In Wednesday’s (1/30) Toronto Star, Vinay Menon writes, “Now entering his 10th season as music director at the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, Peter Oundjian has watched the city grow around and above Roy Thomson Hall. … While the city has changed, his objectives have not. At a time when competition is fierce for recreational spending, he must create a season that will appeal to both longtime patrons and newcomers who might be lurking in those nearby buildings. Oundjian must also strike a balance between creating programs from the Western canon, the ones that always brings in the crowds, and the more adventurous offerings that can breathe new life into a symphony. … The upcoming season will include a new concert series on Friday nights and a special event next year to mark Chinese New Year. The season, which runs between September 21 and June 2014, begins with a gala in which pianist Lang Lang performs two Mozart piano concertos. … The Friday Night series—something Oundjian has wanted to start since he arrived in 2004—will be made up of five concerts, featuring the music of Carl Orff, Tchaikovsky, Strauss, Mozart and John Adams. The new program joins returning series, including ‘Afterworks’ (intermission-free Wednesday-night performances), ‘Young People’s Concert’ (the Saturday matinee program for children between the ages of 5 and 12) and the popular New Creations Festival (March 1-7, 2014).”
Posted January 30, 2013
