For Immediate Release – Tuesday, September 17th, 2024
ESPRIT ORCHESTRA ANNOUNCES EDGE OF YOUR SEAT SEASON
PRELUDE CONCERTS & AN INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL
TORONTO, ON – Today, Esprit Orchestra announces its 42nd season – THE EDGE OF YOUR SEAT – comprising two Prelude Concerts and an International Festival to take place at Koerner Hall and Trinity-St. Paul’s Centre. Founder, Music Director and Conductor Alex Pauk leads the orchestra through a season of bold, visionary programming; a daring sonic exploration of the very best in contemporary music from home and abroad. All concerts are preceded by Musical Insights (formerly Pre-Concert Talks) with composer Alexina Louie at 7:15PM.
On Wednesday, November 27th, 2024 the season commences with Prelude Concert #1: F(X)=; a program of immense power and delicate beauty from composers spanning three continents. A brisk, lively work by rising American composer Gabriella Smith invites listeners to consider, “What would f(x)=sin2x-1/x sound like?” Esprit’s audience will be enchanted by the return of virtuoso accordionist Michael Bridge in the North American Premiere of the poignant and dramatic It is pain flowing down slowly on a white wall by Danish composer Bent Sørensen. Fū-Shi (“Shape of the Wind”) by Japan’s Maki Ishii comprises an East-West fusion of sweeping, epic proportions and rounds out the convergence of diverse cultures on this program.
Prelude Concert #2: RUNNER, taking place on Sunday, February 23rd, 2025, spotlights the talent of exceptional local soloists and friends of Esprit; violinist Mark Fewer and pianist Kevin Ahfat will perform Hans Abrahamsen’s Double Concerto, while harpsichordist Wesley Shen and harpist Erica Goodman appear in concerti by Henryk Gorecki and our own maestro, Alex Pauk. Composed in 2016, Esprit is thrilled to be giving the Canadian Premiere performance of Runner, by the iconic American composer Steve Reich.
The Edge of Your Seat International Festival kicks-off on Tuesday, March 4th with CHASING VITO. Esprit is thrilled to be joined in Toronto by featured guest composer, Vito Žuraj, for the North American Premiere of Anemoi, co-commissioned by Esprit and the Berlin Philharmonic. Esprit’s dynamic string players will be spotlighted in a performance of Pulitzer Prize winning Caroline Shaw’s Entr’acte, a tremendously popular work being performed by Esprit for the first time. Virtuosity abounds when Ryan Scott and Esprit’s percussion section hit the stage to perform The Wave, composed by Japan’s maven of mallet percussion, Keiko Abe.
The world converges on Toronto on Thursday, March 27th as Esprit presents ICEFIRE, DO-RE-MI & CARING FOR THE EARTH, comprising works from three of the most vital voices in the contemporary music landscape. Last performed in 2019, Esprit will reprise Sustain and be joined by American composer Andrew Norman as a featured guest composer. Receiving its North American Premiere, Esprit will explore the warm, cold and nuanced in-between of ISHJÄRTA, by Swedish composer Lisa Streich, who will also join us in Toronto as featured guest composer. In tribute to the late composer, Esprit is honoured to be joined by 1990 Tchaikovsky Competition winner Akiko Suwanai to perform the Canadian Premiere of the Violin Concerto #2 “Do-Re-Mi” by Peter Eötvös.
Esprit moves to Trinity-St. Paul’s Centre for two festival concerts; CARROT REVOLUTION on Tuesday, April 2nd and IMAGINARY PANCAKE on Sunday, April 6th. These programs, consisting of solo, chamber and large ensemble works, offer an intimate environment for engaging with the diverse and dynamic repertoire. World Premieres will be heard of new works by emerging Canadian composers Roydon Tse, Julia Mermelstein & Quinn Jacobs. Highlights of these concerts include soloist appearances from violinist Mark Fewer, pianist Wesley Shen, saxophonist Wallace Halladay, vocalist Aline Morales and percussionists Ryan Scott and Michael Murphy. Programs include music by Gabriella Smith, Keiko Abe, Mark Duggan, Ivan Trevino, John Rea, Bernhard Lang & Chris Paul Harman. Attendees of concerts held at Trinity-St. Paul’s Centre are invited to mingle and enjoy complimentary refreshments at a post-concert reception.
Returning to Koerner Hall, the 2024/25 season and the Edge of Your Seat International Festival will come to a close on Thursday, April 17th with COSMIC HEARTBEATS. Launching the careers of emerging Canadian composers and championing their music has long been a cornerstone of Esprit’s mission, and on this program two such works will be performed. Early in his career and composing for Esprit for the first time, Esprit will help launch the career of Nicholas Ma and give the World Premiere of his work, Hijinks, in addition to performing a new work by audience favourite, James O’Callaghan. Joined by the exceptional rising star soprano, Sophia Burgos, Esprit will perform the seminal 1980 work Lonely Child by Claude Vivier, long a touchstone of Esprit’s repertoire. Receiving its Canadian Premiere performance, Alaraph ‘Ritus des Herschlagz’ by Unsuk Chin closes out Esprit’s first International Festival and 2024/25 concert season. Among the most programmed composers in Esprit’s repertoire, this concert marks the 10th work by Chin to be performed by Esprit. Composed for large orchestral forces and depicting the phenomenon of “heartbeat stars”, this work will transport the audience to the cosmos in a bold sonic journey that is quintessentially Chin.
