you - The WholeNote

PRICELESS!
Vol 20 No 4
CONCERT LISTINGS | DECEMBER 2014 & JANUARY 2015
Angela Hewitt
FOR THE
RECORD
NEARLY
SOLD
OUT!
HOUSE OF
DREAMS
MESSIAH
DIRECTED BY
@ KOERNER HALL
JEANNE LAMON
CONCEIVED, SCRIPTED, AND PROGRAMMED BY
ALISON MACKAY
Feb 11-15, 2015
Trinity-St. Paul’s Centre, Jeanne Lamon Hall
IVARS TAURINS, DIRECTOR
“…a special, all-encompassing experience that makes one
forget time and place for two bliss-filled hours.” TORONTO STAR
Dec 17-20, 2014 Koerner Hall
BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND!
A magical journey featuring stunning projected images.
Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra and Chamber Choir
Lydia Teuscher, soprano
James Laing, countertenor
Colin Balzer, tenor
Brett Polegato, baritone
416.964.6337
416.408.0208
ALSO: SING-ALONG MESSIAH
at Massey Hall Directed by “Herr Handel”
Dec 21, 2014 at 2pm 416.872.4255
Get your
stocking
stuffers!
Buy today at our brand new online shop:
tafelmusik.org/shop
Baroque Orchestra and Chamber Choir
tafelmusik.org
MESSIAH CONCERTS SPONSOR &
SEASON PRESENTING SPONSOR
JOIN US IN
THE NEW YEAR
FOR THIS
BLOCKBUSTER
CONCERT EVENT
BEETHOVEN
SYMPHONY NO. 5
@ KOERNER HALL
KENT NAGANO | GUEST CONDUCTOR
Jan 22-25, 2015
KENT
NAGANO
Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra
and Chamber Choir
Nathalie Paulin, soprano
Laura Pudwell, mezzo-soprano
Lawrence Wiliford, tenor
Sumner Thompson, baritone
A first for our Toronto audience! Kent Nagano, renowned Music Director of the
Orchestre symphonique de Montréal, directs this revolutionary symphony. The Chamber
Choir and soloists join to perform Beethoven’s lyrical and joyous Mass in C Major.
416.408.0208 tafelmusik.org
JAN 22 SPONSORED BY
MESSIAH CONCERTS SPONSOR &
SEASON PRESENTING SPONSOR
Baroque Orchestra and Chamber Choir
Selections from
Carmen,
La Traviata,
december 31, 2014 at 7:00 pm
Rigoletto,
roy Thomson hall
La Bohème
Opera Canada SymphOny
Opera Canada ChOruS
and more
Francesco Lanzillotta, conductor (Italy)
natalia ushakova
soprano
(Russia)
andreas Schager
tenor
(Germany)
Viktoria Vizin
mezzo soprano
(Hungary)
New Year’s Concert
20th Anniversary Season
Strauss Symphony of Canada
featuring Hamilton Children’s Choir
Christian Schulz, conductor (Vienna)
Natalia Ushakova, soprano (Vienna)
Katalin Benedekffy, soubrette (Budapest)
Andreas Schager, tenor (Vienna)
Szabolcs Kádár, buffo (Budapest)
Featuring dancers from Vienna Imperial Ballet &
International Champion Ballroom Dancers
January 1, 2015 at 2:30 pm
Roy Thomson Hall
TICKETS: 416.872.4255
roythomson.com
Brett polegato
baritone
(Canada)
Volume 20 No 4 | December 1, 2014 to February 7, 2015
FOR OPENERS
6. If This Were a Concert | DAVID PERLMAN
FEATURES
8. For The Record: Angela Hewitt’s 2020 Vision | DAVID PERLMAN
12. Your Survival Guide to the Season’s Messiahs | DAVID PERLMAN
14. The World in Christmas Music: Aaron Davis at Work | ANDREW TIMAR
16. Eric Paetkau and His group of Twenty Seven | PAUL ENNIS
ENJOY THE
HOLIDAY SEASON
WITH ATMA'S
NEW RELEASES
BEAT BY BEAT
18. Classical & Beyond | PAUL ENNIS
21. In with the New | WENDALYN BARTLEY
23. World View | ANDREW TIMAR
25. Choral Scene | BENJAMIN STEIN
29. Early Music | DAVID PODGORSKI
30. On Opera | CHRISTOPHER HOILE
31. Art of Song | HANS DE GROOT
32. Bandstand | JACK MacQUARRIE
ACD2 2325
34. Jazz Notes | JIM GALLOWAY
63. Mostly Clubs, Mostly Jazz! | ORI DAGAN
LISTINGS
36. A | Concerts in the GTA
58. B | Concerts Beyond the GTA
61. C | Music Theatre
62. D | In the Clubs (Mostly Jazz)
66. E | The ETCeteras
MUSICAL LIFE
70. The Benefits of Music Education | PAUL ENNIS
71. We are all Music’s Children | MJ BUELL
ACD2 2686
DISCOVERIES: RECORDINGS REVIEWED
72. Editor’s Corner | DAVID OLDS
74. Vocal
76. Early Music & Period Performance
77. Classical & Beyond
78. Modern & Contemporary
79. Strings Attached | TERRY ROBBINS
80. Jazz & Improvised
81. Something in the Air | KEN WAXMAN
83. Jazz, Eh? | STUART BROOMER
84. Old Wine, New Bottles | BRUCE SURTEES
MORE
6. Contact Information & Deadlines
7. Index of Advertisers
68. Classified Ads
IN THIS ISSUE
ACD2 2703
Cover Photograph MAIWOLF - Eva Maierhofer & Ulrich Wolf
AVAILABLE IN HD AT
ATMACLASSIQUE.COM
CD
STUDIO
MP3
QUALITY
QUALITY
Select ATMA titles now on sale
MESSIAH SURVIVAL 12
AARON DAVIS 14
ERIC PAETKAU 16
F O R O P E N E R S | DAV I D P E R L M A N
A.
