Regular readers of this space know I usually report/comment on arts-related issues locally and beyond Niagara's boundaries on a weekly basis. They will also have noticed I didn't write over the holiday weekend, as I escaped with my far-better-half to Utica, New York for the long weekend. I will be reporting on that interesting excursion next week, by the way. Regular readers will also know I occasionally veer off the arts beat to offer my views and/or rants on any number of subjects. So belatedly due to being away on the weekend, we're now entering the 'high-rant' district.
In my regular morning duties producing the morning show at CKTB RADIO in St. Catharines, I interact regularly with that knowledgeable individual Rod Mawhood, who by day anchors the morning newscasts at the station and under the cover of darkness at night hangs out at hockey arenas and other sports facilities both far and near. He even regularly joins the ranks of ink-stained wretches who write about games upon their conclusion (the games, that is). But most often, he is above the crowd literally and figuratively at the Gatorade Garden City Complex in downtown St. Catharines as the arena announcer for the mighty Niagara Ice Dogs, the local OHL team currently battling for hockey supremacy in junior hockey circles as they continue their second-round series against the Brampton Battalion. Going into last night's game, the 'Dogs had the proverbial leg up on the Battalion 2 games to nothing in a best-of-seven series, with the all-important Game 3 at the quaintly-knicknamed "Jack" scheduled to begin at 7 last night.
Now, I know what you're thinking: Saunders at a hockey game? And what's more, actually writing about it in a semi-lucid fashion? What gives? Okay, let me explain. Rod, who is an otherwise intelligent and level-headed person in the mornings, has been after me to end my seemingly self-imposed exile from "The Jack" and actually catch a game now that the playoffs are underway. He has been labouring under the misconception I might actually enjoy the experience and perhaps even join the hockey fraternity on a more regular basis and cheer on our beloved Ice Dogs.
The thought of attending a hockey game, while not something I would normally consider doing even though I do believe I am a Canadian citizen, did in fact hold a certain curiosity factor for me after Rod approached me with an offer too irresistible to (hopefully) refuse. He said if I showed up at the arena at 6 pm he would give me the royal tour, even including a corned-beef dinner in the 'exclusive' Media Room and watching the game from the cozy confines of the announcer's booth high above the action at the Garden City arena.
Hmmm, sounds almost interesting, I thought. I mean, how bad can it be? After all, I'm not being subjected to watching the Toronto Maple Leafs, which to my mind would be akin to flushing my money down the toilet given the sorry state of the franchise at the moment. Incidentally, did the much-publicized apology by the Maple Leaf brain trust this week for not making the playoffs for seven years now strike you as it did me rather odd, given the fact they have conveniently avoided the previous forty-odd years of futility prior to that sad run? But I digress...
So there I was, entering the Gatorade Garden City Complex promptly at 6 last evening, and being greeted by Rod who whisked me to the secretive Media Room for that corned beef on a bun dinner and introduce this hockey novice to the grizzled veterans already digging in for nightly sustenance. Not long afterwards, we made the trek through the arena to the high-level closet where Rod spends many of his winter/spring evenings calling the games. My first thought, climbing the ladder and avoiding the big pipe just above my head is, how does he do this every night? I mean, Rod is a tall guy, and he isn't alone up here, as several others crowd into the tiny room for the game as well. I just added to the crowd last night, trying to ask questions I hoped would not suggest I was a total imbecile when it comes to hockey.
My thoughts on the game? Well, the first period, which saw the bad guys go up 2-0 on the 'Dogs, was not the best period of hockey to serve as my introduction to the game. But the remaining two periods saw the Ice Dogs show what they are made of and down the visitors 6-3, taking a 3 games to zip lead in the series, with Game 4 in Brampton Thursday evening. Even I know Brampton will have a hard time coming back from a 3 game deficit especially against a talented squad like the Ice Dogs. But let's not get ahead of ourselves.
The arena, though old, has lots of character and, um, charm, shall we say. The crowd is everything a team could possibly wish for: passionate, loud and very supportive. What more could you want? Well, better washrooms for one thing, but that's another story for another day...
So would I go again? Likely I will, during the next series whenever that begins. And I think I will have to be there at some point anyways, since I noted last night the Ice Dogs were trailing the Battalion until Rod announced I was in the building, with my suitable-for-radio mug flashed on the video screen. From then on, the 'Dogs were on fire and never looked back. Coincidence? Perhaps, but I like to think I was a good influence on the team. I'm just saying...
Thanks, Rod, and the rest of the Ice Dogs fraternity for making me feel welcome...
Go Dogs, Go!
April 11th, 2012.
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
Sunday, April 1, 2012
News and notes around Niagara this week
I have a few things on my mind this weekend, all arts-related, and all of a local nature, so I gathered them all together in this week's column to clear the decks for a new month now underway and Easter just around the corner.
I attended a Media Day preview of Lyndesfarne Theatre Projects latest production on Friday afternoon, Thornton Wilder's Our Town, at the Sullivan Mahoney Courthouse Theatre in downtown St. Catharines. This is an opportunity for the working press to see how the production rehearsals are going and if desired, interview some of the cast members. I always find this an enlightening experience, as you see a work in progress and get a sense of what is to come in a very short period of time.
