Ichmouratov: The Ninth Wave, Viola Concerto No. 2, Cello Concerto No. 1 Stéphane Tétreault, Elvira Misbakhova, Les Violons du Roy & Airat Ichmouratov

• Airat Ichmouratov (b. 1973): The Ninth Wave, Op. 61:
• 1 Ichmouratov: The Ninth Wave, Op. 61 08:50
• Concerto for Viola No. 2, Op. 41, “Rennsteig”:
• 2 Ichmouratov: Concerto for Viola No. 2, Op. 41, “Rennsteig”: I. Allegro moderato 03:49
• 3 Ichmouratov: Concerto for Viola No. 2, Op. 41, “Rennsteig”: II. Grave maestosamente e lúgubremente 07:00
• 4 Ichmouratov: Concerto for Viola No. 2, Op. 41, “Rennsteig”: III. Allegretto grazioso 03:52
• Concerto No. 1 for Cello and Strings with Percussion, Op. 18:
• 5 Ichmouratov: Concerto No. 1 for Cello and Strings with Percussion, Op. 18: I. Intrigues: Moderato 12:34
• 6 Ichmouratov: Concerto No. 1 for Cello and Strings with Percussion, Op. 18: II. Repentance: Largo doloroso 12:18
• 7 Ichmouratov: Concerto No. 1 for Cello and Strings with Percussion, Op. 18: III. Moto perpetuo: Allegro 06:15
• Total Runtime 54:38

Info for Ichmouratov: The Ninth Wave, Viola Concerto No. 2, Cello Concerto No. 1

ATMA Classique presents an album of works by composer Airat Ichmouratov, performed by Les Violons du Roy and soloists Elvira Misbakhova and Stéphane Tétreault.

Each work is inspired by striking paintings: “Cellist and conductor Yuli Turovsky once suggested that I should ‘listen’ to painting and ‘look’ at music, an idea that perfectly sums up the spirit of this recording,” says Airat Ichmouratov.

The tone poem for strings The Ninth Wave is inspired by a painting by Aivazovsky, depicting men clinging to a shipwreck and struggling against a raging sea. The composition evokes the immensity and power of the sea through impressionistic techniques, unresolved harmonies and exotic scales. A recurring motif, the “fate motif”—dear to Ichmouratov—is also integrated into the piece.

Viola Concerto No. 2, “Rennsteig”, on the other hand, combines neobaroque and neoromantic styles, creating an imaginary painting of Bach in his youth, wandering freely through the forests of Eisenach. The work highlights the contrast between lyrical intimacy and dramatic tension.

Finally, Cello Concerto No. 1 is influenced by 3 expressionist paintings by Natasha Turovsky: Intrigues, Repentance and Moto perpetuo. Each movement of the concerto tells a story, from dark political intrigue to the pain of Stalinist repression to the effervescent virtuosity of a moto perpetuo. These compositions explore the fusion between music and the visual arts, each work offering a musical reflection on the emotions and events that inspired the artist.

Stéphane Tétreault, cello
Elvira Misbakhova, viola
Airat Ichmouratov, direction
Les Violons du Roy

Stéphane Tétreault
In addition to innumerous awards and honours, Stéphane Tétreault is the recipient of the prestigious 2019 Virginia Parker Prize from the Canada Council for the Arts and was a nominee for the Oscar Morawetz Award for Excellence in Music Performance from the Ontario Arts Council. He is also the laureate of the 2022 Prix Opus for “Performer of the Year,” awarded by the Conseil québécois de la musique, accompanied by a Canada Council grant. In 2018, he received the Maureen Forrester Next Generation Award in recognition of his sensitivities with music, enviable technique, and considerable communication skills.

In 2016, Stéphane made his debut with the Philadelphia Orchestra under the direction of Maestro Nézet-Séguin and performed at the prestigious Gstaad Menuhin Festival in Switzerland. During the 2017-2018 season, he took part in the Orchestre Métropolitain’s first European tour with Maestro Nézet-Séguin, performing the Elgar Cello Concerto at the Kölner Philharmonie (Cologne), the Concertgebouw (Amsterdam), and the Philharmonie de Paris. He also made his debut with the London Philharmonic Orchestra with conductor John Storgårds.

