LAURIE ANDERSON

ZAKIR HUSSAIN

AGAINST THE GRAIN THEATRE

JOHN PATITUCCI, DANILO PÉREZ, AND BRIAN BLADE

MEDIA KIT

21C MUSIC FESTIVAL HIGHLIGHTS

21C MUSIC FESTIVAL PRESS RELEASE

21C MUSIC FESTIVAL AT A GLANCE

CHRONOLOGICAL LIST OF EVENTS AND WORKS

TICKETING INFORMATION

SPONSORS

THE ROYAL CONSERVATORY FACT SHEET The 21C Music Festival is made possible through the generous support of Michael and Sonja Koerner

21C MUSIC FESTIVAL 2020

A FESTIVAL OF NEWLY-MINTED MUSIC BY THE WORLD’S FOREMOST STARS OF INDEPENDENT MUSICAL THINKING AND INNOVATION

8 CONCERTS 1 FILM 1 VIRTUAL REALITY INSTALLATION 3 WEEKS 12 PREMIERES (5 WORLD, 1 NORTH AMERICAN, 6 CANADIAN)

9 CANADIAN COMPOSERS

21C Music Festival 2020 spans 3 weeks in January and celebrates one of America’s most renowned – and daring – creative pioneers, Laurie Anderson

Laurie Anderson Zakir Hussain Danilo Pérez

Against the Grain Theatre John Patitucci Bekah Simms

Osvaldo Golijov Philippe Sly & Le Chimera Project

Barbara Croall Miriam Khalil

Joel Ivany Kaija Saariaho

Brian Blade Véronique Mathieu

Christos Hatzis Allison Au Quartet

Laila Biali Adam Scime

Danilo Pérez’s Global Messengers Zane Dalal

Royal Conservatory Orchestra Miguel Azguime Brian Current

Gabriel Dharmoo Derek Johnson Jamey Haddad

Alice Ping Yee Ho The Glenn Gould School New Music Ensemble

“MAKING TORONTO A MORE MUSICALLY INTERESTING CITY.”

TORONTO STAR

“ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT ANNUAL FESTIVALS IN THE CITY.” LUDWIG VAN TORONTO

“INNOVATIVE COMPOSERS MAKING NEW WORKS ARE THE STARS.”

NOW

Tuesday, November 19, 2019 • Please include in your listings/announcements

21C MUSIC FESTIVAL

The seventh edition of the 21C Music Festival will include eight concerts over three weekends, from Saturday,

January 11 to Saturday, January 25, 2020. Two additional events celebrate Grammy Award-winning composer

and one of America’s most renowned creative pioneers, Laurie Anderson. Anderson’s presentation of The Art of

Falling in Koerner Hall is already sold out, but audiences can experience her work performed by students of The

Glenn Gould School in Temerty Theatre, at the Royal Ontario Museum’s virtual reality installation, To the Moon,

and in a film screening of her documentary, Heart of a Dog at Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema.

The 21C Music Festival will include 5 world premieres by four Canadian composers (Allison Au, Barbara Croall,

Ryan Davis, and Bekah Simms) and one American (John Patitucci), 1 North American premiere (Miguel Azguime),

and 4 Canadian premieres (Alice Ping Yee Ho, Zakir Hussain, Danilo Pérez, and Kaija Saariaho).

The 21C Music Festival will include 5 world premieres by four Canadian composers (Allison Au, Barbara Croall, Ryan Davis, and Bekah Simms) and one American (John Patitucci), 1 North American premiere (Miguel Azguime), and 6 Canadian premieres (Alice Ping Yee Ho, Zakir Hussain, Danilo Pérez, and Kaija Saariaho). Canadian violinist Véronique Mathieu performs a 21C Afterhours concert with a program titled True North,

