Douglas McNabney, violist is one of Canada’s distinguished chamber musicians. He has toured extensively throughout Canada, Europe, and the United States, and is a Juno — and Grammy-nominated recording artist. Formerly artistic director of the Domaine Forget International Festival and Academy, he is also coordinator of chamber music at the Schulich School of Music of McGill University in Montreal and a busy soloist and guest artist across Canada, the USA, and in Europe, with chamber music societies, ensembles, and (in past years) at summer festivals. He is also, now, the second artistic director of Toronto Summer Music in its five year history, succeeding Agnes Grossmann last fall, which has put a bit of a crimp in his summer touring, and a significant gleam in his eye.
Most significantly, though, for this story, the Toronto Summer Music Bloor/Bathurst offices, with their eye-catching mural, are just down the hall from The WholeNote’s digs, which made him an ideal and convenient starting point for WholeNote’s annual ramble down the highways and byways of summer music (and for the story’s main photograph). As is our custom, we have chosen to follow music’s makers in their summer peregrinations, posing the same four or five questions to each respondent. Here are McNabney’s responses, followed by “teasers” from the replies of others who responded in time for this magazine’s deadline. The story now takes up its home on our website where it will, if history is a reliable precedent, continue to grow and develop as the summer progresses.
What are we interrupting (i.e. taking you away from to write this)?
Still exhilarated after performing the Black Angels String Quartet by George Crumb with the SuperNova String Quartet at ScotiaFestival in Halifax ten days ago. Keeping in touch with managers and agents after last week’s ISPA conference in Toronto to book artists for 2012 TSM. Planning to find a successor at McGill for Jonathan Crow who has just been named the new TSO concertmaster. Establishing the incredibly complex rehearsal schedule for the TSM Academy and Festival, writing programme notes, getting my tux ready to attend the MadHot National Ballet Gala this evening … Oh yes, coordinating the pouring of new foundations next week for our cottage renovations …
What are you most looking forward to as an audience member between now and September 7? That’s like asking me which one of my children I prefer! … I’ve chosen artists and put every program together with such care — I’m dying of anticipation for each. Kiril Gerstein’s Toronto debut? Sir Tom Allen? Christine Brewer, our new Mentors and Fellows series where our young artists get to perform with the likes of Menahem Pressler, Anton Kuerti and André Laplante? I won’t want to miss one of those!
How about as a music maker/player? No question, the Mendelssohn Octet — the season finale of the TSM Festival with Jonathan Crow leading. Fireworks guaranteed!
What are you already preparing for beyond the summer? and (how) do your summer plans tie in? In terms of TSM, the Festival theme for 2012 and 2013 is already set and I’m starting to book artists in consequence. For my own performing, I’m looking forward to recording the complete Beethoven String Trios with Jonathan Crow and Matt Haimovitz, our third album after the Mozart Divertimento in 2007 and the Bach Goldberg Variations in 2009.
For more On The Road stories, click here.