2024/2025 EDGE OF YOUR SEAT SEASON
Wednesday, November 27th / 2024 | Koerner Hall
8:00PM Concert | 7:15PM Musical Insights with Alexina Louie & guests
Alex Pauk, Music Director & Conductor
Michael Bridge, accordion
Prelude Concert #1: f(x)=
Gabriella Smith (USA) – f(x)=sin2x-1/x* (2019)
Bent Sorensen (DNK) – It is pain flowing down slowly on a white wall** (2010)
Maki Ishii (JPN) – Fū Shi (“Shape of the Wind”) (1989)
*Canadian Premiere **North American Premiere
Sunday, February 23rd / 2025 | Koerner Hall
8:00PM Concert | 7:15PM Musical Insights with Alexina Louie & guests
Alex Pauk, Music Director & Conductor
Mark Fewer, violin
Kevin Ahfat, piano
Erica Goodman, harp
Wesley Shen, harpsichord
Prelude Concert #1: RUNNER
Steve Reich (USA) – Runner* (2016)
Hans Abrahamsen (DNK) – Double Concerto (2011)
Alex Pauk (CAN) – Concerto for Harp & Orchestra (2005)
Henryk Gorecki (POL) – Concerto for Harpsichord & Orchestra (1980)
*Canadian Premiere
EDGE OF YOUR SEAT INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL
Tuesday, March 4th / 2025 | Koerner Hall
8:00PM Concert | 7:15PM Musical Insights with Alexina Louie & guests
Alex Pauk, Music Director & Conductor
Ryan Scott (Canada), marimba
Guest Composer: Vito Žuraj (Slovenia)
Festival #1: CHASING VITO
Keiko Abe (JPN) – The Wave (2000)
Caroline Shaw (USA) – Entr’acte (2011)
Vito Žuraj (SVN) – Anemoi* (2024)
*North American Premiere, commissioned by the Berlin Philharmonic & Esprit Orchestra
Thursday, March 27th / 2025 | Koerner Hall
8:00PM Concert | 7:15PM Musical Insights with Alexina Louie & guests
Alex Pauk, Music Director & Conductor
Akiko Suwanai (Japan), violin
Guest Composers: Lisa Streich (Sweden) & Andrew Norman (USA)
Festival #2: ICEFIRE, DO-RE-MI & CARING FOR THE EARTH
Lisa Streich (SWE) – ISHJÄRTA* (2024)
Peter Eötvös (HUN) – Violin Concerto #2 “DoReMi”** (2011-12)
Andrew Norman (USA) – Sustain (2018)
*North American Premiere **Canadian Premiere
Wednesday, April 2nd / 2025 | Trinity St. Paul’s Centre
8:00PM Concert | 7:15PM Musical Insights with Alexina Louie and guests
Alex Pauk, Music Director & Conductor
Ryan Scott, percussion
Michael Murphy, percussion
Aline Morales, vocalist
Festival #3: CARROT REVOLUTION
Gabriella Smith (USA) – Carrot Revolution (2015)
Keiko Abe (JPN) – Michi (1979)
Mark Duggan (CAN) – Maracatu Imaginário** (2017)
Julia Mermelstein (CAN) – Floral Reef* (2024)
Roydon Tse (CAN) – Stepwise* (2023)
Ivan Trevino (MEX) – Wildlings (2014)
John Rea (CAN) – Objets perçus (1992)
* World Premiere & Esprit Orchestra Commission ** previously commissioned by Esprit
Sunday, April 6th / 2025 | Trinity St. Paul’s Centre
8:00PM Concert | 7:15PM Musical Insights with Alexina Louie and guests
Alex Pauk, Music Director & Conductor
Wesley Shen, piano
Mark Fewer, violin
Wallace Halladay, saxophone
Festival #4: IMAGINARY PANCAKE
Quinn Jacobs (CAN) – New Work* (2020)
Bernhard Lang (AUT) – D/W 24 ‘Loops for Al Jourgensen’ (2013)
Gabriella Smith (USA) – Imaginary Pancake (2020)
Chris Paul Harman (CAN) – Partita for Solo Violin #2 (2019)
* World Premiere & Esprit Orchestra Commission
Thursday, April 17th / 2025 | Koerner Hall
8:00PM Concert | 7:15PM Musical Insights with Alexina Louie and guests
Alex Pauk, Music Director & Conductor
Sophia Burgos (USA), soprano
Nicholas Ma (CA) – Hijinks* (2024-25)
James O’Callaghan (CA) – New Work* (2025)
Claude Vivier (CA) – Lonely Child (1980)
Unsuk Chin (KR) – Alaraph ‘Ritus des Herschlagz’** (2023)
*World Premiere & Esprit Orchestra Commission **Canadian Premiere
ESPRIT ORCHESTRA 2024-2025 KOERNER HALL SUBSCRIPTION SERIES
Royal Conservatory of Music TELUS Centre for Performance and Learning
273 Bloor Street West
Individual concert tickets start at: Adult $45; Senior 65+ $40; Under 30 $20
Please call (416) 408 0208 or visit espritorchestra.com
Season Sponsor: BMO
Esprit Orchestra is Canada’s only full-sized orchestra devoted exclusively to performing and promoting new orchestral music.
Esprit Orchestra gratefully acknowledges Canada Council for the Arts, Ontario Arts Council, Toronto Arts Council, Azrieli Foundation, SOCAN Foundation, Ontario Arts Foundation, Toronto Arts Foundation, Business/Arts, The Michael and Sonja Koerner Charitable Foundation, The Mary-Margaret Webb Foundation, Tim & Frances Price, Art Mentor Foundation Lucerne, The Hal Jackman Foundation, Power Corporation of Canada, The Max Clarkson Family Foundation, The Amphion Foundation and Anonymous for their generous support.
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Media Contact:
Cameron Dubé
cameron@espritorchestra.com
(416) 815-7887