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Volume 16 Issue 5 - February 2011

  • Text
  • February
  • Toronto
  • Jazz
  • Symphony
  • Orchestra
  • Musical
  • Trio
  • Concerts
  • Arts
  • Theatre

Beat by Beat / Classical

Beat by Beat / Classical & BeyondBychkov’s Vienna,Outwater’s K-WDAVID PERLMANImagine how cohesive an orchestra that has had one stellar principalconductor for a couple of decades must become. Compare thatin your mind to one that has been without a principal conductorfor the same amount of time. You can speculate that the orchestrasin question would evolve in very different ways with very differentstrengths and weaknesses.Now, imagine if you can an orchestra that as a matter of fundamentalpolicy has had no principal conductor for almost eightyyears ... but can call regularly on Nikolaus Harnoncourt, GustavoDudamel, Andris Nelsons, Franz-Welser-Möst, Georges Prêtre,Christian Thielemann, Mariss Jansons, Esa-Pekka Salonen... Youcan imagine that such an orchestra might evolve into somethingremarkable. As indeed it has, and they’re coming to town.The Toronto stop of the Vienna Philharmonic, March 6, is theironly Canadian stop, and the last of an eight-concert, nine-day NorthAmerican tour under the baton of Semeon Bychkov. The orchestrawill rotate three different programs over the course of the nine days– one all Mahler, one Schumann and Brahms, and the third (the onewe will hear) Schubert, Wagner and Bartók (see listings for details).Bychkov’s most important Great Lake so far has been Erie, notthe Grand Rapids Symphony would doubtless have strengthened thatimpresssion. Around thattime, he stumbled into aone-time engagement withthe Buffalo Philharmonic– Il trovatore at the ArtParkFestival in Lewiston. It ledto a ten year relationship.“My career in America wason his website. “I alwayslook at that time as myFor those who lost trackof Bychkov after he leftthe Buffalo Philharmonicin the mid-nineties: hereturned to Europe in 1989to become music directorof the Orchestre de Paris.From Paris he went toWDR Symphony Cologne,a post he still holds. Againfrom his website: “AfterSemeon Bychkov.ten years this must mean that we are not bored with each other, and-Around the same time as the appointment with “very forward-traditional Dresden Semperoper, “the house of Wagner and Strauss.It was fantastic for me [having both appointments] as if I was able toHis equal delight in both the operatic and orchestral bodes wellfor the tour. Certainly the Vienna Philharmonic is no stranger todoing similar double duty; they are the pit band (if you pardon thePHOTO SHEILA ROCK18 thewholenote.comFebruary 1 - March 7, 2011

Aurora Cultural Centre presents22 Church Street, Aurora, Ontario L4G 1G4Music at the CentreGREAT ARTIST PIANO SERIES Celebrate Ontario’s new cultural facility, a jewel in the heartof Aurora. Enjoy our opening season with the artistry of 4 piano masters. The beautifullyrestored Church Street School (circa 1886) provides an intimate salon setting for a memorableexperience of beautiful music performed by some of Canada’s greatest artists.Friday, February 25, 2011 8pmAnton Kuerti“One of the truly great pianists of this century” –CD Review (London)All Beethoven Program: including the Appassionata Sonata, op. 57,and a lecture/performance of the Diabelli VariationsFriday, March 25, 2011 8pmJane Coop“This exquisite recital was played with remarkable sensitivity andrefinement by Jane Coop“ –New York Daily NewsProgram to include Beethoven’s Eroica Variations and Scriabin EtudesFriday, April 29, 2011 8pmJamie ParkerTwo-time Juno award winner Jamie Parker presents ’Music of the Night,’including Chopin’s Nocturnes, Debussy’s La Soiree dans Grenade, andBeethoven’s Moonlight SonataFriday, May 27, 2011 8pmIntroducing the prize-winning young pianist Elizabeth Schumann“Devastatingly good – the sort of performance you experience not somuch with your ears as your solar plexus” –Washington Post MagazineProgram features piano music by Chopin and LisztTICKETS Subscription: Purchase all 4 concerts, adult; senior & studentSingle tickets: Kuerti, Coop, Parker, adult; senior & student; Schumann BOX OFFICE 905 713-1818 (hours: 9am to 4pm, Mon to Fri) or at the doorwww.auroraculturalcentre.ca 905 713-1818Inaugural season made possible through the generosity of Bonnie & Norbert Kraft

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