FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - Tuesday, December 2, 2003
Toronto, ON : The new Bach Festival at the University of Toronto is more than just another music festival. Running from Monday, January 12 through Friday, January 16, 2004, the event is a dynamic combination of performance festival and educational symposium, exploring from many perspectives the relevance of the music of J. S. Bach in today’s world. Helmuth Rilling, one of the world’s leading interpreters of Bach, is Festival Conductor and Lecturer, Dr. Doreen Rao is Artistic Director.
Distinguished international artists and educators will be featured in the Bach Festival, including Russell Braun, baritone, Daniel Taylor, counter-tenor, the University’s MacMillan Singers, members of the Elmer Iseler Singers, the University Chamber Orchestra, and faculty artists Lorna MacDonald, soprano, Darryl Edwards, tenor, and Scott St. John, violinist.
In collaboration with the Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies at University College, the noon-hour “Let’s Talk” series features lectures and conversations with Maestro Rilling, and will include expert speakers: Dr. John Polanyi, Nobel Prize laureate, The Honourable Bob Rae, former Premier of Ontario, and theological scholar, Dr. William Klassen. The series launches with a panel of conductors moderated by Toronto Star music critic, William Littler. This series is sponsored by Scotiabank.
Maestro Rilling believes passionately in the power of music to cross political and ethnic boundaries, and has built bridges of understanding throughout the world. Rilling conducted choirs and orchestras at Germany’s official reunification ceremonies. In 1995 he received the UNESCO Theodore Heuss Prize for “Acts of Reconciliation,” recognizing his long commitment to using music to further peace and reconciliation through the universal language of music.
Speaking at the Faculty of Music today, Artistic Director Doreen Rao described the concept for the Bach Festival: “We are creating unique opportunities for artists, students and audiences to experience the music of J. S. Bach while considering the context of its artistic, social and spiritual relevance in today’s world. Performing and listening to the music, hearing eminent speakers voice ideas about its place in peoples’ lives, and the combination of professional artists, students and audiences of all ages is a fertile ground for building both artistic standards and community.”
The daily Festival Schedule begins at 12 noon with the “Let’s Talk” lecture/conversation series, and continues through the afternoon with Master classes at 1:00 p.m. and Open Rehearsals at 3:00 p.m. At 5 pm, audiences and artists have the opportunity to mingle in the Cantata Café, prior to a signature Rilling event – the one-hour lecture concert on a Bach cantata. Five days, five cantatas with Rilling!
Dr. Klaus Rupprecht, Consul General for the Republic of Germany in Toronto , represents a very supportive German community, which includes not only the Consulate General, but also Miele Canada and Karcher Canada , Bach Circle sponsors ; Lufthansa, the Delta Chelsea Hotel and the State of Baden-Wuerttemberg , through Canada ’s Honorary Consul in Stuttgart , Theo Rudolf Schweiker.
Festival Passes are available now.
A Five-Day pass is only $195. Seniors 10% discount.
Student Five Day Pass $99. Single day passes are available at $50.
Tickets for individual sessions: $20 (regular); $18 (students/seniors)
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Debra Chandler
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