Dr. Peter Simon, Michael and Sonja Koerner President & CEO of The Royal Conservatory of Music, President & CEO Designate Alexander Brose, Executive Director of Performing Arts Mervon Mehta, and Dean of The Glenn Gould School James Anagnoson, today revealed programming details of some of the classical and jazz concerts for the 2024-25 season at Koerner Hall. The full season of more than 80 concerts, including pop, world music, and student concerts, will be released in June.

Executive Director of Performing Arts Mervon Mehta said: “Today we launch season number 16 in our remarkable hall at The Royal Conservatory of Music. What a joy it has been to bring together the artists that will visit us. Our International Orchestra Series continues with two nights of music from Prague, dear friends Yuja Wang and Víkingur Ólafsson join forces for some ten-fingered fun, and our celebration of Stephen Sondheim continues with our first ever holiday musical, Into the Woods. Brilliant young artists such as Kevin Chen and Randall Goosby sit comfortably alongside seasoned masters Emanuel Ax and Sir Stephen Hough, and jazz greats Monty Alexander and Branford Marsalis share the stage with talented Canadians Barbra Lica, Emilie-Claire Barlow, and Jay Douglas. The incredible artists of our 2023-24 season brought us back from the brink and the future looks bright indeed!”

Stephen Sondheim’s Into the Woods in concert

Music and Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim

Book by James Lapine

Starring Tess Benger, Gabi Epstein, Sara Farb, Mike Nadajewski and Fiona Reid

Directed by Richard Ouzounian

Conducted by Paul Sportelli

One of Sondheim’s most popular works, this Tony Award-winning musical takes everyone’s favourite storybook characters and brings them together for a timeless yet relevant modern classic. Accompanied by an orchestra featuring students from The Royal Conservatory’s Glenn Gould School, the story follows a Baker and his wife, who wish to have a child; Cinderella, who wishes to attend the King's Festival; and Jack, who wishes his cow would give milk. When the Baker and his wife learn that they cannot have a child because of a Witch’s curse, the two set off on a journey to break the curse. Everyone’s wish is granted, but the consequences of their actions return to haunt them later with disastrous results. There will be four holiday performances suitable for the whole family on December 28, 29, 30 and 31. 

The all-star cast of Canadian theatre and television icons includes one of Canada’s best known stage actors, Fiona Reid (Jack’s Mother), who has performed in theatres across the country, including five seasons with the Stratford Festival and 12 at the Shaw Festival, as well as theatres in Great Britain and the U.S. Dora Award-winning performer and recording artist Gabi Epstein (Baker’s Wife), hailed “Canada’s Queen of Cabaret” by CTV, best known for playing Audrey in Little Shop of Horrors at the Stratford Festival and Fanny Brice in Funny Girl at the Segal Centre. Tess Benger, who has performed in both our previous Sondheim shows, appears as Cinderella. Sara Farb, who has appeared at the Stratford Festival and made her Broadway debut in Harry Potter and the Cursed Child in 2019, is the Witch and Mike Nadajewski, who spent seasons at the Shaw Festival and nine seasons at the Stratford Festival, including in Peter Sellars’s daring A Midsummer Night’s Dream: A Chamber Play, is the Baker. The rest of the cast will be announced at a later date.

On December 31, a special New Year’s Eve celebration will include an after-show party with members of the cast, a glass of champagne and party favours for all, as well as dessert stations on all three levels of The Leslie & Anna Dan Gallerias, all while dancing to a live band.

Into the Woods is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI).

For more visit www.rcmusic.com.

Illustration: Cover art for Original Broadway Cast Recording of Into the Woods. © 1988  RCA Victor.