Canadian Debut of Alt-Classical Quartet Highlight of January Performances

The New Year has just arrived, and The Royal Conservatory is kicking off the next decade with a wide ranging set of performances encompassing classical music, flamenco dance, and the blues.

Concerts begin on January 16, when musical globetrotters Quartetto Gelato come to Koerner Hall. Praised by The New York Times for their ’Äúwarm, endearing vitality,’Äù they will warm up the winter with selections from their latest disc, Musica Latina, which explores the hot and cool sounds of South America. Joining them in a double bill is New York-based alt-classical string quartet, ETHEL, in their Canadian debut. This amplified ensemble of Juilliard graduates has been described by The Guardian as ’Äúthe fiercest string quartet this side of hell.’Äù Having collaborated with everyone from Ornette Coleman to Lenny Kravitz, their music fuses classical, rock, blues, and jazz. Dedicated to educational outreach, the group will also present a free public master class on January 15. The concert is sponsored by CBC Radio 2, who will be recording the performance for future broadcast.

A blast of blues will hit Koerner Hall on January 18, when the TBS Maple Blues Awards come to The Royal Conservatory for the first time. Co-presented by the Toronto Blues Society, the 13^th edition of Canada’Äôs only national blues awards program will honour the best blues musicians across Canada. Hosting duties will be handled by popular blues performer and radio host Danny Marks, along with Nanaimo’Äôs Juno-nominated blues musician David Gogo. Performers include Quebec City’Äôs Clio & The Blues Highway, Vancouver’Äôs The Twisters, Toronto’Äôs Paul Reddick, B.C.-based Harry Manx, and The Maple Blues Band, featuring Gary Kendall, Michael Fonfara, Teddy Leonard, Tom Bona, Al Lerman, Chris Whiteley, Pat Carey, and Chris Murphy.

Koerner Hall’Äôs first dance performance comes courtesy of the electrifying Spanish touring company, Noche Flamenca, and its incomparable dancer, Soledad Barrio. Hailed for their emotional performances, Noche Flamenca is recognized as the most authentic flamenco touring group in the field today. The Village Voice has exclaimed that ’Äúthe company digs deep into flamenco’Äôs dark soul.’Äù Their thrilling combination of music, song, and dance makes a welcome two night return to Toronto on January 30 and 31, as part of their North American tour.

Performances in Mazzoleni Hall begin on January 17, with distinguished Toronto musicians and Conservatory faculty members Bryan Epperson and Dianne Werner. These frequent collaborators will present a diverse program of Beethoven, Rachmaninov, and modern Polish composer Andrzej Panufnik.

Beautiful chamber music continues on January 31, when the highly sought-after ensemble, The Duke Trio, comes to Mazzoleni Hall. Having performed in recitals across North America, Conservatory faculty members Mark Fewer (violin), Thomas Wiebe (cello), and Peter Longworth (piano) will perform an all-Brahms program of duo and trio works, and will be joined by violist Douglas McNabney for the Piano Quintet in G Minor.

Founded in 1886, The Royal Conservatory is the largest and oldest independent arts educator in Canada. It is an internationally renowned centre for performance and learning, providing opportunities for personal development through music and arts education in over 300 communities across Canada and a dozen countries around the world. Each year, more than 500,000 Canadians take part in RCM programs, exams, and public school initiatives.

The Royal Conservatory acknowledges all of its donors and recognizes the remarkable generosity of:

TELUS ’Äì Official season sponsor of the 2009-10 Koerner Hall Concert Season

The Globe and Mail ’Äì Season media sponsor

CONCERTS AND EVENTS AT THE ROYAL CONSERVATORY ’Äì JANUARY 2010

KH ’Äì Koerner Hall; MH ’Äì Mazzoleni Hall; CT ’Äì Conservatory Theatre

ETHEL Master Class: Friday, January 15, 2010 at 5pm; FREE (CT)

Quartetto Gelato & ETHEL: Saturday, January 16, 2010 at 8pm; $20-$50 (KH)

Bryan Epperson with Dianne Werner: Sunday, January 17, 2010 at 2pm; $30 (students $20) (MH)

TBS Maple Blues Awards: Monday, January 18, 2010 at 7pm; $20-$28 (KH)

Noche Flamenca: Saturday, January 30, 2010 at 8pm and

Sunday, January 31, 2010 at 3pm; $30-$75 (KH)

The Duke Trio: Sunday, January 31, 2010 at 2pm; $30 (students $20) (MH)

INDEPENDENT PRESENTATIONS

Arianna Huffington: The Brave New World of the ’ÄúNew Media’Äù (Advertising Week 2010):

Tuesday, January 26, 2010 at 4pm; $75 (KH)

Penderecki Plus! (Esprit Orchestra): Friday, January 29, 2010 at 8pm; $15-$43 (KH)

Tickets are available online at www.rcmusic.ca, by calling 416.408.0208,

or in person at the Weston Family Box Office, 273 Bloor Street West, Toronto

More information about upcoming concerts and events is available The Royal Conservatory website at www.rcmusic.ca.