The Whirlwind of Your Passion : A Philanthropist's Dream

From rock-n-roll to opera, Howard Shore has distinguished himself as one of Canada's most accomplished - and versatile - composers. During woodland rambles with his beloved dogs, Shore gives free rein to his ceaseless creativity - finding inspiration in nature for his latest concerto or film score. Whether composing delicate counterpoint or Oscar®-winning movie music, Shore is keenly tuned to a remarkable range of musical expression.

"A soundscape is any collection of sounds, almost like a painting is a collection of visual attractions," says composer R. Murray Schafer. "When you listen carefully to the soundscape it becomes quite miraculous." David New's bracingly intelligent portrait of the renowned composer becomes a lesson unto itself, gracing viewers (and listeners) with a singular moment of interactive subjectivity.

Theatre is heady stuff. A single exposure can change your life. When Paul Thompson was 14, working on his uncle's farm, he was given a ticket for the Stratford Festival. The rest is cultural history... Fifty years later, it's hard to imagine Canadian theatre without Thompson's inspired leadership. From Theatre Passe Muraille to the National Theatre School, he's mentored generations of actors and plawrights, forging a vibrant and distinctly Canadian theatre tradition.