featuring a Canadian premiere (Alice Ping Yee Ho’s 4 Seasons Suite) as well as the world premiere of a piece by Odawa First Nations composer, Barbara Croall, commissioned by The Royal Conservatory; 21C Cinq à Sept includes a world premiere by violist Ryan Davis for viola, voice and live electronics, Laurie Anderson’s Shutter Island and the Canadian premiere of Kaija Saariaho’s Laconisme de l’aile; The Glenn Gould School New Music Ensemble has dedicated its concert to the late American-Canadian composer Michael Colgrass and features his piece Hammer and Bow, alongside the North American premiere of Miguel Azguime’s Aguas Marinhas and the world premiere of Bekah Simms’s Bestiary I & II; a special Royal Conservatory Orchestra concert conducted by Zane Dalal will consist of an improvisation with Zakir Hussain, John Patitucci, Danilo Peréz, and Brian Blade, the Canadian premiere of Hussain’s tabla concerto Peshkar, and the world premiere of Patitucci’s Hypocrisy for jazz trio and orchestra; the final concert of the Festival, Danilo Pérez’s Global Messengers and Allison Au Quartet, will include the world premiere of Allison Au’s Migrations (commissioned by The Royal Conservatory) and the Canadian premiere of Danilo Pérez’s Fronteras (co-commissioned by The Royal Conservatory). Two theatrical events take place during the Festival: Against the Grain Theatre (AtG) explores Argentine composer Osvaldo Golijov’s Mariel, K’vakarat, and Tenebrae, and the evening culminates with Ayre, starring Canadian soprano Miriam Khalil and staged by AtG’s Joel Ivany; and Philippe Sly & Le Chimera Project present a fully staged version of Schubert’s song cycle Winterreise, newly arranged for klezmer ensemble. Mervon Mehta, Executive Director of Performing Arts at The Royal Conservatory, said: “After seven years, the

21C Music Festival has become widely respected and innovative composers and artists making new music are

eager to perform for us in Toronto. We are thrilled to be premiering so many works new to Toronto, including world

premieres in jazz, classical, and world music genres. Join us as we traverse creative minds from Laurie Anderson to

Zakir Hussain with stops along the way by Osvaldo Golijov, Danilo Pérez, Barbara Croall, and even Franz Schubert.

Our heartfelt thanks to our champions, Michael and Sonja Koerner, for their steadfast support of this festival since

its inception. Thanks also to our programming partners, The Royal Ontario Museum and the Hot Docs Ted Rogers

Cinema.”

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Against the Grain Theatre’s Ayre and other works by Osvaldo Golijov Saturday, January 11, 2020 at 8pm | Artist Talk at 7pm | Koerner Hall Osvaldo Golijov has been awarded Guggenheim and MacArthur Fellowships, has won two Grammy Awards for

composition, and was Musical America’s Composer of the Year in 2006. 21C goes deep into his catalogue with

Ayre, a thrill to experience with its lush fusion of Middle Eastern and Mediterranean folk melodies. Starring

Canadian soprano Miriam Khalil and staged by AtG’s Joel Ivany, Juno-nominated Ayre is presented along with

other works such as Mariel, K’vakarat, and Tenebrae. An all-star roster of musicians includes Jamey Haddad

(percussion), Barry Shiffman (violin and viola), Michael Ward-Bergman (accordion), Juan Gabriel

Olivares (clarinet) Beverley Johnston (percussion), Jeremy Flower (laptop and electronics), Roberto Occhipinti

(bass), and Cantor Alex Stein.

21C Afterhours: Véronique Mathieu Saturday, January 11, 2020 at 10:30pm | Temerty Theatre Violinist Véronique Mathieu and pianist Stephanie Chua perform a program titled True North, featuring the

Canadian premiere of 4 Seasons by Alice Ping Yee Ho alongside works by Derek Johnson and Canadian

composer Adam Scime. The evening also includes the world premiere of a piece by Odawa First Nations composer,

Barbara Croall, co-commissioned by The Royal Conservatory.

Generously supported by Kris Vikmanis & Denny Creighton

Philippe Sly & Le Chimera Project: Winterreise 2020 Friday, January 17, 2020 at 8pm | Post-concert Talk | Koerner Hall This fresh 21st century theatrical take on Schubert’s final masterpiece blurs the line between concert and theatre.

The fully staged song cycle (24 songs based on poems by Wilhelm Müller) is newly arranged for violin, clarinet,

trombone, and accordion, and features Canadian bass-baritone Philippe Sly.