B.
GTA (GREATER
TORONTO AREA)
Pg 36
BEYOND THE GTA
Page 58.
C.
D.
MUSIC
THEATRE NEW!!
Starts on page 61.
IN THE CLUBS
(MOSTLY JAZZ)
Page 62.
E.
THE ETCETERAS
Page 66.
I
If This Were A Concert ...
f this were a concert then, right now, I would be
the gent who walks out onto the stage just when
you think the show is about to start, to a smattering of applause from those of you who thought I
might be the artistic director, until you realized my
suit was too expensive for that.
I would have a creased, handwritten piece of
paper in one hand and would sidle over to the
lectern downstage right; I would tap the microphone until someone came and turned it on for
me; I would introduce myself as [INSERT NAME
OF IMPORTANT NONPERFORMER] in the organization; I would say say that before I can get to the
prepared remarks carefully folded in the pocket
of my suit jacket, there are three items of housekeeping to take care of.
One, to remind everyone that this is our
COMBINED ISSUE, covering December AND
January so do NOT call the office on January 2
except to leave a message after the tone wishing us
a Happy New Year.
Two, to point out the revised structure AND
ORDER of our listing sections as explained right
here on this page (to your left);
Three, to thank the readers whose suggestions
have helped us take this step forward in making
the new Section C: Music Theatre listings a permanent feature of our coverage, and we welcome
further input moving ahead.
The WholeNote™
VOLUME 20 NO 4| DECEMBER 1, 2014 – FEBRUARY 7, 2015
Centre for Social Innovation
720 Bathurst St., Suite 503, Toronto ON M5S 2R4
PHONE 416-323-2232 | FAX 416-603-4791
Publisher/Editor In Chief | David Perlman
publisher@thewholenote.com
Chairman of the Board | Allan Pulker
directors@thewholenote.com
EDITORIAL
Managing Editor | Paul Ennis
editorial@thewholenote.com
Recordings Editor | David Olds
discoveries@thewholenote.com
Social Media Editor | Sara Constant
editorial@thewholenote.com
Listings Editor | David Perlman (acting)
listings@thewholenote.com
Club Listings Editor | Bob Ben
jazz@thewholenote.com
SALES, MARKETING & MEMBERSHIP
Concerts & Events/Membership | Karen Ages
members@thewholenote.com
Record Industry Sales/Marketing | Thom McKercher
thom@thewholenote.com
Advertising/Production Support/Operations
Jack Buell | adart@thewholenote.com
Classified Ads | classad@thewholenote.com
Website/Systems | Bryson Winchester
systems@thewholenote.com
Circulation/Subscriptions | Chris Malcolm
circulation@thewholenote.com
If this were a concert I would then crumple up
the aforementioned handwritten housekeeping
notes and put them in my suit pants pocket; I
would take out the carefully prepared, neatly
folded, printed notes from my suit jacket pocket; I
would put my glasses on, introduce myself again
from my printed notes; and I would say that it is
my great pleasure to welcome you to this 20th
annual COMBINED DECEMBER/JANUARY issue of
The WholeNote.
“Before going any further,” I would say, “I wish
to thank all those who have not only made this
issue possible but have in fact enabled us to reach
this memorable 20th December. But that rather
than delaying the proceedings any further I simply
direct your attention to the staffers, contributors and funders in the masthead at the foot of
this page, and to all the advertisers in the index
of advertisers adjacent to it. Without their help,
their loyalty and their love, none of this would be
possible.”
I would then remember to take the microphone with me and would leave the stage to
the performers, and you, dear readers, to your
pleasure, after reminding you to turn off all pagers,
cellphones and electronic devices.
Since it is not a concert, however I urge you all
to turn ON your cellphones, etcetera, and tweet to
the world that the Dec/Jan issue is out.
THANKS TO THIS MONTH’S CONTRIBUTORS
Beat Columnists
Hans de Groot, Jack MacQuarrie, Benjamin Stein,
Paul Ennis, David Olds, David Podgorski,
Ori Dagan, Wendalyn Bartley, Jim Galloway,
mJ buell, Christopher Hoile, Andrew Timar
Features
David Perlman, Paul Ennis, Andrew Timar
CD Reviewers
Adam Scime, Andrew Timar, Bruce Surtees,
Christina Petrowska Quilico, Daniel Foley, Dianne
Wells, Dr. Réa Beaumont, Hans de Groot, Ivana
Popovic, Jack MacQuarrie, Janos Gardonyi, Ken
Waxman, Larry Beckwith, Lesley Mitchell-Clarke,
Max Christie, Michael Schwartz, Pamela Margles,
Richard Haskell, Robert Tomas, Roger Knox,
Stuart Broomer, Tiina Kiik
Proofreading
John Sharpe, Paul Ennis, Sara Constant
Listings
David Perlman, Bob Ben,
Tilly Kooyman, JennieLea McLeish,
Ruth Atwood, Simone Desilets
Circulation Team
Abram Bergen, Andrew Schaefer, Beth Bartley,
Bob Jerome, Dagmar Sullivan, Dave Taylor,
Garry Page, Gero Hajek, Jack Buell, Jeff Hogben,
Joan Andrews, John Dodington, Lorna Nevison,
Mark Clifford, Micah Herzog, Niamh Malcolm,
Patrick Slimmon, Paul Ennis, Randy Weir, Robert
Faulkner, Sharon Clark, Tiffany Johnson, Tom
Sepp, Vicki Stainton, Wende Bartley
Layout & Design
Bryson Winchester
SUBSCRIPTIONS
Upcoming Dates & Deadlines
Free Event Listings Deadline
6pm Thursday January 8
Display Ad Reservations Deadline
6pm Thursday January 15
Classifieds Deadline
6pm Friday January 23
Advertising Materials Due
6pm Monday January 19
Publication Date
Thursday January 29
Volume 20 No 5 covers
February 1, 2015 to March 7, 2015
WholeNote Media Inc. accepts no responsibility or
liability for claims made for any product or service
reported on or advertised in this issue.
