:: The 2011 Free Concert Series in the 3rd
floor Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre, which allows for breath-taking views through floor to ceiling glass windows of University Avenue as a backdrop, includes concerts, performances and presentations by young artists,
Canadian and international opera stars and COC staff.
This is an exciting opportunity for Torontonians to experience the artistic excellence and cultural diversity of the city in the beautiful new Four
Seasons Centre For The Performing Arts.
All concerts are free to the public. "Brown bag" lunches are welcome for the noon performances.
Four Seasons Centre For The Performing Arts, 145 Queen St. W. (at University Ave.) _____________________________________
2011 - 2012 S E A S O N Jan. 10 12 – 1 p.m.
Dance Series
Chinese Traditions: Then and Now The Little Pear Garden Collective, a company dedicated to the rich traditions of Chinese performing arts, presents a visually stunning
selection of classical and contemporary dance works. Jan. 11
5:30 – 6:30 p.m.
Jazz Series
She Sings He Plays A unique presence on the Toronto jazz
scene for more than two decades, vocalist Julie Michels re-joins her long-time duo partner, jazz guitarist Kevin Barrett, for a performance of selections from their latest CD, She Sings He Plays. These top-flight
improvisers bring the spontaneity of a jazz session to their unique arrangements of classic songs by the likes of Paul Simon and the Beatles, as well as Latin standards and many other favourites. Jan. 12
12 – 1 p.m.
Dance Series
dances for one two three and four Peggy Baker, celebrated dance artist and leader of Peggy Baker Dance Projects, showcases her company's most recent work by
sharing the inspiration, working methods and choreographic architecture of a solo (on earth), a duet (armour), a trio (coalesce) and a quartet (Piano/Quartet
). Baker performs with a talented group of dancers, including Ric Brown, Larry Hahn, Sean Ling, Sahara Morimoto and Andrea Nann. Jan. 17 12 – 1 p.m.
Vocal Series
In Praise of Women
Artists of the Canadian Opera Company Ensemble Studio present a vocal concert celebrating music written by female artists, ranging from Hildegard von Bingen to composers of the present day.
Jan. 19
12 – 1 p.m.
Chamber Music Series
East Meets West: Debussy and Tan Dun Inspired by the COC's production of Handel's Semele
– in which Chinese culture merges with Baroque opera – artists from the COC Orchestra perform two masterpieces for string quartet: Tan Dun's Eight Colours and Debussy's String Quartet in G Minor
. Both works demonstrate the vibrant compositional results of East-meets-West cross-cultural exchange. Jan. 24 12 – 1 p.m.
Jazz Series
Jazz con Salsa Mexicana
Multi-award-winning jazz pianist Hilario Durán leads a talented group of young musicians from Humber College through an exciting program of Latin Jazz, with a particular focus on the rhythms and music of Mexico.
Jan. 26 12 – 1 p.m.
Piano Virtuoso Series
Étude Fantasies Mexican-born pianist Alejandro Vela returns to the Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre with a dazzling
selection of concert études by great masters of the past and present. The program features works by Schubert, Rachmaninov, Corigliano and Kapustin.
Jan. 31 12 – 1 p.m.
Chamber Music Series
Mirror of Memory: Chamber and Vocal Music of Kaija Saariaho Soundstreams, an international organization dedicated to new directions in music, presents a stunning selection of works by Finnish
composer Kaija Saariaho (Love from Afar). The program features a performance of Tag des Jahrs
by one of Canada's most illustrious choral ensembles, the Elmer Iseler Singers. A leading interpreter of contemporary music, soprano Carla Huhtanen offers her rendition of the Leino Songs
. The program concludes with selections of the composer's chamber works. ___________________________________ |
