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2017/18 Concertcalendar

SEASON PRESENTING SPONSOR

SEASON PATRON

September 2017to June 2018

For an exclusive interview with Peter Oundjian, see page 24.

TSO MUSIC DIRECTOR PETER OUNDJIAN

After 13 years on the TSO podium, 2017/18 marks Music Director Peter Oundjian’s triumphant final season. Join us for a season-long celebration of his extraordinary contributions to the TSO and Toronto, with many joyful performances curated and conducted by the Maestro himself.

Don’t miss this opportunity to see Peter shine with the world-renowned Orchestra he helped build.Bravo, Maestro!

OFFICIAL AIRLINE

September 2017to June 2018

Performances are selling out faster than ever before. Order superb seats now.

TSO.CA416.593.1285

Peter OundjianMusic Director

Sir Andrew Davis Conductor Laureate

Steven ReinekePrincipal Pops Conductor

Earl LeeRBC Resident Conductor andTSYO Artistic Director & Conductor

Gary Kulesha Composer Advisor

Jordan PalRBC Affiliate Composer

Gary HansonInterim Chief Executive Officer

Specials

From sparkling gala concerts to films with live orchestra, these blockbuster shows are not to be missed!

Masterworks

Full performances of awe-inspiring music by Beethoven, Mozart, Mahler, Tchaikovsky, and other legendary composers.

Light Classics

Classical music’s “greatest hits” plus engaging commentary from the stage. Ideal for families and newcomers to the symphony.

Pops

Your favourite pop tunes and best-loved music from stage and screen— all featuring the orchestra with star guest performers.

Young People’s Concerts

Especially for kids ages 5 to 10. Fun, educational afternoon concerts often include actors, dancers, costumes, and more!

Casual

Epic orchestral music in a laid-back setting, where you’re encouraged to wear jeans! Stay for an after-party in the lobby after select performances.

Exposed

Educational concerts for adults. Hear musical com-mentary and excerpts in the first half, and then listen to the full piece with fresh insight after intermission.

Welcome to 2017/18.A new season you just can’t miss!

From breathtaking masterworks, to dance-all-night Pops, to Hollywood films with live orchestra— the TSO’s 2017/18 season has something for everyone. Treat yourself to the live music you love!

Peter Oundjian conducts the TSO on the stage of Roy Thomson Hall.

1CONCERT CALENDAR

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2 TSO 2017/18 SEASON

Sydney ChunTSO Violin

The TSO Chamber Soloists

Savour beautiful, intimate performances by The TSO Chamber Soloists, curated and hosted by Concertmaster Jonathan Crow, before select full-orchestra shows.For full details, visit TSO.CA/ChamberSoloists

Admission is included in the price of your TSO concert ticket. Limited seating in the choir loft of Roy Thomson Hall.

P. 10 / MASTERWORKS

A Tribute to Maureen ForresterFri, October 20 The TSO Chamber Soloists at 6:15pm

Kelly Zimba, flute; Sarah Jeffrey, oboe; Miles Jaques, clarinet; Michael Sweeney, bassoon; Neil Deland, horn; with special guest Andrea Ludwig, mezzo-soprano

R. Murray Schafer: Minneliederlove songs from the medieval German

P. 21 / MASTERWORKS

Essential MozartWed, January 17The TSO Chamber Soloists at 6:45pm

Kelly Zimba, flute; Clare Elene Semes, violin;Ivan Ivanovich, viola; Alastair Eng, cello

Mozart: Flute Quartet No. 1, K. 285; Flute Quartet No. 2, K. 285a

Jonathan CrowTSO Concertmaster

TSO 2017/18 SEASON4

P. 31 / MASTERWORKS

Sibelius Symphony 5Thu, April 5The TSO Chamber Soloists at 6:45pm

Gordon Wolfe; Vanessa Fralick; Megan Hodge; Jeffrey Hall

The TSO trombone section performs works by British and Scandinavian composers.

P. 39 / MASTERWORKS

Brahms Symphony 1Thu, June 14The TSO Chamber Soloists at 6:45pm

Jonathan Crow, violin; Mark Skazinetsky, violin;Teng Li, viola; Theresa Rudolph, viola; Joseph Johnson, cello; Emmanuelle Beaulieu Bergeron, cello

Brahms: String Sextet No. 1

5CONCERT CALENDAR

Fallconcerts

September to December

P. 8 / MASTERWORKS

A Tribute to Glenn GouldSeptember 22 & 23

P. 11 / MASTERWORKS

Schubert Symphony 9October 25 & 26

P. 14 / MASTERWORKS

Angela HewittNovember 18 & 19

TUE

September 19 at 7:00 pm

Sep 19 performance part of Canada Mosaic, a Canada 150 Signature Project/un projet Signature Canada 150

SPECIAL

Opening Night: Life of Pi

Peter Oundjian, conductorJames Ehnes, violinV. Selvaganesh, percussionBombay Jayashri, vocalist

Derek Charke: Sesquie for Canada’s 150th Chausson: Poème for Violin and OrchestraSaint-Saëns: Introduction and Rondo CapricciosoStravinsky: Suite from The Firebird (1919 revision)Mychael Danna: Suite from Life of Pi (Commission/World Première)

Canadian composer Mychael Danna’s Academy Award–winning film score to Life of Pi, based on the novel of the same title by Canadian author Yann Martel, makes its world première on the TSO stage as a new orchestral suite. Canadian violinist James Ehnes demonstrates versatile mastery in Chausson’s dreamy Poème and Saint-Saëns’s dynamic Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso.

SEP

7CONCERT CALENDAR

FRI September 22 at 7:30 pm

SAT

September 23 at 8:00 pm

MASTERWORKS

A Tribute to Glenn Gould

Peter Oundjian, conductorJan Lisiecki, pianoColm Feore, host

Yannick Plamondon: Sesquie for Canada’s 150th (Sep 22 only)Cecilia Livingston: Sesquie for Canada’s 150th (Sep 23 only)Kelly-Marie Murphy: Curiosity, Genius, and the Search for Petula Clark (Commission/World Première)Wagner: Siegfried IdyllBrahms: Piano Concerto No. 1

Genius. Innovator. International superstar. The TSO pays tribute to the life and legacy of legendary pianist Glenn Gould in a must-see concert, hosted by acclaimed actor Colm Feore. Plus, witness the world première of Canadian composer Kelly-Marie Murphy’s new orchestral work inspired by Gould. Jan Lisiecki marshals all the nobility and turbulent drama of Brahms’s First Piano Concerto, a piece that Gould made uniquely his own.

SEP

Jan Lisiecki

Sep 22–28, Oct 3 & 7 performances part of Canada Mosaic, a Canada 150 Signature Project/un projet Signature Canada 150


MASTERWORKS / CASUAL

Brahms German Requiem

WED September 27 at 8:00 pmTHU September 28 at 8:00 pmSAT September 30 at 7:30 pm

Peter Oundjian, conductorErin Wall, sopranoRussell Braun, baritoneJonathan Crow, violinYosuke Kawasaki, violinAndrew Wan, violinToronto Mendelssohn Choir

Rolf Boon: Sesquie for Canada’s 150th (Sep 27 only)Jared Miller: Sesquie for Canada’s 150th (Sep 28 only)Alexina Louie: Triple Concerto (Co-commission/ World Première; Sep 27 & 28 only)Brahms: A German Requiem

POPS

Music of John Williams

TUE October 3 at 8:00 pmWED October 4 at 2:00 pmWED October 4 at 8:00 pmTHU October 5 at 8:00 pm

Steven Reineke, conductor

PROGRAM INCLUDES:

Darren Fung: Sesquie for Canada’s 150th (Oct 3 only)

The TSO celebrates the incredible catalogue of the most-honoured film composer of all time: John Williams! For decades he’s been providing memorable themes for an incredi-ble lineup of classic movies, collecting an unequalled 50 Oscar nominations (and five Oscars) in the process. You’ll enjoy all your favourite Williams themes, including the Star Wars series, E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial, Jaws, Raiders of the Lost Ark, Jurassic Park, Schindler’s List, and many more.

