{"id":117857,"date":"2025-09-24T15:06:37","date_gmt":"2025-09-24T19:06:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/?p=117857"},"modified":"2025-09-25T11:21:53","modified_gmt":"2025-09-25T15:21:53","slug":"interview-artistic-director-brian-current-talks-new-music-concerts-2025-26","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/2025\/09\/24\/interview-artistic-director-brian-current-talks-new-music-concerts-2025-26\/","title":{"rendered":"INTERVIEW | Artistic Director Brian Current Talks About New Music Concerts In 2025\/26"},"content":{"rendered":"
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New Music Concerts Artistic Director Brian Current (Photo courtesy of the artist)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The 2025\/26 season will be the 55th for Toronto\u2019s New Music Concerts, a remarkable achievement of longevity for any contemporary or classical music organization. The season’s offerings are diverse, and range from internationally recognized works to brand new music. The goal, as always, is to expand on ideas of what musical performance can be, both for artists and audiences.<\/p>\n

It’s also a season of collaborations, including a co-production with Tapestry Opera, partnerships with the University of Toronto Faculty of Music, and a roster of Canadian and international artists and composers.<\/p>\n

We spoke to Artistic Director Brian Current about the upcoming concert season.<\/p>\n

Brian Current: The Interview<\/h2>\n

The season kicks off with a concert of music by South African composer Andile Khumal<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cThis is someone who is really special,\u201d Current says, noting Khumal\u2019s growing international reputation. At the same time, he\u2019s not well known in Canada.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis someone I started hearing about, and got to know him more at a music festival in South Africa,\u201d Brian says. \u201cI went to see a concert of his work in Washington DC. It’ll be like a portrait concert of his work.\u201d<\/p>\n

The concert will also include a few pieces that he\u2019s chosen to accompany his own music, including Australian Liza Lim<\/strong>‘s Inguz (Fertility) for clarinet and cello, Canadian Zosha di Castri<\/strong>‘s Anssi de Suite (2015) for solo cello, and German composer Carola Bauckholt<\/strong>‘s Klarinettentrio (1993) for clarinet, piano, and cello.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe’s really an eloquent speaker,\u201d Current adds. \u201cHis music really mixes a European sounds with [an] African sensibility. He’s got a doctorate at Columbia.\u201d Canadians should be tuning in to his talent. \u201cI think Toronto should get in on that conversation. I think that’s growing. There’s a real identity and a real sound,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n

\u201cI want people to hear his music, but I also want people to hear him talk about his music.\u201d<\/p>\n

The 2025\/26 Season<\/h3>\n

Current believes audiences are inspired by the arts. \u201cWe’re here to give people something fascinating […] the sublime unknown,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n

The sheer variety of what\u2019s on offer reflects the very diverse world of contemporary music.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe’re really honouring the past, but also looking to the future,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n

In classic NMC fashion, the season showcases both Canadian and international talent.<\/p>\n

The season\u2019s second concert features violinist Mark Fewer<\/strong> and percussionist Aiyun Huang<\/strong> in a program titled Mystery of Clock. The performance includes theatrical elements like lighting and stage design.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt’s really a theatrical, surreal, ritual spectacle,\u201d Current explains. \u201cYou have to see it to understand what’s going on.\u201d He\u2019s using a French team of designers to create the effects. \u201cIt’s an hour of really top notch percussion music theatre,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n

\u201cI could easily see this playing in major festivals around the world.\u201d<\/p>\n

The project has been in development for some time, and is finally ready for a main stage presentation.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s really a theatrical surreal experiment.\u201d<\/p>\n

February\u2019s Black Box Music offers a unique concert experience. Essentially, a percussionist plays with a black box on stage. They place their hands inside the box, and the movements are projected in a large image on a screen. The musicians respond to the movements as they\u2019re projected.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat is really something special. It’s never come to Toronto,\u201d Brian says. \u201cIt’s a mixture of exploring what a conductor is, video, and motion.\u201d It\u2019s a challenge for the musicians. \u201cIt’s really detailed and difficult to learn.\u201d<\/p>\n

Danish composer Simon Steen Andersen<\/strong>, who created the project,\u00a0often leads it in rehearsals, Current says. \u201cThis is a very special person. This is really one not to be missed.\u201d<\/p>\n