Since 2007, the Luminato festival has dazzled Toronto with its electrifying array of artwork, immersive performances and fantastic cuisine. With a strong focus on collaboration, it has evolved into one of North America’s preeminent arts festivals, having commissioned over 66 new works of art, and featured 7,500 artists from 40 countries.
Here are our top 10 picks for 10 days.
JUNE 19, 2015 – Orchestra Karaoke
Ever wanted to sing Karaoke backed up by a full symphony orchestra? The city’s most talented musicians have rehearsed pop songs and will offer you the chance to hit the symphonic stage, singing with them (and the help of conductor Jan Dvořák). Simply put your name in the hat next to the song of your choice for a chance to show off your pipes. Audience members are spontaneously called to the stage to sing a pop song (with lyrics shared on an overhead projector). Show us what you got.
JUNE 20 – Dolor Exquisito (Exquisite Pain)
This performance documents the experience of getting stood up by a lover, and the subsequent pain of heartbreak. Interdisciplinary artist Emilio García Wehbi and actress Maricel Álvarez explore break-ups in this multimedia piece capturing the pain of loneliness and how it connects us.
JUNE 21 – A Celebration of Indigenous Pan American Food
Luminato Festival’s annual celebration of food adds some indigenous and Pan American flavour this year, celebrating the indigenous ingredients that form the heart of Pan American culture and cuisine: corn, beans, squash, avocados, potatoes, yucca, chilies and chocolate. Food and drink (containing all of the above) will be available from $6. Hot.
June 22 – Festival Cabaret Series: Bridget Everett
Bridget Everett (of Inside Amy Schumer, Two Broke Girls and Sex And The City) has been called “the most exciting performer in New York City.” Everett and her band, The Tender Moments (which includes Adam “Ad-Rock” Horovitz from the Beastie Boys), recently released their album, Pound It, and filmed a live concert special, Gynecological Wonder (premiering this summer on Comedy Central). This promises to be titillating and hilarious, the best combo.
June 23 – Contemporary Color
Conceived by Talking Heads founder, David Byrne, the world premiere of Contemporary Color pairs pop stars (like Nelly Furtado, Ira Glass, St. Vincent, tUnE-yArDs, Lucius and Ad-Rock) with high school colour guard teams to sync music with steps and perform dazzling routines using props like flags, rifles, and sabres. Think Drumline on acid.
June 24 – Malpaso Dance Company
Ten talented young dancers from Cuba will transport you to steamy Havana right here in T.O. In 24 hours and a dog, “an invisible canine doggedly follows the dancers, forcing them to keep pace in a hectic world” to music written and performed live by Grammy Award-winning Cuban-American jazz composer Arturo O’Farrill.” In Porque Sigues (Why You Follow), celebrated New York choreographer Ronald K. Brown explores “beats and rhythms within music and our bodies.”
June 25 – Jason Collett’s Basement Revue at Luminato
Jason Collett and Damian Rogers present Basement Revue, the Festival Hub’s late-night destination. The series brings Canadian literary and musical talent to the stage “with a rock and roll sensibility.” Each night’s lineup remains a mystery right up until show time (although past performers have included Marina Abramović, Brendan Canning, Rufus and Martha Wainwright, Feist, Damian Rogers, Elizabeth Renzetti and many more). Find last minute updates via #BasementRevue.
June 26 – Late Night with the TSO: Holst the Planets
Since you’re already out late, stop in to hear the TSO’s take on The Planets, an incredible astrological work by Gustav Holst depicting seven planets of the solar system. The Planets captures the grandeur of space, such as Mars, “a depiction of the inhumanity of war”, and Saturn, “a portrayal of the stages of human life.” You may even recognize some of it – the iconic music often appears in television theme songs and film soundtracks.
June 27 – Glossary
Brazilian artist Regina Silveira transforms David Pecaut Square with her dreamy installation, Glossary. Best known for her explorations of space through optical illusions and geometric constructions, Silveira will incorporate a series of coloured, translucent marquees that form the words for ‘light’ from dialects and languages around the world, and slice into downtown buildings with lasers of light. Pew! Pew!
June 28 – Apocalypsis
Apocalypsis promises to “bring Toronto to life, then to death, then to life again” with the help of more than 1000 performers. The performance will depict the end of the world, followed by “a revolutionary ascension to order.” Twenty conductors and their ensembles will be joined on-stage by Nina Arsenault, Brent Carver, Kawiti Waetford, Laurie Anderson, Denise Fujiwara, and 2014 Polaris Prize-winner Tanya Tagaq for this monumental finale.
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