Lyndesfarne's Young Company are presenting the work, directed by Artistic Director Kelly Daniels, and it opens April 11th with a preview performance on the 10, and it closes on the 21st. The play chronicles the simple, rather pleasant lives of the Gibbs family, the Webb family and their neighbours in Grover's Corners, New Hampshire in the early years of the 20th century.
The one scene I saw, at the close of Act 1, shows an accomplished group of young actors ready to tackle a classic piece of theatre. But I couldn't help but think, watching this young actors in period costume from over 100 years ago, how far they are removed from the people of that era thanks to technology today. Think about it. In the scene I saw, one of the characters refers to something he read in the "newspaper." Remember them? If you are of a certain age, of course you do! But one wonders with today's youth if they will refer to the newspaper to get their news at all in the future. Here they are, acting on stage, in roles that would not have a clue what to do with the internet, would never have a smart phone and have no idea what Wikipedia is. The mind boggles. This isn't that far back, folks, but it shows you how things have changed in the last couple of generations at least.
Anyway, Our Town looks promising and I am looking forward to reporting on the show following the opening later this month. For tickets, call the box office at 905-938-1222 or go to www.lyndesfarnetheatreprojects.com.
Friday evening, I attended a performance by the Juilliard String Quartet at the Centre for the Arts at Brock University, and despite the inclement weather I was glad to see a respectable-sized house for the performance. Not full, mind you, but about two-thirds full, so that isn't bad. The performance was simply amazing, as the sound these four musicians achieve is so smooth, refined and beautiful you can't help but admire the talent and dedication these four gentlemen bring to the stage. I had the pleasure to interview cellist Joel Krosnick in January about the Quartet, in order to write an article in Centre Stage magazine, and he indicated his time with the Quartet dates from 1974. He is clearly one of the senior members of the group now, but even those who are relatively new are a huge part of what makes this group so special.
Opening with Haydn, continuing with a contemporary work by Martino and concluding with the massive Beethoven Quartet in B-Flat Major, Op. 130, the programme was well balanced and a pleasure to hear. Even the Martino work, certainly edgier than the other two works, was still lyrical and an interesting listen.
One thing I would like to mention though, after attending the performance Friday night...audience members please take note: it is not necessary to applaud after every movement of a work. It is not expected by the musicians, and takes away from the performance as a whole. Save your applause until the end, please, and everyone will enjoy the performance more, I can assure you.
Finally, I received word last week Artpark in Lewiston, New York, is planning an even better Summer Tuesday concert experience this season. Responding to patron comments things were getting a tad overcrowded for the popular events in recent years, Artpark has upgraded the amphitheatre, as well as concession, washroom and sponsor areas this year. They will also be fencing off the concert area for the Tuesday events, and charging a small admission charge to help control crowds. This has been a real bone of contention with the locals the last few years; just too many people in too small a space, thereby disrupting the small-town atmosphere so many have come to enjoy while visiting both Lewiston and Artpark.
I look forward to seeing some of the changes myself this summer, and hopefully catching a performance or two. Artpark has always presented great value for money, and being so close to the border it is always tempting to head over the river for a performance or two. Maybe this year more will plan to do the same.
Have a great week and Happy Easter!
April 1st, 2012.
I attended a Media Day preview of Lyndesfarne Theatre Projects latest production on Friday afternoon, Thornton Wilder's Our Town, at the Sullivan Mahoney Courthouse Theatre in downtown St. Catharines. This is an opportunity for the working press to see how the production rehearsals are going and if desired, interview some of the cast members. I always find this an enlightening experience, as you see a work in progress and get a sense of what is to come in a very short period of time.
Lyndesfarne's Young Company are presenting the work, directed by Artistic Director Kelly Daniels, and it opens April 11th with a preview performance on the 10, and it closes on the 21st. The play chronicles the simple, rather pleasant lives of the Gibbs family, the Webb family and their neighbours in Grover's Corners, New Hampshire in the early years of the 20th century.
The one scene I saw, at the close of Act 1, shows an accomplished group of young actors ready to tackle a classic piece of theatre. But I couldn't help but think, watching this young actors in period costume from over 100 years ago, how far they are removed from the people of that era thanks to technology today. Think about it. In the scene I saw, one of the characters refers to something he read in the "newspaper." Remember them? If you are of a certain age, of course you do! But one wonders with today's youth if they will refer to the newspaper to get their news at all in the future. Here they are, acting on stage, in roles that would not have a clue what to do with the internet, would never have a smart phone and have no idea what Wikipedia is. The mind boggles. This isn't that far back, folks, but it shows you how things have changed in the last couple of generations at least.
Anyway, Our Town looks promising and I am looking forward to reporting on the show following the opening later this month. For tickets, call the box office at 905-938-1222 or go to www.lyndesfarnetheatreprojects.com.
Friday evening, I attended a performance by the Juilliard String Quartet at the Centre for the Arts at Brock University, and despite the inclement weather I was glad to see a respectable-sized house for the performance. Not full, mind you, but about two-thirds full, so that isn't bad. The performance was simply amazing, as the sound these four musicians achieve is so smooth, refined and beautiful you can't help but admire the talent and dedication these four gentlemen bring to the stage. I had the pleasure to interview cellist Joel Krosnick in January about the Quartet, in order to write an article in Centre Stage magazine, and he indicated his time with the Quartet dates from 1974. He is clearly one of the senior members of the group now, but even those who are relatively new are a huge part of what makes this group so special.
