{"id":119653,"date":"2025-11-21T14:51:24","date_gmt":"2025-11-21T19:51:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/?p=119653"},"modified":"2025-11-21T15:09:44","modified_gmt":"2025-11-21T20:09:44","slug":"interview-violinists-julia-wedman-cristina-prats-costa-launch-harmony-hands-concert-series-gives-back","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/2025\/11\/21\/interview-violinists-julia-wedman-cristina-prats-costa-launch-harmony-hands-concert-series-gives-back\/","title":{"rendered":"INTERVIEW |  Violinists Julia Wedman And Cristina Prats Costa Launch Harmony Is In Our Hands, A Concert Series That Gives Back"},"content":{"rendered":"<figure id=\"attachment_119655\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-119655\" style=\"width: 1200px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-119655\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/11\/Copy-of-INTERVIEW-2025-11-21T143031.423.jpg\" alt=\"Harmony is in Our Hands Artistic Directors Cristina Prats-Costa (L) and Julia Wedman (R) (Photo courtesy of the artists)\" width=\"1200\" height=\"628\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/11\/Copy-of-INTERVIEW-2025-11-21T143031.423.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/11\/Copy-of-INTERVIEW-2025-11-21T143031.423-300x157.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/11\/Copy-of-INTERVIEW-2025-11-21T143031.423-1024x536.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/11\/Copy-of-INTERVIEW-2025-11-21T143031.423-768x402.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-119655\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Harmony is in Our Hands Artistic Directors Cristina Prats-Costa (L) and Julia Wedman (R) (Photo: Aleksandar Antonijevic)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Violinists Julia Wedman and Cristina Prats Costa, along with a few of their friends from Gentileschi Baroque, are launching a new concert series titled Harmony is in Our Hands, with their first concert on December 6. Artistry and advocacy come together in the concert, featuring guest artist soprano H\u00e9l\u00e8ne Brunet, and with all funds raised going to support the YWCA of Toronto.<\/p>\n<p>December\u2019s concert is presented together with Friends of Music, and takes place at the historic St. Thomas Church, with most tickets available at pay-what-you-can pricing to make it accessible to anyone.<\/p>\n<h2>Harmony is in Our Hands: December 6<\/h2>\n<p>Music, compassion, and civic engagement come together in the new concert series helmed by Costa and Wedman as co-Artistic Directors. Each will feature a different beneficiary, and a roster of local and international musicians.<\/p>\n<p>For December 6, the performers include:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>H\u00e9l\u00e8ne Brunet \u2014 soprano<\/li>\n<li>Cristina Prats Costa \u2014 violin<\/li>\n<li>Julia Wedman \u2014 violin<\/li>\n<li>Matt Antal \u2014 viola<\/li>\n<li>M\u00e9lisande Corriveau \u2014 viola da gamba and cello<\/li>\n<li>Avi Stein \u2014 harpsichord<\/li>\n<li>Marco Cera \u2014 oboe<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>LV spoke to Julia Wedman and Cristina Prats Costa about the new series.<\/p>\n<h3>Julia Wedman and Cristina Prats Costa: The Interview<\/h3>\n<p>Harmony is in Our Hands is an idea that\u2019s been in the works for some time.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI would say it&#8217;s over a few years,\u201d Wedman says. \u201cI would say that Cristina and I were both what I would call compulsive helpers.\u201d That includes giving back to the community in a variety of ways.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOver the last few years, both Cristina and I have been teaching and playing in some different communities,\u201d Julia says. Many of those audience represented under-served communities and regions. \u201cWe find that kind of work very satisfying to do. It brings us a lot joy and connection.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe like to do it in places where people [often] can\u2019t see Baroque music,\u201d Cristina adds. That includes not only specific communities, but in locations and areas that make it difficult to present concerts. \u201cWe find it special to share the experience with them,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n<p>As Cristina points out, the musicians get as much out of the performance as the audience.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThey give us so much with their enthusiasm,\u201d Costa says.<\/p>\n<p>Wedman mentions experiences Costa had working globally in places like Suriname, Peru, and South Africa.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThat opened our eyes to how much we enjoyed being part of the community,\u201d Julia says. \u201cWhat could we do in Toronto?\u201d Costa moved to Toronto last year, adding momentum to the idea. \u201cWhat&#8217;s something we can do together in town that would connect us to our community here?