Tzigane

October 16-17, 2015

harbourfront centre theatre, toronto

The curious roadmaps of influence were traced in this program that connected lesser known Roma musical traditions to popular styles from across Europe. Characteristics of Romani music - rich ornamentation, unorthodox rhythms and dizzying speed were on display in virtuosic performances of works by Brahms, Sarasate, and Ravel. 

The evening's atmosphere shifted from concert hall to cafe with a performance by Van Django, playing in the hot jazz style made famous by Django Reinhardt and Stephane Grappelli, and members of the Esmeralda Enrique Spanish Dance Company - amongst the best in their craft - put on a stunning display of flamenco guitar and dance.

Hungarian Dance No. 1 in G Minor, Johannes Brahms
Hungarian Dance No. 4 in B Minor
🎥 Hungarian Dance No. 5 in G Minor
🎥 Zigeunerweisen, Op. 20, Pablo de Sarasate
Yehonatan Berick violin, Andrew Burashko piano

🎥 Farruca, Traditional
🎥 De Los Buenos Mantaniales, Fandangos de Huelva
Esmeralda Enrique & Ilse Gudiño dancers,
Benjamin Barrile & Caroline Planté guitars,
Derek Gray percussion, Fernando Gallego voice

INTERMISSION

🎥 Tzigane, Rhapsodie de Concert for Violin and Piano, Maurice Ravel
Yehonatan Berick violin, Andrew Burashko piano

Swing 39, Django Reinhardt
Shine, Ford Dabney
Danse Norvegienne, Edward Grieg (arranged by Django Reinhardt)
Impromptu, Django Reinhardt
Van Django

Quartet No. 1 for Piano & Strings, Op. 25, Johannes Brahms
iv. Rondo alla Zingarese Presto
Yehonatan Berick violin, Carolyn Blackwell viola, Andrew Burashko piano, Rachel Mercer cello

Kevin Lamotte, lighting designer
Dor Tomassi, stage manager

All photos by John Lauener

Intermezzi

April 9-11, 2015

harbourfront centre theatre, toronto

Brahms' Intermezzi for solo piano, characterized by introspection and emotional depth, include some of his final compositions. In this concert, contemporary Canadian dance legends James Kudelka and Peggy Baker each explored a collection of Brahms' Intermezzi, with intriguingly contrasting results. This program featured a world premiere of choreography by Kudelka for eight dancers, and one of Baker's earliest solo works, both accompanied by Andrew Burashko on piano.

🎥 Introduction,
Andrew Burashko

Her Heart
Choreography by Peggy Baker
Music by Johannes Brahms
🎥 Opus 118, #2 in A Major
🎥 Opus 117, #2 in B flat Minor
🎥 Opus 117, #3 in C sharp Minor
🎥 Opus 117, #1 in E flat Major

Andrew Burashko piano, Jessica Runge dancer

INTERMISSION

#lovesexBrahms
Choreography by James Kudelka
Music by Johannes Brahms
🎥 Opus 76, #3 in E flat Major
🎥 Opus 76, #6 in A Major
🎥 Opus 118, #2 in A Major
🎥 Opus 76, #7 in A Minor
🎥 Opus 118, #6 in A Minor
🎥 Opus 118, #6 in E flat Major
🎥 Opus 119, #1 in B Minor
🎥 Opus 119, #3 in C Major
🎥 Opus 116, #4 in E Major
🎥 Opus 117, #1 in E flat Major
🎥 Opus 117, #3 in C sharp Minor
🎥 Opus 117, #2 in B flat Minor

Evelyn Hart dancer
Bill Coleman, dancer
Luke Garwood, dancer
Tyler Gledhill dancer
Louis Laberge-Côté, dancer
Laurence Lemieux, dancer
Andrew McCormack, dancer
Tori Mehaffey, dancer
Andrew Burashko piano

Simon Rossiter, principle lighting designer
Michelle Ramsay, associate lighting designer
Monika Seiler, production manager

Costumes for #lovesexbrahms by Hoax Couture

Produced in Association with Coleman Lemieux & Compagnie, National Arts Centre, Ontario Scene

Photos by John Lauener

Love, Sex & Brahms (2015) - Ottawa, ON

Electro/Acoustic

February 21-22, 2014

harbourfront centre theatre

A program of music by contemporary composers - all composed for live musicians and electronically generated sounds. The repertoire included Steal The Thunder for timpani and tape by Jean Piché; works by Istvan Marta and Michael Daugherty for string quartet and tape; a new piece by Jonathan Goldsmith incorporating historical field recordings of chain gang songs from the southern United States for chamber sextet and tape; and In The Fire of Conflict - a work by Christos Hatzis for marimba and tape featuring choreography by Peggy Baker.

