Death of a Grand Piano

Our extraordinary team of international artists and technicians travelled to Izium, Ukraine, to record an open air performance of classical music as a gift to honour the dead and inspire the living. A stunning white grand piano is a beacon in the grey anguish of this ravaged landscape. The scarred earth is a bleak reminder of the russian invader’s attempt to subjugate the Ukrainian people. Yet Ukraine remains steadfast in their resistance.

The beautiful white grand piano did not survive the production. Moisture took its toll, as you can hear during the final musical sequences. Overcome by the pathos of the moment, the piano gave up its spirit and died. Yet the spirit of the piano lives on in this phenomenal recording of a celebration of the Ukrainian people’s courage and commitment.

Sponsored and organized by Looking at the Stars Foundation – a Canadian federal charity. (www.lookingatthestars.org) with invaluable support from All-Ukrainian Forum for Democracy (DEMFORUM) https://demforum.org/en/

New Canadian Concert Series June 10 – 12, 2023

We are continuing our work with Ukrainian refugees in Eastern Canada. On June 10 and 11 Peter Lambert will be moderating two concerts in Halifax and Moncton respectively (pianists Walter Delahunt and Anna Sagalova will present the program of western and Ukrainian composers).

 

The third concert of the series will take place at Holy Blossom Temple in Toronto on June 12, 2023.
https://holyblossom.org/event/mondays-in-the-mishkan-2/

Media Reports on Recent Musical Gift to Ukraine

 

https://rubryka.com/en/2022/12/14/kanadskyj-podarunok-ukrayini-v-izyumi-na-harkivshhyni-vystupyv-vydatnyj-pianist-mazhyntas/

 

Report on our Halifax event

About 100 Ukrainian refugees (some with small children) arrived in St. Andrew’s Church in Halifax this evening to enjoy the music of Bach and Chopin, gifted by the Looking at the Stars foundation.

A short presentation about our Ukrainian projects and a demo of “Chopin in Irpin” trailer was immediately followed by a Ukrainian national anthem sung emotionally and enthusiastically by everyone in the beautiful hall.

Then for about one hour one could hear the pin drop and dozens of hearts beat during the brilliant performance of the pianist Walter Delahunt.

A wonderful and grateful audience. A deeply emotional and successful event – to be remembered.

Special thanks to Peter J Lambert for moderating it, to Polina Kogan for organizing it , to Mychol Scully and Derek St. Dennis for technically supporting it.

We agreed to return to Halifax next Spring.

   

Talented Young Canadian Virtuoso Pianist, Tony Yang Performs in Lithuanian Series October 4 – 6, 2022

RECLAMATION Trailer Now Online

We’re thrilled to share this trailer from our newest video project, RECLAMATION. This documentary features parolee, James Ruston, who shares his sometimes heart-breaking but also uplifting experiences as a convict in the Canadian Federal penal system. The production is supported with amazing performances by Philip Chiu, piano, Barry Shiffman, violin and viola, and Cameron Crozman, cello. You can read all about it here.

This production is the first in a planned series of portraits of inmates and parolees who have experienced classical music performances at Looking at the Stars events.

The generous support of donors like you, without any institutional, corporate or government funding, enables us to operate. We need it in order to continue creating these documentaries and sharing these stories. Please visit our donation management partner, CanadaHelps. Thank you for your time and attention.

Beaver Creek Minimum Institution on November 9

The return to Beaver Creek Minimum after more than 2 years of forced absence was extremely successful. There was a friendly and hospitable reception by the Warden and his management team (all present throughout the event). About 35 socially distanced inmates greeted our new young performers, violinist Aaron Schwebel and cellist Drew Comstock, with several standing ovations. Only one inmate was a newcomer – the rest were our familiar audience. The performers were on a roll – they came extremely well prepared, taking the time to introduce each of the very colourful pieces they presented. Their performance was highly emotional, powerful and professional – a truly inspirational, professional and promising debut by a capable young duo! Their presentation was a breath of fresh air in the gym and filled everyone with optimism for a better future. Photos will follow as soon as CSC reviews and approves them for release.

Maestro Gidon Kremer performs to standing ovation at Bath Institution

Our Honorary President, Maestro Gidon Kremer, was met with a standing ovation by a crowd of about 90 inmates in Bath Medium Security Institution on Monday, November 1, 2021.

Kremer, who forgot his music in the suitcase in the car, noticed it only a few minutes before entering the prison gym and put some pressure on us all. Fortunately, the problem was successfully resolved, but the Event started 30 minutes late… As soon as Kremer entered the gym, a roaring ovation almost knocked him and his quintet off their feet. Maestro Kremer became extremely talkative and was in very good spirits, offering genuine warmth and love to his audience. The roaring ovation was delivered promptly and powerfully after each piece.

Following the encore, he thanked the audience for their exceptional listening and attention during the event.  “I will miss you and I am wishing you all well and hope to see you again soon,” he said to the grateful audience before leaving. It seemed to me that they were having a personal conversation, focused on their shared musical experience.

Here’s a short exchange between Kremer and an inmate during a question period:

Inmate: What is the difference between the fiddle and the violin?

Kremer: Excellent question (pauses, then grins). Well, I think that fiddler fiddles and violinist plays!

It was the Maestro’s second historic performance in a Canadian prison. Photos, taken by CSC, are being reviewed by their communications department and hopefully will reach us soon.

Maestro Gidon Kremer to perform at Bath Medium Security Institution on November 1, 2021

Looking at the Stars is announcing that classical violinist Maestro Gidon Kremer’s Canadian and U.S. Tour, celebrating his 75th Birthday, will include an historic concert at the Bath Medium Security Institution, in Bath, ON, on Monday, November 1, 2021, at 6:00 p.m. Kremer will be joined by a string quintet from his orchestra Kremerata Baltica.

His engagement at Bath Medium Security Institution, on November 1, marks the violinist’s second event with Looking at the Stars. In 2020, he performed at the Pacific Institution/Regional Treatment Centre while on tour in British Columbia. He was also appointed Honorary President of Looking at the Stars after seeing the effect of a classical performance on the inmates and felt the need to endorse the work of this now six-year-old charitable arts organization.

The performance at the Bath Medium Security Institution will feature Kremer and five string musicians from his orchestra, performing a program that celebrates the 100th Anniversary of Astor Piazzolla and the 75th Birthday of Kremer, with a special homage to Canada’s own Glenn Gould. Kremer founded his orchestra Kremerata Baltica 20 years ago. The orchestra consists of the best young musicians from the Baltic States (Lithuania, Estonia and Latvia).

Return to Prison

Lithuanian pianist Darius Mažintas received six standing ovations and interacted with the grateful crowd of 80 Canadian prisoners at Millhaven Maximum Security Institution and Bath Medium Security Institution on October 5. The deeply emotional performance of Chopin’s Nocturnes program mesmerized the audience. The men wouldn’t let pianist Darius Mažintas leave the gym.

Looking at the Stars enjoyed a very successful return “back to business,” gifting interactive classical music concerts to Canadian federal prisoners after nearly two years of a pandemic-related forced absence from these venues.