Harbourfront Centre: Media Release

Danish Musicians descend on Toronto for SUPERDANISH

TORONTO, September 23, 2004 - Get ready for the best of Danish World Music, Folk, Jazz and Electronica as The SUPERDANISH Concert Series launches a musical invasion of Toronto as part of SUPERDANISH: Newfangled Danish Culture beginning September 28, 2004. More than 20 free and ticketed concerts take over Harbourfront Centre, The Royal Conservatory of Music (RCM), Glenn Gould Studio, The Music Gallery, Revival and more. Complete event listings below.

Highlight musical acts performing at Harbourfront Centre includes a free concert from the dynamic Danish duo Haugaard & Høirup on Thursday, October 7 at 9 p.m. Violinist Harald Haugaard and Guitarist/Singer Morten Alfred Høirup are one of the most successful groups in Danish folk music. Their combined musical talents light up traditional Danish folkloric melodies by using expressive phrasing that gives their concerts an engaging, elegant voice.

The KulturHavn (meaning Culture Harbour) weekend running from October 8 to 11 celebrates Denmark with family-friendly events and activities. Folk-dance band Phønix serves up selections of traditional lyrics mixed with more contemporary sounds on Sunday, October 10 at 3 p.m. Founded in the city of Aarhus in 1977 by conductor Jens Klüver, the Klüvers Big Band makes the long-weekend swing with their Big Band jazz concert on Monday, October 11 at 3 p.m.

The SUPERDANISH Concert series continues through October, as four talented musicians and groups perform for free at Harbourfront Centre. Aida Nadeem combines Arabic instrumentation with sequenced dance beats and funky bass-lines on Thursday, October 14 at 9 p.m. With her album Arabtronica, she echoes her own history since coming to Denmark as a refugee from Iraq in 1991. Virtuosic accordionist Lelo Nika pushes the tempo up a few notches on Sunday, October 17 at 3 p.m. He moves his Serbian heritage, Romanian influences, Danish living and more through his talented fingers to showcase an energetic display of talent. An unusual grouping of instruments - strings, hurdy-gurdy, jews-harp, flutes, djembé, bass and drums - is part of the signature sound of Instinkt. Performing at Harbourfront Centre on Thursday October 21 at 9 p.m., their style could be described as hoe-down jazz with deep grooves. Kasper Søeborg performs a solo show on Thursday October 28 at 9 p.m. His spirited guitar-playing melds flamenco, jazz, folk and classical, creating an aurally beautiful soundscape.

Interactive, free admission workshops with Haugaard & Høirup, Aida Nadeem, Lelo Nika, Instinkt, and Kasper Søeberg occur at The RCM World Music Centre (273 Bloor Street West) throughout the festival. Each workshop features a performance by the artist and an open discussion forum about their music and its placement in Danish Culture. The public can call 416-408-2825 for information. [Full dates and times in the listings below.]

The SUPERDANISH Electronica Series kicks off three stellar evenings with some of Denmark's most internationally renowned DJ's and MC's on September 29th, 30th and October 8th at Revival. [Full dates, times, and ticket details in the listings below.]

Other Danish concerts happening around the city of Toronto include two concerts at Glenn Gould Studio. The Soundstreams Canada Encounters in New Music Series begins with a Danish influence - Kaleidoscope: The Music of Harry Freedman and Poul Ruders and is led by conductor Gary Kulesha and performed by members of the Gryphon Trio, The True North Brass, percussionist Beverley Johnston and flutist Robert Cram. The Royal Conservatory of Music: New Beginnings is a performance of 20th century Danish composer Carl Neilsen's Symphony No. 5 alongside works by Mozart and Takemitsu, led by conductor Simon Streatfeild.

The Corona Guitar Quartet plays the Music Gallery, featuring Nordic and Baltic contemporary works and a new work by Montreal-based composer Tim Brady. The award-winning Morten Boerup School Choir sings Danish classics, gospel songs and spirituals in two free concerts.

SUPERDANISH: Newfangled Danish Culture is the largest exposition of contemporary Danish Culture ever assembled, stretching over 143 events, with 200 artists involved in 13 artistic disciplines and 21 participating organizations. The SUPERDANISH Concert Series is presented by the Danish World Music Association and The Danish Folk Council.

