Volume 18 Issue 3 - November 2012

BEHIND THE SCENESMooredale’sAnton KuertiBY REBECCA CHUAThere was anton kuerti, with his nimbus of unruly hair, inthe auditorium of Walter Hall on a balmy Sunday afternoonlooking for all the world like a latter-day Einstein. Except thiswas no theoretical physicist nor amateur musician but a manwho has been called one of the truly great pianists of this century,a pianist who has been lionized in practically every one ofthe almost 40 countries he has played and whose name is very nearlysynonymous with Beethoven’s great “Emperor” Concerto.Surrounded by theprincipal players ofthe Toronto SymphonyOrchestra as they deftlyperformed excerpts fromSchubert’s Octet andSpohr’s Nonet, he surveyedthe forest of handsthat shot up in answer tohis gently probing questionsand fielded a volleyof eager responses fromyoung children and theirfamilies. It was quite anintroduction to the firstconcert in Mooredale Concerts’Music & Truffles series, one specifically designed to acquaintfirst-timers with classical music.It is easy to forget, in taking a measure of the man — when that manis Anton Kuerti — that he is not simply a concert pianist par excellence.Impresario, talent scout, chief copywriter, principal website and ticketingstrategist, entrepreneur: these are just some of the hats he has addedto his repertoire after assuming the mantle of artistic director of MooredaleConcerts five years ago following the death of his wife, the cellistKristine Bogyo.The genesis of these concerts began in 1986 when their son Julianwas ten years old and Bogyo was looking for a youth orchestra wherethe young violinist could further hone his skills. Then, as now, notesKuerti dryly, “it’s very important and worthwhile to have as part ofmusic education (but) there’s a scarcity of chamber music opportunitiesfor outstanding young artists.”By the second year, the ten children Bogyo started with when shedecided to grow her own youth orchestra in the family’s living room,had trebled, prompting a move to Mooredale House. “Kristine had theknack for making young people love music and understand it,” Kuertisays, citing the letters parents and the young musicians themselves continueto write, even after they go on to professional careers.In the intervening years, the single orchestra has blossomed intothree. Clare Carberry, a fellow cellist, joined Bogyo 21 years ago andnow conducts the intermediate orchestra. Bill Rowson conducts boththe junior and senior orchestras while Kuerti himself leads the seniororchestra’s summer concert. Mooredale Concerts continues to provideopportunities and bursaries for those who need them.The youth orchestras have an enviable reputation not just among themusic teachers who entrust their young charges but among the youngmusicians themselves who, says Carberry, “experience the joy of performingbut also make friends as well.” Bogyo’s sister Esther, whoseown children have been a part of the orchestras, agrees: “It lets the kidssee each other as very cool and that it’s okay to love music.”continues on page 60MARTIN TOSOIANNovember 1 – December 7, 2012 thewholenote.com 11