The actual weather notwithstanding, it is officially spring this week, and the announcements for this summer’s festival seasons are starting to come in. Sprouted ahead of the crocus and snowdrops in my neighbourhood are Westben (June 29 to Aug. 4) and Festival of the Sound (July 18 to Aug. 11). Here are some highlights:
- Classical Music 101: What Does A Conductor Do? - June 17, 2019
- Classical Music 101 | What Does Period Instrument Mean? - May 6, 2019
- CLASSICAL MUSIC 101 | What Does It Mean To Be In Tune? - April 23, 2019
WESTBEN
Because festival co-founder Donna Bennett is a singer, opera, art song and musical theatre are integral to the mix of quality and informality inside the purpose-built 400-seat barn in the bucolic landscape just outside Campbellford.
This year’s opera is Carmen, thanks to repeat visitors, the UBC Opera Ensemble from Vancouver. Canada’s veteran talents are represented in an afternoon of Wagner and Verdi on July 21 sung by Richard Margison and John Fanning.
Soprano Suzie LeBlanc gives an art song recital with the great Julius Drake on July 30, and there are several lighter musical programmes featuring excellent Toronto singers like Brett Polegato and Virginia Hatfield.
Artistic director and collaborative pianist Brian Finley always schedules some fine piano recitals, which include the mesmerizing André Laplante on July 20.
You can find all the details here.
FESTIVAL OF THE SOUND
Rather than rolling farmland, the Festival of Sound celebrates the starker beauties of the Canadian Shield — and a location made for admiring summer sunsets. They are making much this summer of the 10th anniversary of opening the Charles W. Stockey Centre for the Performing Arts.
Festival artistic director James Campbell has programmed a deft mix of styles, genres and ages. The biggest draw for the serious music lover is the chamber music — some with ensembles carefully assembled by Campbell.
Of particular note is July 24, which marks the Canadian début of Romania’s Tiberius String Quartet in a programme of Brahms and Schumann at noon. There’s more Brahms from the New Zealand String Quartet at 2:30, followed by an evening programme that includes my desert-island favourite — Edward Elgar’s Piano Quintet — with pianist Martin Roscoe.
The next day, baritone Peter McGillivray joins the chamber players for an all-Dvorák concert. The Cecilia and Afiara string quartets come for a visit the following week — and Toronto Masque Theatre presents Handel’s pastorale Acis and Galatea with McGillivray, tenor Lawrence Wiliford and soprano Jacqueline Woodley on July 30.
There are larger-scale chamber performances during the third week featuring combinations of the Penderecki String Quartet and Ensemble Made in Canada. An unusual treat should be a six-piano concert by The Orford Six on Aug. 10.
The festival concludes with a big flourish thanks to a Toronto Mendelssohn Choir performance of Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana on Aug. 11. Roasted swan will be served at intermission.
There are dozens of worthy concerts, including small-scale performances of Bach on many days, in Parry Sound. The website is not helpful, so look for the button that lets you download a brochure, here.
John Terauds
- Classical Music 101: What Does A Conductor Do? - June 17, 2019
- Classical Music 101 | What Does Period Instrument Mean? - May 6, 2019
- CLASSICAL MUSIC 101 | What Does It Mean To Be In Tune? - April 23, 2019
