Tuesday, November 12, 2024
21C MUSIC FESTIVAL
The twelfth edition of the 21C Music Festival, which spans from January to May of 2025, will consist of 8 concerts, including a production of The Journal of Hélène Berr, Measha Brueggergosman-Lee in Aaron Davis’s and Margaret Atwood’s Zombie Blizzard, Bruce Hornsby and yMusic presenting BrhyM, Michelle Cann and the Imani Winds, and a partnership with Continuum Contemporary Music.
In total, the Festival will include more than 14 premieres: 2 world (Kalaisan Kalaichelvan’s C’est Pas Beau? and Kotoka Suzuki’s yet unnamed piece), 1 North American (Bernard Foccroulle’s The Journal of Hélène Berr), and 11 Canadian (Valerie Coleman’s Portraits of Langston; and Bruce Hornsby & yMusic’s “Wild Whaling Life,” “(My) Theory of Everything,” “Platypus Wow,” “Phase Change,” “Foreign Sounds,” “The Wake of St. Brendan,” “Deep Blue,” “The Baited Line,” “Barber Booty,” and “Deep Sea Vents”).
Works by 7 Canadian composers and 1 Canadian author will be featured (Aaron Davis’s Earth Above Sky Below, Oseo, Shtetl Waltz, and Zombie Blizzard, based on Margaret Atwood’s 2020 book of poetry, Dearly; Robert Fleming’s The Confession Stone; Alice Ho’s Dark Waters; Anna Höstman’s After the Rain; Kalaisan Kalaichelvan: C’est Pas Beau?; Jocelyn Morlock: Verdigris; Ana Sokolović: Portrait Parle; and Kotoka Suzuki’s world premiere) and 13 Canadian artists and ensembles (conductor Brian Current, sopranos Measha Brueggergosman-Lee and Elena Howard-Scott, The Rebanks Family Fellowship Quartet, flutist Leslie Newman, pianist Jialiang Zhu, Aaron Davis Trio, Continuum Contemporary Music, Glenn Gould School New Music Ensemble, Hannaford Street Silver Band) will participate in the Festival.
Mervon Mehta, Executive Director of Performing Arts at The Royal Conservatory, said: “What better time to devour new and innovative music than in the depths of a Toronto winter! Putting together this season’s festival has allowed us to bring several debut performers to The Royal Conservatory’s three theatres alongside some old friends performing in new configurations. We are thrilled to partner with Continuum Contemporary Music again and to welcome a new collaboration with the Koffler Centre. We invite new audiences to experience what many others have come to expect at the 21C Music Festival … music that will stretch their ears and open their hearts.”
Michelle Cann and the Imani Winds
2024 Grammy Award-winning Imani Winds teams up with pianist Michelle Cann to perform a program spanning from Poulenc’s beloved Sextet for Piano and Winds to the Canadian premiere by Valerie Coleman on January 18. Celebrating over a quarter century of music making, Imani Winds has led both a revolution and evolution of the wind quintet through their dynamic playing, adventurous programming, and imaginative collaborations. The ensemble’s playlist embraces traditional chamber music repertoire, and newly commissioned works from voices that reflect historical events and the times in which we currently live.
“The signature contribution of this group [is]a technical ease with extravagant gestures, intense production of sound, and the daring expressive liberties that come only after musicians have developed a sixth sense of ensemble-bonding. Imani’s got it all,” said Philadelphia Inquirer.
Lauded as “exquisite” by The Philadelphia Inquirer and “a pianist of sterling artistry” by Gramophone, Michelle Cann has become one of the most sought-after musicians of her generation. She made her debut with The Philadelphia Orchestra in 2021 and has recently performed concertos with The Cleveland Orchestra, the National Symphony Orchestra, the Orquestra Sinfônica Municipal de São Paulo, the Los Angeles Philharmonic, and the symphony orchestras of Atlanta, Baltimore, and Cincinnati.
