The TSO Delivers Thank You Note(s) to the City of Toronto with FREE Concert

Peter Oundjian and the TSO

Tuesday, July 7, 2015 at 12:30pm at Roy Thomson Hall 

June 16, 2015: “If a symphony orchestra plays in a city and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound?” Without its loyal audience, the Toronto Symphony Orchestra (TSO) could not share the music! This is why the TSO has orchestrated a special event to express its appreciation, and thank Torontonians for their ongoing support.

On Tuesday, July 7 at 12:30pm at Roy Thomson Hall, TSO Music Director Peter Oundjian conducts the TSO in a FREE concert — which also showcases RBC Resident Conductor Earl Lee — to celebrate the community of Toronto. With a satisfying programme of orchestral gems by beloved composers including Rossini, Mozart, Beethoven, and more, the TSO delivers a musical thank you note to the city. Long-time audience members, newcomers, connoisseurs, neophytes, young and old — all are welcome to enjoy.

Much to celebrate
This concert not only celebrates the musical vitality of Toronto but also the end of an exciting season packed with acclaimed performances for the TSO. Highlights include the 2nd annual Chinese New Year Celebration featuring megastar Lang Lang; the RBC Piano Extravaganza, a two-week festival curated by world-renowned pianist Emanuel Ax, featuring an array of concerts and activities that included Pianos in the City; the New Creations Festival (which comprised two TSO Commissions/World Premières, one North American Première, and four Canadian Premières including the concert performance of the widely lauded opera, Written on Skin) starring soprano Barbara Hannigan and composer/curator George Benjamin; Ararat: The Music of Armenia, an evening of colourful Armenian music featuring brilliant Armenian guest artists and the music of Canadian, Oscar-winning film composer Mychael Danna; and a trio of alluring concerts as part of A Celebration of Sir Andrew Davis’s 40-year association with the TSO.

More than meets the ear
This past season, the TSO has introduced some highly successful new projects and collaborations such as Conduct Us. The event, presented as part of Culture Days, gave members of the public a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to conduct a full symphony orchestra, and was a resonant success. Other new endeavours included the launch of a series of intimate pre-concert performances featuring The TSO Chamber Soloists, hosted by Concertmaster Jonathan Crow. In collaboration with Zoomer Media, the TSO also launched its own weekly radio show on The New Classical FM in March 2015. Co-hosted by broadcaster and musician Kathleen Kajioka and TSO President & C.E.O. Jeff Melanson, Sunday Night with the TSO quickly became the number one show in its timeslot in Toronto.

To celebrate its 40th anniversary, the Toronto Symphony Youth Orchestra (TSYO) delivered a high-octane performance at Koerner Hall in April 2015, paired with the announcement that the TSYO programme will be offered at no cost to all members as of the 2015/2016 season, making musical education more accessible. November 2014 brought The Second City Guide to the Symphony, a special collaboration between the TSO with the legendary Second City comedy theatre. The first concert of its kind in Toronto, this unique blend of sketch comedy, satire, and songs, was an instant hit and will return next season by popular demand. With the generous support of the Esther Gelber Fund, the Toronto Symphony Orchestra commissioned Toronto-based piano virtuoso Hilario Durán to compose an orchestral piece. The World Première of his Concerto for Latin Jazz Trio and Orchestra, “Sinfonia Afrocubana” was warmly received in April 2015.

The TSO aspires to strengthen the fabric of Toronto’s cultural landscape by forming new relationships with its communities. Fresh partnerships, innovative ventures and exciting public events will be announced in the near future… stay tuned.

The TSO Delivers Thank You Note(s) to the City of Toronto with FREE Concert
Tuesday, July 7, 2015 at 12:30pm
Roy Thomson Hall, 60 Simcoe Street
General Admission. Seats available on a first-come first-served basis
For information, call TSO Patron Services at 416.598.3375 or visit TSO.CA

Peter Oundjian, conductor
Earl Lee, RBC Resident Conductor

Rossini: Overture to La gazza ladra
Holst: “Jupiter” from The Planets
Mozart: Overture to The Marriage of Figaro, K.492
Gary Kulesha: Torque 
Beethoven: Movement II from Symphony No. 7
Stravinsky: Infernal Dance and Finale from The Firebird Suite (1919 revision)

The TSO Season Presenting Sponsor is BMO Financial Group.
The TSO Official Airline is Air Canada.
The TSO Season Patrons are Pam and Chris Hodgson.

Twitter: @TorontoSymphony
Facebook: facebook.com/torontosymphonyorchestra
YouTube: youtube.com/torontosymphony
Instagram: instagram.com/torontosymphony

About the TSO: Founded in 1922, the Toronto Symphony Orchestra is one of Canada’s most important cultural institutions, recognized internationally as an outstanding orchestra. Music Director Peter Oundjian leads the TSO with a commitment to innovative programming and audience development through a broad range of performances that showcase the exceptional talents of the Orchestra along with a roster of distinguished guest artists and conductors. The TSO also serves the larger community with TSOUNDCHECK, the original under-35 ticket programme; the Toronto Symphony Youth Orchestra; and music education programmes that reach over 50,000 students each year.

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