Now that we're into the month of July, most of the summer music festivals in Ontario are either in full swing or just about to get underway. I thought this weekend we'll take a look at some of the best being offered in the coming weeks.
First and foremost, our local home-grown music festival, Music Niagara officially kicks off tonight at the Niagara-on-the-Lake Community Centre just off Highway 55 on your way into the Old Town. This is the 20th season for the little festival that could, the brainchild of long-time artistic director Atis Bankas, and runs through to August 11th at various locations in and around Niagara.
Tonight's Gala Opening concert features an opening reception at 6:30 followed by a performance at 7:30 featuring the renowned Hannaford Street Silver Band, certainly this country's premiere brass ensemble, playing light classics, jazz and traditional favourites. Tomorrow the annual Sunday in the Park series kicks off at Simcoe Park in the heart of Old Town, with a concert entitled Where Have all the Folk Songs Gone? starting at 12 noon. The event is free and you're encouraged to bring a picnic lunch and lawn chairs and enjoy the music.
There are plenty of concerts coming up over the next month or so, ranging from classical to jazz to even some bluegrass. Artists range from the Clarion Quartet, Isabel Bayrakdarian, the Gould String Quartet, pianist Andre Laplante and violinist Juliette Kang, among others. There are also opera performances planned, including Mozart's Don Giovanni on Monday evening at 7:30, and the Elmer Iseler Singers present a 40th Anniversary concert next Thursday evening.
I'll be attending the opening concert tonight, and will be reporting on the festival again over the course of the summer in this space. For tickets and more information, go to www.musicniagara.org, or call the Shaw Festival box office at 905-468-2172.
The 31st season of the Brott Music Festival is underway in and around Hamilton and Burlington, and there are always plenty of events planned to suit most every taste. Since 1988 Maestro Boris Brott has presented a varied programme featuring the National Academy Orchestra, made up of music students across the country and professional mentors coming together to make music of a very high calibre.
Coming up this week, an Opera's Greatest Hits evening is planned for July 12th at 7:30 at the First Ontario Concert Hall in downtown Hamilton, featuring arias, duets and ensembles from the world of grand and comic opera, by composers ranging from Mozart to Verdi, Tchaikovsky to Britten and even some Sir Arthur Sullivan for good measure. Soloists will be the 13 cast members of the upcoming opera production of Mozart's Magic Flute.
If you like Big Band Music, the 40s come back to life July 15th at 7 pm at Fieldcote Memorial Park and Museum in Ancaster with young conductor Martin MacDonald leading the orchestra along with local favourite, pianist Valerie Tryon as soloist on the ever-popular Warsaw Concerto.
The aforementioned production of Mozart's Magic Flute happens at First Ontario Concert Hall on July 19th at 7:30 pm in what is described as a Steampunk adaptation. Mixing old and new, the opera is fully staged and sung in English, featuring some of the brightest opera stars around today.
And on August 2nd, Star Wars - The Force Awakens will fill the L.R. Wilson Hall on Main Street West in Hamilton, featuring music from many of the Star Wars films. Audience members will also be able to compete in a "Name that Film/Character" trivia contest. Many of the familiar characters will make appearances as well, and audience members are also encouraged to come in costume.
For more information on these and all Brott Music Festival concerts, go to www.brottmusic.com or call the box office at 905-525-7664.
As mentioned in this space last month, the 39th annual Elora Festival kicks off July 13th and runs to the 29th at many venues in the lovely little town of Elora, northwest of Guelph. The Festival will partner with the Canadian Opera Company for the Opening Night Gala at the Gambrel Barn just on the outskirts of town, featuring The Elora Singers, Toronto Mendelssohn Choir, the Festival Orchestra, along with soloists Isabel Bayrakdarian, Danika Loren, Andrew Haji and Samuel Chan. The programme features a host of opera favourites from Carmen, The Pearl Fishers, Turandot and other opera classics.
Also coming up on July 14th Isabel Bayrakdarian teams up with pianist Robert Kortgaard for a programme of Spanish music with songs by Manuel de Falla and others. The concert is at 1 pm in the afternoon at St. John's Church in the heart of town. That evening at 7:30 another Canadian opera star, Ben Heppner joins the Toronto Mass Choir at the Gambrel Barn for a concert entitled Oh Happy Day! for some good old gospel music and other songs of praise.
A concert I am looking forward to attending in Elora is a performance by Canadian singer Louise Pitre with The Elora Singers on July 21st at the Gambrel Barn. Accompanied by pianist Diane Leah, Pitre will present her newest show, Chasing Rainbows: Louise Pitre sings the Songs of Judy Garland. Louise is famous for her role in Mamma Mia of course, but has become known as Canada's first lady of musical theatre for a host of other performances as well, not the least of which is the classic presentation of the music of Edith Piaf.
For tickets and information on these and other Elora Festival performances, go to www.elorafestival.ca or call 519-846-0331.
Finally, Stratford Summer Music presents their latest season at many venues indoors and out throughout the city of Stratford again this season, beginning July 16th with an Opening Night Gala featuring Fireworks and Music at 9:30 pm. There will also be the launch of the popular Play Me, I'm Yours Piano Project July 17th at 10 am. People can play pianos available daily until 7 pm.
Stratford musical theatre star Bruce Dow performs in concert at 9 pm on Friday July 20th, and there is even something called Bach Walks scattered throughout the Festival this season, with the first Bach Walk scheduled for July 29th at 9 am.
Stratford Summer Music presents a huge number of performances each summer right through to late August, and this year promises to be bigger and better than ever. For a complete listing of concerts and events, log on to www.stratfordsummermusic.ca for more information and to purchase tickets.
Enjoy a musical summer in Ontario!
July 7th, 2018.
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