City - my/maSCENA

Photo: Allan Cabral

Review | Yuja Wang Dazzles in Rachmaninov with TSO

By Paul E. Robinson on 23 June 2023 Concert Reviews, Toronto

Among classical artists today pianist Yuja Wang is unquestionably one of the select few who can fill a hall and drive an audience into a frenzy. She was in Toronto last week for three concerts – her second set of concerts in the city this season – and by all accounts nearly every seat was filled and she brought the house down. Wang is only 36-years old but she is already a superstar, partly for her often skimpy outfits but also for her electrifying musicianship. It was clearly Yuja Wang who filled the seats at the concert I heard on…

Photo: courtesy of musicounts.ca

Newswire | National Charity MusiCounts Announces 73 Schools In Canada Will Receive $825,000 In Musical Instruments and Equipment

By Newswire on 15 June 2023 Newswire, Toronto

TORONTO, June 15, 2023 /CNW/ – Canada’s leading music education charity, MusiCounts is thrilled to announce that 73 schools across Canada will receive $825,000 worth of instruments, equipment, and resources via the 2023 MusiCounts Band Aid Program. The MusiCounts Band Aid Program allocates grants of up to $15,000 to schools to start or refurbish their music program. It supports any approach to music education and the purchase of any kind of musical instruments and equipment. “We are so excited for the 2023 MusiCounts Band Aid Program Recipients! With these much-needed funds, educators will be able to help the kids who need it most…

Newswire | (Re)faire chœur queer – (Re)queering a choir

By Newswire on 14 June 2023 Classical Music, Montreal

Montreal, June 13, 2023 – It’s on! The queer choir collective gave its first performances of (Re)faire choeur queer at the Conservatoire’s Studio Jean-Valcourt (4750, rue Henri-Julien) as part of the Fringe. There are still four dates left in this wild adventure! In this performance, the sounds of a thunderstorm mix with Gregorian chant from who knows where. Conversations cross and clash. We reassure the floor and we sing for it, as it carries the weight of the world. Vocal dreams are fulfilled and kazoos are transformed into singing whales. Vocal explorations we did during some workshops were used as…

Newswire | Sinfonia Toronto Has Announced Its 2023-2024 Silver Anniversary Season

By Newswire on 12 June 2023 Chamber Music, Orchestral, Toronto

Toronto, ON – Sinfonia Toronto has announced its 2023-2024 Silver Anniversary season. The orchestra will celebrate its 25th season with premieres by Canadian and international composers and with the return of many audience favourites – both beloved works and popular guest artists. Commenting on the new season, the orchestra’s music director Nurhan Arman said, “All of us at Sinfonia Toronto are grateful for all the years of support by our loyal audiences in the GTA and throughout Ontario. From our early days onward we have performed for Ontario audiences all over, from Sarnia to Sault Ste-Marie, Barrie to Brockville and many…

Photo: Allan Cabral

Review | TSO with Gimeno and Olafsson: Superb Mozart and Spectacular Berlioz

By Paul E. Robinson on 11 June 2023 Concert Reviews, La Scena Online, Orchestral, Piano, Toronto

It is not often that the Toronto Symphony Orchestra (TSO) features a soloist from Iceland, nor does it frequently play music by Icelandic composers. Yet this week we had both – on the same program. Not only that, the TSO gave us a new piece by a Metis composer. But wait, there’s more. Super Mozart and spectacular Berlioz. In short, a great concert. The TSO is currently celebrating its 100th anniversary, and someone came up with the brilliant idea of commissioning 10 Toronto composers to write short pieces to draw attention to it. The first of the Celebration Preludes was…

Newswire | The Royal Conservatory Announces Its 15th Concert Season

By Newswire on 6 June 2023 Classical Music, Toronto

Tuesday, June 6, 2023 THE ROYAL CONSERVATORY’S 2023-24 CONCERT SEASON. OVER 80 CONCERTS IN UNIQUELY CURATED SERIES SPECIAL EVENT Concert to Commemorate the National Day of Truth & Reconciliation INTERNATIONAL ORCHESTRAS SERIES Staatskapelle Berlin with Daniel Barenboim The Philadelphia Orchestra with Yannick Nézet-Séguin 21C MUSIC FESTIVAL Fazıl Say and Friends Lara St. John: she/her/hers Bridget Kibbey with the Calidore String Quartet and Mervon Mehta Brad Mehldau Laurie Anderson Kronos Quartet: Five Decades QUIET PLEASE, THERE’S A LADY ON STAGE Rhiannon Giddens Mavis Staples Cesária Évora Orchestra Lizz Wright and Sanah Kadoura Stacey Kent Trio and…

Review | Augustin Hadelich & Elim Chan Make Welcome Return to the Toronto Symphony Orchestra

By Denise Lai on 2 June 2023 Concert Reviews, Orchestral, Toronto

This was an unusual week at the TSO. After violin superstar Nicola Benedetti cancelled her appearance on short notice, the orchestra had to scramble for a last minute program change. Audiences were no doubt disappointed about Benedetti’s cancellation, as she was scheduled to perform the Canadian premiere of the Wynton Marsalis Violin Concerto, a piece specially written for her. This may explain the many empty seats at Roy Thomson Hall last night. Fortunately, the TSO found a more than worthy replacement in Italian-German-American virtuoso Augustin Hadelich, who already wowed Toronto audiences earlier this season with his Sibelius Violin Concerto. Also…

Matylda Adamus. Photo: Lukasz Zyska

Newswire | Early Music Vancouver Announces Winners of Emerging Early Music Artist Competition

By Newswire on 1 June 2023 Baroque and Early, Classical Music, Music Competition, Newswire, Vancouver

(Vancouver, B.C.) – Early Music Vancouver (EMV) announced today the winners of its competition for emerging (age 30 and under) early music artists. Applicants were asked to create a short (3-5 minute) musical video based on what they thought the next generation of early music might look like and to include creative ways to present early music with a focus on issues that are important to them. The competition, which ran from Monday, May 1st to Monday, May 15th, attracted 18 video submissions from young artists across Europe and North America. “It’s been fascinating seeing what young artists have created based on the…

OCAD U honorary doctorates 2023

Newswire | OCAD University to recognize five changemakers with honorary doctorates

By Newswire on 1 June 2023 Arts Industry, Education, Newswire, Toronto

Toronto, Ontario, May 31, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) – On June 9, OCAD University will award honorary doctorates to five remarkable individuals who have been leaders of change, having made a direct impact on arts and culture in Canada and worldwide. “We are excited to honour these inspiring individuals who have left indelible marks in their respective fields, making positive change possible,” says OCAD U’s President and Vice-Chancellor Ana Serrano. “These honorands all share the same exceptional passion and commitment to driving meaningful, long-lasting impact that we encourage at OCAD U.” The honorands will join more than 700 students from OCAD…

Newswire | Art of Time Ensemble Announces 25th Anniversary Season & Ensuing Closure

By Newswire on 31 May 2023 Newswire, Toronto

Toronto, ON (May 30, 2023) … This year Art of Time Ensemble, led by its founding Artistic Director Andrew Burashko, celebrates its 25th anniversary and announces its final concert season. Mr. Burashko has announced an exciting slate of live concerts and special projects that span the next 18 months, after which he plans to wind down the critically acclaimed arts organization in 2025. “When I started Art of Time Ensemble in 1998, I wanted to create a chamber music series like no other,” said Mr. Burashko. “I wanted to take classical music out of its silo and present it alongside…

Browsing: City