21C Afterhours: GGS New Music Ensemble
Curated and conducted by Brian Current, this unforgettable night of adventurous music on January 18 features Luca Francesconi’s Etymo performed by soprano McKenzie Warriner (2024-25 Rebanks Fellow), accompanied by musicians from the Glenn Gould School. This deep, dark fusion of music and Baudelaire’s poetry explores the primal forces of desire, suffering, and meaning, making it a must see.
The evening also features Alice Ho’s Dark Waters and C’est Pas Beau?, the world premiere by outstanding Canadian composer Kalaisan Kalaichelvan, promising a night of innovative and exciting music. Kalaichelvan was just announced as on of the recipients of this year’s $10,000 Kathleen McMorrow Music Award, recognizing the composition and presentation of contemporary classical music by Ontario composers. He is receiving the award for C’est Pas Beau?.
The Journal of Hélène Berr
The North American premiere of Bernard Foccroulle’s moving portrait of a Parisian Jewish diarist and musician deported to Auschwitz is brought to life by Canadian soprano Elena Howard-Scott, pianist Jialiang Zhu, and The Rebanks Family Fellowship Quartet. The performances are in the evening of January 21 and 22 and in the afternoon of January 23. Written between 1942 and 1944 by a Parisian Jewish student who was deported to Auschwitz in March 1944 and died in April 1945, a few days before the liberation of the Bergen-Belsen camp, it took 63 years for Hélène Berr’s journal to be published.
When he read the manuscript of the journal, the Belgian composer Foccroulle was overwhelmed and captivated by what it contained in zest for life, lightness, and love. He proceeded to write a lyrical drama for voice, piano, and string quartet, the libretto of which is taken from the journal. The premiere of this work took place in May 2023 in Cherbourg and was followed by nearly 20 performances in France. Elena Howard-Scott is a versatile soprano who recently completed her Artist Diploma in Voice at The Royal Conservatory’s Glenn Gould School under the tutelage of Adrianne Pieczonka and Peter Tiefenbach.
Deemed “someone to watch” by Ludwig van Toronto, she is a brave and committed artist who enjoys performing in a wide variety of styles. Elena’s competition highlights include the Kurt Weill Foundation Prize in the Lotte Lenya Competition, placing first in the North Dakota/Manitoba District in the Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition, and placing first in the CFMTA National Vocal Competition.
Most recently, Elena was awarded the Grand Prize at the Corcoran Concerto Competition at The Glenn Gould School, and has performed in Sondheim’s A Little Night Music and Into the Woods at Koerner Hall. The piece is co-produced by Koffler Arts and directed by their General Director, Matthew Jocelyn.
Measha Brueggergosman-Lee: Zombie Blizzard
A new song cycle by Aaron Davis & Margaret Atwood
Canadian soprano Measha Brueggergosman-Lee, the Hannaford Street Silver Band, and the Aaron Davis Trio bring to life composer Davis’s new song cycle Zombie Blizzard, a unique blending of the classical art song and jazz standard, based on Margaret Atwood’s 2020 book of poetry, Dearly, on January 24.
The first half of the evening will include pieces by the brass band, the trio, and solos by Brueggergosman-Lee. From opera to contemporary to jazz, Measha Brueggergosman-Lee is an international star whose soaring voice is only matched by her charming stage presence. The Juno Award-winning artist has performed at the world’s most prestigious stages like Carnegie Hall, Kennedy Center, Wigmore Hall, and the Musikverein in Vienna. The Hannaford Street Silver Band is the only one of its kind in Canada. Its mission is to honour the traditions of the art form and, at the same time, place it in a contemporary context with a unique Canadian point of view.
The American Record Guide has called the group the “finest brass band on the continent,” while the Winnipeg Free Press has raved that the band offers an “exhilarating experience.” Aaron Davis is an eclectic composer, arranger, and keyboardist, who is equally known as a founding member of the Holly Cole Trio and as a prolific composer of film music, with over 100 film and television scores to his credit. He is also an accomplished songwriter who has recorded two solo albums, and orchestrates and arranges for musicians such as Measha Brueggergosman-Lee, Natalie McMaster, Sarah Slean, and the Art of Time Ensemble.