Generously sponsored by Power Corporation of Canada and generously supported by an anonymous donor

21C Cinq à Sept Saturday, January 18, 2020 at 5pm | Temerty Theatre Musicians from The Glenn Gould School perform Christos Hatzis’s “The Mega4 Meta4” from Earthrise, the

Canadian premieres of Laurie Anderson’s Shutter Island and Kaija Saariaho’s Laconisme de l’aile, as well as

the world premiere of Ryan Davis’s new composition for viola, voice, and live electronics.

Laurie Anderson: The Art of Falling Saturday, January 18, 2020 at 8pm | Koerner Hall | SOLD OUT NYC composer, Laurie Anderson, is one of America’s most renowned – and daring – creative pioneers, known for

her multimedia presentations. In this concert, she will perform the Canadian premiere of solo works and

collaborations with her long time musical partner, cellist Rubin Kodheli. As Anderson puts it: “The Art of Falling is

an extended improvisation for viola, cello, and electronics. Hypnotic stories, politics, and dreams weave in and out of

the music. My ambition with The Art of Falling is to make a piece that is one long sentence.”

The Glenn Gould School New Music Ensemble: For Michael Colgrass Sunday, January 19, 2020 at 1pm | Mazzoleni Concert Hall Curated and conducted by Brian Current, the students of The Glenn Gould School perform Hammer and Bow by

the late Michael Colgrass in honour of his passing; a world premiere of Bestiary I & II by Bekah Simms for

soprano, ensemble, and electronics; Gabriel Dharmoo’s the fog in our poise; and the North American premiere of

Aguas Marinhas by celebrated Portuguese composer, Miguel Azguime.

Generously supported by Dorothy Cohen Shoichet

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Zane Dalal conducts the Royal Conservatory Orchestra with Zakir Hussain, John

Patitucci, Danilo Pérez, and Brian Blade Friday, January 24, 2020 at 8pm | Artist Talk at 7pm | Koerner Hall

Legendary tabla master, Zakir Hussain, and jazz trailblazer/bassist, John Patitucci, bring an extraordinary

program conducted by Zane Dalal, Music Director of the National Symphony Orchestra of India. The program will

include the Canadian premiere of Hussain’s tabla concerto, Peshkar, and the world premiere of Patitucci’s

Hypocrisy for orchestra and jazz trio, featuring Danilo Pérez on piano, Brian Blade on drums, and Patitucci on

bass. The concert will open with an improvisation by Hussain and the trio.

Part of the Temerty Orchestral Program. Generously sponsored by TELUS, RBC Foundation, and Next Pathway

Inc.

Danilo Pérez’s Global Messengers and Allison Au Quartet Saturday, January 25, 2020 at 8pm | Koerner Hall | Postlude: Andrew McAnsh Quartet Panamanian jazz pianist and composer, Danilo Pérez, serves as a UNESCO Artist for Peace, Cultural Ambassador

to the Republic of Panama, Founder and Artistic Director of the Panama Jazz Festival, as well as Founder and

Artistic Director of the Berklee Global Jazz Institute in Boston’s Berklee College of Music. In this concert, he leads

musicians from Palestine, Greece, Jordan, and Panama, with varied musical traditions and instrumentation to

match. Juno Award-winning saxophonist Allison Au opens the evening with her quartet and special guest vocalist

Laila Biali. The Royal Conservatory has commissioned both Pérez and Au to write new pieces, with Pérez’s work,

titled Fronteras (Borders), receiving its Canadian premiere and Au’s, called Migrations, a world premiere.

Generously sponsored by TD Bank Group

Allison Au commission generously supported by Nance Gelber & Dan Bjarnason

Additional Laurie Anderson Events Laurie Anderson: To The Moon

January 11-25, 2020; Tickets & information: rom.on.ca; 100 Queen’s Park

This 15-minute immersive virtual reality installation at the Royal Ontario Museum, developed with Taiwanese artist

Hsin-chien Huang, transports viewers onto the surface of the moon in an otherworldly experience.

