ShareMary Winspear Centre Presents Classical Spring 2025
Quartetto Gelato
Tuesday, April 8
Doors 7pm Show 7:30pm
Series Ticket $120
Single Ticket $47.00
Virtuosic showpieces and romantic ballads, blazing Romani tunes and forgotten chestnuts, all brought to life with multi-instrument mastery: this is Quartetto Gelato—a popular and highly unusual classical quartet.
With sold-out performances in New York, Washington, L.A., London, Tokyo, Hong Kong and elsewhere, this dazzling ensemble has enchanted audiences and critics worldwide with its exotic blend of musical virtuosity, artistic passion and humour. With a performance repertoire that spans the globe and includes classical masterworks, engaging vocals, the sizzling energy of tangos, Romani and klezmer songs, the group’s theatrical stage presence and relaxed humour establish an intimate rapport with audiences worldwide.
Quartetto Gelato’s international career was launched when they won the coveted title of NPR Performance Today’s “Debut Artist of the Year.” The group’s first DVD, Quartetto Gelato: A Concert in Wine Country, was picked up by PBS throughout the U.S. in 2007 and is still broadcast regularly. The group is regularly heard on CBC, Classical 96.3 FM, NPR, PRI, and NUR networks, not to mention the soundtrack of the Hollywood film “Only You,” starring Robert Downey Jr and Marisa Tomei. At the 2010 INDIE Awards, Quartetto Gelato was honoured as Best Classical Ensemble, and achieved unique global reach when Canadian astronaut Dr. Robert Thirsk chose their first two CDs to take on board during his NASA flight on the space shuttle Columbia, to literally be heard around the world!
Quartetto Gelato released a highly successful first CD in 1994. Subsequent recordings such as Neapolitan Café (2001) and Musica Latina (2009) showcase the ensemble’s flair for imaginative international themes – Travels the Orient Express (2004) features music associated with stops along the route of the famous train. The quartet recorded a Christmas CD in 2010 and their 9th disc, “All Original – 100% Canadian”, is comprised of works written for the group by Canadian composers that highlight their signature style. QG released their 10th album in 2021 called Tasty Tunes: a blend of fun, eclecticism, international flavours, multi-instrumentation, vocals and superb musicianship.
Tino Popovic, violin
Colin Maier, oboe
Matti Pulkki, accordion
Kirk Starkey, cello
"Classical" Spring 2025
Join us this spring 2025 for a curated collection of three performances that showcase the diversity of classical music, some even pressing on the boundaries of what we might think of as classical.
We begin in March with storyteller Tom Allen's chamber musical "JS Bach's Long Walk in the Snow", an evocative telling of a 400km tale Johann Sebastian Bach took as a teenager, with music drawn both from Bach's own works and also the music he would have heard on his travels. You may already be familiar with Tom Allen as a presenter on CBC Music, and be assured that his storytelling is just as thrilling in person, if not more.
Next we welcome the Penderecki String Quartet, one of the most celebrated chamber ensembles of their generation. To this day, they are devoted champions of the music of our time, having premiered over 100 new works from composers in Canada and abroad. The four Penderecki musicians (now originating from Poland, Canada, and USA) bring their varied yet collective experience to create performances that demonstrate their “remarkable range of technical excellence and emotional sweep” (Toronto, Globe and Mail).
And then in April, please join us for virtuosic showpieces and romantic ballads, blazing Romani tunes and forgotten chestnuts, all brought to life with multi-instrument mastery: this is Quartetto Gelato - a popular and highly unusual classical quartet. This dazzling ensemble has enchanted audiences and critics worldwide with their passion, humour, and stage presence. In short, Quartetto Gelato is a unique ensemble that stands out in the classical crossover genre, offering an energetic and highly entertaining blend of musical styles that appeal to a wide range of music lovers.
Just as you'll certainly enjoy one of these concerts, we expect you'll enjoy all three. Whether you're a lifelong fan of classical music or just starting to explore its depths, you'll appreciate the way each concert enriches your experience of the next - and you'll also enjoy the savings! Buy tickets to all three concerts today, and you'll save 15% on tickets!