The Toronto Symphony Orchestra (TSO) will ring in the Year of the Snake with a Lunar New Year concert at Roy Thomson Hall on Feb. 8.
This year’s event will be hosted and narrated once again by comedian Dashan (Mark Rowswell) who is back by popular demand, the TSO said.
Under the baton of conductor Naomi Woo, the orchestra will perform classics from both the Western and Chinese canons.
These include The Butterfly Lovers' Violin Concerto and the Spring Festival Overture.
The performance will also showcase Pan-Asian guest artists, including Wu Fei, who will bring to life the sounds of the guzheng, a 21-string Chinese zither.
Also taking the stage is violinist Stella Chen, who was named Gramophone’s 2023 Young Artist of the Year. The program will also feature dance performances by Yang Yang Dance Studio.
“This celebratory occasion is always a highlight of my year, and I am delighted to reunite with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra to ring in the Year of the Snake,” said conductor Woo.
The concert will also feature a brand-new orchestral piece: Ode to the Red Cliffs, based on a Song Dynasty poem, with music by Shawn Moore and recitation by Dashan.
The evening kicks off at 7 p.m. with a pre-show celebration in the concert hall's lobby with cultural activities, including a lion dance. Concert-goers can also explore a market of Asian-Canadian vendors.
The TSO will also offer an exclusive Cocktail Reception & Dinner before the concert at the Shangri-La Hotel.
Roy Thomson Hall is at 60 Simcoe St.
For tickets, visit TSO.CA, call 416-598-3375, or visit the TSO Patron Services Centre.