Printed in Canada
Couto Printing & Publishing Services
Circulation Statement
December 2014: 30,000 printed & distributed
Canadian Publication Product Sales Agreement
1263846
ISSN 14888-8785 WHOLENOTE
Publications Mail Agreement #40026682
Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to:
WholeNote Media Inc.
Centre for Social Innovation
503–720 Bathurst Street
Toronto ON M5S 2R4
COPYRIGHT © 2014 WHOLENOTE MEDIA INC
thewholenote.com
$35 per year + HST (9 issues)
an Ontario government agency
un organisme du gouvernement de l’Ontario
6 | December 1 2014 - February 7, 2015
thewholenote.com
If this were your concert, on the other hand, I
would be in the audience hoping that among your
resolutions for the New Year would be a couple of
things relating to how you address us, the audience
from the stage.
Think about this: we all have the goal of
attracting new audiences, or to put it another way,
audiences to whom what we do is new. If they
were guests in our house we would take it as a
given that the first thing we could do to set them
at ease would be to acquaint them with the rules
of the house, by which I mean all the ways we do
things that are particular to us rather than generally known.
If applause for example is a natural spontaneous
human reflex at witnessing something spectacularly well done, or deep emotion revealed, it makes
only slightly more sense to ask people to hold their
applause than it does to ask them to hold back
their tears.
So if our house rule is that in fact such withholding is required, it is more and more incumbent
on us to make that fact known to audiences who
are new to our house.
It doesn’t cut it, in my book, to put little asterisks
in a program next to sections where one wishes the
audience to withhold applause and think that by
so doing the job has been done, unless someone,
[INSERT NAME OF IMPORTANT PERFORMER], has
also called the audience’s attention, from somewhere in the vicinity of the lectern, stage right, to
what the artists on stage are hoping the houserules
will be.
If I were now to practise what I have just
preached, this is what I would say to you, if you
were a new reader of this magazine:
I’d say welcome, and thanks for giving us a try;
I’d say if you want to get an idea of what makes us
tick, flip quickly through the five listings sections of
the magazine – from page 36 to page 68. Everything
else around those 33 pages (over 800 individual live
events) is also in some way about those 33 pages.
We exist to support the work of the people whose
serious love of live music is there for you to see and
hear on these days and dates.
If you are reading this in print, you should know
that we do 30,000 of these, nine times a year, of
which all but a couple of hundred are distributed
free of charge at around 800 distribution points in
Southern and Southwestern Ontario. And there is
a handy map on our website (under the “About Us”
tab) which will show you where you can find us.
You should also know that the listings you have
just flipped through are also free of charge, so if you
feel as though the music you make belongs here, all
you have to do to get the dialogue under way is to
contact listings@thewholenote.com.
To all of you, regular readers and new our best
wishes for a happy, hearty and hopeful year end
and thank you for your kind attention! You won’t
see us in print again until the end of January, so if
you haven’t already, sign up for our between-issue
e-letter HalfTones. (For details, see the house ad on
page 18.)