Two Pentiments, Jonathan Goldsmith
🔈 i. Tom Devil
🔈 ii. Ain't Got Long
Andrew Burashko piano, Rob Carli saxophone, Adrian Fung cello, Valerie Li violin, Joseph Phillip bass, Rob Piltch guitar

🎥 Steal The Thunder, Jean Piche
Trevor Tureski, tympani

INTERMISSION

🎥 Doom. A Sigh, Istvan Marta
🎥 Elvis Everywhere, Michael Daugherty
Afiara Quartet (Jessica Chang viola, Adrian Fung cello, Valerie Li violin, Timothy Kantor violin)

🎥 In the Fire of Conflict, Christos Hatzis
choreography by Peggy Baker
Beverley Johnston percussion, Benjamin Kamino dancer

Kevin Lamotte, lighting designer
Monica Seiler, stage manager

What is Sacred

October 25 & 26, 2013

harbourfront centre theatre, toronto

What is Sacred Music? Is it music that is meant to exist in a place of worship? Can it be any music that touches on faith? This program featuring Canadian legend Jackie Richardson, Gregory Hoskins, Choir 21, and the stunning choreography of David Earle explores sacred music from manifold perspectives - across time and musical genres - from the early European Baroque to the heartland of America, from Afro American spirituals to the music of Olivier Messaien.

🔈 Stabat Mater, Arvo Part
Agnes Zsigovics soprano, Laura Pudwell alto, Zach Finkelstein tenor, Benjamin Bowman violin, Sharon Wei viola, Thomas Wiebe cello

🎥 Pilgrim, Steve Earle
arranged by Steve Mackinnon
🎥 Wayfaring Stranger, Traditional
arranged by Gavin Bryars
🔈 You Are Not Alone, Jeff Tweedy
arranged by Aaron Davis
Gregory Hoskins vocals, Benjamin Bowman violin, Andrew Burashko piano, Robert Carli woodwinds, Andrew Downing bass, Rob Piltch guitar, Don Rooke slide guitar, Thomas Wiebe cello

Quartet for the End of Time , Olivier Messiaen
🎥 v. Louange à l'Éternité de Jésus
Andrew Burashko piano, Thomas Wiebe cello

INTERMISSION

🎥 Medley of American Spirituals, (Traditional)
🎥 Elijah Rock, (Traditional)
🔈 Hymn to Freedom, Oscar Peterson, lyrics by Harriette Hamilton
Jackie Richardson vocals, Corey Butler piano, Andrew Downing bass

🎥 Miserere, Gregorio Allegri
choreography by David Earle
Danielle Baskerville dancer, Michael English dancer, Anh Nguyen dancer, Bee Pallomina dancer, Suzette Sherman dancer, Choir 21, David Fallis conductor

Kevin Lamotte Lighting Design
Maria Popoff Stage Manager

I Send You This Cadmium Red

Canadian stage co-production

October 10-22, 2011

Berkley Street Theatre, toronto

Unprecedented and engaging, aesthetically stunning and intellectually enlightening, I Send You This Cadmium Red both explores new 'ways of seeing' and provides a key to understanding the work of writer/critic/artist John Berger and filmmaker/artist John Christie. Developed for the stage based on a BBC radio play, it was paired by Soudain L'hiver Dernier, a duet choreographed for two men by James Kudelka with music by Gavin Bryars.

Soudain L’Hiver Dernier
Choreography by James Kudelka
Music (Jesus’ Blood Never Failed Me Yet) by Gavin Bryars

Michael Sean Marye & Luke Garwood dancers (1st cast) Andrew Giday & Ryan Boorne, dancer s (2nd cast) , Rebekah Wolkstein violin, Carolyn Blackwell violin, Douglas Perry viola, Peter Cosbey cello, Brian Baty bass

INTERMISSION

🎥 I Send You This Cadmium Red (promo)

🎥 I Send You This Cadmium Red (performance)

I Send You This Cadmium Red
Text by John Berger and John Christie
Music by Gavin Bryars

Julian Richings actor, John Fitzgerald Jay actor, Andrew Burashko conductor, Brian Baty bass, Lewis Gilmore clarinet, Douglas Perry viola, Rob Pitch guitar 

Daniel Brooks, director
Bruce Alcock, stage designer/animator
Pierre Lavoie, lighting designer (Soudain L’Hiver…)
Glenn Davidson, lighting designer (I Send You This…)
Monika Seiler, stage manager

I Send You This Cadmium Red (2014)

I Send You This Cadmium Red (2019)