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Stéphane Tétreault: Life with a Stradivarius Countess

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Everything changed for Stéphane Tétreault when the Countess came into his life. It sounds like the start of a 19th-century novel. Instead it’s the start of a remarkable career. Tétreault was 18 when the “Countess of Stainlein, Ex-Paganini,” a 1707 Stradivarius cello was lent to him. They are together to this day. Tetrault calls her simply, “the Countess.”

It was almost unheard-of when it happened: a teenager being given such a treasure to play.

“Just the fact of getting a Stradivarius cello in Quebec was very big news,” says Tétreault, now 31. “It made headlines quite a bit. It helped propel my career forward; it was a very special experience to go through all that.”

Tétreault has now won a stunning number of awards and played some of the world’s most famous stages. His name is firmly entrenched in Canadian classical music. As to be expected, he has a lot happening this year. What’s he absolutely the most excited about?

“Well, obviously being in Edmonton with the ESO!” he laughs. “Jokes aside, I’ve been really looking forward to coming back to Edmonton with the orchestra. It’s been a while since we’ve played together and I’m really happy to be coming back and playing the Dvořák Cello Concerto. It’s one of my all-time favourites.”

Tétreault is indeed back in Alberta’s capital, June 13, 14 and 15 to perform with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra (ESO).

He knows the city and orchestra, having played several concerts in Edmonton over the years. He was Artist in Residence at the ESO in 2019/2020.

“I’ve always loved the orchestra. I love the concert hall, it’s so beautiful. The first time I came it was definitely a highlight of my year. It will be really special to be back.”

As a child in Montreal, Tétreault was bored in pre-kindergarten so his parents switched him to a fine arts school. A few years later, his teacher was setting up a strings program and asked that he join. He chose the violin. His teacher needed cello players, however. After many attempts to persuade him to learn cello, she finally promised him a gift if he’d play the larger instrument for a year.

“I was sort of bribed to take the cello,” he laughs.

Now, he’s on his way to Edmonton with the Countess at his side. He easily recalls their first encounter.

“When I first met the instrument I was pretty floored by its amazing history and then, of course, its sound,” he says. “That was just mind-blowing to me, to hear a cello that had that much variety in its sound, infinite possibility as far as colours and phrasing and just various atmospheres that could be created. It’s a dream come true, playing an instrument like that.”

Tétreault plays with the ESO in Marvelous Melodies, June 13-15. Tickets and more information can be found here.

Tétreault with pianist Olivier Hébert-Bouchard, from the recently released album, Images oubliées: