Chantal-Andrée Samson Listening to the Birds 3 (portrait of Robert Rival)
charcoal, 2025
PRESS
“gentle textures & flowing themes occasionally yield surprising harmonic turns & briskly changing meters”The New York Times
“a work of quiet rapture & refined sensibility ... elegant concision”American Record Guide
“a beautifully crafted work that will appeal to those who enjoy musical construction as much as it will to those who want their ears to be charmed”Edmonton Scene
Hung-Wei Huang (viola) & Bogdan Dulu (piano). Vetta Music. Four concerts, four venues. Also featuring Rebecca Clarke & Brahms.
NEWS
Album Release: Winter Songs and chamber music
JUN 2026—Recorded on Mar 29-30 & May 3 at uOttawa, my debut solo album has been edited, mixed and mastered. The digital-only Centrediscs release will be available on all streaming platforms on AUG 7, shortly after Carson Becke (pno) & Allyson McHardy (mezzo) perform the title song cycle once more at Ottawa Chamberfest (Aug 1). Timothy Chooi (vn), David Jalbert (pno) & Paul Marleyn (vc) combine for my Cello Sonata, Schubert Fantasy & First Piano Trio. Many thanks to the engineers: Julian Bertino & James Law.
Rival @ 50
MAR 2026—Thank you Timothy Chooi, David Jalbert & Paul Marleyn for riveting performances of my Cello Sonata, Schubert Fantasy & First Piano Trio at the Music at Tabaret concert on Mar 29 celebrating my 50th birthday—six months late, uOttawa time. And thank you to everyone who came out—even if just for the Korngold Quintet, so expertly performed on the second half. If you listen carefully, you may hear bits of this concert on my upcoming debut solo album. Photo by Anastasia Krachkovskaya.
Winter Songs Premiere in Quebec & Mini-Tour to Nova Scotia
FEB 2026—Mezzo-soprano Allyson McHardy and pianist Carson Becke gave the world premiere of my song cycle Winter Songs, on poetry by Marjorie Pickthall, on Feb 8 at Pontiac Enchanté in Luskville, QC. It was an appropriately cold but sunny afternoon. The iconic hall is an intimate venue situated above a horse stable equipped with a Steinway, professional tech, and a bar. The musicians reprised the program, which features female poets and composers, in Halifax (Feb 11), during a snowstorm, and in Mahone Bay (Feb 13). Stay tuned for a commercial recording coming out this summer!
Premiere of String Quartet No. 2 at Toronto Summer Music
AUG 2025—My String Quartet No. 2 received a riveting world premiere performance at Toronto Summer Music on Aug 1 at Walter Hall, University of Toronto. In three movements, running about 21', the piece is exuberant and energetic, yet decidedly non-programmatic. Take a listen!
Recording of Semitragic Waltz for Two Violins & Viola
JUN 2025—My Semitragic Waltz for two violins & viola, commissioned by three Edmonton musicians, Fabiola Amorim, Frank Ho & Vladimir Rufino, for their album Dialogues is now available for purchase. *UPDATE* (DEC 2025): The album is now available on most streaming platforms.
