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!
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Anthony Bourdain,Bruce Cockburn,Canada Walk Of Fame,Canadian Songbook,Charlie Cutts,Communicator Awards,David Sedaris,Glenn Gould Studio,Lyle Lovett,Royal Wood,The Xx,TSO,TSO Goes Late Night
On the surface, the two shows presented in our halls this Saturday couldn’t seem more opposite. At Massey Hall, Classic Albums Live perform Pink Floyd’s The Wall and at Roy Thomson Hall, TSO continue their week-long festival, a tribute to iconic composer Jean Sibelius. Perhaps the two have more in common than one might think.
A fiercely poetic and passionate composer, Jean Sibelius (1865 – 1957) has been described as a monumental figure in shaping the Finnish national identity. Revered for works such as Finlandia, his artistic output, which famously includes seven symphonies, were virtually all composed prior to 1926. A composer during the tale end of the Romantic Movement, his compositions echoed the natural beauty, fragility and allure of his homeland. Often describing the sounds of his music by the sights and smells of the seasons, his was a dark and meticulous effort, which to this day remains as important to the culture of the Finnish people as it does to the treasured works of the genre. CONTINUE READING >
Classic Albums Live,Finland,Massey Hall,Pink Floyd,Romantic Movement,Roy Thomson Hall,Sibelius,Syd Barrett,TSO
Royal Wood
PERFORMANCES
Royal Wood (Thursday and next Saturday): What better way to start the long weekend and the month of April than with the delightful sounds of folkster Royal Wood, who performs at Glenn Gould Studio this Thursday, April 1. If you can’t make it this week, not to worry: Royal Wood plays a second show at the Gould on Saturday, April 10. A week and a half ago, we posted a blog entry written by Royal Wood where he concluded “Life is indeed what we make it.” Carpe diem friends: make yours a life filled with music. CONTINUE READING >
CBC Concerts On Demand,Hot Docs,Jann Arden,New Creations Festival,Royal Wood,Rush,TSO
In the lower level of Massey Hall you’ll find ‘Centuries,’ a fully-stocked bar you can visit pre-show and at intermission of most performances. The room is filled with artefacts illustrating the admirable history of Massey Hall, perhaps most notably the “Decade Panels” that line the entrance corridor to ‘Centuries.’ Starting with 1894-1904, a panel is present for each decade since Massey Hall opened. The panels feature news articles, photographs, programmes and other paraphernalia that aim to give a slice of life at Massey Hall from that period in history. In this column, we look at each decade and highlight some of the items included in these panels. Of course, for a more in-depth look, next time you’re at Massey for a show, head on over to ‘Centuries’ and check them out. This week, we take a look at 1954 – 1963, the seventh in a series of eleven tributes to Massey Hall’s glorious history.
Massey Hall 1954 – 1963
It would appear, from this decade panel, that there was quite a variety of musical genres to choose from at Massey Hall during the late 50s and early 60s. Classical music still had its home at Massey Hall: The Toronto Mendelssohn Choir continued to perform here as did the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, for whom a free Sunday concert is advertised with guests The Buffalo Bills Barbershop Quartet.
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Count Basie,Glenn Gould,Mary Martin,Massey Hall,The Weavers,TSO
