Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Beethoven: “Emperor” Concerto

This programme has been CANCELLED.

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Elektra - Live!

Ever since its première over a century ago in 1909. Richard Strauss”s Elektra has excited and shocked its audience through a combination of cutting-edge, shattering music and over-the-top drama. A number of recent recordings (both video and audio) of live performances have approached this work from very different viewpoints, each trying to outdo the other. The program will examine excerpts from contrasting recordings which we hope will stimulate an interesting discussion on a work which continues to astonish after all these years.

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Pinchas & the Concerto (Program 1)

What better way to experience some of the greatest music ever written for the violin than through the ears of one of the finest violinists of our time! Join Maestro Pinchas Zukerman, musical director of the National Arts Centre Orchestra in Ottawa and CBC Radio Two host Eric Friesen for 10 hours of conversation, in studio demonstrations and recordings

In this series of five programs, each program will feature two one-hour presentations. In Program 1 we will hear 'The Building Blocks to Greatness', music by Vivaldi, Bach and Mozart, then after the break, the Bruch Concerto No. 1 and Scottish Fantasy.

“As I sat, hour after hour, with Pinchas Zukerman and his Guarnerius del Gesu fiddle, I was overwhelmed by his generosity in revealing to us a lifetime spent with the great violin concertos and admitting us to the inner circle of the great interpreters of the 20th century. These conversations reveal the real Pinchas; billiant, funny, passionate, honest, humble in the presence of other greatness and as always, the finest player of his generation.”
- Eric Friesen

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Conductors Series: Gustavo Dudamel

Gustavo Dudamel (b. 1981) has taken the classical music world by storm, first through his outstanding work as artistic director of the Orquesta Sinfónica Simón Bolívar in Caracas, Venezuela and then more recently as music director of the Los Angeles Philharmonic. Himself a product of the famous Venezuelan musical education program El Sistema, he successfully won prestigious conducting competitions attracting the attention of conductors such as Sir Simon Rattle and Claudio Abbado, both of whom accepted invitations to conduct the Simón Bolívar Orchestra in Venezuela.

Dudamel began his tenure as music director of the Los Angeles Philharmonic in September 2009. He conducted his official inaugural concert featuring the world premiere of John Adams' “City Noir” and Mahler’s Symphony No. 1 with his new orchestra in Walt Disney Concert Hall on October 8.

In the program we will have the opportunity to see this dynamic and charismatic young conductor in his inaugural concert with the Los Angeles Philharmonic as well as with renowned tenor Juan Diego Florez. Also featured will be the Simón Bolívar Orchestra in Venezuela performing Mahler’s Fifth Symphony.

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Christmas Party

Each year, the Classical Music Club Toronto holds a Christmas party for members and their guests. We hold the party to a FRIDAY night because Saturdays in December tend to be fully booked for many of the Classical Music Club Toronto members.

Details of location and how to RSVP are provided to members via electronic or traditional mail. This is a 'Pot Luck' party. To avoid duplicates, in your RSVP indicate the food you intend to bring. Your friends are welcome. Please bring your own drinks.

ANNUAL CD EXCHANGE: Please wrap a CD you would like to share with other members.

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Mozart: Requiem

The Classical Music Club will be entering into a friendly competition with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra when both will be presenting Mozart’s Requiem in 2012. For the session on Sunday January 15, the CMC has assembled a stellar cast:

• Arleen Auger, Cecilia Bartoli, Vinson Cole and Rene Pape
• Konzertvereinigung Wiener Staatsopernchor
• Winener Philharmoniker
• And by special invitation, Sir Georg Solti
• The setting is Vienna’s magnificent St Stephen’s Cathedral

Time permitting, there will also be a bonus presentation on the story behind the Requiem.

To familiarise yourself with the Requiem, the motion picture Amadeus will be an interesting watch prior to attending this CMC session.

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Pinchas & the Concerto (Program 2)

In this series of five programs, each program will feature two one-hour presentations. In the first half of Program 2 we will hear the Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto in D Major, Opus 35. First movement by Pinchas Zukerman / Bavarian, second movement by Pinchas Zukerman / Israel, third movement by Gil Shaham / National Arts Centre and third movement by Pinchas Zucherman / London Symphony.

After the break, the Bartok Violin Concerto No. 2. The first movement (opening) will be by Zoltan Szekely / Amsterdam Concertgebouw, the first movement complete by Pinchas Zukerman / St. Louis, second movement by Isaac Stern / New York, finale (alternate ending) by Pinchas Zukerman / St. Louis, finale by Pinchas Zuckerman / St. Louis.

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Anniversary Celebration: Delius & Debussy

The year 2012 is an opportunity for us to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the births of two celebrated 20th-century composers: Claude Debussy and Frederick Delius. Both are masters of the late-Romantic orchestral style but are also noted for their work in smaller forms, such as piano solos and songs. Although Debussy’s music is performed more often in concerts and recitals these days, there is a case to be made for experiencing the rarely heard lush, chromatic world of Delius. The program will be in two parts with each composer being showcased separately.

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Opera Heroines

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Manon: Fleming, Netrebko, Dessay

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Brahms: Symphony No. 2

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