One night only
A celebration of unity, cultural exchange and the resilient spirit of motherhood
On Saturday, May 4, 2024, Soundstreams presents Grandma’s Shawl at The Redwood Theatre in Toronto. A musical journey inspired by Kokum* shawls and the bond between Ukrainian and Indigenous women, Grandma’s Shawl is curated and directed by Natalya Gennadi, winner of Soundstreams’ annual New Voices Curator Mentorship program.
Narrated through the enchanting voices of Natalya Gennadi (soprano) and Kristine Dandavino (mezzo), accompanied by Jo Greenaway (piano) and Oleksandra Fedyshyn (violin), the story unfolds through stories, poetry, folk songs and compositions by Canadian, Ukrainian and Indigenous composers, including Irene Wawatie Jerome, Ian Cusson, Anna Pidgorna, Andrew Balfour, Jessica McMann, Stefania Turkevych, Lesia Dychko, Oleksandra Fedyshyn and Alla Zagaykevych. The performance also includes interactive visual projections bringing ancient symbols and embroidery to life.
“Grandma’s Shawl is an exploration of history, of immigration, womanhood and sense of belonging. It is based on the story of the headscarves that Indigenous peoples of Canada adopted from Ukrainian newcomers – colourful symbols of humanity and kindness. The moment I discovered this unexpected and yet lasting connection between our cultures, I wanted to learn more.”
– Natalya Gennadi, Curator & Director
Grandma’s Shawl creator, Ukrainian-Canada soprano Natalya Gennadi, is the 2023/24 winner of New Voices, a Soundstreams mentorship program designed for the artistic leaders of tomorrow. Based in Toronto, Natalya is known for her work with Tapestry Opera and VoiceBox: Opera in Concert, and as a co-founder of the HBD! Project to showcase under-represented composers. She was recently the 2023 Civic Engagement Artist in Residence with Pacific Opera Victoria.
“Natalya’s project touches on traditions and composers that are very close to our hearts at Soundstreams. We have a near thirty-year history of close collaboration with Indigenous artists and themes. And over the last decade, we’ve also worked closely with the very gifted Ukrainian/Canadian composer Anna Pidgorna, whose works, including the one on this program, have deepened our understanding of Ukrainian culture. This concert is inspired by a remarkable story that brought these two cultures together in unexpected ways.”
– Lawrence Cherney, Founding Artistic Director of Soundstreams
Women’s Voices as Cultural Keepers: A Prelude to Grandma’s Shawl
The next free Soundstreams TD Encounters event, Women’s Voices as Cultural Keepers, takes place on Tuesday, April 30 at 7:30 PM ET at Hugh’s Room (296 Broadview Ave., Toronto, ON).
With a focus on female vocal traditions spanning North America and Europe, the evening will highlight the relationship of women within musical traditions and the role they hold in preserving connections within and across their communities. Performances will include works that showcase Algonquin, Swedish and Ukrainian folk traditions, performed by Kristine Dandavino (mezzo), Elena Howard-Scott (soprano), Ella Farlinger (soprano), Xin Wang (soprano) and Ryan Scott (percussion). Performances will be paired with a discussion on the unique role women hold in preserving both musical and cultural identity, culminating with an audience Q&A.
About Soundstreams
Under the leadership of its Founding Artistic Director Lawrence Cherney, Soundstreams began in 1982 with a tribute to Igor Stravinsky’s 100th birth year, an artist who fundamentally transformed the ways we hear our world. In the intervening years, Soundstreams has probed compelling Canadian themes and stories through new works in music and opera that resonate with our time and place.
Soundstreams has created a platform for new creations both at home and abroad and they are now a global leader in the presentation of innovative, carefully curated and immersive musical experiences, showcasing the work of living Canadian and global composers/musicians. Their various Toronto-based concert series, educational and outreach events and professional development programs have showcased nearly 1,500 global creators and performers in collaboration with their Canadian counterparts. In recent seasons, Soundstreams has received high praise from the international press and their productions have toured North America, Latin America, Asia and Europe.
(Photo credits: Soundstreams.)
Event details
Hosted by: Soundstreams
Type of event: multimedia vocal & music performance
Performing artists: Natalya Gennadi (soprano), Kristine Dandavino (mezzo), Jo Greenaway (piano) & Oleksandra Fedyshyn (violin)
Date: Saturday, May 4, 2024
Start time: 7:30 PM ET
Duration: 60 minutes (no intermission)
Cost: C$26.50 (students, frontline workers, artists) & C$33.35 (general admission)
Location: The Redwood Theatre, 1300 Gerrard Street East, Toronto, ON, M4L 1Y7
Booking link: Book your tickets here.
Contact Details: Soundstreams, 20 St. Joseph Street, Toronto, ON, M4Y 1J9, Canada; Event box office: 416-408-0208; info@soundstreams.ca, soundstreams.ca
Accessibility: A barrier-free theatre with an accessible washroom. For accessible seating requirements, please contact the Ticketing Office at 416-408-0208. More info here.
Refund policy: Please contact the organizer.
* A Cree word for “grandmother”.