To All A Good Night

December 3-5, 2015

harbourfront centre theatre, toronto

In 2015 Art of Time introduced a new holiday tradition with a characteristic twist.  Top composers crafted Christmas classics, wintery favourites, and a few unexpected selections into new arrangements for five singers and AoT Ensemble musicians.

Featuring chestnuts by Mel Torme and Irving Berlin, along with traditional holiday carols, this concert also featured Duke Ellington's Nutcracker Suite, based on the Tchaikovsky ballet, performed by a 15-piece Big Band. Tom Lehrer's irreverent Hanukkah in Santa Monica along with seasonal fare by Joni Mitchell, Donny Hathaway, Tom Waits, John Lennon, The Pogues, and John Prine completed the repertoire with variety that you're unlikely to hear at any other holiday concert.

Repertoire/Credits/Media

The Nutcracker Suite, Duke Ellington & Billy Strayhorn
adapted from compositions by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
🔈 i. Overture
🎥 ii. Toot Toot Tootie Toot (Dance of the Reed Pipes)
🔈 iii. Peanut Brittle Brigade (March)
🎥 iv. Sugar Rum Cherry (Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy)
🎥 v. Entr'acte
🎥 vi. Volga Vouty (Russian Dance)
🎥 vii. Chinoiserie (Chinese Dance)
🎥 viii. Dance of the Floreadores (Waltz of the Flowers)
🎥 ix. Arabesque Cookie (Arabian Dance)

Andy Ballantyne alto sax & clarinet, Vern Dorge clarinet, alto sax & tenor sax, Andrew Downing bass, John Johnson alto & soprano sax, clarinet & flute, Al Kay trombone, Alex Kundakcioglu trumpet, John MacLeod trumpet, Mike Murley tenor sax, Brian O’Kane trumpet, Christian Overton trombone, Terry Promane trombone, Davide Direnzo drums, Tom Szczesniak piano, Kevin Turcotte trumpet, Perry White baritone saxophone

INTERMISSION

🎥 Silent Night, Alfred Schnittke
Andrew Burashko piano, Stephen Sitarski violin

Christmas Ditty, David Wall
arranged by Mark Kieswetter
David Wall, vocals

🎥 Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas, Hugh Martin & Ralph Blane
arranged by Cameron Wilson
Liam Russell, vocals

This Christmas, Donny Hathaway
arranged by Bryden Baird
Jackie Richardson, vocals

🎥 Christmas in Prison, John Prine
Tom Wilson, vocals/guitar

(I'm Spending) Hanukkah in Santa Monica, Tom Lehrer
arranged by Jim McGrath
David Wall, vocals

River, Joni Mitchell
arranged by Jonathan Goldsmith
Jessica Mitchell, vocals

White Christmas, Irving Berlin
arranged by Dan Parr
Jackie Richardson, vocals

Let It Snow, Jule Styne & Sammy Cahn
arranged by Shelly Berger
Tom Wilson, vocals

Fairytale of New York, Jem finer & Shane McGowan (The Pogues)
arranged by Aaron Davis
Jessica Mitchell & Liam Russell, vocals

🎥 Happy Xmas (War is Over), John Lennon & Yoko Ono
arranged by Kevin Fox
Liam Russell & Canadian Children’s Opera Company

Andrew Burashko piano, Andrew Downing bass, Drew Jurecka violin, John Johnson saxophone, Rachel Mercer cello, Douglas Perry viola, Rob Piltch guitar, Stephen Sitarski violin, David Direnzo, Kevin Turcotte trumpet

Artists

Photos

Photos by John Lauener

Related Performances/Recordings

To All A Good Night 2 (2016) - Toronto, ON

To All A Good Night 3 (2017) - Toronto, ON

To All A Good Night 4 (2018) - Toronto, ON

To All A Good Night 4 (2018) - Brampton, ON

To All A Good Night 5 (2019) - Toronto, ON

Virtually Live: To All a Good Night (2020) - Video

Christmas in Prison (2021) - Recording

To All A Good Night 6 (2021) - Toronto, ON

To All A Good Night 7 (2022) - Toronto, ON

To All A Good Night 8 (2023) - Toronto, ON

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