publisher@thewholenote.com
INDEX OF ADVERTISERS
Academy Concert Series
52
Aga Khan Museum 88, 42,
48
All Saints Kingsway
Anglican Church 49
Amadeus Choir 26, 43
Amici Chamber Ensemble
56
Aradia Ensemble 47
Arts Media Project 69
Associates of the TSO 20,
54
ATMA 5
Attila Glatz Concert
Productions 4, 50, 50
Aurora Cultural Centre 17,
41, 53
Bach Children’s Chorus 47
Bloor St United 69
Canadian Children’s Opera
Company 66
Canadian Opera Company
12
Cathedral Bluffs
Symphony Orchestra 43,
57
Christ Church Deer Park
Jazz Vespers 35
Church of the Holy Trinity
Christmas Story 42
Coalition for Music
Education 66
Eglinton St. George’s
United Church 45, 47
Elmer Iseler Singers 26, 38
thewholenote.com
Elora Festival Singers 59
Ensemble Polaris 48
Esprit Orchestra 21, 55
Exultate Chamber Singers
38
Flute Street 55
Franceso Peligrino 69
Gallery Players of Niagara
16
Heliconian Hall 67
Hyperion Records 19
I Furiosi Baroque
Ensemble 51
IN2 The Spirit 44
International Divas 15, 48
International Resource
Centre for Performing
Artists 67
Jazz Bistro 69
Celtic Mass for the Sea 67
Kindred Spirits Orchestra
44
Li Delun Music Foundation
51
Living Arts Centre 15
LizPR 69
Long & McQuade 23
Metropolitan Community
Church 49
Mississauga Symphony 43
Music at Metropolitan 48,
37, 51, 52
Music Toronto 9, 41, 50,
53, 55
Musicians in Ordinary 40,
50, 54
Nathaniel Dett Chorale 14,
46
New Horizons Band 33
New Music Concerts 18,
41
No Strings Theatre 48
Norm Pulker 69
Off Centre Music Salon 39
Orpheus Choir 25, 45
Pasquale Bros 69
Pax Christi 27, 38
Peter Mahon 28
Ralph Corlis, Piano Tuner
31
Remenyi House of Music
10
Ross Petty Productions 61
Roy Thomson Hall 85, 44,
46
Royal Conservatory 11, 44,
53
Royal Conservatory,
Music Appreciation 67
Samantha Chang 68
Schmidt Piano and Organ
31
Scola Magdalena 51
Sine Nomine 45
Sinfonia Toronto 42, 53
St. Anne’s Music and
Drama Society 54
St. James’ Cathedral 13,
41
St. Michaels Choir School
27
St. Olaves Church 55
St. Philips’ Jazz Vespers
35
St. Thomas’ Church 43
Steinway Piano Gallery 7
Syrinx Concerts 37, 40,
56
Tafelmusik 2, 3, 37, 46, 53,
51
Talisker Players 51
That Choir 45
Toornto Masque Theatre
40
Toronto All-Star Big Band
50
Toronto Choral Society 46
Toronto Consort 13, 42,
29, 57
Toronto Masque Theatre
52
Toronto Mendelssohn
Choir 40
Toronto Operetta Theatre
49
Toronto Symphony
Orchestra 86, 88, 37, 57
U of T Faculty of Music 17
50
Univox 42
Victoria Scholars Men’s
Choral Ensemble 46
Voicebox / Opera in
Concert 56
Yorkminster Park Baptist
Church 28, 45
December 1 2014 - February 7, 2015 | 7
For The Record
Angela Hewitt’s 2020 vision
DAV I D P E R L M A N
“I was just
thinking this
today, playing
Beethoven, the
older you get
the more
freedom you
can put into
music”
A
to do the Art of Fugue because then I can present it in two halves and
work on it better than playing it all at once the first time. I matched it
with late Beethoven which was the perfect thing to team it up with.
And so for that whole year and a half, even though I played it in two
halves, I played it a lot.”
She played it in its entirety for the first time at her own festival,
in Trasimeno, Italy, in the summer of 2013 and then recorded it the
following month. “With something like that,” she says, “I would never
go into the recording studio without performing first. It’s just too
important to have performances as part of the experience.”
As a single performance it’s a massive work, I observe. “It is. It’s 90
minutes, and I play it without an intermission. But in London, two
nights ago, the audience was so quiet and it was in a beautiful church
with beautiful sound and a Fazioli piano and it was just bliss. I think
it’s a special experience when you can hear a piece that’s that long
and create a mood and sustain it; and with something like that it’s
worth it.”
I remind her of the last time someone from The WholeNote interviewed her (Pamela Margles who wrote the aforementioned Art of the
Fugue review) It was in 2007 in Trasimeno, just before her festival, the
s Pamela Margles notes in her review of of Angela Hewitt’s
newly released Bach: Art of the Fugue in this issue of The
WholeNote (page 77 of the print edition) “it was four years ago
that Hyperion released all of Canadian pianist Angela Hewitt’s
recordings of Bach’s solo keyboard works as a 15-disc boxed set. It was
a huge project, but it didn’t include Bach’s monumental late work, The
Art of the Fugue.”
“That is when everyone started writing to me of course,” says
Hewitt. “You know, why haven’t you done The Art of the Fugue.” She
hadn’t even performed it before then, she says, let alone contemplated
recording it. “Growing up, it wasn’t even really considered a keyboard
piece, or even anything you performed much. For one thing it had
long been considered something of an academic work – Bach seeing
what he could do with fugues, double fugues, triple fugues, mirror
fugues. And there was the fact that in the first edition it was written as
an open score, one voice per stave, like a string quartet.”
But then, after the boxed set appeared and the letters started, the
Royal Festival Hall asked Hewitt to perform two concerts for the
2012/13 season, “one in the autumn and one in the spring, with
programs that somehow matched up. So I thought here’s my chance
8 | December 1 2014 - February 7, 2015
thewholenote.com
summer before she launched out on a sustained world tour in support
of her recording of Bach’s Well-Tempered Clavier (including backto-back performances in October 2007 at the Glenn Gould Studio in
Toronto).
“I think that was something like 110 dates in 26 countries on 6
continents over 14 months” she says. “I’m not the kind of artist who
travels with the same recital program all year round. I don’t do that
at all. But with the Well-Tempered it’s such a challenge to get up
night after night and play it (on most occasions from memory). I
always went out on stage thinking okay I’m going to try to get it better
tonight, By the end of the 14 months I think I’d had enough but I
covered so much of the world and brought that music to so many
people. ”
So will there be anything on that scale in support of The Art of the
Fugue? I ask.
“Not in the same way. I have been performing it a lot. I performed it
two nights ago in London; I’ve played it in Glyndbourne in the opera
house, at my festival and other places in Italy, I’ll be playing it in April
in Sao Paulo, Wigmore Hall, ... so its something that will remain in my
repertoire for many years to come.”
