June 8–17, 2012
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
info [at] luminato.com
Since its inception in 2007, Luminato has become integral to Toronto’s cultural calendar, ushering in the Summer season. How best to experience Luminato’s 10 days of remarkably diverse, genre-blurring programming? Let the art plan your days. See the first production in 20 years of Robert Wilson and Philip Glass’ landmark achievement Einstein on the Beach, the North American premiere of Robert Lepage’s Playing Cards 1: SPADES, and then check out the Festival’s artist-in-residence, Dan Bergeron, who is challenging the nature of public space with his street-long installation ///Re-ply\.
Between June 8 and 17, Luminato will host nearly 100 events, approximately half of which are free to attend. From a multi-disciplinary salute to the bicentennial of the War of 1812—extending from The Encampment, a unique form of visual archaeology, which will turn a historical site (200 tents pitched on the grounds of Fort York) into sculpture on a grand scale, to a closing night concert featuring Peter Oundjian and the Toronto Symphony Orchestra.
Indulge in tasty delights from more than three dozen top chefs at the 5th annual 1000 President’s Choice Tastes of Toronto, taking place outdoors at the Distillery Historic District and, while you’re there, listen to internationally acclaimed writers and food experts Adam Gopnik and Calvin Trillin (The New Yorker) discuss the highs (and lows) of Canadian cuisine, and drop by a daylong loft party where renowned Canadian artist Corno is creating 10 large-scale paintings that celebrate femininity.
This year, igniting what will become an annual Luminato tradition, the outdoor Festival Hub will be completely transformed by Toronto-based Diamond Schmitt Architects. Re-imagined as Windscape, the Hub is the perfect place to meet, eat, play, and enjoy more than 30 free concerts by a global array of artists including Rufus Wainwright, Loreena McKennitt, Italian superstar Jovanotti, the Mali-Cuban collective AfroCubism, reggae legend Michael Rose, and hip-hop super group Deltron 3030.
As the Festival’s new artistic director Jorn Weisbrodt says: “Luminato is Toronto’s fifth season when the Festival stages the best of our city and invites the world to celebrate and transform it with us.”
Must-see free events at Luminato
National Bank First Night with K’NAAN and Kae Sun
Friday, June 8 at 8pm
David Pecaut Square, 55 John Street
www.luminato.com/events/firstnight
Symphonic Finale
A free outdoor concert by the Toronto Symphony Orchestra
Sunday, June 17 at 7pm
David Pecaut Square, 55 John Street
www.luminato.com/events/hubjune17
The Encampment
Visual Arts installation at Fort York, marking the bicentennial of the War of 1812
June 8–24, 7:30–11pm
Fort York, 25 Fort York Boulevard
www.luminato.com/events/encampment
///Re-ply\
A street-long Visual Arts installation
June 8–17, all day
Parliament Street, between Dundas and Wellesley Street
www.luminato.com/events/re-ply
aMAZED
Blue Republic
The acclaimed Canadian art collective transforms the everyday, challenging viewers to find the extraordinary in the ordinary
June 8–August 31
Albert Lambert Galleria, Brookfield Place
www.luminato.com/events/bluerepublic-brookfield
Delightful and Permanent Conditions of Impossibility & Surfaceworks
Blue Republic
The acclaimed Canadian art collective transforms the everyday, challenging viewers to find the extraordinary in the ordinary
June 8–August 31
Toronto Pearson International Airport, Terminal 1
www.luminato.com/events/bluerepublic-airport
S/N
Lab[au]
The transformation of random letters into legible words is at the techno-centric heart of S/N (Signal To Noise)
June 8–30
Toronto Pearson International Airport, Terminal One (pre-security)
www.luminato.com/events/lab
Toronto Carretilla Initiative
An interactive cooking performance in public spaces
June 9–17, Daily performance times
Visit www.carretillainitiative.net for details
www.luminato.com/events/carretilla
Must-see ticketed events at Luminato
Einstein on the Beach
An Opera in Four Acts by Robert Wilson – Philip Glass
2012 North American Premiere
June 8–10, three performances only
Sony Centre for the Performing Arts
www.luminato.com/events/einstein
Playing Cards 1: SPADES
Directed by Robert Lepage
North American Premiere
June 13–17
Joey and Toby Tanenbaum Opera Centre, Canadian Opera Company
www.luminato.com/events/spades
Sadeh21
Ohad Naharin | Batsheva Dance Company
June 14–16
MacMillan Theatre, 80 Queen’s Park
www.luminato.com/events/sadeh21
