The Buzz is taking a wee holiday break next week but will be back on January 10. This week we’ve included our New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day festivities and made provisions for your stocking up on festive cheer in music form. And if we may suggest an idea for those of you still on the hunt for the perfect gift – consider the gift of live music. By sharing or providing an experience to enjoy live music, you’re creating long-lasting memories. From all of us at Soundboard, Happy Holidays!
PERFORMANCES
Bravissimo! (December 31 at Roy Thomson Hall): Enjoy Opera’s Greatest Hits this New Year’s Eve at Roy Thomson Hall with an international cast of brilliantly talented performers including Canada’s own Isabel Bayrakdarian and Richard Margison.
New Year’s Eve Comedy Extravaganza (December 31 at Massey Hall): Last week, we let you know the full line-up for this hilarious night of comedy and it’s a gathering of great comedic minds. Hosted by Geri Hall and starring Jon Dore, the night begins at 7:30pm which means that you can laugh yourself silly and still make it to your venue of choice to ring in the New Year at midnight.
Salute to Vienna (January 1 at Roy Thomson Hall): Now in its 16th year, the annual Salute to Vienna concert is a North American tradition inspired by the annual concert celebration on New Year’s Day in Vienna. Read all about the history of the tradition here and the performers here (including Orchestra, soloists, and dancers from the Ballet St. Polten).
WEB WATCH
I know it’s been a bit of Belle & Sebastian overload here on the Buzz, but these twee-heroes have been busy-internet-bees. Case in point: you can check out their holiday show live-streamed today (Tuesday) at 4pm (ET) on NPR. And speaking of B&S, their song “Fox in the Snow” recently made the fun list that Chartattack put together of 12 Record Store Clerk-Approved Songs About Snow.
AUDIO FILE
The perfect soundtrack for your Festivus Feats of Strength! Check out NXEW’s compendium of cool holiday tunes that are available for free download (or for purchase with proceeds going to worthy causes) here.
Also lots of fun is NPR’s Jingle Jams festive streaming. NPR looked to 10 of its Music partner stations to send them their favourite Decembery tracks and a delightful mix resulted that includes such diverse offerings as Frank Sinatra, Leon Redbone, Willie Nelson, Duke Ellington, The Pretenders, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Sufjan Stevens, and the London Phil.
ACCOLADES
The Canadian Radio Music Awards nominations came out last week. Congrats go out to Johnny Reid (who performed 2 shows at Massey Hall in November and is the Host for Juno Songwriters’ Circle in March) and Down With Webster (who also perform at Massey in March) for earning nominations. Awards will be announced during Canadian Music Week (March 9-13, 2011).
Stefania Paterak is Programming & Reindeer Coordinator at Massey Hall and Roy Thomson Hall
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