THE MUSIC OF UNSUK CHIN

NEW DIRECTIONS IN MUSIC

NEW DIRECTIONS IN MUSIC 2016/2017 CONCERT SERIES

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NEW DIRECTIONS IN MUSIC 2 2016-2017 CONCERT SERIES

Unsuk Chin Draft.indd 2 5/25/2017 11:25:31 AM FROM THE ARTISTIC DIRECTOR

The original decision to pair Korean-born and whether it’s poking fun at the stereotypes of -based Unsuk Chin with Canadian Italian Baroque or Peking Opera, or asking us Chris Paul Harman was artistically driven. Each to listen up for traces of a pop song in a set of has the capacity to draw on a broad canvas with variations, they’re not afraid to have fun with us. small brush strokes, each creating mini musical vignettes that are vehicles for the exploration of a This concert welcomes back to our stage larger theme. some longstanding friends including soprano Carla Huhtanen. She makes a remarkable The repertoire for this concert is a case in point. fourth appearance for us in a single season, a Unsuk Chin’s Cantatrix Sopranica - a series of Soundstreams first! Counter-tenor Scott Belluz short movements parodying singers and singing last appeared with us in 2009 in R. Murray styles –propels us, on a dizzying journey across Schafer’s large-scale opera The Children’s time and space. And Chris Paul Harman’s Crusade, co-produced with Luminato. Celebrated deconstructions of 1930’s pop songs, a series of conductor Guillaume Bourgogne and mezzo- short variations on a theme, similarly take us on a soprano Ghislaine Deschambault, both from playful musical journey. Montreal, make their Soundstreams debut in this concert. Enjoy! These have one more characteristic in common, namely, an impish sense of humour. Humour is in short supply in the all-too-serious field of contemporary music. Both of these composers take their craft very seriously. But Lawrence Cherney

Soundstreams would like to acknowledge this event takes place on the traditional territory of the indigenous peoples who have occupied and made this land their home from time immemorial. These territories include the Haudenosaunee Confederacy, and most recently, the territory of the Mississaugas of the New Credit First Nation.

ABOUT SOUNDSTREAMS

Soundstreams is one of the world’s leading Emerging Composer Workshop, SoundWave, and contemporary music companies, and the largest SoundMakers. Salon 21 is a free discovery series global presenter of new Canadian music. Artistic featuring performances, discussions, and audience Director Lawrence Cherney and Executive participation; the Emerging Composer Workshop Director Ben Dietschi are committed to helps talented contemporary composers from showcasing the work of living and international around the world launch their careers; SoundWave composers with a focus on innovative thematic and provides accessible tickets to young adults; experiential programming. and SoundMakers provides interactive learning experiences online and in the classroom. Soundstreams also serves a broad community of music lovers through free outreach and education programs including Salon 21, the

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Unsuk Chin Draft.indd 4 5/25/2017 11:25:33 AM Soundstreams in partnership with the 21C Music Festival present: THE MUSIC OF

UNSUK CHIN Guillaume Bourgogne, conductor Carla Huhtanen, soprano Ghislaine Deschambault, mezzo-soprano Scott Belluz, counter-tenor Anthony Thompson, bass clarinet Chamber Orchestra

PROGRAM

Chris Paul Harman Love Locked Out (2014) (b. 1970, Canada) inspired by Ray Noble’s 1933 song of the same name Chamber Orchestra

It’s All Forgotten Now (2017)* World Premiere inspired by Ray Noble’s 1934 song of the same name Chamber Orchestra

Intermission

Unsuk Chin Advice from a Caterpillar from Alice in Wonderland (2007) (b. 1961, South Korea) Anthony Thompson, bass clarinet

Cantatrix Sopranica (2004 - 05) Carla Huhtanen, soprano Ghislaine Deschambault, mezzo-soprano Scott Belluz, counter-tenor Chamber Orchestra

I. Warming Up- Tuning II. Singing, Sing it! III. Cis n’est pas Ces IV. Boule de Neige V. Con tutti i Fantasmi VI. Yue Guang – Clair de Lune VII. Echo – Shadow – Canon VIII. EtüdedütE- Immense Voix

* Co-commissioned by Stanley H. Witkin and The Royal Conservatory of Music/Koerner Hall

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Unsuk Chin Draft.indd 5 5/25/2017 11:25:33 AM CHAMBER ORCHESTRA

