From visiting superstars to showcasing local and national talent, the Royal Conservatory of Music announced the classical and jazz concert line-up for 2023-24. Koerner Hall’s 15th season will see more than 80 concerts, including two visiting orchestras along with the most ambitious Piano Recital Series yet, and more.
“As we celebrate the 15th season of Koerner Hall, I am immensely proud of all that has been achieved to bring artists of the highest calibre to this incredible venue, and I am very grateful for the generosity of our donors and patrons who support and share our passion to unite people with beautiful music,” says Dr. Peter Simon, Michael and Sonja Koerner President & CEO in a statement.
Here’s a look at some of the offerings.
International Orchestra Series
Building on the massive success of the recent visit by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra to Koerner Hall, two orchestras will include Toronto in their itinerary during the coming season.
“Our International Orchestra Series, launched this year with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and Maestro Riccardo Muti to exceptional accolades, will continue to provide the rare opportunity to see legendary orchestras in Toronto as we welcome orchestras from Berlin and Philadelphia this season. Another personal highlight will be the Royal Conservatory Orchestra’s debut performance at Carnegie Hall in May 2024 — that will be a very proud moment for Canada, this city, and this institution,” notes Dr. Peter Simon.
Staatskapelle Berlin with Daniel Barenboim
The Staatskapelle Berlin has centuries old history, originally founded by Prince-Elector Joachim II of Brandenburg in 1570. Maestro Daniel Barenboim was voted Conductor for Life in 200. The venerable ensemble will present all four of Brahms’ symphonies over two days: Nos. 1 and 2 on November 25 and Nos. 3 and 4 on November 26.
The Philadelphia Orchestra with Yannick Nézet-Séguin
The multi-award winning maestro and one of the leading orchestras in the United States have carved an impressive path in the classical music world. Montréal Maestro Yannick Nézet-Séguin is marking his 10th season as Music and Artistic Director, and his third visit to Koerner Hall on April 17 will feature Florence Price’s Symphony No. 4 and Rachmaninov’s Symphony No. 2.
Classical Concerts
The Biggest Piano Recital Series Yet
- Mahani Teave (Koerner Hall debut)
- Sir András Schiff
- Angela Hewitt
- Víkingur Ólafsson performs The Goldberg Variations
- Hélène Grimaud
- Igor Levit (Koerner Hall debut)
- Richard Goode
Vocal Concerts
- Grammy Award-winning vocal ensemble Chanticleer
- Los Angeles Master Chorale, staged by Peter Sellars: Music to Accompany a Departure
- Macedonian-Canadian mezzo-soprano Ema Nikolovska (Koerner Hall debut) with Charles Richard-Hamelin
String and Chamber Music Concerts
- Grammy Award-winning violinist Augustin Hadelich with Orion Weiss (Koerner Hall debut)
- Danish String Quartet
- Violinist Isabelle Faust, cellist Jean-Guihen Queyras, and pianist Alexander Melnikov
- Violinist Daniel Hope and his ensemble: Celtic Dreams
- Dover Quartet with Norwegian pianist Leif Ove Andsnes
- Kronos Quartet’s 50th Anniversary Farewell Tour
- The Brentano String Quartet perform Schubert’s “Trout Quintet” with virtuoso pianist Jonathan Biss and award-winning double bassist Joseph Conyers
Royal Conservatory Orchestra (Part of the Temerty Orchestral Program)
- RCM alumnus Earl Lee, renowned Korean-Canadian cellist and conductor, currently Assistant Conductor of the Boston Symphony and Music Director of the Ann Arbor Symphony conducts the Royal Conservatory Orchestra with Kyung Ah Oh
- Multiple Grammy Award-winning conductor JoAnn Falletta (Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra and others) conducts the Royal Conservatory Orchestra with Henry From
- Joshua Weilerstein (Orchestre de Chambre de Lausanne) conducts the Royal Conservatory Orchestra with Kanon Shibata
- Peter Oundjian, Stewart Goodyear, and the Royal Conservatory Orchestra go to Carnegie Hall
Opera
- Students from The Glenn Gould School’s vocal program will present their fully staged annual Opera On March 20 and 22
Jazz Concerts: Masters and Protégés
- Juno Award-winning Hungarian-Canadian pianist and the RCM’s inaugural Jazz Artist in Residence, Robi Botos and Friends
- Eight-time Grammy Award-winning bassist Christian McBride
- Oscar nominee and seven-time Grammy Award-winning trumpeter/composer Terence Blanchard and his electric ensemble E-Collective with double Grammy Award-winning Turtle Island Quartet
- Pianist Brad Mehldau: Solo
- 2023 Grammy Award-winning jazz singing sensation Samara Joy
- The Jon Cowherd Trio and the Larnell Lewis Band featuring Joy Lapps
Mervon Mehta commented, “Night after night, audiences have shown us how starved they have been for live music played by great artists in an exceptional hall. We are also acutely aware of how devastating the past three years has been on musicians and how thrilled they are to return to making music for all of us. The 2023-24 season is filled with some of our dearest friends and 16 artists and ensembles who will make their debuts with us. As usual, Canadian talent sits comfortably alongside their international counterparts and our students continue to shine ever brighter. We encourage you to come to your favourites but also to try something new. You will not be disappointed!”
The entire 2023-24 concert season of 80+ concerts will be announced in early June 2023.
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