Toronto Symphony Orchestra to Present CANADA MOSAIC for Country's Sesquicentennial

In 2017, Canadian performing arts organizations and individuals across the country will celebrate Canada's Sesquicentennial. The Toronto Symphony Orchestra (TSO) is honoured to have been chosen by the Government of Canada to present Canada Mosaic. Highlighting this nation's diverse musical landscape, Canada Mosaic underscores our rich musical past, present, and future through performance, education, innovation, and collaboration in every province. From indigenous to indie, classical to cutting-edge, and with innovative collaborations from coast to coast to coast, Canada Mosaic is a Signature Project of Canada 150, funded by the Government of Canada.

"The Government of Canada is proud to support this major project by the TSO, which will highlight the talent and creativity of our artists and the wealth of our musical heritage," comments The Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Canadian Heritage. "What a wonderful way to celebrate our 150th!"

Across the 2017 calendar year, the TSO will present an unprecedented number of commissions, legacy works, and thematic programs. Spotlighting the wealth of existing and new Canadian music, these initiatives will include classical, pop, indigenous, and film music. Cross-country orchestral collaborations will showcase the vast network of excellent Canadian orchestras, composers, and soloists. Pioneering digital resources and an e-learning platform-with TSO concerts, listening guides, and other interactive resources-will engage new and existing audiences of all ages.

"With this project, we hope to foster diversity, openness, and inclusion," notes Music Director Peter Oundjian. "This once-in-a-generation opportunity offers the chance to do something truly transformative for Canadian music. In addition to honouring the country's musical past, the new commissions will incorporate distinctively Canadian characteristics, including aboriginal artists, multicultural elements, and non-classical musical traditions."

Canada Mosaic comprises three major components:

• Musical Legacy & Commissions
• Partner Orchestras
• Website & E-learning

Visit TSO.CA/CanadaMosaic for details.

MUSICAL LEGACY & COMMISSIONS

Canada Mosaic concert experiences throughout 2017

Throughout the entirety of 2017, the TSO will showcase the riches of Canadian music. Looking back at the invaluable contributions of past composers, and leaping forward to celebrate the current generation of gifted Canadian artists, the TSO will put the spotlight on Canadian music-sometimes in the form of an entire concert, and sometimes as a highlight in a regular program.

January 21, 2017: Canadian Legacy
This concert honours the legacy of 20th-century Canadian composers who helped shape our musical landscape: Ridout, Mercure, Coulthard, and Weinzweig. French-Canadian pianist Alain Lefèvre sheds light on André Mathieu's poignant Rhapsodie romantique.

January 28, 2017: Eruption
The fine musicians of the Toronto Symphony Youth Orchestra (TSYO)-the next generation of great orchestral performers-join forces with the TSO in the World Première of Dutch-Canadian composer Edward Top's Eruption. The Combined 150-musician-strong orchestra, under the baton of TSO Music Director Peter Oundjian, will also travel to Ottawa and Montréal together to share the impressive new work with more Canadian music lovers.

February 1 & 2, 2017: Canadian Voices, Global Stage
The TSO also celebrates Canadian artists who shine around the globe as musical ambassadors. Soprano Karina Gauvin and baritone Russell Braun are both symbols of Canadian artistic vibrancy. They bring their international panache to a program that includes music by Fauré and a work by gifted Montréal composer Samy Moussa.

February 4, 2017: The Year of the Rooster: A Chinese New Year Celebration
Ottawa-born composer Vincent Ho brings his colourful Rejuvenation: A Taoist Journey-a new work for pipa and modern orchestra. The event features world-famous pipa virtuosa Wu Man and Canadian Mark Rowswell (a.k.a. "Dashan")-one of China's biggest stars-as narrator, alternating between English and Mandarin.

February 25, 2017: DAM! The Story of Kit the Beaver
In partnership with TIFF, the TSO has crafted a delightful program for kids and families that explores the magic of movies and music. DAM! The Story of Kit the Beaver is a newly commissioned short film by Kjell Boersma with accompanying live orchestra score by Toronto composer Erica Procunier, led by RBC Resident Conductor Earl Lee.

