BEAT BY BEAT: IN WITH THE NEWby Jason van EykOperatic TangentsI prefer to set this column's tone with anecdotes or insights; thistime round I'm obliged to start with apologies for two errors in lastmonth's column. First, the final concert in the TSO's New CreationsFestival took place March 11 , not 12 as was written. Second, theOpera to Go concert slated for the Living Arts Centre March 26took place at the Enwave Theatre at Harbourfront Centre. My sincereapologies for any confusion or complications that may havebeen caused.From a new music perspective, March was a real contender forthe title of opera month, with Queen of Puddings wrapping up itspremiere of James Rolfe's Ines, Tapestry offering a quartet of newcreations for Opera to Go, and Opera in Concert premiering CharlesWilson's re-worked Kamouraska. However, in scanning the Apriland early May listings, there are a few events that still fit the bill,even if occasionally from an oblique angle.On April 2nd, Continuum andthe Images Festival close out theSHIFT Festival at the Isabel BaderTheatre with a partnered programcalled "Notes on Composing: fivecollaborations in film and music."Five Canadian filmmakers werecommissioned to create new works,each scored by a Dutch or Canadiancomposer. Rather than laying Still from Glorious - Guy Maddindown a soundtrack, however, themusic will be performed live by the Continuum ensemble (with theexception of one piece created and performed by violinist MalcolmGoldstein). The result is a marriage of moving image and live soundas one single discipline - a modern parallel to the operatic tradition.The most operatic in tone is Glorious by Canadian filmmaker GuyMaddin and British/Dutch composer Richard Ayres. Set amidst alingerie fashion show held in the stairwells of a derelict apartmentblock, it tells the story of an aging crime-family patriarch, visited byhis dead father's ghost. The film is described as "an orgy of paranoia,bursting ammo shells, rackety disarmaments and oral gratificationfrom beyond the grave."Full information, including artist bios and project descriptions,may be found at www.shift-festival.ca. Tickets may be purchasedonline at www.imagesfestival.com/2009/, at Soundscapes or PagesBooks and Magazines, or in person at the venue.Soundstreams Canada and Luminato recently announced the datesfor their co-commission of R. Murray Schafer's latest opera, TheChildren's Crusade. In typical Schafer tradition, this dynamic, fulllengthwork calls for over 100 performers, both amateur and professional,including the Canadian Children' s Opera Company, thehaunting voice of Maryem Tollar, the crystalline tones of boy sopranoJacob Abrahamse and early music specialists the TorontoConsort. The performance site - an industrial warehouse on DufferinStreet in Toronto - will allow for the movement of audiences andcast from scene to scene. Performances are scheduled for June 5-11 ,but this month you can catch a glimpse of what to expect at Soundstreams'free Salon 21 on April 29 starting at 7pm at the Bata ShoeMuseum. For more information, visit www .soundstreams.ca or call416-504-1282.Stretching the opera theme a bit further, Esprit Orchestra' s "Demon"concert at the Jane Mallett Theatre May I includes DouglasSchmidt' s Discouraged Love for chorale and orchestra. DiscouragedLove is described as "quirky with a comedic twist, brilliantly delivered". The choral parts, which will be performed by the NathanielDett Chorale, are based on Portuguese lyrics from 1900 that tell thestory of a man forced to break up with his girlfriend because of thegrief he gets from her parents. The father makes him tremble andsuffer and the mother is a fierce viper from Hell. ... For full detailsvisit www .espritorchestra.com. For tickets visit www .stlc.com orcall 416-366-7723.There is a wealth of other new music concerts worthy of mention,many from beyond the usual culprits. Yes, The Element Choir andCONTACT Contemporary Music are pairing up for an event onApril 3 at the Music Gallery, and Array is launching its season withconcerts on April 24 and 26 in various locations, but the ScarboroughPhilharmonic will also premiere Alex Eddington's new workCONTINUEDPonds, Creeks, Soundstill and Noisy RiverChristina Petrowska Quilico plays the musicof Ann SouthamTuesday, May 12, 7:30 pmGlenn Gould Studio250 Front St. W.Tickets: Roy Thomson HallBox Office/ 416-872-4255www.roythomson.comor at the doorHonouring the memory of visual artist Aiko Suzuki.A portion of the proceeds will be donated to theDavid Suzuki Foundation.Launch of Pond Life on the Centrediscs label"An extraordinary talent ... dazzling virtuosity" - New York Timeswww.petrowskaquilico.comSaturday April 18 2009 @ 8pmTHE WIT OFJURG WYTTENBACHGlenn Gould StudioNMC Ensemble • Ji.irg Wyttenbach,conductor and pianistmusic by Wyttenbach,Monday April 20 2009@ 7pmJURG WYTTENBACHLECTURE-RECITALSpecial event at Gallery 345345 Sorauren AvenueBeethoven: the Avant-Garde ComposerWyttenbach performs Beethoven's sonatasopp. 90 and 109 and his ow n compositionsbased on Beethoven's sketchesReservations 416. 961 . 9594swiss arts counc ilpr~helvetiaCanada Councilfor the Aru.Conseil des Artsdu CanadaJ:JA,_ONTARIO ARTS COUNCIL)'J\_ CONS Ell DES ARTS DE l 'ONTARtORobert Aitken, arti stic director~?,r. .. ?, ?.!,?,~, ~ ~ -~c~ ~' ~.~.i.! I+ I ~:~f:~:n':;~'!':;;~~e18 WWW. THEWHOLENOTE . COM A PRIL 1 - M AY 7 2009
~infqnia1oronLoNURHAN ARMANMUSIC DIRECTORToronto·s Chamber Orchestra2009-2010Glenn Gould Studio250 Front St. WestOct 23, 2009 r .... •"-"''""LARA ST. JOHN ViolinistHAYDN Quartet op 42VAUGHAN-WILLIAMS The Lark AscendingPIAZZOLA The Four SeasonsTCHAIKOVSKY SerenadeNov 13, 2009ANTONIO DI CRISTOFANO PianistCHAN KA NIN Poetry on IceMOZART Piano Concerto K 449SCHUBERT Death and the MaidenDec 11, 2009CATHERINE MANOUKIAN ViolinistFILIPPO LATTANZI MarimbaPUCCINI Three MinuetsHOVHANESS Violin ConcertoBISCIONE Marimba ConcertoSEJOURNEE Vibraphone ConcertoSTRAUSS Die FledermausJan 22, 2010YUVAL FICHMAN PianistSOMERS North CountryCHOPIN Piano Concerto No. 2RAVEL Sinfonia in F MajorMar 12, 2010HYUK-JOO KWUN ViolinistSANGWOOK PARK PianistBURGE A Light Fantastic RoundMENDELSSOHN Double ConcertoDVORAK Sinfonia op 105Apr 9, 2010HEATHER SCHMIDT PianistXIAOHAN GUO ViolinistMOZART Divertimento K 138SAINT-SAENS CapriceWAXMAN Carmen FantasySCHMIDT Piano Concerto No. 6PIAZZOLA Oblivion and Four for TangoSHOSTAKOVICH Prelude and ScherzoMay 14, 2010SHAUNA ROLSTONCellistPUCCINI CrisantemiCHAN KA NIN SoulmateSCHMIDT Cello ConcertoTCHAIKOVSKY NocturneTCHAIKOVSKY Valse SentimentaleBRAHMS Sextet in G Major op. 34APRIL 1 - MAY 7 20097 concerts for 9 adult, 9 senior, student416 499 0403 off at www.sinfoniatoronto.comWWW. THEWHOLENOTE.COM 19
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