{"id":102994,"date":"2024-04-03T15:08:22","date_gmt":"2024-04-03T19:08:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/?p=102994"},"modified":"2024-04-04T10:29:02","modified_gmt":"2024-04-04T14:29:02","slug":"interview-composer-kevin-lau-talks-ballet-composition-kimikos-pearl","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/2024\/04\/03\/interview-composer-kevin-lau-talks-ballet-composition-kimikos-pearl\/","title":{"rendered":"INTERVIEW | Composer Kevin Lau Talks About Ballet, Composition, And Kimiko\u2019s Pearl"},"content":{"rendered":"<figure id=\"attachment_102997\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-102997\" style=\"width: 1200px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-102997\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/04\/Copy-of-INTERVIEW-7.jpg\" alt=\"Composer Kevin Lau (Photo: Alice Hong)\" width=\"1200\" height=\"628\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/04\/Copy-of-INTERVIEW-7.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/04\/Copy-of-INTERVIEW-7-300x157.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/04\/Copy-of-INTERVIEW-7-1024x536.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/04\/Copy-of-INTERVIEW-7-768x402.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-102997\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Composer Kevin Lau (Photo: Alice Hong)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Composer Kevin Lau\u2019s score for Kimiko\u2019s Pearl, a new ballet with choreography by Yosuke Mino (Royal Winnipeg Ballet) will see its world premiere in St. Catharines in June 2024. An orchestral suite based on the ballet music will be premiered by the Toronto Symphony Orchestra in their 2024\/25 season.<\/p>\n<p>That will follow the recent premiere of Lau\u2019s choral piece Stained Glass Rainbows Through Cathedral by Toronto\u2019s Cantabile Chamber Singers, and the release of his album Under A Veil Of Stars (on Leaf Music) last September.<\/p>\n<p>We caught up with the busy composer to talk about Kimiko\u2019s Pearl and other things.<\/p>\n<p>Stained Glass Rainbows Through Cathedral Movement 2 by Dr Kevin Lau (premiered March 2, 2024 in Toronto with the Cantabile Chamber Singers):<\/p>\n<div class=\"jetpack-video-wrapper\"><span class=\"embed-youtube\" style=\"text-align:center; display: block;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"youtube-player\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/1VyTZSGlGAw?version=3&#038;rel=1&#038;showsearch=0&#038;showinfo=1&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;fs=1&#038;hl=en-US&#038;autohide=2&#038;wmode=transparent\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" style=\"border:0;\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-presentation\"><\/iframe><\/span><\/div>\n<h2>Composer Kevin Lau: The Interview<\/h2>\n<p>A winner of the Canada Council&#8217;s Victor Martyn Lynn-Staunton Award in 2017, Kevin\u2019s work often revolves around themes of the surreal, and finding connections in diverse elements. His music has been commissioned by the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, National Arts Centre Orchestra, and Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra, among others, and has been performed internationally, and championed by artists like Jonathan Crow, Rachel Mercer, Scott. St. John, Angela Park, Marc Djokic, and others.<\/p>\n<p>His six string quartets have been performed by the Viano, Tesla, Afiara, Dior, and Cecilia String Quartets, along with others, and two of the quartets were programmed in the Banff International String Quartet Competition. In 2023, his Third String Quartet was selected as the test piece for the Saint Paul String Quartet Competition in Minnesota.<\/p>\n<p>His compositional output is diverse, including choral and orchestral works, ballets, and work such as the opera-film hybrid Bound, commissioned by Against the Grain Theatre, and performed by the TSO. Two previous releases showcasing his music have won JUNO award, including Detach (Redshift, with harpist Angela Schwarzkopf) and Mosaique by Ensemble Made in Canada.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_102999\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-102999\" style=\"width: 1200px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-102999\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/04\/Kimikos-Pearl-Kyra-Soo-Liam-Saito-Rachel-Gibbs-Yue-Shi-Chenxin-Liu-Yayoi-Ban-photo-by-Alex-Heidbuechel.jpg\" alt=\"Dancers Kyra Soo, Liam Saito, Rachel Gibbs, Nxin Liu, Yayoi Ban in Kimiko\u2019s Pearl (Photo: Alex Heidbuechel)\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/04\/Kimikos-Pearl-Kyra-Soo-Liam-Saito-Rachel-Gibbs-Yue-Shi-Chenxin-Liu-Yayoi-Ban-photo-by-Alex-Heidbuechel.