Opening with Haydn, continuing with a contemporary work by Martino and concluding with the massive Beethoven Quartet in B-Flat Major, Op. 130, the programme was well balanced and a pleasure to hear. Even the Martino work, certainly edgier than the other two works, was still lyrical and an interesting listen.
One thing I would like to mention though, after attending the performance Friday night...audience members please take note: it is not necessary to applaud after every movement of a work. It is not expected by the musicians, and takes away from the performance as a whole. Save your applause until the end, please, and everyone will enjoy the performance more, I can assure you.
Finally, I received word last week Artpark in Lewiston, New York, is planning an even better Summer Tuesday concert experience this season. Responding to patron comments things were getting a tad overcrowded for the popular events in recent years, Artpark has upgraded the amphitheatre, as well as concession, washroom and sponsor areas this year. They will also be fencing off the concert area for the Tuesday events, and charging a small admission charge to help control crowds. This has been a real bone of contention with the locals the last few years; just too many people in too small a space, thereby disrupting the small-town atmosphere so many have come to enjoy while visiting both Lewiston and Artpark.
I look forward to seeing some of the changes myself this summer, and hopefully catching a performance or two. Artpark has always presented great value for money, and being so close to the border it is always tempting to head over the river for a performance or two. Maybe this year more will plan to do the same.
Have a great week and Happy Easter!
April 1st, 2012.
Saturday, March 24, 2012
Shaw Festival gearing up for another great season
I recently wrote about the latest developments at the Stratford Shakespeare Festival, as another season is about to get underway. Closer to home, our very own Shaw Festival is also gearing up for another great season - their 51st - that includes some pretty impressive shows already in early rehearsals for the new season.
First and foremost, of course, is the big musical this season, Ragtime, at the Festival Theatre. The musical, depicting three families in turn-of-the-century America, illustrates an era of innovation and change set to the rhythms of ragtime music. To get the interest already going on the marquee musical, the Shaw Festival is launching Get Ready to Rag!, a contest to find the next great ragtime pianist. The Festival is inviting amateur piano players over the age of 13 to upload video clips of themselves playing their favourite ragtime composition to The Shaw's Facebook page. The winner will receive a Yamaha Clavinova digital piano valued at over $ 2000 and have the opportunity to perform for a live audience on Ragtime's opening night in May.
Contestants have three minutes to wow the judges and will be assesses on talent, enthusiasm and showmanship. The judges, incidentally, include The Shaw's Artistic Director, Jackie Maxwell; internationally-renowned musician Michael Kaeshammer; jazz singer and broadcaster Heather Bambrick and The Shaw's Music Director, Paul Sportelli.
The Grand Prize, in addition to the Yamaha Clavinova and the chance to perform in the lobby at the opening night performance of Ragtime, includes four tickets to the opening night performance and overnight accommodation in Niagara-on-the-Lake courtesy of Vintage Hotels So all in all, it is a pretty nice prize package.
The contest, open to Ontario residents only, by the way, closes April 30th; the winner will be announced May 10th. For complete eligibility requirements and full contest rules, visit www.facebook.com/shawfestival and click on the Shaw Festival contest tab. Good luck if you plan to enter!
Now if you just can't wait for opening week to catch some of the new shows this season at Shaw, you can book for a preview performance at a reduced rate. The Shaw Festival is currently promoting a Niagara Neighbours Spring Celebration, with tickets to preview performances of French Without Tears; A Man and Some Women; Present Laughter and Misalliance available for only $ 39, or $ 20 for students on select performances. If you want and early performance of Ragtime, they will be available for only $ 58. The offer ends April 9th, just before the preview season begins April 10th, and you must use code 11455 to book.
You can book your tickets by calling1-800.511.SHAW or go to www.shawfest.com.
See you at the theatre!
March 24th, 2012.
First and foremost, of course, is the big musical this season, Ragtime, at the Festival Theatre. The musical, depicting three families in turn-of-the-century America, illustrates an era of innovation and change set to the rhythms of ragtime music. To get the interest already going on the marquee musical, the Shaw Festival is launching Get Ready to Rag!, a contest to find the next great ragtime pianist. The Festival is inviting amateur piano players over the age of 13 to upload video clips of themselves playing their favourite ragtime composition to The Shaw's Facebook page. The winner will receive a Yamaha Clavinova digital piano valued at over $ 2000 and have the opportunity to perform for a live audience on Ragtime's opening night in May.
Contestants have three minutes to wow the judges and will be assesses on talent, enthusiasm and showmanship. The judges, incidentally, include The Shaw's Artistic Director, Jackie Maxwell; internationally-renowned musician Michael Kaeshammer; jazz singer and broadcaster Heather Bambrick and The Shaw's Music Director, Paul Sportelli.
The Grand Prize, in addition to the Yamaha Clavinova and the chance to perform in the lobby at the opening night performance of Ragtime, includes four tickets to the opening night performance and overnight accommodation in Niagara-on-the-Lake courtesy of Vintage Hotels So all in all, it is a pretty nice prize package.
The contest, open to Ontario residents only, by the way, closes April 30th; the winner will be announced May 10th. For complete eligibility requirements and full contest rules, visit www.facebook.com/shawfestival and click on the Shaw Festival contest tab. Good luck if you plan to enter!