Leslie Newman, flute/piccolo

Graham MacKenzie, oboe

Anthony Thompson, clarinet

Fraser Jackson, bassoon/contrabassoon

Mikhailo Babiak, horn

Mike Fedyshyn, trumpet

Isabelle Lavoie, trombone

Ryan Scott, percussion I

Michelle Colton, percussion II

John Hess, keyboard I

Stephanie Chua, keyboard II

Sanya Eng, harp

Rob MacDonald, guitar

Erika Raum, violin I

Emily Kruspe, violin II

Keith Hamm, viola

David Hetherington, cello

Brian Baty, bass

French Double Manual Harpsichord Muguette, after Taskin 1769 built and prepared by CLAVIERS BAROQUES of Toronto.

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Unsuk Chin Draft.indd 6 5/25/2017 11:25:33 AM PROGRAM ESSAY

BY DAVID JAEGER Throughout its history, Soundstreams has based its programming on the principal of balancing the presentation of new Canadian works and those by “THE POPULAR international composers. This philosophy emerged MUSIC OF THIS in 1993, when Soundstreams created a series of concerts called Encounters, produced at Glenn ERA APPEALS Gould Studio in collaboration with the long- TO ME FOR ITS running CBC Radio Two series, Two New Hours. ELEGANCE, MELODIC Tonight’s concert falls squarely in that tradition. AND HARMONIC The music of Korean-German composer Unsuk SOPHISTICATION AND Chin is performed around the world, as is SUBTLY NUANCED one of the most sought-after composers on the international scene. She has won major ORCHESTRATION.” international composition prizes and has been - CHRIS PAUL HARMAN commissioned by many of the world’s most prestigious musical organizations such as the ON THE MUSIC Royal Opera in London, UK. Chris Paul Harman, OF THE 1930’S who emerged as a phenom in 1986, when he was the first Canadian composer in their teens series at London’s Royal Festival Hall in May, to become a finalist in the CBC/Radio-Canada 2014. Harman was offered a commission by the National Competition for Young Composers, for the occasion, and and was still in his teens when he was the Grand created a work based on the music of the English Prize winner in that same competition in 1990. popular composer, Ray Noble (1903 – 1978) As he evolved into a mature composer, Harman and in particular, a song recorded in 1934, Love became one of Canada’s most celebrated, winning Locked Out. Harman notes that, “In alluding to numerous prizes for his music, both in Canada the popular music of a bygone era, Love Locked and abroad. Chin and Harman have shared mutual Out likewise chronicles developments in the interest in their respective music, since the early classical music of the same period, by quoting or 2000s. adapting excerpted material from seminal works by (Klavierstücke, 1925) and In 2010, Chin was named Artistic Director of Béla Bartók (Music for Strings, Percussion and the Philharmonia Orchestra’s Music Today series Celesta: first movement,1937), both of which in the UK. Two years later, she chose Harman contain the opening five-note pattern of Ray for a concert of his music, to be held in that Noble’s tune.”

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Unsuk Chin Draft.indd 7 5/25/2017 11:25:34 AM “The popular music of this era appeals to me for its elegance, melodic and harmonic sophistication “I view [the and subtly nuanced orchestration.” relationship between Unsuk Chin’s first opera, Alice in Wonderland was music and language] as commissioned by Los Angeles Opera in 2004. The a complex one.” Chin libretto was co-written by Chin and Henry David says she finds, “the Hwang. In Advice from a Caterpillar, the excerpt we’ll hear, a solo bass clarinet “speaks” the conceptual precision catepillar’s text through music. The line, “Who are of language and the you?” reappears throughout. When I asked Chin ambiguity of music do how she views the relationship between language in music, she replied, “I view it as a complex one.” not infrequently get in She says she finds, “the conceptual precision each others’ way.” of language and the ambiguity of music do not infrequently get in each others’ way.”

