Close to 100 Events Announced for Koerner Hall's 2019-20 Concert Season
Close to 100 Events Announced for Koerner Hall's 2019-20 Concert Season
Published on June 4, 2019
Tonight The Royal Conservatory revealed details of the diverse concerts that will make up its
2019-20 concert season, during which Koerner Hall turns 10 years old.
“We’ve had over 1,000 concerts…across all genres,” recalled Executive Director of Performing Arts
Mervon Mehta during a recent interview with alumna – past Koerner Hall performer –
Amanda Martinez. “What’s been really gratifying and interesting is that every artist wants to come back.”
Season Gala Features Wynton Marsalis
Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis headlines our
Season Gala. Entitled
Big Band Holidays, the event brings soulful big band arrangements of songs both sacred and secular, and features guest vocalists
Alexis Morrast and Toronto’s own
Denzal Sinclaire. While the concert is sold out, gala dinner and concert packages are still available by calling
416.408.2824 x447.
Beethoven 250
In 2019-20, The Royal Conservatory embarks on a two-season exploration of Ludwig van Beethoven in recognition of his 250th birthday. Beginning in the spring of 2020, The Royal Conservatory will present more than a dozen concerts featuring a composer Mehta considers one of history’s greatest.
Internationally celebrated pianists
Yefim Bronfman,
Louis Lortie, and
John O’Conor will present concerts dedicated entirely to Beethoven, as will German baritone
Matthias Goerne, accompanied by acclaimed alumnus
Jan Lisiecki, and an ensemble of students of The Glenn Gould School under resident conductor
Joaquin Valdepeñas.
The legendary composer will also feature prominently in concerts by many other esteemed artsits, including
The Takács Quartet; pianists
Daniil Trifonov and
Sir András Schiff; violinists
Kyung Wha Chung,
Pamela Frank, and
Bomsori Kim; and the
Royal Conservatory Orchestra under Canadian Opera Company Music Director
Johannes Debus.
Many other internationally distinguished musicians will take the stage for The Royal Conservatory’s remaining classical concerts.
Angela Hewitt and
Hélène Grimaud complete the
Invesco Piano Series and rising star violinists
Ray Chen completes the our
string concerts.
Gábor Tarkövi, Principal Trumpet of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, and
faculty members of The Glenn Gould School (GGS) feature as part of the Mazzoleni Masters series.
Students of The Glenn Gould School and The Phil and Eli Taylor Performance Academy for Young Artists will also appear on our stages. They will perform as part of the
GGS Piano Showcase,
GGS Concerto Competition Finals,
GGS Chamber Competition Finals,
Rebanks Family Fellowship Concert,
Taylor Academy Showcase Concerts, and
Academy Chamber Orchestra, as well as in performances of the
Royal Conservatory Orchestra under celebrated composers
Tania Miller,
Andrei Feher, and
Gábor Takács-Nagy.
21C Music Festival
The seventh edition of the
21C Music Festival, The Royal Conservatory’s celebration of new music across genres – will include eight concerts over three weekends from Saturday,
January 11, 2020 to Saturday, January 25, 2020. Among this year’s performers are Grammy Award winners
Laurie Anderson and
Danilo Pérez, as well as
Zakir Hussain, and
John Patitucci,
Against the Grain Theatre, as well as alumni
Véronique Mathieu,
Philippe Sly,
Miriam Khalil, and the musicians of the
GGS New Music Ensemble.
Lagrime San Pietro Presented by Peter Sellars
Acclaimed opera director Peter Sellars presents two innovative performances of Baroque master
Orlando di Lasso’s final work, sung a capella by the
Los Angeles Master Chorale. Di Lasso knew that Lagrime was to be the last piece he would ever compose, and every measure communicates a lifetime of pain and remorse.
Celebrating the Godfather of Armenian Music
International Artists Celebrated Throughout the Season
In addition to the abundance of international artists that appear in other concert series, many acclaimed performers will come to Koerner Hall as part of The Royal Conservatory's celebrated
world music series. Returning to the stage are fadistas
Mariza and
Carminho, genre-bending guitarist
Raul Midón, and Italian cabaret artist
Pilar. Making their debuts are Juno Award-winning musicians
Susan Aglukark and
Wesli, Benin-based guitarist
Lionel Loueke and Zimbabwean band
Mokoomba.
At the heart of the series is
KUNÉ – Canada’s Global Orchestra. This resident orchestra of The Royal Conservatory, made up of 11 musicians from countries around the world, will perform alongside Toronto Balkan fusion band
Moskitto Bar. The success of the ensemble has been a gratifying surprise for Mehta, a labour of love that has attracted the attention of presenters across North America.
Jazz Series Features Legends and Oscar Peterson's AFRICA!
“This year we just decided to bring the best legendary performers that were out there,” declared Mehta, describing the theme of this year’s series. Fittingly, the series opens with
Chick Corea and continues with
Chucho Valdés,
Branford Marsalis, and
Orbert Davis. The series will also include a world premiere of
Oscar Peterson’s AFRICA!, a work completed and recorded in 1983 but never performed live in front of an audience.
Benny Green will play Peterson’s own piano, accompanied by
Christian McBride on bass,
Lewis Nash on drums, and a Toronto all-star big band conducted by
John Clayton. The concert is generously sponsored by Bösendorfer and co-presented with the Oscar Peterson Jazz Festival.
Quiet Please, There’s A Lady on Stage Returns for Fifth Season
For the fifth time, The Royal Conservatory will dedicate a series to great female voices, inspired by Peter Allen’s song of the same name. Conceived as a one-time series, it has become a signature series on the RCM’s concert calendar, and beloved by audiences. The 2019-20 edition will feature, among others, jazz-inspired singers
Holly Cole,
Dee Dee Bridgewater, and
Lizz Wright as well as R&B chanteuse
Lisa Fischer and cabaret sensation
Meow Meow.
Music Mix Features Trailblazing Female Artists
More than half of the concerts during the 2019-20 season feature female performers. Many of them appear in the Music Mix series, including gospel legend
Mavis Staples, country-roots artists
Shawn Colvin and Mary Chapin Carpenter, and banjo superstar
Rhiannon Giddens.
Other performers in this characteristically diverse series of The Royal Consevatory’s concert season are
Bruce Cockburn,
Blind Boys of Alabama,
Los Lobos, as well as tributes to
Charles Aznavour, Canada’s
Breithaupt brothers, as well as the
Maple Blues Awards,
SongBird North, and the
Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain.
Free Concert Series Expands in 2019-20
The Royal Conservatory presents its fourth edition of
Sunday Interludes, its series of free, 75-minute Sunday afternoon concerts that mix jazz, cabaret, world, and classical music. 2019-20 performers include pianists
David Ramsden and
Dang Thai Son, violinist
Jinjoo Cho, saxophonist
Alison Young, as well as the
Ladom Ensemble and the students of London’s
Royal Academy of Music. This series is possible thanks to the generous support of Dorothy Cohen Shoichet.
“Over the last 10 years, it has been incredibly gratifying to see Koerner Hall emerge as a beloved destination for Toronto music lovers as well as one of the world’s greatest concert halls,” says
Dr. Peter Simon, Michael and Sonja Koerner President & CEO. “Our 2019-20 season continues our tradition of programming the world’s leading performing artists from across a wide range of musical genres. On behalf of everyone at The Royal Conservatory, I thank Season Sponsors BMO Financial Group and
Toronto Star, as well as our many supporters, for their generous contributions.”
For the full list of concerts and events, including our Music on Film series, visit rcmusic.com/performance.