Harbourfront Centre

Free family concert series returns to Harbourfront Centre on Thanksgiving Weekend, Sunday, October 12, as part of HarbourKIDS!

TORONTO, Wednesday, September 10, 2008 ’Äî The 2008/09 Music with Bite concert series presents four spectacular concerts for families with three of the performances as part of HarbourKIDS, Harbourfront Centre's new ongoing family program. The popular Music with Bite series kicks off on Sunday, October 12 with an entertaining bilingual (English/French) opera performance of Annabelle Canto. On Sunday, December 7, families are invited to Fiestango!, a lively bilingual (English/French) performance on the history of tango. As part of Harbourfront Centre's Kuumba Black History Month celebrations, Achˆ© Brasil, an Afro-Brazilian music and dance group performs on Sunday, February 15. The concert season closes on Sunday, May 17 with a thrilling taiko drumming performance from the Nagata Shachu (formerly (formerly Kiyoshi Nagata Ensemble).



Music with Bite is a refreshing experience where children can pull up a comfy cushion and sit in front of the stage for an enjoyable, interactive music performance tailored for the youngest audience members. After the concert, children can enjoy a complimentary Natrel milk beverage and cookies. Concerts take place on select Sundays at 1 p.m., at Harbourfront Centre, 235 Queens Quay West. Admission is free. For information, the public can call 416-973-4000 or visit harbourfrontcentre.com.



Music with Bite is a co-production with Jeunesses Musicales Ontario, which is affiliated with Jeunesses Musicales of Canada, who since 1949 has dedicated its work to musical excellence and the promotion of young artists and music for young people. Jeunesses Musicales of Canada is a member of Jeunesses Musicales International.



SEASON LINE UP:

Sunday, October 12, 2008 at 1 p.m. Annabelle Canto (bilingual performance)

From Montreal, soprano Christina Tannous becomes Annabelle Canto, the young opera singer who loses both her voice and memory on the morning of an important concert. Annabelle and her pianist, played by Dominic Boulianne, set out on a quest for this magical voice. Along their musical route, they discover magnificent opera characters. This bilingual Music with Bite performance is part of HarbourKIDS: Geek Out (October 12-13), a family weekend celebrating geeks are cool with two jam-packed days of music, creativity and fun. Annabelle Canto is also part of Quˆ©bec Now!, a Toronto-wide celebration of contemporary Quˆ©bec arts and culture.



Sunday, December 7, 2008 at 1 p.m. Fiestango! (bilingual performance)

From Quebec, Amˆ©lie Lamontagne (violin), Janie Caron, (piano) and Geneviˆ®ve Bigonnesse (bass) explore the history of the tango. Young audiences hear the story of three mischievous cousins who receive a large trunk in the mail. Inside, they find all kinds of amazing objects, including an old diary. belonging to the young and mysterious Mercedes. Just for fun, they decide to act out the story of Mercedes, who spent her life travelling with this trunk in tow, filling it with souvenirs. Immersing themselves in the narrative, the three cousins rediscover and invent their own fantastic adventures that lead them to learn about the history of the tango, a style of music and dance they adore. But a question remains unanswered: Just how did this mysterious trunk make its way into their hands? Fiestango! is part of HarbourKIDS: SK8Culture (December 5-7), a family weekend celebrating all things skating with activities, exhibitions and performances. Fiestango! is also part of Quˆ©bec Now!



Sunday, February 15, 2009 at 1 p.m.

Achˆ© Brasil

Founded in 1990 in Vancouver by Mestre Eclilson de Jesus, Achˆ© Brasil is a performance group that fuses music, dance, capoeira (martial arts and acrobatics) into a dynamic, colourful, high energy performance. The dancers, musicians and performers of Achˆ© Brasil exhibit a rare combination of authenticity and excellence in their work, which is presently unmatched in North America. Experienced and professional, Achˆ© Brasil is committed to presenting high quality performances which best exemplify Brazil's rich cultural heritage. This performance is part of Harbourfront Centre's Kuumba.



Sunday, May 17, 2009 at 1 p.m.

Nagata Shachu (formerly Kiyoshi Nagata Ensemble)

Based in Toronto, Nagata Shachu has enthralled audiences with its mesmerizing and thrilling performances on the Japanese drum (taiko) since its formation in 1998. Under the direction of Kiyoshi Nagata, the ensemble combines thunderous, primal drumbeats with subtle, intricate rhythms to produce a wide spectrum of sound. With their vast array of Japanese taiko, gongs, bells, wooden clappers, shakers and bamboo flutes, the ensemble takes audiences on a musical journey beyond all borders This Music with Bite performance is part of the HarbourKIDS weekend, May 16-18, 2009.



Music with Bite is produced with the support of the Government of Canada, the City of Toronto through the Toronto Arts Council and Desjardins.



FOCUS: Pause

Harbourfront Centre wants you. to. slow. down. In a world where we are constantly bombarded with information and images, what happens when someone really takes the time to reflect? From September to May, Harbourfront Centre wants you to pause and make a connection to art, technology, the world. Find time for yourself by taking one of our Courses and Workshops; reflect while you wait for the World Stage curtain to rise; indulge in a great book during the 2008 International Festival of Authors. Harbourfront Centre’Äîtime well spent.