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Volume 18 Issue 3 - November 2012

  • Text
  • November
  • Toronto
  • December
  • Jazz
  • Arts
  • Theatre
  • Symphony
  • Orchestra
  • Choir
  • Concerts

Beat by Beat | Classical

Beat by Beat | Classical & BeyondCalling AllConcert-GoersSHARNA SEARLELast october, flush with the excitement of the new season in fullswing, I wrote about some recent artistic appointments, focussingparticularly on conductor Uri Mayer’s new role as artistic directorand principal conductor of the Toronto Philharmonia Orchestra.Mayer had exciting and ambitiousplans for the ensemble. Fast forward tothis past October and its future appearssignificantly different than the oneMayer had envisioned. Like so manyarts organizations (both large andsmall) plagued with money worries inthese economically difficult times, theToronto Philharmonia’s very survival isnow in jeopardy due, in great part, toits ongoing financial problems.In an interview with John Terauds(see musicaltoronto.org) October 16,the TPO’s president, Milos Krajny, said:“We are not opening the season becausewe couldn’t raise enough money.”According to Terauds, Krajny sentout an urgent plea to the orchestra’spatrons and friends on September 10but the appeal came up short of the0,000 required to open the season.As for the organization’s uncertain future, Krajny told Terauds ofthe two options “on the table:” putting the season opening on hold toJanuary 25 ... or contemplating shutting the orchestra down. Hopefully,the latter does not come to pass; Toronto’s musical community wouldbe the poorer for it, if it does.A Clarion Call: In the meantime, as we acknowledge these disappointingand challenging times for the Toronto Philharmonia,and wish the organization the best possible outcome, let this be ourclarion call to action: to steadfastly support our local and regionalorchestras; to go out and hear this great music performed live; tobuy concert tickets and season subscriptions, not just for ourselvesbut also for our friends and relatives; to attend fundraisers and makeregular (or irregular) donations. There’s no mistaking that we’ve gotto do our part if we want to see these orchestras through to their nextseason and the next ...TSO music director Peter Oundjian and violinistItzhak Perlman perform Bach’s Concerto for Two Violinswith the TSO on April 28, 2012.In November and early December, there are no less than 18 orchestrasperforming over 30 concerts. All, no doubt, would welcome oursupport (and our bums in their seats). Here, in no particular order,are a few suggestions as to where you may choose to spend yourmoney, and you’ll find several more in the Quick Picks at the end ofthe column:My first piece of writing for The WholeNote appeared in theNovember 2010 issue, when I reviewed pianist Ian Parker’s debut CDof works by Ravel, Stravinsky and Gershwin; I thought his recordingof the Ravel Piano Concerto in G just shimmered. So, those luckyenough to catch him playing the Ravel in his debut with the HamiltonPhilharmonic Orchestra, November 10, are in for a treat. ConductorMarcello Lehninger will also lead the orchestra in Ravel’s MotherGoose Suite and Shostakovich’s Symphony No.5. The 7:30pm concertis at Hamilton Place.Competing for those hard-earned dollars of yours, a week later onNovember 17, the Oakville SymphonyOrchestra features its concertmaster,Joseph Peleg, in the glorious BrahmsViolin Concerto, Op.77. The ensemblewill also perform Mendelssohn’sSymphony No.3, the “Scottish,” underthe baton of its music director, RobertoDe Clara. The concert begins at 8pm atthe Oakville Centre for the PerformingArts and will be repeated the next day,on November 18.In its mission to “bring music tothe people,” the Toronto ConcertOrchestra, its website tells us, “goesbeyond the geographic boundaries ofthe Greater Toronto Area, beyond theboundaries of age, cultures, socio-economicdivides and the accepted moresof a symphony orchestra to offer classicalmusic with edge; preludes withpersonality ... symphony for fun.” You’llhave more than one opportunity to check out the fun when the TCOperforms its program of all-Scandinavian works over a four day period,in four different locations. On November 2, 3, 4 and 5, TCOfounding maestro, Kerry Stratton, conducts Grieg’s Piano Concertoin A Minor, Op.16, featuring Swedish pianist Carl Petersson, Lars-ErikLarsson’s Pastoral Suite and Dag Wirén’s Serenade, in Milton, Barrie,Orillia and Toronto, respectively.TSO at home and on the road: Speaking of road trips, the TorontoSymphony Orchestra will be taking one right after its November 14and 15 Roy Thomson Hall performances of Beethoven’s Concertofor Violin, Cello and Piano in C Major, Op.56, the “Triple” Concerto,Shostakovich’s Symphony No.12, “The Year 1917,” and PierreMercure’s Triptyque. On November 17, 18 and 19, respectively, theorchestra takes the program to Brockville, Montreal and Ottawa; inMontreal, the TSO will perform in the new Maison symphoniqueDALE WILCOX12 thewholenote.com November 1 – December 7, 2012

KOERNER HALL IS:“A beautiful space for music ”THE GLOBE AND MAILSAT. NOV. 10, 2012 8PM KOERNER HALLMarc-AndréHamelin and theTakács QuartetThe Takács Quartet plays by Schubertand Britten. Hamelin joins them forShostakovich’s Piano Quintet in G Minor.“Mr. Hamelin brings both [braininessand finger power] to his work in amplemeasure, and he plays with heart aswell.” (The New York Times)SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 2012 2PMMAZZOLENI CONCERT HALLJennifer Koh“[A] risk-taking, high-octaneplayer of the kind who grabs thelistener by the ears and refusesto let go.” (The Strad) In thisrecital, Koh presents works byBach, Bartók, and a worldpremiere Partita for Solo Violinby Phil Kline.FRI. NOV. 16 & SAT. NOV. 17, 2012 7:30PMMAZZOLENI CONCERT HALLThe Glenn Gould SchoolFall Opera Double Bill:Three Sisters WhoAre Not Sisters andLe LauréatStudents from The Glenn Gould School’s vocalprogram present a delightful evening of opera,including Three Sisters Who Are Not Sisters, NedRorem’s surreal, non-linear murder mystery, andLe Lauréat, François-Joseph Vézina’s story of Pauland Pauline, who are in love and want to marry butfamily intervenes. Peter Tiefenbach is Music Director.FRI. NOV. 23, 2012 8PMKOERNER HALLTaiwan NationalChoirconducted byAgnes GrossmannToronto welcomes back Agnes Grossmannas she leads the extraordinary voices ofthe Taiwan National Choir in their KoernerHall debut.Presented in partnership with Taiwanfest.Generously supported by theD&T Davis Charitable Foundation.SUN. NOV. 25, 2012 2PMMAZZOLENI CONCERT HALLBrian Current’sAirline IcarusHear the Canadian premiere ofAirline Icarus, international awardwinningcomposer Brian Current’snew opera-oratorio about theintersecting thoughts of passengersaboard a commercial flight.SUN. NOV. 25, 2012 3PMKOERNER HALLPiotrAnderszewskiThe astonishing, Grammy nominatedpianist will perform an all-Bachprogram. “The delicacy and controlof Anderszewski’s pianissimoplaying [are] sources of wonder.”(The Guardian)TICKETS START AT ONLY ! 416.408.0208 www.performance.rcmusic.ca273 BLOOR STREET WEST (BLOOR & AVENUE RD.) TORONTO

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