March 4, 2017: Tanya Tagaq (part of the New Creations Festival)
Astonishing throat singer (and 2014 Polaris Music Prize winner) Tanya Tagaq joins the TSO and brings her magic to Roy Thomson Hall. She performs a new work, written with fellow Canadians Christine Duncan and Jean Martin, with orchestrations by Canadian composer Christopher Mayo, under the music direction of André de Ridder.

March 8, 2017: James Ehnes & Owen Pallett (part of the New Creations Festival)
Canadian composer, multi-talented musician, and New Creations Festival curator Owen Pallett débuts his latest work for orchestra, featuring Canadian bass-baritone Daniel Okulitch, in a bold and experimental program conducted by André de Ridder.

March 11, 2017: Nicole Lizée & CasSandra Miller (part of the New Creations Festival)
André de Ridder is at the podium for this unique concert-hosted by Peter Oundjian-that features wild and imaginative World Premières by Canada's own CasSandra Miller, whose music was described as "sweet, slightly surreal," and Nicole Lizée, billed as a "brilliant musical scientist." Lizée's work is performed by the dazzling Kronos Quartet.

June 10 & 11, 2017: CA-NA-DA!
This performance is a nostalgic journey through the best of popular music from Canadian stage and screen. From The Log Driver's Waltz to "The Hockey Theme" (from Hockey Night in Canada), this program-conceived and conducted by Canadian Lucas Waldin-illustrates a different facet of Canadian music, and stars Toronto jazz singer Heather Bambrick.

The following concerts are part of the 2017/18 season. Subscription packages will be available in January 2017; individual tickets will be available in August 2017.

September 19, 2017: Life of Pi
Canadian composer Mychael Danna's Academy Award-winning score to Ang Lee's film Life of Pi, based on the novel of the same title by Canadian author Yann Martel (winner of the 2002 Man Booker Prize), will make its World Première on the TSO stage as a new orchestral suite, featuring V. Selvaganesh on traditional Indian percussion and vocalist Bombay Jayashri, who both appeared on the movie's original soundtrack.

September 22 & 23, 2017: A Tribute to Glenn Gould
A tribute to the life and legacy of legendary Canadian pianist Glenn Gould, this concert features music that defined his career. The TSO, conducted by Peter Oundjian, also performs the World Première of a new orchestral work inspired by Gould from Canadian composer Kelly-Marie Murphy.

September 27 & 28, 2017: Triple Concerto for Canadian Concertmasters
In a landmark collaboration, Canadian composer Alexina Louie's triple concerto for the concertmasters of the TSO (Jonathan Crow), National Arts Centre Orchestra (Yosuke Kawasaki), and Orchestre symphonique de Montréal (Andrew Wan) receives its World Première at Roy Thomson Hall, under the direction of Peter Oundjian. The work was co-commissioned by the three orchestras.

October 7, 2017: Adizokan
The TSO celebrates the evocative culture of Canadian Indigenous peoples in a singular concert curated and directed by Sandra Laronde, founder and artistic director of Red Sky Performance. The event features the World Première of Adizokan-a new genre-bending creation that explores Indigenous connections to ancestral origins and all things traceable. Inspired by Indigenous cosmology, sky and star stories, and the complex traces of a deep past and future, this image-rich experience is a potent mix of dance, video, electro-acoustic, and orchestra by Canadian composer Eliot Britton.

October 19 & 20, 2017: A Tribute to Maureen Forrester
One of the finest artists of her generation, extraordinary Canadian mezzo-soprano Maureen Forrester dazzled audiences worldwide. Honouring her memorable life and career, this performance features a new song cycle for mezzo-soprano and orchestra by Howard Shore, performed by Canadian mezzo-soprano Susan Platts.

October 21 & 22, 2017: With Glowing Hearts
This all-Canadian program-curated by renowned conductor and Canadian music champion Victor Feldbrill-explores Canada's rich history of classical composers (Somers, Freedman, Beckwith, Champagne, Archer, and Weinzweig) and spotlights Canadian pianist Christina Petrowska Quilico.