This complex relationship is exploited in her Love Locked Out was the second in a set of three Cantatrix Sopranica, in which she says, “I employ Harman works based on Ray Noble’s music. The wordplay and techniques such as anagrams, first piece in the set was Midnight, the Stars and and acrostic invention.” Cantatrix You, a duo for violin and piano from 1999. The Sopranica is a 2005 work in eight parts, with newest, It’s All Forgotten Now, receiving its world texts by Chin, Harry Matthews, Arno Holz, and a premiere this afternoon, was co-commissioned Chinese song from the Tang Dynasty. Chin says the for Soundstreams and the 21C Music Festival by work, “Is about musical phenomena or processes, Stanley H. Witkin and the Royal Conservatory of which are reflected on in the language and vice Music. Like Love Locked Out, and Midnight, the versa.” Stars and You, Noble’s It’s All Forgotten Now, was also recorded in 1934 by Al Bowlly. Harman says,

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Unsuk Chin Draft.indd 8 5/25/2017 11:25:34 AM COMPOSER BIOS

Unsuk Chin Chris Paul Harman Unsuk Chin was born in 1961 Unsuk Chin has been active Chris Paul Harman was born in , South Korea, and has in writing , in 1970 in Toronto where he lived in Berlin since 1988. Her receiving commissions from studied classical guitar, cello, music is modern in language, IRCAM and other electronic and electronic music with but lyrical and non-doctrinaire music studios. Barton Wigg, Alan Stellings, in communicative power. Chin and Wes Wraggett, respectively. has received many honours, In 2007, Chin’s first opera Alice In 1986, Harman was a finalist including the 2004 Grawemeyer in Wonderland was given its in the CBC Radio National Award for Music Composition world première at the Bavarian Competition for Young for her Violin , the State Opera as the opening Composers. In 1990, he was 2005 Arnold Schönberg Prize, of the Munich Opera Festival the Grand Prize Winner in that the 2010 Prix de Composition and released on DVD by Unitel same competition for his work de la Fondation Prince Pierre de Classica. Her second opera Iridescence. Monaco, and the 2012 Ho-Am Alice Through the Looking Glass Prize. is commissioned by The Royal In 2001, Harman’s work Uta Opera in London for premiere in received an honourable mention She has been commissioned the 2018/19 season. at the Gaudeamus International by leading performing Music Week. The same year, organisations and her music Since 2006, Chin has overseen his work Amerika was awarded has been performed in major the contemporary music series the Jules Léger Prize and was festivals and concert series in of the Seoul Philharmonic short listed for the Prix de Europe, the Far East, and North Orchestra, Ars Nova, a series Composition de la Fondation America by orchestras and which she founded herself. Since Prince Pierre de Monaco. ensembles such as the Berlin 2011, she has served as Artistic In 2007, Harman’s work Philharmonic, BBC Symphony Director of the Music of Today Postludio a Rovescio- Orchestra, Chicago Symphony series of the Philharmonia commissioned and premiered Orchestra, London Philharmonic Orchestra in London. by the of Orchestra, Philharmonia - was awarded Orchestra, Boston Symphony Portrait CDs of her music the Jules Léger Prize for New Orchestra, City of Birmingham have appeared on Deutsche Chamber Music for that year. Symphony Orchestra, Grammophon, Kairos, and Orchestre Philharmonique de Analekta. Since 2005, Harman has Radio France, Los Angeles served as Assistant Professor Philharmonic Orchestra, Unsuk Chin’s works are of Composition at the Schulich London Sinfonietta, Ensemble published exclusively by Boosey School of Music of McGill Intercontemporain, Ensemble & Hawkes. University in Montreal. Modern, Kronos Quartet and Arditti Quartet. In addition,

