The Fabulous Tales from Robert Lepage: The Nightingale

Screenshot: The Nightingale and Other Short Fables
"This has to be the most enchanting work for the musical stage to hit Toronto in years." (Toronto Star)
NEW Mon., Nov. 2, 2009 at 7:30 p.m. performance just added. Order today!
Credit: Canadian Opera Company

The Nightingale & Other Short Fables by Igor Stravinsky
On Stage Oct. 17 to Nov. 5, 2009
NEW Mon., Nov. 2, 2009 at 7:30 p.m
At the Four Seasons Centre, 145 Queen St. W., Toronto.

Director: Robert Lepage
Conductor: Jonathan Darlington
Nightingale: Olga Peretyatko
Fisherman: Lothar Odinius
Emperor: Ilya Bannik
Death: Maria Radner
The world premiere of a new co-production with Festival d'Aix-en-Provence and Opéra national de Lyon, in collaboration with Ex Machina.

Notes & Impressions:

Igor Stravinsky was known for his innovative use of rhythm and harmony, but not for melody. But melody is "Our All" for Russian musical forms. Most of the Russian folk songs are very melodic, which influences on many Russian composers. No need to say here … Tchaikovsky.

The end of the nineteenth century and the beginning of the twenties century brought up a new composer’s breed like Scriabin, Stravinsky and others, who broke the rules. But what Stravinsky did was based on the different kind of Russian folklore and folk music. That was kind a Bakhtin's carnival, for the inner use only with violent rhythms and rough wordings. So, when Stravinsky was hanging out with Harlem’s musicians, he was pretty much inoculated with our own folk-jazz syncopes that might gave a life to his avant-garde music.

This is a preface to the today’s performance of The Nightingale and Other Short Fables by Igor Stravinsky at the Four Seasons Centre. And the feast we had today couldn’t be more synthetic than the performance: opera, ballet, puppet theatre, water show, theatre of shadows, circus, and, of course, the orchestra!

I might forgot a thing or two, or might missed something from the Ring #5 but, nevertheless, it was a feast for my eyes, my ears, and my Russian soul.

2009 © Natalia Silver

links:
thestar.com: Review: Nightingale and Other Short Fables are awash in magic
By John Terauds
bbc.co.uk: Discovering Music: WORK IN FOCUS: Petrushka: Igor Stravinsky (1882-1971)
The Arts Junction:
Three Robbin’s Ballet Pieces: Brilliant Canadian Tribute
National Ballet of Canada: The Life of a Ballet Dancer
National Ballet of Canada: Class on Stage and We Mean It

Call to Artists Toronto Junction Arts Festival 2008: Main Stage

The Junction Arts Festival - September 3 to 7, 2008

Snapshot: junctonartsfest.com Call to Artists

This year the Junction is celebrating its 100th anniversary marking its incorporation as West Toronto in 1908. Celebrations are being planned all year, but none as big as the annual Junction Arts Festival.

Our aim is to organize the artistic line-up keeping in mind, but not limited to, the festival theme – Historic Mind / Modern Eye. At a time when we are celebrating the Junction's past we do so with one eye on the present and one on the future. The interpretations, visions, stories, hopes and dreams presented will transform this theme into a reality and help define who we are. The Junction.

We are currently accepting applications for the following categories -
Juried Visual Art Exhibit; Street Performing Artists; Art Installations;
KIDZone/Junction Community Stage; Writers and Readings; and Music.
Get your application at www.junctionartsfest.com

MAIN STAGE: Music - All Genres

This year the Main stage will be housed in the new Junction City Square and will run from Friday night to Sunday. High level recording artists, the best of Junction musicians, a covered beer garden and good times will be had by one and all.

Need application assistance? Have any questions?
Contact Michael Menegon, Festival Producer,
416-767-5036 or junctionartsfest@on.aibn.com

Please send application to:
Junction Arts Festival
Juried Art Exhibition
3042 Dundas Street West
Toronto, ON, M6P 1Z3

links:
Wikipedia: Music of Canada
Canadian Encyclopedia: Encyclopedia of Music in Canada
Canadian Heritage: Canada Music Fund (CMF)
toronto.com: Toronto Events Guide

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Toronto Free Events: Four Seasons Centre

Free concerts in the Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts

Tuesday, June 19, 2007
12 – 1 p.m.

The Musicians in Ordinary presents
Not One Lady Failed to Shed a Tear: The Birth of Opera

Thursday, June 21, 2007
12 – 1 p.m.

Claudia Moore
Tedd Robinson, choreographer present
How to be Older and Reckless

Details:

Not One Lady Failed to Shed a Tear: The Birth of Opera Concert for Centre for Reformation and Renaissance Studies & Canadian Opera Company
A program of early 17th-century Italian Baroque music. The new affective Baroque style sought to make even the rocks weep. Contemporary descriptions of performances by singers such as Adriana Basile and Francesca Caccini tell us that the people in the audience were so moved. The new style has the power to entrance and enthrall. Composers to be heard will include Monteverdi (Lamento d’Arianna), Giulio and Francesca Caccini, Stefano Landi, Alessandro Picininni and others.

Presented in collaboration with the Centre for Reformation and Renaissance Studies, Victoria University in the University of Toronto, on the occasion of the Renaissance Spring Festival 2007.

How to be Older and Reckless
Claudia Moore is one of Canada's most celebrated senior dance artists. She trained at Canada's National Ballet School and has performed with The National Ballet of Canada, Toronto Dance Theatre and Desrosiers Dance Theatre. For the past 10 years she has been the artistic director of Moonhorse Dance Theatre. Ms Moore continues to be "older and reckless" as an artist and has teamed up with celebrated choreographer Tedd Robinson to create this brand new solo. Claudia will reveal the process of dancing alone and on the edge—and invites you to join her in this journey. ". . . One of the most beautiful and expressive bodies in Canadian dance." Dance Connection
The performances of young Canadian artists in the Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre are made possible by a generous donation from Massey College through the Bernard Ostry Cultural Foundation fund and the Fellows’ Fund endowed by Vincent Massey Tovell, O.C.