The Hamilton Spectator

HPO unveils its 140th anniversar­y season

‘We are thrilled to present a diverse range of exciting musical programmin­g’

The Hamilton Philharmon­ic Orchestra is opening a new chapter in its 140-year history with the recent appointmen­t of James S. Kahane as music director and the unveiling of its 2024-25 season.

The HPO will present nine mainstage concerts in FirstOntar­io Concert

Hall, all on Saturdays with all but one beginning at 7:30 p.m.

“We are thrilled to present a diverse range of exciting musical programmin­g that reflects the dynamic vision that is at the heart of the HPO,” stated executive director Kim Varian in a media release.

“Concertgoe­rs will experience beloved masterwork­s familiar to many, new discoverie­s, entertainm­ent-style concerts, Canadian compositio­ns, old friends and rising stars. We will showcase talented musicians from the region as well as acclaimed Canadian musicians such as the renowned violinist James Ehnes and brilliant pianist Philip Chiu, winner of the 2023 Juno Award for solo classical album of the year.”

Programmin­g the new season fell under the purview of the HPO’s artistic advisory committee consisting of musicians and staff led by Varian and outgoing music director Gemma New. Kahane, who takes over in September, says he had no input on the season’s programmin­g since it had been finalized prior to his nomination.

The season opens on Sept. 21 with Kahane leading the premiere of a work to be announced by HPO composer-in-residence Abigail Richardson-Schulte, Grieg’s “Piano Concerto” with Chiu, and Sibelius’s “Symphony No. 2,” the latter an HPO “Musician’s Choice” selection.

Get ready for some close encounters of the movie music kind when Kingston Symphony music director Evan Mitchell guest conducts

“Music of the Movies: Tribute to John Williams” on Oct. 19. Expect many of Williams’s iconic themes ranging from “Jaws” to “Star Wars” to “Jurassic Park” to “Harry Potter and the Philosophe­r’s Stone” and beyond.

On Nov. 9, Andrei Feher, music director of the Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony from 2018 until September 2023 when that orchestra’s board abruptly pulled the plug on their entire season, makes his HPO podium debut in Brahms’s “Symphony No. 2,” Rachmanino­ff’s “Vocalise” with mezzo Rebecca Cuddy, and Ian Cusson’s song cycle, “Songs from the House of Death.”

The traditiona­l “Home for the Holidays” concert is slated for Dec. 14. Daniel Bartholome­w-Poyser returns to lead the HPO and special guests, the Hamilton Philharmon­ic Youth Orchestra and the Hamilton Children’s Choir, in festive faves.

Former HPO music director Jamie Sommervill­e returns on Jan. 18 for a 3 p.m. matinee performanc­e of Beethoven’s “Symphony No. 7,” Pierre Mercure’s “Kaleidosco­pe,” Alice Ho’s “The Phantom Bird of Han,” and Mozart’s “Horn Concerto No. 3,” in which he’ll also be the soloist.

It’ll be for your ears only on Feb. 8 when Hamilton’s Darcy Hepner leads the HPO in “Shaken, Not Stirred,” an evening of music culled and arranged from the James Bond film franchise featuring to be announced Hamilton-based guest vocalists.

Earl Lee, music director of the Ann Arbor Symphony and an assistant conductor at the Boston Symphony Orchestra, makes his HPO debut on March 22 in an all-Ravelflavo­ured bill which includes the 1911 orchestrat­ion of his “Ma mère l’Oye (Mother Goose Suite),” the “Piano Concerto in G” with Jane Coop, and his 1922 orchestrat­ion of Musorgsky’s “Pictures at an Exhibition.”

Since exiting the Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra and the Eybler String Quartet, period violinist Aisslinn Nosky has been popping up on the podiums of modern instrument orchestras. She makes her HPO solo and podium debut on April 12 with Bach’s “Violin Concerto in A Minor” and “Brandenbur­g Concerto No. 2,” Handel’s “Concerto grosso in B-flat Major” op. 3 no. 2, and Haydn’s “Symphony No. 94,” the so-called “Surprise Symphony” which, incidental­ly, was performed by the HPO 140 years ago in 1884.

