Orchestras Canada

The Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra and music director James Sommerville have announced the HPO’s nine-concert 12/13 season. The repertoire and artists are wide-ranging – from internationally-acclaimed soprano Adrianne Pieczonka to jazz artist Panton, Basia Bulat, and Wicked Broadway vocalists Alli Mauzey and Nicole Parker. For more information, please visit hpo.org.

Again this week, we honour the programmers who successfully balance tradition and innovation in their seasonal concerts. Here’s a round-up of interesting-sounding programs from across the country:

December 15, 16 and 17, I Musici de Montreal (under the guest leadership of harpsichordist Joel Thiffault) presents a program of baroque and contemporary repertoire reflective of the season, as part of the orchestra’s series at Ogilvy’s. Among other delights, the program includes “Winter” from Vivaldi’s Four Seasons, a recent work by Michael Oesterle, and William Boyce’s Ode for the New Year 1756.

This Friday (December 16), the National Arts Centre Orchestra partners with composer/broadcaster/performer Andrew Craig, the Faith Chorale, and an impressive array of soloists that includes Jackie Richardson to present a Gospel Christmas Celebration.

This Friday night and Saturday afternoon (December 16 and 17), the Orchestre symphonique de Québec (led by Stéphane Laforest) presents La Grande Virée de Noel, featuring Gregory Charles, Marie-Josée Lord, Nicolas Pellerin and les Grands Hurleurs, and seven choirs from the region. The youth-oriented performances take place at the Pavillon de la Jeunesse at ExpoCité, and features not only seasonal carols but also a giant Karaoke and dance party with DJ Adam Doubleyou.

Saturday night (December 17), the Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra (led by music director James Sommerville) presents a pair of seasonal programs featuring the internationally-renowned Toronto Mass Choir. There’s a shorter 2 p.m. concert, designed for families, as well as a full-length evening concert intended for an older audience.

December 17, the Lethbridge Symphony presents a traditional Christmas program with a twist: this year’s guest performers include not only the Bridge Bells bell ringing ensemble, but also Lethbridge’s MP (and a former member of the LSO violin section) Jim Hillyer, who will re-join the violin section for the evening. Speaking about the experience, Mr. Hillyer said, “I am looking forward to playing with the symphony once again. Over the years when I performed with the LSO I felt privileged to be able to get an inside seat for some amazing world class performances,” noting Elgar’s Cello Concerto, Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto, Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue, the Mozart Requiem, and Handel’s Messiah as particular highlights.

December 17 and 18, the Kamloops Symphony (led by Music Director Bruce Dunn) presents a pair of performances encapsulating what it describes as “a celebration of community that provides all the required ingredients for comfort and joy – stories, songs, young performers, warmth and fun!” Featured performers include soprano Carlene Wiebe (a member of the faculty of the Kamloops Symphony Music School), violist Madeleine Haynes (2011 winner of the Kamloops Symphony Award at the Kamloops Festival of the Performing Arts), baritone Aaron Durand, the KSO Chorus, and a number of students from the Kamloops Symphony Music School.

On Saturday, November 5, Orchestras Canada executive director Katherine Carleton presented the Betty Webster Awards for 2011 for regional contributions to cellist and musician leader Marsha Moffitt at a Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra main series concert at Hamilton Place. This follows the September 30 presentation of the Betty Webster Award for national contribution to Dr. David Leighton at a concert by the National Arts Centre Orchestra in Ottawa, and completes the presentation cycle for 2011.

It’s humbling to be in the presence of people who have given so much for the cause of orchestras, and a true honour to be able to thank these people in the presence of their friends and fans. Orchestras Canada would like to thank our colleagues at the National Arts Centre and the Hamilton Philharmonic for their willingness to host the presentations, and for doing so with such impeccable style:

For the National Arts Centre Orchestra:
Christopher Deacon, Peter Herrndorf, Stefani Truant

For the Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra:
Annelisa Pedersen, Robin Marritt, Kari Hueber

AUDITIONS

Canadian Opera Company
Principal Viola / Alto solo
Application deadline/Date limite : September 6 septembre 2011

It’s been a big week at I Musici de Montreal. The Montreal-based chamber orchestra has announced the appointment of Jean-Marie Zeitouni as its new music director, effective June 1. He will balance this new role with duties at the Columbus (OH) Symphony, and will lead three concerts in 2011-12 and more in succeeding seasons.

