{"id":123062,"date":"2026-04-02T14:09:29","date_gmt":"2026-04-02T18:09:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/?p=123062"},"modified":"2026-04-02T14:09:29","modified_gmt":"2026-04-02T18:09:29","slug":"preview-hamilton-philharmonic-orchestra-presents-intimate-immersive-earth-songs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/2026\/04\/02\/preview-hamilton-philharmonic-orchestra-presents-intimate-immersive-earth-songs\/","title":{"rendered":"PREVIEW | The Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra Presents Intimate & Immersive: Earth Songs"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"L-R:
L-R: HPO Music Director James S. Kahane (Photo courtesy of the artist); the Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra (Photo courtesy of the HPO); HPO Composer Fellow Joseph S. Park (Photo courtesy of the artist)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra presents the next in their Intimate & Immersive concert series on April 8, 2026. The event combines a live orchestra with chorists and immersive visuals, performing contemporary music in the atmospheric loft of The Cotton Factory.<\/p>\n

HPO Music Director James Kahane conducts the orchestra, with soloist Linda Suolahti playing the violin, and McMaster University Choirs. The program consists of music by Canadian and Finnish
\ncomposers, including the world premiere of a work by HPO Composer Fellow Joseph (Sehyeok) Park.<\/p>\n

Finnish violinist Linda Suolahti<\/strong>, soloist for the evening, is a groundbreaking musician based in Helsinki. Her music practice includes performance as a soloist, guest leader, and chamber musician. She routinely performs at major music festivals and concert halls. Linda founded the Kokonainen\/Musequal festival in Finland in 2016, an organization devoted to equality, and has led the multidisciplinary Caisa Classequal concert series, also in Helsinki.<\/p>\n

Linda plays a Carlo Bergonzi violin from 1732 on loan from the Foundation of Signe and Ane Gyllenberg.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis concert is a journey in space and time,\u201d said Music Director James Kahane<\/strong>, \u201cThe audience will hear sonic explorations from medieval plainchant, Japanese and Sri Lankan traditional music, Finnish and Bulgarian folk music and liturgical church music through the lens of the next generation of composers.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Music<\/h2>\n

As the title of the concert suggests, the theme of the program is the Earth and its inherent beauty, and ancient civilizations from around the globe.<\/p>\n

The program comprised of works inspired by the beauty of our earth and ancient civilizations around the world features a world premiere by one of HPO\u2019s 25-26 Composer Fellows.<\/p>\n

Matthew Whittall: Ad puram anihilationem meam<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Canadian composer\u2019s choral work puts together Gregorian chants and components of Christian liturgy alongside classical Japanese gagaku music and Buddhist elements.<\/p>\n

Dinuk Wijeratne: Gajaga Vannama<\/strong><\/p>\n

Canadian composer Dinuk Wijeratne pays tribute to his roots in this work, which combines traditional Sri Lankan melody with a classical 18th century \u2018Vannam\u2019 dance-form. Vannam represents the divine elephant of the god Sakra.<\/p>\n

Joseph (Sehyeok) Park: Elegy<\/strong><\/p>\n

HPO 25-26 Composer Fellow Joseph (Sehyeok) Park\u2019s Elegy is presented in its world premiere.<\/p>\n

Cecilia Damstr\u00f6m: Earth Songs<\/strong><\/p>\n

The seven-movement violin concerto by Finnish composer Cecilia Damstr\u00f6m, a love song to our planet and its diverse ecosystems, closes the concert.<\/p>\n

LV caught up with Joseph Park to talk about his experiences as an HPO Composer Fellow, and his music.<\/p>\n

J.S. Park’s Diptych for Chamber Ensemble (2025):<\/p>\n