Our Canada

Canadian music advocate, pianist and musicologist Elaine Keillor C.M., joins forces with Julliard graduate, pianist, conductor and music-technologist Shelley Katz and his innovative Symphonova Orchestra to celebrate Canada's Sesquicentennial with a recording featuring works by Canadian composers. Repertoire includes a selection of works by Calixa Lavallee, Clarence Lucas, Rodolphe Mathieu, Ernest MacMillan, Murray Adaskin, Violet Archer, George-Emile Tanguay and John Weinzweig. The Symphonova is, without exaggeration, a first-of-it's-kind: by using a collection of cutting-edge technologies, a small ensemble led by a conductor creates the full symphonic sound and musical experience of a large orchestra - anywhere. The technologies include virtual acoustics, a system capable of transforming venues into versatile and superior concert spaces, a newly-developed conducting wand that enables the conductor to fully control timing and expression of the virtual instruments, and Instrumental Loudspeakers, a unique method for authentic sound propagation by converting actual musical instruments into loudspeakers, which are used to augment the sound of the musicians. From a musical perspective, Symphonova's small setting enables a chamber-music approach to the biggest and most challenging scores. With it's unique constellation combining artistry and technological advancement, Symphonova is now a reality that opens new and exciting opportunities for musicians and audiences.