Réflexions
Francis Choinière
GFN Classics (forteartmusic.com/product/reflexions-francis-choiniere)
Multi-talented Quebec-based Francis Choinière is an awe-inspiring musician, renowned as the conductor of Quebec orchestras Orchestre FILMharmonique and the Orchestre Philharmonique et Chœur des Mélomanes, and as a concert producer, composer and pianist. Here, in his solo debut Réflexions, he performs five of his beautiful solo piano compositions with exquisite musicality and technical expertise. As he explains, the pieces paint a soundscape of memories, a timeline of his past and present, as he draws on and/or arranges melodies composed from his childhood to present.
Each composition is perfect, memorable and calming. Coup de foudre starts with a lyrical melody accompanied by rippling single notes with slight rubato. High note flourishes add a change in colour. Similar lower pitched sections add drama with alternating slower and faster sections leading to closing high pitched soft notes. There’s a change in mood in the following track Unveiled as the single line lower pitched melody and slight accents create a more dramatic touch. Dancelike storytelling Renaissance features a happy harmonized melody that builds to a louder midsection and then a faster section leads to a slow emotional high note ending. Rêverie is a contemporary music flavoured melody with numerous lines leading to a sudden abrupt ending. The tonal I’ll be Here is romantic, softer gentle music. A very orchestral sounding work with different musical ideas that Choinière performs clearly with compassion and sensitivity.
Choinière’s breathtaking piano playing results in beautiful, reflective performances which deserve repeated listenings.