At the same time, I Musici has confirmed the retirement of founding music director Yuli Turovsky, who founded the ensemble 27 years ago, and who is retiring from the role for health reasons following his last concert on May 18. Speaking about Maestro Turovsky’s retirement, IM musician representative said, “All of I Musici’s musicians observe Yuli Turovsky’s departure with great emotion: these past years under his leadership remained engraved on our hearts, a precious heritage and an ongoing source of inspiration.”

Finally, I Musici has announced the appointment of Stephanie Rose as its new directrice générale, effective April 26. A trained musician and arts administrator, Mme Rose has worked as an arts consultant and directrice générale of the Fondation de l’École nationale de cirque.

The Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra has announced the retirement of Lance Elbeck, its Concertmaster of 33 seasons, at the conclusion of the 2011/2012 season. The HPO will audition concertmaster candidates through the 2011/2012 season; however, Mr. Elbeck will officially remain as concertmaster to the conclusion of the 11/12 season. Speaking about Mr. Elbeck, HPO Music Director James Sommerville said, “Lance has always been the kind of co-operative and collaborative colleague that all musicians appreciate. I know his departure will be deeply felt by our loyal audience, as much as by those of us fortunate enough to have shared the stage with him over the course of his long and illustrious Hamilton career.”

The Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra has announced the retirement of its long-time Concertmaster, Cenek Vrba, for health reasons. He has served in the role for a remarkable 36 years, working with five different CPO music directors through the evolution of the orchestra through that time. Commenting on Mr. Vrba’s contributions to the CPO, Music Director Roberto Minczuk said, “His command of the instrument and his musical leadership of the Orchestra clearly shows an artist who knows his craft entirely and is able to follow every gesture, every nuance in the musical score and convey it very clearly to his section and the Orchestra. “He always made music with a lot of joy. In performance, he never spared himself but always played with all of his energy and heart, in a way that I could personally identify. I will miss him greatly as one of the most important leaders of the CPO.”

Natasha Bood, former executive director of the Regina Symphony, is now Director of Administration & Operations at Toronto Summer Music and Academy.

The Lethbridge Symphony Orchestra has announced the winners of its recent Young Artists Competition. Percussionist Matt Groenheide was the overall winner, and he will perform Michael Daugherty’s Raise the Roof for timpani and orchestra with the Symphony next season as part of the LSO Master Series. Sarah Viejou (horn), and Audrina Steciw (soprano), took second and third place respectively.

The Hamilton Philharmonic’s second annual What Next? Festival – a jammed packed weekend of activity – is running February 3-6. The festival showcases contemporary music and composers, and features members of the HPO in a total of nine events over four days, with chamber music concerts, panel discussions and collaborations across many different genres. Here’s a quick round-up of festival events:

Last night, February 3, singer/songwriter Basia Bulat appeared with members of the HPO at Hamilton Place’s studio theatre with charts arranged by violin wizard Owen Pallett;

Tonight, February 4, there will be three different events at the Art Gallery of Hamilton, featuring (in order) pianist Eve Egoyan and video artist David Rokeby, the McMaster Cybernetic Orchestra, and musicians from the HPO in new chamber music, including the world premiere of an HPO commission by Hamilton Philharmonic Youth Orchestra member Slavko Popovic that features HPO music director James Sommerville on horn.

Saturday, February 5’s events include chamber music for brass and a laptop performance by Jeremy Flower at The Cathedral.

Sunday, February 6 will include a panel discussion, music for strings, and a performance by HPO violinist Parmela Attariwala and tabla player Shawn Mativetsky at the Pearl Company.

For more information about the Festival, you can visit www.whatnextfestival.com.

The Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra has announced its second annual What Next? Festival of new music performance and discussion, scheduled to run from February 3 through 6, 2011. This year’s festival emphasizes multidisciplinary works and collaborations across folk, alt-classical, electronic and world music genres, with chamber concerts, orchestral programs, and a diverse array of performers on an array of acoustic and electro-acoustic instruments.