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/04\/Kimikos-Pearl-Kyra-Soo-Liam-Saito-Rachel-Gibbs-Yue-Shi-Chenxin-Liu-Yayoi-Ban-photo-by-Alex-Heidbuechel-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/04\/Kimikos-Pearl-Kyra-Soo-Liam-Saito-Rachel-Gibbs-Yue-Shi-Chenxin-Liu-Yayoi-Ban-photo-by-Alex-Heidbuechel-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/04\/Kimikos-Pearl-Kyra-Soo-Liam-Saito-Rachel-Gibbs-Yue-Shi-Chenxin-Liu-Yayoi-Ban-photo-by-Alex-Heidbuechel-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-102999\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Kyra Soo, Liam Saito, Rachel Gibbs, Yue Shi, Chenxin Liu, and Yayoi Ban in Kimiko\u2019s Pearl (Photo: Alex Heidbuechel)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>He was the Affiliate Composer of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra from 2012 \u2013 2015.<\/p>\n<p>Kevin\u2019s music could be called Neo-romantic in style, melodic and evocative, while still thoroughly contemporary.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI think those stylistic categories definitely cross my mind,\u201d Kevin says, adding, \u201cI think composers aren\u2019t the right people to ask about their own music.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The emotions of a piece are usually on his mind. \u201cI\u2019m often thinking along the lines of expression.\u201d Feedback tells him whether his instincts are right.<\/p>\n<p>His influences range from romanticism to modernism to \u201cthings that range out of classical music,\u201d he explains, such as heavy metal and jazz. \u201cI see myself as being a bit eclectic. [&#8230;] Intense lyricism tends to be a part of a lot of my music.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Synthesizing different ideas and elements is another recurring preoccupation. \u201cI\u2019m interested in the convergence of different things in music,\u201d he says. \u201cIt\u2019s interesting when you combine things that don\u2019t seem to go well together on the surface.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The National Ballet\u2019s premiere of Kevin Lau\u2019s Le Petit Prince (2016):<\/p>\n<div class=\"jetpack-video-wrapper\"><span class=\"embed-youtube\" style=\"text-align:center; display: block;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"youtube-player\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/MzRL7_vo5xc?version=3&#038;rel=1&#038;showsearch=0&#038;showinfo=1&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;fs=1&#038;hl=en-US&#038;autohide=2&#038;wmode=transparent\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" style=\"border:0;\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-presentation\"><\/iframe><\/span><\/div>\n<h3>Ballet &amp; Kimiko\u2019s Pearl<\/h3>\n<p>\u201cI love ballet,\u201d he says. It\u2019s not something that he necessarily had in mind as a specific goal from the start. \u201cI\u2019ve felt very lucky to have the opportunity to be involved in the creation of ballet.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He says the experience has helped him in general terms to work out the details of a large-scale project. Le Petit Prince with the National Ballet of Canada was his first. He calls the experience challenging but also very rewarding.<\/p>\n<p>He\u2019s since worked with choreographer Guillaume Cote again on Dark Angels, a shorter 30-minute ballet. Kimiko\u2019s Pearl will be the third.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt does share some aspects with the other ballets in terms of the long term narrative,\u201d he explains.<\/p>\n<p>The Canadian government dispossessed and displaced more than 22,000 Japanese Canadians during the infamous period of internment between 1942 and 1949. Kimiko\u2019s Pearl tells the story of the Ayukawa family in Mission B.C. through four generations.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_103000\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-103000\" style=\"width: 1200px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-image-103000 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/04\/Kimikos-Pearl.jpg\" alt=\"Dancer Kyra Soo in Kimiko\u2019s Pearl (Photo: Rejean Brandt)\" width=\"1200\" height=\"801\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/04\/Kimikos-Pearl.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/04\/Kimikos-Pearl-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/04\/Kimikos-Pearl-1024x684.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/04\/Kimikos-Pearl-768x513.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-103000\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Kyra Soo in Kimiko\u2019s Pearl (Photo: Rejean Brandt)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Based on the real story of the Japanese Canadian internment of WWII, the ballet revolves around themes of war, sacrifice and renewal. It was commissioned and produced by Bravo Niagara!, who intend on touring the production after its world premiere this year. The specific story is based on a piece by Emmy Award-winning writer Howard Reich, inspired by the family history of Bravo Niagara! co-founders Christine Mori and her daughter Alexis Spieldenner. The pair serve as co-creators and producers of the ballet.<\/p>\n<p>Kevin\u2019s involvement came through connections to Christine and Alexis. \u201cThey knew me principally through my association with Niagara Symphony,\u201d he says. Kevin was a composer-in-residence with Niagara Symphony in 2018\/19.