MASTERWORKS

Adizokan

SAT October 7 at 7:30 pm

Gary Kulesha, conductorNelson Naittuq Tagoona, throat boxerFara Palmer, vocalistMichel Muniidobenese Bruyere, musician/dancer

Carmen Braden: Sesquie for Canada’s 150thEliot Britton: Adizokan (Commission/World Première)

Celebrate the evocative culture of Canadian Indigenous peoples in a singular concert curated and directed by Sandra Laronde, founder and artistic director of Red Sky Performance. Experience the world première of Adizokan—a new genre-bending creation that explores Indigenous connections to ancestral origins. This image-rich experience is a potent mix of dance, video, electro- acoustic, and orchestra by Canadian composer Eliot Britton.

SEP

OCT OCT

Erin Wall

Scored for two vocal soloists, chorus, and orchestra, and setting German-language texts from the Lutheran Bible, A German Requiem is Brahms’s most expansive and moving composition. The concertmasters of the TSO, Orchestre symphonique de Montréal, and the National Arts Centre Orchestra pool their talents in an intriguing new concerto by Alexina Louie.

9CONCERT CALENDAR

THU October 19 at 8:00 pm

FRI

October 20 at 7:30 pm

Oct 20 6:15pm Free pre-concert performance by The TSO Chamber Soloists (see page 4 for details)

Oct 19–22 performances part of Canada Mosaic, a Canada 150 Signature Project/un projet Signature Canada 150

MASTERWORKS

A Tribute to Maureen ForresterPeter Oundjian, conductorSusan Platts, mezzo-sopranoMichael Schade, tenor Ben Heppner, host

John Abram: Sesquie for Canada’s 150th (Oct 19 only)Howard Shore/text by Elizabeth Cotnoir: New Work for Mezzo-soprano and Orchestra (Commission/World Première)Mahler: Das Lied von der Erde (The Song of the Earth)

One of the finest voices of her generation, Canadian contralto Maureen Forrester dazzled audiences worldwide. Honouring her memorable life and career, these performances, hosted by renowned Canadian tenor Ben Heppner, feature a new song cycle for mezzo-soprano and orchestra by Howard Shore, performed by Canadian Susan Platts, plus one of Forrester’s signature works: Mahler’s symphonic song cycle Das Lied von der Erde.

OCT

Maureen Forrester (1930–2010)


LIGHT CLASSICS

With Glowing Hearts

SAT October 21 at 7:30 pmSUN October 22 at 3:00 pm

Victor Feldbrill, conductor & hostEarl Lee, conductorChristina Petrowska Quilico, piano

Nicolas Gilbert: Sesquie for Canada’s 150th (Oct 21)Somers: Passacaglia and FugueFreedman: TableauJohn Beckwith: Flower variations and wheels Champagne: Piano ConcertoArcher: Poem for OrchestraWeinzweig: Symphonic ode

This all-Canadian program—curated by renowned conductor and Canadian music champion Victor Feldbrill—explores Canada’s rich history of classical composers. Notable Canadian pianist Christina Petrowska Quilico is the featured soloist in the Romantic-style Piano Concerto by Québec composer Claude Champagne.

MASTERWORKS

Schubert Symphony 9

WED October 25 at 8:00 pmTHU October 26 at 8:00 pm

Juanjo Mena, conductorMarc-André Hamelin, piano

Ginastera: Ollantay (Canadian Première)Ravel: Piano Concerto for the Left Hand Schubert: Symphony No. 9 “Great”

Spanish conductor Juanjo Mena, Chief Conductor of the BBC Philharmonic, returns to lead Schubert’s rich, broadly scaled final symphony. In soloist Marc-André Hamelin— a member of the prestigious Gramophone magazine Hall of Fame—Ravel’s ingenious, jazz-tinged Concerto for the Left Hand finds its ideal interpreter.

OCT OCT

SPECIAL

Israel Philharmonic Orchestra

SAT October 28 at 8:00 pm

Zubin Mehta, conductor Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, guest orchestra

Amit Poznansky: Footnote Suite from the music for the motion pictureRavel: Daphnis et Chloé Suite No. 2R. Strauss: Ein Heldenleben (A Hero’s Life)

Following the TSO’s historic 2017 Tour of Israel, the illustrious Israel Philharmonic Orchestra makes its return to Toronto for an unmissable performance! Under the baton of internationally revered music director Zubin Mehta, the IPO presents the mighty deeds and soaring romance of Strauss’s tone poem A Hero’s Life, and the heady atmosphere of a suite from Ravel’s super- sensuous ballet, Daphnis et Chloé.

OCT

Zubin Mehta

11CONCERT CALENDAR

OCT

EXPOSED

What Makes It Great?®

Stravinsky The Firebird

FRI November 3 at 7:30 pm

Rob Kapilow, conductor & host

Daniel Janke: Sesquie for Canada’s 150thStravinsky: Suite from The Firebird (1919 revision)

Russian composer Igor Stravinsky broke through to fame in 1910 when his glittering and dynamic ballet score The Firebird premièred in Paris. The plot was drawn from Russian fairy tales, and Stravinsky packed the music with orchestral colour and folk-flavoured melodies. In the first half, Rob Kapilow takes you inside this magic kingdom to show you its roots and explore Stravinsky’s methods in bringing it to life. After intermission, he conducts the TSO in a full performance of the suite.

NOVYOUNG PEOPLE’S CONCERT

Wall-to-Wall Percussion

SAT November 4 at 2:00 pmSAT November 4 at 4:00 pm

Earl Lee, conductorVern Griffiths, percussion

The beat is contagious in this fun and interactive family concert that shines the spotlight on the percussion section. Join percussionist Vern Griffiths as he performs orchestral classics by Tchaikovsky and Bizet using everyday household items. You might even get a chance to join Vern and the TSO on stage!

NOV

LIGHT CLASSICS

All Beethoven

TUE October 31 at 8:00 pm

Earl Lee, conductorBlake Pouliot, violin

Beethoven: Overture to Egmont; Violin Romances Nos. 1 & 2; Coriolan Overture; Symphony No. 5

Experience Beethoven in all his unsurpassed variety—in a single concert! Selections range from the tempestuous Fifth Symphony to a pair of sweet-natured romances for violin and orchestra with soloist Blake Pouliot, the Grand Prize winner of the 2016 Orchestre symphonique de Montréal Manulife Competition, and two forceful, dramatic overtures.

