[ad_1]
The eleventh model of the 21C Music Competition kicks off on January 19, wrapping up months later in Might after a various line-up of Canadian and worldwide artists, together with return appearances by Laurie Anderson and the Kronos Quartet.
5 of the choices will happen in January 2024, with two of the main occasions pushed to April and Might as a result of busy schedules of the artists concerned.
The 21C Competition 2024
We spoke to the RCM’s Government Director of Performing Arts Mervon Mehta to try the eclectic choices of this 12 months’s 21C.
Competition Of New Music
The pageant presents Toronto audiences the possibility to refresh their ears with new music. Listed here are a number of the choices:
- Greater than 14 premieres: 1 world (Sebastian Currier: Ongoingness) and 13 Canadian (Laurie Anderson’s Statue of Liberty, Valerie Coleman’s Danza de la mariposa, Chaya Czernowin’s Habekhi (The Crying), Melissa Dunphy’s Kommos, Pierre Jodlowski’s Respire, Adah Kaplan’s Whitewashed, Gabriela Lena Frank’s “Luciernagas” from Suite Mestiza, Tania León’s Indígena, Žibuoklė Martinaitytė’s Ping Pong Concerto, Brad Mehldau’s 14 Reveries for Piano, Jessica Meyer’s Confronting the Sky, Jessie Montgomery’s Rhapsody No. 2, and Milica Paranosic’s Bubamara).
- The works of three Canadian composers: Sophie-Carmen Eckhardt Gramatté’s Caprice # 1: Die Kranke und die Uhr and Caprice # 5: Danse Marocaine, Ana Sokolović’s Danza # 2, and works by Nicole Lizée);
- Performances by 8 Canadian artists and ensembles (conductor Brian Present, mezzo-soprano Beste Kalender, narrator Mervon Mehta, violist Barry Shiffman, violinists Lara and Scott St. John, and cellist Winona Zelenka).
Fazil Say performs Gezi Park 2:
Fazil Say and Buddies (January 19)
Turkish pianist Fazil Say is understood not just for his interpretations of works from the classical repertoire, however his personal compositions. He’ll be performing his items for solo piano, voice, and chamber ensemble, together with Gezi Park 2 and three, The Shifting Mansion, in addition to a collection of songs and piano jazz fantasies on Gershwin’s “Summertime,” Mozart’s the Rondo alla turca, and Paganini Jazz
His collaborators will embody Turkish-Canadian mezzo-soprano (and RCM alumna) Beste Kalender, violinists Lara and Scott St. John, violist Barry Shiffman (additionally Director of The Taylor Academy and Affiliate Dean & Director of Chamber Music at The Glenn Gould College), and cellist Winona Zelenka, (presently Assistant Principal Cellist of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra).
Mervon had encountered Fazil Say many occasions, and he’s appeared at Koerner Corridor earlier than, usually enjoying his personal work in a bigger programme of classical music. It was Mehta’s suggestion to place collectively a live performance fully of his personal work.
“He’s a unprecedented composer,” Mervon says, describing his items as a mix of Western classical, Turkish folks music and jazz. Mezzo-soprano Beste Kalender, along with her Turkish background, was additionally his suggestion.
Lara St. John: ♀she/her/hers (January 20)
Canadian violinist Lara St. John has garnered consideration each for her artistry and her activism. Her album♀she/her/hers was launched in 2022, and that includes authentic work for solo violin by 12 completely different composers, together with world premieres by Milica Paranosic, Micheline Coulombe St. Marcoux, Laura de Rover, Melissa Dunphy, and Adah Kaplan, together with items by Laurie Anderson, Valerie Coleman, Gabriela Lena Frank, Jessica Meyer, Jessie Montgomery, and Ana Sokolović. The recording is a part of her mission to battle for the rights of girls and marginalized teams, sparked by her personal experiences with sexual abuse as an adolescent.
21C Afterhours: Indígena (January 20)
Conductor and award-winning composer Brian Present leads the Glenn Gould College’s New Music Ensemble in an adventurous programme for a night efficiency. The title piece, Tania León’s Indígena, is a piece for big ensemble. The live performance will even embody Respire, by Pierre Jodlowski in collaboration with dance firm Myriam Naisy, Chaya Czernowin’s Habekhi (The Crying) for mezzo-soprano and electronics, and Žibuoklė Martinaitytė’s playful Ping Pong Concerto.