Now if you just can't wait for opening week to catch some of the new shows this season at Shaw, you can book for a preview performance at a reduced rate. The Shaw Festival is currently promoting a Niagara Neighbours Spring Celebration, with tickets to preview performances of French Without Tears; A Man and Some Women; Present Laughter and Misalliance available for only $ 39, or $ 20 for students on select performances. If you want and early performance of Ragtime, they will be available for only $ 58. The offer ends April 9th, just before the preview season begins April 10th, and you must use code 11455 to book.
You can book your tickets by calling1-800.511.SHAW or go to www.shawfest.com.
See you at the theatre!
March 24th, 2012.
Friday, March 16, 2012
News from the Niagara Symphony and MasterWorks 3
The Niagara Symphony is set to perform again this weekend with the third in the MasterWorks series of concerts, Sunday afternoon at 2:30 at the Sean O'Sullivan Theatre at the Centre for the Arts, Brock University.
They are not taking the bait to programme a St. Patrick's themed concert this year, which is all very well and good, as it can wear a little thin after awhile anyways. But the concert promises to be a good one with a nice variety of music planned and Guest Conductor Kevin Mallon taking the podium for this one. On the programme is a work we rarely hear anymore, and I can't even remember the last time I heard it: the Overture to Colas et Colinette by Quesnel/Ridout. I remember I had an old CBC Lp of the music years ago, but it is long since lost to the dusty record bins of my memory.
A couple of earlier works are on the programme as well: Domenico Cimarosa's L'Italiana a Londra (The Italian Girl in London) and Mozart's beautiful Concerto for Flute & Harp, K. 299. That performance features the two soloists for the afternoon, Douglas Miller, Principal Flute; and Deborah Braun, Principal Harp for the Niagara Symphony. Both are exceptionally gifted local artists who have made their musical mark elsewhere as well, and it will be a treat to hear both soloists together this weekend.
Finally, a Beethoven symphony wraps up the concert, his familiar Symphony No. 8 in F Major. The Niagara Symphony has been performing a number of Beethoven's works the last few seasons, and in fact next season they plan to launch The Beethoven Project, but more on that later in this report.
Speaking of Beethoven, I will be in the lobby before, after and during intermission with a wide selection of great music for sale from A Web of Fine Music, including the classic 1963 Beethoven Symphony Cycle with Herbert von Karajan and the Berlin Philharmonic. It is a great-sounding set despite its age, and is still available at a very special low price. You can order through my website as well, of course, at www.finemusic.ca or email me directly at music@vaxxine.com.
Tickets are still available through the Brock box office at 905-688-5550, ext. 3257, or pick them up at the door on Sunday afternoon.
Now, the Niagara Symphony made news earlier in the week with the release of their upcoming 65th season in 2012-2013. There will be some significant changes to the programming schedule next season, and most appear to be all for the better, I think. First, there will be an expanded MasterWorks series to five concerts including the MasterWorks finale next season, the start of the multi-year Beethoven Project I mentioned earlier, which is basically designed to showcase the orchestra's talents as they prepare to take up residence at the much-anticipated Performing Arts Centre in downtown St. Catharines. To kick off the Project, next year the Symphony will feature the Violin Concerto with soloist Michael Ludwig, and the Symphony No. 3, known as the Eroica.
The Pops! series will see changes as well with the discontinuation of the slow-selling Saturday evening performances, which are usually lightly attended. That being said, there will be a Saturday evening Holiday Pops concert in December to help share the load of all those wanting to celebrate the holiday season. The patrons used to going Saturday evening now will have priority choice of tickets for Sunday afternoon before they go on sale to the general public. But that is not to say all those Saturday evening attendees now will all have to cram into the Sunday concerts. Maestro Bradley Thachuk has also added a Family Series, which will provide two of the remaining Pops! concerts, in February and April 2013, on Saturday afternoons as well. This should work well, I suspect, as many Symphony patrons just don't like being out late at night, especially in the colder months, and I can't say I blame them, really.
Musically, there appears to be a good variety of tried and true and some more adventurous fare, ranging from the aforementioned Beethoven to Grieg, Copland, Barber and Shostakovich, and even Canadian composer John Estacio. The Pops! concerts, along with the usual holiday fare in December, includes one called Light Opera to Broadway in October, Heroes and Villains in February and The Magical Music of Disney in April. For that one, I can only hope Maestro Thachuk resists the urge to wear Mickey Mouse ears for the concert...
So that in a nutshell gives you an idea what to expect this weekend and next season. For more on all the concerts remaining this season, go to my website at www.finemusic.ca and click on the Calendar page, or go to the Niagara Symphony website for more on this season and next, at www.niagarasymphony.org.
See you at the Symphony!
March 16th, 2012.
They are not taking the bait to programme a St. Patrick's themed concert this year, which is all very well and good, as it can wear a little thin after awhile anyways. But the concert promises to be a good one with a nice variety of music planned and Guest Conductor Kevin Mallon taking the podium for this one. On the programme is a work we rarely hear anymore, and I can't even remember the last time I heard it: the Overture to Colas et Colinette by Quesnel/Ridout. I remember I had an old CBC Lp of the music years ago, but it is long since lost to the dusty record bins of my memory.