Earl Lee


MASTERWORKS

Afghanistan: Requiem for a Generation

THU November 9 at 8:00 pmSAT November 11 at 8:00 pm

Tania Miller, conductorMeasha Brueggergosman, sopranoAllyson McHardy, mezzo-sopranoColin Ainsworth, tenorBrett Polegato, baritoneToronto Children’s ChorusToronto Mendelssohn Choir

PROGRAM INCLUDES:

Julien Bilodeau: Sesquie for Canada’s 150th (Nov 9 only)Jordan Pal: Sesquie for Canada’s 150th (Nov 11 only)Jeffrey Ryan/text by Suzanne Steele: Afghanistan: Requiem for a Generation

To commemorate Remembrance Day, the TSO presents Afghanistan: Requiem for a Generation, a soul-searching work by Canadian composer Jeffrey Ryan and Suzanne Steele, Canada’s war poet in Afghanistan. The concert, directed by Canadian conductor Tania Miller, includes readings from famous war-related poems, and a warm-hearted selection by English composer Ralph Vaughan Williams, featuring TSO Concertmaster Jonathan Crow.

NOVTORONTO SYMPHONY YOUTH ORCHESTRA

TSYO Fall Concert

SUN November 12 at 3:00pm*

Earl Lee, conductor

Verdi: Overture to La forza del destinoSmetana: “The Moldau” from Má vlastShostakovich: Symphony No. 5

The TSYO opens its season under the direction of its Artistic Director & Conductor Earl Lee with an emotionally charged program. It begins with the intertwining motifs of Fate and Destiny in Verdi’s overture to his opera La forza del destino, then journeys through Smetana’s rip- pling symphonic poem “The Moldau”. Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 5 brings a haunting intensity to the second half of the concert.

George Weston Recital Hall, Toronto Centre for the Arts*

NOV

MASTERWORKS

Oundjian Conducts Vaughan Williams

WED November 15 at 8:00 pmTHU November 16 at 2:00 pm

Peter Oundjian, conductor; Louis Lortie, piano;Sarah Jeffrey, oboe; Teng Li, viola; Carla Huhtanen, soprano; Emily D’Angelo, mezzo-soprano; Lawrence Wiliford, tenor; Tyler Duncan, baritone; Elmer Iseler Singers

Vaughan Williams: Fantasia on “Greensleeves”; Concerto for Oboe and String Orchestra; Serenade to Music; Flos Campi; Piano Concerto in C; The Wasps Overture

This rich program explores works by the great English composer Ralph Vaughan Williams. Performed by an all-Canadian cast of soloists, it includes two full concertos— a pastoral piece for oboe, and a dynamic one for piano—and the unique Flos Campi, a sensuous suite for solo viola, chorus, and orchestra.

NOV

Measha Brueggergosman

13CONCERT CALENDAR

SAT November 18 at 8:00 pm

SUN

November 19 at 3:00 pm*

Nov 19 at George Weston Recital Hall, Toronto Centre for the Arts

*

MASTERWORKS

Angela Hewitt

Angela Hewitt, leader & piano

Andrew Ager: Sesquie for Canada’s 150th (Nov 18 only)J.S. Bach: Keyboard Concerto No. 3, BWV 1054Mozart: Piano Concerto No. 9, K. 271 “Jeunehomme”J.S. Bach: Keyboard Concerto No. 7, BWV 1058Mozart: Piano Concerto No. 20, K. 466

Acclaimed pianist Angela Hewitt, praised by the Sunday Times (London) as “the outstanding Bach pianist of her generation,” plays the solo part and leads the Orchestra in two of J.S. Bach’s finest concertos. She displays equal insight into two glorious concertos by Mozart.

NOV

Angela Hewitt

Nov 18, 23, 25 & Dec 6 performances part of Canada Mosaic, a Canada 150 Signature Project/un projet Signature Canada 150


MASTERWORKS

Best of Tchaikovsky

TUE December 5 at 8:00pmWED December 6 at 8:00 pmTHU December 7 at 8:00 pm

Keri-Lynn Wilson, conductorJoseph Johnson, cello

Laura Pettigrew: Sesquie for Canada’s 150th (Dec 6 only)Tchaikovsky: Romeo and Juliet Fantasy-OvertureTchaikovsky: Variations on a Rococo Theme (original version)Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 5

Melody, colour, and emotions of all kinds rule at this all-Tchaikovsky extravaganza, conducted by Canadian Keri-Lynn Wilson. Though it begins in gloom, the Fifth Symphony rises to the shining heights of victory. The TSO’s outstanding Principal Cello performs the rarely heard—and superior—original version of the elegant Rococo Variations.

DEC


Mahler Symphony 6

THU November 23 at 8:00 pmSAT November 25 at 7:30 pm

Donald Runnicles, conductor

Tobin Stokes: Sesquie for Canada’s 150th (Nov 23 only)Abigail Richardson-Schulte: Sesquie for Canada’s 150th (Nov 25 only)Mahler: Symphony No. 6

In Mahler’s emotionally devastating Sixth Symphony, he looked back nostalgically at bygone innocence, included a sweeping, ecstatic theme to represent his adored wife, Alma, and ultimately felt the harsh hammer blows of fate. Donald Runnicles, General Music Director of the Deutsche Oper Berlin, brings decades of experience in late- Romantic music to this powerful score.

Donald Runnicles

Joseph Johnson, TSO Principal Cello

NOV

15CONCERT CALENDAR

Experience the magic of Christmas with sparkling holiday concerts for the whole family!

NOVEMBER 30–DECEMBER 23, 2017

Christmas with the TSO

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DEC

THU November 30 at 7:30pm

FRI December 1 at 7:30 pm

SAT December 2 at 2:00 pm


CHRISTMAS: SPECIAL

Home Alone in Concert

Constantine Kitsopoulos, conductorEtobicoke School of the Arts Junior Chorus

A box office smash hit when it was released in 1990, this madcap family comedy has become a certified holiday classic. Macaulay Culkin stars as an inventive eight-year-old, accidentally left alone over Christmas, who repeatedly outsmarts a couple of bone-headed burglars. John Williams’s delightful score packs extra punch and sparkle when the TSO—and the lively voices of the Etobicoke School of the Arts Junior Chorus— perform it live with the film!

17CONCERT CALENDAR

CHRISTMAS: POPS

Canadian Brass Christmas

TUE December 12 at 8:00 pm WED December 13 at 2:00 pmWED December 13 at 8:00 pm

Lucas Waldin, conductorCanadian Brass, brass quintetEtobicoke School of the Arts Holiday Chorus

PROGRAM INCLUDES:

John McPherson: Sesquie for Canada’s 150th (Dec 12 only)

The TSO lights up the year-end holidays with a delightful program of familiar and beloved seasonal favourites. The Canadian Brass and a special choir add extra lustre to the program— and of course you’ll have a chance to join in for the traditional carol sing-along!

CHRISTMAS: FAMILY HOLIDAY CONCERT

The Snowman

SUN December 10 at 3:00 pm

David Amado, conductorResonance Youth ChoirTha Spot Holiday Dancers

This beloved holiday film returns to the stage and screen in a program filled with your holiday favourites. The TSO performs Howard Blake’s beautiful score to the animated film The Snowman, featuring the much-loved song “Walking in the Air”. Filled with magic and adventure, The Snowman is the perfect way to kick off the holiday season! You’ll also hear holiday classics featuring Tha Spot Holiday Dancers that are sure to get your toes tapping.