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Carla Ghislaine Scott Huhtanen Deschambault Belluz Soprano Mezzo-Soprano Counter-Tenor Carla Huhtanen debuted in the A versatile singer with a Scott Belluz has established UK as Lisetta and Serpetta warm and sensual voice, himself as an engaging at Garsington Opera. At La Ghislaine Deschambault is vocal artist and versatile Fenice, she sang Daisy Park recognized for her musicality, singing actor. Praised for in Gershwin’s Lady, Be Good! enchanting stage presence, his ‘warm, rich voice’ (La and Athenaïs in Cherubini’s and daring explorations of new Marseillaise) and ‘bravura Anacréon. In France, she sang performance modes. She has vocal performances’ (NOW Magazine) Belluz brings Purcell’s The Fairy Queen previous experience in recital his sensitive and committed and Angelica in Handel’s and concert in repertoire artistry to repertoire ranging Orlando in Aix, Marseille, ranging from medieval to from 17th century to newly Antibes, and Chartres. contemporary music. composed works. Other highlights include he Israel Philharmonic, RTÉ Most recently, she presented Belluz has received great (Dublin) Concert Orchestra, a recital of 21st century acclaim for his performances Cunegonde in Candide at the music at the Chapelle in the world premieres of Royal Festival Hall and Welsh historique du Bon Pasteur in numerous Canadian operatic National Opera. Montréal and sang Extended works including: the title role Apocalypsis (Philippe in Omar Daniel’s The Shadow In TorontoHuhtanen Leroux) with the McGill with Tapestry Opera, L’Oiseau has performed with Contemporary Ensemble. in Gilles Tremblay’s Opéra Soundstreams, Tapestry She was featured in Mystères Féerie with Chants Libres, Opera, and Art of Time – Geste polyphonique, a and Damien in R. Murray Ensemble. She is in her tenth multidisciplinary performance Schafer’s The Children’s season with Opera Atelier for 10 singers in motion Crusade with Soundstreams. (and was nominated for a (Ensemble ALKEMIA),and Dora as Susanna) and she has L’or en musique with Recent operatic performances have also included Orlando/ toured to Seoul and the Royal Ensemble Caprice. She sang Lunaire with Opera Erratica, Theatre of Versailles. the title role in l’Enfant des L’humana Fragilita and Glaces (Zack Settel) with Pisandro in Monteverdi’s Other recent projects include Chants Libres, and Girl in Il ritorno d’Ulisse in Patria Alligator Pie with Toronto the world premiere of the with Chicago Opera Theatre, Symphony, and opera Alternate Visions Athamas in Handel’s Semele with the Toronto Symphony (John Oliver). Ghislaine holds with Pacific Opera Victoria, (Toronto and Europe). graduate degrees from the and Oberon in Britten’s A McGill Schulich School of Midsummer Night’s Dream at Music and the University of the Banff Centre for the Arts. Montreal.

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Anthony Guillaume Thompson Bourgogne Clarinet Conductor Anthony Thompson has Guillaume Bourgogne learned appeard with with the Toronto to play the saxophone in Lyon, Symphony Orchestra, the his native city, before entering Toronto Concert Orchestra, the Paris Conservatoire. There, the Arizona Opera Orchestra he won several awards and and the New Mexico accolades for conducting with Symphony Orchestra. Janos Fürst as his teacher. Now, he is the co-artistic Thompson has a deep passion director of the music ensemble for contemporary music, Cairn (Paris) with composer performing regularly with Jérôme Combier, and music many of Canada’s premier new conductor of the Camerata music ensembles such as New Aberta (Sao Paulo, Brazil). Music Concerts, Continuum, He is also the artistic director and Soundstreams. of the ensemble Op.Cit (Lyon, France). Additionally, he is a full-time member of the Toy Piano He regularly conducts 19th Composers Ensemble and and 20th century symphonic the Thin Edge New Music repertoire, and is also regularly Collective. invited to lead contemporary music ensembles such Lastly, Thompson is a as Court-Circuit (Paris), founding member of the L’Itinéraire (Paris), Ensemble Blythwood Winds woodwind TIMF (Korea), Sond’Ar-te quintet, which is one of electric ensemble (Lisbon), Toronto’s most sought after Contrechamps (Geneva), Linea wind ensembles and dedicated (Strasbourg). to the performance of Canadian Music. In 2013, he was appointed Professor of Conducting at the Schulich School of Music atMcGill University and Music Director of the McGill Contemporary Music Ensemble (Montreal).

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Unsuk Chin Advice from a Caterpillar from Alice in Wonderland (2007)

Who are you?

Not to know is quite fine. Certainty is a crime.

Who are you? Who are you?

All my life, I will change. Why do you find that strange?

Who are you? Who are you?

So you ask who I am? And to that, I ask “why?”

Who are you? Who are you?

Come back here, now, today!

It’s important, I say: ‘neath your dress, ‘neath your bloomers.

You must always search for tumors.

Who are you? Who are you?

Don’t forget: keep your temper or you’ll never remember.

Think too hard and you will explode,

Then your scalp will hit the road and be eaten by a toad.

Who are you? Who are you?

To live, you surmise, is to go on changing size.

No corset can contain, though they will provide some pain,

All the swelling and the bloat of your fleshy overcoat.

Then you’ll shrink another night, and become a parasite,

Squiggling, squirming through the mud in your search for fresh blood.

Who are you?

One side will make you grow taller,

The other side will make you grow smaller.

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Unsuk Chin Draft.indd 13 5/25/2017 11:25:37 AM THANK YOU TO OUR SUPPORTERS

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Unsuk Chin Draft.indd 14 5/25/2017 11:25:39 AM THANK YOU TO OUR DONORS

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