Peter Oundjian, Principal Guest Conductor and Artistic Advisor of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra since 2006, brings the DSO "home" next month - to Toronto, Canada - as part of a unique musical exchange with his other ensemble, the Toronto Symphony Orchestra (TSO).
Music Director of the TSO since 2004, Oundjian will lead the DSO in the TSO's home venue, Roy Thompson Hall, on Thursday, November 8 at 8 p.m. The program will feature Joan Tower's Fanfare for the Common Woman No. 4, Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 5 with Anton Kuerti as soloist and Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 4. The DSO's visit to Toronto is sponsored by the Guardian Touring Fund, established by Auburn Hills-headquartered Guardian Industries, a longtime supporter of the DSO.
Part two of the orchestra exchange takes place next spring when the TSO will travel to Detroit to perform with Oundjian in Orchestra Hall at the Max M. Fisher Music Center. That concert, on March 14, 2008, will be part of the DSO's "Unmasked" series featuring CBC Radio's Tom Allen as host. The program will include Benjamin Britten's Les Illuminations and Mahler's Symphony No. 4.
"From the moment that I accepted my position with the DSO I have wanted to create an orchestra exchange between Detroit and Toronto," said Peter Oundjian. "These are two of North America's finest symphonies and I am extremely fortunate to enjoy simultaneous roles with both. I want audiences in both cities to be able to experience, as I have, the unique and impeccable sound of each ensemble. Performing in a different city and venue is invigorating for an orchestra. This will be a lot of fun for the players as well as the audiences."
"We are very grateful to Guardian Industries for bringing Peter's vision of an orchestra exchange to fruition and allowing the DSO to continue to act as a cultural ambassador for Detroit and our region," said Anne Parsons, DSO President and Executive Director. "There is tremendous momentum and excitement at the DSO thanks to Peter's brilliant artistic leadership these last two seasons and the innovative 8 Days in June festival as well as the announcement of our appointment of Leonard Slatkin as Music Director beginning in the 2008-09 season."
Patrons of the DSO can join in on the fun in Toronto in a special package that includes roundtrip rail transportation; overnight stay at the landmark Fairmont Royal York Hotel; concert tickets; a pre-concert cocktail and dinner reception; post-concert dessert reception with Oundjian and DSO musicians; and a DSO "hoodie" sweatshirt. Packages start at $395. For more information, call (313) 576-5111.
Pianist Anton Kuerti was born in Austria, grew up in the U.S., and has lived in Canada for the last 35 years. He has toured 31 countries, including Japan, Russia, and most European countries, and has performed with most major North American orchestras and conductors, such as the New York Philharmonic, the National Symphony, the Cleveland Orchestra, the Philadelphia Orchestra and the orchestras of Atlanta, Denver, Pittsburgh, St. Louis and San Francisco. His vast repertoire includes some 50 concertos, including one he composed himself. He is one of Canada's most revered artists and has appeared in about 140 communities from coast to coast and played with every professional orchestra, including over 30 concerts with the Toronto Symphony.
Guardian Industries has supported the Detroit Symphony Orchestra during the past 25 years. Guardian is a diversified global manufacturing company headquartered in Auburn Hills, Mich., with leading positions in float glass, fabricated glass products, fiberglass insulation and other building materials for commercial, residential and automotive markets.
Through its Science & Technology Center, Guardian is at the forefront of innovation including development of high performance glass coatings and other advanced products Guardian, its subsidiaries and affiliates employ 19,000 people and operate facilities throughout North America, Europe, South America, Asia, Africa and the Middle East. -- www.detroitsymphony.com
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