Music on Film: Heart of a Dog

Sunday, January 19, 2020 at 6:30pm; Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema; Post-film talk with Laurie Anderson

hosted by Mervon Mehta; Tickets & information: hotdocscinema.ca; 506 Bloor Street West

Laurie Anderson takes us on a magical journey through the nature of love, loss, and absence. Centered on her

beloved dog Lolabelle, who died in 2011, and dedicated to her late husband, Lou Reed, Heart of a Dog seamlessly

weaves together childhood memories, video diaries, and philosophical musings on the meaning of life. This

sweeping and heartfelt personal essay continues her trailblazing career of imbuing the everyday with a sense of

dreamlike wonder.

D: Laurie Anderson | 75 min | 2015 | USA |

Tune in to 21C Music Festival livestreams from anywhere in the world

and watch select concerts from past editions of the Festival!

Select 21C Music Festival concerts will be web streamed from the “Live at Koerner Hall” livestream page at

www.rcmusic.com/livestream

Media Contact: Barbora Kršek, Concert Publicity Manager and Publications Editor 416.408.2824 ext.265; barbora.krsek@rcmusic.ca

FESTIVAL AT A GLANCE

5 WORLD PREMIERES

Allison Au Barbara Croall Ryan Davis ♪ Migrations new work for solo violin new work for viola,

voice & live electronics

John Patitucci Bekah Simms Hypocrisy Bestiary I & II

1 NORTH AMERICAN PREMIERE

Miguel Azguime

Aguas Marinhas

Canadian composer ♪ The Royal Conservatory of Music faculty/student/alumnus

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6 CANADIAN PREMIERES

Laurie Anderson

The Art of Falling Shutter Island

Alice Ping Yee Ho Zakir Hussain 4 Seasons Suite Peshkar

Danilo Pérez Kaija Saariaho Fronteras Laconisme de l’aile

OTHER WORKS

Michael Colgrass: Hammer and Bow Gabriel Dharmoo: the fog in our poise Osvaldo Golijov: Ayre Osvaldo Golijov: K’vakarat Osvaldo Golijov: Mariel Osvaldo Golijov: Tenebrae Christos Hatzis: “The Mega4 Meta4” from Earthrise Derek Johnson: Fragments Franz Schubert: Winterreise, D. 911 Adam Scime: From What Hand to Speak, for soprano and violin

ARTISTS

Ensembles Against the Grain Theatre Allison Au Quartet

Le Chimera Project Danilo Pérez’s Global Messengers The Glenn Gould School New Music Ensemble ♪ The Glenn Gould School Quartet ♪

Royal Conservatory Orchestra ♪ Artists

Laurie Anderson Allison Au, saxophone

Laila Biali, piano & vocals Brian Blade, drums Stephanie Chua, piano Brian Current, conductor ♪ Zane Dalal, conductor Ryan Davis, viola ♪ Jeremy Flower, laptop & electronics Rosie Gallagher, flute ♪ Jamey Haddad, percussion Jason Hand, lighting Zakir Hussain, tabla Joel Ivany, direction Beverley Johnston, percussion Miriam Khalil, soprano Rubin Kodheli, cello

Véronique Mathieu, violin ♪ Roberto Occhipinti, bass Juan Gabriel Olivares, clarinet ♪ John Patitucci, bass Danilo Pérez, piano Barry Shiffman, violin & viola ♪ Philippe Sly, bass-baritone Cantor Alex Stein, vocals Xin Wang, soprano Michael Ward-Bergman, accordion

Canadian artist ♪ The Royal Conservatory of Music faculty/student/alumnus

CHRONOLOGICAL LIST OF EVENTS AND WORKS

Against the Grain Theatre’s Ayre and other works by Osvaldo Golijov Saturday, January 11, 2020 at 8:00pm; Preconcert Talk at 7:00pm; Koerner Hall

All Osvaldo Golijov program:

Mariel

K’vakarat

Tenebrae

Ayre

21C Afterhours: Véronique Mathieu Saturday, January 11, 2020 at 10:30pm; Temerty Theatre

Program titled True North:

Alice Ping Yee Ho: 4 Seasons Suite (Canadian premiere)

