Artist-in-Residence Stewart Goodyear To Debut Own Composition in Koerner Hall

Stewart Goodyear, Artist-in-Residence of The Royal Conservatory of Music, will perform in acclaimed Koerner Hall on February 9 (rescheduled from the original November 27, 2021 date).  This will be Mr. Goodyear’s 12th appearance in Koerner Hall, making him the Hall’s most frequent artist. 

He will debut his “Piano Quintet” which, according to Mr. Goodyear, “pays homage to the spirit of Beethoven”.  Composed in 2020, this four-movement work will be performed with the Penderecki String Quartet who commissioned the piece with assistance from the Canada Council for the Arts. “The last movement starts as a lament and ends with a glimmer of hope,” says Mr. Goodyear, “The inspiration was directly taken from the challenges of the pandemic and the need for Beethoven’s spirit during these tumultuous times.” 

Mr. Goodyear will then perform Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 for solo piano in a transcription by Franz Liszt and himself. Joining Mr. Goodyear for the Symphony are the Toronto Mendelssohn Choir and a quartet of young singers, all of whom are students or recent graduates of The Royal Conservatory: soprano Jonelle Sills, mezzo-soprano Beste Calendar, tenor Zachary Rioux, and bass/baritone Korin Thomas-Smith.    

Says Mervon Mehta, Executive Director, Performing Arts at The Royal Conservatory, “Not only will Stewart be playing 80 musicians’ worth of piano, but he will also need to cue and conduct the four soloists and a 24-voice choir, all after having performed the world premiere in the first half.  And you know from history that he will deliver, and it will be fantastic.” 

To watch the performance, please visit this page.