4-6 PM Saturday, October 3, 2015

Emmanuel Howard Park United Church

214 Wright Ave at Roncesvalles

(416) 536-1755

10 minute walk from Dundas West Station

Pay what you wish; $20 suggested gets you a copy of new Holt double-album "24 Preludes for Piano."

Featuring . . .

Michael Holt, piano, guitar, voice, darbuka

Ivana Popovic, violin

Lilian Belknap, viola

Jennifer Moersch, cello

Samantha Chang, flute

Mike Wark, flute

Heléna Bowkun, second piano

Luke Jackson, voice

Returning from a 4-month tour of Europe and North America, Michael Holt officially launches his new double CD of original classical pieces, "24 Preludes for Piano" (3 samples here: https://soundcloud.com/michael-holt/sets/three-of-my-24-preludes-for). 14 years in the making, and influenced by Ravel, Bach, Satie, and Scriabin, this album of dreamy, complex music is as close as Holt has come to a masterpiece. Yet this will be much more than a solo piano show.

In the beautiful sanctuary of Emmanuel Howard Park Church on Roncesvalles, using a 7-piece chamber ensemble with strings and woodwinds, Holt will sing songs spanning his whole career, from the 1991 album "Pajama Garden" right up to an epic new suite not before heard in public.

Then as the light deepens and the shadows grow long, Holt will play a meditative set of preludes on EHP's Steinway concert grand. Quilts, carpets and pillows will be in place around the altar for those wishing to lie down, close their eyes, and go on a floating piano journey during the closing set.