Violinist Kai Gleusteen & Pianist Catherine Ordronneau

Our new year of Music At Wentworth Villa opens with a recital by Canadian violinist Kai Gleusteen and French pianist Catherine Ordronneau. The players, based in Spain, were due to play for us in 2021 but were unable to travel due to the pandemic. Fingers crossed this time!

Fantasy in C Major for violin and piano Franz Schubert

Dante Fantasy for solo piano Franz Liszt

“Une pianiste pas comme les autres.” These were the words of Pierre Petit, the well-known critique of the Figaro, after a performance of Catherine Ordronneau.

Although she performed her first solo concert at age 12, it is only when she turned 18 that she decided to devote herself entirely to music, receiving guidance from French pianist François-René Duchâble and the pedagogue Monique Deschaussées, herself a student of the great Alfred Cortot.

After receiving the highest distinction in academics, and the prize of the Foundation Lefébure, she chose to avoid international competitions in order to develop an eclectic repertoire and grow as a thoughtful and well-rounded musician. Being a lover of literature and nature, she delivers “mesmerizing interpretation allied to a total musical integrity.” (The Times)

Catherine performs extensively in North America, Europe and China. She was invited to play as a soloist with the Saint Louis Symphony, the Bay Atlantic Symphony, the Toronto Sinfonietta, the Orchestra of the Gran Teatre del Liceu in Barcelona, the Lublin Philharmonic in Poland, and the Lebanon Philharmonic Orchestra. Since 2008, she regularly goes to China and has played in the most prestigious halls, including the Oriental Art Center in Shanghai and the Performing Arts Center in Tianjin. She recorded live for CBC Radio, Bravo, TV2 in Spain, Radio France…

Catherine has a great passion for chamber music and has taken part in many international chamber music festivals. She has worked and performed with Canadian violinist Kai Gleusteen for more than 20 years and their discography includes award winning recordings. They recently were invited for a 22 concert tour in China.

Catherine is professor of piano and chamber music in the Liceu Conservatorio Superior de Música in Barcelona.

Canadian born violinist, Kai Gleusteen started at the age of five years old in his native city, Calgary. Early on, he met with success in national music competitions in addition to receiving top academic awards. Already at a young age, he had the opportunity to study with the most renowned violinists and teachers of his time, including Nathan Milstein, Ivan Galamian, Josef Gingold, Dorothy Delay, and Zakhar Bron. By the age of seventeen, Kai was awarded the top prize in the Commonwealth Concerto Competition in Australia, he had received the prestigious Skene Award in Scotland and had formed his first chamber orchestra: The Group of Twelve.

A strong believer in the musician as a multi-dimensional human being, Kai chose to combine his musical studies with academic pursuits. At the University of Michigan, he studied anthropology, geophysics, and philosophy. He received a Master’s Degree from Rice University under the tutelage of the person who would become his greatest inspiration on both a personal and musical level, the violinist Camilla Wicks.

In 1991, Kai moved to Europe to live in the heart of Western culture. Paris and Prague were his bases for nine years, allowing him to develop and perform both as a soloist and leader of numerous orchestras. In the year 2000, he won the concertmaster position of the Orchestra ‘del Gran Teatre del Liceu’ and subsequently moved to Barcelona. In 2003, he created the Gran Teatre del Liceu Chamber Orchestra and was appointed professor at the Escuela Superior de Musica de Catalunya. He continues to perform extensively as a soloist and a recitalist throughout Europe, North America and China and has released numerous critically acclaimed recordings.

In 2011, Kai founded a chamber music festival called Kaimerata Concerts, in which he chooses one composer per season and shares his knowledge and passion of the works with the audience by explaining, demonstrating, and performing the selected works. After thirteen successful seasons in Spain, Kaimerata Concerts has now a second home on Denman Island in the summer. More details on kaimerata.com. He and his chamber music partner for more than 20 years, Catherine Ordronneau, are the heart of the ensemble.

Kai has the great fortune to play on a violin made by J.B. Guadagnini made in 1781.

Host or Publisher Wentworth Villa