Continuum Contemporary Music: Spanning
The Festival has once again teamed up with a partner organization, this time with Continuum Contemporary Music. On January 25, they feature renowned flutist and core ensemble member, Leslie Newman. Leslie takes centre stage as soloist in the seminal chamber work Terrestre by internationally acclaimed composer Kaija Saariaho.
The ensemble also presents the world premiere of a captivating piece by Canadian composer Kotoka Suzuki, along with extraordinary works by Carolyn Chen, Anna Höstman, Jocelyn Morlock, and Ana Sokolović. For four decades, Continuum has been at the forefront of supporting groundbreaking and innovative ideas in contemporary chamber music, showcasing a unique and compelling approach to programming that continues to captivate audiences. Under the guidance of Artistic Director Ryan Scott and Operations Manager Christina Volpini, Continuum has established a reputation for presenting impactful concerts that often incorporate interdisciplinary collaborations with a broad range of partners and participants.
Bruce Hornsby & yMusic present: BrhyM
Three-time Grammy Award winner Bruce Hornsby and the genre-bending ensemble yMusic present BrhyM in a night of favourites from Hornsby’s illustrious catalogue alongside new collaborations on May 3. Together, they released Deep Sea Vents, an album that draws on Hornsby’s passion for underwater worlds, and their shared love of musical innovation and concern for the environment.
The 10 songs (all Canadian premieres) pair gorgeous sonic seascapes with lyrics that paint an unflinching portrait of an ever-worsening climate crisis. Eclectic singer-songwriter and pianist Hornsby rose to fame with his Grammy Award-winning debut album, The Way It Is, and its title track, the most played song on U.S. radio in 1987. Since then, he has released more than 20 albums as a leader, toured with the Grateful Dead, and appeared on more than 100 records from artists including Bob Dylan, Don Henley, Stevie Nicks, Bonnie Raitt, Sting, Mavis Staples, and Willie Nelson.
Founded in New York City in 2008, yMusic presents emotionally communicative music regardless of style or idiom. They have performed around the world in venues of all sizes, including the Sydney Opera House, Carnegie Hall, the Elbphilharmonie Hamburg, and Madison Square Garden. Outside of the classical genre, yMusic has collaborated in the studio and on stage with dozens of popular artists, including Ben Folds, Emily King, José González, Anohni, Dirty Projectors, John Legend, Son Lux, the Staves, and Paul Simon.
Ticket Information
TICKETS START AT ONLY $21! – ON SALE NOW
Michelle Cann and the Imani Winds
Saturday, January 18, 2025 at 8pm; Mazzoleni Concert Hall
21C Afterhours: GGS New Music Ensemble
Saturday, January 18, 2025 at 10pm; Temerty Theatre
The Journal of Hélène Berr
Tuesday, January 21, 2025 at 7:30pm, Wednesday, January 22, 2025 at 7:30pm, Thursday, January 23, 2025 at 3:00pm; Mazzoleni Concert Hall
Measha Brueggergosman-Lee: Zombie Blizzard
Friday, January 24, 2025 at 8pm; Koerner Hall
Continuum Contemporary Music: Spanning
Saturday, January 25, 2025 at 8pm; Temerty Theatre
Bruce Hornsby & yMusic present: BrhyM
Saturday, May 3, 2025 at 8pm; Koerner Hall
All concerts take place at The Royal Conservatory of Music. TELUS Centre for Performance and Learning, 273 Bloor Street West, Toronto.
Tickets and subscriptions are available online at www.rcmusic.com/performance, by calling 416.408.0208, or in person at the Weston Family Box Office. All advertised prices include service charge and 13% HST.
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Media Contact:
Barbora Kršek,
Concert Publicity Manager and Publications Editor
416.408.2824 ext.265
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