Stéphane has shared the stage with renowned violinist and conductor Maxim Vengerov, pianists Alexandre Tharaud, Jan Lisiecki, Louis Lortie, Roger Vignoles, Marc-André Hamelin, and John Lenehan, as well as conductors Michael Tilson Thomas, Paul McCreesh, John Storgårds, Rune Bergmann, Kensho Watanabe, and Tung-Chieh Chuang, among many others. He has also taken part in numerous masterclasses, notably with cellists Gautier Capuçon and Frans Helmerson.

His debut CD, recorded with the Quebec Symphony Orchestra under conductor Fabien Gabel, was selected as “Editor’s Choice” in the March 2013 issue of Gramophone magazine. His second album, featuring works by Haydn, Schubert, and Brahms with pianist Marie-Ève Scarfone, was named Gramophone’s “Critic’s Choice 2016” and recognized as one of the year’s best recordings. In 2017, Stéphane collaborated with harpist Valérie Milot and violinist Antoine Bareil on a third album devoted to trios for violin, cello, and harp. All three recordings received nominations for Classical Album of the Year at the ADISQ Gala.

In 2022, he released Transfiguration, a new collaboration with Valérie Milot featuring works by Marjan Mozetich, Caroline Lizotte, Alexandre Grogg, Kelly-Marie Murphy, and François Vallières. The album was nominated for Classical Album of the Year at the 2023 ADISQ Gala and won the Prix Opus for Album of the Year, awarded by the Conseil québécois de la musique. In the following years, he released two albums as part of the Images oubliées project with pianist Olivier Hébert-Bouchard. This project, which explores the world of Claude Debussy through original transcriptions for cello and piano, was nominated for Album of the Year and Concert of the Year at the 2024 Prix Opus.

For more than eight years, Stéphane has also collaborated closely with bandoneonist and composer Denis Plante. Together, they released Suite Tango (2021) and Stradivatango (2024) — a vibrant meeting of Argentine tango and cello, marked by a rare musical chemistry and warmly praised by critics both in Canada and internationally.

Stéphane was a student of the late cellist and conductor Yuli Turovsky for more than 10 years. He holds a master’s degree in Music Performance from the University of Montreal.

He plays the 1707 “Countess of Stainlein, Ex-Paganini” Stradivarius cello, generously on loan from Mrs. Sophie Desmarais.

Elvira Misbakhova
is a renowned musician, recognized for her exceptional versatility as a soloist, orchestral musician, and chamber musician. Originally from Tatarstan, Russia, she began studying the violin at the age of seven. After obtaining her master’s degree from the Kazan State Conservatory, she continued her training in Canada in 1999, studying with Eleonora and Yuli Turovsky. She then earned a second master’s degree and a doctorate in musical performance from the University of Montreal in 2005. During her studies, she distinguished herself with numerous excellence scholarships and won the prestigious concerto competition.

Elvira Misbakhova’s musical journey has led her to perform on many stages in Canada and beyond. As a soloist, she has collaborated with orchestras such as the Orchestre Métropolitain, I Musici de Montréal, the Orchestre symphonique de Drummondville, the Orchestre symphonique de Trois-Rivières, the Orchestre de chambre Nouvelle Génération, as well as the State Symphony Orchestra of Tatarstan and the State Chamber Orchestra of Belarus. She has also performed with the prestigious London Symphony Orchestra.

Currently, she is the principal viola of the Orchestre Métropolitain under the direction of Yannick Nézet-Séguin, as well as with the Orchestre de chambre Nouvelle Génération. She joined I Musici de Montréal in 2022, contributing to the orchestra both as a soloist and an orchestral musician.

Recording is an integral part of Elvira Misbakhova’s work. In May 2022, she recorded an album with the London Symphony Orchestra under the Chandos label. In October 2022, she recorded another album with I Musici de Montréal, as a soloist, for the ATMA label. Her 2019 album, also released by Chandos, received widespread acclaim in specialized magazines such as The Strad, Gramophone, and MusicWeb.

In addition to her orchestral engagements, Elvira Misbakhova is deeply dedicated to chamber music. She regularly participates in duo and small ensemble projects, collaborating with renowned artists and adding her unique touch to both contemporary and classical repertoires.

