Esprit Orchestra 2022-23 Season Brochure

ESPRIT at 40 Astounding!

2022–2023 FALL/WINTER SEASON Season Sponsor

8:00pm Concert 7:15pm Pre-Concert Chat at Koerner Hall

2023 SPRING SEASON TO BE ANNOUNCED

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Tickets Koerner Hall Box Office 416 408 0208 espritorchestra.com

espritorchestra.com

AN EXEMPLARY FASHION Esprit’s 40th Anniversary Season is not simply a review of our history or a claim to starting a new era, but rather, a celebration of our essence in an exemplary fashion.

Commissioning and premiering great works from Canadian composers, giving Canadian Premieres of the best new pieces from around the world and repeating audience favourites are features. Works of historical importance reveal paths to the boundary-stretching sounds we make today in orchestral, multi-disciplinary and multi-cultural artworks. Our soloists have opportunities to perform pieces they otherwise couldn’t and our orchestral musicians have new technical and aesthetic experiences that develop their artistry.

Our ultimate purpose is to bring audiences into Esprit’s celebration of music. Doing what we do in a big way is how we’ll celebrate our 40th Anniversary Season.

I welcome you to join us for the excitement and pleasure of what we have in store.

Alex Pauk, C.M Founder, Music Director & Conductor

DOUBLE YOUR DONATION’S IMPACT! $100,000 Donation Matching Campaign The Michael and Sonja Koerner Charitable Foundation will match Esprit’s 40th Anniversary fundraising initiatives up to $100,000.

Kindly consider donating by: Mailing a cheque to: Esprit Orchestra 511-174 Spadina Ave, Toronto ON, M5T 2C2 With a credit card by calling: (416) 815-7887 Visiting Canada Helps at: canadahelps.org/en/charities/ the-esprit-orchestra-lorchestre-esprit

Thu Oct 27 SPIRA Unsuk Chin (KR/DE) Christopher Goddard (CA) Thomas Adès (UK)

Spira* Concerto for Orchestra Les tringles des sistres tintaient Asyla

Alex Pauk (Conductor) *Canadian Premiere

Experience Esprit’s Canadian Premiere of Chin’s Spira, offering listeners a brilliant, virtuosic showpiece for orchestra. Opening this program is Goddard’s Les tringles des sistres tintaient, a previous Esprit commission re-imagining the fiery gypsy melody from Bizet’s Carmen. Adès’ Asyla, a rich and powerful work deserving of its international acclaim, concludes our opening concert with an ecstatic, infectious, irrepressible energy.

Sun Nov 27 VIOLINISSIMO with the concertmasters of Esprit, COC & National Ballet of Canada José Evangelista (CA) Andrew Staniland (CA) John Rea (CA) Alexina Louie (CA)

Violinissimo concerto for violin and orchestra Six Enigmas* concerto for violin and orchestra Figures hâtives concerto for violin and orchestra Triple Concerto for Three Violins and Orchestra

Alex Pauk (Conductor) / Aaron Schwebel (Violin) / Stephen Sitarski (Violin) / Marie Bérard (Violin) *World Premiere & Esprit Commission

This one-of-a-kind event features four dynamic Canadian violin concertos in one concert.

Evangelista’s Violinissimo and Rea’s Figures hâtives, standout pieces in Esprit’s history, share this concert with the World Premiere of Six Enigmas commissioned from Staniland for Esprit’s concertmaster, Stephen Sitarski.

Three of Toronto’s finest concertmasters (COC Orchestra, National Ballet Orchestra & Esprit Orchestra) team up as soloists in a must-hear performance of Louie’s electrifying Triple Concerto for Three Violins and Orchestra.

Wed Jan 25 TAIKO LIVE! Part of the 21C Music Festival

Colin McPhee (CA) Tabuh-tabuhan for two pianos and orchestra James O’Callaghan (CA) Overbound* concerto for amplified cello, electronics and orchestra Maki Ishii (JP) Mono-prism for Taiko drummers and orchestra Alex Pauk (Conductor) / Cameron Crozman (Cello) / James O’Callaghan (Electronics) / Nagata Shachu (Taiko drumming ensemble) *World Premiere & Esprit Commission

Japan, Bali and Canada – fantastical soundworlds intersect. We’ll rock the hall with Ishii’s Mono-prism, a thunderous combination of Taiko drums with orchestra.

Esprit’s internationally lauded recordings and performances of McPhee’s music have inextricably linked Esprit to the composer’s Bali-inspired orchestral works. Back by audience demand, the vibrant, joyous Tabuh-tabuhan holds a treasured place on our program. Commissioned for our talented young soloist Cameron Crozman, O’Callaghan’s Overbound, for amplified cello, electronics and orchestra, promises a dynamic surround-sound experience.

Esprit Orchestra gratefully acknowledges the following for their generous support

The Michael and Sonja Koerner Charitable Foundation The Mary-Margaret Webb Foundation The S.M. Blair Family Foundation The Max Clarkson Family Foundation The Charles H. Ivey Foundation Timothy & Frances Price Anonymous

8:00pm Concert 7:15pm Pre-Concert Chat at Koerner Hall

Tickets Koerner Hall Box Office 416 408 0208

Programming is subject to change without notice.

espritorchestra.com