We are thrilled to pass along this free download (just right-click on this link and save) of 2nd Bounce from Brooklyn Rider’s latest album, Dominant Curve. The acclaimed Brooklyn-based string quartet perform live at Toronto’s Glenn Gould Studio this coming Tuesday, March 2 at 8 PM. Tickets are available at Roy Thomson Hall box office, online or at Glenn Gould Studio on March 2.
True boundary pushers, the members (also members of Yo-Yo Ma’s Silk Road Ensemble), perform a mix of classical, contemporary and original works that are at times aggressive, experimental and inspired. In addition to their collaborations with Yo-Yo Ma, they have worked with Philip Glass, Dimitry Yanov-Yanovsky among numerous others. True boundary pushers, they are quickly engaging a young (indie) audience to the classical genre. Here is how Jack Rabid from The Big Takeover recently described their music – “It’s grabbing, cunningly confrontational chamber music like a horror movie tragedy score. Its tones evoke danger, pity, fear, and empathy, the violins, viola, and cello sharp as knives twisting and slithering like snakes, or plucking furtively like burglars sneaking past a sleeping dog.”
They also performed a Tiny Desk Concert at NPR, check it out here to get a glimpse into what their live performance is like.
Tell us what you think!
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Brooklyn Rider and two members of Masters of Persian Music.
Ancient and refined, Persian classical music remains one of the hidden gems of world traditions – hidden until recently, that is. With beautiful poetry by Rumi and other Sufi poets, soaring vocals, exquisite melodies and powerful rhythms, this music is now winning an increasing number of listeners among classical and world music enthusiasts.
One of the key reasons for this growing audience? The Masters of Persian Music, an ensemble that has produced several sold-out North American tours and a Grammy award-winning CD. CONTINUE READING >
Here at the Halls we pride ourselves on having an ear for talent. Now that we have started presenting shows at the Glenn Gould Studio (capacity: approximately 300) as well as our larger venues, we are able to introduce even more up and coming Canadian and international artists to Toronto audiences, nurturing them earlier in their careers. We love to be the ones bringing you your next favourite artist; here are some that we think will make it big in 2010:
Royal Wood 2009 brought the self-taught multi-instrumentalist to a huge number of venues across Canada with his unique breed of melodic pop. This spring he’ll be coming to the Glenn Gould Studio, and follow it up with a jaunt to Europe to promote his newest release, the acclaimed Lost and Found EP. Be sure to check him out in an intimate setting while you can!
Brooklyn Rider This Brooklyn-based, genre-defying string quartet is creating quite a stir. With members who perform as part of Yo-Yo Ma’s CONTINUE READING >
This week we are all about Glenn Gould Studio. After presenting a number of concerts there last season, we’re thrilled to have increased our offerings for the 09 | 10 Season in this great space. Bringing shows to places like Glenn Gould Studio (and the beautiful new Koerner Hall) means that we get to see emerging acts while they’re still young and small, and then watch them grow up and into the big rooms of Massey Hall and Roy Thomson Hall. Glenn Gould Studio is a pretty fantastic place — if you haven’t yet been, we’ve found some great reasons for you to give it a whirl.
Skydiggers just released a twenty-year retrospective album, The Truth About Us, and it’s pretty stellar. After years of gaining valuable expertise playing the club scene, they’ll be performing in the intimate environment of the Gould this fall.
In the winter we’re bringing back fan-favourite The Bad Plus in February, for two shows on one night. The Bad Plus last played Glenn Gould Studio in June 2008, but Ethan Iverson (the band’s pianist), made an appearance last season, performing for two nights with Charlie Haden at the Gould. CONTINUE READING >
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