L-R (clockwise): Soundstreams (graphic courtesy of Soundstreams); Tõnu Kaljuste 1993 (Photo: Jaan Künnap/CC0-Share Alike 4.0); Claude Vivier, 1980 (The Globe and Mail Collection/CC0 1.0 Universal Public Domain Dedication)

Toronto’s Soundstreams will kick off their 40th season with world premieres, and a visit by noted Estonian conductor Tõnu Kaljuste. It’s the start of a season showcasing the organization’s dedication to new music and sonic exploration.

The season will present over 100 local and international artists, and incorporate partnerships with several local companies, including Tapestry Opera, Fall for Dance North, TO Live and Crow’s Theatre.

“Our 40th anniversary is a time of reflection – where we came from really does matter – but first and foremost, it’s an opportunity to re-imagine possibilities in a post-pandemic world,” said Lawrence Cherney, Founding Artistic Director, in a media release.

“We will continue to build legacy for Canadian music past, present and future by creating new opportunities for an ever-greater diversity of artists. Our aim is to embrace new compositional voices as a crucial step towards building trust and engagement with an ever-broadening spectrum of communities in Toronto, in Canada, and internationally.”

Season opener

The season opens with a program titled Choral Splendour. It will include the world premieres of LEX by Paul Frehner, and a film created for live orchestral performance by Michael Greyeyes. Renowned Estonian conductor Tõnu Kaljuste will also lead the Soundstreams Choir 21 in Arvo Pärt‘s masterpiece Stabat Mater. Soloists include Meghan Lindsay, soprano; Rebecca Cuddy, mezzo-soprano; Owen McCausland, tenor; Alain Coulombe, bass.

The World Premieres

LEX: Ontario composer Paul Frehner’s monumental oratorio uses text from a wide range of sources, including poetry, religious and even scientific publications, including Newton’s Laws of Motion, all set to original music.
Zipangu: The film by Michael Greyeyes will screen with performances by dancer Ceinwen Gobert as string orchestra Ensemble Soundstreams play Claude Vivier‘s Zipangu.

Main Stage series

The main stage series includes Soundstreams’ usual unique curation of diverse threads and elements.

Surface Tension, the dynamic piece for percussion quartet by Irish composer Donnecha Dennehy, and TorQ Percussion Quartet performs six world premieres by RBC Bridges Emerging Composers’ Workshop.
Electric Messiah returns live and in-person this year, including the world premiere of a new interpolation Body by Lieke van der Voort.
NEXUS and TorQ Percussion Quartet perform in Steve Reich: Now & Then with the Canadian premiere of the film Reich/Richter.
Arlan Vriens, winner of Soundstreams’ guest mentorship program New Voices, curates Waiting for Godot? as a reflection of the Canadian pandemic experience.
World premiere of Dragon’s Tale, a new Canadian opera by Chan Ka Nin that takes audiences from contemporary Toronto to ancient China.

Along with the main stage series, Soundstreams’ free Encounters program offers more performances, along with panel discussions, and work curated by Indigenous musicologist Rena-Marie Roussin, three members of the Iranian Canadian Composers of Toronto, and SlowPitchSound.

Subscriptions to the 40th season here.

Tickets to the season opening concert on sale here.