REVELLING IN RAVEL
Pianist to play with RSO
RACHMANINOFF &RAVEL
Regina Symphony Orchestra with pianist Stephen Runge When: 8 p.m., Feb. 10
Where: Conexus Arts Centre Patrons attending Saturday ’s Regina Symphony Orchestra’s program of Rachmaninoff & Ravel will be getting something a little different than the stereotypical classical music presentation.
The concert, featuring pianist Stephen Runge, will put Ravel’s Piano Concerto in G Major in the spotlight. Completed in 1931, the piece was considered extremely unique at the time given Ravel’s experimentation with jazz elements.
Runge agreed that RSO patrons who are new to classical music might be surprised to hear the more modern elements of jazz in the concerto.
“There’s definitely elements of the piece that are recognizable as jazz to anyone, to any music lover for sure,” Runge said in a recent telephone interview from his home in Sackville, N.B. “The amazing thing is that when the piece was written in 1931, jazz would’ve been very exotic to Ravel. French composers were just starting to get to know this very strange and exotic music from across the ocean.
“For him, it would have been a very unusual type of music to incorporate into his own language.”
So is the piece, which was groundbreaking in 1931, still relevant today?
“Absolutely. For me, the Ravel G Major is always fresh,” said Runge. “Partly it’s that jazz element; it just has so much life and energy but also the orchestration is so beautiful, so colourful. Ravel was a master orchestrator.
“The orchestra really shines in this work as much as the pianist does.”
Runge, who was raised in Regina, is currently the head of the department of music at Mount Allison University in Sackville, N.B., where he’s also associate professor of piano and director of Mount Allison local centre examinations in music.
Runge also has a busy performance schedule, with concerts that take him around North America, and recording music remains a priority for him.
During his younger years in Regina when he was just beginning to recognize his love of music, Runge never envisioned having a career that was so all-encompassing.
“I don’t think I ever saw myself teaching full time, either. I knew that I loved music and I wanted to see how far I could get but, at least in high school, I didn’t have any firm ideas about what that might mean when I got out in the real world,” said Runge. “I feel like I’ve been very lucky to be able to teach and keep performing and recording at the same time.”
Some people might assume that given his experience, performing has become easier for Runge over the years. When asked if there was any truth to such an assumption, Runge laughed and said experience has both its benefits and drawbacks.
“It is easier in some ways. I think as you get older, maybe out of necessity or experience, you become more efficient in how you go about things,” said Runge. “I’m dealing with students quite often here at Mount Allison, and one of the things we try to teach is how to be efficient in their practice time and the best way to approach things and to get the most out of the time available. We get better with that as we get older. But on the other hand, some things stick easier when you’re in your early 20s than they do when you get a little bit older.”
Every performance is special for Runge, but he did admit the Regina concert will have a little more emotional value.
“It’s great to be playing back home where I know there will be family and friends in the audience. That’s always special,” Runge said. “And it’s great to play with the Regina symphony again. I remember going to concerts when I was kid, going with my parents and grandparents, and I always looked at the musicians onstage and hoped that one day that might be me. So it’s wonderful that I can come back and perform.”
Saturday’s concert, which will also feature Rachmaninoff ’s Symphony No. 2, will be conducted by RSO music director Gordon Gerrard. The two men know each other, but this will be the first time they’ve worked together and Runge is looking forward to the collaboration.
“Gordon approached me and asked if I’d be interested in doing the Ravel. It was his idea to program it and it’s always been one of my very favourite pieces. I’ve loved it for a very long time and I’ve never had a chance to play it with an orchestra. I was thrilled to be able to accept the invitation,” Runge said.