David Mirvish PresentsThe Marquis Entertainment Inc. & Talking Fingers Inc. Production ofCreated, Performed and Directed byTed Dykstra & Richard Greenblatt“Dramatic Gem. Funny, Clever, insightful & touching!”–The Globe & Mail“A crescendo of pleasure!”–The Washington PostLIMITED ENGAGEMENT!OcT 29–NOv 20651 Yonge Street, Toronto416-872-1212 | mirvish.com | 1-800-461-3333New Faces, PlacesSHARNA SEARLEIt’s october — the new fall concert season’s in full swing! And, aswith most season launches — 2011/12 being no different — therewas a flurry of press releases sent ‘round toward the end ofsummer announcing new artistic appointments — those “new faces inold places.”One such appointment is conductor Uri Mayer’s new roleas artistic director and principal conductor with the TorontoPhilharmoniaOrchestra. MaestroMayer, orchestralprogrammedirector andresident conductorof the RoyalConservatory’sGlenn GouldSchool, will leadthe TPO in itsupcoming concertseries, at theGeorge WestonRecital Hall.Beat by Beat / Classical & BeyondUri Mayer: September, Toronto PhilharmoniaArcadian Court gala.Last month, I had the pleasure of sitting down with Uri Mayer atthe Royal Conservatory’s Koerner Hall café, where we chatted abouthis new appointment and related topics. Right off the bat, I askedhim what compelled him to take on the position with the TPO, givenhis busy schedule and his extraordinary conducting career to date.“Actually, I’d known about the orchestra for some time. Lastseason they had a search for a new conductor/artistic director. I wasnot part of that [process] but I did conduct the first concert of theprevious season. And I guess some people must have liked what Idid. Because at the end of the season/early summer, I was asked bythe Board to take on the orchestra. I thought about it … I realizedthat it’s a very good group of musicians, in my neck of the woods,playing in a beautiful hall … and I believed that my talents and myexperience could bring them to the next level. I’m delighted that Iwas asked to share my expertise …”I inquired as to how Mayer approaches those first days with anew orchestra, what he does to set the tone. His answer was simpleand candid. “For me it’s about making music. And that’s universal.So whether I conduct in Toronto or, when I’ve conducted in Japan,Germany or Israel, I try to make music. And because it’s such auniversal language, it’s fairly easy to do that. And then I try toconvince people and inspire people to do it my way,” he added,grinning.“When somebody has an artistic leadership role, then one looksat each day differently, because one has long-term goals to reallyimprove the quality of playing … one has an obligation to build theensemble … to become better … each day.”“One addresses more specific issues and makes gentle correctionsas one progresses with the rehearsal process. And then one hasto look at the … artistic priorities — what are the strengths andweaknesses of the ensemble — and try to capitalize, initially, on thestrengths but immediately build up the weaknesses. So, that whenthey perform on stage, the public gets a sense of commitment andfulfillment from the music that’s performed.”When I asked about “geling” with a new orchestra Mayeradmitted that it was “a bit elusive. It takes many rehearsals andperformances to gel. But, I think if one does music with sincerity,musicians get, immediately, the sense of where the soul of theperson in front of them is, where their heart is, what their approachis. And that’s a little mystical because the baton doesn’t make anySN BIANCA10 thewholenote.comOctober 1 – November 7, 2011
RCM_WHOLENOTE_4c_fullpage_Oct_Layout 1 11-09-27 12:37 PM Page 1“A Feast for the Earsand the Eyes!”- Classical 96.3FMSMITHSONIANCHAMBER PLAYERS& FRIENDS WITHRUSSELL BRAUNSat., Oct. 22, 2011 8pmKoerner HallBaritone Russell Braun andan ensemble of virtuosi artistshonour the centenary of Mahler’sdeath with Das Lied von derErde and Kindertotenlieder.SUSAN HOEPPNER ANDSIMON WYNBERGSun., Oct. 23, 2011 2pmMazzoleni Concert Hall“An expressive and articulateflutist” (The Washington Post)Susan Hoeppner and guitaristSimon Wynberg presentworks by Marin Marais,Toru Takemitsu, Robert Beaser,and Astor Piazzolla.THE GGS VOCALSHOWCASESat., Nov. 5, 2011 7:30pmMazzoleni Concert HallA rare opportunity to see futureoperatic singers as The GGS’stalented voice students presentan evening of art songsand opera arias.Generously supportedby the D&T DavisCharitable Foundation.ROYAL CONSERVATORYORCHESTRA CONDUCTEDBY JOHANNES DEBUSFri., Oct. 28, 2011 8pmKoerner HallJohannes Debus conducts theRCO and pianist Connie Kim-Shengin a performance of Little Suite byLutosawski, Piano Concerto No. 2by Rachmaninov, and SymphonyNo. 8 by Dvořák.ARC ENSEMBLE:MUSIC ANDCONSCIENCETues., Nov. 8, 2011, 7:30pmMazzoleni Concert HallIn honour of Holocaust EducationWeek, ARC (Artists of The RoyalConservatory) will perform “Carillon”Quartet by Karl Amadeus Hartmann,String Sextet by Adolf Busch, andTwo Pieces for viola and pianoby Heinz Tiessen.PHILIPPE JAROUSSKYWITH APOLLO’S FIRE:HÄNDEL AND VIVALDIFIREWORKSTues., Nov. 1, 2011 8pm Koerner HallFrench countertenor PhilippeJaroussky and Apollo's Fire, “oneof the nation’s leading baroqueorchestras,” (The Boston Globe)set sparks flying with an excitingprogram of Vivaldi and Händelconcerti and operatic arias.TICKETS ON SALE NOW! rcmusic.ca 416.408.0208273 Bloor St. W. (Bloor & Avenue Road) TorontoOctober 1 – November 7, 2011 thewholenote.com 11