In terms of her assertion that she is not the kind of artist who
travels with the same program year round, deeds speak! Her hastily
arranged November 12 2014 visit to The WholeNote for this interview
came less than two days after Art of the Fugue in Hampstead; the next
day she was off to the Aurora Cultural Centre, north of Toronto, for
a recital. It’s interesting to me that she still has time and appetite for
small venues like Aurora. “I’ve always done that,” she says. “I suppose
at the stage I am now I could do away with such things, but it would
be a loss for me and for the people in those communities. You know,
you can often play a program there that you have to play in Carnegie
Hall so it’s very useful in that regard but that’s not the reason.”
So what will her Aurora program be, I ask. “It a big one” she says,
“That’s two big programs this week. I’m playing the fifth Partita of
Bach, which I haven’t played in many years, but was one I played in
my teenage years so I remember it pretty well ... Beethoven, his second
last sonata, in A flat major, Op.110 (which of course has a fugue in it
in the last movement and which I recorded and will be released next
year); then after intermission a group of four Scarlatti sonatas, which
I’ll be recording in February; Albeniz, three extracts from the Suite
Espagnole, because the links between Scarlatti and Spanish music are
very close, ... and then, to finish off, the big “Dante” Sonata by Liszt,
which I’ve also recorded and will be out soon after the new year.”
The number of recordings, all with Hyperion, recent and upcoming,
is dizzying.”
The relationship with Hyperion started back in 1994, she tells me,
and it’s a story with a bit of a twist. “l actually sold them my first
recording which was the Bach Inventions. I had done the Deutsche
Grammophon record after I won the prize here in 1985, the Bach
Competition; that record had done very well but the marketing
people, even back then they said unless I made some scandal they
didn’t know how to market me – it wasn’t enough just to play the
piano well. I waited many, many years before making another record
and then wasn’t willing to wait any more. I got my former producer
from Deutsche Grammophon (he had retired by then) and he got this
young sound engineer Ludger Böckenhoff who was freelancing for
Deutsche Grammophon, very brilliant, a wonderful guide, we’ve been
together 20 years ...
“Anyway, Hyperion took on that first Bach recording but only if I
would record the complete Bach. I said sure! So that was back in 1994
I started with Hyperion, run then by the formidale Ted Perry, now by
his son Simon.”
Clearly it’s a good match: “three or four CDs a year which very
few pianists do in today’s climate; wonderful repertoire: Beethoven
sonatas, Mozart concertos, but also a lot of French music – Chabrier,
Couperin, Rameau, Messiaen, the complete Ravel, Debussy, ... incredible discography, and lots of projects into the future.” She could be
with a bigger name label now, she says, “but what does bigger label
mean these days? I mean I could be with a label that gives you more
actual PR, if that’s what you want but I have all the musical integrity
of being with Hyperion and doing what I want.” Add an astoundingly
thewholenote.com
JUILLIARD QUARTET
Thursday, January 8 at 8 pm
BARBARA PRITCHARD
Pianist
Tuesday,
January 20
at 8 pm
ST. LAWRENCE QUARTET
Thursday, January 29 at 8 pm
at
www.music-toronto.com
Canadian Patrimoine
Heritage canadien
416-366-7723 1-800-708-6754
order online at www.stlc.com
December 1 2014 - February 7, 2015 | 9
Our 125th
Jubilee
Celebrations
vigorous concert schedule to the equation and one can see why it is
that Hewitt’s performing and recording plans are mapped out further
into the future than most.
“Do you take your piano with you?” I ask, half joking. She smiles.
“Sometimes,” she says. “I have two concert grands, one here in
Canada which is sometimes in Toronto, sometimes in Ottawa. Right
now it’s in Toronto. It’s a Fazioli concert grand. (I’ll be performing on
it at Koerner Hall January 9 with Anne Sofie von Otter); and then I
have one in Italy, at my home there that I use for my festival and for
concerts in Italy. But I also took it to Finland, can you imagine, by
truck and by boat in January, across the Bay of Finland from Germany,
and arrived safely.”
The occasion, she explains, was for her recording of Messiaen’s
Turangalila with the Finnish Radio Philharmonic Orchestra. “When
I make a recording that’s special I need to have the best piano otherwise why bother making the recording, it doesn’t make sense. So I
need to have my own pianos for that. My Fazioli pianos are wonderful,
such colour and response and I am really happy playing them. So
sometimes I take it but it’s usually a question of money. If it didn’t cost
anything I would take it everywhere.”
Perhaps not as precious as her beloved nine-foot Fazioli with the
four pedals, but precious enough, tucked into her score of Turangalila
is a letter from Messiaen’s widow, Yvonne Loriod, who sent Hewitt the
letter and score in London some 14 years after their first meeting at
the 1985 Toronto International Bach Competition that set Hewitt on
the road as a concert pianist. Messiaen and Loriod were both on the
jury, and in the semi-final round the young Hewitt pulled out a piece
of Messiaen’s, written for Loriod, to play. “I thought, well he’s sitting
there, why not. I mean he should like to hear his own piece played.
There was a risk of course, but if I could pull it off ... my wonderful
French teacher Jean-Paul Sevilla had taught it to me and so I played
it and, well, they gave me
the prize.”
Hewitt met them both
after the competition at
Roy Thomson Hall (and
laughs lustily recalling
Loriod trying to get
Hewitt to give her some
of the fingerings Hewitt
had used for the piece).
Some 14 years later Loriod
was in London, after
Messiaen had died, and
they met up again. She
Olivier Messiaen and Yvonne Loriod (1977)
remembered every piece
I had played at that competition, Hewitt recalls. Later Loriod sent her
the score for Turangalila “with a wonderful letter I keep tucked in it. I
regret never learning it in time to play it for her.”
