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Toronto Consort season wraps up with Lutefest May 7 and 8, 2010 Toronto, April 9, 2010 —World music, Toronto Consort style! For its 2009-10 season finale on May 7 and 8, The Toronto Consort presents Lutefest, an early music mash-up featuring the lute and its far-flung cousins — the Middle Eastern oud and the Chinese pipa. The Consort’s own lutenist Terry McKenna takes centre stage and is joined by two virtuoso guest soloists: on oud, Bassam Bishara, and on pipa, Wen Zhao, “the Jimi Hendrix of the Chinese pipa." (WholeNote magazine). For tickets and information, call the box office at (416) 964-6337 or visit www.torontoconsort.org. Though each of the instruments in Lutefest is slightly different, they are all known as subtle, poetic instruments in their respective cultures. The program will resemble a lute master class, with each soloist choosing a master composer to highlight: Bassam Bishara has chosen the 9th-century master Ali ibn Nafi (known as Ziryab), who travelled from from Baghdad to Córdoba. Wen Zhao has chosen Li Gong Ren, a 14th-century female pipa player who played exclusively for the Yuan dynasty emperors in the Forbidden City; and Terry McKenna will focus on Francesco da Milano, one of the first great masters of the European lute in the 16th century. Israeli-born Bassam Bishara makes his Toronto Consort debut with Lutefest. Known for his ability to blend tradition and innovation, Bishara forges important musical links between the Middle East and the West, from traditional Arab compositions and arrangements to jazz, documentary films, and orchestral scores. Among his many accomplishments are the Jerusalem Encouragement Award for his contribution to his cultural heritage; the Israeli Radio Broadcast Award for his contribution as an oud soloist and singer with the Israeli orchestra; and the UK’s Arab Women’s Association Award. Based in Canada since 2001, Bashara quickly established his presence on the local scene in his role as music director/composer for the Arabesque Dance and Music Academy. He teaches Middle Eastern music at York University. Returning following her Consort debut last season in The Marco Polo Project, Beijing-born Wen Zhao has appeared all over the world with both traditional instrument and western classical ensembles. She combines eastern musical tradition with western classical repertoire to perform in different styles. In addition to teaching pipa at the Royal Conservatory of Music and York University, she has collaborated with Tafelmusik, London Grand Union Orchestra, Orchestra of London, and Accordes String Quartet. Wen Zhao was a featured soloist in The Four Seasons Mosaic, a 2005 performance documentary with Tafelmusik that was broadcast on CBC Television. Terry McKenna performs a wide range of musical styles on period and modern lutes and guitars. A member of the Toronto Consort for more than 20 years, he also plays with Ensemble Polaris and the Toronto Masque Theatre as well as guest appearances with I Furiosi, Musica Franca and Opera Atelier, among others. In addition to historical-based repertoire, McKenna welcomes opportunities to perform contemporary scores by composers such as James Rolfe, Omar Daniel, Peter Hannan, John Beckwith and Harry Freedman. Lutefest is supported by The Pluralism Fund, contributing to the advancement of Canadian pluralism through support of organizations and initiatives focused on the intersection and convergence of diversity and the arts.
Media Contact: © 2010, Toronto Consort |
Lutefest
The Toronto Consort
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