{"id":75901,"date":"2022-07-01T15:20:54","date_gmt":"2022-07-01T19:20:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/?p=75901"},"modified":"2022-07-04T10:25:15","modified_gmt":"2022-07-04T14:25:15","slug":"guide-ontario-summer-music-festivals-2022","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/2022\/07\/01\/guide-ontario-summer-music-festivals-2022\/","title":{"rendered":"GUIDE | Ontario Summer Music Festivals 2022"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Violinist
Violinist playing outdoors (Photo: Marko Milivojevic\/PIXNIO\/CCOC)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

After two years of virtual silence since COVID-19 first walloped the world in March 2020, Ontario music festivals are roaring back to life with in-person concerts this summer. So pack away your devices and pivot no more. There\u2019s nothing like the real thing, and a full line-up of musicians are ready to play.<\/p>\n

\"Brott
Brott Music Festival (Photo courtesy of Brott Music)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Brott Music Festival<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Hamilton, Ontario
\nJune 30 \u2013 August 18
\nLink<\/a><\/p>\n

Founded in 1987 as a labour of love by its iconic namesake, Boris Brott, the Festival continues his legacy as the largest orchestral music festival in Canada, with eclectic programs ranging from classical, opera, jazz, Broadway chamber, rock, pops to educational concerts.<\/p>\n

What’s Hot<\/strong>: After launching the Festival with The Unconquerable Soul: A Festival in Memory of Maestro Boris Brott<\/em> including a special, deeply moving performance of Beethoven\u2019s Ninth (June 30), next on tap is Viva L\u2019Italia PopOpera<\/em>, highlighting favourite Italian arias (July 7).<\/p>\n

What’s Cool<\/strong>: Okay, while not exactly a classical concert, it\u2019s near impossible to resist anything Sinatra. Vocalist Peter Cannella performs The Way you Look Tonight: Frank Sinatra\u2019s Greatest Hits, with the orchestra swinging hard under the baton of Jaelem Bhate (August 3).<\/p>\n

Why You Need to Be There<\/strong>: The untimely death of larger-than-life Canadian maestro Boris Brott in an automobile accident this spring rocked \u2014 and shocked \u2014 the entire global arts community. Now under the interim directorship of Alain Trudel, Brott’s legacy lives on this summer as a testament to the maestro\u2019s indomitable spirit.<\/p>\n

\"Westben
Westben Festival 2019 (Photo courtesy of the Festival)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Westben<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Trent Hills, ON
\nJuly 1- 31
\nLink<\/a><\/p>\n

Get back to nature as Westben presents its annual open-air summer festival ranging from Bach to Broadway, opera and symphony to jazz, folk, Indigenous, rock and comedy with over 70 plus artists appearing in over 25 concerts between July 1 \u2013 3 1.<\/p>\n

Founded in 1989 by soprano Donna Bennett and pianist\/composer Brian Finley, the festival nestled among the rolling hills of Northumberland County near Campbellford, ON now boasts three concert venues: The Barn: its original, custom-built, timber-frame barn with state-of-the art acoustics seating 400. New this year is Willow Hill, a natural grassy amphitheatre for 500, as well as a brand new Campfire venue for 50.<\/p>\n

What’s Hot<\/strong>: Cape Breton fiddler Natalie MacMaster (July 23) has got my vote, however another can\u2019t-miss concert is hearing the sumptuous artistry of Canadian soprano Karina Gauvin in opera arias from Mozart, Handel and others, joined by Finley (July 24).<\/p>\n

What’s Cool:<\/strong> The Queer Songbook Orchestra (QSO), a Toronto-based 13-piece chamber pop ensemble elevates the 2SLGBTQ+ experience with story and song (July 10), including works by KD Lang, David Bowie, Tracy Chapman, Joni Mitchell, Ani Difranco, Beverly Glenn-Copeland and others.<\/p>\n