© Snowman Enterprises Limited“The Snowman” by Raymond Briggs is published by Puffin

Dec 12 performance part of Canada Mosaic, a Canada 150 Signature Project/un projet Signature Canada 150

DEC

DEC


MON December 18 at 8:00 pm

TUE December 19 at 8:00 pm

WED December 20 at 8:00 pm

FRI December 22 at 8:00 pm


CHRISTMAS: SPECIAL

Messiah

Matthew Halls, conductorKarina Gauvin, sopranoKrisztina Szabó, mezzo-sopranoFrédéric Antoun, tenorJoshua Hopkins, baritoneToronto Mendelssohn Choir

Handel: Messiah

It wouldn’t be the holiday season without Handel’s Messiah—performed with matchless spirit by the TSO! Conductor Matthew Halls, Artistic Director of the Oregon Bach Festival, and a stellar line-up of Canadian vocalists and chorus, are featured in these tremendous performances of the immortal oratorio.

DEC

Joshua Hopkins

Karina Gauvin

Frédéric Antoun

Matthew Halls

Krisztina Szabó

CONCERT CALENDAR 19

JANUARY 10–21, 2018

Mozart@262 Festival

Mozart is timeless. Experience some of the most beloved masterworks ever written, in this festival co-curated by Bernard Labadie and Peter Oundjian.

M@262: MASTERWORKS

Majestic Mozart

WED January 10 at 8:00 pm SAT January 13 at 8:00 pm

Bernard Labadie, conductor

Mozart: Serenade No. 10, K. 370a/361 “Gran Partita” Mozart: Symphony No. 39, K. 543

This program features one of Mozart’s last and most elegant symphonies, No. 39, and offers the rare and welcome opportunity to experience the sublime “Gran Partita”, an extended and luxuriously scored work for 12 wind instruments and double bass. When the Salieri of Amadeus hears the ravishing third movement of this work for the first time, he says, “it seemed to me that I was hearing the voice of God.”

M@262: EXPOSED


Mozart Clarinet Concerto

FRI January 12 at 7:30 pm

Rob Kapilow, conductor & hostJoaquin Valdepeñas, clarinet

Mozart: Clarinet Concerto, K. 622

Mozart’s final concerto—and one of the last of all his works—the Clarinet Concerto is a haunting, soulful piece. The mellow tones of the clarinet were the perfect medium to express his late-life emotions, including his dismay at the ill health of his deeply cherished wife, Constanze. Rob Kapilow and the TSO’s distinguished Principal Clarinet first take you to the piece’s heart; then they perform it, complete.

JANJAN


M@262: MASTERWORKS

Essential Mozart

WED January 17 at 8:00 pmTHU January 18 at 8:00 pm*

Jan 17 6:45pm Free pre-concert performance by

The TSO Chamber Soloists (see page 4 for details)

Bernard Labadie, conductorJonathan Crow, violinTeng Li, viola

Mozart: Overture to The Magic Flute, K. 620Mozart: Sinfonia concertante for Violin and Viola, K. 364/320dMozart: Overture to The Impresario, K. 486Mozart: Symphony No. 36, K. 425 “Linz”

The Mozart@262 Festival continues with an entertaining yet substantial program of masterworks, from a “double concerto”—with the TSO’s Concertmaster and Principal Viola as soloists—to the symphony that he composed at top speed but with unflagging skill for a visit to the Austrian city of Linz. Two merry operatic overtures complete the bill.

Jan 18 at Koerner Hall, TELUS Centre for Performance and Learning

*

M@262: MASTERWORKS

Mozart Jupiter Symphony

FRI January 19 at 7:30pmSAT January 20 at 2:00pm*SAT January 20 at 8:00pm* SUN January 21 at 3:00pm†

Peter Oundjian, conductorCharles Richard-Hamelin, piano Adrian Anantawan, violin

Mozart: Rondo for Violin and Orchestra, K. 250/248b “Haffner”Mozart: Adagio for Violin and Orchestra, K. 261Mozart: Piano Concerto No. 23, K. 488Mozart: Symphony No. 41, K. 551 “Jupiter”

Peter Oundjian crowns his final performances in the treasured annual Mozart Festival that he created, with Mozart’s symphonic master-piece: the exhilarating “Jupiter” Symphony. Charles Richard-Hamelin takes centre stage for a graceful piano concerto, and emerging Canadian violinist Adrian Anantawan per-forms two engaging short works.

Jan 20 at Koerner Hall, TELUS Centre for Performance and LearningJan 21 at George Weston Recital Hall, Toronto Centre for the Arts

*

†

JAN JAN

Teng Li, TSO Principal Viola

21CONCERT CALENDAR

Winterconcerts

P. 23 / MASTERWORKS / CASUAL

Holst The PlanetsJanuary 25–27

P. 27 / SPECIAL

Lang LangMarch 1

P. 29 / SPECIAL

Jaws in ConcertMarch 21–23

January to March

JANMASTERWORKS

A European Romance

WED January 31 at 8:00 pmFRI February 2 at 7:30 pm

Juraj Valčuha, conductorIngrid Fliter, piano

Liadov: The Enchanted LakeFalla: Nights in the Gardens of SpainR. Strauss: Don JuanR. Strauss: Suite from Der Rosenkavalier

A double helping from Richard Strauss’s magnificent catalogue anchors this pro-gram, conducted by Juraj Valčuha in his TSO début. You will be enthralled by the lilt-ing waltzes from his most beloved opera, and the ardent escapades of the amorous Spanish rake, Don Juan. Argentinean pianist Ingrid Fliter strikes sparks from Falla’s exotic nocturnal evocation of Spain.

MASTERWORKS

Prokofiev Romeo & Juliet

WED February 14 at 8:00 pmTHU February 15 at 8:00 pm

Sir Andrew Davis, conductor Heidi Van Hoesen Gorton, harp

Balakirev: Overture on Three Russian Folk Songs Glière: Harp Concerto Prokofiev: Suite from Romeo and Juliet

Just in time for Valentine’s Day, the TSO’s esteemed Conductor Laureate Sir Andrew Davis presents his selections from Prokofiev’s masterpiece, the passionate ballet Romeo and Juliet. The Orchestra’s gifted Principal Harp is featured in Reinhold Glière’s thoroughly romantic Harp Concerto, and a tuneful overture by 19th-century Russian composer Mily Balakirev opens the program.

JANFEB

FEBTORONTO SYMPHONY YOUTH ORCHESTRA

TSYO Winter Concert

SUN February 4 at 3:00pm*

Earl Lee, conductorSarah Pollard, flute

Dukas: The Sorcerer’s Apprentice Mozart: Flute Concerto No. 1, K. 313/285cDvořák: Symphony No. 8

The TSYO takes on Dukas’s magical and exhilarating tone poem The Sorcerer’s Apprentice in their second concert of the season. The program also features flutist Sarah Pollard—a 2016/17 TSYO Concerto Competition Winner—and Dvořák’s optimistic and colourful Symphony No. 8, inspired by the social life and landscape of his Czech homeland.

George Weston Recital Hall, Toronto Centre for the Arts*

FEB


Holst The Planets

THU January 25 at 8:00 pmFRI January 26 at 7:30 pmSAT January 27 at 7:30 pm

John Storgårds, conductorAndrew McCandless, trumpetElmer Iseler Singers

Stravinsky: Funeral Song (Canadian Première; Jan 25 & 26 only)John Estacio: Trumpet Concerto (TSO Co-commission)Holst: The Planets

Conductor John Storgårds returns to the TSO for this program, which opens with theCanadian première of Stravinsky’s recentlyrediscovered Funeral Song. In an extraordi-nary act of coproduction, the TSO, featuring its brilliant Principal Trumpet as soloist, is one of more than 20 Canadian orchestras to perform John Estacio’s new Trumpet Concerto. The program concludes with Holst’s majestic planetary suite.

