Works: #1 Ludwig Van Beethoven, #2 piano trio Op. 1, Wolfgang Amadè Mozart, piano trio K. 502, #3 TBA
A delightful evening of poems and short stories intertwined with seasonal music for flute, violin and harp. Glissandi and Shaw Festival Actor Guy Bannerman, have once again put together an enchanting concert featuring the narrated version of Howard Blake’s The Snowman. Works TBA.
A delightful evening of poems and short stories intertwined with seasonal music for flute, violin and harp. Glissandi and Shaw Festival Actor Guy Bannerman, have once again put together an enchanting concert featuring the narrated version of Howard Blake’s The Snowman. Works TBA.
Come with us on a fascinating journey through silent film with accompanying improvised music. This evening’s feature film is F.W. Murnau’s Sunrise (1927, 95 mins.), which was awarded three Oscars. Film critic Joan Nicks will introduce the film and lead a discussion following the performance.
From evocative laments to sizzling dance tunes, Uncharted Waters reflects the humour, eclecticism and colourful diversity which have won Polaris fans across North America, Europe and Australia. This program includes sunny Mediterranean instrumentals, wistful ballads, unique versions of Scandinavian traditional tunes and much more. Guaranteed to send you away smiling.
Canadian acting legend R.H. Thomson and the Eybler Quartet bring to life through music and readings an evening in Vienna from 1784, when Michael Kelly, a young Irish tenor, heard a house concert performed by Haydn, Mozart, and two of their contemporaries— Karl Ditters von Dittersdorf and Johann Baptist Wanhal.
Come hear Beethoven’s Spring Sonata in a charming transcription by Patrick Jordan, paired with Anton Arensky’s luscious string quartet scored for violin, viola & two celli! Also on the programme a new cello duo by Michael Oesterle, and the hypnotic Assobio a jato, (Jet Whistle) by Heitor Villa-Lobos.
The first of two concerts, guests are welcomed with a delightful evening of poems and short stories woven together with seasonal music for flute, violin and harp. Glissandi and Shaw Festival actor Guy Bannerman, have once again put together an enchanting concert featuring readings from Dylan Thomas’ “A Child’s Christmas in Wales”.
Our second Christmas concert, guests are welcomed with an evening of poems and short stories woven together with seasonal music for flute, violin and harp. Glissandi and Shaw Festival actor Guy Bannerman, have once again put together an enchanting concert featuring readings from Dylan Thomas’ “A Child’s Christmas in Wales”.
Join the Eybler Quartet and guests Brett Polegato, Joseph Phillips and Timothy Phelan for the premier performance of a intriguing new arrangement of Schumann’s famous song cycle Dichterliebe transcribed by Patrick Jordan for string quartet, guitar & voice. Also on the programme will be Mendelssohn’s Op. 13 A minor string quartet, and a new commission from Canadian composer Martin Arnold.
We continue our fascinating journey with improvised music accompanying silent film with The Crowd (1928) by King Vidor, (90 mins). A jewel of style and narrative, the film features a marvelous scene of a young couple honeymooning in Niagara Falls! Film critic Joan Nicks will introduce the film and lead adiscussion following the performance.
The Vesuvius Ensemble paints a portrait of Naples and its surrounding countryside in the Renaissance & Baroque periods, giving colourful details of Neapolitan life. A fun mix of folk and early music, the ensemble will be joined by our cellist Margaret Gay.
The cello takes centre stage in this programme featuring Villa Lobos’s beloved Bachianas Brasileiras #5, arrangements of works by Beethoven and Tchaikovsky plus a hauntingly beautiful setting of Rilke by Canadian Michael Oesterle.
Glissandi and Guy Bannerman will indulge your senses with a delicious array of carols, spiced with delectable readings from the British Isles. A perfect prelude to the festive season!
A second performance. Glissandi and Guy Bannerman will indulge your senses with a delicious array of carols, spiced with delectable readings from the British Isles. A perfect prelude to the festive season!
