The Canadian Opera Company’s popular Free Concert Series in the Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre, generously underwritten by Peter A. Allen, returnswith 10 months of captivating programming that reflects the richness of Toronto’s cultural fabric and showcases established artists and rising stars from Canada and around the world. The inaugural concert of the 2012/2013 season on September 18, 2012 at 12 p.m. is the annual audience favourite introducing the young artists of the COC Ensemble Studio in a program of their favourite operatic arias.
The 2012/2013 season features over 400 artists in 77 concerts and dance performances, including world premieres of newly commissioned works bythe Canadian Art Song Project and Queen of Puddings Music Theatre,and exciting new creations by Ballet Creole and Nova Bhattacharya. First-time Free Concert Series performances include appearances by: coloratura soprano Anna Christy; the perpetually inventive Against the Grain Theatre;acclaimed pianist John Kameel Farah; Italian saxophone sensation Francesco Cafiso; the dance stylings of Jade’s Hiphop Academy;and unique instrumentations such as the Kaleidoscope Recorder Ensemble and Aruna Narayan, the only woman in the world to professionally play the sarangi, an ancient North Indian bowed instrument considered one of the most difficult to master. Also featured for the first time in the Free Concert Series are the Christina and Louis Quilico Awards, in a special early evening presentation in May 2013.
From jazz to dance, classical to contemporary, and spanning the globe from China to South America, the Free Concert Series brings diverse musical experiences to 15,000 people annually from September to June in the intimate, light-filled Richard Bradshaw Auditorium at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts. Performances take place most Tuesdays and Thursdays at noon and some Wednesdays at noon or 5:30 p.m. Tickets are distributed at the door 30 minutes prior to the performance on a first-come, first-served basis, subject to availability. A full season calendar is available at coc.ca.
Artists of the highest calibre are presented in six series of diverse artistic programming running throughout the season:
VOCAL
Some of the biggest names in opera participate in 21 noon-hour recitals throughout the season, including artists featured on the 12/13 COC mainstage season, such as American soprano Anna Christy; German bass Franz-Josef Selig; and returning COC Ensemble Studio graduates sopranos Ileana Montalbetti and Shannon Mercer, mezzo-soprano Krisztina Szabó, tenors Michael Barrett, Adam Luther, David Pomeroy and Lawrence Wiliford, baritones Peter Barrett, Peter McGillivray and James Westman, and bass Robert Gleadow.
In addition to the season opening concert on September 18, the rising young stars of the COC Ensemble Studio appear in a variety of programs throughout the year, including highlights from “waltz king” Johann Strauss II’s irresistibly enchanting and glamorous comedy Die Fledermaus, a selection of arias and songs by Mozart and his peer and secret rival, Antonio Salieri, and a sumptuous program of arias and art songs by Richard Strauss.
The series also features performances by Against the Grain Theatre, students from the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Music and Opera Division, artists of Atelier lyrique de l’Opéra de Montréal, and world premieres by Queen of Puddings Music Theatre in Concert and the Canadian Art Song Project, the latterunder the direction of distinguished Ensemble Studio alumni Lawrence Wiliford and Steven Philcox.
CHAMBER
After an exceptionally popular inaugural season, the Canadian Opera Company Orchestra returns in a mini-festival of concerts featuring its members in various combinations, curated by COC music director Johannes Debus. Five special presentations include celebrations of the 200th anniversaries of the births of two renowned composers whose operas are featured on the COC mainstage this season: Giuseppe Verdi and Richard Wagner.
Rounding out the series of 15 concerts are notable local and international artists and ensembles, including Array Music, Kaleidoscope Recorder Ensemble, ensembles of The Glenn Gould School and University of Toronto Faculty of Music, and artists of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra.
PIANO VIRTUOSO
The 13 concerts boast an astonishing wealth of talent from Canada and around the globe, offering opportunities to hear some of the series’ returning favourite rising stars, including Alexander Seredenko, Mehdi Ghazi, Ryan MacEvoy McCullough, and Ensemble Studio graduate Christopher Mokrzewski. This season also welcomes for the first time two of Canada’s most acclaimed contemporary specialists, Christina Quilico and John Kameel Farah, as well as talented young artists from around the world, including Chinese pianist Sijing Ye, Albanian-Canadian Rudin Lengo, and Italian Mauro Bertoli.
JAZZ
This series kicks off with a rare Toronto appearance by Canadian jazz great Phil Dwyer, performing a smooth autumn serenade with bassist Don Thompson. Featuring jazz legends as well as the stars of tomorrow, the 12 concerts in the jazz series offer soulful, swinging performances, with repertoire spanning the spectrum from jazz standards to cutting-edge original compositions.
This season presents powerhouse pianist Robi Botos with his sizzling trio, the Dave Young Quartet in a tribute to Oscar Peterson;Italian saxophone sensation Francesco Cafiso on his first Canadian tour; and severalexciting ensembles; including Alex Pangman and the Alleycats; Myriad Trio; Humber Groove Merchants and Latin Big Band; and the talented trio of Heather Bambrick, Julie Michels, and Diane Leah.
DANCE
In collaboration with Dance Ontario and DanceWorks, this electrifying program of seven events brings some of the most dynamic members of Toronto’s dance community into an equally dynamic space to perform against the backdrop of the bustling urban streetscape. Programs range from the fierce physicality of Susie Burpee and Linnea Swan, to the Spanish passion of the International Flamenco Festival, a diverse program of classical and contemporary ballet by Ballet Jörgen, the popping and locking of Jade’s Hiphop Academy, and an exhilarating performance of a new work by Ballet Creole, celebrating the songs, dance and rhythms of West Africa.
WORLD MUSIC
Bringing sounds and rhythms from around the globe to the Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre, the nine world music programs range from the majesty and mystery of Imperial China with the China Court Trio, to the raw and spine-tingling vocal music of Georgia with the Darbazi Georgian Choir, and traditional rhythms of Korean drum and dance with the Jeng Yi Korean Drumming Ensemble. The series also features classical Indian ragas by Classical India 3; a unique fusion of dance rmusic from China, Spain, and the Middle East by Wen Zhao and Roman Smirnov; and a one-of-a-kind performance by Aruna Narayan, the only professional female sarangi player in the world.
For a full calendar of events, please visit coc.ca.
The Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre is a focal point of the Isadore and Rosalie Sharp City Room in the
Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts, with its striking glass wall allowing for natural lighting and a view of University Avenue. Linking Ring 3 and Ring 4, the Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre provides seating for 100 patrons. Additional seating and standing locations on the walkway and the upper floor are also available.
