TorMusic Entertainment is proud to present The Palm Court Ensembles, the tradition and style of Salon Music which has charmed and entertained the world for so many years. The Palm Court tradition evokes an image of British High Society between the Wars, afternoon tea at the Ritz amid potted palms, or dancing to Geraldo at the Savoy.

Palm Court Music began as a curious blend of British and European flavours – take Edward Elgar’s “Salut d’Amour” and Victorian Gilbert and Sullivan; combine them with Viennese Strauss, Hungarian Lehar, add more than a dash of Noel Coward and Victor Herbert, and you have the very essence of Palm Court music.

TorMusic presents five unique ensembles with integrated production services. Select a Palm Court Trio, String Quartet or Quintet. Other ensembles include the 10 piece Palm Strings, and the Grand Salon 18 piece orchestra. The Grand Salon, Canada's Palm Court Orchestra presently features six different Themed Programs (see The Grand Salon Orchestra below). This orchestra is led by Kerry Stratton, Canada's well known radio talk show personality (Toronto 96.3 FM), and one of Canada's most gifted and versatile conductors.

Sound/Staging/Lighting

In our experience, music production services are better realized when they are coordinated from one source. Our Sound/Staging/Lighting services have been designed to complement our musical ensembles and are offered at very competitive rates.

Fee Quotations/Repertoire Lists/Ensemble Selections/Related Services

Wren Canzoneri - Exclusive Agent - Palm Court Ensembles
416 232 1789
EM: canzoneri@tormusic.com

The Palm Court Piano Trio

• Featuring: Dave Young – Canada’s premiere jazz bassist, member of the Oscar Peterson Trio; Wren Canzoneri – Violinist and Leader of the Amaro String Ensembles; Robert Horvath – 1994 1rst Prize Winner of the Liszt Piano Competition.
• Repertoire: Classical Schubert, Weber, Schumann, Dvorak, Viennese Waltzes, Marches, Hungarian Dances, English and Viennese Operetta, Popular Songs, Jazz, Tangos, Opera

The Palm Court String Quartet/Quintet

• Featuring: Amalia Joanou – Violin soloist, chamber musician, and member TSO; Wren Canzoneri – Violinist and Leader of Amaro String Ensembles; Leslie Knowles – member of Roses In The Snow and the TSO; George Meanwell – member Quartetto Gelato as cellist and arranger; and Dave Young – member of the Oscar Peterson Trio.
• Repertoire: Classical Bach, Mozart, Haydn, Schubert, Borodin; Opera Favorites; Popular music of Joplin, Porter, Gershwin & Ellington; Traditional English, Irish, and Scottish Songs, Strauss Waltzes, Best of Broadway, Tangos, etc.

The Palm Court String Orchestra
(10 to 12 musicians)

• Featuring: Lance Elbeck, star of Fiddle On Fire as Violin Soloist, led by Wren Canzoneri, Violinist and Leader of the Amaro String Ensembles. A very versatile ensemble, The Palm Court String Orchestra with members of the TSO includes 3 to 4 chamber ensembles – which have performed separately and together as a String Orchestra for Special Events.
• Repertoire: Classical Mozart Sinfonias, Handel, Bach, Tchaikovsky, Faure, Grieg & Elgar; Opera, Popular music of Joplin, Gershwin, Victor Herbert, Gilbert and Sullivan, Movie Themes, Broadway; Rogers, Loewe, Boch, Webber, etc., Waltzes, Tangos, Traditional Folksongs. Christmas and New Years special repertoire.

Lance Elbeck – Violin Soloist

 

The Grand Salon Orchestra (18 Musicians) conducted by Kerry Stratton is devoted to the music of the Roaring 20's and 30's. Their repertoire includes the original fantastic orchestrations of the music of Irving Berlin, Strauss, Von Suppe, Cole Porter &, George Gershwin… to name a few just a few. Sample selections include:

• Puttin' on the Ritz
• My Hero
• Charleston
• La Cumparsita
• Anything Goes
• Night and Day
• What'll I do?
• I'll be Seeing You

Enjoy an evening of music affectionately performed in the light-hearted Palm Court Style. Typical programs were drawn from light classics, musical theatre and the most popular songs, even of today.

Entertainment ideally suited for :

* Dinner and Dancing * Fund Raisers * New Year's Eve Parties

* Convention Dinner Events * Corporate Dinners * Private Club Galas

 

THEMED ORCHESTRA PROGRAMS INCLUDE

*  Puttin' on the Ritz  *  Victor Herbert, Master of Melody  *  Gilbert and Sullivan  *  Victorian Christmas  *  Viennese Valentine  *  Tea at the Savoy

 Palm Court (Grand Salon Orchestra) Rekindles An Era…

Lynn Peppas/Tribune Staff

With generous humor and wit, Stratton's. exuberance for the music and knowledge of the composers of the era was a great addition to the show. Stratton was a gem onstage.  He usually does high-brow conducting . with the Toronto Philharmonia and other orchestras worldwide.
Hats off to the sharp, tight, but highly animated playing style of the musicians in Grand Salon. whether the musicians were kickin' it up a notch in Charleston, or floating a lovely waltz like "My Hero", they played with precision and emotional depth …

Arsbeat-Huronia, April 2007

Stratton  is a seemingly bottomless fount of anecdotes and stories about the composers, musicians and audiences of the time, told in his inimitable manner. He had the audience roaring with laughter one moment, and on the verge of tears the next..

Listen to Kerry Stratton's Grand Salon Orchestra (click on mp3 files indicated below)

Puttin' On The Ritz (Music of the Grand Salon) Performed by Millennium Symphony Released: 2007 Label: ERM Media Tracks 1. Charleston (Mack & Johnson) 2. Anything Goes (Porter) 3. Cheek to Cheek (Berlin) 4. Embraceable You (Gershwin) 5. La Cumparsita (Rodriguez) 6. Clarinet Marmalade (Shields & Ragas) 7. What'll I Do? (Berlin) 8. Nola (Arndt) 9. My Hero (Strauss) 10. Night & Day (Porter) 11. Puttin' on the Ritz (Berlin)