23CONCERT CALENDAR

After 13 illustrious years on the TSO podium, and an international concert career spanning decades, TSO Music Director Peter Oundjian invites you inside his triumphant 2017/18 season.

Reflecting on your enviable tenure at the helm of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, how does it feel to be entering 2017/18—your final TSO season?My final season. It’s incredible. I was born in Toronto, and lived here with my family for five years. To think that I’ve been able to come back to my city of birth and have this kind of involvement in the cultural life of Toronto . . . it’s an astonishing piece of fate. To stand on the TSO podium is an exhilarating experience. That’s really the biggest joy.

What do you look forward to in 2017/18?It has been a pleasure for us to work together to create a season that is truly celebratory. I have so many great friends coming to play. And I’m especially looking forward to the grand finale in June, when Roy Thomson Hall will be filled with the sounds of Beethoven 9!

How is the Toronto audience special, or different?Torontonians have an appetite for culture, a taste for discovery. We have an audience

Q&A WITH PETER OUNDJIAN

Ode to Joy!

TSO Music Director Peter Oundjian, photographed in his studio, at home in The Annex, Toronto, November 2016.


PETER OUNDJIAN CONDUCTS

Opening Night: Life of PiSeptember 19, 2017

A Tribute to Glenn GouldSeptember 22 & 23, 2017

Brahms German RequiemSeptember 27–30, 2017

A Tribute to Maureen ForresterOctober 19 & 20, 2017

Oundjian Conducts Vaughan WilliamsNovember 15 & 16, 2017

Mozart Jupiter SymphonyJanuary 19–21, 2018

Lang LangMarch 1, 2018

New Creations FestivalMarch 3–10, 2018

Mozart & BrucknerMay 2 & 3, 2018

Brahms Symphony 1June 13 & 14, 2018

Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto 3June 16, 2018

Mahler Symphony 9June 20 & 23, 2018

Bravo, Peter!June 26, 2018

Beethoven Symphony 9June 28–30, 2018

that concentrates, responds, that’s respectful, that gets involved in the music they’re listen-ing to. It has always been a rather inspiring audience to play for. The TSO is part of the cultural fabric, something that we’re all proud of. So many people have been touched by the TSO, one way or another. I trust Torontonians are aware they have a great, thriving orchestra. We are very lucky.

What would you add, on a personal note?I have been surrounded with exceptional human beings, who have been kind and

generous. I could walk into my library and look at many hundreds of scores, all of which have the potential to be very beautiful or very dramatic—but none of it is possible without the human beings. Being Music Director of the TSO will always be the most incredible highlight and privilege of my life.

Don’t miss your chance to see Peter Oundjian take to the spotlight during his celebratory final season as Music Director of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra! Shows will sell out—order superb seats today at TSO.CA.

25CONCERT CALENDAR

SPECIAL

The Wizard of Oz with Live Orchestra

SAT February 17 at 7:30 pmSUN February 18 at 3:00 pm

Emil de Cou, conductor

Perfect for Family Day weekend! Join the TSO to journey over the rainbow and down the Yellow Brick Road to the Emerald City. Every scene of this classic movie’s timeless enchantment is enriched with the unique glories of a live orchestra!

FEB

YOUNG PEOPLE’S CONCERT

The Year of the Dog: A Chinese New Year Celebration

SAT February 24 at 2:00 pmSAT February 24 at 4:00 pm

Carolyn Kuan, conductor Wen Zhao, pipa

Welcome the Year of the Dog with the TSO! This dazzling celebration for the whole family features fun-filled music from both Chinese and Western origins, plus costumes, dancing, and more. You won’t want to miss the festivities!

FEBMASTERWORKS

Dvořák & Beethoven

WED February 21 at 8:00 pmTHU February 22 at 8:00 pm

Gustavo Gimeno, conductor Johannes Moser, cello

Ligeti: Concert Românesc (Romanian Concerto)Dvořák: Cello ConcertoBeethoven: Symphony No. 4

The greatest of all cello concertos comes robustly to life under the expert fingers of Canadian Johannes Moser. Gustavo Gimeno, the charismatic Principal Conductor of the Orchestre Philharmonique de Luxembourg, mines all the vitality and humour of Beethoven’s Fourth Symphony. You will also enjoy Ligeti’s diverting orchestral concerto on Romanian folk tunes.

FEB


THU March 1 at 7:00 pm

SPECIAL

Lang Lang

Peter Oundjian, conductorLang Lang, piano

Dukas: The Sorcerer’s Apprentice*Esa-Pekka Salonen: Insomnia (Canadian Première)Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 3

Toronto Symphony Youth Orchestra performs with TSO

Superstar pianist Lang Lang brings his drive and his poetry to Beethoven’s tempestuous Third Piano Concerto. The blossoming artists of the Toronto Symphony Youth Orchestra play side-by-side with the TSO to give a super- size reading of the magical tone poem, The Sorcerer’s Apprentice. The TSO also performs the Canadian première of Insomnia, a vivid portrait of a sleepless night by Finnish composer Esa-Pekka Salonen.

*

MAR

27CONCERT CALENDAR

MAR

MAR MAR

MARCH 3–10, 2018

New Creations Festival

NCF: CASUAL

Processions

SAT March 3 at 7:30 pm

Peter Oundjian, conductor & hostDaníel Bjarnason, conductorVíkingur Ólafsson, piano

Vivian Fung: Dust DevilsLarry Alan Smith: Symphony No. 4 (Canadian Première)Daníel Bjarnason: Processions (North American Première)

The Festival gets off to a roaring start with the blazing Piano Concerto by Icelandic composer Daníel Bjarnason. Also on the bill is the latest symphony by American com-poser Larry Alan Smith. The concert leads off with a piece by JUNO Award–winning Canadian composer Vivian Fung that she describes as “full of raw and intense energy.”

NCF: MASTERWORKS

Little Mass

WED March 7 at 8:00 pm

Peter Oundjian, conductor & hostMira Wang, violinJan Vogler, celloToronto Children’s Chorus

Festival Composer Competition Winner Wolfgang Rihm: Duo Concerto (Canadian Première)James MacMillan: Little Mass (North American Première)

At the centre of this riveting program is the Little Mass for children’s chorus and orchestra by Scotland’s James MacMillan, “full of sepulchral trombones, explosive crescendos and heavy-duty use of a thunder-sheet,” as one reviewer has described it. Also featured is German composer Wolfgang Rihm’s Duo Concerto, written expressly for accomplished soloists Mira Wang and Jan Vogler.

NCF: MASTERWORKS

Doctor Atomic


Peter Oundjian, conductor & hostJonathan Crow, violinTeng Li, viola

Esa-Pekka Salonen: InsomniaGary Kulesha: Double Concerto (TSO Commission/World Première)John Adams: Doctor Atomic Symphony

For the Festival’s finale, Gary Kulesha has written a double concerto as a showcase for two brilliant members of the Orchestra: Concertmaster Jonathan Crow and Principal Viola Teng Li. Rounding out this exciting program are the vibrant concert symphony that John Adams drew from his opera Doctor Atomic, and Insomnia, a vivid portrait of a sleepless night by Finnish composer Esa-Pekka Salonen.

