New Creations Festival - Part I

Last Thursday (March 30) was the opening of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra's 2nd annual New Creations Festival - which this year is guiding audience's through the world of the modern concerto.

The opening concert - Modern Soundscapes - featured the world premiere of CMC Associate Composer Jacques Hétu's Variations concertantes, Op. 74, and two Canadian premieres of American works, Melinda Wagner's Extremity of Sky (with pianist Emanuel Ax) and John Adams' The Dharma at Big Sur (with Leila Josefowicz, electric violin).


A highlight of the evening was the lobby chat during intermission with Jacques Hétu and Melinda Wagner hosted by TSO's Composer Advisor and CMC Associate Gary Kulesha.

Peter Oundjian conducted this very thrilling opening concert. It was a brilliant way to start this year Festival.

(photo of Gary Kulesha and Jacques Hetu by John S. Gray)