Derek Johnson: Fragments

Barbara Croall: new work for solo violin (world premiere) *

Adam Scime: From What Hand to Speak, for soprano and violin

* Barbara Croall’s new work for solo violin co-commissioned by The Royal Conservatory/Koerner Hall for 21C Music Festival 2020 with generous support from Kris Vikmanis and Denny Creighton

Laurie Anderson: To The Moon January 11-25, 2020

Laurie Anderson and Hsin-chien Huang: To the Moon

Philippe Sly & Le Chimera Project: Winterreise 2020 Friday, January 17, 2020 at 8:00pm; Post-Concert Talk; Koerner Hall

Franz Schubert: Winterreise, D. 911

21C Cinq à Sept Saturday, January 18, 2020 at 5:00pm; Temerty Theatre

Ryan Davis: new composition for viola, voice & live electronics (world premiere) ♪ Kaija Saariaho: Laconisme de l’aile Laurie Anderson: Shutter Island * (Canadian premiere) Christos Hatzis: “The Mega4 Meta4” from Earthrise

* Laurie Anderson’s Shutter Island was commissioned as part of the Kronos Performing Arts Association’s Fifty for the Future: The Kronos Learning Repertoire, which is made possible by a group of adventurous partners, including The Royal Conservatory, Carnegie Hall. and many others.

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Laurie Anderson: The Art of Falling Saturday, January 18, 2020 at 8:00pm; Koerner Hall

Laurie Anderson: The Art of Falling (Canadian premiere)

The Glenn Gould School New Music Ensemble: For Michael Colgrass Sunday, January 19, 2020 at 1:00pm; Mazzoleni Concert Hall

Bekah Simms: Bestiary I & II (world premiere) Gabriel Dharmoo: the fog in our poise Michael Colgrass: Hammer and Bow Miguel Azguime: Aguas Marinhas (North American premiere)

Music on Film: Heart of a Dog Sunday, January 19, 2020 at 6:30pm; Post-film talk with Laurie Anderson; Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema

Zane Dalal conducts the Royal Conservatory Orchestra with Zakir Hussain, John Patitucci, Danilo Pérez, and Brian Blade Friday, January 24, 2020 at 8:00pm; Artist Talk at 7:00pm; Koerner Hall

Improvisation with Zakir Hussain, John Patitucci, Danilo Pérez & Brian Blade John Patitucci: Hypocrisy (world premiere) Zakir Hussain: Peshkar (Canadian premiere)

Danilo Pérez’s Global Messengers and Allison Au Quartet Saturday, January 25, 2020 at 8:00pm; Koerner Hall

Program will include the world premiere of Allison Au’s Migrations* and the Canadian premiere of Danilo Pérez’s Fronteras.**

* Allison Au’s Migrations commissioned by The Royal Conservatory/Koerner Hall for 21C Music Festival 2020 with generous support from Nance Gelber & Dan Bjarnason

** Danilo Pérez’s Fronteras was co-commissioned by Detroit Jazz Festival, London Jazz Festival, The Witold Lutoslawski National Forum of Music, Wroclaw, Poland (Jazztopad Festival), and The Royal Conservatory/Koerner Hall for the 21C Music Festival 2020.

Canadian composer ♪ The Royal Conservatory of Music faculty/student/alumnus

TICKETS START AT ONLY $21!

CONCERT + HOTEL PACKAGES AVAILABLE 416.408.0208 www.rcmusic.com/21C

TICKETS ON SALE NOW; FESTIVAL PASSES ARE SOLD OUT

21C Music Festival

Against the Grain Theatre’s Ayre and other works by Osvaldo Golijov Saturday, January 11, 2020 at 8pm | KH; $21-$90

21C Afterhours: Véronique Mathieu Saturday, January 11, 2020 at 10:30pm | TT; $21

Laurie Anderson: To The Moon

January 11-25, 2020 | Royal Ontario Museum

Philippe Sly & Le Chimera Project: Winterreise Friday, January 17, 2020 at 8pm | KH; $21-$90

21C Cinq à Sept Saturday, January 18, 2020 at 5pm | TT; $21

Laurie Anderson: The Art of Falling Saturday, January 18, 2020 at 8pm | KH; $21-$95

