February 23rd, 2025: RUNNER

Koerner Hall | 8PM Concert 7:15PM Musical Insights with Alexina Louie & guests
Alex Pauk, Music Director & Conductor
Mark Fewer, violin
Kevin Ahfat, piano
Erica Goodman, harp
Wesley Shen, harpsichord
Steve Reich (USA) – Runner* (2016)
Hans Abrahamsen (DNK) – Double Concerto (2011)
Alex Pauk (CAN) – Concerto for Harp & Orchestra (2005)
Henryk Gorecki (POL) – Concerto for Harpsichord & Orchestra (1980)
*Canadian Premiere

Mark Fewer, violin

Intrepid virtuoso violinist Mark Fewer is among Canada’s finest soloists and regularly appears on stages at home and abroad. Esprit audiences will remember his performances of Ligeti’s Violin Concerto and Richter’s Four Seasons Recomposed last season.

Click to hear Mark performing Ligeti’s Violin Concerto with Esprit!

Kevin Ahfat, piano

A fast rising star, pianist Kevin Ahfat can regularly be found as a soloist with orchestras, as a member of the esteemed ARC Ensemble, and as founder of OPUS Chamber Music. Last season, he joined us for a beautiful performance of Valentin Silvestov’s Postludium.

Click to watch Kevin perform Silvestrov’s Postludium with Esprit!

Erica Goodman, harp

Among the great harpists of our time, Erica Goodman has performed all around the world and collaborated with countless iconic artists. A longtime friend of Esprit, next month she will perform Alex Pauk’s Concerto for Harp & Orchestra, a work composed especially for her.

Click to watch Erica in a performance of Takemitsu’s Toward the Sea with Esprit!

Wesley Shen, harpsichord

One of today’s great champions of contemporary harpsichord music, Wesley has commissioned a number of works from Canadian composers and can regularly be heard in bold and innovative concerts. He returns this season to Esprit to perform Gorecki’s thrilling Harpsichord Concerto!

Click to hear Wesley performing Ligeti’s Continuum!