Robert C. Rival - Winter Songs & Chamber Music (Various Artists)

Information

Composer: Robert C. Rival

• Winter Songs
• Cello Sonata
• Fantasy on a Theme of Schubert
• Piano Trio No. 1

Allyson McHardy, mezzo-soprano / Carson Becke, piano

Timothy Chooi, violin

Paul Marleyn, cello

David Jalbert, piano

Date: 2026

Label: Centrediscs

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This debut solo album by Canadian composer Robert C. Rival marks a milestone celebration of his 50th birthday, a quarter-century of professional composition, and his enduring 30-year connection with the uOttawa School of Music. An entirely Canadian endeavor in its poetry, performances, and production, the project features settings of verse by Marjorie Pickthall. Following early 2026 premiere performances in Québec and Ottawa, the album captures the same ensemble in a retrospective program arranged in reverse chronological order. Expressing profound gratitude to his academic community, colleagues, and former students, Rival reflects on the vital support that enabled his sustained, flourishing career.

Born in Ottawa in 1975, Canadian composer, scholar, and educator Robert Rival is recognized for his extended tonal style inspired by literature, classical forms, and the Canadian wilderness. Following a Doctorate in Composition from the University of Toronto, he served as Resident Composer for the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra (2011–2014) and earned national acclaim for works like his Red Moon song cycle and Symphony No. 1 "Maligne Range". Performed internationally by leading ensembles in prestigious venues like Carnegie Hall, his diverse catalog spans orchestral, chamber, choral, and stage music. Rival is also a published scholar, program note writer, and composition coordinator at the University of Ottawa.

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