A couple of earlier works are on the programme as well: Domenico Cimarosa's L'Italiana a Londra (The Italian Girl in London) and Mozart's beautiful Concerto for Flute & Harp, K. 299. That performance features the two soloists for the afternoon, Douglas Miller, Principal Flute; and Deborah Braun, Principal Harp for the Niagara Symphony. Both are exceptionally gifted local artists who have made their musical mark elsewhere as well, and it will be a treat to hear both soloists together this weekend.
Finally, a Beethoven symphony wraps up the concert, his familiar Symphony No. 8 in F Major. The Niagara Symphony has been performing a number of Beethoven's works the last few seasons, and in fact next season they plan to launch The Beethoven Project, but more on that later in this report.
Speaking of Beethoven, I will be in the lobby before, after and during intermission with a wide selection of great music for sale from A Web of Fine Music, including the classic 1963 Beethoven Symphony Cycle with Herbert von Karajan and the Berlin Philharmonic. It is a great-sounding set despite its age, and is still available at a very special low price. You can order through my website as well, of course, at www.finemusic.ca or email me directly at music@vaxxine.com.
Tickets are still available through the Brock box office at 905-688-5550, ext. 3257, or pick them up at the door on Sunday afternoon.
Now, the Niagara Symphony made news earlier in the week with the release of their upcoming 65th season in 2012-2013. There will be some significant changes to the programming schedule next season, and most appear to be all for the better, I think. First, there will be an expanded MasterWorks series to five concerts including the MasterWorks finale next season, the start of the multi-year Beethoven Project I mentioned earlier, which is basically designed to showcase the orchestra's talents as they prepare to take up residence at the much-anticipated Performing Arts Centre in downtown St. Catharines. To kick off the Project, next year the Symphony will feature the Violin Concerto with soloist Michael Ludwig, and the Symphony No. 3, known as the Eroica.
The Pops! series will see changes as well with the discontinuation of the slow-selling Saturday evening performances, which are usually lightly attended. That being said, there will be a Saturday evening Holiday Pops concert in December to help share the load of all those wanting to celebrate the holiday season. The patrons used to going Saturday evening now will have priority choice of tickets for Sunday afternoon before they go on sale to the general public. But that is not to say all those Saturday evening attendees now will all have to cram into the Sunday concerts. Maestro Bradley Thachuk has also added a Family Series, which will provide two of the remaining Pops! concerts, in February and April 2013, on Saturday afternoons as well. This should work well, I suspect, as many Symphony patrons just don't like being out late at night, especially in the colder months, and I can't say I blame them, really.
Musically, there appears to be a good variety of tried and true and some more adventurous fare, ranging from the aforementioned Beethoven to Grieg, Copland, Barber and Shostakovich, and even Canadian composer John Estacio. The Pops! concerts, along with the usual holiday fare in December, includes one called Light Opera to Broadway in October, Heroes and Villains in February and The Magical Music of Disney in April. For that one, I can only hope Maestro Thachuk resists the urge to wear Mickey Mouse ears for the concert...
So that in a nutshell gives you an idea what to expect this weekend and next season. For more on all the concerts remaining this season, go to my website at www.finemusic.ca and click on the Calendar page, or go to the Niagara Symphony website for more on this season and next, at www.niagarasymphony.org.
See you at the Symphony!
March 16th, 2012.
Saturday, March 10, 2012
News from the Stratford Shakespeare Festival this weekend
Last month I wrote about the upcoming seasons at Shaw and Stratford, and the fact the Shaw Festival ended up in the red following their 50 anniversary season last year. It will be only a temporary situation, I'm sure, as one thing the Shaw Festival has done well over the years is manage their finances in tough economic times and bounce back in short order.
This weekend I received several releases from the Stratford Shakespeare Festival, one of which outlines the results of their Annual General Meeting, held on the weekend. So let's start with that and then move on to the other two newsworthy items from Stratford this weekend worth noting.
The 2011 Stratford season, which received much praise from many people including this reporter, posted a surplus of almost $ 53,000. Now, when you are talking about revenue for the 2011 season hitting 59.6 million, up from 59.1 million the previous year, maybe $ 53,000 doesn't sound like much. But consider the fact the strong Canadian dollar has kept some of the American visitors who regularly come from Michigan and other northern States from attending the festival, as well as the weak economy on both sides of the border, and improved numbers at all must be considered good news. Let's not forget the HST in Ontario, which likely had an impact on ticket sales as well.
But overall attendance was 455,044 or 65% of capacity, on a par with the previous nine seasons since Stratford celebrated their own 50th anniversary season in 2003. Plus, support from donors was up 14%, which adds a significant boost to the bottom line. So most people would have to conclude, given the economy these days, the Stratford Shakespeare Festival is on solid financial ground as their 60th anniversary season is set to get underway.
Elsewhere with the Festival this weekend, Artistic Director Des McAnuff was announced as the recipient of the National Arts Centre Award of the Governor General's Performing Arts Awards in recognition of his accomplishments over the past performance year. Those accomplishments included directing two of the biggest hits at the Festival in recent memory: Shakespeare's Twelfth Night with Brian Dennehy and Stephen Ouimette, and of course, his highly-acclaimed Jesus Christ Superstar, set to open on Broadway this month with its Stratford cast.
Mr. McAnuff will receive his award in Ottawa in early May.
Finally, and this is literally hot off the press, as it was embargoed by the Festival until noon today, the Stratford Shakespeare Festival has named Antoni Cimolino as the next Artistic Director of the Festival, succeeding Des McAnuff when he leaves at the end of the current season.