November 9 & 11, 2017: Afghanistan: Requiem for a Generation
To commemorate Remembrance Day, the TSO presents an emotional performance of Afghanistan: Requiem for a Generation, a soul-searching work by Canadian composer Jeffrey Ryan. Soloists include soprano Measha Brueggergosman, mezzo-soprano Allyson McHardy, tenor Colin Ainsworth, and baritone Brett Polegato, with the Toronto Mendelssohn Choir and the Toronto Children's Chorus, under the direction of Canadian conductor Tania Miller.

All concerts are at Roy Thomson Hall, 60 Simcoe Street, unless otherwise noted.
Call the TSO ticket line at 416.593.1285, or order tickets online at TSO.CA.

PARTNER ORCHESTRAS

In addition to co-presenting major commissions with orchestras across the country, the TSO has co-commissioned two-minute orchestral works from 40 partner orchestras, hailing from every Canadian province. These "Sesquies" will be premièred by the TSO in Toronto, and by each partner orchestra in its local community.

Alberta
Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, featuring Sesquie by John Abram
TSO Première: October 19, 2017
Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra Première: September 22, 2017

Edmonton Symphony Orchestra, featuring Sesquie by John Mcpherson
TSO Première: December 13, 2017
Edmonton Symphony Orchestra Première: December 22, 2017

Lethbridge Symphony, featuring Sesquie by Rolf Boon
TSO Première: September 27, 2017
Lethbridge Symphony Première: May 8, 2017

Red Deer Symphony Orchestra, featuring Sesquie by Cheryl Cooney
TSO Première: April 1, 2017
Red Deer Symphony Orchestra Première: March 11, 2017

British Columbia
Kamloops Symphony Orchestra, featuring Sesquie by Tobin Stokes
TSO Première: November 23, 2017
Kamloops Symphony Orchestra Première: November 18, 2017

Prince George Symphony Orchestra, featuring Sesquie by Simon Cole
TSO Première: April 12, 2017
Prince George Symphony Orchestra Première: February 11, 2017

Vancouver Island Symphony, featuring Sesquie by Pierre Simard
TSO Première: June 21, 2017
Vancouver Island Symphony Première: Date TBA

Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, featuring Sesquie by Jocelyn Morlock
TSO Première: February 9, 2017
Vancouver Symphony Orchestra Première: January 26, 2017

Victoria Symphony, featuring Sesquie by Jared Miller
TSO Première: September 28, 2017
Victoria Symphony Première: Date TBA

Manitoba
Manitoba Chamber Orchestra, featuring Sesquie by Andrew Balfour
TSO Première: June 14, 2017
Manitoba Chamber Orchestra Première: May 16, 2017

Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra, featuring Sesquie by Harry Stafylakis
TSO Première: March 8, 2017
Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra Première: January 13 & 14, 2017

New Brunswick
Symphony New Brunswick, featuring Sesquie by Christine Donkin
TSO Première: April 7, 2017
Symphony New Brunswick Première: March 13, 14 & 15, 2017

Newfoundland and Labrador
Memorial University Chamber Orchestra, featuring Sesquie by Andrew Staniland
TSO Première: March 4, 2017
Memorial University Chamber Orchestra Première: March 31, 2017

Northwest Territories
Table for Five, featuring Sesquie by Carmen Braden
TSO Première: October 7, 2017
Table for Five Première: Date TBA

Nova Scotia
Symphony Nova Scotia, featuring Sesquie by Dinuk Wijeratne
TSO Première: February 1, 2017
Symphony Nova Scotia Première: January 26, 2017

Ontario
Esprit Orchestra, featuring Sesquie by John Rea
TSO Première: February 15, 2017
Esprit Orchestra Première: February 12, 2017

Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra, featuring Sesquie by Abigail Richardson-Schulte
TSO Première: November 25, 2017
Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra Première: November 11, 2017

Kingston Symphony, featuring Sesquie by Cecilia Livingston
TSO Première: September 23, 2017
Kingston Symphony Première: Date TBA

Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony, featuring Sesquie by Darren Fung
TSO Première: October 4, 2017
Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony Première: Date TBA

Mississauga Symphony Orchestra, featuring Sesquie by Alex Eddington
TSO Première: June 10, 2017
Mississauga Symphony Orchestra Première: November 18, 2017

National Arts Centre Orchestra, featuring Sesquie by Nicole Lizée
TSO Première: March 11, 2017
National Arts Centre Orchestra Première: February 23 & 24, 2017

