Toronto Symphony Orchestra Announces April Line-Up

From Beethoven and Brahms to Mahler, Mendelssohn, and Mozart, the month of April at the Toronto Symphony Orchestra (TSO) brings a myriad of masterworks. Prominent guest conductors Andrey Boreyko, Robert Trevino, and Thomas Dausgaard take turns leading the Orchestra. Guest soloists include pianists Lucas Debargue and Luca Buratto, and Canadian violinist Karen Gomyo. Gershwin and Broadway tunes bring a refreshing spring feeling to the April lineup, as Canada's new, bright Broadway star Chilina Kennedy makes her TSO début. And-just in time for the 2017 Stanley Cup playoffs-the TSO brings back The Hockey Sweater, a charming story by author Roch Carrier set to music by Abigail Richardson-Schulte. As part of the TSO's Canada Mosaic project, audiences will be treated on several occasions to new, two-minute orchestral works called Sesquies, to celebrate Canada's 150th anniversary.

On April 1, acclaimed Canadian violinist Karen Gomyo joins the TSO and guest conductor Robert Trevino to perform Beethoven's magnificent Violin Concerto. Stravinsky's effervescent ballet, Petrouchka, completes the evening. The program repeats on April 2 at the George Weston Recital Hall, with the addition of Debussy's Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun.

April 6 and 7 mark the return of much-loved Danish Maestro Thomas Dausgaard, conducting the sublime Mahler Symphony 10 (in the version completed by music scholar Deryck Cooke). TSO Principal Cello Joseph Johnson takes the spotlight in Schumann's poetic Cello Concerto.

On April 12 and 13, Russian conductor Andrey Boreyko leads Liszt Piano Concerto 2. These concerts mark the TSO début of French pianist Lucas Debargue-prizewinner at the 2015 International Tchaikovsky Competition. Brahms's Symphony No. 3 and The Isle is Full of Noises-an evocation of Shakespeare's The Tempest-by Canadian composer Christos Hatzis round out the program.

April 18 and 19 bring the delightful Best of Rodgers & Hammerstein program. TSO Principal Pops Conductor Steven Reineke and Broadway star vocalists Chilina Kennedy and Ryan Silverman (with the participation of the Amabile Choirs of London) deliver highlights from the legendary duo that created such classics as The King and I, Carousel, South Pacific, The Sound of Music, and many more. Fresh from performing the title role in Beautiful-The Carole King Musical in a long Broadway run, Kennedy makes her TSO début before headlining the Tony and GRAMMY Award-winning show in Toronto as of June 2017.

On April 20, at Massey Hall, conductor & host Rob Kapilow returns for What Makes It Great? An American in Paris-Gershwin's jazz-influenced symphonic poem.

Mozart & Mendelssohn are on the menu on April 22 and 23, as the TSO's RBC Resident Conductor, Earl Lee, leads the Orchestra in a program featuring Italian pianist Luca Buratto, making his TSO début. The 2015 Honens Prize Laureate performs Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 25 as part of a sunny program that also includes Mendelssohn's Symphony No. 4 "Italian" and the Overture to L'italiana in Algeri by Rossini.

On April 26, at Koerner Hall, the brilliant musicians of the Toronto Symphony Youth Orchestra (TSYO) offer their last performance of the season, under the direction of RBC Resident Conductor Earl Lee. The program features selections from Wagner's opera Tristan und Isolde and Tchaikovsky's monumental Symphony No. 6 "Pathétique".

The TSO is delighted to bring back The Hockey Sweater on April 29. Written in 1979 by Canadian author Roch Carrier, the charming story was set to music by Abigail Richardson-Schulte-a TSO Co-commission, which premièred in May 2012. It features the author himself as narrator, the composer as host, and conductor Alain Trudel. This tale of childhood, hockey, and a very disappointing mail-order mix-up is sure to please the entire family.

Canada Mosaic is funded in part by the Government of Canada.

The TSO Season Presenting Sponsor is BMO Financial Group.
The 2016/17 season is dedicated to H. Thomas Beck in recognition of his vital and long-standing support of the TSO.
Air Canada is the Official Airline of the TSO and the Presenting Sponsor of the Light Classics Saturday Series and Masterworks Encore Series.
Scotia Wealth Management is the Pops Presenting Sponsor and the Performance Sponsor for The Hockey Sweater.
Long & McQuade is the Young People's Concerts Community Partner.
Economical Insurance is the Casual Concert Series Presenting Sponsor.

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About the TSO: Founded in 1922, the Toronto Symphony Orchestra is one of Canada's most important cultural institutions, recognized internationally. Music Director Peter Oundjian leads the TSO with a commitment to innovative programming and audience development through a broad range of performances that showcase the exceptional talents of the Orchestra along with a roster of distinguished guest artists and conductors. The TSO also serves the larger community with TSOUNDCHECK, the original under-35 ticket program; the Toronto Symphony Youth Orchestra; and music-education programs that reach tens of thousands of students each year.

Photo credit: Minoru Kaburagi

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