Why You Need to Be There<\/strong>: With its newest venues \u2014 and my eye\u2019s on that campfire series \u2014 Westben promises an all-sensory experience of enjoying music in the Great Outdoors.<\/p>\n

\"Toronto
Toronto Summer Music Artistic Director Jonathan Crow (Photo courtesy of Toronto Summer Music)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Toronto Summer Music<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Toronto, Ontario
\nJuly 7 \u2013 30
\nLink<\/a><\/p>\n

Toronto Summer Music (TSM) first established in the summers of 2004 and 2005 offers over three weeks of intimate chamber concerts and solo recitals throughout July. Helmed by Canadian violinist Jonathan Crow since 2016, the festival has partnered in the past with such notable arts organizations as the TSO, Canadian Opera Company, and the Banff Centre, as well as runs a summer-long Academy nurturing the artists of tomorrow in chamber music and art song.<\/p>\n

What’s Hot<\/strong>: Hear brilliant Georgian-born pianist and 2018 Honens International Piano Competition Prize Laureate, Nicolas Namoradze<\/a> as he marks his TSM debut performing Bach and Rachmaninoff, as well as four of his own daring compositions (July 8h).<\/p>\n

What’s Cool:<\/strong> Quebec\u2019s so-cool-it-hurts klezmer band, Kleztory heats up the night with traditional Jewish and world music straight from a village shtetl (July 18). Or try an evening of contemporary dance with Echo Chamber Toronto (July 21).<\/p>\n

Why You Need to Be There:<\/strong> Simply put, it\u2019s literally been years since pandemic-weary audiences could hear a full slate of world-class artists up-close-and-personal. This year\u2019s fest titled Inspirations promises to do just that.<\/p>\n

\"Elora
Elora Festival Singers (Photo courtesy of the Elora Festival)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Elora Festival<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Elora, Ontario
\nJuly 8 \u2013 24
\nLink<\/a><\/p>\n

For 43 years \u2014 and counting \u2014 the Elora Festival as Canada\u2019s international choral festival has presented renowned choirs and vocal ensembles in “Ontario’s most beautiful village,” and artist haven, Elora. For a full three weeks each July, the vocal ensemble led by artistic director Mark Vuorinen\u00a0performs its own solo concerts and with guest artists and ensembles, including: the Vancouver Chamber Choir, Chanticleer, Studio de musique ancienne de Montr\u00e9al, Trinity College Choir, and the State Choir LATVIJA, as well as vocal groups: Voces 8, Cantus, The Gesualdo Six, among others.<\/p>\n

What’s Hot<\/strong>: It\u2019s a toss up between J. S. Bach\u2019s monumental B Minor Mass<\/em> (Opening night, July 8) or Schubert\u2019s searing song cycle Wintereisse<\/em> with baritone Tyler Duncan and pianist Erika Switzer (July 9, 4 p.m.).<\/p>\n

What’s Cool<\/strong>: Four-time JUNO nominee and all-around Renaissance woman, Canadian chanteuse Sarah Slean joined by The Elora Singers presents An Evening with Sarah Slean<\/em> (July 9) featuring repertoire from her 11 albums released in over 10 countries worldwide.<\/p>\n

Why You Need to Be There<\/strong>: It\u2019s no secret that singers around the globe from kids\u2019 choirs to opera divas have been pummeled during the pandemic due to potentially lethal aerosols created during the art of vocal production. Many have wondered when \u2014 or if \u2014 we would ever hear live vocal music again. This Festival sends that sentiment packing as it celebrates the power of the deeply missed human voice.<\/p>\n

\"Collingwood
Collingwood Music Festival (Photo: Tjalling Halbertsma)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Collingwood Music Festival<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Collingwood, Ontario
\nJuly 9 \u2013 15
\nLink<\/a><\/p>\n

The Collingwood Music Festival presents award-winning artists in classical, world, jazz and Indigenous music for one week only in Collingwood, Ontario each summer, as well as offers a free program for youths at the Duntroom Highlands Gold Club.<\/p>\n