Antoni Cimolino began with the Festival as an actor in 1988 and in 1992 played Romeo opposite Megan Follows's Juliet. He directed his first solo Festival production, Filumena, in which the late Artistic Director Richard Monette played a leading role, in 1997. Cimolino was appointed General Director in 2006, overseeing an annual budget of $ 60 million and 1,000 employees.
This season will be Antoni's 25 season with the Festival, in which he directs Shakespeare's rarely produced Cymbeline, with a cast including Graham Abbey, Tom McCamus, Cara Ricketts and Geraint Wyn Davies.
I have admired Mr. Cimolino's work in the past and his ability to administer such a large organization through some rather difficult times, so this appears to be a culmination of all his dedication and hard work over the past quarter-century. We all wish him well and look forward to what he has up his artistic sleeve for 2013!
March 10th, 2012.
This weekend I received several releases from the Stratford Shakespeare Festival, one of which outlines the results of their Annual General Meeting, held on the weekend. So let's start with that and then move on to the other two newsworthy items from Stratford this weekend worth noting.
The 2011 Stratford season, which received much praise from many people including this reporter, posted a surplus of almost $ 53,000. Now, when you are talking about revenue for the 2011 season hitting 59.6 million, up from 59.1 million the previous year, maybe $ 53,000 doesn't sound like much. But consider the fact the strong Canadian dollar has kept some of the American visitors who regularly come from Michigan and other northern States from attending the festival, as well as the weak economy on both sides of the border, and improved numbers at all must be considered good news. Let's not forget the HST in Ontario, which likely had an impact on ticket sales as well.
But overall attendance was 455,044 or 65% of capacity, on a par with the previous nine seasons since Stratford celebrated their own 50th anniversary season in 2003. Plus, support from donors was up 14%, which adds a significant boost to the bottom line. So most people would have to conclude, given the economy these days, the Stratford Shakespeare Festival is on solid financial ground as their 60th anniversary season is set to get underway.
Elsewhere with the Festival this weekend, Artistic Director Des McAnuff was announced as the recipient of the National Arts Centre Award of the Governor General's Performing Arts Awards in recognition of his accomplishments over the past performance year. Those accomplishments included directing two of the biggest hits at the Festival in recent memory: Shakespeare's Twelfth Night with Brian Dennehy and Stephen Ouimette, and of course, his highly-acclaimed Jesus Christ Superstar, set to open on Broadway this month with its Stratford cast.
Mr. McAnuff will receive his award in Ottawa in early May.
Finally, and this is literally hot off the press, as it was embargoed by the Festival until noon today, the Stratford Shakespeare Festival has named Antoni Cimolino as the next Artistic Director of the Festival, succeeding Des McAnuff when he leaves at the end of the current season.
Antoni Cimolino began with the Festival as an actor in 1988 and in 1992 played Romeo opposite Megan Follows's Juliet. He directed his first solo Festival production, Filumena, in which the late Artistic Director Richard Monette played a leading role, in 1997. Cimolino was appointed General Director in 2006, overseeing an annual budget of $ 60 million and 1,000 employees.
This season will be Antoni's 25 season with the Festival, in which he directs Shakespeare's rarely produced Cymbeline, with a cast including Graham Abbey, Tom McCamus, Cara Ricketts and Geraint Wyn Davies.
I have admired Mr. Cimolino's work in the past and his ability to administer such a large organization through some rather difficult times, so this appears to be a culmination of all his dedication and hard work over the past quarter-century. We all wish him well and look forward to what he has up his artistic sleeve for 2013!
March 10th, 2012.
Saturday, March 3, 2012
A musical first weekend in March in Niagara
As always, we have a wealth of musical experiences this weekend in Niagara. I will highlight just two of them this weekend in my blog, but you can access all the latest information anytime by just going to my website, at http://www.finemusic.ca/. I work on updating the information on a regular basis, but if there is something you don't see that you feel should be posted, you can always email the information to me directly at music@vaxxine.com.
Chorus Niagara premieres an ambitious new Canadian work this Saturday evening at 7:30 at the Cathedral of St. Catherine of Alexandria in downtown St. Catharines. No Mortal Business by Allan Bevan is a dramatic musical work inspired by Shakespeare's final play, The Tempest, long regarded as autobiographical in nature and indicating aspects of the author's life and faith. The interesting aspect of this work, aside from the Shakespeare inspiration, of course, is the fact Bevan composed the work specifically for the remarkable acoustic of the Cathedral at the corner of Church and Lyman Streets, which just happens to be my home church. Bevan loved the sound of the church and especially the massive Letourneau organ, known to parishoners as "Opus 12".
The choral work also utilizes a narrator, and tonight the role will be played by one of the great actors in Canada today, Geraint Wyn Davies, who is currently working down on Broadway apparently and has spent the last several seasons at the Stratford Shakespeare Festival. Those of us who go back even further will remember him for his memorable roles at the Shaw Festival as well. Mr. Wyn Davies and Chorus Niagara are joined tonight by the Orpheus Choir of Toronto and the Talisker Players.
The other major work on the programme is the Mass in C Major by Beethoven, which is unfortunately not as well represented on choral programmes these days. In fact, there are not even a large number of good quality recordings of the work currently available, but one with Giulini conducting on EMI Classics is currently available through the Mike's Picks section of my website at http://www.finemusic.ca/.
