An innovative programme featuring Mozart's chamber works composed in the French capital.
Trio Sonatas by eighteen-year-old Handel. Practically unknown to music listeners.
Contemporary compositions inspired by Ancient Greek musical tradition and the Muses of Greece.
All concerts take place on Saturday evenings at the Eastminster United Church, 310 Danforth Ave., Toronto (just west of Chester subway station). Concerts start at 8 p.m. and doors open at 7:30 p.m. Single Ticket Prices are $17regular; $11 students and seniors (65+). Subscriptions are still available! Subscribers save 20% -- See all three concerts from the best seats in the house for only $ 39 (regular) or $24 (senior/student). Tickets and more information are available through our on-line Box Office.
Saturday, November 01, 2008 @ 8:00 p.m. Eastminster United Church
Mozart in Paris, 1778 -- Mozart's chamber music composed in Paris during the summer of 1778. On March 23rd of 1778, Mozart and his mother, Maria Anna, arrived in the French capital. This was his third visit to Paris. The two previous times, he was of the age of prodigies and his performances made a phenomenal impression on Parisians. This time, however, Wolfgang was twenty-two and he had a most complicated task before him, even for a musician of his stature: to quickly find permanent employment in order to restore ruined family finances. The glamour one might associate with France and with Paris in particular (indeed suggested by the title of the programme), could not have been further from Mozart’s experience. Despite efforts to customise his compositions to the general Parisian musical taste, Mozart had secured neither an appointment nor a commission for the grand opera. Worse was to follow. Mozart’s mother fell seriously ill in Paris, and on July 3 1778, she died. But out of despair, came beauty. Despite being away from home and alone, in a highly unpromising financial situation, he persevered and continued to compose music of amazing elegance, delicacy and stunning brilliance. Enjoy this programme of Mozart’s marvellous chamber music so regrettably dismissed by the 18th century Parisian musical elite. Nicolai Tarasov (clarinet), Rona Goldensher, (violin), and Sharon Burlacoff (fortepiano) are performing this programme on instruments from Mozart's era. For programme notes or for more details of this performance please click here. Please click here to read reviews
Not just Messiah... -- Handel's Trio sonatas. Even those not accustomed to listening to classical music would be able to recognise some of Handel’s works, especially the Hallelujah Chorus from Messiah. The price paid for the universal popularity of this music has been the overshadowing of many other wonderful works by this great composer. To bring some balance to the situation, the Academy Concert Series is presenting a programme of Handel’s Trio Sonatas (HWV 380, HWV 381, HWV 382, HWV 383, HWV 384 and HWV 385). Handel wrote these works very early in his life, most likely as a university student in Halle or in Hamburg, where he arrived as an eighteen-year-old in 1703. "I used to write like the Devil in those days" – this is how Handel described himself in his own words. Little known to most music listeners, these compositions display an astonishing maturity and mastery of counterpoint, richness, and freedom of invention. Nicolai Tarasov (oboe), Rona Goldensher, (violin), Laura Jones, (viola da gamba) and Paul Jenkins (harpsichord) are playing this concert on original baroque instruments. For programme notes or for more details of this performance please click here. Please click here to read reviews
Inspired by Greece -- an homage to Greek musical culture. Even a quick look at today’s music reveals that at the very core of classical music lies Greek musical tradition, one of the most ancient in the world. Ancient Greece gave birth to musical terms such as melody, rhythm, harmony, choir, orchestra, chromatic, hymn, psalm, and many others. Even the word "Music" itself comes from the Nine Muses of ancient Greece, where many gods and goddesses were associated with music and dance. And when artists speak of inspiration, they often speak of their Muse. Bridging to the present, this programme of the Academy Concert Series is a kaleidoscopic presentation of the contemporary compositions inspired by the Muses of Greece and the extraordinary richness of Greek musical culture. Renowned trio Jani Papadhimitri (violin), Alexander Kats (piano) and Nicolai Tarasov (clarinet) perform "The Oracle of Delphi" by Constantinides, "Greek Rhapsody" by Samonov, "Aegean Dances" by Watson, "Greek Pastorals" by Veal and other compositions. This concert is dedicated to the people at the heart of the Danforth’s vibrant Greek community, where have been presenting our concert series since 1991. For programme notes please or for more details of this performance please click here. Please click here to read reviews |
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