The Philadelphia Orchestra is making its first trip to Canada since 2011. But more importantly, this tour is the first one led by Music and Artistic Director Yannick Nézet-Séguin with the ensemble to his home country. “It is always a privilege to travel with my beloved Philadelphia Orchestra, and this tour has special significance for me,” said Yannick. “I am excited for my American family to be hosted by my Canadian family, and for us to share in the power of music, especially through the works of Florence Price and Sergei Rachmaninoff, who are both so important to me and to the Orchestra.”
The tour includes performances in Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal, and Ann Arbor, Michigan. A small party of musicians left a day early to participate in residency activities in Toronto. The main tour party left on April 16 and the first concert was April 17. The Philadelphia Orchestra’s 2024 Tour of Canada is made possible through the generous support of the Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau, the Chamber of Commerce for Greater Philadelphia, and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development.
Apr. 16, Scarborough: The first residency activity of the tour was coaching sessions and a performance with students from Sistema Toronto, ages 8–16, at St. Martin de Porres Catholic School in the Toronto suburb of Scarborough. Here, some young cellists await the beginning of a coaching with Associate Principal Cello Priscilla Lee. Photo by US Consulate General Toronto
Apr. 16, Scarborough: Violinist Daniel Han examines his bow in front of some students. Photo by US Consulate General Toronto
Apr. 16, Scarborough: Priscilla Lee works with a class of cello students. Photo by US Consulate General Toronto
Apr. 16, Scarborough: Violist Marvin Moon plays along with some budding violists. Photo by US Consulate General Toronto
Apr. 16, Scarborough: Assistant Concertmaster Marc Rovetti and Daniel Han join a small ensemble. Photo by US Consulate General Toronto
Apr. 16, Scarborough: Young violinists perform for other students and the special guests from Philadelphia. Photo by US Consulate General Toronto
Apr. 16, Scarborough: The Philadelphians join in the performance. Photo by US Consulate General Toronto
Apr. 16, Scarborough: Daniel Han, Marc Rovetti, Priscilla Lee, and Marvin Moon perform for the audience. Photo by US Consulate General Toronto
That evening, the quartet of Philadelphia musicians joined members of the Scarborough Philharmonic (SPO) and the Odin Quartet for a performance at the Salvation Army Citadel, also in Scarborough.
Apr. 16, Scarborough: The program was called "From Philadelphia to Scarborough, a special evening of music and conversation." Photo by Lisa Sakulensky or @lisasakulensky on IG
Apr. 16, Scarborough: Members from the Scarborough Philharmonic open the concert with the premiere of Maria Molinari’s Fantasia for Clarinet and String Trio. Photo by Lisa Sakulensky or @lisasakulensky on IG
Apr. 16, Scarborough: The Odin Quartet plays four pieces by Canadian composers who were in attendance at the concert: Alex Sadoval, Ted Runcie, Katharine Petkovski, and Bruno Degazio. Photo by Lisa Sakulensky or @lisasakulensky on IG
Apr. 16, Scarborough: Following intermission, the Philadelphia quartet plays the first movement from Mozart’s String Quartet No. 17 and the first and fourth movements from Dvořák’s String Quartet No. 12. Photo by Lisa Sakulensky or @lisasakulensky on IG
Apr. 16, Scarborough: The entire group, under the direction of Scarborough Philharmonic Artistic Director Ronald Royer, perform the second movement of his Romance for Clarinet, Piano, and Strings, with Scarborough Philharmonic clarinetist Kaye Royer as soloist. Photo by Lisa Sakulensky or @lisasakulensky on IG
Apr. 16, Scarborough: The ensemble acknowledges the applause from the audience. Photo by Lisa Sakulensky or @lisasakulensky on IG
A different string quartet of Philadelphia Orchestra musicians visited the Sir Oliver Mowat Collegiate Institute in Scarborough for sectionals, classes, and performances with students in grades 9–12 on Wednesday, April 17.
Apr. 17, Scarborough: Principal Viola Choong-Jin Chang leads a class of viola students. Photo by Lisa Sakulensky or @lisasakulensky on IG
Apr. 17, Scarborough: Helping a student with his bowing is Assistant Principal Second Violin Dara Morales. Photo by Lisa Sakulensky or @lisasakulensky on IG
Apr. 17, Scarborough: Cellist John Koen discusses some technique issues with some student cellists. Photo by Lisa Sakulensky or @lisasakulensky on IG
Apr. 17, Scarborough: Violinist Amy Oshiro-Morales is pleased with her student’s progress. Photo by Lisa Sakulensky or @lisasakulensky on IG
Apr. 17, Scarborough: The quartet performs for all the students. Photo by Lisa Sakulensky or @lisasakulensky on IG
Apr. 17, Toronto: The Philadelphians' first concert of the tour was in Koerner Hall at the Royal Conservatory of Music. Yannick leads the ensemble in Florence Price’s Symphony No. 4 in the first half. Photo by Lisa Sakulensky or @lisasakulensky on IG
Apr. 17, Toronto: The second half was a Philadelphia Orchestra staple: Sergei Rachmaninoff’s Symphony No. 2. The Orchestra and composer had a long relationship—from 1909 to his death in 1943—with the composer saying about the ensemble, “Philadelphia has the finest orchestra I have ever heard at any time or any place in my whole life. I don’t know that I would be exaggerating if I said that it is the finest orchestra the world has ever heard.” Photo by Lisa Sakulensky or @lisasakulensky on IG
Apr. 17, Toronto: Yannick gestures his thanks to the Orchestra while the sold-out crowd gives them a standing ovation. Photo by Lisa Sakulensky or @lisasakulensky on IG
Apr. 17, Toronto: Following the concert, Yannick was presented with an honorary fellowship from the Royal Conservatory of Music—the highest distinction granted by the school. He is pictured here with (left) Alexander Brose, president and CEO designate, and Dr. Peter Simon, president and CEO. Photo by Lisa Sakulensky or @lisasakulensky on IG
Apr. 17, Toronto: Yannick poses with his parents and husband after receiving the award. Photo by Lisa Sakulensky or @lisasakulensky on IG
Apr. 17, Toronto: Philadelphia Orchestra and Ensemble Arts President and CEO Matías Tarnopolsky has many family members who live in Toronto and several of them came to the performance. Photo by Lisa Sakulensky or @lisasakulensky on IG