Trasimeno, where Hewit mounts her annual seven day festival, also
plays a key role in the magical web of interconnectedness that Hewitt
seems able to spin for herself. Her upcoming recital at Koerner Hall
January 9 with Anne Sofie von Otter is a case in point. “Was your own
festival the first time you played with von Otter?” I ask. “It was. In fact
it was the first time we had met. I was looking for a singer that year to
do Respighi’s Il Tramonto for mezzo-soprano and string quartet and
I had seen she had recorded it and I knew that she was with my same
agency in London, so I thought well she can only say no so why don’t
I risk it and ask her and we can do a recital together.” The rest, as they
say, is a little bit of history.
Hewitt chooses all the artists for the festival, always some she has
worked with and some she would like the chance to. She plays in
every concert herself. “That’s one of the great pleasures of this festival
for me” says Hewitt. “I don’t think I would do this festival unless I
played. I would let somebody else do it, it’s too much work! So the
playing is my reward.”
A huge repertoire of chamber music (which Hewitt has) makes the
whole thing slightly easier. “I still learn fairly quickly. And also
are starting early
with store-wide savings
TORONTO’S TRUSTED SOURCE FOR
GRAND AND UPRIGHT PIANOS
DIGITAL KEYBOARDS
STRING INSTRUMENTS
ACCESSORIES
GUITARS
SHEET MUSIC & BOOKS
MUSICAL GIFTS, NOVELTIES AND ART
….and so much more for you to discover
Musical Instrument Experts and Makers Since 1890
210 BLOOR ST. WEST 416-961-3111 www.remenyi.com
Special “Meet
and Greet”
with guest artist
Liona Boyd
who will be signing
her new album
A Winter Fantasy
at Remenyi House Of Music
Guitar auction, drinks and snacks.
Saturday, Dec 13, 2014
from noon - 2pm
10 | December 1 2014 - February 7, 2015
Continues on page 72
thewholenote.com
KOERNER HALL IS:
“A beautiful space for music”
THE GLOBE AND MAIL
Stewart Goodyear
Adi Braun presents
Speak Low
with Canada’s National Ballet
School, Ballet Creole, and the
Toronto Children’s Chorus
SAT., DEC. 6, 2014 7:30PM
CONSERVATORY THEATRE
Join vocalist Adi Braun, pianist
Dave Restivo, bassist Pat Collins,
and drummer Daniel Barnes
as they trace the musical and
personal journey of Kurt Weill
and Lotte Lenya from Berlin to
Broadway in words and song.
SAT., DEC. 6, 2014 2PM
KOERNER HALL FAMILY CONCERT
Experience a solo piano version
of Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker
with dancers and young singers!
Generously supported by
Doug Bodley.
John O’Conor &
Desmond Hoebig
SUN., DEC. 7, 2014 2PM
MAZZOLENI CONCERT HALL
The Glenn Gould School proudly presents
two newly appointed, internationally
known faculty members in recital.
The program includes solo piano
Nocturnes by John Field and Fryderyk
Chopin, Beethoven Cello Sonata No. 3,
and Schumann’s Piano Quintet.
Academy Chamber Orchestra
SAT., DEC. 13, 2014 7:30PM MAZZOLENI CONCERT HALL
FREE (TICKET REQUIRED)
String students from The Phil and Eli Taylor Performance
Academy for Young Artists come together as the Academy
Chamber Orchestra to perform this special concert.
Generously supported by Doug Bodley.
Marcello Giordani
with Bruce Stasyna
& Ashley Thouret
SAT., DEC. 13, 2014 8PM
KOERNER HALL
Giordani is “arguably the leading
tenor of his generation.” (Opera
News) Pianist Stasyna and soprano
Thouret join in this performance
of works by Verdi, Puccini,
Tosti, and others.
The King’s Singers
SUN., DEC. 14, 2014 3PM KOERNER HALL
A holiday season celebration, a capella! This festive
concert will include Renaissance motets, hymns, carols,
cantatas, and songs for Christmas.
GREAT GIFT IDEA: Koerner Hall Concert Tickets & Gift Cards
TICKETS START AT ONLY $25! 416.408.0208 www.performance.rcmusic.ca
273 BLOOR STREET WEST
(BLOOR ST. & AVENUE RD.)
TORONTO
thewholenote.com
December 1 2014 - February 7, 2015 | 11
Your Survival Guide to the Season’s Messiahs
DAV I D P E R L M A N
W
hen it comes to our December issue,
work.
no topic it seems has the power to
For myself I can’t remember my first performset the pigeon among the cats more
ance of the Messiah (or even if it was a full
effectively than the perennial popuperformance). What I do remember is that somelarity of Handel’s Messiah. Our choral columwhere in some hall where a lot of singing was
nist Ben Stein simply states that he is going to
going on in the usual “us and them” audienceassume that the readers of this column need no
singer relationship, there was a sudden thunder
urging from him to find a Messiah performance
of scraping chairs as everyone in the audience
(and then goes on to talk about an admittedly
stood up and starting singing along at what up till
interesting array of other choral events over the
then had been the usual. I remember that there
holidays and beyond. Our early music columwere enough repetitions of the word hallelujah
nist Dave Podgorski is slightly less categorical
that it didn’t much matter whether I hit them
proffering that from his vantage point, Tafelmall, and that when I sat down again, I was a more
usik’s sing-along Messiah and Aradia’s Dublin
joyful listener (for ever and ever) than when I
Messiah are the only two Messiahs in Toronto
stood up.
he thinks you need to see. (And like Stein goes
I remember hobnobbing with one of the
on to talk about an equally interesting array of
region’s greatest boosters (and presenters) of the
other musical options.) Even CD reviewer Hans
Messiah, Grand Philharmonic Choir’s former
De Groot, after singing the praises of a new CD
longtime conductor Howard Dyck in the lobby
Herr Handel conducts the Tafelmusik
of Messiah from the Boston Handel and Haydn
of the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing
Sing-along Messiah.
