NEW WAVE FESTIVAL 2023
April 12 & 16, 7PM
A CONCERT LOUNGE EXPERIENCE
Join Esprit in the newly opened, state-of-the-art TD Music Hall, part of the Allied Music Centre connected to historic Massey Hall. Boasting an atmosphere more akin to nightlife than the traditional concert hall, this casual, dynamic space has a full-service bar, stunning views of Toronto’s urban landscape through floor-to-ceiling windows and top-of the-line immersive audio, video and lighting capabilities that Esprit will use to enhance its bold and experimental New Wave programs.
7:00 PM Concerts
TD Music Hall, Allied Music Centre, 178 Victoria St
Festival Sponsors
Tickets: $20
Box Office of Massey Hall & Roy Thomson Hall 416 872 4255
espritorchestra.com
New Wave 1 Wed
April 12
Alex Pauk, C.M. Music Director & Conductor
Mark Fewer, violin
Like New Wave 2, this concert showcases young Canadian composers (Dupuis and Tse) engaged in Esprit’s Three-Year Creative Strategy. Music by Canada’s renowned Claude Vivier appears in tandem with music by trailblazing American gay composer Eastman in New Wave 2. The phenomenal violin soloist Mark Fewer and a surprising arrangement by Salvatore Sciarrino grace the program along with Nishimura’s Bali-inspired Kecak heading up the percussion features in both New Wave concerts. New Wave 1 includes keynote commentary by esteemed composer John Rea.
PROGRAMME
SOPHIE DUPUIS (CA)
L’histoire que les vague racontent** for 14 musicians and live electronics
ROYDON TSE (CA)
Mobilize** for sinfonietta
SALVATORE SCIARRINO (IT)
Brazil based on music by Ary Barroso
CHRIS PAUL HARMAN (CA)
Partita No. 2 for Solo Violin*
CLAUDE VIVIER (CA)
Pulau Dewata arr. JOHN REA (CA)
AKIRA NISHIMURA (JP)
Kecak for percussion sextet
* World Premiere ** World Premiere commissioned by Esprit with the generous support of the Ontario Arts Council
New Wave 2 Sun April 16
Alex Pauk, C.M. Music Director & Conductor
Ryan Scott, snare drum
Mochizuki’s sizzling work provides immediate concert momentum leading to an electrifying solo performance by Ryan Scott, Esprit’s principal percussionist, and a percussion/keyboard extravaganza by Reich. The Three-Year Creative Strategy yields music by Orlando and Mermelstein alongside a highlight of the program — the prophetic Julius Eastman’s Gay Guerilla, exemplifying his personal motto — “to be what I am to the fullest: Black to the fullest, a musician to the fullest, and a homosexual to the fullest.”
New Wave 2 includes a brief roundtable on the sensational lives and music of Claude Vivier and Julius Eastman.
PROGRAMME
MISATO MOCHIZUKI (JP)
Chimera for 11 players
JULIUS EASTMAN (USA)
Gay Guerrilla*** arr. JESSIE MONTGOMERY (USA) for string septet
ANDREW STANILAND (CA)
Orion Constellation Theory for snare drum and electronics
JULIA MERMELSTEIN (CA) between walls** for orchestra and fixed electronics
STEPHANIE ORLANDO (CA)
4-7-8** for chamber orchestra
STEVE REICH (USA)
Sextet for percussion and keyboards
** World Premiere commissioned by Esprit with the generous support of the Ontario Arts Council
*** Canadian Premiere
Season Sponsor 8:00 PM Concert 7:15 PM Pre-concert chat with Alexina Louie, O.C. Koerner Hall The Royal Conservatory of Music, 273 Bloor St W Tickets Koerner Hall Box Office 416 408 0208 rcmusic.com espritorchestra.com 2022–2023 40TH ANNIVERSARY SEASON FINALE Sun April 23
Alex Pauk, C.M. Music Director & Conductor
Eugene Astapov, RBC Associate Composer/Conductor
Aaron Schwebel, violin
PROGRAMME
MAX RICHTER (DE/UK)
The Four Seasons Recomposed: Spring
Aaron Schwebel, violin
EUGENE ASTAPOV (CA)
Burial Rites: In Memoriam Marcus Gibbons**
MAX RICHTER (DE/UK)
The Four Seasons Recomposed: Winter
Aaron Schwebel, violin
CHRIS PAUL HARMAN (CA)
Clementi sottosopra*
JOHN CORIGLIANO (USA)
Symphony No. 1
1. Apologue: Of Rage and Remembrance
2. Tarantella
3. Chaconne: Giulio’s Song
4. Epilogue
This final April concert evokes Spring as it starts with Richter’s ingeniously reimagined Spring movements from Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons. Selections from Winter add atmospheric variety. Astapov has created a mosaic of memories in tribute to a late, cherished, highly talented teenage piano student of his, while Corigliano’s powerful symphony expresses feelings connected to the loss of three lifelong musicianfriends during the apex of the AIDS crisis. Both works resonate with tremendous emotion and spirituality yet within dynamic musical forms of great clarity. Harman continues in the vein of reflecting on music from the past with a whirling, topsy-turvy glance at Clementi.
* World Premiere
** World Premiere commissioned by Esprit with generous support from the RBC Foundation, the SOCAN Foundation and Sofia Gomez Gibbons
Music Director’s Message
This season’s programming has combined important works from past seasons with brilliant world premieres, striking foreign works and newly cultivated pieces from Esprit’s Three-Year Creative Strategy. New audio/video initiatives have garnered praise and our reinvigorated New Wave Festival has revived outreach programming and nurtured early career composer development. We are tremendously grateful to our valued benefactors celebrating Esprit’s longevity and propelling artistic growth and organizational strength. With these things in mind I welcome you to join us for more adventures moving forward in the realm of today’s most captivating music.
Esprit Orchestra gratefully acknowledges the following for their generous support
Alex Pauk, C.M. Founder, Music Director & Conductor
The Michael and Sonja Koerner Charitable Foundation
The Mary-Margaret Webb Foundation
The Max Clarkson Family Foundation
Tim and Frances Price Anonymous
The S.M. Blair Family Foundation
The Charles H. Ivey Foundation
