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Stefania Paterak

Gaffigan on camping and Spencer Wells on human migration in The Buzz: January 17-23

Posted by Stefania Paterak in  The Buzz  on  January 17, 2012

PERFORMANCES
Jim Gaffigan (Saturday): Jim Gaffigan hits the Massey Hall stage this weekend in what’s sure to be a very funny evening. You may know Gaffigan from his appearances on late night shows with David Letterman and Conan O’Brien but my personal fave was his guest appearance as the loveable, if odd, best friend to Murray on Flight of the Conchords (recall his initial introduction to Murray’s “newly added friends” Bret and Jermaine over barbeque). Check out the embedded video above for some of Gaffigan’s more classic stand-up, this time on the topic of camping from his perspective (he notes that he is “what you would call indoorsy”).

Spencer Wells, Deep Ancestory: Inside The Genographic Project (Monday): The third presentation in this year’s new National Geographic Live series, Spencer Wells is a Population Geneticist who is currently taking it upon himself to create a “detailed, genetically-based map of human migration.” Seriously impressive stuff, right? (Makes your victory dance about the accomplishment of finally cleaning the attic this weekend seem a bit lacklustre, doesn’t it?). You can read all about the project here and learn about how you can participate by doing a cheek swab to “reveal your deep ancestry” here.

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A 2011 Holiday Edition of The Buzz

Posted by Stefania Paterak in  The Buzz  on  December 20, 2011

JUST ANNOUNCED
Just yesterday afternoon we announced that comedian Ron “Tater Salad” White will be heading to Massey Hall on April 12, 2012 as part of his Moral Compass Tour. Ron White has been a busy fellow with a New York Times Best Seller, I Had the Right to Remain Silent… But I Didn’t Have the Ability, two Grammy Award nominations, and three of the top-rated one-hour TV specials in Comedy Central’s history. Tickets for FriendsFirst members are on sale today and for the general public on Friday.

PERFORMANCES
In addition to Justin Bieber’s hugely anticipated Home for the Holidays TV special being taped tomorrow at Massey Hall, Toronto’s own The Canadian Tenors bring their own, Home for the Holidays Tour to Roy Thomson Hall for two nights this week (Thursday, December 22 & Friday, December 23): The Canadian Tenors, who were recently called by the Washington Examiner “a perfect partnership of classical and pop,” perform two shows this week in celebration of the festive season. For a taste of the music of which these four gentlemen are capable, check out this CBC Concert on Demand from their 2009 benefit concert in Vancouver for the Bulembu Foundation. The concert included a version of their now-classic take on “Hallelujah” made famous in their performance of the tune on this year’s Emmy Awards. And to get an idea of the Tenors feeling festive, here’s a video for their “O Holy Night.”

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A Creole Christmas, Kings and Queens, and Diamonds (on the Soles of Her Shoes)
in the Buzz: December 13-19

Posted by Stefania Paterak in  The Buzz  on  December 13, 2011

PERFORMANCES
Preservation Hall Jazz Band: Creole Christmas: (Thursday): Preservation Hall Jazz Band returns to Roy Thomson Hall on Thursday night with their special holiday concert, Creole Christmas. The legendary band is celebrating its 50th anniversary in style in the new year with a special concert at Carnegie Hall featuring the likes of My Morning Jacket, Allen Toussaint, Blind Boys of Alabama, and Mos Def (via Consequence of Sound) – that’s some fine company. Check them out at Roy Thomson Hall this week and also be sure to read this LA Times article on the musical influences of band leader Ben Jaffe.

Toronto Children’s Chorus: A Chorus Christmas – Mystery of the Season (Saturday): An annual tradition at Roy Thomson Hall, the voices of the Toronto Children’s Chorus fill the Hall to the brim with joy this weekend. This year’s concert features the premiere of a Maori song with percussion and special guests True North Brass accompanying the chorus. You can hear (and see) a group of 35 of the 300 singers this Thursday afternoon at 4:20pm when they perform live (and video stream) at The New Classical 96 FM.