Tickets for tonight's concert should be available at the door if you don't already have them, but I would suggest ordering in advance through the Brock box office if possible by calling 905-688-5550, ext. 3257.
Sunday afternoon, the Ukrainian Black Sea Hall on Welland Avenue is the scene for the 20th anniversary Women in Music concert, celebrating International Woman's Day. Hard to believe this is the 20th anniversary, but Laura Thomas, organizer of the event, told me this week it is still very much a labour of love for her and her musical friends making up the group Broadband, who will once again be the featured performers. Other musical guests will also be featured in a cabaret setting at the Black Sea Hall along with lots of items up for auction as well, with all proceeds from the concert and auction going to help our Hospice Niagara.
Doors open at 3:30 and the concert starts at 4, and Laura tells me the whole event should last about 3 hours. My far better half, Sophie, always looks forward to this event, so if you have no plans for late Sunday afternoon, this might be something you want to discover for yourself.
Enjoy your weekend!
March 3rd, 2012.
Chorus Niagara premieres an ambitious new Canadian work this Saturday evening at 7:30 at the Cathedral of St. Catherine of Alexandria in downtown St. Catharines. No Mortal Business by Allan Bevan is a dramatic musical work inspired by Shakespeare's final play, The Tempest, long regarded as autobiographical in nature and indicating aspects of the author's life and faith. The interesting aspect of this work, aside from the Shakespeare inspiration, of course, is the fact Bevan composed the work specifically for the remarkable acoustic of the Cathedral at the corner of Church and Lyman Streets, which just happens to be my home church. Bevan loved the sound of the church and especially the massive Letourneau organ, known to parishoners as "Opus 12".
The choral work also utilizes a narrator, and tonight the role will be played by one of the great actors in Canada today, Geraint Wyn Davies, who is currently working down on Broadway apparently and has spent the last several seasons at the Stratford Shakespeare Festival. Those of us who go back even further will remember him for his memorable roles at the Shaw Festival as well. Mr. Wyn Davies and Chorus Niagara are joined tonight by the Orpheus Choir of Toronto and the Talisker Players.
The other major work on the programme is the Mass in C Major by Beethoven, which is unfortunately not as well represented on choral programmes these days. In fact, there are not even a large number of good quality recordings of the work currently available, but one with Giulini conducting on EMI Classics is currently available through the Mike's Picks section of my website at http://www.finemusic.ca/.
Tickets for tonight's concert should be available at the door if you don't already have them, but I would suggest ordering in advance through the Brock box office if possible by calling 905-688-5550, ext. 3257.
Sunday afternoon, the Ukrainian Black Sea Hall on Welland Avenue is the scene for the 20th anniversary Women in Music concert, celebrating International Woman's Day. Hard to believe this is the 20th anniversary, but Laura Thomas, organizer of the event, told me this week it is still very much a labour of love for her and her musical friends making up the group Broadband, who will once again be the featured performers. Other musical guests will also be featured in a cabaret setting at the Black Sea Hall along with lots of items up for auction as well, with all proceeds from the concert and auction going to help our Hospice Niagara.
Doors open at 3:30 and the concert starts at 4, and Laura tells me the whole event should last about 3 hours. My far better half, Sophie, always looks forward to this event, so if you have no plans for late Sunday afternoon, this might be something you want to discover for yourself.
Enjoy your weekend!
March 3rd, 2012.
Saturday, February 25, 2012
Lots to do on a winter weekend in Niagara and beyond
The last weekend of February is here, and if you are starting to feel a little bit of cabin fever this month, I have some worthwhile events you might want to attend this weekend, all of which are affordable and local. Afterwards, you'll be primed and ready to crash on the couch for the Oscar telecast on Sunday night.
First off, the Niagara Symphony is set to sizzle this weekend with the third of their four Pops! concerts this season. Tonight at 7:30 and Sunday afternoon at 2:30, Associate Conductor Laura Thomas leads the orchestra in a concert titled February Fiesta, featuring a programme of tangos, rumbas and other so-called "hot" favourite dances. Don't know if the limbo is included, though...
In addition to the usual members of the percussion section, steel drums will be added for this weekend's concerts, and they are fiendishly deceptive instruments to play. I once had an impromptu lesson on steel drums from a friend who played in one of the local steel drum ensembles, and it isn't as easy as it looks.
Guest artist for the concert is Lisa Lubin, born in St. Croix and a Canadian resident from a very young age. Lisa began to play the steel drum as a way of staying connected to her culture, and now performs with her own band and even teaches the instrument in St. Catharines.
On Sunday afternoon, the Niagara Symphony Silent Auction winner from last November, Patrick Little, returns to the podium after conducting Offenbach's Can-Can last season. He was the successful bidder again this year and we can only imagine what his wardrobe choices will be this season; hopefully no wardrobe malfunctions will occur!
I will be at both concerts this weekend, of course, with lots of great music available for purchase in the lobby before, after and at intermission tonight and tomorrow afternoon. Tickets should be available, either at the door or through the Brock box office by calling 905-688-5550, ext. 3257. I would imagine the Saturday night concert has better seating than Sunday afternoon, but you should be able to get into either one if you want to have some fun this weekend.
