Toronto Symphony Orchestra and Harmonia Mundi Revive Stravinsky’s Legacy with Pulcinella

New recording celebrates composer’s historic connection with the TSO, Available February 14, 2025

January 17, 2025

The Toronto Symphony Orchestra (TSO) and renowned label Harmonia Mundi announce the release of Stravinsky’s Pulcinella on February 14, 2025. This landmark recording pays homage to the composer’s profound connection to the TSO, where Igor Stravinsky made his final public conducting appearance in 1967, leading a performance of the Pulcinella Suite. Nearly six decades later, the TSO now brings the full ballet to life in a stunning new album under the baton of Music Director Gustavo Gimeno.

The recording features two of Stravinsky’s neoclassical masterpieces, Pulcinella (complete ballet) and the Divertimento from Le Baiser de la Fée (The Fairy’s Kiss), alongside Curiosity, Genius, and the Search for Petula Clark, a contemporary TSO-commissioned work by Canadian composer Kelly-Marie Murphy. Recorded in February 2024, the album also features celebrated soloists Isabel Leonard (mezzo-soprano), Paul Appleby (tenor), and Derek Welton (bass-baritone).

Honouring a Historic Legacy

Stravinsky’s relationship with the TSO is as historic as it is personal. The orchestra first performed his work, Petrouchka, in 1934 under Sir Ernest MacMillan. In 1937, Stravinsky himself conducted the TSO in The Firebird and Petrouchka. To date, the TSO has performed over 575 concerts featuring Stravinsky’s works, solidifying his place as a cornerstone of its repertoire.

Reflecting on the recording, Gustavo Gimeno shared: "Pulcinella holds a special place in the TSO’s history: Stravinsky himself conducted the orchestra in a performance of the ballet suite in 1967, marking his final public conducting appearance. It feels extraordinary to return to this work—this time in its full form—while celebrating Stravinsky’s musical ingenuity and the orchestra’s legacy."

Photo courtesy of City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 1652, File 556, Item 55, Igor Stravinsky with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra for CBC, May 17, 1967.

A Bridge Between Past and Present

Stravinsky’s Pulcinella, commissioned by Serge Diaghilev in 1919, is a playful reinvention of Baroque music attributed to Pergolesi, blending historical sensibilities with Stravinsky’s sharp wit and modern sensibility. Similarly, the Divertimento from Le Baiser de la Fée reimagines Tchaikovsky’s early piano pieces, using them to tell Hans Christian Andersen’s The Ice Maiden.

In contrast, Kelly-Marie Murphy’s Curiosity, Genius, and the Search for Petula Clark brings the recording into the present day. Inspired by Glenn Gould’s fascination with the British pop star, Murphy bridges classical and pop idioms, creating a vibrant and imaginative dialogue between musical traditions.

A Growing Legacy of Recordings

This release marks the TSO’s second collaboration with Harmonia Mundi, following the critically acclaimed Turangalîla-Symphonie in 2024. This release builds on the TSO’s rich discography, which includes nearly 100 recordings spanning decades of artistic achievement. Highlights include acclaimed interpretations of Stravinsky’s The Firebird and The Rite of Spring, as well as the JUNO Award-winning Vaughan Williams album in 2018.

Stravinsky’s Pulcinella will be available worldwide on February 14, 2025. For more information about the TSO’s recordings, visit TSO.CA/Recordings.

Listen to the first single "Tarantella" now on Spotify and Apple Music.

Rehearsal Images:

Rehearsal of Stravinsky's Pulcinella (Photo by Allan Cabral/Courtesy of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra)

Concert Images:

Performance of Stravinsky's Pulcinella (Photo by Jae Yang/Courtesy of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra)

Watch the trailer:

For more than a century, the Toronto Symphony Orchestra (TSO) has played a fundamental role in shaping and celebrating Canadian culture. The TSO’s commitment to musical excellence and ability to spark connection remain as strong as ever. With a storied history of acclaimed concerts and recordings, Canadian and international tours, and impactful community partnerships, we are dedicated to engaging and enriching local and national communities through vibrant musical experiences. Music Director Gustavo Gimeno brings an expansive artistic vision, intellectual curiosity, and sense of adventure to programming the 93-musician orchestra that serves Toronto—one of the world’s most diverse cities. As a group of artists, teachers, and advocates who share the belief that music has the power to heal, inspire, and connect people from all walks of life, we engage audiences young and old through an array of community-access, health-and-wellness, and education initiatives including the TSO-affiliated Toronto Symphony Youth Orchestra—a tuition-free training program dedicated to cultivating the next generation of Canadian artists. Join us for a concert at Roy Thomson Hall, or experience the TSO in your neighbourhood. Visit TSO.CA or Newsroom.TSO.CA.

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The TSO acknowledges Mary Beck as the Musicians’ Patron in perpetuity for her generous and longstanding support.

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