Bold. Experimental. Unmissable. TSO Music Director Peter Oundjian celebrates over a decade of extraordinarily successful New Creations Festivals with three concerts of his personal favourites.

Víkingur Ólafsson


MARMASTERWORKS

National Arts Centre Orchestra


Alexander Shelley, conductorBoris Giltburg, pianoNational Arts Centre Orchestra, guest orchestra

Vivian Fung: New Work (NACO Commission)Shostakovich: Piano Concerto No. 2Brahms: Symphony No. 2

Ottawa’s National Arts Centre Orchestra returns for another highly anticipated visit. The heart of their program lies in Brahms’s most serene and refreshing symphony. Russian-born Israeli pianist Boris Giltburg is the soloist in the lively piano concerto that Dmitri Shostakovich composed specifically for his 19-year-old son, Maxim.

SPECIAL

Jaws in Concert

WED March 21 at 7:30 pmTHU March 22 at 7:30 pmFRI March 23 at 7:30 pm

Constantine Kitsopoulos, conductor

The classic thriller movie that emptied beaches in 1975 and became the first summer mega-blockbuster rises to a whole new level of heart-pounding suspense when the TSO performs the iconic John Williams score live with the film! “You’re going to need a bigger boat . . .”

MAR


Classical Kids: Gershwin’s Magic Key

SAT March 24 at 2:00 pmSAT March 24 at 4:00 pm

Michelle Merrill, conductorClassical Kids LIVE!, actors

Join the TSO and the cast from Classical Kids Live! as you learn the story of Gershwin and his music. With over 20 of Gershwin’s most popular works featured in this concert, including Rhapsody in Blue, I Got Rhythm, and An American in Paris, this program is sure to please kids of all ages!

MAR

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29CONCERT CALENDAR

Springconcerts

March to June

P. 33 / MASTERWORKS

Bernstein’s CandideApril 26 & 28

P. 34 / MASTERWORKS

Mozart & BrucknerMay 2 & 3

P. 37 / LIGHT CLASSICS

Water MusicJune 2 & 3

MASTERWORKS

Brahms & Rachmaninoff

WED March 28 at 8:00 pmTHU March 29 at 2:00 pm

Stéphane Denève, conductorLars Vogt, piano

Brahms: Piano Concerto No. 2Rachmaninoff: Symphonic Dances

Renowned German pianist Lars Vogt joins the TSO and the enormously popular conductor Stéphane Denève to explore the strong and wide-ranging emotions—from heroic and stormy to serene and graceful—of Brahms’s Concerto No. 2. Rachmaninoff’s Symphonic Dances—his final composition and one his greatest—presents a satisfying blend of propulsive energy, poignant lyricism, and a stormy conflict between the powers of light and the powers of darkness.

POPS

On Broadway

TUE April 10 at 8:00 pmWED April 11 at 2:00 pmWED April 11 at 8:00 pm

Steven Reineke, conductor

Join Steven Reineke and two of Broadway’s brightest stars for an unforgettable tribute to the Great White Way! The program draws together the crème de la crème of American musical theatre, presenting favourite, toe-tapping songs from such vintage classic shows as Carousel, Funny Girl, The King and I, and Gypsy, and from more recent hit productions including Wicked, Company, and Into the Woods.


Sibelius Symphony 5

THU April 5 at 8:00 pm SAT April 7 at 7:30 pmSUN April 8 at 3:00 pm*

Apr 5 6:45pm Free pre-concert performance by The TSO Chamber Soloists (see page 5 for details)

Sir Andrew Davis, conductorRay Chen, violin

Mendelssohn: The Fair Melusina OvertureBruch: Violin Concerto No. 1Stenhammar: Intermezzo from Sången (Apr 5 & 8 only)Sibelius: Symphony No. 5

TSO Conductor Laureate Sir Andrew Davis leads a hearty and varied program, anchored by Bruch’s beloved Violin Concerto No. 1, featuring violinist Ray Chen as soloist, and Sibelius’s towering Symphony No. 5. It also offers a sparkling fairy-tale overture by Mendelssohn.Apr 8 at George Weston Recital Hall, Toronto Centre for the Arts*

APRMAR

APR

Steven Reineke, TSO Principal Pops Conductor

31CONCERT CALENDAR

LIGHT CLASSICS

All Beethoven

SAT April 14 at 7:30 pmSUN April 15 at 3:00 pm

Earl Lee, conductorBlake Pouliot, violin

Beethoven: Overture to Egmont; Violin Romances Nos. 1 & 2; Coriolan Overture; Symphony No. 5

Experience Beethoven in all his unsurpassed variety—in a single concert! Selections range from the tempestuous Fifth Symphony to a pair of sweet-natured romances for violin and orchestra with soloist Blake Pouliot, the Grand Prize winner of the 2016 Orchestre symphonique de Montréal Manulife Competition, and two forceful, dramatic overtures.

MASTERWORKS

FRI April 13 at 8:00 pm

Kent Nagano, conductorChristian Tetzlaff, violinOrchestre symphonique de Montréal, guest orchestra

Berg: Violin ConcertoBruckner: Symphony No. 7

The highly accomplished musicians of the Orchestre symphonique de Montréal and music director Kent Nagano make their eagerly awaited annual appearance. German violinist Christian Tetzlaff explores the poetry of Alban Berg’s Violin Concerto. Maestro Nagano and the orchestra also guide you through the grandiose expanses of Bruckner’s Seventh Symphony.

APR APR


The Animated Orchestra

SAT April 21 at 2:00 pmSAT April 21 at 4:00 pm

Dina Gilbert, conductorGreg Smith, narrator & composer

It’s time to use your imagination and go on an adventure with the TSO! The perfect concert for the daydreamer in all of us, The Animated Orchestra introduces us to a curious and creative ferret named Ari who leads the audience on a journey through which we discover the magic of music and the orchestra. Be a part of creating the story with narrator Greg Smith and the TSO. Also, enjoy orchestral favourites with the TSO that spark your imagination, including an audience sing-along!

APR

Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal

TORONTO SYMPHONY YOUTH ORCHESTRA

TSYO Spring Concert

TUE April 17 at 7:30pm*

Earl Lee, conductor

PROGRAM INCLUDES:

Ravel: Mother Goose SuiteBartók: Concerto for Orchestra

Artistic Director & Conductor Earl Lee guides the TSYO’s season to a grand close with Bartók’s Concerto for Orchestra— a thrilling showpiece for the talents of the orchestra’s brilliant young musicians. The lush colours of Ravel’s Mother Goose Suite provide a striking contrast in the first half of the program.

Koerner Hall, TELUS Centre for Performance and Learning*

APR


THU April 26 at 8:00 pm

SAT April 28 at 8:00 pm

MASTERWORKS

Bernstein’s Candide

Bramwell Tovey, conductorTracy Dahl, soprano (Cunegonde)Judith Forst, mezzo-soprano (The Old Lady)Nicholas Phan, tenor (Candide)Richard Suart, baritone (Pangloss & other roles)Members of the Toronto Mendelssohn Choir

Bernstein: Candide (opera-in-concert)

The TSO makes its major contribution to the global tributes to Leonard Bernstein’s centenary. Bramwell Tovey— whose early career was given a major boost through conducting Bernstein’s music in the composer’s presence—leads a brilliant cast of vocalists, members of the Toronto Mendelssohn Choir, and the Orchestra in Bernstein’s enchanting operetta based on Voltaire’s satirical story about a guileless young man’s education in the ways of the world.

