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.
Neil Young (Tonight (Tuesday) and Wednesday): Tonight’s the Night (and tomorrow)! It’s Neil Young week at Massey Hall. The legend himself performs tonight and tomorrow night in a solo show to be filmed by one Jonathan Demme. The concert recording is to be the third and final instalment in the trilogy of Neil Young films, the first two of which were Neil Young: Heart of Goldand Neil Young Trunk Show. To have Jonathan Demme helming the project is pretty amazing – this is the guy that won the Best Director Academy Award for The Silence of the Lambs among a slew of other awards and nominations.
AND! As if that’s not enough: this year marks the 20th anniversary of Neil Young’s epic Massey Hall concert in 1971 where he debuted songs that went on to make Harvest the canonized album that it is today. That concert was recorded (then bootlegged for years) and later officially released in 2007. Check out this footage of Young’s song “Ohio.” And if you have the time, check out the (39 min) film embedded above for Young’s latest award-winning album, Le Noise.
If your Neil Young cup has not yet overfloweth, stand by for when the MusiCares Tribute Concert to Neil Young is released. You may recall that last year, Mr. Young was the MusiCares Person of the Year (not to be confused with his receipt of the 2011 Allan Waters Humanitarian Award as part of the JUNO Awards this year). Lots of heavy hitters show up in the program including Norah Jones, Booker T. Jones, Ben Harper, and what promises to be an impressive take on “Helpless” performed by Elton John, Leon Russell, Neko Case, and Sheryl Crow. You can pre-order the concert film here.
Paul Simon (Friday): We’ve got a concert-goers dream couple of weeks ahead of us at Massey Hall, beginning with a performance from the legendary and inspiring Paul Simon (Friday May 6). Simon has penned some magnificent, joyous, and challenging music over his vast career. If you have yet to hear his latest album, So Beautiful or So What – we highly reccommend you do. (Listen here). There is nothing nostalgic about it. The man deserves his accolades. Enjoy the show if you are lucky enough to attend!
The Lowest of the Low (Saturday): The Canadian independent music scene is well-known and admired all over the world. 20 years ago, when the Toronto band The Lowest of the Low, released Shakespeare My Butt…, which was the highest selling indie release in Canadian history. Guitarist Stephen Stanley recently told us about his unique history with the Hall and explained why this show on Saturday will hold a special place for him when the band conclude their 20th Anniversary tour on Saturday May 7 performing that album in its entirety.
JUST ANNOUNCED
Fresh from her stunning performance which garnered a standing ovation this past weekend, when she played special guest to Michael Kaeshammer at Massey Hall, Jill Barber will headline her own show when we present her at Glenn Gould Studio on October 21, 2011. Barber plays in support of her acclaimed new album Mischievous Moon (which NOW Magazine says sounds like “Patsy Cline meets Burt Bacharach”). If you haven’t already, check her out here.
An Evening with Jackson Browne (Tonight – Tuesday): Jackson Browne performs at Massey Hall tonight in a solo acoustic show performing on both guitar and piano with promises to play from his entire catalogue. If the review of his performance in Winnipeg is any indication – we’re in for a real treat.
Angela Gheorghiu (Thursday): Soprano, Angela Gheorghiu makes her long-awaited Toronto debut as part of Roy Thomson Hall’s International Vocal Recitals series. The recital is a program of opera arias with full orchestral accompaniment from the Canadian Opera Company Orchestra and Steven White, Conductor. and promises to be something very special.
Buddy Guy (Friday): Buddy Guy returns to Massey Hall this Friday for his annual trip to Toronto. By now you know that Buddy Guy is no slouch and has won more than a handful of well-deserved awards and special honours for his legacy and incredible contributions to the world of Blues music. Gifted Canadian bluesman, Matt Andersen is special guest on this night. If you’re not familiar, you can check him out here. Also, worth noting, he’s up for Entertainer of the Year at this year’s ECMAs – you can check out the contenders (like Jenn Grant and Joel Plaskett) and vote here for both that award as well as Best Video.
Jimmy Cliff (Monday): is a very significant figure in the world of music: he is a Grammy award-winner, and is only the second Reggae artist (after Bob Marley) to have been inducted in to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. He’s also a very significant player in the world of film: he starred in The Harder They Come as well as 1985’s Club Paradise. He also re-recorded Johnny Nash’s “I Can See Cleary Now” which was featured on the Cool Runnings soundtrack. All of this is to say, this is one important music legend and if you don’t have a ticket, you should.
We’re pretty excited that the new album from Stars, The Five Ghosts, hit the streets yesterday but we’re even more excited that yesterday also brought with it the announcement that Stars will be hitting Massey Hall on October 23. Stars currently has a pretty sweet contest where they are asking you to remix their song “We Don’t Want Your Body” (the single off the new album) with “complete artistic freedom” and then post it on the world wide web (on Stars’ site, of course) for all to hear, enjoy, and vote on their favourite. All the details are here.
Bruce Cockburn has been very influential in the lives of all the members of Barenaked Ladies. Whether it be his incredible guitar playing, his social conscience, his beautiful songs, or his fabulous Eye Wear – Bruce has left his mark with us.
Throw in the fact that we covered one of his biggest hits and it became our first hit – then Barenaked Ladies at least owe Bruce a tribute night, perhaps even a nice dinner some time…. Congratulations for this night, Bruce – we love you and your music.
- Barenaked Ladies
Barenaked Ladies perform Wednesday, June 16 2010 as part of Canadian Songbook: 40 Years of Bruce Cockburn at Massey Hall
Bruce Cockburn with Music Director Colin Linden (on guitar), rehearsing for Canadian Songbook
PERFORMANCES
The Canadian Songbook: 40 Years of Bruce Cockburn (Wednesday): Can we just talk about how awesome the line-up is for this event? Not only will Bruce Cockburn himself perform, we’ll also hear from Amelia Curran, Barenaked Ladies, Blackie and the Rodeo Kings, Buck 65, Hawksley Workman, Jason Fowler, Michael Occhipinti, Sylvia Tyson, and The Wailin’ Jennys. Oh, and as if that wasn’t enough, Jian Ghomeshi hosts. Check out this article from the Toronto Star to get the inside scoop on how Cockburn feels about the fete.
TSO Goes Late Night (Saturday): This week, the Toronto Symphony Orchestra performs Beethoven Symphony No. 9 and to mix it up, they are featuring one very special late night performance of the symphony on Saturday starting at 11pm. PLUS: stick around after the concert for a fantastic party in the Lobby!
Rather than spell out all the many reasons we think Bruce Cockburnis an absolute treasure, I thought I’d just pass along a quote I read in yesterday’s Globe and Mail as a random example. The question to Mr. Cockburn was simply “What are your thoughts on Canada hosting the upcoming G8 and G20 conferences?”
He replies, “Meetings of nations are always better than not having meetings of nations. I think, however, they should have their meetings on that island of floating plastic (garbage) in the Pacific. They should sit there, and look at that and make their decisions.”
The goal of any produced concert like the Canadian Songbook:40 Years ofBruce Cockburn, is to make it look effortless. Of course that takes a lot of work. Here you see Colin Linden, Musical Director for the concert working through the set list, stage plot, and all other technical details for the show with staff from Luminato and Massey Hall. As all the details sort themselves out, we’re getting more and more excited -this is going to be a brilliant night.
Jesse Kumagai is programming director of Massey Hall and Roy Thomson Hall
Soundboard is the official community of musicians, music fans, and friends of Massey Hall and Roy Thomson Hall in Toronto, Canada. It’s your behind-the-scenes source for related music news, recommendations, and rewards.