Society (liberally laced with Canadian vocal and
Arts (aka the opera house). I think I said someinstrumental talent, I might add) feels it necessary to add the remark thing about wondering what the secret was to the enduring popularity
that when asked to review the recording, his first thought was: Another of Handel’s Messiah. As best as I can remember, his reply in a stage
Messiah – who needs it? (Before going on to say that in this case, he whisper was “It’s the music, stupid!”
couldn’t have been more wrong.)
And of course he’s right. It’s the music. And more than that, it’s the
Our experts notwithstanding, there’s something about Herr Handel’s
music’s ability to shift its shape and the size of its grandeur to accommo24-day opus that continues to captivate, year after year. This year we
date almost any combination of musical forces – the bigger, the better.
have scoured the listings and come up with 32 performances by 20
So, pace Ben, Hans and Dave, here from the cheerful night crew at
organizations. Five period-instrument groups account for ten performThe WholeNote is a handy guide to the various incarnations of Handel’s
ances. Nine modern instrument organizations offer a further 14. Two
Messiah lurking among the almost 700 listings in this issue.
organizations serve up four performances accompanied by organ. And
a further four give single performances that include excerpts from the
Happy hunting.
Dec 16 17 19 20 21 Toronto Symphony Orchestra. Special: Messiah.
Dec 20 Musikay. Messiah.
Dec 21 Grand River Chorus. Singalong Messiah.
PERIOD INSTRUMENTS
Dec 06 07 Chorus Niagara. Messiah: A Niagara Holiday Tradition for 50
years.
Dec 17 18 19 20 Tafelmusik. Handel: Messiah.
Dec 21 Tafelmusik. Handel: Sing-Along Messiah.
Dec 20 Aradia Ensemble. Dublin Messiah.
Dec 20 Guelph Chamber Choir. Messiah.
EXCERPTS OR PARTS
Dec 06 Etobicoke Centennial Choir. Sacred Traditions.
Dec 07 St. Anne’s Anglican Church. Cantate: A Neighbourhood Christmas
Concert.
Dec 13 Pax Christi Chorale. Children’s Messiah.
Dec 13 Mississauga Symphony Orchestra. Hallelujah! Messiah and Friends.
MODERN ORCHESTRA
Dec 05 Elmer Iseler Singers. Handel: Messiah.
Dec 06 Grand Philharmonic Choir. Messiah.
Dec 06 Orchestra Kingston. Messiah Sing-Along.
Dec 07 Elora Festival and Singers. A Village Messiah.
Dec 12 Cathedral Church of St. James. Handel’s Messiah.
Dec 15 16 Uxbridge Messiah Singers. 18th biennial rendition of Handel’s Messiah.
WITH ORGAN
Dec 12 14 Cellar Singers. Messiah.
Dec 14 15 Peterborough Singers. Handel’s Messiah.
Most Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays at noon or 5:30 p.m.
“The quality of performers for these free concerts
always amazes me.”
MICHAEL VINCENT, MUSICAL TORONTO, 2014
coc.ca
416-363-8231
MEDIA SPONSORS
ElianaCuevas.Photo:KarenReeves.Creative:BT/A
12 | December 1 2014 - February 7, 2015
thewholenote.com
Presents
SPLENDºURS oƒ
~E EMPE|oR’S CHAPEL
Guest Director Lucas Harris leads The Toronto Consort
joined by cornettos, sackbuts, strings, keyboards,
and virtuoso singers, in a lavish concert of music
from the17th century Viennese court.
Friday, February 6, 8pm
Saturday, February 7, 8pm
Trinity St-Paul’s Centre
Jeanne Lamon Hall, 427 Bloor St. West
Tickets $21 - $54
Call 416-964-6337 | TorontoConsort.org
thewholenote.com
December 1 2014 - February 7, 2015 | 13
The World in Christmas Music:
I
Aaron Davis at Work
ANDREW TIMAR
t was a dark and snowy afternoon Wednesday, November 19, 2014. phone. This wasn’t meant as throwback Thursday nostalgia, but rather
The first significant snowfall of the year blanketed the city side- to ask about elements of the “world” in his subsequent music career.
