Composer Nic Gotham may have been born in England and spent much of the 21st century in Latvia, but I don’t think there’s anyone in this city who wouldn’t happily call him a Torontonian. He isn’t well, and a group of musicians are organising a concert for July 24 to celebrate his life while he is with us.
- 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
Gotham, who is in his early 50s, was battling throat cancer when I last spoke to him in the fall. He and his family had moved back to Toronto from Riga, and were looking forward to the Latvian Radio Choir performing his 1999 choral setting of Yeats’ The Fool by A Roadside at a Koerner Hall concert organized by Soundstreams.
Gotham, a jazz sax player as well as composer, is best known for his chamber opera Nigredo Hotel. The darkly twisted psychological journey with a book by Ann-Marie MacDonald was premiered by the Tarragon Theatre in 1992 and took on a life of its own.
The composer’s working life has been intimately bound with that of his wife, theatre director Banuta Rubess, who directed Nigredo Hotel.
Wednesday’s gallery, to be held at Parkdale’s Gallery 345 (on Sorauren Ave.), is entitled “Let me hear the sounds of joy and gladness,” and is being billed as a celebration. It starts at 6 p.m.
Organizers Shannon Peet and Bob Stevenson write:
This celebration of Nic’s music could have taken its cue from any number of titles of Nic’s compositions – The World is Your Oyster, Truth in Darkness, Grace… but this excerpt from his recent composition says it best.
Nic is still writing, still creating with spirit and wit, still listening to new works unfold. What better way to join Nic on his journey than to listen with him, share his passion, and contribute to his musical legacy that travels from his early jazz days in Gotham City, through countless works for many-fingered ensembles, to the in’s and out’s of opera and orchestra and the otherworldly realm of choir. Contribute simply by being there. Being present with Nic.
Admission is pay-what-you-can.
If you’re not familiar with Nic Gotham’s work, you can find a collection of highlights and additional information at the Canadian Music Centre 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