JUST ANNOUNCED
Last week we announced two shows coming up in the spring. Blackie and the Rodeo Kings will perform at Massey Hall on Wednesday March 21, 2012 in their show titled, Kings and Queens Live. The show will include appearances from and collaborations with a variety of women (or “Queens”) including Holly Cole, Amy Helm, Mary Margaret O’Hara, Serena Ryder and more. The Rodeo Kings new album, Kings and Queens, released in June 2011 features duets from the likes of Lucinda Williams, Roseanne Cash, Serena Ryder, to name a few. You can stream the tracks on the band’s site.

Also announced last week is a performance from Dala (in celebration of their forthcoming album, Best Day) with special guest Kevin Fox. Dala, comprised of duo Amanda Walther and Sheila Carabine, are JUNO Award CONTINUE READING >

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National Geographic Live, Bon Iver, and
Tori Amos in The Buzz: Dec. 6-12

Posted by Stefania Paterak in  The Buzz  on  December 6, 2011

PERFORMANCES
Brian Skerry, Ocean Soul: Photographing the Underwater World for National Geographic (Tonight-Tuesday): National Geographic Live returns to Roy Thomson Hall for the second in this series of four speaker events. Canadian photographer Brian Skerry, has spent more than 10,000 hours underwater learning and photo-documenting this mysterious world. Like the last presentation at Roy Thomson Hall from National Geographic (by photographer and filmmaker, Mattias Klum), the evening features prepared remarks and a showcase of the speaker’s work as well a Question and Answer session. Just last month, Boston Magazine had the opportunity to ask some questions and get some answers in this interview – check it out.

Bon Iver (Tonight-Tuesday & Wednesday): Bon Iver, who was just nominated for no less than four Grammy Awards (see Accolades, below) returns to town this week with two shows at Massey Hall. Lianne La Havas also performs on these nights – if you’re one of those do your homework in advance types, check out her website for a snapshot of her lovely music. We’re very much looking forward to a proper introduction (i.e. from the stage of Massey Hall) tonight and tomorrow.

Tori Amos (Thursday): Tori Amos performs at Massey Hall this week and we’re excited to see and hear what she’s been up to with her latest recording, Night of Hunters. You can read all about the project, a bit of a departure from the pop world and into the classical, in this weekend’s Globe and Mail. Rolling Stone has a CONTINUE READING >

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Jann Arden, Deep Purple, Danny Bhoy, Feist and Bry Webb in The Buzz: Nov. 29-Dec. 5

Posted by Stefania Paterak in  The Buzz  on  November 29, 2011

JUST ANNOUNCED
We have three exciting announcements for you this week in the Buzz! Deep Purple will pay a visit to the Grand Ol’ Lady of Shuter Street on February 12, 2012 as part of their Smoke on the Nation tour. Canoe.ca has the details of the full tour if you won’t be in Toronto, but if you are, tickets go on sale to FriendsFirst members this Thursday and to the public on Saturday.

And we’ve also just announced two shows coming up in March. On March 9 and 10, Jann Arden returns to Massey Hall with friends for two concerts coinciding with the release of her eleventh album, Uncover Me 2. Check out her recent feature chat on CBC Q here (just click on “listen” under the listing for November 18). Then on March 16 funny-man Danny Bhoy hits the Massey Hall stage in a show presented by experts on funny, Just for Laughs. To get yourself ready for the big show, you might check out Danny Bhoy’s DVD from his live show at the Athenaeum which includes his theory on accents in Adelaide  or you could check out his full YouTube channel here (fair warning: much of the content is NSFW).

PERFORMANCES
Feist (Thursday): The lovely Feist returns to Massey Hall this week in support of her new album Metals and everybody is talking about the special occasion, including the fact that the opening slot features one Bry Webb (former lead singer of indie darlings, Constantines): Chromewaves recently posted a stream of the Constantines/Feist cover of “Islands in the Stream” (alongside the classic Kenny Rogers/Dolly Parton version), Exclaim! reports on the special musical relationship the pair have (as well check out the Exclaim TV clip of Bry Webb performing the song “Undertaker”, embedded above), and the National Post features an article about Leslie Feist’s involvement in the creative process with Webb. Looking for some Feist-specific material out there in advance of the gig? Vancouver’s Georgia Straight has a recent interview with Feist about Metals, and don’t forget about her special concert from October at Glenn Gould Studio, available for your listening pleasure at CBC Concerts on Demand.

