A string quartet performs in front of an audience at Music Toronto's Celebration of Small Ensembles (Photo courtesy of COSE) — Music Toronto’s Celebration of Small Ensembles (Photo courtesy of COSE)

Music Toronto presents a Celebration of Small Ensembles, including music that spans centuries of repertoire. Marked by creative programming, COSE offers three diverse programs for a series of small ensembles.

All the concerts take place in the Aperture Room, a unique venue that’s located in the top floor of The Thornton-Smith Building in downtown Toronto. The concerts are meant to be as much about getting together with others as it is about musical discovery.

The Concerts

Each of the concerts will include two sets of 45 minutes each by both new and established artists. The music included in each concert draws from various traditions related to the small ensemble.

Concerts begin at 4 p.m. and end at 6 p.m., with a chat break between sets, and refreshments you can purchase.

The Thalea String Quartet (Photo courtesy of the artists)

April 5

Madeline Hall, guitar: From Bach to Brouwer with a Twist of Free Jazz (4:00 p.m.)

Sonata Parra Guitarra Op. 61: Joaquin Turina (1882-1949) — (I. Lento — Allegro— Allegretto Tranquillo)
Suite for Solo Cello No.6 in D Major, BWV 1012: J.S Bach (1685-1750) — I. Prelude
Saudade no. 3: Roland Dyens (1955-2016)
Shard: Elliot Carter (1908-2012)
El Decameron Negro: Leo Brouwer (b. 1939) — (I. El Arpe de Guerrero (Harp of the Warrior); II. La Huida de los Amantes por el Valle de Los Ecos (Flight of the Lovers Through the Valley of Echoes); III. Balada de la Doncella Enamorada (Ballad of the Young Girl in Love))
Sonata For Guitar op. 47: Alberto Ginastera (1916-1983) — (I. Esordio; II. Scherzo; III. Canto; IV. Finale)

Thalea String Quartet: THE NATURAL WORLD (5:00 p.m.)

The Thalea Quartet is: Christopher Whitley, violin; Kumiko Sakamoto, violin; Lauren Spaulding, viola; Alex Cox, cello

Terry Riley: Sunrise of the Planetary Dream Collector
J. Haydn: Op 33 No 3 (i. Allegro moderato)
A. A. Tucker: Radha in the Forest
A. Dvorak: American Quartet (iii. Milton Vivace)
G. Smith: Porcupine Wash (ii. Barrel Cactus)
J. Haydn: Op 33 No 3 (ii. Scherzo Allegretto)
Danish String Quartet: Peat Dance

May 3

VC2 + Amy Hillis (4:00p.m.)

VC2: Bryan Holt, cello; Amahl Arulanandam, cello with Amy Hillis, violin

Bach Goldberg Variations: Aria
Beethoven String Trio in E-flat Major, Op. 3: Allegro
Andrew Staniland: Fly with Crows (2021)
Vincent Ho: The Homicide Dossiers: B3atrix Kiddo (World Premiere)
Dinuk Wijeratne: Homecoming
Giovanni Sollima: Arboreto Salvatico

Duo Mycelia: A Personal Journey of Being (5:00 p.m.)

Duo Mycelia: Isabella Perron, violin/voice/piano; Simon Gidora, violin/voice/piano

Duo Mycelia examine the concept of the sea of life as a conscious entity that is both separate and connected via this through-composed work consisting of songs and instrumental interludes. Ideas revolving around individuality and freedom, responsibility and gratitude, loss and catharsis are explored.

The all-women Solaridad Tango (Photo courtesy of the artists) — Solaridad Tango (Photo courtesy of the artists)

June 7

Jacques Forestier, violin & Jeanie Chung, piano (4:00 p.m.)

Edmonton violinist Jacques Forestier is currently studying at the Curtis Institute of Music as the Efrem Zimbalist Fellow at Curtis, receiving a full-tuition scholarship.

Jeanie Chung is a graduate of The Glenn Gould School and the Young Artists Performance Academy at The Royal Conservatory in Toronto, as well as The Juilliard School, where she earned Bachelor’s, Masters, and Doctoral degrees.

Brahms: Violin Sonata No. 1 in G Major, Op. 78
Ernst: Grand-Caprice on Der Erlkonig
Bartók: Romanian Folk Dances

Solidaridad Tango (5:00 p.m.)

Aparna Halpé, violin
Valeria Matzner, vocals
Shinjoo Choo, bandoneón
Yolanda Tapia or Mayu Funaba, piano
Lauren Falls or Sarah Lahasky, double bass

North America’s original all-woman ensemble Solidaridad Tango is dedicated to diversity. Founded in 2021 by Aparna Halpé, Solidaridad will perform works from their debut album DISTANCIA (2023) and other related pieces.

Find festival subscriptions, more details, and single tickets [HERE].

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Anya Wassenberg

Anya Wassenberg is the Toronto City Editor at Ludwig Van. Previously, she was a freelance writer with a specialty in culture and travel for three decades, and a creative writing instructor for Ontariolearn.