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salon orchestra
KERRY STRATTON
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"Kerry Stratton is an extraverted conductor
and all the music followed his lead towards drama, contrast and
clarity. The evening was, as Nero Wolfe would phrase his highest
praise, "very satisfactory." "Bravo to the Festival of the Arts for introducing
a new dimension into our splendid new Algonquin theatre - an awesome
two hours of delightful sympohnic artistry. Kerry Stratton, in his
genius, has with his new Grand Salon, Canada's Palm Court Orchestra,
focused on a fabulous niche: that of timeless salon concert music...a
fantastic occasion. We hope the Festival will continue this matinee
style and will program an early return engagement of Kerry Stratton's
Palm Orchestra and its super repertoire. We wish Kerry all the best
in recapturing what was an era with most memorable music. "While hearing Stravinsky's "Petrushka" in the first half of this concert, one could be convinced of the good quality of the Toronto Philharmonia. The orchestra played with confidence and conductor Maestro Kerry Stratton's interpretation of this elegant piece showed strong quality." - The Grammophone Korea, December 2006 Edition "I Pagliacci" "I have to tell you that it was an amazing show. Everyone that I spoke to has nothing but praises for the opera. It was an amazing show and it definitely brought our event to another level." Josie Verillo |
Conductor and Recording Artist
Canadian conductor, Kerry Stratton, is Music Director of the Toronto Philharmonia Orchestra, the Huntsville Festival of the Arts, and the Grand Salon, Canada's Palm Court Orchestra. He is also Principal Guest Conductor with the Karlsbad Symphony of the Czech Republic.
He has recorded "Slovonic Serenades", featuring music by various composers, with the Moscow Symphony and Celestial Fantasy of Alan Hovhaness for Dorian Records with the Slovak Radio Orchestra , a Dvorak program with the Prague Radio Orchestra for ARS Produktion in Europe, and for Universal in North America, and the world premiere recording of Franz Liszt's De Profundis for the Hungarian State Symphony on the Hungaroton label. All are available in most fine music stores. A new all Brahms recording is scheduled in 2006 with the Nuremburg Symphony for Sony Korea.
As a guest, Maestro Stratton has conducted the Bohemian Chamber Philharmonic, Czech Radio Orchestra, the Slovak State Philharmonic, the Lithuanian Chamber Orchestra, the Janacek Philharmonic, and the Prague Radio Orchestra., and the Hungarian Chamber Soloists,. For his service to Czech and Slovak culture, Stratton was the 2000 winner of the prestigious Jan Masaryk Gratias Agit Award. Other engagements include the National Symphony of Mexico, the Philharmonic in Seoul, Korea, and the Beijing Symphony in the Forbidden City. In January 2001, he became the first Canadian to conduct the St. Petersburg Camerata in the Hermitage Theatre at the Winter Palace
At home in Canada, he has conducted the Calgary Philharmonic, Orchestra London, Windsor Symphony and the K-W Symphony, and annually appears at the Huntsville Summer Festival of the Arts where he is Music Director. As Founder and Music Director of International Touring Productions, Stratton toured in Canada in 2005 with the Sir Georg Solti Orchestra of Budapest, and in April 2006 will tour in Ontario with the Vienna Concert Verein (chamber orchestra of the Vienna Symphony).
For concerts and recordings Stratton returned to Germany and the Czech Republic in January, February and April 2006, and continued the season with the Toronto Philharmonia Orchestra. New this season was the creation of The Grand Salon, Canada's Palm Court Orchestra, which made its debut in March at the Angus Glen Country Club, with subsequent performances in Huntsville, Oakville, and Caledon. In April 2007, the Grand Salon will be heard in their unique repertoire in Barrie, Orillia, Milton, Milbrook, and Belleville.
A tour in Canada with the Czech Philharmonic Chamber Orchestra is scheduled in October 2007.
Ann Summers International
43 Bright St.
Toronto M5A 3H5
tel: (416) 362-1422
fax: (416) 359-0043
e-mail: sumintl@sympatico.ca