<\/p>\n<p>They approached him with the idea of working together, but the right project didn\u2019t come along until just prior to the pandemic. \u201cChristine had the idea to tell the story of her family\u2019s experience with Japanese internment,\u201d he explains.<\/p>\n<p>The project was initially conceived of on a small scale, as a work of chamber music that could be accompanied by dance. Musicians Ron Korb (flute), Conrad Chow (violin), and Rachel Mercer (cello) will be performing the music, <span style=\"font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen-Sans, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif\">enriched by Aaron Tsang\u2019s sound design<\/span>. As the idea developed, it expanded to a full-length narrative of 70 minutes.<\/p>\n<p>The creative team was assembled and, after the pause of the pandemic, is finally proceeding to the stage.<\/p>\n<p>An excerpt from Kimiko\u2019s Pearl:<\/p>\n<div class=\"jetpack-video-wrapper\"><span class=\"embed-youtube\" style=\"text-align:center; display: block;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"youtube-player\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/4tL-vZOzOuA?version=3&#038;rel=1&#038;showsearch=0&#038;showinfo=1&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;fs=1&#038;hl=en-US&#038;autohide=2&#038;wmode=transparent\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" style=\"border:0;\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-presentation\"><\/iframe><\/span><\/div>\n<h3>Music, Social Relevance And Healing<\/h3>\n<p>Kimiko\u2019s Pearl will be the first time that ballet and classical music have been used to convey the Canadian Japanese internment experience. The performing arts can be the most effective way to confront and deal with complex issues.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI absolutely do [agree]\u201d, he says. Music can play a key role role with issues that are very difficult to talk about. \u201cIt engages the emotions on a kind of level that is beyond the reach of language. It has occupied a very layered place in many cultures historically.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>In Western society, we tend to have relegated music to the realm of entertainment, but he doesn\u2019t see it as an either\/or choice.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt was interesting to me that Christine and Alexis chose to tell this story in way that wasn\u2019t verbal,\u201d he says. It makes the story intense, moving and cathartic, without requiring a detailed essay to explain its background.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhen I see it work, and when I experience it myself [&#8230;] it can create this exorcism of emotion,\u201d he says. \u201cIt can be very profound.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMy role, as much as possible, especially on a project such as this, is to tell their story,\u201d he says, \u201cto try to serve their story, and give something back.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s a way of healing old wounds.<\/p>\n<p>His recent album, a series of piano trios recorded by cellist Rachel Mercer (who\u2019s also involved in Kimiko\u2019s Pearl), with a piece dedicated to Mercer and her husband, violinist Yehonatan Berick, who passed away suddenly after recording part of the album. The album as a whole is dedicated to Berick\u2019s memory.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt was quite a cathartic process for me to put together that album.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Kevin is currently working on a piece for this summer\u2019s Ottawa Chamberfest, to be performed by the Ironwood Quartet with Philip Chiu<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Find tickets and more information about the June 22 and 23 world premiere of Kimiko\u2019s Pearl at the FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre in St. Catharines [<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bravoniagara.org\/kimikos-pearl\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">HERE<\/a><\/strong>].<\/li>\n<li>You can check out Kevin\u2019s release on Leaf Music [<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/leaf-music.ca\/music\/lm273\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">HERE<\/a><\/strong>].<\/li>\n<li>Find tickets and more information about the world premiere of Kimiko\u2019s Pearl Orchestral Suite with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra [<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tso.ca\/concerts-and-events\/events\/romantic-treasures\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">HERE<\/a><\/strong>].<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong><em>Are you looking to promote an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/advertising\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"color: #0e101a\"><u>event<\/u><\/span><\/a>? 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