{"id":26532,"date":"2015-03-25T11:25:12","date_gmt":"2015-03-25T15:25:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/?p=26532"},"modified":"2015-03-25T12:20:19","modified_gmt":"2015-03-25T16:20:19","slug":"the-scoop-rcm-launches-second-annual-21c-music-festival","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/2015\/03\/25\/the-scoop-rcm-launches-second-annual-21c-music-festival\/","title":{"rendered":"THE SCOOP | RCM Launches Second Annual 21C Music Festival"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Composer,
Composer, Kaija Saariaho | Photo: Priska Ketterer Luzern<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

It wasn\u2019t so long ago that the contemporary thing in music is the thing which didn’t\u00a0make enough of a difference to accept or reject. New music was\u00a0something weird and strange \u2013 a musical anomaly merely\u00a0tolerated\u00a0by most of the world’s leading soloists, orchestras and arts presenters.\u00a0But I think people have\u00a0realized now that all music is contemporary, if it’s alive. If it were not alive, then what would be the point?<\/p>\n

And while some still recoil at the thought of attending a new music festival, most of us know better. After all, they aren\u2019t the same trysts filled with angst-ridden hucksters appointed by a congregation who genuflect, stroking their cerebral beards like a handful of Rosary beads.<\/p>\n

Instead we have festivals like The Royal Conservatory of Music\u2019s 21C Music Festival<\/a>\u00a0that\u00a0embrace all forms of music, from thorny pieces sounding like a high school marching band tumbling down a flight of stairs, to an array of popular music collaborations which dare I say, sound fairly pleasant.<\/p>\n

This month, RCM\u2019s five-day stirling\u00a021C Music Festival turns two years-old, and after its successful inaugural run last year, things seem to be on sure footing.<\/p>\n

\"Multi-instrumentalist
Multi-instrumentalist and composer, Stewart Copeland<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The festival opens May 20<\/a> with Off the Score<\/strong> \u2013 a thumping collaboration between ex-Police drummer Stewart Copeland<\/strong>, and Canadian pianist Jon Kimura Parker<\/strong>. They will join Met Opera violinist Yoon Kwon<\/strong>, bassist Marion Martinez<\/strong> and Electronic Valve Instrumentalist Judd Miller<\/strong> in a collaboration that concludes with the world premiere of Copeland’s\u00a0Coincidence or Convergence?<\/em><\/p>\n

On May 21<\/a>, the on-trend Finnish composer Kaija Saariaho<\/strong> will present three Canadian premieres:\u00a0Sept papillons<\/em> for solo cello performed by Anssi Karttunen, Frises <\/em>for solo violin and electronics performed by Jennifer Koh<\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0Kaija Saariaho<\/strong>, and Ballade and Prelude<\/em> performed by pianist Benjamin Hochman<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

The date\u00a0also includes the ARC Ensemble<\/strong> (Artists of The Royal Conservatory) performing You are where you are<\/em> by Omar Daniel<\/strong>, with text by Man Booker Prize-winning author Yann Martell<\/strong>. The night concludes with the North American premiere of Saariaho\u2019s enchanting\u00a0Light and Matter,<\/em> for piano trio.<\/p>\n

Bicycle Opera Project,<\/strong> (who seem to be just about everywhere these days) will do an outdoor performance of a mobile operetta\u00a0by Toronto-based composer Chris Thornborrow<\/strong>, then later return to Mazzoleni Hall to ride in the premiere of Dreaming Duet<\/em> from Dean Burry\u2019s<\/strong> The Bells of Baddeck \u2013<\/em>\u00a0as well as mini-operas\u00a0by James Rolfe<\/strong>, Cecilia Livingston<\/strong>, Ivan Barbotin<\/strong>, and Tobin Stokes<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

On May 22<\/a>, RCM will unveil\u00a0a new 70-minute multimedia work called Illusions<\/em>,<\/strong> with Gryphon Trio<\/strong>, Ensemble contemporain de Montr\u00e9al<\/strong>, and baritone Vincent Ranallo<\/strong>. The music is comprised by pieces written by\u00a0Montreal\u00a0bon vivants\u00a0Nicole Liz\u00e9e<\/strong>, Gabriel Dharmoo<\/strong>, and Simon Martin<\/strong>, and interspersed with Charles Ives\u2019s Piano Trio. It includes visuals by Kara Blake<\/strong> and Corinne Merrell<\/strong> with projections by frequent Robert Lepage collaborator Jacques Collin<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

That same day, Jazz guitarist Michael Occhipinti<\/strong> will perform a new work,\u00a0Street Scene at the Centre of the Multiverse,\u00a0<\/em>alongside the Gryphon Trio<\/strong>, and clarinettist Don Byron<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Saariaho returns May 23<\/a> for Grammaire des r\u00eaves<\/em> with Carla Huhtanen<\/strong> and Kwagiulth and St\u00f3:lo First Nations mezzo-soprano Marion Newman<\/strong>. Also on the bill are two world premieres by the Ottawa-based\u00a0cellist and composer Raphael Weinroth-Browne<\/strong>.<\/p>\n