APR

Leonard Bernstein (1918–1990)

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33CONCERT CALENDAR

WED May 2 at 8:00 pm

THU May 3 at 2:00 pm

MASTERWORKS

Mozart & Bruckner

Peter Oundjian, conductorLeon Fleisher, piano

Mozart: Piano Concerto No. 12, K. 414Bruckner/ed. Paul Hawkshaw (Canadian Première): Symphony No. 8

Peter Oundjian and the TSO give the Canadian première of a new edition of Anton Bruckner’s colossal Symphony No. 8. The distinguished Yale University professor Paul Hawkshaw published it in 2014 after years of research. Legendary American pianist Leon Fleisher brings decades of experience and insight to an exquisite Mozart concerto.

MAY

Leon Fleisher


MASTERWORKS

Beethoven Emperor Concerto

WED May 23 at 8:00 pmTHU May 24 at 8:00 pm

Osmo Vänskä, conductorYefim Bronfman, piano

Kaija Saariaho: Ciel d’hiverIves: Symphony No. 2Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 5 “Emperor”

Beethoven’s “Emperor”—the most eloquent of all piano concertos, and a bold declara-tion of artistic and moral freedom—comes vibrantly to life in the adept hands of pianist Yefim Bronfman. Conductor Osmo Vänskä leads the TSO in American maverick com-poser Charles Ives’s Second Symphony, a highly original work fusing European sym-phonic form with popular American tunes.

MAY

EXPOSED


Vivaldi The Four Seasons

FRI May 11 at 7:30 pmSAT May 12 at 7:30 pm

Rob Kapilow, conductor & hostTimothy Chooi, violin

Vivaldi: “Spring” from The Four SeasonsVivaldi: “Summer” from The Four Seasons

As an early and enduringly popular example of program music—the kind that paints pictures or tells a story—Vivaldi’s set of violin concertos that he himself called The Four Seasons is the perfect piece for Rob Kapilow. He explores it through spoken introductions and musical examples, then conducts two of the four concertos with Timothy Chooi, the 25-year-old Canadian violin sensation, as the soloist.

MAY

Osmo Vänskä

Timothy Chooi

35CONCERT CALENDAR

POPS

Love, Lust, and Rock & Roll

TUE May 29 at 8:00 pmWED May 30 at 2:00 pmWED May 30 at 8:00 pm

Steven Reineke, conductorStorm Large, vocalist

MASTERWORKS

Vancouver Symphony Orchestra

SAT May 26 at 8:00 pm

Bramwell Tovey, conductorJames Ehnes, violinVancouver Symphony Orchestra, guest orchestra

Bramwell Tovey: Time TracksBrahms: Violin ConcertoElgar: Variations on an Original Theme “Enigma”

The TSO welcomes the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra on a tour honouring Bramwell Tovey’s final season as Music Director. He pays homage to his English heritage with the quintessential English orchestral work, the beguiling book of character sketches that makes up Elgar’s “Enigma” Variations. His frequent concerto partner, famed Canadian violinist James Ehnes, is the soloist for the profoundly expressive concerto by Brahms, plus a suite from Bramwell Tovey’s opera The Inventor.

MAY

James Ehnes


POPS

Love, Lust, and Rock & Roll

TUE May 29 at 8:00 pmWED May 30 at 2:00 pmWED May 30 at 8:00 pm

Steven Reineke, conductorStorm Large, vocalist


Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto

FRI June 8 at 7:30 pmSAT June 9 at 7:30 pm

Thomas Dausgaard, conductorVadim Gluzman, violin

Wagner: Prelude and Liebestod from Tristan und Isolde (Jun 8 only)Tchaikovsky: Violin ConcertoDvořák: Symphony No. 8

Danish conductor Thomas Dausgaard, a regular guest of the TSO, returns with a pro-gram of outstanding works from the summit of the Romantic era. Deeply rooted in the soil of his beloved homeland, Czech composer Dvořák’s Eighth Symphony offers a feast of lush and spirited melodies. Soloist Vadim Gluzman, whose recordings of Russian music have been hailed as “spellbinding” in BBC Music magazine, ignites all the fireworks of Tchaikovsky’s marvellous Concerto.

JUN

MAY

From Frank Sinatra to Elton John, Led Zeppelin, and Queen, experience your favourite hits from the 1930s to today! Guest vocalist Storm Large will lend her pitch-perfect chops to I’ve Got You Under My Skin, Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, Somebody to Love, and more.

LIGHT CLASSICS

Water Music

SAT June 2 at 7:30 pmSUN June 3 at 3:00 pm

Christoph Altstaedt, conductorLeslie Ann Bradley, soprano

PROGRAM INCLUDES:

J. Strauss II: Blue Danube WaltzSchubert: Die Forelle (The Trout) for Soprano and OrchestraDvořák: “Song to the Moon” from RusalkaBritten: Four Sea InterludesSmetana: “The Moldau” from Má vlast

This enthralling celebration of music inspired by water brings such tuneful and familiar favourites as Johann Strauss II’s most famous waltz, and Smetana’s glowing portrait of his Czech homeland’s principal river. Canadian soprano Leslie Ann Bradley lends her beau-tiful voice to songs by Schubert, Mozart, and Dvořák.

JUN

37CONCERT CALENDAR

JUNE 13–29, 2018

Bravo, Peter!Join us for a month-long musical celebration of Peter Oundjian’s TSO career.

MASTERWORKS

Brahms Symphony 1

WED June 13 at 8:00 pmTHU June 14 at 8:00 pm

Jun 14 6:45pm Free pre-concert performance by The TSO Chamber Soloists (see page 5 for details)

Peter Oundjian, conductorJean-Yves Thibaudet, piano

Bernstein: Three Dances from Fancy FreeGershwin: Piano Concerto in FBrahms: Symphony No. 1

Two jaunty, jazz-flavoured American classics— Bernstein’s bouncy sailors-on-leave-in- New York ballet, and Gershwin’s captivating, bluesy concerto—launch this program in high style. Peter Oundjian pairs them with one of the grandest of all symphonies: the heartening, darkness-to-light emotional journey that Brahms shares with us in Symphony No. 1.

JUN

MASTERWORKS

Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto 3

SAT June 16 at 8:00 pm

Peter Oundjian, conductorDaniil Trifonov, piano

Glinka: Overture to Ruslan and LyudmilaRachmaninoff: Piano Concerto No. 3Mussorgsky/orch. Ravel: Pictures at an Exhibition

Russian pianist Daniil Trifonov, named Artist of the Year by Gramophone magazine, and who at age 20 won the Gold Medal at the XIV International Tchaikovsky Competition, joins the TSO for one night only! He meets every challenge of Rachmaninoff’s monu-mental Concerto No. 3, then Maestro Oundjian and the Orchestra guide you through the kaleidoscopic imagery of Mussorgsky’s picture gallery.

JUN

Jean-Yves Thibaudet

Daniil Trifonov

39CONCERT CALENDAR

MASTERWORKS

Mahler Symphony 9

WED June 20 at 8:00 pmSAT June 23 at 8:00 pm

Peter Oundjian, conductorEmanuel Ax, piano

Mozart: Piano Concerto No. 16, K. 451Mahler: Symphony No. 9

Peter Oundjian conducts the final Mahler performances of his tenure with one of the most achingly romantic of all symphonies: Mahler’s Ninth. Mahler’s last completed work, it bids farewell to everything he held dear: love, the dances of the central European countryside, the bustle of the big city, and finally to life itself. Mirroring the opening week of Peter Oundjian’s TSO directorship in 2004, pianist Emanuel Ax once again weaves his magic with a concerto by Mozart.

