Today the Toronto Symphony Orchestra announced their 2016/17 season, which represents a renewed focus on diverse programming, not only for devout TSO patrons but new ones as well.
There is also a new focus on supporting Canadian talent, where the TSO will feature 58 Canadian artists, 33 of which are TSO débuts. The schedule is a busy one again this year and will span 55 programs spread across 102 concerts.
Upcoming guest artists include Itzhak Perlman, Renée Fleming, Kristjan Järvi, Jan Lisiecki, Tanya Tagaq, Nicholas McGegan, Yefim Bronfman, Yuja Wang, Gianandrea Noseda, Jann Arden, the National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine, Wallis Giunta, Sir Andrew Davis, Long Yu, Stefano Bollani, James Ehnes, Colin Mochrie, Wu Man, the Kronos Quartet, Emanuel Ax, and Capathia Jenkins, to name only a few.
While the TSO has yet to release its entire plans for premieres this season, patrons will hear 9 World Premières, 12 TSO Commissions, 2 Canadian Premières, and 18 works by Canadian composers.
The season kicks off with Renée Fleming on Sept. 21st where the soprano will end a six-year absence from the TSO stage by joining Peter Oundjian to inaugurate the orchestra’s 95th season.
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The TSO will build on the success of last year’s Films with Live Orchestra series and will include Danny Elfman’s Music from the Films of Tim Burton (for Halloween of course), the first instalment of The Lord of the Rings’ trilogy, Disney-Pixar Ratatouille in Concert, and Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark with Live Orchestra.
In January, the TSO will celebrate the 150th anniversary of Canada’s Confederation, with a spotlight on mid-to-late 20th-century Canadian composers. Alain Trudel conducts works by Ridout, Mercure, Coulthard, and Weinzweig, as well as Rhapsodie romantique by André Mathieu, with Canadian pianist Alain Lefèvre.
The TSO partners with the RCM for Mozart’s 261st birthday (MOZART@261 FESTIVAL) with shows planned at arguably Toronto’s finest sounding venue, Koerner Hall. Bernard Labadie and Peter Oundjian will curate all six performances, highlighted by 14-year-old Canadian pianist Leonid Nediak, German violinist Isabelle Faust, and pianist Emanuel Ax.
One of the biggest announcements is TSO’s 13th annual New Creations Festival, curated by Owen Pallett and Peter Oundjian. On the bill are Tanya Tagaq, violinist James Ehnes, pianist Yefim Bronfman and the Kronos Quartet.
After the success of Joel Ivany’s semi-staged Mozart Requiem this year, Toronto’s directorial wunderkind will direct Kurt Weill’s The Seven Deadly Sins, with Canadian mezzo-soprano Wallis Giunta and Peter Oundjian conducting.
Launched this season, the TSO continues The Decades Project, which is all about exploring connections between music and visual art. You’ll hear music from 1920–1929, with conductor Kristjan Järvi leading works by Rachmaninoff, Gershwin, and Kodály. Pianist Jon Kimura Parker and conductor James Gaffigan step in to explore Prokofiev, Shostakovich, and Milhaud. The 1930s will be explored by TSO Conductor Laureate Sir Andrew Davis, in a performance of rarely heard Belshazzar’s Feast by Sir William Walton’s spectacular biblical oratorio. The series culminates with Carl Orff’s carnal Carmina Burana.
A nice surprise is the reprisal of The Hockey Sweater composed by Abigail Richardson-Schulte, with the story by Roch Carrier.
The TSO celebrates the Chinese New Year (The Rooster!) which will include a World Première for pipa and orchestra by Canadian composer Vincent Ho.
You’ll find all the details here.
#LUDWIGVAN
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- THE SCOOP | Royal Conservatory’s Dr. Peter Simon Awarded The Order Of Ontario - January 2, 2024
- THE SCOOP | Order of Canada Appointees Announced, Including Big Names From The Arts - December 29, 2023
- Ludwig Van Is Being Acquired By ZoomerMedia - June 12, 2023
