A musical journey exploring the political, social, and
cultural implications of a powerful blue dye
Music direction by Elisa Citterio
Created by Alison Mackay in collaboration with
Suba Sankaran (voice, percussion)& Trichy Sankaran (mridangam, kanjira, solkattu)
Cynthia Smithers,narrator & vocalist
Choirs from Earl Haig & Unionville Secondary Schools
Members of Tafelmusik Chamber Choir
Choirs led byIvars Taurins & Suba Sankaran
Raha Javanfar,projections designer
Glenn Davidson, lighting designer & technical director
“Every piece of cloth tells a story.”
Toronto, January 23, 2020 … Alison Mackay‘s superb multimedia projects explore ideas that have profound resonance in today’s world. Her latest, The Indigo Project, examines a colour with political, social, and cultural implications, and was created in collaboration with master percussionist Trichy Sankaran and vocalist Suba Sankaran, a father-daughter duo specializing in South Indian music. Narrator and vocalist Cynthia Smithers, members of Tafelmusik Chamber Choir, and student choirs from Earl Haig andUnionville Secondary Schools joinTafelmusik Baroque Orchestra under the direction of Elisa Citterio. These performances take place February 27 to March 1 at Jeanne Lamon Hall, Trinity-St. Paul’s Centre, and March 3 at George Weston Recital Hall, Meridian Arts Centre.
The Indigo Project combines street ballads from England and France performed by Cynthia Smithers, baroque music by Handel, Lully, Corelli, Stradella, and Fasch performed by Tafelmusik, and South Indian music by Purandara Dasa, Arunagirinathar, Ponniah Pillai, and Purandara Dasa, among others, performed by Suba and Trichy Sankaran.
Through words, music, and stunning images, The Indigo Project traces the influence of indigo dye on the culture and economy of several countries on different continents. From 17th-century Europe, where indigo dye infused both the royal blue of the Bourbon courts and the denim originally worn by Genoese port workers, to the exploitation of garment workers in the present day, thanks to the effects of fast fashion and globalization; and from India, where indigofera tinctoria was grown, to the North American slave plantations where it was cultivated. The story of indigo provides a vivid backdrop to the kind ofimmersive concert experience for which Tafelmusik is renowned.
In keeping with Tafelmusik’s commitment to community collaborations, The Indigo Project includes the participation of students from three public high schools in the GTA. Fifty students from vocal programs at Earl Haig and Unionville Secondary Schools will sing European baroque works and South Indian classical music. They will be joined on stage by several members of the Tafelmusik Chamber Choir, led by Ivars Taurins and Suba Sankaran.
Grade 10 students at Marc Garneau Collegiate Institute are taking part in a collaborative experiment in indigo dyeing. Under the mentorship of art teacher Hilary Masemann and textile designer Kate Austin, students have created blue squares embellished with their own personal tokens representing the bonds of friendship and family. These squares will be combined to create a quilt, which will be displayed at Trinity-St. Paul’s Centre.
The Indigo Projectis generously supported by The Pluralism Fund, Al and Jane Forest, and Leon and Anita Lapidus. Tafelmusik also thanks supporters of the Alison Mackay Innovation Fund: Tom Box, Richard and Ellen Hoffmann, Trina McQueen, and Jane Witherspoon and Brian Stewart. The Alison Mackay Innovation Fund was established in 2019 to support inventive new projects from various artists, including Mackay’s future creations, new commissions and original presentations.
Following the public concerts, Tafelmusik will perform four free education concerts based on The Indigo Project for 2000 TDSB students.
A free pre-concert chat with program creator Alison Mackay one hour before each concert is included with admission.
LISTING INFORMATION
The Indigo Project
Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra directed by Elisa Citterio
Created by Alison Mackay in collaboration with Suba Sankaran and Trichy Sankaran
Dates & Times: Thu Feb 27, Fri Feb 28, Sat Feb 29 at 8pm, Sun Mar 1 at 3:30pm at Jeanne Lamon Hall, Trinity-St. Paul’s Centre
Tues Mar 3 at 8pm at George Weston Recital Hall, Meridian Arts Centre
Ticket prices: Regular: starting from $42 at Jeanne Lamon Hall and $39 at George Weston Recital Hall. Discounts available for seniors (65+), 35 and under, and youth (18 and under).
