Orchestre Métropolitain at Koerner Hall

Paul Ennis, theWholeNote

Twenty-year-old cellist Stéphane Tétreault, the soloist in Elgar’s Cello Concerto, was the evening’s revelation. The elegiac solo cello theme grew more forthright as it rose and broadened out in the full orchestra in classic romantic style. The slow movement shone with a chamber-music sensibility aided by the warm Koerner Hall acoustics; the finale’s jaunty theme with its dynamic contrasts was well brought out. And the subtle moments of quiet beauty where the cello sings above everyone else were memorable for the colour and tone of the young soloist.

Two days later, Tétreault won second prize in the Women’s Musical Club of Toronto Career Development Award competition at Walter Hall. I was told by a reliable source the audience seemed surprised he hadn’t won first prize.

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