Confluence Concerts have announced a five concert and two special event virtual 2020/21 season with their usual eclectic and enticing mix of repertoire.

September 23rd 2020 – Something to Live for; A Billy Strayhorn Celebration

A detailed look at the story of the great 20th century classical and jazz pianist and composer. Best known for his long-time collaboration with Duke Ellington, Strayhorn composed Take the A Train, Lush Life, Something to Live For, Chelsea Bridge, and A Flower is a Lovesome Thing.

Curated and arranged by Andrew Downing

Featuring Larry Beckwith, Alexa Belgrave, Leighton Harrell, Aline Honzy, Drew Jurecka, Marion Newman, Patricia O’Callaghan, Alex Samaras, Suba Sankaran and more.

November 21st 2020 – A Purcell Remembrance; The Exultation of Poetry

On the 325th anniversary of his death, remember and celebrate the beauty and truth of England’s greatest composer.

Curated by Larry Beckwith

December 7th 2020 – The Annual Walter Unger Salon; Aging and Creativity

Linda and Michael Hutcheon curate a salon based on their recent book Four Last Songs: Aging and Creativity, focusing specifically on Olivier Messiaen and Leonard Cohen.  You’ve read the book, now see the movie!

Curated by Linda and Michael Hutcheon

January 13th 2021 – The Mandala; The Beauty of Impermanence

Mandala, from the Sanskrit meaning “circle”, is a universal symbol, with both sacred and secular implications. The musical journey of this concert follows the mandala in all its forms, from ancient to modern times, as it appears in different cultures. Spanning centuries and styles, this feast for the senses features music, poetry readings and a community/nature mandala creation.

Curated by Suba Sankaran and featuring the brilliant artist and story-teller Sheniz Janmohamed

February 24th 2021 – The Butterfly Effect; The Ballad of Chō-Chō San

A co-production with Amplified Opera and featuring soprano Teiya Kasahara, in which Puccini’s Madama Butterfly is thoroughly re-examined: the role, the opera and the appropriated Japanese melodies.

Curated by Marion Newman

March 7th 2021 – The John Beckwith Songbook; Over Seventy Years of Originality

On the occasion of the celebrated Canadian composer’s 94th birthday, a marathon event at which all of his song catalogue — spanning from 1947 to 2021 — will be sung by students, professionals, friends and colleagues. A co-production with the University of Toronto and the Canadian Art Song Project.

Curated by Larry Beckwith

April 21st 2021 – Gracias a la Vida; Spanish Serenades

A program of the music and poetry of the Spanish diaspora, including a performance of Omar Daniel’s Neruda Canciones, based on the poetry of Pablo Neruda, and a celebration of the 100th anniversary of the birth of Astor Piazzolla.

Curated by Patricia O’Callaghan

All the concerts and events will premiere on Confluence’s YouTube channel and will be available for two weeks after the date shown. It’s all free but they are encouraging people to support Confluence Concerts by becoming a member with a minimum donation of $100. Members will receive special benefits including concert programs, access to enrichment events, a tax receipt for the full amount of their donation, and most importantly, first access to live concerts when they return to in-person performances.

For me, the Confluence concerts feature very high on “my do not miss on any account” list.  Give them a try if you haven’t already.