What’s Hot<\/strong>: The always enthralling, JUNO-award winning Penderecki String Quartet treats listeners to a cutting edge program including a world premiere by Canadian composer Daniel Mehdizadeh (July 12).<\/p>\n

What’s Cool<\/strong>: The National Academy Orchestra of Canada returns to the CMF stage with Gershwin\u2019s Rhapsody in Blue<\/em> featuring CMF artistic director Daniel Vnukowski at the piano, with the opening concert honouring the memory and legacy of the professional training orchestra\u2019s founder, Boris Brott who died tragically earlier this spring. (July 9).<\/p>\n

Why You Need to Be There<\/strong>: If your summer plans are tight this year, there are still loads of music to discover in this compact one-week festival, from world music to swing choirs, so you\u2019re guaranteed to find something new and different.<\/p>\n

\"Images
Images courtesy of Festival of the Sound<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Festival of the Sound<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Parry Sound, Ontario
\nJuly 17 \u2013 31
\nLink<\/a><\/p>\n

Tucked away on the shores of Georgian Bay in Northern Ontario, the now 43-year old FOTS led by its longtime \u2014 and notably only second \u2014 artistic director, acclaimed Canadian clarinettist James Campbell performs its first live concerts for in-person audiences in the acoustically superior Charles W. Stockey Centre since July 2019.<\/p>\n

New this year is PianoFest, a series of 10 curated programs highlighting world-class pianists peppered throughout the two-week event, that also includes chamber concerts, recitals, music cruises on the lake, opera and vocal programs, as well as free Tuesday night concerts and pop-up community events.<\/p>\n

What’s Hot:<\/strong> The Elmer Iseler Singers raise their voices in song and welcomes live audiences again during Festival opener, Home Again (July 17), while Campbell joined by the Rolston Quartet performs Brahms\u2019 Clarinet Quintet, Op. 115, in B minor<\/em>, as FOTS\u2019s first matinee of the season (July 19).<\/p>\n

What’s Cool<\/strong>: Canada\u2019s beloved \u201cFirst Lady of Chopin,\u201d pianist Janina Fialkowska treats audiences to an intimate solo of the Polish-born composer\u2019s works (July 19). Or, be a fly on the wall when she imparts her wisdom passed from her own mentor, the legendary Arthur Rubinstein during a free master class with 2021 Chopin Competition First Place Winner, Bruce Liu featuring Chopin\u2019s Concerto No. 2 in F minor<\/em> (July 20).<\/p>\n

Why You Need to Be There<\/strong>: Never mind that FOTS has been named one of Ontario\u2019s Top 100 Festivals and Events each year since 2016. There\u2019s nothing quite like hitting the road and listening to music surrounded by a breathtaking backdrop of nature \u2014 even the intermissions at the Stockey Centre are timed perfectly to coincide with glorious nightly sunsets on the lake.<\/p>\n

\"Music
Music Niagara: Toronto All-Star Big Band (Photo courtesy of Music Niagara)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Music Niagara<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario
\nJune 17 \u2014 August 20
\nLink<\/a><\/p>\n

Founded in 1998 by artistic director, Atis Bankas, this summer festival located in one of the country\u2019s most picturesque towns on the shores of Lake Ontario features both Canadian and internationally renowned musicians in a variety of genres including: chamber music, choral, orchestral, contemporary, country, folk and jazz.<\/p>\n

What’s Hot<\/strong>: What do you get when you combine two musicians equally known for their fiery personalities? Heat! a duo recital performed by charismatic Canadian trumpeter Guy Few with mezzo-soprano Julie Nesrallah (July 9), host of CBC Music\u2019s Tempo<\/em> and the executive producer and star of Carmen on Tap<\/em>.<\/p>\n

What’s Cool<\/strong>: Moving Picture<\/em>s with Victor Paukstelis offers a fascinating, multi-sensory program in which the artist\u2019s own paintings are paired with his live performance (August 14).<\/p>\n

