Old Nectar Concerts welcomes French Canadian pianist Jean-Philippe Sylvestre for a solo piano recital at Old Nectar gardens historic wine cellar in Jonkershoek.

His programme spans the virtuosity of Liszt Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2 and Balakirev’s Islamey, the atmospheric colours of Ravel’s Miroirs, Beethoven’s beloved “Moonlight” Sonata, and the vibrant rhythms of Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue and Quebecois composer André Mathieu’s Concerto de Québec.

Renowned for his dazzling technique and vivid imagination, Jean-Philippe Sylvestre has been described as “a poet of the piano” by Yannick Nézet-Séguin. Originally from Montreal, Quebec, he has received numerous distinctions, including the Virginia Parker Prize — the highest honour awarded by the Canada Council for the Arts — as well as First Prize and the Audience Award at the Montreal Symphony Orchestra Competition. He is also a laureate of the CBC National Competition for Young Performers, where he received the People’s Choice Award, and of the Concertino Praga International Competition.

Sylvestre has performed on many of the world’s most prestigious stages, including the Berlin Philharmonie, Musikverein in Vienna, Warsaw Philharmonic, Rudolfinum in Prague, Salle Gaveau in Paris and Concertgebouw in Amsterdam. He has recorded several albums, including one as a soloist with the London Symphony Orchestra on the CHANDOS label. Jean-Philippe Sylvestre is a teacher at the prestigious École Normale de Musique de Paris.

Join us for this piano recital at Old Nectar gardens’ historic wine cellar in Jonkershoek. Tickets are R200 per person and include selected wines from Banhoek’s renowned Oldenburg Wine Estate and finger food at interval. Student / learner tickets are offered at R50 per concert at the door. Guests are invited to come early or stay after the concert to enjoy the tranquility of the Old Nectar gardens.

PROGRAMME

LISZT Rhapsodie hongroise No. 2
RAVEL Miroirs: Oiseaux tristes & Une barque sur l’océan
BEETHOVEN Piano Sonata No. 14, Op. 27 no. 2 Moonlight
GERSHWIN Rhapsody in BlueMATHIEU Concerto de Québec
BALAKIREV Islamey, Op. 18