype, and more :). Meanwhile, please check out my Official YouTube Channel for updates.

JOYEUX NOËL !!

Laurence

01 December 2013

The Ambassadors – La Scena Musicale magazine

The Ambassadors
La Scena Musicale magazine

Nikolaï Medtner - Vol. 2
Sonata for violin and piano No. 2 in G major, Op. 44 : (III) Finale (Rondo) : Allegro risoluto // 6 - Nikolaï Medtner - Vol. 2
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  1. Sonata for violin and piano No. 2 in G major, Op. 44 : (III) Finale (Rondo) : Allegro risoluto // 6 - Nikolaï Medtner - Vol. 2
  2. Sonata for violin and piano No. 2 in G major, Op. 44 : (II) Tema con variazioni (variation 6) :
    Allegro risoluto // 6 - Nikolaï Medtner - Vol. 2
  3. Sonata for violin and piano No. 2 in G major, Op. 44 : (I) Allegro appassionato // 6 - Nikolaï Medtner - Vol. 2
  4. Sonata for violin and piano No. 1 in B minor, Op. 21 : (II) Danza: Allegro scherzando // 6 - Nikolaï Medtner - Vol. 2
  5. Canzona No. 2 in B minor, Op. 43 – Andantino cantabile // 6 - Nikolaï Medtner - Vol. 2