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Each event will feature different partners and recipients of the funds raised. \u201cIt\u2019s an open ended idea,\u201d Wedman adds.<\/p>\n<p>It means they can work with many different musicians both in and out of Toronto. \u201cEach concert, we want to have a focus on another community partnership,\u201d she adds. That can include student groups, charities, and schools, among others.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThere are so many things that we can do to be part of our community,\u201d Wedman says. \u201cAs we\u2019re already discovering, working with Elizabeth [Anderson], who&#8217;s the Director of Music for the Friends of Music at St. Thomas \u2014 they work with kids who can&#8217;t afford music lessons. We also reached out to the YWCA.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Cristina researched various charities, and was impressed with the YWCA and their programs. \u201cThey already have the sense of community,\u201d she says. In addition to the Harmony Is In Our Hands concert, both musicians will be performing at a memorial vigil for the Montreal massacre on the same day.<\/p>\n<h3>The Music<\/h3>\n<p>The music of the Baroque period will be featured at the concert series. \u201cWe are both Baroque violinists, and we love the music so much,\u201d Costa says.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBaroque music was designed and was written to create a shared connection and shared emotions with an audience,\u201d Wedman adds. \u201cThe point is to express things that people can relate to. We both find that so attractive about the experience, and playing the music. There&#8217;s such a strong connection with our audiences. It&#8217;s very rewarding,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe medium itself allows for such a lot of creativity.\u201d As Julia points out, during the Baroque period, composers typically did not include dynamics and other details in their notation, leaving those up to the performers. \u201cAnd that creative flexibility in the music is what we love about it, but also what enhances the connection to audiences.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Every time they play it, the performance will be slightly different. \u201cWe do something that&#8217;s personal,\u201d Wedman adds. \u201cWe call it the era of the performer-composer.\u201d What\u2019s on the page is only part of the performance.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt&#8217;s very creative and spontaneous.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Costa points out another aspect of Baroque music that fits the spirit of Harmony is in Our Hands. \u201cAt the time, the Baroque era, concerts were not, as we know now, in a concert hall.\u201d They took place in a variety of locations, including home settings. \u201cWe also wanted to show that in our concerts.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Future concerts in the series may take place at different halls, venues, and perhaps schools.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt&#8217;s just a community gathering,\u201d Cristina says.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe wanted to have a more open ended approach,\u201d Julia says. That will entail different levels of formality too.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_119656\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-119656\" style=\"width: 1200px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-119656\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/11\/Harmoniy-is-in-Our-Hands.jpg\" alt=\"The artists of Harmony is in Our Hands concert on December 6: (top) Soprano H\u00e9l\u00e8ne Brunet; bottom (L-R): M\u00e9lisande Corriveau &amp; Avi Stein; Marco Cera; Matt Antal; Cristina Prats-Costa &amp; Julia Wedman (Photos courtesy of the artists)\" width=\"1200\" height=\"954\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/11\/Harmoniy-is-in-Our-Hands.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/11\/Harmoniy-is-in-Our-Hands-300x239.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/11\/Harmoniy-is-in-Our-Hands-1024x814.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/11\/Harmoniy-is-in-Our-Hands-768x611.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-119656\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The artists of Harmony is in Our Hands concert on December 6: (top) Soprano H\u00e9l\u00e8ne Brunet; bottom (L-R): M\u00e9lisande Corriveau &amp; Avi Stein; Marco Cera; Matt Antal; Cristina Prats-Costa &amp; Julia Wedman (Photos courtesy of the artists)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h3>Performers<\/h3>\n<p>Soprano <strong>H\u00e9l\u00e8ne Brunet<\/strong> is a welcome collaborator. \u201cWe love her,\u201d both women say.