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Medium close-up of a woman in profile, her long blonde hair tied back with a woven gold headband, her eyes closed and head tilted back slightly as she rests a violin to her left shoulder in playing position.
Medium close-up of a woman in profile, her long blonde hair tied back with a woven gold headband, her eyes closed and head tilted back slightly as she rests a violin to her left shoulder in playing position.
Photo: Lara St. John. Soundstreams.

Music invites Music invites

inspiration & spiritual guidance.

Photo: Lara St. John. Soundstreams.

Home Events Performance Soundstreams & Music Toronto present: Invocations

Soundstreams & Music Toronto present: Invocations

For one night only, on Thursday, December 5, 2024, Soundstreams presents Invocations, co-presented with Music Toronto with support from the Azrieli Foundation, at the Jane Mallett Theatre in the St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts. Violin virtuoso Lara St. John, soulful singer Aviva Chernick and other guests join the celebrated Gryphon Trio in a rich musical offering that will resonate with each of us during those vulnerable moments when we, too, seek to invoke something beyond ourselves.

Calls for help, inspiration & spiritual guidance

One such invocation is the “nign”, a wordless and originally improvised prayer stemming from Hasidic Judaism in the 18th century, and is the inspiration for several works in the program: Avner Dorman’s Nigunim, recipient of The Azrieli Prize for Jewish Music; a world premiere by James Rolfe, Narrow Bridge; and Aaron Copland’s classic Vitebsk. The program opens with Vivian Fung’s impassioned Prayer, inspired by Hildegard von Bingen, paired with Amy Beach’s spiritual plea Invocation. It closes with Robert Schumann’s epic and soul-searching Piano Quintet in E-flat, Op. 44.

Three musicians pose around a black grand piano against a pale grey background. On the left: A man in a black blazer and white shirt stands with a cello. Centre: A man in a blue shirt and black pants sits at the piano, his back to us. Right: A woman with short dark hair, wearing a long-sleeve mauve top and dark pants, leans against the piano, holding out a violin that rests against her hip. All three are gazing off to the right.

(Photo credits: Gryphon Trio. Left to right: Roman Borys, Jamie Parker & Annalee Patipatanakoon. Photo by Bo Huang.)

About Gryphon Trio

Comprised of violinist Annalee Patipatanakoon, cellist Roman Borys and pianist Jamie Parker, Gryphon Trio is firmly established as one of the world’s pre-eminent piano trios. For more than 25 years, they have earned acclaim for and impressed international audiences with their highly refined, dynamic and memorable performances. The Trio’s repertoire ranges from traditional to contemporary, and from European classicism to modern-day multimedia. They are committed to redefining chamber music for the 21st century. Read more about them here.

Medium close-up of a woman in profile, her long blonde hair tied back with a woven gold headband, her eyes closed and head tilted back slightly as she rests a violin to her left shoulder in playing position.

(Photo credits: Lara St. John. Soundstreams.)

About Lara St. John

Canadian-born violinist Lara St. John has been described as “something of a phenomenon” by The Strad and a “high-powered soloist” by The New York Times. She began playing the violin when she was two years old, made her first appearance as soloist with an orchestra at age four, and her European debut with the Gulbenkian Orchestra when she was 10. She has performed as soloist with orchestras all over the world; and owns and runs her own label, Ancalagon, which she founded in 1999. In 2021, she was invested with the Order of Canada by the Governor General of Canada for service to society and innovations that “ignite our imaginations.” Read more about her here.

Medium close-up of a woman with long wavy brown hair in semi-profile, singing at a microphone, eyes closed as she holds out her arms, palms turned upward.

(Photo credits: Aviva Chernick. Photo by Carlos Gárate.)

About Aviva Chernick

Aviva Chernick is an award-winning singer, and teacher of voice and meditation. Bringing movement, song and story to every offering, she sings in Hebrew, Ladino and English – and her soulful, soaring vocal sound arises from a training and aesthetic that desires to be unencumbered by any particular style. As a founding member and lead singer of the Canadian World Music group Jaffa Road, and while leading her own ensembles, Aviva has toured across Canada, the United States, Israel, Brazil and, most recently, as a guest of the Canadian Ambassador to the UAE at Expo in Dubai. Read more about her here.

 

Event details

Hosted by: Soundstreams, co-presented with Music Toronto with support from the Azrieli Foundation

Type of event: classical music concert

Featured performers: Gryphon Trio (violinist Annalee Patipatanakoon, cellist Roman Borys & pianist Jamie Parker); Lara St. John (violinist); Aviva Chernick (vocalist) & other guests

Program:

  • Prayer by Vivian Fung
  • Invocation by Amy Beach
  • Nigunim by Avner Dorman
  • Narrow Bridge by James Rolfe (world premiere)
  • Vitebsk by Aaron Copland
  • Piano Quintet in E-flat, Op. 44 by Robert Schumann

Date: Thursday, December 5, 2024

Start time: 7:30 PM ET

Duration: TBA

Cost:

  • Single tickets: C$63.25 – $68.25 (including fees & tax)
  • A 10% discount is available for bookings of 10 tickets or more. Call the Soundstreams office at 416-504-1282 (ext. 106) for details.
  • Accessible tickets and phone/email help: 1-800-708-6754 or boxoffice@tolive.com

Location: Jane Mallett Theatre, St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts, 27 Front St. E., Toronto, ON, M5E 1B4

Video: Watch and listen to Gryphon Trio

Booking link: Book your tickets here

Contact details: Soundstreams, 20 St. Joseph St., Toronto, ON, M4Y 1J9, Canada; 416-504-1282, info@soundstreams.ca, soundstreams.ca

 

Accessibility: The lower lobby of the Jane Mallett Theatre is accessible for patrons using wheelchairs or other mobility-assistive devices. The Jane Mallett Theatre has dedicated accessible seating locations on the orchestra level, plus other seating suitable for patrons with limited mobility. More info here. Accessible tickets and phone/email help available at 1-800-708-6754 or boxoffice@tolive.com

Refund policy: All sales are final. Single tickets cannot be exchanged or returned for refund. Become a subscriber in order to access exchangeable tickets.