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Volume 21 Issue 2 - October 2015

Vol 21 No 2 is now available for your viewing pleasure, and it's a bumper crop, right at the harvest moon. First ever Canadian opera on the Four Seasons Centre main stage gets double coverage with Wende Bartley interviewing Pyramus and Thisbe composer Barbara Monk Feldman and Chris Hoile connecting with director Christopher Alden; Paul Ennis digs into the musical mind of pianist Benjamin Grosvenor, and pianist Eve Egoyan is "On the Record" in conversation with publisher David Perlman ahead of the Oct release concert for her tenth recording. And at the heart of it all the 16th edition of our annual BLUE PAGES directory of presenters profile the season now well and truly under way.

BLUE PAGES

BLUE PAGES 2015/16 communities of people through the medium of music. The chorale has a three-concert subscription series, tours extensively each season and has released several CDs and DVDs. Membership is by audition. Brainerd Blyden-Taylor, artistic director 416-712-7740 info@nathanieldettchorale.org nathanieldettchorale.org ● Neuberger Holocaust Education Centre, UJA Federation of Greater Toronto Through its museum and programs, the UJA Federation’s Sarah and Chaim Neuberger Holocaust Education Centre generates knowledge and understanding about the Holocaust and serves as a forum for dialogue about civil society for present and future generations. The Neuberger’s annual signature program, Holocaust Education Week is recognized as one of the most comprehensive forums for Holocaust education and remembrance in the world. From November 2–9, the 35th annual Neuberger Holocaust Education Week explores Liberation: Aftermath & Rebirth in honour of the 70th anniversary of the end of the Second World War. More than 100 multidisciplinary programs including concerts and music programs offer important opportunities to explore the theme and engage with the diversity of experiences in the aftermath of liberation. One of the most comprehensive Holocaust education programs in the world, Neuberger HEW invites you to become active participants in exploring the theme of liberation and reflect upon the lingering consequences of the Holocaust. Iris Glesinger Lichtinshtein 416-631-5689 neuberger@ujafed.org holocaustcentre.com ● New Music Concerts New Music Concerts’ 45th season features three notable visiting groups (Vancouver’s Turning Point Ensemble on October 17, JACK String Quartet on January 14 and the Quasar Saxophone Quartet on March 13) primarily performing works composed especially for them, plus four concerts with our own musicians. On December 6 French composer Philippe Leroux is featured in a portrait concert that also includes works by Gérard Grisey and Scott Rubin. Another iconic French composer, Pierre Boulez, is honoured on Family Day February 15 in a concert which also features Edmonton composer Howard Bashaw. Viva Electronica on April 3 features commissions by Anthony Tan, Keith Hamel and Paul Steenhuisen. Flutes Galore features works for an orchestra of 24 members of the flute family, from piccolo to contrabass, by Robert Aitken, Bruce Mather and Christopher Butterfield plus a world premiere by Alex Pauk. In addition, in a special non-subscription event on November 8 there will be a preview of the Centrediscs CD re-issue of R. Murray Schafer’s Loving/Toi originally released on LP by NMC in 1978. Robert Aitken, artistic director David Olds, general manager 416-961-9594 nmc@interlog.com newmusicconcerts.com ● newchoir Toronto’s first rock choir, newchoir, under the artistic direction of Scott Pietrangelo, thrills audiences with a repertoire of unexpected SATB choral renditions of classic rock and pop songs from the 70s onward. From Pink Floyd to Walk off the Earth, Prince to Rihanna, Queen to Train and many things in between, our 160 voices appeal to audiences of all ages. Currently in our tenth year, we are looking forward to our concert on January 31, “newchoir unplugged” at St. Michael’s College School Centre for the Arts with Cadence; our trip to Carnegie Hall for a performance on March 29 and then back to Toronto’s Koerner