Stars of the TSO
A new installment of one of last season’s biggest successes! Some of the Toronto Symphony’s finest musicians - principal oboe Sarah Jeffrey, violinist Etsuko Kimura, violist Teng Li, cellists Winona Zelenka and David Hetherington - perform a variety of chamber music gems, including Brahms’ great G Major String Sextet and a joyful oboe quintet by Krommer.
October 25, 2009, 3:15pm
Gary Graffman
Gary Graffman who has just celebrated his 80th birthday, is one of the most important pianists of our time, but due to an injury he now only performs works for the left hand. Kuerti, who heard him recently, notes, “He played a fascinating program with overwhelming technical mastery and spellbinding musicianship.” Also, brilliant young artist Emily Belvedere, harp
November 22, 2009, 3:15pm
Fine Arts Quartet
Fine Arts Quartet is one of the most distinguished ensembles in chamber music history, with an illustrious record of performing success and an extensive recording legacy. American Record Guide called its recent recording of the complete Schumann Quartets “one of the very finest chamber-music recordings of the year.” Quartets by Haydn, Bruckner and Shostakovich. The Quartet will be joined by Artistic Director Anton Kuerti in Schumann’s exhilarating Piano Quintet. (MacMillan Theatre)
February 21, 2010, 3:15pm
Jason Vieaux, guitar, with Wallis Giunta,mezzo-soprano
The Philadelphia Inquirer counts Jason Vieaux “among the elite of today’s classical guitarists.” His newest superb recording reached No. 13 on the Billboard charts! Young artist Wallis Giunta’s voice is “utterly beautiful… The satin purity of her voice served the music to perfection” (Ottawa Citizen). Will she be Canada’s newest vocal star? She will sing Cherubino in Opera Atelier’s production of Figaro. Vieaux will include selections by Bach, and Albeniz and accompany Giunta in vibrant Spanish repertoire, including De Falla’s Canciones Populares Españolas.
March 7, 2010, 3:15pm
Les Violons du Roy, Richard Paré, conductor
Canada's most renowned baroqe and classical chamber orchestra continues to draw sell-out crowds throughout Europe and North America. The program includes Vivaldi's perennial favourite, The Four Seasons, with four of the Orchestra's violinists as soloists (MacMillan Theatre)
April 25, 2010, 3:15pm
Afiara String Quartet, with Robert Aitken, flute
Many who have heard these four young Canadians are convinced they will be the next great Canadian quartet, after the Orford and the St. Lawrence! Program to include Mendelssohn's last great quartet, and Berg's Lyric Suite. The eminent Canadian flutist Robert Aitken joins them in short quintets by Tovey, Boccherini and Ginastera.