The Free Concert Series in the 3rd floor Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre, allows for breath-taking views through floor
to ceiling glass windows of University Avenue as a backdrop, and includes concerts, performances and presentations by young artists, Canadian and international opera stars and COC staff.
This is an exciting
opportunity for Torontonians to experience the artistic excellence and cultural diversity of the city in the beautiful Four Seasons Centre For The Performing Arts.
All concerts are free to the public. "Brown bag" lunches are welcome for the noon performances.Four Seasons Centre For The Performing Arts, 145 Queen St. W. (at University Ave.) _____________________________________
2012 - 2013 S E A S O N
M A Y 2 0 1 3May 13
5:30 – 7:30 p.m.
Vocal Series
*Special Two-Hour Concert* The Christina and Louis Quilico Awards The artists of the COC
Ensemble Studio compete in the fifth edition of the Christina and Louis Quilico Awards. Each artist performs an aria of his or her own choosing and a second aria will be selected by the panel of judges. Winners will be
announced at the event's conclusion. May 14
12 – 1 p.m.
World Music Series
Ragas and Revelations
Toronto-based trio Classical India 3 presents an inspiring hour of pure, traditional ragas
(classical Indian melodies) performed by Samidha Joglekar (classical Indian vocalist) with accompaniment by Ravi Naimpally (tabla) and George Koller (dilruba, an Indian stringed instrument). A special
tabla solo and dilruba cadenza will also be featured in this performance. May 16 12 – 1 p.m.
Vocal Series
Figaro's Wedding
Against the Grain Theatre, one of Toronto's hottest and most inventive young theatre collectives, takes the beloved Mozart classic The Marriage of Figaro
and turns it sideways in this Free Concert Series presentation. With a contemporary reimagining of the setting and a new English translation by AtG Artistic Director Joel Ivany, this is Mozart as Toronto has never seen before.
May 21 12 – 1 p.m.
Vocal Series
Bel Canto Bliss "Nimble of voice, body and spirit" (New York Times
), coloratura soprano Anna Christy (singing the title role in the COC's production of Lucia di Lammermoor
this spring) impresses and delights audiences with an extraordinary blend of sparkling voice, powerful stage presence and innate musicality in this afternoon concert. May 22 12 – 1 p.m.
Chamber Music Series
Happy Birthday, Wagner! The cello section of the COC Orchestra celebrates the 200th birthday of Richard Wagner with a unique and exciting program featuring Wagner's
opera overtures arranged for four cellos. The program also includes Bizet's rarely heard Carmen Fantasy
for five cellos and a virtuosic piece composed by one of the greatest cellists of the 19th century, David Popper. May 23 12 – 1 p.m.
Vocal Series
Les Adieux The graduating
artists of the COC Ensemble Studio – sopranos Mireille Asselin and Ambur Braid, mezzo-soprano Rihab Chaieb, bass-baritone Neil Craighead, tenor Christopher Enns and pianists Timothy Cheung and Jenna Douglas – perform a
special "farewell" concert of their favourite arias and duets. May 28
12 – 1 p.m.
Chamber Music Series
2013 Festival Preview Now in its eighth season, the
Toronto Summer Music Festival has established itself as Toronto's premier chamber music festival. Artistic Director Douglas McNabney presents a sneak preview featuring emerging artists and music from the festival.
May 30 12 – 1 p.m.
Piano Virtuoso Series
Lunch with Punch In a rare solo appearance, pianist Linda Ippolito serves up a tantalizing cocktail of
Commedia dell'arte-based gems. This program brings to life puppets, dolls and the medieval stock characters of Arlequin, Pantalon, Columbine and the ever-endearing Punch in music by Rachmaninov, Granados, Frank
Bridge, Cyril Scott, Pierre-Max Dubois, Billy Mayerl and other well- and lesser-known composers.
J U N E 2 0 1 3June 4 12 – 1 p.m.
Chamber Music Series
*Canadian Premiere* Wordless Dreams
American violinist and literary scholar Keir GoGwilt presents the Canadian premiere of Schubert's Nacht und Träume
in an original paraphrase informed by Samuel Beckett's television play of the same name. GoGwilt's compelling program of sonatas and songs without words also includes works from Prokofiev and Milhaud, as well as transcriptions of Berg's
Die Nachtigall and Traumgekrönt. June 5
12 – 1 p.m.
World Music Series
Strings Without Borders Pipa
virtuosa Wen Zhao and Russian-Israeli flamenco guitarist Roman Smirnov join forces for a truly unique program exploring dance repertoire from China, Spain and the Middle East. The concert includes festival music, love songs and folk dances.
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