The Glenn Gould School New Music Ensemble: For Michael Colgrass Sunday, January 19, 2020 at 1pm | MCH; free (ticket required)

Music on Film: Heart of a Dog

Sunday, January 19, 2020 at 6:30pm | Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema | $17/$12/$10

Zane Dalal conducts the Royal Conservatory Orchestra with Zakir Hussain, John Patitucci, Danilo Pérez, and Brian Blade

Friday, January 24, 2020 at 8pm | KH; $21-$105

Danilo Pérez’s Global Messengers and Allison Au Quartet Saturday, January 25, 2020 at 8pm | KH; $21-$90

Venue Legend: KH Koerner Hall; MCH Mazzoleni Concert Hall; TT Temerty Theatre

All concerts take place at The Royal Conservatory TELUS Centre for Performance and Learning, 273 Bloor Street West, Toronto

Tickets are available online at www.rcmusic.com/21C, by calling 416.408.0208, or in person at the Weston Family Box Office

All advertised prices include service charge and 13% HST

A limited number of $15 Rush Tickets are available starting 90 minutes before all performances presented by The Royal Conservatory

Join the Premiere email list for special offers and added concerts Connect with us at Facebook/koernerhall Follow us on Twitter @the_rcm and use hashtags #KoernerHall and #21Cmusic

The 21C Music Festival is made possible through the generous support of Michael and Sonja Koerner

Performance Season Sponsors

Concert Sponsors

Concert Supporters Nance Gelber & Dan Bjarnason Dorothy Cohen Shoichet Kris Vikmanis & Denny Creighton An anonymous donor

Presenting Partners

Government Supporters

21C Music Festival Media Sponsors

THE ROYAL CONSERVATORY

The Royal Conservatory of Music is one of the largest and most respected music education institutions in the

world, providing the definitive standard of excellence in curriculum design, assessment, performance training,

teacher certification, and arts-based social programs.

The mission of The Royal Conservatory – to develop human potential through leadership in music and the arts – is

based on the conviction that the arts are humanity's greatest means to achieve personal growth and social

cohesion. Advancing the transformative effect that music and the arts have on society lies at the heart of

everything The Royal Conservatory does.

The more than five million alumni of The Royal Conservatory have enjoyed the many benefits of music study and carried these benefits into subsequent careers in a wide range of fields, including medicine, business, politics, education, science, and sports. Others, such as Glenn Gould, Oscar Peterson, Diana Krall, Teresa Stratas, Sir Roger Norrington, and Jon Vickers, have achieved international musical acclaim.

The Royal Conservatory Certificate Program provides a recognized standard of musical achievement through an

effectively sequenced system of study and individual student assessments, from preparatory to advanced levels.

Considered the foremost music education system in Canada, the United States, and many other countries around

the world, its broad use has bound together individuals from these nations with the thread of shared creative

experiences.

The Royal Conservatory is committed to enabling greater access to music through digital solutions, with a focus on:

supporting and engaging the teaching community; cultivating and inspiring students and their families; bolstering

and highlighting Canadian talent; and enriching and enhancing the future of music and music education.

The Royal Conservatory is also a leader in the development of arts-based programs designed to address a range of social issues, such as the academic achievement of youth at risk, the development of children in their early years, and the wellness of seniors. Learning Through the Arts® and The Marilyn Thomson Early Childhood Education Centre use the latest research findings in neuroscience and the social sciences to address important health, social, and developmental issues.

At its national base, the TELUS Centre for Performance and Learning, The Royal Conservatory offers an

extensive set of training programs for gifted young artists through The Glenn Gould School and The Phil and Eli

Taylor Performance Academy for Young Artists as well as classes and lessons for individuals of all ages and

abilities at the Royal Conservatory School. The Conservatory also presents and produces a wide range of

concerts featuring the finest Canadian and international artists in its magnificent performance spaces, including the

internationally acclaimed Koerner Hall, Temerty Theatre, and Mazzoleni Concert Hall.

Entrenched in the minds and hearts of Canadians, The Royal Conservatory has united generations of citizens since its inception in 1886.