Niagara Symphony Orchestra, featuring Sesquie by Kevin Lau
TSO Première: June 11, 2017
Niagara Symphony Orchestra Première: May 21, 2017

Ontario Philharmonic, featuring Sesquie by Vivian Fung
TSO Première: February 4, 2017
Ontario Philharmonic Première: January 28 & 29, 2017

Ottawa Symphony Orchestra, featuring Sesquie by Alain Trudel
TSO Première: January 21, 2017
Ottawa Symphony Orchestra Première: April 3, 2017

Sinfonia Toronto, featuring Sesquie by Chan Ka Nin
TSO Première: May 26, 2017
Sinfonia Toronto Première: May 5, 2017

Sudbury Symphony Orchestra, featuring Sesquie by William Rowson
TSO Première: April 6, 2017
Sudbury Symphony Orchestra Première: April 29, 2017

Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra and Chamber Choir, featuring Sesquie by Colin Labadie
TSO Première: April 22, 2017
Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra and Chamber Choir Première: March 23, 2017

Thirteen Strings Chamber Orchestra, featuring Sesquie by Andrew Ager
TSO Première: November 18, 2017
Thirteen Strings Chamber Orchestra Première: Date TBA

Timmins Symphony Orchestra, featuring Sesquie by Luc Martin
TSO Première: June 2, 2017
Timmins Symphony Orchestra Première: May 13, 2017

Windsor Symphony Orchestra, featuring Sesquie by Jordan Pal
TSO Première: November 11, 2017
Windsor Symphony Orchestra Première: September 23, 2017

Prince Edward Island
PEI Symphony Orchestra, featuring Sesquie by Kati Agócs
TSO Première: March 22, 2017
PEI Symphony Orchestra Première: November 19, 2017

Québec
I Musici de Montréal, featuring Sesquie by Julien Bilodeau
TSO Première: November 9, 2017
I Musici de Montréal Première: Date TBA

Les Violons du Roy, featuring Sesquie by Yannick Plamondon
TSO Première: September 22, 2017
Les Violons du Roy Première: September 14 & 15, 2017

McGill Chamber Orchestra, featuring Sesquie by Maxime Goulet
TSO Première: January 28, 2017
McGill Chamber Orchestra Première: January 17, 2017

Orchestre symphonique de Drummondville, featuring Sesquie by Marc Bélanger
TSO Première: April 13, 2017
Orchestre symphonique de Drummondville Première: February 16, 2017

Orchestre symphonique de Laval, featuring Sesquie by Nicolas Gilbert
TSO Première: October 21, 2017
Orchestre symphonique de Laval Première: September 27, 2017

Orchestre symphonique Saguenay-Lac Saint-Jean, featuring Sesquie by Louis Babin
TSO Première: February 10, 2017
Orchestre symphonique Saguenay-Lac Saint-Jean Première: February 5, 2017

Saskatchewan
Regina Symphony Orchestra, featuring Sesquie by Laura Pettigrew
TSO Première: December 13, 2017
Regina Symphony Orchestra Première: November 25, 2017

Saskatoon Symphony Orchestra, featuring Sesquie by Derek Charke
TSO Première: September 19, 2017
Saskatoon Symphony Orchestra Première: May 13, 2017

Yukon Territory
The Longest Night Ensemble, featuring Sesquie by Daniel Janke
TSO Première: October 27, 2017
The Longest Night Ensemble Première: December 20 & 21, 2017

WEBSITE & E-LEARNING

The TSO has launched a dynamic Canada Mosaic website and free digital learning platform to highlight Canada's distinct musical heritage. During 2017, every new Canadian commission will be recorded and available online for free, in more than 40 audio and video recordings. Through streamed and recorded TSO concerts, listening guides, and interactive educational resources, this website is an asset for all Canadians looking to expand their cultural horizons. Starting today, audiences can explore an interactive "O Canada," showcasing recordings of the anthem in 12 languages, including sign language.

The Canada Mosaic online experience begins at TSO.CA/CanadaMosaic.

Twitter: @TorontoSymphony / @TorontoSymph_FR
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. 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 program; the Toronto Symphony Youth Orchestra; and music-education programs that reach tens of thousands of students each year.

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