Art of Time Ensemble

Art of Time Ensemble is a Toronto-based musical collective of leading Canadian musicians from the worlds of jazz and classical music.

Composed of classical, jazz and pop musicians, Art of Time Ensemble is known for exploring the intersection of classical music with other genres and the convergence of music with theatre, dance, literature and film.[1]

Popular Art of Time programs include presentations of contemporary songs by Joni Mitchell, Paul Simon, Tom Waits, Nick Cave, Radiohead, Leonard Cohen and others reinvented by Canadian and British composers.[2]

History

Formed in 1998 by Andrew Burashko,[3] Art of Time has become an integral part of Toronto's cultural scene, attracting some of Canada's top artists from a range of disciplines including the performing arts, film and literature, and noteworthy international musicians such as Branford Marsalis, Madeleine Peyroux and Gavin Bryars. Andrew Burashko's original idea behind the Art of Time Ensemble was to provide a way into classical music for new audiences.[3]

From 1999 to 2019, the ensemble presented an annual concert subscription series in Toronto.[4] The Coda Season, announced in May 2023 and spanning 18 months, was announced to be the company's 25th and final season; Burashko plans to wind down the organization in 2025.[5] The season includes three live concerts at Harbourfront Centre, a co-production with Against the Grain Theatre, a short animated film and digital archive.

Collaborations

The Ensemble has worked on many notable collaborations with artists in their respective disciplines including writers Margaret Atwood[6] and Michael Ondaatje; singers Barbara Hannigan, Sarah Slean, Torquil Campbell and Madeleine Peyroux; actors Brent Carver and Martha Burns; dancers Peggy Baker and Evelyn Hart; and filmmakers Peter Mettler and Bruce MacDonald.[7]

Over the years, the core artists of Art of Time Ensemble have, among many others, included:

  • Composer Jonathan Goldsmith[8]
  • Concertmaster of the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, Benjamin Bowman[9]
  • Principal cellist of the National Arts Orchestra, Rachel Mercer[9]
  • Concertmaster of Esprit Orchestra, Stephen Sitarski[10]
  • Soloist and former principal violist of the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra and Toronto Symphony, Steven Dann[11]
  • Soloist and cellist of the Duke Trio, Thomas Wiebe[12]
  • Composer and jazz saxophonist, Phil Dwyer[13]
  • Guitarist Rob Piltch[14]

Recordings

As of 2022, Art of Time Ensemble has released eight commercial albums on the Pheromone and Art of Time Recordings labels.[15]

Their 2009 album Black Flowers featured singer-songwriter Sarah Slean.[16] In 2010 they released the album A Singer Must Die, a collection of cover versions in collaboration with singer and composer Steven Page.[17]

In 2022, Art of Time Ensemble released the album Songs of Leonard Cohen Live, a collection of live recordings from their 2018 A Singer Must Die concert series presented at Harbourfront Centre in Toronto, Canada.[18] Vocalists on the album include Sarah Slean, Sarah Harmer, Steven Page, Tom Wilson and Gregory Hoskins.[19]

Discography

References

  1. ^ "Art of Time Ensemble marks 20 years with a greatest hits season". Now. Toronto. 14 October 2018. Archived from the original on 14 October 2018. Retrieved 22 January 2023.
  2. ^ "Art of Time Ensemble with Steven Page A Singer Must Die". exclaim.ca. Retrieved 22 January 2023.
  3. ^ a b "Art of Time Ensemble celebrates 20 years of bridging cultural gaps with a best-of program at Harbourfront". Toronto Star. 8 May 2019. Retrieved 22 January 2023.
  4. ^ "The Poem/The Song: Art of Time Ensemble". Toronto Int'l Festival of Authors. Retrieved 22 January 2023.
  5. ^ "Toronto: Art of Time Ensemble announces its 25th and final season". stage-door.com. Retrieved 12 January 2024.
  6. ^ "Margaret Atwood stars in Art of Time season opener". Toronto Star. 6 November 2014. Retrieved 22 January 2023.
  7. ^ "Art of Time Ensemble Celebrates the Genius of Leonard Cohen: Songs of Leonard Cohen LIVE". frontview-magazine.be.
  8. ^ Knox, Roger (29 June 2021). "Ain't Got Long – Art of Time Ensemble". The WholeNote. Retrieved 22 January 2023.
  9. ^ a b Harris, Robert (6 April 2013). "Review: The eclectic and ambitious Art of Time Ensemble". The Globe and Mail. Toronto. Retrieved 22 January 2023.
  10. ^ "Stephen Sitarski". Retrieved 22 January 2023.
  11. ^ Sierra, Gabrielle. "Art of Time Ensemble Announces 2011–2012 Season". BroadwayWorld. Retrieved 22 January 2023.
  12. ^ Terauds, John (3 November 2017). "Scrutiny | Art of Time Ensemble and Glenn Gould Lead a Dramatic Musical Journey". Ludwig van Toronto. Retrieved 27 July 2024.
  13. ^ "Phil Dwyer Orchestra". Alma Records. Retrieved 22 January 2023.
  14. ^ "Opinion | The Art of Time Ensemble's tribute to a troubadour". The Hamilton Spectator. Hamilton, Ontario. 28 September 2022. Retrieved 22 January 2023.
  15. ^ Art of Time Ensemble discography at Discogs
  16. ^ Art of Time Ensemble Featuring Sarah Slean – Black Flowers at Discogs
  17. ^ Art of Time Ensemble With Steven Page – A Singer Must Die at Discogs
  18. ^ Zimmerman, Lee (6 December 2022). "Review: Art of Time Ensemble Pays Tribute to the Art of Leonard Cohen". American Songwriter. Retrieved 22 January 2023.
  19. ^ "A Conversation with Andrew Burashko from the Toronto-Based Art of Time Ensemble". The Sound Cafe. 7 December 2022. Retrieved 22 January 2023.
  20. ^ Art of Time Ensemble – Live in Toronto at Discogs
  21. ^ "Sarah Slean on Black Flowers". The Snipe. 22 May 2009.
  22. ^ "Barenaked Ladies, Steven Page to drop new albums". CTV News. 6 January 2010.
  23. ^ "With a little help from my friends: NSO, Sloan's Chris Murphy perform Beatles album". CBC Television . 27 October 2017.
  24. ^ "All That Jazz??, by Art of Time Ensemble". Art of Time Ensemble. Retrieved 20 December 2022.
  25. ^ Prior, Sophie (12 June 2021). "Art of Time Ensemble: Ain't Got Long". Jazz Journal.
  26. ^ "Christmas in Prison, by Art of Time Ensemble". Art of Time Ensemble. Retrieved 25 November 2022.
  27. ^ Melanson, Jenna. "Art of Time Ensemble unveils Songs of Leonard Cohen Live". Retrieved 25 November 2022.