FEATURED ON
CBC Music’s In Concert Record of the Week
April 7th 2024
CBC Music’s Saturday Night Jazz
June 1st 2024
Classical WSMR / Modern Notebook
March 31st, April 21st, June 9th 2024
REVIEWS
E, entre o jazz e a música de concerto, cria leituras bastante particulares que revelam uma sensibilidade musical empolgante e repleta de coloridos.
And, between jazz and concert music, she creates quite unique interpretations that reveal a compelling musical sensitivity full of colors.
— Revista Concerto, May 2024
Displaying the mind of a wizened musical apothecary Deschenes knows exactly where to go for the ingredients that make from this music a potion so potently magical that listeners are – in one elegantly executed rippling rhythmic phrase of her left hand – permanently seduced to enter her world of “brazilliance.”
Ovalle’s writing takes a few risks with tonality but only rarely. Rhythm is his principle tool and Deschenes uses this masterfully. She has a natural affinity for the Latin spirit of this music and Ovalle’s harmonic language. There’s a surprising amount of very satisfying variety in this program, aided significantly by Deschenes’ obviously passionate interest in Ovalle’s work.
Playing with intense virtuosity and cool control, Deschenes has done Ovalle and Brazilian music a great service with this project. Very highly recommended!
On the more “serious” works, Deschenes’ touch is very expressive, employing just the right amount of drama, power and/or grace. As colorful as the cultural traditions that inspired the music, Deschenes’ interpretations are vibrant and full of life.
With an unerring sense of rhythm for every turn of phrase and ornament, she navigates through the Villa-Lobos and the five Tangos para Piano by Juan José Castro, finishing with a brilliant performance of Festiva by José Maria Vitier. It’s a terrific recording with a tremendous amount of energy, humour and astonishing talent.
Deschênes captures the essence of saudade, tapping into an emotional connection to the material – you sense she’s both moved by it, yet at the same time, focused on the task at hand, technique crisp and clean. Alberto Ginastera’s Danza Argentinas are also gorgeous gems, and Deschênes executes them deftly and sensitively; the middle, an achingly beautiful invocation. Deschênes’ disc is a gem. ¡Fantástico!
Deschenes’s burnished performances […] are spellbinding […].