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe&#8217;ve worked with her quite a lot over the last few years,\u201d Wedman notes. That includes performances through L\u2019Harmonie des saisons, a vocal and period instrument ensemble based in Qu\u00e9bec\u2019s Eastern Townships. \u201cWe&#8217;ve worked with her, and gotten to know her, through that group,\u201d she explains. \u201cShe&#8217;s just a kind and wonderful human being.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>It made her the perfect fit for the upcoming concert. Wedman says that\u2019s what she\u2019s looking for in terms of collaborators. \u201cNo. 1, they are incredible human beings, then they are also good musicians.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>She mentions harpsichordist <strong>Avi Stein<\/strong>, who teaches continuo accompaniment, vocal repertoire, and chamber music at Juilliard. He is also the organist and chorusmaster at Trinity Church in New York.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHe&#8217;s a wonderful musician.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Oboist <strong>Marco Cera<\/strong> is a member of Toronto\u2019s Tafelmusik. <strong>M\u00e9lisande Corriveau<\/strong>, who\u2019ll play viola da gamba and cello, is the co-Artistic Director of L\u2019Harmonie des saisons. \u201cShe&#8217;s just an incredible superstar,\u201d Wedman says.<\/p>\n<p>Violist <strong>Matt Antal<\/strong> has a dual career. \u201cHe also happens to be an incredible recording engineer<br \/>\nas well as an incredible musician,\u201d Julia notes.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAll were very enthusiastic about participating,\u201d Cristina adds.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt&#8217;s nice that we&#8217;ve had so much support,\u201d Wedman continues. Those names may show up in future events.<\/p>\n<h3>The Program<\/h3>\n<p>\u201cCristina and I have this group that we started a couple of years ago, it&#8217;s called Gentileschi Baroque,\u201d Julia says. \u201cI felt very strongly that there wasn&#8217;t enough weight in concert programs on female composers.\u201d The ensemble, in fact, is named after famed Baroque artist Artemisia Gentileschi.<\/p>\n<p>Their mandate includes an effort at making the names of female composers of the Baroque much more commonly known.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cEverybody knows Bach and Handel,\u201d Wedman says.<\/p>\n<p><strong>\u00c9lisabeth Claude Jacquet de La Guerre<\/strong> (1665 \u2013 1729) was a French harpsichordist and composer. \u201cShe was an incredible French Baroque composer. Even in the Baroque world, a lot of people don&#8217;t know her music,\u201d Julia points out. One of her trios will be on the program.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Mrs Philharmonica<\/strong> is another composer who\u2019s work will be performed. The English composer wrote under the enigmatic pseudonym, and left a legacy of several published works dating from about 1715. \u201cNobody knows who she is. She sounds a bit like Corelli,\u201d Wedman explains. \u201cShe was a composer in London, and her music was published in a subscription. But nobody knows her real name,\u201d she adds.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe&#8217;ll play a trio also by <strong>Isabella Leonardo<\/strong>.\u201d A nun, Leonardo lived in Novara, Italy, from 1620 to 1704. \u201c[Her music is] very vibrant and appealing.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The focus on women composers doesn\u2019t necessarily exclude the better known work of men. \u201cWe&#8217;ll of course play some Handel,\u201d Wedman adds.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI think in the music too, we want to make sure that under represented composers are represented,\u201d Julia explains.<\/p>\n<p>She recalls playing a concert in Hamilton with Hammer Baroque where the entire program came from female composers that the audience had never heard of. \u201cWe had such an amazing audience response to that concert,\u201d Julia says. The musicians introduced the composers and their works, as well as playing them. \u201cIt was really eye opening.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Cristina says they\u2019re already thinking about the next concert, and that they\u2019re open to ideas.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe other thing is that this is the start of something,\u201d Wedman adds. \u201cWe have many ideas, but I have the feeling that this is the start of an adventure.\u201d<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Find details and tickets for the December 6 concert [<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.eventbrite.com\/e\/soprano-helene-brunet-and-gentileschi-baroque-tickets-1963641949932\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">HERE<\/a><\/strong>].<\/li>\n<li>Find out more about Harmony is in Our Hands [<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cristinapratscosta.com\/harmonyisinourhands\" 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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