The TSO Chamber Soloists
Intimate pre-concert performances
Founded in 2014, The Toronto Symphony Orchestra Chamber Soloists came together with the mission to create programming featuring a diverse and varied range of instruments. Acclaimed as an ensemble of distinguished virtuosi, The TSO Chamber Soloists’ unique combination of winds, strings, keyboard, and percussion gives it the flexibility to present a wide range of unusual and infrequently performed repertoire, along with some of the best-loved works in the chamber music literature.
Comprising principal players from the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, The TSO Chamber Soloists have already performed around the world, from Roy Thomson Hall to the iconic Harpa Hall in Iceland, with such distinguished guest artists as Emanuel Ax, James Ehnes, Barbara Hannigan, and John Storgårds. Curated by TSO Concertmaster Jonathan Crow, The TSO Chamber Soloists seek to bring audiences closer to the musicians of the Orchestra—personally and musically. As the chamber ensemble could be seen as a microcosm of the symphony orchestra, the intimate nature of chamber music invites the audience to a close encounter with the distinct personalities and talents of the TSO’s individual musicians, while the works performed offer a different perspective into a particular composer’s craft.
The TSO Chamber Soloists perform inside the Roy Thomson Hall auditorium. Admission is included in the price of your TSO concert ticket for the scheduled performance. Seating is limited, and latecomers will not be admitted after the performance start time.
Programs are subject to change.
2023/24 Season
Saturday, October 21, 2023 at 6:45pm
Prior to James Ehnes Plays Barber
Camille Watts, flute
Sarah Jeffrey, oboe
Samuel Banks, bassoon
Nicholas Hartman, horn
Megan Hodge, trombone
Amanda Goodburn, Violin
Ivan Ivanovich, Viola
Emmanuelle Beaulieu Bergeron, cello
IAN CUSSON: The Cure of Madness
IAN CUSSON: To Live (Ikiru)
Created in partnership with the Centre for the Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH).
Thursday, November 16, 2023 at 6:45pm
Prior to Dvořák Symphony No. 8
SPECIAL: Ukrainian Art Song Project
Andrea Ludwig, mezzo-soprano
Benjamin Butterfield, tenor
Steven Philcox, piano
Ode to a Swallow
Composer: Ostap Nyzhankivsky
Poet: Volodymyr Navrotskyj
Duet: Andrea Ludwig, mezzo soprano & Benjamin Butterfield, tenor
Pianist: Steven Philcox
Oriental Melody
Composer: Mykola Lysenko
Poet: Lesia Ukrainka
Soloist: Andrea Ludwig
Pianist: Steven Philcox
A Memory
Composer: Stanyslav Liudkevych
Poet: Volodymyr Starosolsky
Soloist: Benjamin Butterfield
Pianist: Steven Philcox
A Blossoming Rose
Composer: Yaroslav Lopatynsky
Poet: Ostap Lutsky
Soloist: Andrea Ludwig
Pianist: Steven Philcox
I Met You in My Dreams
Composer: Vasyl Barvinsky
Poet: Author Unknown
Duet: Andrea Ludwig & Benjamin Butterfield
Pianist: Steven Philcox
Not All Sorrows Have Died
Composer: Yakiv Stepovy
Poet: Oleksandr Oles
Soloist: Benjamin Butterfield
Pianist: Steven Philcox
I Ache for You
Composer: Myroslav Volynsky
Poet: Oleksandr Oles
Soloist: Andrea Ludwig
Pianist: Steven Philcox
An Evening Tryst
Composer: Myroslav Volynsky
Poet: Oleksandr Oles
Duet: Andrew Ludwig & Benjamin Butterfield
Pianist: Steven Philcox
Evensong
Composer: Kyrylo Stetsentko.
Poet: Volodymyr Samiilenko
Soloist: Benjamin Butterfield
Pianist: Steven Philcox
Presented in partnership with the Canadian Ukrainian Opera Association
Sunday, December 3, 2023 at 1:45pm
Prior to Tchaikovsky’s Sleeping Beauty
James Gardiner, trumpet
Renata Cardoso, trumpet
Nicholas Hartman, horn
Vanessa Fralick, trombone
Mark Tetreault, tuba
HUMPERDINCK: Overture to Hansel and Gretel, arranged for brass quintet
LARYSA KUZMENKO: Impromptu and Toccata for brass quintet
TCHAIKOVSKY: The Nutcracker Suite, arranged for brass quintet
Friday, January 26, 2024 at 6:15pm
Prior to Beethoven's Sixth + Korngold's Violin
Luri Lee, violin
Yolanda Bruno, violin
Remi Pelletier, viola
Winona Zelenka, cello
BARBER: String Quartet in B Minor, Op. 11
Wednesday, March 27, 2024 at 6:45pm
Prior to Sibelius Symphony No. 2
Osmo Vänskä, clarinet (special guest)
Michael Sweeney, bassoon
Neil Deland, horn
Jonathan Crow, violin
Clare Semes, violin
Ashley Vandiver, viola
Joseph Johnson, cello
Jeff Beecher, double bass
Opening work TBA
SIBELIUS/Arr. J. Kuusisto: En Saga, Op. 9, for Octet
Thursday, May 30, 2024 at 6:45pm
Prior to James Ehnes + An American in Paris
James Ehnes, violin (special guest and 2023/24 Spotlight Artist)
Jonathan Crow, violin
Eri Kosaka, violin
Kun Yan, violin
Christina (Jung Yun) Choi, violin
Ah Young Kim, violin
TSYO violins
Theresa Rudolph, viola
Joseph Johnson, cello
JESSIE MONTGOMERY: Strum for string quartet
ANDREW NORMAN: Gran Turismo for eight virtuoso violinists