SUPERDANISH is made possible through the generous assistance of the Danish Arts Agency and Council, Danish Architecture Centre, Danish Crafts, Danish Film Institute – all institutions under the Ministry of Culture in Denmark, The Royal Danish Embassy, Maersk Sealand, Creekside Winery, Georg Jensen, Silkeborg, Westin Harbour Castle, Labatt Breweries of Canada, Lego, Ontario Arts Council and the Canada Council. Thanks for support from patrons Danfoss Inc., Novo Nordisk Canada Inc., Vestas-Canadian Wind Tec, Ltd., Arla Foods Inc., The Danish Canadian Chamber of Commerce and from donors IC Companys Fashions Inc., Group 4 Falck (Canada) Ltd., Bang & Olufsen North America, Hartman Canada, Diemaco, Net Electric Limited and Ecco Shoes Canada Inc.

For more information, the public can call 416-973-4000 or visit www.harbourfrontcentre.com

Music listings for SUPERDANISH: Newfangled Danish Culture
SUPERDANISH Concert Series Schedule
*All concerts are free admission unless noted below*

SUPERDANISH at Harbourfront Centre, 235 Queen's Quay West
October 7 (9 p.m. - Lakeside Terrace) - Haugaard & Høirup
October 10 (3 p.m. - Lakeside Terrace) - Phønix (as part of KulturHavn)
October 11 (3 p.m. - Lakeside Terrace) - Klüvers Big Band (as part of KulturHavn)
October 14 (9 p.m. - Lakeside Terrace) - Aida Nadeem
October 17 (3 p.m. - Lakeside Terrace) - Lelo Nika
October 21 (9 p.m. - Lakeside Terrace) - Instinkt
October 28 (9 p.m. - Lakeside Terrace) - Kasper Søeborg

SUPERDANISH concerts and workshops around the city
September 29 (Doors at 9 p.m. - Revival, 783 College St. W.) DJ Static and MC Nat Ill >>Denmark vs Canada << Abs & Fase *$5 before 11 p.m/ $8 post 11 p.m. Info/Guestlist: denmarkdjs@harbourfrontcentre.com
September 30 (Doors at 9 p.m. - Revival, 783 College St. W.) TRIO feat. Denmark DJ's Katrine Ring & Tony M & TO's Denise Benson *$5 before 11 p.m/ $8 post 11 p.m. Info/Guestlist: denmarkdjs@harbourfrontcentre.com
Workshop-October 7 (1 p.m. - 3 p.m. RCM World Music Centre, 273 Bloor St. W.) Haugaard & Høirup, Info: 416-408-2825
October 8 (Doors at 9 p.m. - Revival, 783 College St. W.) DJ Morten Trust and King Sunshine *$10 Info/Guestlist: denmarkdjs@harbourfrontcentre.com
October 12 (8 p.m. - RCM World Music Centre, 273 Bloor St. W.) - Klüvers Big Band
Workshop- October 15 (7 - 9 p.m. - RCM World Music Centre, 273 Bloor St. W.) Aida Nadeem, Info: 416-408-2825
Workshop- October 16 (7 - 9 p.m. - RCM World Music Centre, 273 Bloor St. W.) Lelo Nika, Info: 416-408-2825
Workshop- October 22 (8 -10 p.m. - RCM World Music Centre, 273 Bloor St. W.) Instinkt, Info: 416-408-2825
Workshop- October 29 (8 - 10 p.m. - RCM World Music Centre, 273 Bloor St. W.) Kasper Søeberg, Info: 416-408-2825

Other Danish events in Toronto
September 27 (8 p.m. - Glenn Gould Studio, 250 Front St. W.) - Soundstreams Canada Encounters in New Music: Kaleidoscope: The Music of Harry Freedman and Poul Ruders * $25 adults/$20 seniors/$5 students, 416-205-5555
October 5 (8 p.m. - Music Gallery, 197 John Street) - Corona Guitar Quartet *$20 adults/$15 music gallery members & seniors/$5 students, 416-204-1080
October 7 (Noon - Barbara Frum Atrium, 250 Front St. W) - Morten Boerup School Choir, free.
October 7 (8 p.m. - Glenn Gould Studio, 250 Front St. W.) - The Royal Conservatory of Music: New Beginnings *$15 adults/$10 student & seniors, 416-205-5555
October 8 (8 p.m. - Danish Lutheran Church, 72 Finch Ave. W.) - Morton Boerup School Choir, free.