As part of the City of Toronto’s Canada Days—a citywide celebration for Canada’s 150th birthday—the Toronto Symphony Orchestra (TSO) and guest conductor Jean-Claude Picard join forces with Canadian singer-songwriter Ron Sexsmith on Saturday, July 1 at 9:45pm. The free concert, taking place at Nathan Phillips Square, also features Canadian folk-pop singer-songwriter Rose Cousins as a special guest. Sexsmith will perform some of his greatest hits, including songs from his 13th album, The Last Rider (Warner Music). The TSO is thrilled to be part of the festivities, which run June 30–July 3 at Nathan Phillips Square, and July 1 in Scarborough, North York, and Etobicoke.
Ron Sexsmith’s status as one of the greatest songwriters of his generation has never been in doubt, even from the moment he released his self-titled major-label debut album in 1995. Since then, his career arc has, in some ways, been a study in how that pure ability has been handled in the studio. On his many albums, Sexsmith has worked with some of music’s most celebrated producers—Daniel Lanois, Mitchell Froom, Tchad Blake, Ray Kennedy, Martin Terefe, Bob Rock, and Jim Scott. Like one of his main inspirations, Ray Davies, Sexsmith is a rare songwriter, able to extract profound meaning from even the most mundane aspects of urban life, while simultaneously lamenting what remains of our simpler past. But always, hope springs eternal.
As the TSO continues to celebrate Canadian music and its many genres, this event is part of the TSO’s Canada Mosaic—a Canada 150 Signature Project.
Ron Sexsmith & the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, with special guest Rose Cousins
Jean-Claude Picard, conductor
Saturday, July 1, 2017 at 9:45pm
Nathan Phillips Square
FREE
Full Canada Days festival info at toronto.ca/Canada150
