Belonging, revisited

On the eve of its new season, London Symphonia has posted a superb video from its concert titled Belonging: A Journey of Longing and Discovery, performed at Talbot Street Church in London, Ont., on Feb. 2. The segment runs a generous one hour and 11 minutes.

The concert featured London poet Najwa Zebian, with songstress Maryem Tollar and London Symphonia players, in a performance that blended Najwa’s poetry and texts with music by Léo Delibes, Astor Piazolla, original Arabic-influence songs by Tollar and Yalla Tnam Rima, a traditional Lebanese lullaby. Zebian and Tollar collaborated with London Symphonia composer-in-residence Scott Good to create a new song, titled Phoenix Rising, as part of the larger piece.

Conducted by pianist Good, the ensemble consisted of violinists Joseph Lanza and Andrew Chung, violist Marie-Eve Lessard, cellist Christine Newland, bassist Fil Stasiak, flutist Liesel Deppe, clarinetist Marie Johnson and percussionist Graham Hargrove.

Author: Cornies

I'm a columnist and writer with continuing interests in arts journalism, Canadian politics and culture, and journalism ethics. I teach occasionally at Western University in London, Ontario. Past lives include coordinating the journalism program at Conestoga College, teaching at Ryerson University's School of Journalism, editing A-section news pages at The Globe and Mail, and various roles at The London Free Press, including arts and entertainment editor and editorial page editor. View all posts by Cornies