Hall on May 30! We are a flash mob for hire, bringing excitement to corporate meetings and open air venues, and we give back to our community, raising funds for St. Jamestown “Reaching out Through Music” and the Regent Park School of Music programs. Everyone has an inner rock star. Come and unleash yours! Caroline Suri 647-203-3408 newchoirofficial@gmail.com newchoir.ca ● Nine Sparrows Arts Foundation Nine Sparrows Arts Foundation marks its 22nd anniversary this season under artistic director Eric Robertson. Since the inaugural performance of “Hasten to Come Before Winter,” Nine Sparrows Arts Foundation has presented a rich variety of concerts for Toronto audiences, and has presented international groups such as King’s College Cambridge Choir, Clare College Singers and St. John’s College Choir, and has featured Canadian artists including John Neville, Erica Goodman, Colin Fox, the True North Brass, the Gryphon Trio, Christine Duncan’s Element Choir and percussion ensemble NEXUS. Nine Sparrows Arts Foundation is also involved in the City Carol Sing, an annual charity event that raises money for food banks across Canada. Nine Sparrows Arts Foundation is a not-forprofit organization dedicated to bringing the best in inspirational arts programming. It is governed by an elected volunteer board of directors and operates with the assistance of advisors from a variety of backgrounds, including event management, promotions, finance and business. Nine Sparrows Arts Foundation, in co-operation with Yorkminster Park Baptist Church, will begin its 2015/16 season on Tuesday, September 15 with the first recital in its weekly “Lunchtime Chamber Music” series. E. Burns, president 416-241-1298 9sparrows.arts@gmail.com 9sparrowsarts.org ● No Strings Theatre No Strings Theatre, established in 2005, was modelled after local and international performance training programs designed to provide professional artistic training through intensive programs and workshops led by industry professionals. Participants gain experience through performing fully staged and other types of productions for public audiences. We have recently extended our programming from our signature teen program, the Young Program (ages 13-21), to emerging professional artists, Emerging Artists Program (ages 21-30), and pre-teens, Tween Prep (ages 10-12). The season’s workshops for our Young and Tween Programs include Audition Preparation in the fall (ideal for secondary and post-secondary art school auditions), March Break, Summer Intensive, Creative Writing and Pit Orchestra. The EAP program invites collaboration from experienced young artists to present productions spanning cabaret, theatre, music theatre, and opera, and also welcomes submissions of new works. Annually in December, No Strings Theatre presents, in concert, Gian Carlo Menotti’s Amahl and the Night Visitors. This season we will be proud to present this work at the Artscape Wychwood Barns. Auditions for this opera are open to all ages! Denise Williams 416-551-2093 directors@nostringstheatre.com nostringstheatre.com ● Nocturnes in the City Nocturnes in the City started 15 years ago at the Czech community centre at Masaryktown’s Prague Restaurant. Initially, Czech or Slovak artists living in Canada or in the Czech Republic were presented. Because of increased interest among Czech and Slovak patriots, the number of concerts was expanded from six to eight depending on availability of the artists. Canadian artists with some ties to the Czech community or partly presenting Czech repertoire are also presented. In the last 8 years, classical performances have been moved to the acoustically excellent St. Wenceslaus Church on Gladstone Avenue, while jazz concerts still take place at Prague Restaurant. Artists such as Eva Urbanova, Gustav Belacek, Zdenek Plech, Jan Novotny, Boris Krajny, Antonin Kubalek, Ivan Zenaty, Radim Zenkl have performed there, from the famous quartets - Panocha, Zemlinsky, Prazak, Kocian and others. This upcoming fifteenth season brings pianists Karolina Kubalek, Jan Novotny and Adam Zukiewicz, sopranos Kripa Nageshwar, Eliska Latawiec B16 | theWholeNote 2015/16 PRESENTER PROFILES

