October 30, 2016 – 2:00PM
Farewell to the Sonata
Carl Philippe Gionet, Piano

About Carl Philippe Gionet

Whether as a soloist or accompanist, Carl Philippe Gionet is a much sought after collaborator, mainly in Europe and North America. The diffusion of classical music to all audiences is very important to him. Despite his numerous travels, he remains very involved in promoting music in his native New Brunswick. In 2013, he founded Musique sur mer en Acadie, an event dedicated to the education and promotion of classical music in francophone minority communities. Since 2014, he is teaching at the summer master class given by the Associazione Cieli Vibranti in Breno, Italy. Carl completed his doctorate in piano performance at Université de Montréal under the direction of Paul Stewart. He has received specialized training in collaborative piano in Austria and England, and participated in numerous prestigious summer programs.

Along with his commitments in the field of classical music, Carl has performed in Canada and Europe as an accompanist and composer with many artists of the Francophonie. MSR Classics will release his recording of Schubert’s four sonatas for piano and violin, with Icelandic violinist Hlíf Sigurjónsdóttir, in Spring 2017.

Q. When was the last time you got goosebumps from music? Playing or listening?

A. It happens quite often, especially when reading new things I have to learn. Usually, good harmony combine with a fantastic poem (when reading songs) can bring me to tears easily.

Q. What’s your favourite song to belt out in the car, shower or at karaoke?

A. Oddly enough, I usually don’t listen to music in the car but rather to interviews, political comments, news… talking stuff. In the shower however, I sometimes sing arias from Bach cantatas, soprano, alto, bass, you name it! Only if I’m alone in the house though. If there is a possibility of people hearing me, I will rather whistle Vivaldi violin concertos, which can be quite hard to do before breakfast. Karaoke?! Is there such a thing as Karaoke-phobia? Because I definitely have it.

Q. What’s your favourite thing to do when you’re not on stage?

A. I have an obsession with visual arts. If I have to choose between going to a concert and spending hours in a museum, I would definitely choose the museum. There is something intriguing in the concept of visual arts, that the work itself “exists” on it’s own. It is quite far from the art of music making, which always exists only in the time you are actually “playing”. It absolutely fascinates me. I have a chance to know many major museums from all around the world and visit them over and over and over again. There is always something new to discover and it is a great inspiration for me.

Q. What do you fear?

A. Death. Although I am not afraid of my death at all, it terrifies me to think that my family and friends will die, or worst: that they might die before me. I do think about it a lot. That, and karaoke.

Q. When you were a kid, did you have a mentor or someone who gave you a push toward performing?

A. I am very fortunate to have amazing parents who always encouraged me in my path, and my maternal grandmother has been a major figure in my musical development as a child. I also have to mention Nova Scotian pianist Paul Stewart, my teacher during my years at Université de Montréal, who allowed me to be myself as an artist and without whom I would not be the musician I am today.