Toronto Symphony Orchestra In Six City Florida Tour

PETER OUNDJIAN CONDUCTS THE TORONTO SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA IN SIX-CITY FLORIDA TOUR JANUARY 9-15, 2011

Violinist James Ehnes to be Featured Soloist with the Orchestra

Concerts in Naples, Sarasota, Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach, Orlando and Daytona Beach 

The Toronto Symphony Orchestra and Music Director Peter Oundjian will travel to Florida in January 2011 to perform a week-long series of concerts in six cities including Naples (January 9), Sarasota (January 10), Fort Lauderdale (January 11), West Palm Beach (January 12), Orlando (January 14) and Daytona Beach (January 15). The Florida tour will be the TSO's third visit to the state in the orchestra's history, and its first visit since 1999. Native Canadian and now-resident of Bradenton Florida, violinist James Ehnes will join the orchestra to perform Barber's Violin Concerto. The orchestra will also perform Torque, a 2009 TSO commission by Gary Kulesha (Lead of the TSO Composer Advisory Group), and Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 5. Mr. Kulesha will join the orchestra on tour and give pre-concert talks in select cities. (Please see below for venue and ticket information.)

Founded in 1922, the Toronto Symphony Orchestra is one of Canada's major cultural institutions. Under the leadership of Music Director Peter Oundjian, the TSO is committed to innovative programming and showcases a roster of distinguished guest artists and conductors. In addition to providing over 100 concert performances, the TSO serves the community with one of the largest educational programs in Canada, connecting students throughout Ontario with curriculum-based outreach.

The Toronto Symphony Orchestra developed an international presence through a history of touring to venues in the United States, Europe, and Asia, including a groundbreaking trip to China in 1978 as the first Canadian Orchestra to be invited to enter the country after the Cultural Revolution. The TSO makes its return to New York City for a performance at Carnegie Hall with Itzhak Perlman on March 26, 2011. Following the TSO's previous visit to Carnegie Hall - a sold-out performance in 2008 - The New York Times wrote: "Mr. Oundjian led [the TSO] in a wrenching, full-throttle account of Shostakovich's Symphony No. 11...the orchestra proved to be in superb shape".

Peter Oundjian, now in his seventh season as Music Director of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, continues to make his mark as one of the most exciting conductors on the scene today. His probing musicality, collaborative spirit, and engaging personality have earned him accolades from musicians and critics alike. News of Mr. Oundjian and the TSO continues to spread worldwide through the documentary Five Days In September: The Rebirth of An Orchestra, which has won numerous awards at major international film festivals and has been released on DVD. In his tenure with the TSO, Mr. Oundjian has released four recordings on the orchestra's self produced record label, tsoLIVE. In addition to his post in Toronto, Peter Oundjian has served as Principal Guest Conductor of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra and played a major role at the Caramoor International Music Festival in New York for over a decade. Born in Toronto, Mr. Oundjian was educated in England and completed his violin training at the Juilliard School in New York, where he studied with Ivan Galamian, Itzhak Perlman, and Dorothy DeLay. He was the first violinist of the renowned Tokyo String Quartet, a position he held for fourteen years.

Canadian violinist James Ehnes is widely considered one of the most dynamic and exciting performers in classical music. He has performed in over 30 countries on five continents, appearing regularly with many of the world's most well-known orchestras and conductors. Mr. Ehnes is one of the most prolific recording artists in any style of music and his extensive discography of over 25 recordings has been honored with numerous international awards and prizes, including a Grammy, a Gramophone award, and six Juno awards. Mr. Ehnes's 2010-2011 season features tours to Australia, New Zealand, and Malaysia in addition to performances throughout Canada, the US, and Europe in repertoire ranging from Bartok and Kernis to Vivaldi and Bach. Mr. Ehnes began his violin studies at the age of four. He graduated from The Juilliard School in 1997 where he was a student of Sally Thomas. Mr. Ehnes plays the "Marsick" Stradivarius of 1715 and gratefully acknowledges its extended loan from the Fulton Collection. He currently resides in Bradenton, Florida.

TSO Concert Season Sponsor is Tippet-Richardson Limited

TSO Conductor's Podium Sponsor is BMO Financial Group 

Toronto Symphony Orchestra and Peter Oundjian Florida Tour January 9-15, 2011

Sunday, January 9 at 8:00 pm
Naples Philharmonic Center - Naples, Florida
Single tickets at $89 are available by visiting www.thephil.org or by calling (239) 597-1900.

Monday, January 10 at 8:00 pm
Van Wezel Performing Arts Center - Sarasota, Florida
Tickets ranging from $30 to $90 are available by visiting www.vanwezel.org or by calling (800) 826-9303.

Tuesday, January 11 at 8:00 pm
Broward Center for the Performing Arts - Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Tickets ranging from $35 to $95 are available by visiting www.browardcenter.org/torontosymphonyorchestra or by calling Ticket Florida at (954) 462-0222.

Wednesday, January 12 at 8:00 pm
The Kravis Center for the Performing Arts - West Palm Beach, Florida
Tickets ranging from $25 to $100 are available by visiting www.kravis.org or by calling (561) 832-7469.

Friday, January 14 at 7:30 pm
Longwood Church Auditorium - Orlando, Florida
Tickets ranging from $15 - $80 are available by visiting www.festivaloforchestras.org or by calling (407) 426-1739.

Saturday, January 15 at 7:00 pm
The Peabody Auditorium - Daytona Beach, Florida
Tickets ranging from $42 - $68 are available by visiting www.ticketmaster.com or by calling the box office at (386) 671-3462.

Toronto Symphony Orchestra
Peter Oundjian, conductor
James Ehnes, violin

Kulesha: TorqueBarber: Violin Concerto
Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 5

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