Orchestre symphonique de Montréal (OSM) presents

Holst’s Legendary Planets

The OSM invites you on an intergalactic musical voyage with Holst’s The Planets. From the thunderous tuttis of Mars to the enigmatic soundscape of Neptune, Holst contrasts orchestral colours to create a “series of mood pictures.” The Orchestra will perform the Montreal premiere of Blurr is the Colour of my True Love’s Eyes by Canadian composer Nicole Lizée, a percussion concerto which evolves in a series of spirals that intertwine over the course of the work.

Artists
Gemma New, conductor

New Zealand-born Gemma New is the Artistic Advisor and Principal Conductor of the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra and Music Director of Canada’s Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra. New is the recipient of the prestigious 2021 Sir Georg Solti Conducting Award.

In Summer 2023, New made debuts at the BBC Proms with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra and Mostly Mozart Festival at Lincoln Center, and she returns to the Hollywood Bowl with the Los Angeles Philharmonic. She makes additional festival appearances including Chicago’s Grant Park Music Festival, Festival de la Chaise-Dieu with Orchestre National de Lyon and Opera Theatre of St. Louis, where she leads a production of Susannah.

During her 2023/24 season, New makes subscription debuts with the London Philharmonic Orchestra, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Vancouver Symphonyand Orchestre National de France. North American returns include Atlanta Symphony, Seattle Symphony, and Orchestre symphonique de Montréal. Continually in demand in Europe, New makes her debut with the Bamberger Symphonikeras well as conducting the Malmö Symphony Orchestra, Orquesta Sinfónica de Barcelona y Nacional de Cataluña, Orquesta Nacional de España, Orchestre de l’Opéra de Rouen-Normandie, Orchestre National Bordeaux Aquitaine and Staatsorchester Hannover.

New previously served as Principal Guest Conductor of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra,Resident Conductor of the St. Louis Symphony Orchestraand Associate Conductor of the New Jersey Symphony. A former Dudamel Conducting Fellow with the Los Angeles Philharmonic and Conducting Fellow at Tanglewood Music Center, she was awarded Solti Foundation U.S. Career Assistance Awards in 2017, 2019 and 2020, before receiving the 2021 Sir Georg Solti Conducting Award.

Colin Currie, percussion

Described by Steve Reich as “one of the greatest musicians in the world today,” Colin is at the zenith of his career. The soloist of choice for many of today’s foremost conductors, he performs regularly with the world’s leading orchestras and ensembles including the London Philharmonic, Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, New York Philharmonic and The Cleveland Orchestra. With a particular focus on contemporary compositions, Colin has developed a close working relationship with many of today’s most renowned composers. He has premiered works by Steve Reich, Elliott Carter, Louis Andriessen, HK Gruber, Sir James MacMillan, Einojuhani Rautavaara, Helen Grime, Jennifer Higdon, Rolf Wallin, Julia Wolfe and Kalevi Aho. Solo performances also occupy a good portion of his calendar – including during the 2020 lockdown – when he released his project Home Recital.

Colin began his musical studies at age five, and went on to graduate from the Royal Academy of Music in 1998. He was a finalist in the BBC Young Musician of the Year competition in 1994, and received the Royal Philharmonic Society Young Artist Award in 2000, was a BBC Radio 3 New Generation Artist between 2003 and 2005, received the Bortletti Buitoni Trust Award in 2005, and the Royal Philharmonic Society Instrumentalist Award in 2014. He is currently Artist in Association of Southbank Centre, London, and the Co-Artistic Curator of the 2021 Grafenegg Academy. Based in his native Scotland, he enjoys cycling and the theatre in his spare time

OSM Chorus
Andrew Megill, chorusmaster

Program
Nicole LIZÉE, Blurr is the Colour of My True Love’s Eyes (30 min.)
HOLST, The Planets (51 min.)

Maison symphonique
Wednesday, September 27, 2023 at 7:30pm
October 2023 Sunday, October 1, 2023 at 2:30pm

To purchase your tickets visit: www.placedesarts.com