Montrealers are being recruited by orchestras
Samy Moussa, a Montreal-based composer who now resides in Berlin, is set to open the 19th edition of the Montreal International Bach Festival on November 20 and 21. Moussa will conduct Mendelssohn's oratorio Elias, marking a significant event in the city's cultural calendar.
Moussa, aged 41, has been gaining prominence in the global music scene. Over the next three months, his orchestral work Elysium will be performed around 30 times, including at the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam and the Musikverein in Vienna.
In addition to conducting Mendelssohn's Elias, Moussa will also conduct two of his own works alongside Shostakovich's Symphony No. 5 with the Milan Symphony Orchestra. One of these works is his Trombone Concerto, subtitled "Yericho".
The trombone, an instrument with a noble and virtuosic sound, has been little explored by composers in general. Moussa's Trombone Concerto features a small but powerful orchestra, which includes an organ, adding a certain depth. The subtitle "Yericho" is a reference to the biblical story of the fall of Jericho, and the structure of the concerto is based on the seven-day ritual and the seven trumpets from this story.
The first discussions about Moussa's Trombone Concerto took place in 2020 with Jörgen van Rijen, principal trombone of the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra in Amsterdam. The concerto was premiered in the spring of 2023 by its dedicatee, Jörgen van Rijen, and the Orchestre national de Lyon. In Montreal, the OSM's principal trombone, James Box, will perform Moussa's Trombone Concerto.
Moussa has mentioned that he has been conducting since he was very young. He views conducting as being no less important than composition. Moussa does not believe that his work should make journalistic or sociological comments on his era. Instead, he composes and conducts based on his own desires and does not work on imposed projects.
Other composers from Québec who have received similar international recognition and whose works are frequently performed worldwide in recent years include notable figures like Claude Vivier and R. Murray Schafer, both of whom have had significant global influence and performance of their compositions.
Moussa is currently fine-tuning his Flute Concerto, which will be premiered in Paris in early December by Emmanuel Pahud. Moussa's Trombone Concerto will be performed by James Box on a future date in Montreal.
Samy Moussa will also conduct and open the Quebec Bach Festival with Mendelssohn's oratorio Elias on November 20. This promises to be an exciting and significant event for the Montreal music scene, showcasing the talent and versatility of one of Québec's most promising composers.