and the Zemlinsky Quartet from Prague. Jazz concerts include Drew Jurecka trio and George Grosman Bohemian jazz quartet Tickets are , subscriptions 0. More info: 416-481-7294. 416-499-2716 www.nocturnesinthecity.com ● NUMUS Concerts Under the current artistic direction of Kathryn Ladano, NUMUS is committed to keeping new music relevant, accessible, and educational, and our programming is a strong force both locally and nation-wide. NUMUS has bolstered and grown arts and culture in the Region of Waterloo and beyond for the past 30 years and is renowned nationally as a presenter and producer of new music concerts, programming significantly more woman composers than any other arts organization in Canada. Season highlights for 2015-2016 include special 30th anniversary concerts curated by former Numus Artistic Directors Jeremy Bell and Anne-Marie Donovan, and an interdisciplinary concert fusing improvisational music, visual art, and dance, Montreal’s Quasar saxophone quartet, the world premiere of Stephanie Martin’s Babel for full choir and orchestra, and several concerts in our MIX Music Series focusing on emerging artists and improvising musicians such as pianist Jason White, Montreal’s Ellwood Epps and Yves Charest, turntablist Cheldon Patterson, Ken Aldcroft’s Threads Quintet, and a special concert programmed by the winner of the first annual Numus Student Curator Contest. Kathryn Ladano, artistic director David Mackay, general manager 519-896-3662 info@numus.on.ca numus.on.ca ● Oakville Children’s Choir The internationally renowned Oakville Children’s Choir consists of six choirs ranging from the “Little Notes” Preparatory Choir Program to our Chamber Choir program to the “A Few Good Men” ensemble for boys and young men. The OCC provides a comprehensive music education program for over 175 choristers ranging from age four to university students. In addition to community performances, the OCC participates in vocal festivals, choral retreats, choral competitions and workshops. The OCC is a high-profile community ambassador and is proud to perform at many public functions and special events in the Oakville area. Educational programs emphasize developing individual musicianship including sight singing, music theory and choral movement. The OCC Education Outreach program connects choristers with a variety of community and social organizations. We strive to develop leadership skills through choral singing, and through programs for choristers such as our Young Leader mentorship program. The OCC has released NEWCHOIR several CDs and has won numerous awards including our recent Gold Medal win at the 2014 World Choir Games in Riga, Latvia. The OCC features a strong artistic team led by artistic director Sarah Morrison. Katherine Hamilton 905-337-7104 info@oakvillechildrenschoir.org oakvillechildrenschoir.org ● Off Centre Music Salon In celebration of Off Centre Music Salon’s 21st Anniversary Season and third decade of concerts we have moved to the gorgeous Trinity St. Paul’s Centre (427 Bloor St. West). The season begins with “Russia Cast Adrift”, a peek into the lives and music of such giants as Mussorgsky, Tchaikovsky, Tcherepnin, Rachmaninoff and Sviridov. From there, we study “The Geometry of Love”: from simple triangles to messy mazes, the romantic relationships, that “shaped” the music of Strauss, Mahler, Beethoven, Chopin and Viardot. “The Cocktail Époque” celebrates the roaring twenties, the “années folles” with Off Centre favourite and musical theatre wizard, pianist/ composer Jimmy Roberts. To end our season, we stand outside our favourite open window: that of our beloved Schubert. Our Annual Schubertiad follows “The Wanderer” on a journey beyond the brook… Our exciting two-concert mini-series dérangé, co-presented by the Music Gallery, continues in 2016 – top secret “out of line” behaviour is to be announced shortly! All concerts take place Sundays at 3pm at Trinity St. Paul’s Centre (427 Bloor Street West). Season subscriptions still available - 5 (Adults); 5 (Seniors); (Students). Prices include HST. 416-466-1870 tickets@offcentremusic.com offcentremusic.com ● Ontario Philharmonic The Ontario Philharmonic is a notable player in the landscape of classical music in Ontario. It is one of the most exciting orchestras in the Toronto/GTA area and has earned its place among the leading performing arts organizations of the province. The orchestra comprises players from amongst the finest professional musicians in the GTA and it is led by one of Canada’s most distinguished conductors on the international scene, Marco Parisotto. Highlights of the 2015/16 season include soloists Michael Bridge, Alexandre Da Costa, Daniela Liebman, Etsuko Kimura (OP Concertmaster), as we celebrate a season of “Philharmonic Spectaculars.” The Canadian rock icons Lighthouse will also join us for an evening to share their extraordinary musical legacy. Jennifer Caines, Durham Region contact 905-579-6711 contact@ontariophil.ca Bonnie Booth, Toronto contact 416-443-9737 bbooth@ontariophil.ca Box Office: 905-721-3399 x2 ontariophil.ca ● Opera York In our 19th season and continuing our residency as the professional opera company at the Richmond Hill Centre for the Arts, Opera York offers two exciting productions for our main stage with the Opera York Chorus and Orchestra. Our season opens with the great Canadian tenor Romulo Delgado singing the role of Mario Cavaradossi in Puccini’s superb opera Tosca under artistic director Sabatino Vacca and stage director Giuseppe Macina. Opera York’s second half of the season is led by artistic director Geoffrey Butler, in the full production of Donizetti’s classic comedy Don Pasquale, stage director Renee Salewski. theWholeNote 2015/16 PRESENTER PROFILES | B17

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