Why You Need to Be There<\/strong>: As one of the first summer festivals out of the gate, Music Niagara\u2019s diverse programming ensures you\u2019ll discover new artists and music \u2014 or just enjoy chamber chestnuts such as Schubert\u2019s quintessential summer delight: the Trout quintet.<\/p>\n

\"Carissa
Carissa Klopoushak, Artistic Director of Ottawa Chamberfest. (Photo: Alexander Vlad, courtesy Ottawa Chamberfest)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Ottawa Chamberfest<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Ottawa, Ontario
\nJuly 21 \u2013 August 4
\nLink<\/a><\/p>\n

Ottawa Chamberfest offers a multitude of different series as well as sunrise concerts and midday matinees with something for every taste. Artistic director Carissa\u00a0Klopoushak, who assumed the reins from visionary predecessor Roman Borys in 2021, shows her programming flair with various concerts and recitals showcasing instrumentalists and vocalists, contemporary and Indigenous music as well as offering a live stream option for selected shows.<\/p>\n

What’s Hot<\/strong>: The thrice JUNO-award winning Gryphon Trio comprised of Annalee Patipatanakoon, violin, Borys, cello, and Jamie Parker, piano treats listeners to an eclectic program steeped in Mahler as well as contemporary works as the second offering in the Signature Series. Joining them is a cappella vocal group Nordic Voices and mezzo-soprano Marion Newman (July 29).<\/p>\n

What’s Cool<\/strong>: Grammy-winning artist Johnny Gandelsman performs Bach\u2019s Cello Suites on violin as part of the Sunrise Concerts series held in Beechwood (July 23, 9 a.m.), as well as later performs his solo project This is America, celebrating the rich cultural tapestry in America (July 22).<\/p>\n

Why You Need to Be There<\/strong>: Despite the ravages of a global pandemic, Ottawa Chamberfest has risen like a phoenix as one of Canada\u2019s most prominent summer festivals, with nimble, hybrid programming able to shapeshift to changing times; named Ottawa Tourism\u2019s Event of the Year in 2019.<\/p>\n

\"Artists
Artists singing on The Stratford Belle, part of Stratford Summer Music’s Floating Barge Concert Series (Photo: Clara Leney\/CCOC 4.0)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Stratford Summer Music<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Stratford, Ontario
\nJuly 21 \u2013 August 14
\nLink<\/a><\/p>\n

All roads lead to music in Stratford, Ontario. Its annual Stratford Summer Music festival led by Canadian violinist Mark Fewer presents three jam-packed summer weekends of chamber concerts and solo recitals showcasing over 100 local, national, and internationally acclaimed artists in both indoor and outdoor venues.<\/p>\n

What’s Hot<\/strong>: Go big or go home. After two pandemic years of mostly solo artists \u2014 if lucky to have that \u2014 Classical Superstars showcases nine A-list Canadian musicians, including dynamo pianist Stewart Goodyear in his sophomore SSM appearance. The program features a pair of larger-scale works: Enesco\u2019s String Octet<\/em>, as well as perennial crowd-pleaser, Mussorgsky\u2019s Pictures at an Exhibition<\/em> (August 13).<\/p>\n

What’s Cool:<\/strong> Canada\u2019s \u201cSweetheart of Swing,\u201d Alex Pangman finally marks her Festival debut after three years of scheduling attempts, joined by multi-instrumentalist Drew Jurecka and Samways\u2019 member, Nathan Hitz. (July 30). Or, check out another SSM debut by Thalea Quartet, with the high-octane evening also featuring deep funk group The Shuffle Demons (August 6).<\/p>\n

Why You Need to Be There<\/strong>: See what all the buzz is about after British arts journal Gramophone<\/em> hailed the now 21-year old Festival founded by John Miller in 2001 as one of the top festivals in North America in 2011, and notably the only Canadian festival to make the cut as one of its top 12 summer music sites.<\/p>\n

#LUDWIGVAN<\/b><\/em><\/h3>\n

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