Photo: Lucie Jansch
	Arts lovers around the world are looking forward to the production of Einstein at the Beach.

Toronto’s fifth season

© 2012 Group Tour Media Article,
April 13, 2012

TORONTO — For 10 extraordinary days, Canada’s cosmopolitan capital will come to life with a grand arts festival — Luminato, the Toronto Festival of Arts and Creativity.

“Before Luminato, we looked around the world and thought there wasn’t really anything like this in the North America — a global arts festival,” said festival CEO Janice Price. “Knowing the incredible assets of the city, I knew it would be easy, in theory, to put together an arts festival.”

Price was absolutely right, as the first five editions of Luminato proved. She and many others are looking forward to the sixth Luminato festival, coming June 8–17. 

The festival, known as Toronto’s fifth season, is a multi-disciplinary celebration of theater, dance, music, literature, food, visual arts, film, magic and more. It unfolds on stage, streets and public spaces.

Many of the events are free, and groups enjoy special discounts for most ticketed events.

Luminato presents the opportunity to experience four major works from artists who have transformed their disciplines of opera, modern dance, theater and performance art.

In 1976 director Robert Wilson and composer Philip Glass broke all the rules of conventional opera and gained worldwide praise when they premiered their five-hour fusion of sound, image and movement, Einstein on the Beach.

“We’ve had calls every day about Einstein on the Beach,” said Price. “It’s one of those works that art lovers will travel to see. It’s like the Mona Lisa of modern times. People will travel around the world to see it, and it’s in Toronto.”

Einstein joins La Belle et La Bête: A Contemporary Retelling. Michel Lemieux and Victor Pilon, masters of osmosis by blending real and virtual imagery, have once again set new standards with this production. All elements of the presentation — from Belle’s paintings to the characters’ dramatic metamorphoses — spring to life via virtual holographic imagery.

	Photo: Gary Beechey
	Pianist Stewart Goodyear will present The Beethoven Marathon during this year's Luminato festival.

When iconic director Robert Lepage launches a new work, the world takes notice. Luminato is proud to be the only Canadian co-commissioning partner and host of the North American premiere for his next major piece — Playing Cards 1: Spades, the first in a four-part cycle for theater in the round.

Batsheva Dance Company, headed by choreographer Ohad Naharin, has been popularly embraced as one of the most exciting contemporary dance companies in the world. Luminato 2012’s presentation of Sadeh21 is a North American premiere and marks the long awaited return of the Batsheva Dance Company to Toronto.

These productions are a small slice of all that Luminato will host over the course of 10 days.

“When you come to Luminato and take advantage of a ticketed event, you could build your group visit around any of the wonderful events,” said Price. “About 70 percent of the events are free. That’s the unique twist for Luminato.”

The full calendar of events includes music, visual arts exhibits, connections with authors, events honoring the 200th anniversary of the War of 1812, film, food and many more experiences.

Tickets can be purchased online beginning April 14 at www.luminato.com or by calling (416) 368-4849.

Further details on tickets and packages can be found on the web at http://www.luminato.com/how-to-festival/tickets-and-packages.

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