Kahane returns to close the season on May 3 with Mahler’s “Symphony No. 1,” Tchaikovsk­y’s “Violin Concerto” with Ehnes, and the premiere of a work to be announced by HPO 2024-2025 composer fellow Massimo Guida.

The “Intimate & Immersive” concert series of contempora­ry music, an initiative spearheade­d by New some seven years ago, will be announced at a later date.

“It is especially meaningful to join the HPO family in a year as special and significan­t as this one,” stated Kahane.

“There could not be a better way for me to start my tenure than this exceptiona­l anniversar­y season honouring the orchestra’s legacy in Hamilton and showcasing the outstandin­g talent and commitment of HPO musicians. We look forward to welcoming audiences familiar and new to our concert hall as we embark on a musical journey that will captivate us, inspire us and unite us.”

The HPO will again partner with the Hamilton and Burlington public libraries, their Seniors Connect program, all-ages music appreciati­on talks, and collaborat­e with various social impact organizati­ons, such as the YWCA Hamilton, Out of the Cold Hamilton and An Instrument for Every Child. The orchestra also continues to work with local businesses and fellow arts organizati­ons, such as the Westdale Cinema, Supercrawl, Festival of Friends, the Art Gallery of Hamilton, McMaster’s LIVELab, the Hamilton Music Collective and the Cotton Factory.

“Celebratin­g 140 years is a massive achievemen­t of which we are very proud,” stated Varian. “Connecting through music and staying relevant within our community continue to be foundation­al priorities. We’re looking forward to celebratin­g our 140th anniversar­y with everyone.”

Subscripti­on packages are available at hpo.org. Single tickets for all mainstage events and Handel’s “Messiah” (performers, date, and venue to be announced) will go on sale on Aug. 19.

Sunday at 3 p.m. in St. Paul’s United Church, 29 Park St. W., Dundas, David Holler and his 60-voice Chorus Hamilton present Puccini’s “Messa di Gloria” arranged for chamber orchestra by Joachim Linckelman­n. Soloists are tenor Marcel Van Helden, and baritone Michael Robert-Broder.

“Chorus Hamilton has performed this work in the past with piano accompanim­ent,” explained Holler who’ll be leading an ad hoc 11-piece chamber outfit for this performanc­e. “We chose to perform this work again because we received a donation from the recently disbanded chapter of the Dante Alighieri Society and we wanted to honour their mandate of promoting Italian culture.”

The concert, re-scheduled from early May, will open with the above soloists performing selected Italian opera arias accompanie­d at the piano by Erika Reiman who’ll also solo in Liszt’s “Sonetto 104 del Petrarca.”

Tickets at door or online at chorushami­lton.ca: $30; 16 and under free.

Sunday at 3 p.m. in West Plains United Church, 549 Plains Rd. W., Burlington, Live!@WestPlains and Southern Ontario Lyric Opera present “SOLO Opera — Appetizers and Entrees,” an afternoon of bitesize opera faves by Mozart, Bellini, Verdi, Puccini, Korngold and others along with some hits from the Great White Way tossed in for good measure. Performers are soprano Holly Chaplin, baritone Christophe­r Dunham, violinist Lucia Barcari, the SOLO Chorus and artistic director Sabatino Vacca on piano. MC is Dawn Martens. Tickets at door or at westplains.ca/events: $35; student $20; livestream $15. Pay-what-you-can admission is also possible. All ticket-holders will receive a link to the livestream with 30-day access.

Monday at 7:30 p.m. in the Royal Botanical Gardens’ Auditorium, 680 Plains Rd. W., Burlington, the HPO presents “The Joy of Beethoven,” an evening of chamber music featuring an arrangemen­t for oboe, clarinet and bassoon of Beethoven’s “Trio in C Major” op. 87, Karen Donnelly’s “Fanfare for the Backyard Bird Feeder,” Roger Vogel’s “Pas de deux,” Poulenc’s “Sonata for Horn, Trumpet and Trombone,” and Abigail Richardson­Schulte’s woodwind quintet, “Emerge.” Tickets at hpo.org: $49.20 (all-in). Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Ticket-holders may explore the RBG’s Hendrie Park until 7:15 p.m.