Kai Gluesteen & Catherine Ordronneau at the Quadra Community Centre

Kai Gleusteen and Catherine Ordronneau

Quadra Concerts is delighted to start off the new year with Kai Gleusteen and Catherine Ordronneau, an accomplished violin and piano duo from Barcelona. Both have enjoyed performing with the Quadra Chamber Music Festival and look forward to returning to Quadra Island as a duo.  Gleusteen serves as concertmaster for the symphony orchestra at the Gran Teatre del Liceu and runs his own chamber music operation, Kaimerata Concerts, whenever he’s not touring with his violin. Ordronneau, a gifted pianist, has received the highest possible distinction from France’s Conservatory de Rouen.

The duo first met in 1997. Both had earned top prize in a Parisian music contest and were playing at an exhibition for former winners. Gleusteen wasn’t able to hear Ordronneau’s performance, but she complimented him on his, thereby piquing his interest. Though the exhibition owner initially wanted Gleusteen to collaborate with other pianists, he had his first recital with Ordronneau near the turn of the century, and their relationship developed from there. They have been working together since 1999 and have establish themselves as one of the most important duos in the interpretation of sonatas for violin and piano. Having performed more than 100 recitals in Europe, Canada and USA, they are praised for their unique partnerships, “playing under the control of a single intelligence”, and for the emotional power of their interpretations.

Unlike his wife, Gleusteen wasn’t constantly running to his instrument as a kid. There was a fair amount of bartering and negotiation in the household as his mom, Elsi, pushed him to practice violin more. Yet despite all the top-flight teachers, masterclasses and recitals, Elsi paradoxically did not want her son to take up a career in music, so Gleusteen studied physics and math in university. Those subjects eventually bored him. Violin did not.

In that regard, Gleusteen shares something in common with Ordronneau, who made it through two years of law school before focusing fully on music. Their shared chemistry has proven a blessing to them both in the professional realm. “There’s a lot of partners who have their respective careers, but they don’t get along musically, and the fact that we do is such a luxury because it means that we can travel together and perform together,” says Gleusteen. “Otherwise, you know, it can be quite a lonely life as a musician. Catherine and I share similar goals, objectives and especially our concept of what music-making is. When we rehearse together, we don’t say very much, and the moment we have people added in, we find that we have to talk much more to explain things. A lot of it is just understood when we rehearse together, because we’re thinking of music in the same way.”

As lifelong lovers of classical music, the duo focuses on showcasing a different composer each year. Through Kaimerata Concerts, they’ve already spotlighted Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert, Brahms, Schumann and more, and they’ll no doubt bring a diverse offering to Quadra Island. We look forward to seeing and hearing more from Kai and Catherine – partners both on and off the stage!

Please visit quadraconcerts.ca for additional details.

Tickets: $20 Advance, $25 At the Door, 16 and Under Free with ticketed Adult (+applicable taxes & fees)

Quadra Concerts is grateful to the following organizations for their generous sponsorship: Canadian Heritage and the Government of Canada, Government of  British Columbia, BC Arts Council, BC Live Performance Network, and Strathcona Regional District.