Each spring, “the Toronto Symphony Orchestra jumps on board a VIA train for a concert in Ottawa,” writes Peter Robb in Wednesday’s (5/4) Ottawa Citizen (Canada). “At about the same time, the National Arts Centre Orchestra makes its own journey to [Toronto] for a spring concert at Roy Thomson Hall…. Every other year the Montreal Symphony joins this circle. For Peter Oundjian, the TSO’s music director, this has become a welcome exchange that exposes his audience and his players to other ‘takes’ on performance and possibilities…. Each orchestra has, not surprisingly, a different sound. The Montreal Symphony, Oundjian says as an example, has a certain sheen to its sound.… ‘We (TSO) have a hall which is quite spacious.… The TSO is still kind of a muscular orchestra as a result. NACO … brings a particular attitude and feel to what they play. And Pinky (Pinchas Zukerman) gave them a certain quality to their sound; I’m sure Alexander Shelley is bringing a new quality to their sound.… There are a lot of moving parts because everyone has to be happy. So we consult with each institution and settle on a concert that works for everyone.’ ”
Posted May 5, 2016
Pictured left: Peter Oundjian, music director of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra. At right is Alexander Shelley, music director of the National Arts Centre Orchestra.
