Movie Night
Movie Night, part of the acclaimed Living Room Listening Party series, will take the stage on November 3, 2024, at 7 PM at Eglinton St. George United Church (ESG). Known for its conductorless, musician-led performances, the CCO recreates the relaxed atmosphere of a living room, complete with couches, rugs, and lamps - fostering an environment where our guests can relax, focus, and hear together.
This concert highlights Canadian composers such as Howard Shore (Lord of the Rings) and Mychael Danna (Life of Pi), and also includes beloved songs from our Canadian Film Songbook, such as Pi’s Lullaby (Life of Pi), and Owen Pallet’s ‘The Moon Song’ (Her).
The musicians of the CCO believe that leading from the heart shouldn’t be limited to special events. Our residency at ESG includes partnering with their food insecurity program. Our give-what-you-can admission includes the option to donate two pounds of non-perishable goods. We affirm our belief that everyone should have food access, and our artistic initiatives serve to support local families in need.
Toronto based artist Joy Zheng has created the original artwork to reflect the concert’s themes. Her work will be featured during CCO’s season, with special commemorative prints of her original artwork available for sale at the event. Refreshments will be available, and our will stay open for happy hour during the post-concert reception with CCO musicians.
The CCO is excited to collaborate with vocalist Anika Venkatesh, who will be performing three songs from our Canadian Film Songbook, including music from Life of Pi, Her, and Scott Pilgrim vs. The World.
Anika Venkatesh is a genre-defying vocalist hailing from Coast Salish Territories and currently based in Tkarón:to, Ontario.
Of mixed Bengali and Tamil descent, Anika bridges art forms between being a solo vocalist, choral professional, theatre performer, and opera performer. Refusing to have their voice bound by range or fach, they are an early-career artist exploring the edges of contemporary performance art. Through musical storytelling, Anika hopes to garner curiosity, reflection, kindness, play, connection, tenderness, intimacy, and strength.
Program
Jung Jaeil (Arr. Comstock) - Suite from Parasite
Mychael Danna & Jayrashi (arr. Thornborrow) - Pi’s Lullaby from Life of Pi - Feat. Anika Venkatesh
Joe Hisaishi (arr. Ascenzo) - Suite from Studio Ghibli
Howard Shore (arr. Comstock) - The Breaking of the Fellowship from Lord of the Rings
Nicholas Britell (arr. Ascenzo) - Suite from Succession
Samuel Barber - Adagio for Strings from Platoon
Broken Social Scene (arr. Thornborrow) - Anthems for a Seventeen Year Old from Scott Pilgrim vs. The World
Owen Pallett & Arcade Fire (arr. Thornborrow) - The Moon Song from Her
W.A. Mozart - Symphony #25 I. Allegro con Brio from Amadeus
Nathan Johnson - String Quartet in G minor from Knives Out!
Jonny Greenwood - Suite from There Will Be Blood
Max Richter - On the Nature of Daylight from Arrival
Claude Debussy - Claire de Lune from Ocean’s 11
The CCO is thrilled to be working with composer Chris Thornborrow, who created the stunning new arrangements of the songs from Life of Pi, Her, and Scott Pilgrim vs. The World for this concert.
Chris Thornborrow is an award-winning composer for film, theatre, and the concert stage. His work has been described as “heightened and brashly percussive” (Variety), “urgent, masterful” (NOW Magazine), “powerfully virtuosic” (Barcza Blog), and “elegiac music that casts a spell” (Hollywood Reporter). Recognition for his work includes the Karen Kieser Prize in Canadian Music, multiple SOCAN Awards for Audio Visual Composers, two DORA Award nominations, and the Louis Applebaum Composers Award Nomination.
His instrumental music has been performed, recorded, and commissioned by Array Ensemble, the Bicycle Opera Project, Ensemble Paramirabo, Esprit Orchestra, junctQìn keyboard collective, the National Arts Centre, Tapestry Opera, the Thin Edge New Music Collective, and The Toy Piano Composers, of which he was the Co-Founder and Artistic Director for eight seasons.