MONTREAL, September 4, 2026 – After an extraordinary career that has taken her around the world, legendary Canadian pianist Janina Fialkowska will bid farewell to Montreal audiences in a very special concert with the Orchestre classique de Montréal (OCM) on Friday, October 2, at 7:30 p.m. at the Maison symphonique.
Deeply honoured by this occasion, the OCM is proud to welcome an artist who, for decades, has captivated audiences around the world with her extraordinary talent, elegance and depth of interpretation. Janina Fialkowska has chosen this concert, alongside maestro Andrei Feher and the OCM, as her final performance in Montreal—an evening that promises to be as exceptional as it will be moving.
A major figure on the international piano scene, Janina Fialkowska is acclaimed for the depth of her interpretations, exceptional musicianship, and remarkable command of the Romantic repertoire. Born in Montreal and mentored by Arthur Rubinstein, she has enjoyed an international career spanning several decades, performing on major stages throughout Europe, North America, and Asia with many of the world’s leading orchestras and conductors.
The evening will open with the luminous energy of Anna Clyne’s Stride. Fialkowska will then take the stage to perform Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 4, one of the composer’s great masterpieces for piano and orchestra. Under the direction of Andrei Feher, the concert will conclude with Beethoven’s Symphony No. 7, celebrated for its rhythmic vitality and extraordinary intensity.
“It is a joy to open our new season with such a vibrant program, celebrating the exhilarating music of Beethoven alongside one of Canada’s most distinguished pianists, Janina Fialkowska. I am equally proud to continue OCM’s longstanding commitment to Music for Everyone, an initiative that has touched the lives of more than 10,000 newcomers, seniors, and women facing difficult circumstances. For me, making great music accessible to people from all walks of life is at the very heart of what we do, and something that touches me deeply.”” — Andrei Feher, Music and Artistic Director of the OCM
The OCM’s Music for Everyone program is in its 9th season and continues making classical music accessible to those who would not otherwise be able to attend a live concert. This is at the core of OCM’s mission for almost a decade.
This concert is dedicated to the memory of Mario Lafond, a dear friend and longtime donor of the OCM. With the support of Ms. Roula Drossis and Dr. W. Mark Roberts, and in collaboration with the Consulate General of the Republic of Poland in Montreal.
Beethoven & Fialkowska
Friday, October 2 at 7:30 p.m. – Maison symphonique
Orchestre Classique de Montréal
Janina Fialkowska, piano
Andrei Feher, conductor
Program
Anna Clyne
Stride
Ludwig van Beethoven
Piano Concerto No. 4 in G major, Op. 58
Symphony No. 7 in A major, Op. 92
Tickets: $30–$119 | Online at orchestre.ca
About the OCM
Winner of a 2024 Juno Award, the Orchestre classique de Montréal (formerly the McGill Chamber Orchestra) is Canada’s oldest chamber orchestra. Founded in 1939 by violinist, conductor, and composer Alexander Brott and cellist and administrator Lotte Brott, the orchestra was led by Boris Brott, O.C., O.Q., from 2000 until his passing in April 2022. Now under the artistic direction of Andrei Feher, the OCM is a vibrant, innovative, and flexible ensemble composed of Montreal’s finest professional musicians. The orchestra performs year-round and is in residence at Salle Pierre‑Mercure. True to its mission of celebrating diversity and inclusion, the OCM continues its Music for Everyone program, collaborating with newcomer communities and Montreal organizations to make its performances accessible to everyone.
