MEDIA RELEASEFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  WSO's 23rd New Music Festival goes 'Beyond' ina weeklong festival dedicated to breaking downgenres Winnipeg, MB ­ January 22, 2014 ­ The WinnipegSymphony Orchestra (WSO) pays homage to thegame changers across musical genres in the 23rdannual New Music Festival (NMF) from January 25to 31. This year's festival explores the theme of 'Beyond,'where the music will showcase the diverse pathwaysof music today and the relationship between PierreBoulez, who composed in the deep rootedcontemporary traditions in Europe, and Frank Zappa,the American maverick and revolutionist who beganthe process of breaking down genres of all types. "At this NMF, we are going further into the territory ofcrossover connecting with film and music that isborderline classical and experimental. The things I'mmost excited about at this year's festival areperforming with the Hilliard Ensemble during theiryear long farewell tour; performing Arvo Pärt's Litanyand Valentin Silvestrov's beautiful Requiem forLarissa; working on a new opera conceived by JimJarmusch and Phil Kline; welcoming Glenn Branca toWinnipeg; and our night dedicated to windinstruments this year features some incredible musicthat includes spatial works, music for flute choir andspiritual rituals," said WSO Music Director and NMFco-curator Alexander Mickelthwate. "In ourexploration of the 'Beyond' we delve into newspiritual, emotional, psychological and historicaldepths of music." Featuring three Canadian premieres, one North

MEDIA:For more information or toschedule an interview, pleasecontact: Sarah Panas, Marketing& Communications Co-ordinator,Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra,at 204.949.3970 orspanas@wso.mb.ca. Download the 2013/2014  New Music Festival Overtureprogram book here. Download the 2013/2014season guide here. The WSO is integral toWinnipeg's rich cultural life,delighting more than 100,000audience members each yearwith innovative programming andmusical excellence. The WSOpresents educational programsfor more than 25,000 studentsannually and tours outside thecity reaching out to communitiesacross Manitoba.

 

American premiere and three world premieres, NMFis thrilled to present music from electronica to newinterpretations on classical favourites. The festivalopens with the critically acclaimed Hilliard Ensembleas part of their farewell tour after performing togetherfor the past 40 years. Hilliard will also perform newworks for voice the same evening as Jim Jarmuschand Phil Kline's new opera Tesla in New York onnight two of the festival. As the festival heads into the week, Monday is thewind instrument night, which includes a work for 21flutes by Canadian composer Henry Brant. Alsopresented is the Canadian Music Centre's EmergingComposers Prize Winning Work on Tuesday night.And, NMF continues the relationship with theIcelandic community with Valgeir Sigurdsson'sEighteen Hundred and Seventy-Five celebrating the125th anniversary of the Icelandic Festival in 2014.The Government of Iceland and The IcelandicFestival of Manitoba commissioned ValgeirSigurdsson’s Eighteen Hundred and Seventy-Five. In paying tribute to revolutionist Frank Zappa,concertgoers can expect a fuller stereo sound onnights with Zappa's works sprinkled throughout thefestival. Zappa composed for a fuller sound, whichwill have the orchestra doubling up on percussionand pianos on both sides of stage. NMF will continue exploring the boundaries of popwith a second year of its grittier late night concertswith Pop Nuit. Ever since the Beatles threw in thetowel on Love Me Do and started recording theirguitars backwards, pop music has played a majorrole in the progression of pushing the boundaries ofconventional composition. Winnipeg can look forwardto a stellar lineup of musicians from all over Canadadoing exactly that. Pop Nuit will be headlined byPolaris short-listed circular-breathing saxophonistColin Stetson. Stetson's unique take on hisinstrument has been impressing pop music's forwardthinking crowd since 2011 and this will be one of hisfirst performances in Winnipeg. Opening that nightwill be Hannah Epperson of Vancouver, a violinistwhose haunting beautiful looping tones promise tomesmerize. In addition to this headlining show, PopNuit will be hosting hometown secret VenetianSnares. Aaron Funk, the sole member of VenetianSnares, has been prolific in the electronic musicscene for over a decade, sometimes releasing as

many as eight albums a year. His manic clusters ofsamples, drum beats and synthesizers will attackyour ears... in a good way. Opening the evening arelocal legends Mahogany Frog; their unorthodoxsounds and complex arrangements explore thenether regions of tone, mood and composition. For the first time, NMF is the collaborating with anumber of local filmmakers in an effort to contribute tothe theme of 'Beyond' and the mythical status ofWinnipeg. Short films will be shown on four of theNMF evenings as new spirits and psychicatmospherics are invited into the Hall. This year's NMF also offers diverse pre- and post-concert events such as musical performances andpanel discussions. NMF is thrilled to partner withSpur Festival to present panel discussions onSunday, January 26, Tuesday, January 28,Wednesday, January 29 and Friday, January 31.Concertgoers can also attend the PlugIn ICA Lounge,which will showcase art and photography post-concert on the Piano Nobile. For more information onthese pre- and post- concert events visitnewmusicfestival.ca. NMF1: HILLIARD: ZAPPA TO PÄRT Opening Night ­ Saturday, January 25, 2014 |Centennial Concert Hall | 8:00 pm | Doors open7:00 pm As part of their farewell tour, the critically acclaimedHilliard Ensemble will kick off the NMF with specialperformances of Frank Zappa's G-Spot Tornado;Pierre Boulez's Le soleil des eaux; Oscar-nominatedcomposer Owen Pallett's Violin Concerto, nominatedfor Best Original Score with William Butler for theirwork in the movie Her; Jonny Greenwood's 48Responses to Polymorphia; and Arvo Pärt's Litany. POP NUIT 1 - Venetian Snares with Mahogany FrogSaturday, January 25, 2014 | Union Sound Hall |  11:00 pm18+ Valid ID Required Presented in collaboration with:

NMF2: THE HILLIARD ENSEMBLE IN CONCERT& TESLA IN NEW YORK, AN OPERA BY JIMJARMUSCH & PHIL KLINE Sunday, January 26, 2014 | Centennial ConcertHall | 7:30 pm | Doors open 5:50 pm In their second appearance in NMF, the HilliardEnsemble will perform new music for voices as part oftheir farewell tour. The repertoire includes works fromVeljo Tormis, Gavin Bryars, Barry Guy and ToshioHosokawa. The second half of the concert will featurethe new opera by Jim Jarmusch and Phil Kline titledTesla in New York inspired by the two composer'sfascination with scientist Nikola Tesla. NMF3: RITUAL MASSMonday, January 27, 2014 | Pantages Playhouse | 7:30 pm | Doors open 6:30 pm A program of works for winds, brass, and percussioninclude the beginnings of minimalism with ColinMcPhee; works by Frank Zappa and Owen Pallett;and a ritual antiphonal Mass by Canadian maverickHenry Brant that is scored for as many flutists aspossible. David Maslanka explores the spiritualelement as an integral part of the planet's possiblefuture with Give Us This Day. NMF4: FORGOTTEN WINNIPEGTuesday, January 28, 2014 | Centennial ConcertHall | 7:30 pm | Doors open 5:50 pm Concertgoers will enjoy the Native American fluteperformance in The Ice Storm by Winnipeg-born filmcomposer Mychael Danna, the Academy Award-winning composer of the score for Ang Lee's Life ofPi. Eyvind Kang and Venetian Snares will perform intheir hometown - something that is long overdue. Theworld premiere of Venetian Snares' Deleted Poemsand The Hopeless Pursuit of Remission are on thisevening's repertoire. Canadian Music Centre'sEmerging Composer Prize-Winning Work ThreeMusings by Roydon Tse will round out the program.

NMF5: UNHOLY NOISEWednesday, January 29, 2014 | CentennialConcert Hall | 7:30 pm | Doors open 5:50 pm This concert features the Canadian premiere of GlennBranca's Free Form, one of his first pieces for fullorchestra. The evening will also mark the Canadianpremiere of Branca's Symphony No. 11, a piece inwhich he explores a theory that he's been developingfor many years called 'interpenetrating harmony'.Branca and Valgeir Sigurdsson will be hosting a Q&Asession after the concert. The Icelandic Festival of Manitoba is proud tosponsor the reception this evening as they begin ayear of special events and activities to celebrate the125th anniversary of the Icelandic Festivalin 2014.

NMF6: ISOLATIONThursday, January 30, 2014 | Crescent FortRouge United Church | 7:30 pm | Doors open 6:30pm This evening's concert explores the idea of isolation -both in music and geographical location. EyvindKang and Jessika Kenney will perform new musicthat includes the world premiere of The Face of theEarth. The evening's lineup also features the excitingand innovative talents of Valgeir Sigurdsson, SarahKirsch, Zach Bales and Matthew Patton. NMF7: RICHTER & SILVESTROVClosing Night ­ Friday, January 31, 2014 |Centennial Concert Hall | 8:00 pm | Doors open5:50 pm Two of today's most notable composers are featuredin this evening's repertoire. Voted #1 in iTunes Best of Classical in 2012, MaxRichter is no stranger to recomposing classicalpieces to add his own personal touch. Richter rewroteVivaldi's iconic work The Four Seasons to createFour Seasons Recomposed which will be performed

this evening and mark the Canadian premiereperformance of this piece. Concertmaster GwenHoebig will take centre stage in this peaceful newwork. Another Canadian premiere will take place withValentin Silvestrov's Requiem for Larissa whichrepresents Silvestrov's personal approach to thistraditional genre. It was written in memory of his latewife who died young, and for their life and what theydid together. Concert sponsored by:

POP NUIT 2 - Colin Stetson with Hannah EppersonFriday, January 31, 2014 | Millennium Centre |10:00 pm  Pass & Ticket Information: Festival PassAdult: $99.00Senior: $89.00 Student: $59.00Add both NMF POP NUIT events to your pass foronly $25.00 Individual Concert Ticket Prices*Sunday, January 26, Tuesday, January 28 -Thursday, January 30Adult: $25.00Student: $10.00 Monday, January 27All seats: $10.00 Saturday, January 25** and Friday, January 31** Loge: $96.00Section 1: $81.00Section 2: $67.00Section 3: $55.00Section 4: $42.00 Section 5: $27.00 SPUR@NEW MUSIC FESTIVAL

Sunday, January 26, Tuesday, January 28,Wednesday, January 29 and Friday, January 31 NMF POP NUIT:Saturday, January 25 and Friday, January 31 $15.00per concert in advance $20.00 per concert at thedoor. Limited seating available. *Plus applicable taxes and fees.**Student and Senior discounts on pricing available. Contact theWSO box office for more information. Tickets available at the Winnipeg SymphonyOrchestra and all Ticketmaster outlets. WSO Box Office204-949-3999www.wso.ca Ticketmaster1-855-985-ARTSTicketmaster.ca Pop Nuit Sponsored by:

New Music Festival 2014 generously sponsored by:

The Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra would like togratefully acknowledge our funders:

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