Bridget Kibbey with the Calidore String Quartet & Mervon Mehta (January 21)
Acclaimed harpist Bridget Kibbey is joined by New York’s Calidore String Quartet, with Mervon Mehta stepping in as narrator, in a programme that features a new fee for harp and quartet by Sebastian Currier titled Ongoingness. Mervon will narrate Poe’s traditional Masque of the Pink Demise, and the live performance will proceed the Poe theme with André Caplet’s harp quintet impressed by the identical story.
“How cheeky of me to e book myself,” Mervon laughs. “I’m a ham at greatest.” He and Bridget Kibbey, with a unique string quartet, had already carried out Poe’s piece at one other music pageant. It was a lot enjoyable, nonetheless, they vowed to do it once more. “It’s very juicy to relate.”
“I requested her to place collectively a complete programme of harp music,” he says. Because it seems, the Caligore String Quartet are headquartered down the road from Bridget’s house in New York.
“Somebody has known as her the Yo-Yo Ma of the harp, however she is absolutely a captivating artist,” he says. “We’ve by no means achieved a harp live performance, per se,” he notes. Bridget will even conduct grasp lessons with harp college students whereas she’s on the town.
Brad Mehldau: 14 Reveries (January 27)
Grammy Award-winning jazz pianist Brad Mehldau will carry out solo for a night that features a piece commissioned by The Royal Conservatory, Wigmore Corridor (London), Cal Performances (UC Berkeley), and Carnegie Corridor. The title work, 14 Reveries, is predicated on the notion of inside experiences. It will likely be the piece’s Canadian premiere.
Mehldau has carried out a number of occasions at Koerner Corridor prior to now. The world premiere of the commissioned piece passed off at Wigmore Corridor in London. “It’s based mostly on French Impressionistic music and French Impressionistic Artwork,” Mehta says. He first got here throughout the famous jazz pianist years in the past working in the USA. “I bear in mind being floored by him,” he recollects.
For the second half of the live performance, he’ll play items from his album Suite: April 2020, together with items he’ll announce from the stage.
Laurie Anderson (April 5)
Laurie Anderson will return for one more fascinating efficiency. Her look on the 21C Competition in January 2020 performing The Artwork of Falling was nothing wanting magical, and audiences can anticipate the surprising from this all the time fascinating artist.
Laurie’s final look at 21C was a residency that lasted per week. “She was right here for a bit, and was very beneficiant,” he recollects. “She’s extremely busy.”
The method for working with Anderson is completely different from most. She discusses the engagement with Mehta, after which considers the efficiency for a number of months earlier than deciding on precisely what she’ll deliver. The shortage of particulars hasn’t damage ticket gross sales. “We’re virtually bought out,” Mervon reviews.
Kronos Quartet: 5 Many years (Might 9)
San Francisco’s Kronos Quartet is celebrating 5 many years of championing new music, and so they make a return go to to 21C with a programme that features items by Nicole Lizée, Terry Riley, Peni Candra Rini, and Aleksandra Vrebalov. The ensemble can be celebrating their latest member, cellist Paul Wiancko. The opposite members embody founder and violinist David Harrington, and longtime members John Sherba (violin) and Hank Dutt (viola).
Kronos has appeared at 21C a number of occasions. “We’ve been a part of their commissioning initiatives,” he says. “They really feel an actual loyalty to us.” Mehta mentions that he introduced the modern ensemble in Philadelphia and elsewhere earlier in his profession.
He mentions their seminal 50 For The Future Undertaking, which makes new string quartets obtainable totally free, together with notes and instructive materials. “It’s an unprecedented act of generosity,” he says. “They’ve a 50 12 months legacy.”
- Tickets and extra details about 21C and all of the concert events obtainable [HERE].
Are you seeking to promote an occasion? Have a information tip? Must know the perfect occasions taking place this weekend? Ship us a observe.
#LUDWIGVAN
Get the every day arts information straight to your inbox.
Join the Ludwig Van Toronto e-Blast! — native classical music and opera information straight to your inbox HERE.
Anya Wassenberg is a Toronto Metropolis Editor at Ludwig Van. She is an skilled freelance author, blogger and writing teacher.
[ad_2]