Friday, January 9 · 7:30 p.m.
Rolston Recital Hall · The Banff Centre
Adult $16, Senior, Student and Seniors $13, Child $9
Banff Centre Box Office: 1-800-413-8368 or 403-762-6301
Presented as part of the Winter Concert Series
Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra brings the world premiere of The Galileo Project: Music of the Spheres, co-produced by The Banff Centre, to the Rolston Recital Hall on January 9. From January 3 to 9, Tafelmusik will hold a seven-day residency at the Centre to workshop and develop this multidisciplinary concert program. The set for the concert program was constructed at the Centre. Designed by Tafelmusik’s Alison Mackay, The Galileo Project: Music of the Spheres is Tafelmusik’s contribution to the International Year of Astronomy. The piece features music by Vivaldi, Lully, Monteverdi, Purcell, Rameau, and Bach.
“For close to 30 years, Tafelmusik has illuminated the works of the past by showering them with extraordinary imagination and commitment to performance practice that is both informed by historical knowledge and free from the constraints of tradition. The Galileo Project is a natural extension of these remarkable three decades,” says director of music programs at The Banff Centre Barry Shiffman. “The Centre’s partnership with Tafelmusik brings a wealth of resources to the realization of this program supporting the needs of this remarkable ensemble, while allowing other artists on campus the opportunity to witness the creation of this bold undertaking.”
In late 16th-century Florence, the house of lutenist and composer Vincenzo Galilei was a breeding ground for important innovations in the realms of music and science. In the year 1609, two exciting events took place in the city of Venice: the publication of Monteverdi’s Orfeo, and Galileo Galilei’s first public demonstration of the telescope. The worlds of astronomy and music were often intertwined throughout the baroque period. In the spring of 2007, Dr. John Percy, professor of astronomy at the University of Toronto, proposed a concert in celebration of the 400th anniversary of Galileo’s development and use of the astronomical telescope.
“The creativity of our artistic partners and the orchestra’s amazing commitment to performing this concert from memory is allowing us to explore new ways of sharing our emotional connection to baroque music with our audience,” says Mackay. “The Galileo Project has been a wonderful opportunity for Tafelmusik to collaborate with scientists and artists from different disciplines, allowing us to expand into new arenas as we fuse arts, science, and culture”
Tafelmusik is partnering with a team of collaborators at The Banff Centre, including vice-president of programming Sarah Iley, director of music programs Barry Shiffman, senior recording engineer John D.S. Adams, director of production John Avery, director of digital film and media production Kerry Stauffer, and technical director Robert Rombough. In addition, set and lighting designer Glenn Davidson, astronomical photographer Alan Dyer, video producer David New, actor/narrator Shaun Smyth, and stage direction consultant Marshall Pynkoski will all be a part of the creative process.
The Centre’s vice president of programming Sarah IIey comments, “The Galileo Project is an exciting project that combines many of the resources The Banff Centre has to offer with the talents of Canada’s internationally renowned baroque orchestra. We are delighted to be hosting the world premiere of this new work before it begins its international tour.”
Upon the completion of this residency at The Banff Centre, Tafelmusik brings the Galileo concert program back to Toronto audiences, and then on their upcoming Ontario tour in February and March, 2009. In the 2009/2010 season, Tafelmusik will tour this concert program in the United States and Mexico, as well as on a tour of Asia in the 2010/2011 season.
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