Soundstreams Presents Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir Next Month

Soundstreams kicks off the New Year with a choral celebration on February 2 at St. Paul's Basilica. Featuring the internationally renowned Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir led by conductor Kaspars Putni?š, the concert will feature works by Estonian Arvo Pärt, selections from the beloved Rachmaninov Vespers (All-Night Vigil), and two world premieres by Canadian composers.

2018 officially marks the 100th anniversary of the Republic of Estonia's independence, but the celebration will span three years, beginning in the spring of 2017. Soundstreams is thrilled to be hosting the EPCC in Toronto during this momentous time in their history. Canada's milestone 150th anniversary takes place this year, and in the 2017-18 season, Soundstreams will celebrate its 35th anniversary. Canada and Estonia share rich choral traditions, and Soundstreams is proud to celebrate all three anniversaries in world premieres by Riho Esko Maimets and Omar Daniel, both Canadian composers of Estonian heritage.

Praised by The Washington Post as one of "few choruses [to] have such an intimate connection with their conductor and with the music they perform," The Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir (EPCC) was founded in 1981 by conductor Tõnu Kaljuste. With an extensive repertoire that covers everything from Gregorian chant to contemporary music, the EPCC also has a focus on bringing the work of Estonian composers to the world. In addition to the EPCC's work with leading conductors, world-class orchestras, and esteemed music festivals around the world, the Choir has recorded a multitude of award-winning CDs. The EPCC has garnered 14 Grammy Award nominations, including two wins for Best Choral Performance - in 2007 for the album of Arvo Pärt's Da Pacem (Harmonia Mundi) with conductor Paul Hillier, and in 2014 for Arvo Pärt's Adam's Lament (ECM Records) with Tõnu Kaljuste.

In 2014, Kaspars Putni?š was appointed the artistic director and chief conductor of the Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir, and has been co-conductor of the Latvian Radio Choir since 1992. He has appeared as a guest conductor with prominent European choirs and orchestras such as the BBC Singers, Berliner Rundfunkchor, and Netherlands Chamber Choir, and Kaspars Putni?š is also no stranger to Soundstreams audiences - he was last seen on the Soundstreams stage in 2014 for the Canadian Choral Celebration concert, and conducted the Latvian Radio Choir on the Koerner Hall stage during their visit to Toronto in 2012.

This concert will be the fifth time since 2000 that Soundstreams has hosted the Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir, selling out most of their previous Toronto appearances. Soundstreams will be presenting this concert in Toronto's historic St. Paul's Basilica, the city's oldest Roman Catholic parish. The beautiful interior of St. Paul's Basilica will be the perfect setting to experience this strongly spiritual program of vocal music.

"When Soundstreams presented the Canadian debut of the EPCC in 2000, they were already renowned for a decade of stunning recordings of the music of Arvo Pärt on the ECM label," says Soundstreams Artistic Director Lawrence Cherney. "High-profile international touring since then has confirmed their reputation as the world's greatest chamber choir, and we are thrilled to collaborate with them again."

Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir

February 2, 2017 at 8:00 pm

St. Paul's Basilica, 83 Power Street

Repertoire

Sergei Rachmaninov The Theotokos, Ever-Vigilant in Prayer

Excerpts from Vespers (All-Night Vigil):

My Soul Doth Magnify the Lord - nr 11

Praise the Name of the Lord - nr 8

Rejoice O Virgin - nr 6

Riho Esko Maimets Three Prayers From the Holy Rosary

Omar Daniel Sõduri Ema

Arvo Pärt Summa

The Woman With the Alabaster Box

Nunc dimittis

Dopo la vittoria

Tickets range from $22-$67.50 and are available through The Royal Conservatory Box Office at 416-408-0208 or online at soundstreams.ca.

SOUNDSTREAMS 2016/2017 PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE

R. Murray Schafer's Odditorium

March 2-5, 2017, Crow's Theatre

Music in Fifths (Part of the Ear Candy series)

April 8, 2017 at 8:00 pm, Artscape Sandbox

The Music of Unsuk Chin

May 28, 2017 at 3:00 pm, Koerner Hall, TELUS Centre

ABOUT SOUNDSTREAMS

Soundstreams is one of the world's leading contemporary music companies, and the largest global presenter of new Canadian music. Artistic Director Lawrence Cherney and Executive Director Ben Dietschi are committed to showcasing the work of living and international composers with a focus on innovative thematic and experiential programming.

Soundstreams maintains its commitment to the larger community with Salon 21, a free series offering performances contextualized through engaging discussion at The Gardiner Museum, as well as composer training activities, the SoundWave program, which promotes accessible tickets to those 35 and under, and the creation of digital performance spaces.

SOUNDSTREAMS SUPPORTERS

Soundstreams acknowledges the support of: Department of Canadian Heritage, Canada Council for the Arts, Ontario Arts Council, Toronto Arts Council, TD Bank, BMO Financial Group, The Mary Margaret Webb Foundation, Metcalf Foundation, The Koerner Foundation, SOCAN Foundation, The Catherine and Maxwell Meighen Foundation, The RBC Emerging Artists Project, The Hal Jackman Foundation, Lloyd Carr-Harris Foundation, Ontario Arts Foundation, Classical 96.3 FM, NOW Magazine, The Gardiner Museum, Sovereign State, Harbord Bakery and Steam Whistle Brewery.

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