Elsewhere this weekend, the Chorus Niagara Children's Choir performs this Saturday evening at 7 at Silver Spire United Church on St. Paul Street in downtown St. Catharines. The concert is titled Graced with Song and will highlight the young up and coming choral stars in the community. For tickets, you should be able to pick them up at the door or go to www.chorusniagara.ca.
More choral music is available just a short drive down the QEW as well this weekend, as the acclaimed John Laing Singers with organist Christopher Dawes and Schulte Strings present Mystery and Majesty Saturday night at 7:30 and Sunday afternoon at 3:30. The Saturday concert is at Central Presbyterian Church in Hamilton; the Sunday afternoon concert is at St. Paul's United Church in Dundas.
Mystery and Majesty will explore contrasting sounds and musical ideas this weekend, from Handel's wonderful Coronation Anthem Zadok the Priest to Haydn's jubilant Te Deum, from Mendelssohn's mighty Psalm 98 to Arvo Part's serene Berliner Messe.
Tickets for either concert are available at the door, or in advance by calling 905-628-5238 or going to www.johnlaingsingers.com.
Finally, tonight is the final opportunity to catch neXt Company Theatre's fundraising production of the famous comedy horror musical, Rocky Horror Show, which was written by Richard O'Brien and was first staged back in 1973. Personally, I have never seen the attraction of going to The Rocky Horror Show time after time, but people do and will continue to do so. Who am I to question, then? Besides, in addition to being a fundraiser for the company to help with future work for neXt Theatre Company, it will also feature a collaborative fundraising venture benefitting AIDS Niagara. So it will help out in the community on several levels, and that's a good thing!
Performances wrap tonight at 8 and 11:30 pm, at the Sullivan Mahoney Courthouse Theatre in downtown St. Catharines, and tickets are available at the door or through the Brock box office at 905-688-5550, ext. 3257.
So there you go, lots to do this weekend and none involves a huge amount of money but each provides a wealth of entertainment value for the money spent.
Enjoy the weekend!
February 25th, 2012.
First off, the Niagara Symphony is set to sizzle this weekend with the third of their four Pops! concerts this season. Tonight at 7:30 and Sunday afternoon at 2:30, Associate Conductor Laura Thomas leads the orchestra in a concert titled February Fiesta, featuring a programme of tangos, rumbas and other so-called "hot" favourite dances. Don't know if the limbo is included, though...
In addition to the usual members of the percussion section, steel drums will be added for this weekend's concerts, and they are fiendishly deceptive instruments to play. I once had an impromptu lesson on steel drums from a friend who played in one of the local steel drum ensembles, and it isn't as easy as it looks.
Guest artist for the concert is Lisa Lubin, born in St. Croix and a Canadian resident from a very young age. Lisa began to play the steel drum as a way of staying connected to her culture, and now performs with her own band and even teaches the instrument in St. Catharines.
On Sunday afternoon, the Niagara Symphony Silent Auction winner from last November, Patrick Little, returns to the podium after conducting Offenbach's Can-Can last season. He was the successful bidder again this year and we can only imagine what his wardrobe choices will be this season; hopefully no wardrobe malfunctions will occur!
I will be at both concerts this weekend, of course, with lots of great music available for purchase in the lobby before, after and at intermission tonight and tomorrow afternoon. Tickets should be available, either at the door or through the Brock box office by calling 905-688-5550, ext. 3257. I would imagine the Saturday night concert has better seating than Sunday afternoon, but you should be able to get into either one if you want to have some fun this weekend.
Elsewhere this weekend, the Chorus Niagara Children's Choir performs this Saturday evening at 7 at Silver Spire United Church on St. Paul Street in downtown St. Catharines. The concert is titled Graced with Song and will highlight the young up and coming choral stars in the community. For tickets, you should be able to pick them up at the door or go to www.chorusniagara.ca.
More choral music is available just a short drive down the QEW as well this weekend, as the acclaimed John Laing Singers with organist Christopher Dawes and Schulte Strings present Mystery and Majesty Saturday night at 7:30 and Sunday afternoon at 3:30. The Saturday concert is at Central Presbyterian Church in Hamilton; the Sunday afternoon concert is at St. Paul's United Church in Dundas.
Mystery and Majesty will explore contrasting sounds and musical ideas this weekend, from Handel's wonderful Coronation Anthem Zadok the Priest to Haydn's jubilant Te Deum, from Mendelssohn's mighty Psalm 98 to Arvo Part's serene Berliner Messe.
Tickets for either concert are available at the door, or in advance by calling 905-628-5238 or going to www.johnlaingsingers.com.
Finally, tonight is the final opportunity to catch neXt Company Theatre's fundraising production of the famous comedy horror musical, Rocky Horror Show, which was written by Richard O'Brien and was first staged back in 1973. Personally, I have never seen the attraction of going to The Rocky Horror Show time after time, but people do and will continue to do so. Who am I to question, then? Besides, in addition to being a fundraiser for the company to help with future work for neXt Theatre Company, it will also feature a collaborative fundraising venture benefitting AIDS Niagara. So it will help out in the community on several levels, and that's a good thing!
Performances wrap tonight at 8 and 11:30 pm, at the Sullivan Mahoney Courthouse Theatre in downtown St. Catharines, and tickets are available at the door or through the Brock box office at 905-688-5550, ext. 3257.
So there you go, lots to do this weekend and none involves a huge amount of money but each provides a wealth of entertainment value for the money spent.
Enjoy the weekend!
February 25th, 2012.
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