Today we’re going to hear two conversations with two classical musicians, and also, some really fabulous music. Today’s guests are both string players — Maxime Despax is a viola player whose family home is in Gatineau, Quebec, but he’s studying in Toronto right now. Yanet Campbell is a violinist who was born in Cuba. She is now studying at the Glenn Gould Studio of the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto.
Musicians are especially hard hit by the pandemic. Live music, which is the lifeblood of most performers, has come to a stand-still. What you’ll hear from both of our guests today are stories of adaptability. And, in case you’re wondering how music is happening in the virtual space, our guests have some insights into that too.
Maxime plays in a number of ensembles, including a string quartet Quatuor Despax, comprised of Maxime and his three brothers and sisters. The ensemble was formed in 2003, and before the pandemic they played concerts in Canada and Europe.
Yanet Campbell is an accomplished soloist, chamber and orchestral musician. Her skilled and sensitive playing has enabled her to perform not just in some of the most important venues in Cuba, but throughout Europe and the Caribbean. Yanet has performed in major international music festivals in Europe. She received her master of music from Memorial University of Newfoundland and she is currently in the first the year of the artist diploma program at the Glenn Gould School of the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto.
Thanks to both of our musicians for giving us permission to play some of their music on today’s show:
Jean Sibelius’s Violin Concerto in D Minor — First Movement — Yanet Campbell, violin
Prelude for Viola by Benjamin Harry Sajo — performed by Maxime Despax, viola
Fantasy for String Quartet — performed by Quatour Despax — Maxime, Cendrine, Valerie and Jean Despax, written by their late father Emmanuel Despax.
Image: Yanet Campbell and Maxime Despax. Used with permission.