The festival takes place at various venues across the city and this year includes a James Street North venue, The Cathedral, for the Saturday concerts. Other venues include the Hamilton Place Studio Theatre, the Art Gallery of Hamilton and the Pearl Company. And, of course, there’s an attractively priced festival pass.

For complete details on the What Next? Festival please visit www.whatnextfestival.com.

A number of member orchestras have announced their 2010-11 seasons, and here is a round-up of recent launches

Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony announced its 66th season recently, and its fourth under the leadership of Music Director Edwin Outwater.  Major works on the season include Holst’s The Planets, Dvorák’s Symphony No. 9 “From the New World”, and Sibelius’ Fifth Symphony, and world premieres include a new work by composer Brian Current featuring visual artist and second-generation Sufi mevlevi whirling dervish, Mira Hunter.  As well, the orchestra also announced a new social networking site for its fans: www.Kwsocial.ca, designed to connect the orchestra to its community in a new and dynamic way.  You can learn more here.

The Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra (led by Music Director James Sommerville) has announced its 2010-11 season – a season that includes Strauss’s Death and Transfiguration and Berlioz’s Symphonie Fantastique, along with pops and chamber programs.  For more information, you can go to their website here.

The Edmonton Symphony Orchestra has announced its 2010-11 season – its 6th under the leadership of Music Director Bill Eddins, who will conduct concerts on each of the orchestras’ many series.  Among many other highlights, the season will include the return of Late Night with Bill Eddins; The ESO Presents, a new series that invites brilliant international soloists to perform with the orchestra in the first half of the program, followed by solo recitals after intermission.  The season also includes the ESO’s annual outdoor event, Symphony Under the Sky.  For more information, you can visit the ESO’s website here.

The Orchestre symphonique de Québec has released details of its 2010-11 season, its final season under the leadership of Maestro Yoav Talmi after a highly successful 12-year tenure.  The music of Beethoven is featured extensively, with performances of all of his symphonies and major concertos.  As well, the season will feature a massive performance of Mahler’s Symphony No. 2 “Resurrection”.  For more information, you can visit the OSQ’s website here.

Symphony Nova Scotia has announced its 2010-11 season, designed and led by Music Director Bernhard Gueller.  Features of the season include great symphonic works, a performance of Mozart’s Requiem, and a Scandinavian festival featuring the music of Grieg and Sibelius.  Pops programming includes guest appearances by Red Green and the Barra MacNeils.  www.symphonynovascotia.ca

The National Arts Centre Orchestra has announced its 2010-11 season, its 12th under the leadership of Music Director Pinchas Zukerman.  Highlights include a Mozart-Haydn Festival, a stunning array of Canadian and international soloists, the world premiere of Malcolm Forsyth’s Ballad of the Canadian Land, and works by Peter Paul Koprowski and André Mathieu.  For more information, you can visit the orchestra’s website here.

Last week, the Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra announced “Hamilton’s first and only festival of new music”, What Next?  The six-event, four-concert, three-venue festival will run from January 22 to 24, and will include performances, lectures, and cross-media presentations from such composers and performers as Kelly-Marie Murphy, Samy Moussa and laptop artist Jeremy Flower. 

Highlights of the festival include: a Friday evening chamber concert with music by Bartok, Schnittke and a world premiere by John Burge performed by members of the HPO; a Saturday evening world premiere of a new piece for orchestra by Kelly-Marie Murphy; a late night electroacoustic performance by American laptop virtuoso/DJ/composer Jeremy Flower; and a lecture series called Music and Mind that explores the human response to harmony, melody, and dissonance.   Festival passes are now on sale, at a very reasonable $29/$19 for students.
 
What Next? is the creation of Music Director James Sommerville who is an advocate of new music and saw a need for a new music festival in Hamilton. “The HPO is fiercely dedicated to shining a light on living composers and helping them find their way, even as we remain true to the glory and breadth of the orchestra’s traditions and masterpieces” says Maestro Sommerville.  For more information about the festival, please visit the HPO’s website here.