Toronto Concert Orchestra (TCO) will perform Beethoven’s Symphony No. 7 on Saturday, Aug 6 at 4:00 pm on the Echo Beach Stage at Ontario Place (see TCO press release).
Toronto Concert Orchestra is Toronto’s official “homeless” orchestra. For the 2011-12 season the TCO will hold its rehearsals, as open rehearsals, at the Windsor Arms Hotel. Hear us there on Friday Aug 5. Admission by advance request only via email. Seating is limited and available on a first come first serve basis.
Milton Concert Presentations (MCP) closes out 25th anniversary season with Bel Canto concert on April 29.
“Absolutely, that was just a natural choice,” said founding member and long-time talent booker Charles Somerton, referring to having Kerry Stratton conduct the upcoming milestone performance, set for Friday, Apr. 29 at Southside Community Church. …
Having a conductor of Stratton’s stature — said Somerton — has been one of the building blocks for the local group, which since its 1985/86 season inception has grown from three to seven concerts a year, and from audiences of 50 to 60 to those approaching the 400 mark.
“Working with Kerry has been so positive… a huge plus for us. Not only is he a great conductor, but he’s been able to find a number of groups for us,” said Somerton, who along with now retired founding members Hinton and Brian Lodge debuted MCP with Boris Brott and the Hamilton Philharmonic, and over the years has welcomed the Toronto Philharmonic, Toronto Philharmonia and Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony — among many other full orchestras and smaller ensembles. “A few years ago he brought in a number of groups from Europe that otherwise we simply wouldn’t have been able to get here.”
With Stratton at the helm, MCP wraps up its silver anniversary Nocturne Series with the Bel Canto, an opera-style concert complete with an orchestra and soprano, tenor and baritone singers. “It’s (Bel Canto) one of my favourites. With all the opera highlights, it’s a musical moulinex,” said Stratton.
The April 29 concert will start at 8 p.m. at Southside Community Church, 2850 Derry Rd. For tickets or more information about the concert, call (905) 878-1526, email MCP or visit the MCP website.
(read article)
The sixth concert of the Barrie Concert Series on Saturday night was a performance of Rachmaninoff’s 2nd Piano Concerto and Dvorak’s 9th New World Symphony featuring pianist, Michael Kim and the Toronto Concert Orchestra under the direction of conductor, Kerry Stratton. Kim, a doctoral graduate of Juillard, has been the recipient of numerous Canadian and International awards over the course of his substantial career. Maestro Stratton is world-renowned for his conducting. Combine this artistry with the performance of magnificent standards of classical repertoire, and it’s no wonder the crowd was at capacity.
The contrast between the crystal clear voice of the piano and the shifting colours of the orchestra was beautifully demonstrated in Saturday’s concert. In response to a standing ovation, Kim offered one more treat, a calming solo performance of Schumann’s Traumerai.
(read review)
On April 1 at 8pm, Kerry will be conducting the Toronto Concert Orchestra in a performance of Dvorak’s New World Symphony, and Rachmaninov’s Piano concerto number 2 in C minor, with soloist Michael Kim.
This event happens at the Phoenix Concert Theatre, 410 Sherbourne St (1 block north of Carlton).
Call Ticketmaster: 416-872-1111.
Sponsored by the New Classical 96.3, Audio Centre Oakville, Jeannie Kim (Korean Cultural Committee) and Ambiente.
(Updated April 15: Paisley Jura, who plays double bass with the TCO, offers her thoughts about our April 1 concert.)
On November 23, at George Weston Recital Hall, the Toronto Concert Orchestra will feature prizewinning Quebec artist Maxim Bernard in Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No. 1. winner of the 2005 Indiana University Concerto Competition. Bernard has performed with major Canadian orchestras and on CBC Radio, and is currently working on his master’s degree with renowned pianist Menahem Pressler. The concert is presented by the Canadian Music Competition of Ontario.
In 2011, Toronto Concert Orchestra will perform in Barrie (April 2) and Milton (April 29).
first prize winner Jiayan Sun
Photo by Oliver Yang
The Toronto Concert Orchestra will be heard in Toronto on November 8, in Koerner Hall, when soloists will be the finalists of the first CCC Toronto International Piano Competition, presented by the Chinese Cultural Centre. Winners will be named at the conclusion, and US $28,000 in prizes awarded.
The inaugural event of the 2010-2011 season of Barrie Concerts … consisted of two of Beethoven’s greatest works — the Violin Concerto and the Ninth Symphony. Well-known conductor Kerry Stratton directed the Toronto Concert Orchestra, which packed the stage with a full complement of strings, winds and percussion. … Stratton and the orchestra portrayed the great beauty and musical depth of the first three movements, after which there was a slight pause …At last, the much anticipated fourth movement began. The orchestra presented the stormy opening passage before lapsing into reminiscences of all three preceding movements. When baritone, Nicolae Raiciu, entered with the call to “raise our voices”, the spine tingled. Joined by mezzo soprano Marta Herman, tenor Christopher Mayell and soprano Allison Cecilia Arends for the exposition of the verse, and then the full chorus and orchestra, the effect was immensely stirring.
A glorious sound echoed into the night.
(read review)
The Toronto Concert Orchestra, conducted by Music Director Kerry Stratton, will make its Toronto debut on September 29 at LeParc in Markham, under the auspices of the Bel Canto Foundation. Guest soloist is the renowned Italian tenor, Salvatore Licitra.
The newly-formed Toronto Concert Orchestra and Chorus, conducted by Kerry Stratton, will be heard in a performance of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony in Barrie, Ontario on October 16, for the Barrie Concert Society. The soloists include soprano Allison Arends, tenor Christopher Maydell, mezzo-soprano Marta Herman, and bass Nicolai Raicu.