We welcome back baritone Brett Polegato for this special Valentines performance featuring a new transcription of Schumann’s Liederkreis op. 39, Beethoven’s intensely personal string quartet Op. 18 #6 subtitled “Melancholy” and a special treat from Schubert’s lieder and quartet works.
We continue our fascinating journey with improvised music accompanying silent films. In The Kid (1921), Charlie Chaplin’s little tramp takes in a street orphan who mimics every physical gesture of his would-be father; in Sherlock Jr. (1924), Buster Keaton, silent film’s comic genius, portrays a loner who woos the woman of his dreams but envisions the traps of family life.
Join us for a soul-warming afternoon of traditional Brazilian instrumental music, full of beautiful melodies and mesmerizing rhythms. The infectious dance rhythms and scintillating colours are brought to life by flute, clarinet, guitar and percussion, the ensemble originally heard in the cafes of Rio de Janeiro in the early nineteen hundreds. It’s Carneval!
Niagara Trio
We continue our cycle of Beethoven piano trios with the enduring masterpiece the “Archduke” trio Op. 97. Its pair for the afternoon, piano quartet op. 1 #1, was the first published work of the 13 year old prodigy Mendelssohn
“What happens when a poet, an author, a composer, his lover, and a book-loving stripper all move into the same house in quiet, wartime Brooklyn? Arguments, indulgence, infestation, questionable relationships of every description, a murder mystery, plenty of reasons for the neighbours to bang on the walls and, just possibly, some truly wonderful art.” A potent mix of cabaret, social history, very juicy gossip, glorious music and all parts fun.
Experience the beauty and drama of Earth, Air, Fire and Water through a kaleidoscope of stunning visuals, evocative live music, and interactive dance. Stimulating all the senses, you will be surrounded by the profound power of nature. Five of Niagara’s finest artists join forces to create a one-of-a-kind performance piece. The Gallery Players’ popular movie series musicians join dancer Jena Slingerland, who will interact with an array of projected visuals designed by Luke Gillett. A not-to-be-mi
Join Glissandi and Guy Bannerman for an enchanting evening of haunting melodies, and heart-warming stories. The rich and soulful music of Ireland, Wales and the Scottish Highlands, reflects the magical charm of the Holiday season. This annual event has become a popular seasonal highlight.
Join Glissandi and Guy Bannerman for an enchanting evening of haunting melodies, and heart-warming stories. The rich and soulful music of Ireland, Wales and the Scottish Highlands, reflects the magical charm of the Holiday season. This annual event has become a popular seasonal highlight.
From evocative laments to sizzling dance tunes, Uncharted Waters reflects the humour, eclecticism and colourful diversity which have won Polaris fans across North America, Europe and Australia. This program includes sunny Mediterranean instrumentals, wistful ballads, unique versions of Scandinavian traditional tunes and much more. Guaranteed to send you away smiling.
We continue our fascinating journey with improvised music accompanying silent films. Three digitally restored 2-reelers representing Chaplin’s brilliant work at Mutual Studios (1916-1917), where he honed his screen persona and story-telling style: ONE A.M. (26 mins.), THE PAWNSHOP (26 mins.), and THE RINK (26 mins.). Presented in partnership with the FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre
Who was the dominant superstar of the early string quartet? Joseph Haydn!! Join the Eybler Quartet for an afternoon of infectiously engaging works revolving around him, including a piece by the master himself, one of the quartets Mozart dedicated to Haydn and a rarely heard work by his dear friend Franz Asplmayr.
Kristin Hoff mezzo soprano returns home to Niagara for a dazzling concert featuring transcriptions of Malher’s Kindertotenlieder and Ravel’s Sheherazade and Le tombeau de Couperin.
Going Solo….. but not alone! Come hear our chamber musicians shine in the role of soloist!
More flutes, new adventures! Doug Miller, Laura Thomas and the Flutes en Route Ensemble will take you around the globe on the wings of the wind.
Animals frequently play a role in Christmas rituals and tales. Join Glissandi and Guy Bannerman in the celebration and stories of the Animals of Christmas as portrayed through song and word.
Animals frequently play a role in Christmas rituals and tales. Join Glissandi and Guy Bannerman in the celebration and stories of the Animals of Christmas as portrayed through song and word.
The world needs more Biber! Members of Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra bring two of his Partitas to centre stage in this concert that transports us to the city of Salzburg. Also featured is the fascinating instrument known as the viola d’amore, rarely heard in concert but perfect for this chamber setting as performed by Tafelmusik’s Thomas Georgi, one of the world’s foremost experts on the instrument.
We continue our fascinating journey with improvised music accompanying silent films. Safety Last- Harold Llyod (1923). Known as the “third genius” of silent film comedy, Harold Lloyd plays an ordinary man with the instincts of a daredevil performing death-defying physical feats to keep his job and his girl.
Join the Eybler Quartet on a fascinating journey of the first 50 years of the string quartet. From the rarely heard but pioneering voice of Franz Asplmayr (colleague of Mozart & Haydn), to the beguiling voice of Mozart himself, and concluding with the visionary expression of Beethoven in his late period, we lead you to a bold new frontier of music.
Mistaken identity, sibling rivalry, and love at first sight - these comic themes drive the eighteen-year-old Alessandro Scarlatti`s first opera, premiered in Rome, 1679. Despite papal decree against such scandals as women on stage, and a ban on the church`s employment of theatre musicians, the public couldn`t resist the charms of this new, youthful voice of opera. ``Gli equivoci nel sembiante``, an intimate comedy for four singers and orchestra, became a hit that toured throughout Italy.
Birth, death and rebirth resonate as connective themes of human expression. Using the violin Sonatas and Partitas of J. S. Bach, the artistic explorations of Brian Solomon (Ojibwe/Irish), and selected Bach arias, Songs of Life- Bach on Turtle’s Back explores these profound concerns within a uniquely mixed North American context. This is year one of a three year project. This concert is supported by the Pluralism Fund.
A concert situated around Northern Oracle An installation by artist Heather Hart organized and circulated by the Doris McCarthy Gallery. This program of traditional, new and experimental music brings together three leading instrumentalists from diverse musical worlds to weave a fabric of magical and exotic sounds. Come hear the shimmering sound of the kantele (Finland’s dulcimer), the multi-faceted pungency of the hurdy gurdy, and the evocative colours of wooden flutes.
Join Glissandi and Guy Bannerman for an enchanting evening of haunting melodies, and heart-warming stories. The rich and soulful music of Ireland, Wales and the Scottish Highlands, reflects the magical charm of the holiday season.
Join Glissandi and Guy Bannerman for an enchanting evening of haunting melodies, and heart-warming stories. The rich and soulful music of Ireland, Wales and the Scottish Highlands, reflects the magical charm of the holiday season.
Classical composers wrote music for a host of circumstances. Often for the open market, sometimes with an individual performer in mind and in other moments to the specification of a commission. Join the Eybler Quartet as they continue their exploration of the birth and development of the string quartet. “There is no denying the Eyblers’ verve and delicacy of touch ...” – The Times of London.
Rather than depicting Dracula as a shape-shifting monster or debonair gentleman, Murnau’s Graf Orlok (as portrayed by Max Schreck) is a nightmarish, spidery creature of bulbous head and taloned claws–perhaps the most genuinely disturbing incarnation of vampirism yet envisioned. Nosferatu was an atypical expressionist film in that much of it was shot on location. Our three performers will improvise a live film score to this silent classic.
When an ensemble celebrates its 25th season, that is remarkable; when the members have remained the same for a quarter century that is exceptional! The Gryphon Trio is celebrating this spectacular milestone. With over 2000 performances worldwide, 20 CDs, multiple Juno and recording awards, over 75 commission premieres, and accolades from critics and colleagues internationally, we welcome Canada’s preeminent piano trio as they return to St. Catharines.
Who doesn’t long for the warmth of the Côte D’azur, the charm of the impressionists or the timeless allure of Paris? Triomphe will perform evocative music for flute, harp and French horn. Music by Ravel, Debussy, Fauré amongst others will be featured.
Music and drama converge to illuminate the life of Aleksandr Borodin. Brock University’s Walker String Quartet performs 19th century Russian masterworks with actors Colin Bruce Anthes starring as Borodin & Genevieve Jones as Borodin’s wife, in an original play by Anthony Magro. Directed by Barbara Worthy.
Celebrate with Glissandi, and Shaw Festival alumnus Guy Bannerman, at a charming concert of “your” favourite holiday memories, portrayed through stories and song. Our inspiration? – festive reminiscences shared by Gallery Players audience members last season!
Celebrate with Glissandi, and Shaw Festival alumnus Guy Bannerman, at a charming concert of “your” favourite holiday memories, portrayed through stories and song. Our inspiration? – festive reminiscences shared by Gallery Players audience members last season!
Join us and follow a thrilling voice on a compelling musical voyage. Niagara native Kristin Hoff and her gifted friends take you from Germany to Canada - with a festive stop in Argentina!
Creation, destruction and transformation resonate as connective themes of human expression. “Songs of Life” explores these profound truths through performances by solo violinist Julia Wedman of Tafelmusik, the artistic explorations of dancer Brian Solomon (Anishinaabe/Irish), and the transcendent music of J.S. Bach.
One of Chaplin’s best loved and most successful films, considered by many critics one of the finest ever made! City Lights follows the misadventures of Chaplin’s iconic tramp as he falls in love with a blind girl and develops a complex relationship with an alcoholic millionaire. An improvised live score enhances this silent classic.
Inside the Music, new for our 25th season, draws the audience deep into a selected piece of music, guiding their listening experience. An intimate conversation with the members of the Eybler Quartet and Suzannah Clark, Professor of Music at Harvard University, reveals essentials such as harmony, phrase structure and the social significance of an intricate work by Haydn. With this context, you’ll hear the music as the cognoscenti from an 18th-century audience would!
Enter the dazzling world of timeless Italy! Vesuvius Ensemble’s luminous performance paints a portrait of Naples and its surrounding scenery with spirited popular music of the ages and colourful details of Neapolitan life. Rustic instruments - the tammorra, chitarra battente, ciaramella, and colascione - combine with the more familiar chitarrone, guitars, and lutes to create a unique soundscape.
Both 2pm & 4pm concerts are sold out. Please join us virtually. Eybler Trio members Julia Wedman, Patrick Jordan and Margaret Gay will perform Mozart’s Divertimento K563. This concert will replace the one originally scheduled, as Tafelmusik is no longer able to travel to Niagara.
The sound of string players tuning their instruments often signals the beginning of a concert. What happens when you change up this familiar tuning? Many baroque composers experimented with re-pitching some of the strings to draw different sounds and possibilities from the violin, a technique called scordatura. We explore one of the most popular of these re-tunings (AEAE), which offers a very open, resonant sound — evoking trumpets and vielles (medieval string instruments).
Three concertos that perfectly encompass Bach’s imaginative writing, full of creative dialogue between instruments. Concerto in C minor for Violin and Oboe BWV 1060, Concerto in D minor for two Violins BWV 1043, and Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 in G major BWV 1048. A concert produced by the Toronto Bach Festival and performed at the Isabel Bader Centre for Performing Arts, in Kingston, Ontario.
Trio Arkel members Marie Bérard and Winona Zelenka are joined by guests Russell Braun – baritone, Carolyn Maule – piano, Erika Raum - violin and Rémi Pelletier - viola. Music to be performed: Beethoven - String Trio in G Major, Shostakovich - String Quartet #1, Vaughan Williams - On Wenlock Edge and Fauré - La Bonne Chanson.
This concert will be presented live, as well as virtually. Award winning Canadian baritone Brett Polegato joins the Gallery Players for a unique programme of new transcriptions written by Canadians Trevor Wagler, and Daniel Warren. It’s truly exciting to be able to offer works of Ravel, Mahler, and Beethoven in a new intimate format.
This concert will be presented live, and available for free virtually. Musical gems from the Renaissance and ancient times accompany the witty and touching stories brought to life by Shaw Festival alumnus Guy Bannerman. Celebrate the festive season, and enjoy some simple gifts.
This concert will be presented live, as well as virtually. Canada’s award-winning trio builds a programme around the beloved B major piano trio of Brahms. Included will be Bruce A. Russell’s ”we have lived before”, commissioned by GT in 2021.
This concert will be presented Live only, and is a co-production with the FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre. We continue our fascinating journey with improvised live music accompanying silent films. BODY AND SOUL (1920), written/directed by Oscar Micheaux (1884-1951).
This concert will be presented live, as well as virtually. Eybler Quartet performs Joseph Haydn’s Op. 54. #1, Cris Derksen’s “White Man’s Cattle”, and quartets from Emanuel Aloys Förster & Jean-Baptiste Bréval.
The viola is famously the butt of musician jokes, but this program will let the violas shine in virtuosic repertoire from the earliest days! Starting with a viola duo by Alessandro Rolla (the grandaddy of all violists) and moving on to a 21st century North American premiere of a string quartet by Johann Amon (featuring two violas instead of two violins) we will show you a different aspect of the much maligned instrument.
RE-SCHEDULED - Tickets purchased for original May 8, 2022 concert will be honoured. Curated by Timothy Phelan - Guitar meets Flute, Clarinet, Saxophone, Cello & Percussion for a vibrant South American tour from Buenos Aires to Rio de Janeiro! Featuring Astor Piazzolla’s “The Four Seasons of Buenos Aires”, Maximo Diego Pujol’s “Suite Buenos Aires ”, and toe-tapping Bossa Nova tunes by Antonio Carlos Jobim and Luiz Bonfá. Live and online performances available.
Featuring music composed and published during the German composer’s visit to Venice in 1629. The 1630 plague outbreak in Northern Italy devastated Venice: one third of the population succumbed to disease. With obvious parallels to the present day, we explore expressions of faith set to music by Schütz and his Venetian contemporaries Monteverdi, Grandi, and Cifra. Live and online performances available.
A charming mix of Celtic folklore, tales, and traditions intertwined with festive music to lift your holiday spirits and warm your hearts. Live performance only.
THE SCAR of SHAME (Frank Perugini, 1929) 86 minutes Produced by Colored Players Film Corporation, Philadelphia. We continue our fascinating journey with live improvised music accompanying a visually stunning social melodrama, featuring an all-Black cast in this 1929 silent film. When an impoverished young woman escapes her abusive father, she is rescued by an aspiring composer. Live performance only.
Live performance only.The “stravagante” (extravagant) style was all the rage in the seventeenth century: performers were urged to embrace an unbridled style of playing in music ranging from the pensive to the humorous, the refined to the audacious. We welcome you on a musical journey to the imaginative world of “La Stravagante.”
Orchestral music transformed for a group of five instruments and featuring guest soprano Maria Vetere! Canadians Trevor Wagler and Daniel Warren have created new versions of Haydn’s “Clock” Symphony, Barber’s Knoxville Summer 1915, Verdi’s “Qui Radames Verra”, and Di Curtis’ “Non ti Scordar di me”. Award-winning composer Marek Norman’s beautiful new work “La Belle Epoque” will have it’s world premiere! Live and online performances available.
An Odin-Edition anthology that binds together some of the finest final chapters from the repertoire. From masterworks to hidden gems, Schumann to Schickele, Dvořák to Price, come and enjoy our story. Live performance only.