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Friend of a Conchord, Food Escapes, and Cartoon Pianists in this Weeks The Buzz: November 15-21

Posted by Stefania Paterak in  The Buzz  on  November 15, 2011

JUST ANNOUNCED
We just announced yesterday that Just For Laughs is bringing to Toronto the hilarious Jim Gaffigan. Gaffigan, whom you may recall was the outlandish best friend of one Murray Hewitt on Flight of the Conchords, is one funny guy. Evidence: check out this video  from his website which includes a frank discussion on one of my favourite topics, cake! Gaffigan performs at Massey Hall on Saturday, January 21, 2012. Tickets go on sale to FriendsFirst today (Tuesday) and to the general public Friday.

PERFORMANCES
Jamie Oliver’s Food Escapes (Wednesday): Jamie Oliver returns to Roy Thomson Hall this week for his talk, Jamie Oliver’s Food Escapes, promising a discussion on food from around the world and the fact that anyone can make and enjoy delicious meals in their own homes. Jamie Oliver will also participate in what we expect will be a lively Question & Answer session on the night of the show. Can’t wait until Wednesday to have your question answered? Don’t you fret – check out this Soundboard post from last week. You can send your question for Jamie by emailing “soundboard(AT)rth-mh(DOT)com” and he’ll answer questions right here on Soundboard. Cool beans! Also worth noting: purchasing a ticket to the show also earns you a copy of Jamie Oliver’s new book (included in the ticket price!)

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Diana Panton at Glenn Gould Studio and
Lang Lang’s TSO Residency – The Buzz: November 8-14

Posted by Stefania Paterak in  The Buzz  on  November 8, 2011

PERFORMANCES
Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds (Tonight – Tuesday): Even though we highlighted tonight’s (and last night’s) Noel Gallagher Massey Hall gigs in last week’s Buzz, we’d be remiss to include it this week, especially because today is the day that his new album drops. Here’s something fun we just discovered: Noel Gallagher has a tour diary available on his website (though you do need to register to read up). In the meantime, you can also read up on Rolling Stone regarding the documentary about his new solo efforts.

Lang Lang (Wednesday , Thursday, Saturday): Lang Lang is in town for a two-week residency with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra. The fun starts this week with the beginnings of his exploration of all of the concerti by Beethoven (continuing next week). You can read all about the special events and activities surrounding this residency (including this Sunday’s event, 101 Pianists, featuring 100 young pianists sharing the stage with Lang Lang himself) over on the TSO’s website.

Diana Panton (Saturday): We’re delighted to welcome back the lovely Diana Panton to Glenn Gould Studio this Saturday evening in celebration of her latest recording To Brazil With Love. If you missed it last season, Ms. Panton was featured as a guest contributor on Soundboard where she discussed the special, intimate nature of Glenn Gould Studio – you can check that out here. Also, you can stream 4 songs from her latest album, here.

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Sting, Joan Baez, Sarah Slean, Noel Gallagher in The Buzz: Nov. 1-7

Posted by Stefania Paterak in  The Buzz  on  November 1, 2011

One of the very cool things about being in the Halls’ Programming Department is a constant immersion in music and this week is definitely no exception: it’s the annual CAPACOA (Canadian Arts Presenting Association) conference and this year, it takes place in Toronto. Later this week, we have the opportunity to see all sorts of good stuff on stage and the reason I am telling you this is because some of these events are open to the public so you too can check out some really special showcases and concerts. This Friday, at the intimate Glenn Gould Studio, you can partake in For a Living Planet – featuring 54.40, Jully Black, and Hawksley Workman with net proceeds from the tickets going to the WWF. On Saturday at Glenn Gould Studio, Jazz Festivals Canada presents curated a showcase called Urban Jazz Landscape, which features three bands from across the country: Kyle Brenders Quartet, Parc X Trio, and Gordon Grdina Trio (and as you well know by now, Jazz performed at Glenn Gould Studio is pretty fantastic). Saturday also brings you the opportunity to check out Sarah Slean in concert over at the Winter Garden Theatre (check out the video embedded above to see Sarah recording her new album Land & Sea with producer, Joel Plaskett).

