Third Mélodînes concert, with Marion Portelance and Émmanuel Laforest

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Third Mélodînes concert
with Marion Portelance (cello) and Émmanuel Laforest (piano)
on April 23rd and, in response to the audience’s enthusiasm, an additional concert on April 24th
at Salle Claude-Léveillée, Place des Arts

Montreal, April 15, 2025 – Pro Musica is proud to announce the third Mélodînes concert of the season, to be held on Wednesday, April 23rd at 12:10 p.m. Following the immediate success of the first announcement of this concert (the s), an additional concert has been added on Thursday, April 24th at 7:30 p.m. in Salle Claude-Léveillée at Place des Arts. The duo of Marion Portelance on cello and Émmanuel Laforestt on piano will perform.

Program:

Ludwig Van Beethoven, Sonata for cello and piano N° 3 in A major, Op. 69

Frédéric Chopin, Fantaisie in F minor, Op. 49

Johannes Brahms, Sonata for cello and piano N° 1 in E minor, Op. 38

Featured on CBC 2023’s “30 under 30” list of Canada’s most promising classical musicians, Montreal cellist Marion Portelance performs as soloist with various orchestras in Montreal, London and France. An active chamber musician, she performs in the UK with her piano trio, as well as in Switzerland, the USA and Canada, often as a member of the Vatra Quartet. She has won various prizes in Canadian and British competitions as a soloist and chamber musician. In 2023, she was honoured to play on King Charles III’s cello for the Coronation Concert at Windsor Castle, broadcast by the BBC. Marion plays on a Joseph Hill cello (1780, London) and a Hippolyte Camille Lamy bow (Paris), courtesy of Canimex Inc. A passionate orchestral performer, she regularly joins numerous Canadian and European ensembles, including the London Philharmonic Orchestra. In 2023, she was selected as the cellist for the internship with the BBC Symphony Orchestra. She also works with many popular artists on various television projects, notably as a cellist in Alicia Keys’ music video for the series Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story.

A native of the Lanaudière region, Emmanuel Laforest has won numerous awards. In 2022 and 2024, he won the Fondation du Conservatoire prize for best pianist aged 25 and under. He also won first prize at the Conservatoire de Montréal concerto competition, grand prize at the Canimex Canadian Music Competition, grand prize at the Concours de musique de la Capitale solo and concerto competitions, and grand prize at the Classical de Valleyfield competition. In 2021, he won 1st prize and grand prize in the concerto section of the Sorel competition. As a soloist, he has performed with the Sinfonia de Lanaudière, the Orchestre symphonique du Conservatoire de musique de Montréal, Symphony New Brunswick and the Orchestre métropolitain’s Préludes.