Philip Chiu Voyages

Society, musical conventions, and tastes inevitably change and develop over time, but the shared human experiences that artists draw upon do not. The two overarching ideas that Lara Deutsch and Phil Chiu used as inspiration for this album are dreams and journeys. Dreamy music is often associated with relaxation and easy-listening — but don’t be fooled; this music has wickedly fast and thrilling sounds that capture the chaotic nature of dreams as well!

ATMA Classique is pleased to present Fables, a new solo recording by Canadian pianist Philip Chiu. The album pairs two piano transcriptions of music by Ravel with Mnidoonskaa (A Multitude of Insects), a 2021 work by Anishinaabekwe composer Barbara Assiginaak.One of Ravel’s best-known works, Mother Goose is heard here in a version for solo piano by Jacques Charlot, published in 1910. Though the composer’s String Quartet in F major is an early piece from 1903, Ravel’s playful, idiosyncratic language is already well established. Chiu performs a transcription of the quartet for solo piano by Lucien Garban, published in 1921.

“ A pianist-painter who transforms each musical idea into a beautiful array of colors ” ( La Presse ), Philip Chiu is
acclaimed for his brilliant pianism, sensitive listening, and a stage presence that eschews the hermit-pianist
image and favours openness, authenticity, and connection with audiences. Inaugural winner of the Mécénat
Musica Prix Goyer ($125,000), Philip has become one of Canada’s leading musicians through his infectious
love of music and his passion for creation and communication.

Commemorating the 10th anniversary of the death of composer Jacques Hétu, Pentadre Wind Ensemble and pianist Philip Chiu present a recording devoted to works by this renowned Canadian composer. The program reflects Htu's great interest in wind instruments. From his Wind Quintet to the Elegy for bassoon and pieces for flute and piano, this new recording invites the listener to discover an expressive and modern musical universe. A unique musical ensemble on the Canadian landscape, Pentadre explores a diversified and original chamber music repertoire. Founded in 1985, the five artists-musicians forming the quintet are recognized for the talent, technique, precision and color they bring to their performances. The ensemble has toured extensively across Canada, and also in the United States, Europe, and the Middle East. Lauded as "…a pianist-painter who turns every musical idea into a beautiful array of colors" (La Presse), Philip Chiu is acclaimed for his brilliant and sensitive playing. As a soloist and chamber musician, he appears in recitals with leading international musicians including James Ehnes, and Regis Pasquier. Chiu performs regularly with Jonathan Crow, concertmaster of the Toronto Symphony, and Andrew Wan, co-concertmaster of l'Orchestre Symphonique de Montral.

For his latest ATMA Classique recording, horn player Louis-Philippe Marsolais has chosen a selection of chamber music by Clara and Robert Schumann composed for various instruments, some of which have been transcribed for horn. He is joined by pianists Philip Chiu and David Jalbert, and cellists Stéphane Tétreault and Cameron Crozman.

Spanish music is the focus of "Tapeo", a new recording by cellist Cameron Crozman and pianist Philip Chiu. Works by Gaspar Cassadó, Manuel de Falla, Joaquin Turina are performed on "El Tiburon," a circa 1769 Spanish cello attributed to Joannes Guillami, and generously loaned by the Instrument Bank of the Canada Council for the Arts. “I fell in love with Spain the moment I first stepped into a tapas bar in the middle of Barcelona”, says Crozman. “Each of the short pieces on this album was chosen for its own unique flavor and will give you a musical taste of Spain’s incredibly diverse and rich culture. And just as Spanish food would be unthinkable without the tomatoes and potatoes of the New World, so too it felt like an album of Spanish music would be incomplete without a couple gems from Hispanic America”.