Venues: Jeanne Lamon Hall, Trinity-St. Paul’s Centre, 427 Bloor Street West, Toronto
George Weston Recital Hall, Meridian Arts Centre (formerly Toronto Centre for the Arts), 5040 Yonge St, North York
Box Office: Tafelmusik Box Office: (416) 964-6337
George Weston Box Office: 1 (855) 985-2787
Social Media: Join the conversation on Facebook| Twitter| Instagram| YouTube
ABOUT THE GUEST ARTISTS
Suba Sankaran, voice & percussion
DORA award-winning, thrice JUNO-nominated world/fusion vocalist Suba Sankaran has effortlessly combined musical worlds, performing across North America, Europe, the UK, Asia, Australia, and Africa with Autorickshaw, master drummer Trichy Sankaran, the a cappella/live-looping duo FreePlay, and Retrocity (80s a cappella revue). Performance highlights include performing for Peter Gabriel, Nelson Mandela, and Archbishop Desmond Tutu, and performing with Jane Siberry, Lorraine Segato, Bobby McFerrin, and the Swingles. Suba is in demand as a choral director, arranger, educator, and composer. She has composed and produced music for theatre, film, radio, and dance. Highlights include collaborations with Deepa Mehta, the CBC, and the Shaw and Stratford Festivals. Suba currently teaches in the jazz department at Humber College, co-directs Toronto’s City Choir, is artistic associate at Confluence Concerts, and is co-sound designer, composer, and performer with Why Not Theatre/Shaw Festival’s upcoming production of the epic story, the Mahabharata.
Trichy Sankaran, mridangam, kanjira & solkattu
Professor Trichy Sankaran is an award-winning, world-renowned percussion virtuoso, Indian music scholar and composer, and the founding director of Indian music studies at York University. Sankaran has bridged Eastern and Western pedagogical styles and has influenced generations of students who have become noted performers, composers, and music educators themselves. He has made valuable contributions to many scholarly conferences worldwide and has published two major books. Trichy Sankaran has performed at major festivals locally and internationally. In his six decades of concert experience in Carnatic music, he has accompanied all top-rank artists of India. In addition to his usual traditional settings and numerous solo recitals, he has collaborated with Nexus, World Drums, jazz, electronic, African, and gamelan ensembles.
Cynthia Smithers, narrator & vocalist
Cynthia has worked across Canada and internationally in both the classical and musical theatre worlds, including Second Hunter/Fourth Nymph in Actéon, Amore in L’Incoronatione di Poppea, Third Spirit in The Magic Flute, and eight seasons with the Artists of Atelier Ballet (Opera Atelier), Diana Morales in A Chorus Line, Martha in Guys and Dolls, HMS Pinafore, A Little Night Music, The Sound of Music, and Carousel (Stratford Festival), Sophie in Mamma Mia! (Neptune Theatre), and The Sound of Music (Theatre Aquarius). Cynthia is a graduate of the University of Toronto (B. Music, M. Musicology).
ABOUT TAFELMUSIK
Led by Music Director Elisa Citterio, Tafelmusik is one of the world’s leading period-instrument ensembles, performing on instruments and in styles appropriate for the era of the music. Renowned for dynamic, engaging, and soulful performances, Tafelmusik performs some 80 concerts each year for audiences across Toronto, and is Canada’s most toured orchestra, having performed in more than 350 cities in 32 countries. The orchestra is often joined by the critically acclaimed Tafelmusik Chamber Choir and its director, Ivars Taurins.
Tafelmusik also seeks to transport audiences to the baroque and classical periods through insightful multimedia programs and adventurous cross-cultural collaborations. Our musicians share their knowledge and experience through comprehensive education and artist-training initiatives such as the Tafelmusik Baroque Summer and Winter Institutes. Tafelmusik’s recordings on the Sony, CBC Records, Analekta, and Tafelmusik Media labels have garnered ten JUNOs and numerous international recording prizes.
2019/20 SEASON PARTNERS
Tafelmusik wishes to thank the following for their generous support: BMO Financial Group, RBC Foundation, KPMG, Catherine and Maxwell Meighen Foundation, Whitmer Trudel Charitable Foundation, The Pluralism Fund, Canada Council for the Arts, Ontario Arts Council, Toronto Arts Council, Classical 96.3 FM, and NOW Magazine. Tafelmusik is a proud partner of the Bloor St. Culture Corridor.
Media contact: Luisa Trisi, Big Picture Communications, (416) 456-0499
luisa@luisatrisi.com | 427 Bloor Street West, Toronto, ON M5S 1X7