Flute Virtuoso Claire Chase to Bring DENSITY 2036 Project to Toronto

On October 4, Soundstreams presents the first concert of the 2016/17 Ear Candy series dedicated to big ideas in small venues: Density 2036 at Buddies in Bad Times Cabaret.

Claire Chase, dubbed "the young star of the modern flute" by The New Yorker, and praised by The New York Times for her "extravagant technique, broad stylistic range and penetrating musicality", returns to Soundstreams with this ambitious and highly-acclaimed endeavor following the sold-out success of The Whisper Opera in 2015.

The October 4 concert offers a rare opportunity for audiences to experience the intensity, power and virtuosity of a Claire Chase performance in a very intimate setting.

Density 2036 is a 22-year project which Chase began in 2014 to commission new works in commemoration of the 100th Anniversary of Edgard Varèse's groundbreaking 1936 flute solo, Density 21.5. Each season between 2014-2036, Claire will premiere a new 60-minute program of solo flute work commissioned that year in a special performance at The Kitchen in New York City, and on tour in select cities thereafter. The October 4 performance at Buddies in Bad Times Cabaret marks the Density 2036 project's first Toronto visit and features works by Du Yun, Steve Reich, Marcos Balter, Mario Diaz de León, plus Edgard Varèse's Density 21.5.

Each cycle of works (Density 2014, Density 2015, Density 2020, etc) will have its world premiere recordings released annually, and scores, performance notes, and materials will be made available digitally as educational resources for flutists everywhere. Every three years of the cycle (Density 2016, Density 2019, etc) a retrospective event will be held in which Claire will perform cumulative concerts of all Density work commissioned up until that date. In 2036, a 24-hour marathon will take place.

Claire Chase is considered a model for a new generation of American classical musicians - her career embodies entrepreneurship, technical virtuosity, and performance charisma. Heralded globally for her passion for and support of new and experimental music, Chase is the founder and co-artistic director of the International Contemporary Ensemble (ICE). Since its inception, ICE has premiered more than 650 works, making new music and audience engagement some of its hallmarks. In 2012, Claire Chase was awarded a MacArthur Fellowship for her work with ICE. Other recipients of the "Genius Grant" include pianist Jeremy Denk, pianist Stephen Hough, and composer John Zorn.

Claire Chase will also perform as part of Soundstreams' 2016/17 Main Stage concert season on October 12 in a "surround-sound" concert entitled Magic Flutes at Koerner Hall.

Ear Candy is supported by NOW Magazine and Sovereign State.

IF YOU GO:

Density 2036
October 4, 2016 at 8:00 pm
Buddies in Bad Times Cabaret, 12 Alexander Street

Featuring:
Claire Chase, solo flute

Repertoire:
Du Yun, Gradient Density (electronics only)
Steve Reich, Vermont Counterpoint
Marcos Balter, Pessoa
Mario Diaz de León, Luciform
Du Yun, An Empty Garlic
Edgard Varèse, Density 21.5

Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 at the door, and are available at soundstreams.ca.

Led by Artistic Director Lawrence Cherney and Executive Director Ben Dietschi, Soundstreams showcases the work of Canadian and international composers with a focus on innovative thematic and experiential programming. In collaboration with the finest Canadian and International Artists, Soundstreams presents two annual concert series in Toronto as well as national and international tours. Soundstreams also serves the larger community through our free Salon 21 series at The Gardiner Museum, composer training activities, SoundWave program for music lovers age 35 and under, and digital performance space, including concert recordings, SoundMakers website, and video content.

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