James Ehnes is undeniably a superstar of the classical music world. He performed with the Montreal Symphony Orchestra at age 13. He has won two Grammy Awards, 11 JUNO Awards, he has played with virtually every major orchestra on the planet and is a member of the Order of Canada.
He now lives in Florida but he is very proud to call Brandon, Manitoba home.
“People say, ‘well, gosh, how unusual that you came out of a place like Brandon,’ but it doesn’t take a lot of looking around before you realize that I am one of many people lucky enough to be successful in this business who came out of Brandon,” he says.
It’s not uncommon for him to find other Brandonites playing in orchestras around the world.
“It was a very conscious thing. The School of Music at Brandon University was designed to be a very high-level institution that offered a beautiful alternative to students who didn’t feel like they wanted to be in Toronto or New York or London,” he says. Ehnes’ father, in fact, was a trumpet instructor at the school.
“Being in a small city allowed one to have a very normal life and upbringing while also having access to world class instruction,” he says.
Ehnes’ life could no longer be classified as “normal,” particularly considering his constant companion, his 1715 Stradivarius, the “ex-Marsick.”
“Obviously there is a great sense of responsibility to be the caretaker of something that has survived for so long,” he says. “It is something that has crossed that line from tool to work of art on its own.”
“I’ve been playing on it for 25 years now and I still find it to be a very inspiring instrument in terms of pushing me to find a little more beauty or a little more range of expression.”
When we spoke with Ehnes, he was in Singapore, preparing for a concert. He says he’s been fortunate to see so much of the world. But though he’s married to an American and lives in the United States, Canada still feels like home.
“There’s something about it that always feels like putting on a comfortable sweater, I feel very much at home and certainly western Canada maybe in particular.”
He will be playing his Stradivarius in Calgary soon, when he joins the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra to play the Brahms Violin Concerto. The concerto has a special place in his heart, he says.
“If it were the only piece written for the violin, it would still be a really good reason to learn to play the violin, to work for all those hours and all those years.”
“I think it’s unique in the repertoire in its combination of beauty and of drama and of orchestra interaction and of joy and virtuosity. I can’t overhype it,” he laughs, “it’s a really, really special piece of music, one of the best things out there.”
Ehnes is playing the Brahms Violin Concerto with the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra on November 30. Details here.
A snippet of the Brahms Violin Concerto played by James Ehnes:
