Past Concerts
January 2021
Marvellous Melodies – LIVE STREAMED ONLINE
Schumann declared that Felix Mendelssohn was the “Mozart of the 19th century”. In this concert, we celebrate two child prodigies whose work demonstrates true genius. Mozart’s stunning Quartet for oboe and strings moves from the sublime to the effervescent. Mendelssohn’s famous Octet is for two string quartets combined in a miracle of grace and unbounded youthful enthusiasm. Join us for a concert of some of the greatest chamber music ever written. W.A. Mozart: Oboe Quartet, K. 370 Colleen Kennedy,…
February 2021
Valentine’s Special – STREAMED ONLINE
Join us as we share our love of music and help romantics celebrate Valentine’s Day! ❤ TBSO musicians have gotten together with their favourite plus one, playing duets that feature everything from exquisite love songs by Mozart and Rossini, and the beautiful Romantic sounds of Saint-Saëns and Wieniawski to a jazzy Django Reinhardt tune and a freshly composed Candlelight Tango by TBSO Violist and composer, Patrick Horn. Even Music Director Paul Haas gets in on the event with a Happy…
Schubertiade
Schubert’s String Quintet in C, composed during the final weeks of his life, is the composers last instrumental work and ranked among his greatest. Schubert’s writing for the strings is symphonic – a work in which light and shade, serenity and drama are present in constant alteration. The result is perhaps the most hauntingly beautiful of all Schubert’s chamber works – not to be missed! Schubert: Quintet in C major, D. 956 Thomas Cosbey and Lindsey Herle, violins; Marlena Pellegrino,…
Made in France
Jerome Naulais’ Flash is a musical gem for brass trio, featuring quick runs and sweeping melodies combined with special effects to add colour and excitement. Eugene Bozza’s Shepherds of Provence is a showpiece for the oboe and English horn taking listeners to the French countryside with pastoral scenes, a night under the stars and a village dance. Ravel’s String Quartet in F is an early work often considered his first masterpiece. This passionate and beautiful quartet demonstrates Ravel’s brilliant juxtaposition…
March 2021
Mozart & Haydn
It has been said that Haydn “excelled in every musical genre”. His Flute Quartets, written for the talented musicians who worked in his orchestra, are known for their keen melodic lines, expressive slow movements and finales full of joyful high spirits. Mozart’s String Quintet No. 4 is a piece full of extraordinary moments from the intense pathos and chromatic disquiet of its opening to the finale’s happy ending, where balance, light and gallant elegance dispel all trauma like turning on…
All American
No other composer was able to combine the jazz music of the time with classical music like George Gershwin. Three Preludes is a brilliant arrangement by violist Martin Stegner of Gershwin’s short piano pieces - charming, melodic and captivating. Barber’s String Quartet op. 11 was written in 1936 when Barber was a mere 26 years old. The centerpiece of the quartet is the extraordinary "Adagio" which has been famously transcribed as an independent piece for string orchestra, featuring a universal…
Northern Winter
Thunder Bay, Ontario P7G 1Y7 Canada
Celebrating our northern voice with an eclectic mix of wintery soundscapes and icy connections. The warm and lyrical Duo in C Major reflects Sibelius’ love of nature and of his native Finland. Award winning Canadian composers Jocelyn Morlock and Linda Caitlin Smith examine the meaning of shade and reflection. Estonian Arvo Pärt’s Spiegel im Spiegel is his most popular and well-known work, having a meditative and serene simplicity. And legendary Canadian composer R. Murray Schafer’s String Quartet depicts an outdoor…
Tropical Oasis
We journey north to south featuring evocative works, starting with a gem of a trio for woodwinds by Dutch late romantic composer Julius Röntgen. His music is bright, perfectly balanced and highly appealing yet powerful and passionate. Young American composer Alyssa Morris wrote Brush Strokes to depict works of art by Monet, Seurat, Van Gogh and Pollock. Each movement tells the story of the artist and their colourful painting technique. William Grant Still’s Danzas de Panama is an impressive tour…
April 2021
Brass ‘n Brahms
Nelhybel’s Trio for Brass demonstrates the composer’s well-known skill for writing sharply incisive passagework for brass, as well as plaintive, almost Kurt Weill-like lyricism. Brahms’ magnificent Sextet for Strings, No. 2 is one of the best-loved works of all chamber music repertoire. It is inspired music - both serious and complex, but also beautiful and romantic. Nelhybel: Trio for Brass Sam Hughes, trumpet; Damian Rivers-Moore, horn; Erik Hongisto, trombone Brahms: Sextet No. 2 in G major, Op. 36 Tom Cosbey…
Simply Beethoven
Celebrating a chamber music genius. Beethoven’s Duo for flutes, commissioned by a close friend, is a little-known gem. The attractive and skillfully effective Variations on La ci darem la mano from Mozart’s Don Giovanni and the buoyant and good-natured String Quartet no. 10, affectionately known as the “Harp” quartet, round out a simply delightful concert. Beethoven: Duo for 2 Flutes in G Major Penelope Clarke & Doris Dungan, flutes Beethoven: Variations on "La ci dare la mono" Colleen Kennedy &…