Dr. Peter Simon, Michael and Sonja Koerner President & CEO of The Royal Conservatory of Music, MervonMehta, Executive Director of Performing Arts, and James Anagnoson, Dean of The Glenn Gould School, todayrevealed details of the diverse concerts that will make up the 12th concert season at The Royal Conservatory ofMusic.

“Music has been uniting us through these unprecedented times and, should the government directives on socialdistancing be lifted, we eagerly anticipate when we can gather once again to enjoy music collectively,” says Dr.Peter Simon. “The celebrated artists in our upcoming season reconfirm Koerner Hall’s reputation as one of thegreat concert halls of the world. We look forward to welcoming those who have already graced our stage and thosewho have not yet experienced the Hall’s acoustical excellence.”

Mervon Mehta said: “Nothing compares to the power of live music and the collective experience of sharing ittogether – music is enormously important to well-being and strengthening our spirits. Therefore, we are cautiouslyand optimistically moving forward with plans for the 2020-21 concert season in a way that is safe and responsible.Our artists are eager to return to play for you and we are planning various scenarios to bring us all back togetheragain (details of some of our current mitigation plans are listed under ticketing information). Over the course of our12th season, we will present 110 concerts and events. Artists from 43 countries, including those from Indonesia,Iraq, Iceland, Cameroon, and Zimbabwe, will bring their music to us and 83 Canadian artists or ensembles willheadline concerts.”

“As always, but especially now during these unprecedented times, we are enormously grateful to our seasonsponsor, BMO Financial Group, along with all our series and individual concerts sponsors and donors for the 2020-21 season, including Michael and Sonja Koerner. We also send out heartfelt thanks to our season media sponsor,the Toronto Star and to our government funders: The Department of Canadian Heritage, the Ontario Arts Council,the Ontario Cultural Attractions Fund, and the Toronto Arts Council,” added Mehta.

SEASON GALA

In honour of Stephen Sondheim’s 90th birthday, The Royal Conservatory presents Follies in concert on Saturday,October 17, 2020 at 8pm.

Starring Chilina Kennedy, Eric McCormack, Cynthia Dale, and Thom Allison with Mary Lou Fallis, DeniseFergusson, Lorraine Foreman, Ben Heppner, Sheila McCarthy, Louise Pitre, Jackie Richardson, and AverySaltzman

Book by James Goldman
Music and lyrics by Stephen SondheimDirected by Richard Ouzounian / Music Director Paul Sportelli
Designer Nick Blais / Choreographer Robin Calvert / Orchestrations by Jonathan TunickProduced originally on Broadway by Harold Prince
By special arrangements with Cameron Mackintosh and Music Theatre International

An all-star cast of Canadian theatre, opera and television icons and orchestra perform the legendary masterpiececonsidered by many to be the greatest musical ever created. Surreal, sophisticated, compelling, heart wrenching, andepic in scope, including hit songs “Losing My Mind,” “I’m Still Here,” and “Broadway Baby.” This star-studded event insupport of The Fund for Koerner Hall celebrates Sondheim’s 90th birthday. Director Richard Ouzounian remarked: “Ican think of no better way to celebrate Stephen Sondheim’s 90th birthday than with this all-star concert presentationof his landmark musical, Follies. Koerner Hall will resound with Paul Sportelli conducting a 24-piece orchestra playingJonathan Tunick’s glorious original orchestrations, while a cast featuring a galaxy of Canadian stars brings all thehilarity and heartbreak of this brilliant work to life.”

Gala dinner and concert packages are available by calling 416.408.2824 x 447.

For a full list of the more thn 100 concerts of the 2020/21 season, click HERE.