JUN

Emanuel Ax

SPECIAL

Bravo, Peter!

TUE June 26 at 8:00 pm

Peter Oundjian, conductorChristopher Plummer, narrator

Oscar and Tony Award–winning actor Christopher Plummer narrates this uplifting blend of Shakespeare’s immortal words from Hamlet, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Henry V, The Tempest, and more, with music by many of the great composers who have been inspired by their magic.

JUN

Christopher Plummer


THU June 28 at 8:00 pm

FRI June 29 at 8:00 pm

SAT June 30 at 7:00 pm

JUNSPECIAL

Beethoven Symphony 9

Peter Oundjian, conductorKirsten MacKinnon, sopranoLauren Segal, mezzo-sopranoAndrew Haji, tenorTyler Duncan, baritoneToronto Mendelssohn Choir

Beethoven: Symphony No. 9

Peter Oundjian concludes his 14-year term as Music Director with one of the enduring icons of music: Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony. An all-Canadian cast of exciting soloists and the Toronto Mendelssohn Choir join him and the Orchestra for this stirring testament to joy and brotherhood.

41CONCERT CALENDAR

Joaquin ValdepeñasTSO Principal Clarinet

So many ways to connect with the TSO

From brilliant music to backstage exclusives, get insider access to the TSO and at concerts.

Pre-concert andintermission events

Visit the lobby before or during intermission at select concerts for special performances by TSO musicians and guest artists, as well as chats about the music performed, hosted by music experts.

Find us on Facebook@torontosymphonyorchestra

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Relive the magic of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets™ as the Toronto Symphony Orchestra performs John Williams’s unforgettable score live to picture, October 12–14, 2017, at the Sony Centre for the Performing Arts. Presented by the Sony Centre and Attila Glatz Concert Productions. sonycentre.ca

43CONCERT CALENDAR

Play your part in the artistic life of our vibrant city.Please give today.

Every gift you make helps your Orchestra share history’s greatest music by bringing it to life in concert halls, for students, in recordings, and online. Our performances are not possible without donor support. Every donation to the Orchestra ensures the artistic excellence of the TSO and delivers life-enriching musical experiences to your community. Only donors earn exclusive benefits like:

· Open Rehearsals· Backstage Tours· Access to our donor lounge

To learn more, please visit TSO.CA/Giving.

Violinist Esther Yoo and conductor Karina Canellakis shine in their TSO débuts, Roy Thomson Hall, October 2016

45CONCERT CALENDAR

BMO is proud to be the 2017/2018 Season Presenting Sponsor of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra.

Great music lives here.

BMO is proud to be the 2017/2018 Season Presenting Sponsor of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra.

Great music lives here.

Bravo toour partners

The Toronto Symphony Orchestra is a charitable organization that relies on the support of its vibrant community to deliver outstanding programming and music education. Thank you for your support!

WE ACKNOWLEDGE THE FINANCIAL SUPPORT OF THE GOVERNMENT OF CANADA. / NOUS RECONNAISSONS L’APPUI FINANCIER DU GOUVERNEMENT DU CANADA.

SPECIAL THANKS

MEDIA & GOVERNMENT SUPPORT

SEASON PRESENTING SPONSOR

OFFICIAL AIRLINE

TS Volunteer Committee

The Corporation of Massey Hall

& Roy Thomson Hall

Divine Furniture RentalGrano

Quince FlowersThe Shore Club

47CONCERT CALENDAR

How to order tickets

Online TSO.CA

PhoneToronto Symphony Orchestra Patron Services Centre 416.598.3375

· Monday to Friday, 9:00am to 5:00pm

Please note that there is a service charge of $6.00 per ticket (including HST) on all phone and online orders for non-subscribers.

—Roy Thomson Hall Box Office416.593.1285

· Monday to Friday, 10:00am to 6:00pm, or until the concert start time

· Saturday, 12:00pm to 5:00pm· Sunday & Holidays: Three hours prior to performance

In person Please visit TSO.CA/PlanYourVisit for hours of operation and ticket sales information.There are no service charges for in-person purchases at the TSO Patron ServicesCentre, Roy Thomson Hall Box Office, or George Weston Recital Hall Box Office.Tickets purchased at the Weston Family Box Office (Koerner Hall) include servicecharges in the ticket price for this venue.

Groups Groups of 10 or more enjoy discounts of up to 40% off regular ticket prices. We can help plan your educational outing, fundraising event, or special gatheringof clients, employees, and friends. To book your group, please call 416.598.5338,Monday to Friday, 9:00am to 5:00pm.

ExchangesIf you cannot make it to the scheduled performance, please call TSO PatronServices 48 hours prior to your concert and ask about exchanging your ticketsfor another performance. This service is free for subscribers, and single-ticketexchanges are subject to an $8 per-ticket exchange fee. For more information, please visit TSO.CA/Exchanges.

Have a question?—Email [email protected]—CallTSO Patron Services416.598.3375Monday to Friday, 9:00am to 5:00pm—Live chat at TSO.CAMonday to Friday, 9:00am to 5:00pm


Plan your visit

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PrivacyThe TSO treats your personal information with respect. For our full privacy policy, please visit TSO.CA.

C1R1

RP

L1

LP

L4L5

L6C2C3

C7

R4

R3 L3

R7 R8 R9 C9 C8

R5R6 C4

L7L8L9C5C6

For seating maps, parking info, restaurant recommendations, and directions, please visit TSO.CA/PlanYourVisit

STAGE

C1

R4 L4

R5 L5

L6R6

C4 C2C3

C7

R1

RP LP

R3 L3

L1

R7 L7

R8 L8

R9 L9

C9 C5

C8 C6

CHOIR LOFT

To contact other venues,

please call:—George Weston Recital Hall 416.250.3708—Koerner Hall 416.408.0208—For seating maps of George Weston Recital Hall and Koerner Hall, please visit TSO.CA/PlanYourVisit.

SECTIONS

Main Floor: R1–RP, C1, L1–LP

Mezzanine: R4–R6, C2–C4, L4–L6

Balcony: R7–R9, C5–C9, L7–L9

Choir Loft: R3, Side Choir Loft, Rear Choir Loft, L3

Roy Thomson HallSeating map

By phone:416.593.1285

Online:TSO.CA

Shows sell out— order superb seats now!

ALL ARTISTS, PROGRAMS, DATES, PRICES,

AND CHATS ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE

WITHOUT NOTICE. All sales are final. There are no refunds or cancellations. If you cannot use your tickets, contact TSO Patron Services to ask about exchanging your tickets for another concert. Subscribers who are unable to attend and do not wish to exchange may return their tickets for a tax receipt. Please contact TSO Patron Services at least 48 hours prior to your concert.

By phone:416.593.1285Mon–Fri, 9am–5pm

Online:TSO.CA

Toronto Symphony Orchestra500–145 Wellington St. W.Toronto, ON M5J 1H8416.593.1285TSO.CA

ODE TO JOY

The cover of this TSO volume is an abstract visualization of the “Ode to Joy” theme from Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony. Experience this transformative masterwork during Music Director Peter Oundjian’s final TSO season!

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