PERFORMANCES
Sting: Back to Bass (Tonight-Tuesday and Wednesday): Sting hits Massey Hall for two nights in a tour celebrating the 25th anniversary of his solo career. Sting recently played in Washington DC to a fantastic review from the Washington Post so we’re pretty excited to see him here in the t-dot. From the Washington Post: “His voice shows no signs of aging, either. He stretched out the vocal cords whenever he asked his backup quintet to travel back to his vintage Police blotter: “Demolition Man” and “Next to You” were harder, faster and louder than ever. “Every Breath You Take,” a piece of pop brilliance released in 1983, has aged as invisibly as its singer.”

Joan Baez (Wednesday): It is indeed a week of legends at the Halls and Joan Baez is certainly no exception. She toured and performed with Bob Dylan (some say to this day no one could harmonize with him like she could), performed at Dr. Martin Luther King’s March on Washington, and helped establish Amnesty International (to name just a few significant milestones). Her music, beautiful and moving, is just one of the ways she strives to make a difference and we can’t wait to hear her live at Roy Thomson Hall this Wednesday at 9pm.

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What Do Liza Minnelli, Doug Paisley,
Tyler Duncan, & Jesse Peters All have in Common? The Buzz: Oct 25-31

Posted by Stefania Paterak in  The Buzz  on  October 25, 2011

It’s another busy week in The Buzz, friendly readers. See below for all the good stuff coming up this week.

PERFORMANCES
I Believe (Tonight – Tuesday): Last week, award-winning Canadian composer Zane Zalis posted on Soundboard about his experience composing the music and writing lyrics for this work in its Toronto Debut Performance tonight. The work, a “90-minute Holocaust oratorio for today’s generation, written in 12 movements” promises a “non-religious humanitarian story” that will compel us to reflect on both our history and our future.

Tyler Duncan (Thursday): Baritone Tyler Duncan performs with pianist Erika Switzer in the first edition of our new Canadian Voices vocal recitals series at Glenn Gould Studio. Duncan and Switzer recently visited the New Classical 96 FM Lobby Studio for a performance and interview. You can check it out on the Classical TV website (just click the Tyler Duncan option in the library at the bottom of the page) for a taste of what a treat we’re in for this Thursday.

Liza Minnelli (Friday): Liza Minnelli triumphantly returns to Roy Thomson Hall this week in what we’re sure will be an utterly fantastic performance. Minnelli has an impressive CV with both Oscar and Tony declaring her seriously talented not to mention accolades from the Golden Globes, the Emmy Awards, and the Grammy Awards. You can check out video on our event page (just click “video” under the photo) in preparation for the big night on Friday.

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Lot’s Happening This Week at the Halls and in The Buzz: October 18-24

Posted by Stefania Paterak in  The Buzz  on  October 18, 2011

Oh my, my! It is going to be a very busy week my friends. Hold on to your seats!

JUST ANNOUNCED

Yesterday we made three very exciting announcements regarding upcoming events here at the Halls. For one, Jamie Oliver is returning to Roy Thomson Hall! Formerly known as the Naked Chef, Jamie Oliver hits the RTH stage for the first time since 2009 on Wednesday, November 16, 2011. Jamie will be speaking about the topics in his latest book, Jamie Oliver’s Food Escapes, and once again the event will be an interactive one, complete with a Question & Answer session at the conclusion of the night. Bonus: ticket buyer’s also receive a free copy of the new book on site on the night of the show!

Next up, we’re thrilled to report that the Canadian Tenors will be performing two shows entitled Home for the Holidays this December 22 and 23. The Canadian Tenors perform their unique blend of classical and contemporary pop music favourites at Roy Thomson Hall this holiday season. If you missed them performing Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah” on the Emmy Awards last month, this video is a great introduction to the group and includes much love from the likes of Bill Clinton, Dr. Phil, and Oprah Winfrey.

Finally, we’re stoked to announce that we’ve got a second date booked for Chicago! As you know, we already announced one Chicago performance on February 4 and now January 31 brings another chance to see this superband. To get yourself geared up for the shows, there’s a great video of the band talking about success and longevity on the band’s VIP site (and there seems to be even more exciting members-only content available through the VIP site for a membership fee – you can read about it here).

For FriendsFirst members, tickets are available for sale for the Canadian Tenors today (Tuesday), for Chicago on Wednesday, and for Jamie Oliver on Thursday. Tickets for all three shows go on sale to the public next Monday.

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