The Women’s Musical Club of Toronto, which, if Moses Znaimer were running it would be promptly renamed Zoomer Music, unveiled its 116th season of Thursday-afternoon concerts at University of Toronto’s Walter Hall yesterday.
The venerable music presenter has long sought out a mix of young up-and-comers and veterans, Canadians and musicians from away, and meaty fare leavened with something light. The 2013-14 season is no exception.
The brilliant husband-wife piano duo of Alessio Bax and Lucille Chung opens the season on Oct. 17 with a breathtaking programme that includes Igor Stravinsky’s Petrouchka, the Hebrides Overture by Felix Mendelssohn and three tangos by Astor Piazzolla — in the duo’s own arrangement.
Soprano Suzie LeBlanc visits with the viol consort of Les Voix humaines in a programme that not only features 17th century music, but something out of 20th century songbooks, on Nov. 21.
Every year, the Women’s Musical Club provides a grant to a young Canadian musician they feel deserves a boost. This season’s recipient, recorder whiz Vincent Lauzer, shows up to say thank you with a concert with a baroque consort on Feb. 27, 2014.
Cellist Yegor Dyachkov presents a juicy recital with pianist Jean Saulnier on March 20, 2014, that also includes the premiere of a new work commissioned by the Club from University of Toronto composition prof Christos Hatzios.
The season ends with a recital by the Czech Pavel Haas Quartet on April 10.
You can check out present and future concerts offered by the organization here.
John Terauds