Yo-Yo Ma used Skype to connect with Toronto middle-school students leading up to his visit.
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May 16, 2012 – World-renowned cellist Yo-Yo Ma celebrates the TSO’s 90th season with a residency that began months ago. Leading up to his Toronto visit, Yo-Yo Ma used Skype to connect with middle school students to discuss creativity and life discovery through the arts. The cellist’s residency culminates with two concerts led by TSO Music Director Peter Oundjian at Roy Thomson Hall where Ma will perform Elgar’s Cello Concerto and Dimitri Yanov-Yanovsky’s Night Music: Voice in the Leaves for Cello and Orchestra (May 30 & 31, 2012).
On stage, Yo-Yo Ma joins TSO Music Director Peter Oundjian and the TSO for two concert dates (May 30 & 31, 2012) to perform Elgar’s Cello Concerto, the same piece with which he made his TSO début in 1979. The Cello Concerto channels the composer’s wartime despair and disillusion and is one of Elgar’s most popular works. Yo-Yo Ma will also perform Dmitri Yanov-Yanovsky’s Night Music: Voice in the Leaves for Cello and Orchestra. This piece explores the mysterious sounds of the night and was composed especially for Yo-Yo Ma and the Silk Road Ensemble.
Leading up to his Toronto visit, Yo-Yo Ma has been using Skype to connect with two Toronto middle-school classes as part of the TSO’s extensive Education and Outreach programmes. TSO Principal Double Bass Jeffrey Beecher, also a member of Yo-Yo Ma’s Silk Road Ensemble, is acting as docent with the students, visiting them monthly to collaborate in artistic projects including visual art, dance, and music. The students have created a collaborative work inspired by Yo-Yo Ma’s Toronto Music Garden, which was based on the music of Bach. After months of Skype connections, the students will be able to meet Yo-Yo Ma face-to-face during his Toronto visit.
In its 90th season, the Toronto Symphony Orchestra hosts three internationally-acclaimed artists for visits that extend beyond their concert performances: Pianist Lang Lang (November 9-19, 2011), conductor/violinist Itzhak Perlman (April 25-28, 2012), and cellist Yo-Yo Ma (May 30 & 31, 2012) join the TSO in three residencies which are unique to Toronto.
The TSO wants to make A Visit with Yo-Yo Ma one lucky winner’s Experience of a Lifetime. Watch for details in the Toronto Star for the chance to win an exclusive experience with Yo-Yo Ma. Details can be found online at tso.ca/lifetime
TSO 90th Season Sponsor is BMO Financial Group.
TSO Presents:
A Visit with Yo-Yo Ma
Yo-Yo Ma
Wed, May 30 at 7:30pm
Thu, May 31 at 7:30pm
Roy Thomson Hall
Peter Oundjian, conductor
Yo-Yo Ma, cello
Dimitri Yanov-Yanovsky: Night Music: Voice in the Leaves for Cello and Orchestra
Rachmaninoff: Symphonic Dances
Elgar: Cello Concerto
Tickets: $49-$185
Call TSO’s ticket line at 416.593.4828
Chinese hotline: 416.593.0688
Online Tickets at tso.ca
About the TSO: Founded in 1922, the Toronto Symphony Orchestra is one of Canada’s major cultural institutions and is internationally recognized as a leading orchestra. Under the leadership of Music Director Peter Oundjian, the TSO is committed to innovative programming and showcases a roster of distinguished guest artists and conductors. In addition to performances, the TSO serves the community with one of the largest music education outreach programmes in Canada, connecting students throughout Ontario with acclaimed curriculum-based programming. tso.ca
MEDIA CONTACTS:
Nicole Morrison, Publicist 416-593-7769 x267 nmorrison@tso.ca
Laura Quinn, Senior Manager of Communications 416-593-7769 x232 lquinn@tso.ca
To download high-res publicity photos of the TSO and TSO artists, please visit: tso.ca/media-room