Maestra-Led Orchestras Perform at The Royal Conservatory

On November 25 and 26, The Royal Conservatory was proud to welcome Staatskapelle Berlin to Koerner Hall – it was the 450-year-old orchestra’s Toronto debut which was performed to sold-out crowds and rave reviews.  

Maestro Daniel Barenboim was originally scheduled to lead the orchestra in their performance of all four Brahms symphonies but had to withdraw for health reasons. Maestra Giedrė Šlekytė stepped in and the performance of the first two symphonies so impressed the audience on Saturday evening, that they snapped up the remaining available seats for the Sunday performance of Brahms Symphony No. 3 and No. 4.  

At only 34 years of age, Maestra Šlekytė is already sought-after internationally as a guest conductor with an impressive list of accomplishments. In a recent review, Der Tagesspiegel said: “Barely a generation has passed since women entered the male domain of top orchestras...Today, there are plenty of them at the most sought-after podiums, each more interesting than the other. Giedrė Šlekytė however stands out in terms of energy, passion and determination.”

This was Maestra Šlekytė’s North American debut and The Royal Conservatory was thrilled to be part of this historic event! 
 
Staatskapelle Berlin’s performances were the second in The Royal Conservatory’s International Orchestra Series launched earlier this year. Our thanks to Season Sponsor BMO, Concert Presenting Sponsor Power Corporation, and Dinner Sponsor TELUS for their support in making this Signature Event possible.  The next in the series is the Philadelphia Orchestra’s sold-out concert in April 2024 and Signature Event tickets (also in support of The Royal Conservatory’s Fund for Koerner Hall) are the only remaining option to see this performance led by Maestro Yannick Nézet-Séguin.

Equally thrilling was the Royal Conservatory Orchestra’s performance on November 24 with RBC guest conductor, JoAnn Falletta. Maestra Falletta is a multiple Grammy Award-winner, the first woman to lead a major American ensemble – the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, and was recently named one of the “50 Great Conductors” by Gramophone.  

Performing to an enthusiastic and near sold-out audience, the program included Brahms Piano Concerto No. 1 in D Minor, op. 15 with Ihnatowycz Prize in Piano recipient, Henry From, as well as performances of Roussel and Hindemith. Said Maestra Falletta of working with the Royal Conservatory Orchestra comprised of artists of The Glenn Gould School, “It’s been a great experience for me. They are so gifted, and they are very aware and at a very high level. We were able to dig in to new ideas they wanted to try, and it was a wonderful, wonderful time together.” Watch the performance now on RoyalConservatory.Live.

This is the second of four performances for the artists of the 2023-24 Royal Conservatory Orchestra, part of the Temerty Orchestral Program, before they head to New York City for their Carnegie Hall debut, generously sponsored by Rayla and George Myhal, in May 2024.  

Applications for undergraduate and post-bachelor programs at The Glenn Gould School close on December 15, 2023 while applications for The Rebanks Family Fellowship and International Performance Residency Program close on February 16, 2024. Learn more here.