{"id":49649,"date":"2017-12-05T10:05:23","date_gmt":"2017-12-05T15:05:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/?p=49649"},"modified":"2017-12-07T09:31:14","modified_gmt":"2017-12-07T14:31:14","slug":"on-the-radar-things-are-getting-urgent-at-continuum","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/2017\/12\/05\/on-the-radar-things-are-getting-urgent-at-continuum\/","title":{"rendered":"ON THE RADAR | Things Are Getting Urgent At Continuum"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Ryan
Ryan Scott (Photo: Brian Mosoff)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Continuum Contemporary Music: Urgent Voices, 8-9 December 2017<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Another dynamic season at Continuum Contemporary Music is just around the corner: Urgent Voices<\/em>, 8-9 December 2017 \u00a0is an ambitious opener that reflects the core interest of this thirty-two-year-old organization: commission, interdisciplinary synthesis and the presentation of new chamber works.<\/p>\n

The commission’s collection now stands strong: more than a hundred and eighty-five new works from Canadian and international composers, and over sixty-five compositions by young students through their continued collaboration with the Toronto District School Board.<\/p>\n

The post-modernists\u2019 approach for seeking art music within the spectrum of wider subjects has brought many interesting projects to Continuum’s table. The 2017-18 season is dedicated to Identity<\/em>, as we observe Canada achieving 150 this year.\u00a0Urgent Voices<\/em><\/a>, the first of the season, invites us to journey North to the Arctic archipelago and Georgian Bay, to our participation in Afghanistan war, and to take a look through the past in William Lyon Mackenzie King\u2019s diary.<\/p>\n

“Certain themes of these concerts are more abstract and do not require a narrative; others do, and voice is a fantastic medium to convey the themes we are presenting in this concert,” said\u00a0Continuum Contemporary Music\u00a0Artistic Director\u00a0<\/strong>Ryan Scott. I feel the themes are pressing issues in Canada, and this is our response in poetry and music for a more direct discussion.”<\/p>\n

Drawing from the richness of the human voice, all three new commisions will feature a vocal soloist with a variety of instrumentation.<\/p>\n

Anna H\u00f6stman+Phoebe Tsang: Invisible Forest<\/em><\/a>\u00a0(Baritone, String Quartet, Harp, Piano, Percussion, Conductor)<\/p>\n

James Rolfe+Steven Heighton: Clinical Notes of the Bipolar Therapist<\/em><\/a>\u00a0(Baritone, Piccolo, Bass Clarinet, Violin, Cello, Piano, Percussion, Conductor)<\/p>\n

Scott Wilson+Alexandra Oliver – From the Diaries of William Lyon Mackenzie King <\/a><\/em><\/span>(Tenor, String Quartet, Three Recorders, Electronics, and amplification, Conductor)<\/p>\n

Even at a quick glance, there are many things that are intriguing. Extended techniques mashed with electronic manipulation within a mid-sized ensemble is quite fascinating to imagine, and the much-loved music of Ann Southam is paired with Michael Mitchell\u2019s new film, made with footage of Northern scenes around Georgian Bay. The entire program will be a theatrical immersion, with design by Sonja Rainey.<\/p>\n

In older, traditional Classical repertoire concerts, the mere mention of certain performers is often enough to create excited murmurs across the city.\u00a0 Or the name of a long-gone composer:\u00a0 I recently attended Mahler 6 with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra<\/a>, because it was Mahler 6, with Donald Runnicles<\/em>. I bought a ticket to see Ian Bostridge and Julius Drake in February 2018 in September 2017. That\u2019s an early purchase <\/em>for a Classical music fan.<\/p>\n

What draws us to these particular upcoming performances?<\/p>\n

It\u2019s the live human energy.\u00a0 We seek to witness the pursuit of excellence in real people, because nothing can replace that live-show vibe.\u00a0 And if one is familiar with the synergy and momentum a new work creates among performers, composers, and in this case, adding further curators and poets, filmmaker and scenographer, it is hard to contain our curiosity and excitement in witnessing something that is new and alive.\u00a0 Ryan Scott, the music director, explains the enigmatic energy that drives Continuum:<\/p>\n

“What is perhaps significant to note is that for decades Continuum had a core ensemble\u00a0 \u2014 a sextet plus conductor of violin, cello, flute clarinet and percussion. In this season, 80% of our programming is world premieres by Canadian composers and only one work uses that sextet instrumentation (The Rolfe, plus baritone). Over the last four seasons, Continuum has evolved to a pool of approximately 25 stellar musicians. This allows for a greater variety of programming and a fuller exploration of the various themes we present. It also creates a lot more energy and sonic diversity in the concerts. Like we mix emerging and established composers, we also mix emerging and established performers in the ensemble to create apprenticeship, continuity and succession.”<\/em><\/p>\n

And as a bonus, there will also be true technology magic: the Steinway Spirio<\/em>.<\/p>\n