September 2003 - Nr. 9
Music in Toronto
Chamber music in downtown Toronto has become a tradition. Music Toronto is presents Echo Germanica readers a very special deal, for which you can consult the ad in this issue or call the box office in the St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts, referring to the special 4 for 3 Echo Germanica offer. Here is what is being offered:
Thursday November 20/03 at 8 p.m.
ZEHETMAIR QUARTET
Toronto debut. Austrian violinist Thomas Zehetmair is a musical phenomenon; a favourite of conductor Sir Simon Rattle, who describes him as a true child of period style, Romantic temperament and contemporary tastes. An acclaimed soloist, conductor, and now music director of the Northern Sinfonia in Newcastle, England, Zehetmair thought he’d form a string quartet. He chose colleagues who shared his musical ideals; Matthias Metzger, second violin, Ruth Killius, viola, and Françoise Groben, cello, joined him. The quartet is unconventional in playing from memory and preparing only one programme annually, often rehearsing intensively in an unusual locale such as the Canary Islands.
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J. S. Bach – Choral: Vor Deinen Thron Tret’ ich
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Britten - String Quartet No. 3, Op. 94
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Schubert - String Quartet in G Major, D. 887
Thursday, February 5/04 at 8 p.m.
PHILHARMONIA QUARTETT BERLIN
Founded in 1984 by the principal concertmaster and string section leaders of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, the quartet appears regularly at the world’s major festivals, returning annually to the Berlin, Salzburg and Bath Festivals, among others. The quartet tours every season in North America, Europe and Asia, and performs a series of concerts in London’s Wigmore Hall, in Germany for the German Senate and in their own series presented by the Berlin Philharmonic. First violinist Daniel Stabrawa has been the Principal Concertmaster of the Berlin Philharmonic since 1986; second violinist Christian Stadelmann has led the second violins since 1987; Neithard Resa has been principal viola since 1978; cello section leader Jan Diesselhorst rounds out the quartet. Concertgoers who heard any of their 4 previous Music TORONTO concerts (Dec. 93, Jan. 96, Nov. 97, Oct. 99) recognize the highest standards of technical accomplishment and artistic single-mindedness that The Los Angeles Times heard in March 2002.
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Erwin Schulhoff - Quartet No. 1 (1924)
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Brahms - Quartet in B-flat Major, Op. 67
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Beethoven - Quartet in F minor, Op. 95
Thursday, March 18/04 at 8 p.m.
VOGLER QUARTET
with pianist ANGELA CHENG
Still comprised of its original members, the Vogler Quartet was founded in 1985 and, like the Petersen, trained at the Hanns Eisler Music Institute in Berlin. The Vogler won the Evian International in 1986. Their ongoing series in the Berlin Concert Hall has established the quartet as one of Berlin’s leading ensembles. Since 1999 the Vogler Quartet has also been Quartet-in-Residence in County Sligo, Ireland, in an innovative programme working with local music groups and schools. Violinist Tim Vogler plays a Giovanni Battista Guadagnini, Piacenza, 1748; violinist Frank Reinecke plays a Niccolo Bergonzi, 1761; cellist Stephan Forck plays an Andreas Guarnerius, 1694. Violist Stefan Fehlandt plays a modern instrument, a Ritz Iwata, Amsterdam, 1992.
Pianist ANGELA CHENG is a favourite of Music TORONTO audiences; she has played the Dvorak Quintet with the Shanghai Q March 93, and the Schumann Quintet with both the Colorado Q Nov. 95, and the Toronto String Quartet March 99, plus solo recitals in Feb. 84 and Nov. 94. Since winning the Arthur Rubinstein International Competition in 1986 and the Montreal International in 1988 – the first Canadian to win! – she has built an international career as soloist with major orchestras, in recital, and in chamber music. She plays …not with the voice of generic virtuosity and conventional received wisdom, but with her own voice…passiinately and artistically involved… said the Globe and Mail of her March 2001 Music TORONTO recital.
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Mendelssohn - Quartet in E minor, Op. 44, No. 2
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Bartok - Quartet No. 2, Op. 17 (1915-17)
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Schumann - Piano Quintet in E-flat Major, Op. 44
Thursday, April 1/04 at 8 p.m.
PETERSEN QUARTET
The Petersen Quartet emerged from the Hanns Eisler Music Institute in Berlin in 1979, a few years earlier than the Vogler, and went on to win the Evian in 1985, the International in Florence in 1986 and the ARD in Munich in 1987. The Petersen was Quartet-in-Residence for Berlin Radio for five years, a collaboration that led to their ongoing relationship with Capriccio Records.
The Petersen made its Toronto debut on this series is Feb. 2000. One of the highlights of our 30th anniversary season was the Petersen Quartet’s performance with percussionist Beverley Johnston of the rarely-heard Pavel Hass Quartet. Violinist Conrad Muck and Daniel Bell, violist Friedemann Weigle and cellist Jonas Krejci reside in Berlin, tour widely, and record for Capriccio.
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Stravinsky - Concertino for string quartet (1920)
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Mozart - Quartet in F Major, K.590
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Grieg - Quartet in G minor, Op. 27
I hope to see many of you at this fine concert series, which has tremendous German content.
Toronto Symphony is off to a good start
Recently the TSO Fine Wine Charity Auction catalogues was unveiled.
Sybille
Otto, Chair of the committee, said that the appeal for donations of unique
and rare wines was great. The actual auction will take place in the Ontario
Club on October 2nd.
But there are other wine events, starting with a wine tasting on September 23 in the Design Exchange. Also, there is a Princess Giorgiana Corsini event series in various venues. For all the information go to www.finewinefestival.com or call the hotline 416-593-7769, ext. 358.
The symphony’s site in the net is www.tso.ca and will give all the information and programming available from our wonderful institution, including special youth programming and , note, prices for young people. There you will also find a link to the wine festival for the TSO.
More music and special events
Massey
Hall and Roy Thomson Hall also unveiled their programs for the next season.
A large number of worldrenowned Canadian Performers as well as an array of
international performers will tantalize even the most discriminating
entertainment seeker.
There will be many classical concerts, starting with Ben Heppner’ concert September 27.
At
least 8 concerts have been negotiated so far in the classical genre. Then
there is Jazz with concerts by Oscar Peterson, the Herbie Hancock Trio and
others. There will be music and entertainment, including comedy, from around
the world, international superstars will light up the stages in both halls
and then there will be the traditional Holiday favourites.
For tickets and information call 416-872-4255 or got to the websites: www.roythomson.com or www.masseyhall.com
German Festival
This 2nd annual German Festival has been moved into the fall. The opening will coincide with the National German Unification holiday on October 3. Throughout October there will be various events in Toronto and 2 of them in Kitchener, one in Hamilton. A website gives more information www.germanfestival.ca
The festival will include the annual Pioneers Day and the German Gala Ball. We will have more information in the October issue.
As you can see, there is a lot to see and do other than the Film Festival. This season should be quite invigorating. SFR.