Through her talent, commitment, and musical diversity, Elvira Misbakhova has established herself as one of the brightest figures in the Canadian music scene. Her ability to thrive in such varied repertoires—from chamber music to large symphonic ensembles and recording projects—testifies to her immense talent and unwavering passion for music.

Elvira plays on a viola by Jean-Baptiste Vuillaume (1860-65) and a bow by Louis Basin, generously loaned by Canimex.

Airat Ichmouratov
The music of award-winning Canadian composer Airat Ichmouratov has been performed at concert halls such as Wiener Musikverein, Konzerthaus Berlin, Elbphilharmonie Hamburg, Tonhalle Zürich, Sydney Opera House, The Montreal Symphony House by a wide range of ensembles and musicians in countries around the world, including Maxim Vengerov, Robert Langevin, Yannick Nézet-Séguin & Orchestre Métropolitain, London Symphony Orchestra, Chamber Orchestra "Moscow Virtuosi", Yuli Turovsky & I Musici de Montreal, Alexander Gilman & LGT Young Soloists, Israeli Soloists Chamber Orchestra, Quebec Symphony Orchestra, Symphony Orchestra of India, Taipei Symphony Orchestra, "Amadeus" Chamber Orchestra of Polish Radio, Chamber orchestra "Les Violons du Roy", Tatarstan National Symphony Orchestra just to name a few. Versatile in form and style, Ichmouratov’s compositions were recorded on Chandos, Warner Classics, Analekta, Atma Classique, and Hedone Records.


Holding two Master's degrees - in interpretation (clarinet) and composition, also Ph.D in orchestra conducting from the University of Montreal, Airat Ichmouratov has frequently been invited as the guest conductor with numerous orchestras around the world. Mr. Ichmouratov served as Conductor in Residence of "Les Violons du Roy" (2007-2009), Quebec Symphony Orchestra (2009-2012), and Longueuil Symphony Orchestra (2018-2021). In August 2011, Mr. Ichmouratov conducted I Music de Montreal on tour in USA, Brazil, and Peru. In October 2011 he made his debut with Tatarstan Academic State Opera and Ballet Theatre and was immediately re-invited to conduct Puccini’s Turandot and Verdi's Rigoletto during the 2012-13 season and on the following European Tour. 



Born in Kazan, Tatarstan, Airat Ichmouratov studied clarinet at the Kazan State Conservatory. In 1993, when he was appointed as Associate clarinetist of the Tatarstan’s Opera and Ballet Theatre, and of the Kazan State Symphony Orchestra, he began to extensively tour Europe. In 2000, after immigrating to Canada he founded the Muczynski Trio, which won 1st prize and the Grand Award at the National Music Festival (Canada, 2002) and 1st Prize at the 8th International Chamber Music Competition in Krakow (Poland, 2004). The Trio has also recorded for CBC and has given performances in Canada, China, Russia and Europe.


In 2000, Mr. Ichmouratov joined the klezmer group Kleztory, in which he plays the clarinet, composes, and arranges. In 2012 Kleztory won The Klezmer Furth Prize at the International Klezmer Festival and Competition in Amsterdam and as result appeared at Furth Klezmer Festival during the following spring. With Kleztory, Mr. Ichmouratov has appeared as a soloist with numerous orchestras including the Montreal Symphony Orchestra, the Quebec Symphony Orchestra, I Musici de Montreal, Les Violons du Roy, Brussels Chamber Orchestra, given in a total of over 1000 concerts in 20 countries.



On October 21, 2020, Airat Ichmouratov received Charles Biddle Award. This honor, given by the Ministry of Immigration, Francisation and Integration and "Culture pour tous" highlights the contributions of immigrants to Quebec whose personal and professional commitment contributes to the province’s cultural and artistic development. 



Airat Ichmouratov's most recent composition – the neo-romantic opera “The Man who laughs” after Victor Hugo's novel of the same name, a commission from Festival Classica, will be premiered in Montreal in the spring of 2023 under the baton of the composer.

Booklet for Ichmouratov: The Ninth Wave, Viola Concerto No. 2, Cello Concerto No. 1