What do I mean? The closer I listened to and considered Davis’
walks and the air was decidedly crisp. I subwayed to Hugh’s Room
on Dundas West for the launch of Toronto diva Measha Brueggergos- music, the more parts of it appeared to be a case study of one vector
by which musical features found originally outside
man’s new album Christmas (Warner Music Canada)
the North American vernacular mainstream can enter
and its 19-date Canadian tour. It was a treat to witness
its commercial core. I wanted to know how rhythms,
the New Brunswick native, so at home in concert
grooves, feels, modal tonalities and timbres from four
recitals and opera, in such an intimate dinner club
decades of world music exploration have inspired and
concert setting. Though only in her 30s, she is that
penetrated his prolific and successful band-leading,
rare breed today: Canadian classical music royalty.
composing and arranging career. (An example: his
Brueggergosman is a glittering diva combining superb
scores for more than 100 films have garnered three
vocal and acting chops, a bona fide classical celebrity
Genie award nominations and four Gemini awards.)
in a country where the two words don’t usually crop
“In 1979 I co-founded the Toronto world beat-jazz
up in the same sentence.
band Manteca, for which I wrote music and played
As thrilling as it was to witness the Grammykeyboards,” Davis began “In 1981 I formed my own
nominated, JUNO-winning star deftly working
band and a year later released the album, Nouvelle
the music – and her fans in the room – I was
Afrique.” The LP, while rich with musicians with solid
primarily there to see the singer’s musical director,
jazz cred like Toronto saxophonists John Johnson,
arranger and pianist Aaron Davis at work. But
Alex Dean, Ron Allen, and drummer Mike Sloski, also
first, full disclosure: my path crossed Davis’ at
features the South African singer Vusi Mahlasela on
York University’s Music Department back in the
the Davis song “Mandela.” Another track “Calypso
mid-1970s. He was deeply immersed in jazz then
Dumpling” has Caribbean affiliations.
and I in everything but. We did however share
Davis is perhaps still best known as the long-time
some common ground in the study of the music of
pianist and arranger for jazz singer Holly Cole, with
several West African, Caribbean, and South Asian
whom he formed a trio along with bassist David
cultures.
Measha Brueggergosman
and Aaron Davis
Piltch in 1986. “Measha Brueggergosman grew up
The next morning I spoke to Davis over the
14 | December 1 2014 - February 7, 2015
thewholenote.com
A REMARKABLE CONCERT SERIES
IN NATuRAL ACOuSTICS 2014
listening to the Holly Cole Trio and around 2006 asked me to work
with her,” recalls Davis. Then two years ago “when we were at Banff,
Measha said ‘let’s make the Christmas album we always wanted to
make.’ I’d already produced two different Christmas [jazz] albums
with Holly,” so it felt like a natural progression.
But what features of world music – Davis is comfortable with
the term – are embedded in his Christmas song arrangements? He
went through the set list from the night before, much of it from the
new Chrismas album. “I arranged ‘Do You Hear What I Hear’ with
a contemporary guitar-based folk feel, [but spiced it up] with a
Bollywood-style mixolydian modal unison string interlude. On the
other hand I gave an Afro-beat treatment to ‘Afrosonic/I Could Have
Danced All Night.’ ‘The Most Wonderful Time of the Year’ got a pop
arrangement with a gospel breakdown in the middle, and I use several
African American genres including 1970s funk in ‘Sleigh Ride’ and ‘If
You Can Dig It.’ Yet jazz, in ‘Wade in the Water’ and ‘Our Love is Here
to Stay’ is also certainly very present in these arrangements.”
Among the most exciting arrangements is ‘The Christmas Song’
(a.k.a. ‘Chestnuts Roasting’). It “is set in a gentle 12/8 African metric
grid, like those I first came across at a 70s Ghanaian music workshop
at York U., but counterpointed with a repeated descending, gapped
melodic motif imitating a European church bell.” Davis pointed out
his intentional transcultural gesture, superimposing the church bell
motif onto the West African bell rhythm the shaker is playing in his
setting.
Measha Brueggergosman’s tour of Christmas, with Aaron Davis
directing his worldly arrangements from the keyboards, continues its
way across Canada through the month, wrapping on December 20 in
St. John’s, NL.
INTERNATIONAL
dIvASIII
Andrew Timar is a Toronto musician and music writer, and
frequent contributor to The WholeNote. His regular World View
column may be found on page 23.
iii
Sunday December 21, 8pm
RITA CHIARELLI • LARA SOLNICKI
THE AULT SISTERS • SHARLENE WALLACE
MARYEM
MARYAM HASSAN TOLLAR • HISAKA
p r o d u c e r & a rt i s t i c d i r e c t o r - G e o r G e K o l l e r
trinity-st. Paul’s centre
ticketbreak.com
internationaldivas.net
thewholenote.com
December 1 2014 - February 7, 2015 | 15
Eric Paetkau and his
group oftwenty
seven
BO HUANG
PA U L E N N I S
E
ambitious outreach aims. Whether it’s working with students from
the Regent Park School of Music and Dixon Hall Music School (eight of
them played side-by-side with g27 in selections from Grieg’s Holberg
Suite at the recent November 7 concert), contemplating pop-up open
rehearsals at public spaces or toying with the idea of setting a concert
in a bar à la England’s Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment pub
shows, there’s no shortage of innovative thinking when it comes to
community involvement.
The group’s first two CDs garnered two 2014 JUNO nominations:
Berlioz’s Les Nuits d’été and Norbert Palej’s The Poet and the War
and Rorate Coeli, with soprano Shannon Mercer; and the Canadian
Concerto Project, Volume One, with bassoonist Nadina Mackie
Jackson and trumpeter Guy Few.
The Mercer disc received raves inside and outside Canada. Lynn
René Bayley wrote in the February 2013 Fanfare magazine: “I was
immediately captivated by Mercer’s singing and could not stop
listening or write a single word of comment until the entire cycle was
finished. Yes, she’s that good. This is the work of a master artist.
“In some places, it’s almost difficult to realize that it is only being
played by 27 musicians, so full and rich are the textures, and Paetkau
shows how good he is in shaping and pacing this music. In short, this
is a “must-get” item if you are a fan of Les nuits d’été, modern music
in a lyrical vein, or just plain outstanding performance quality. With
this disc, Shannon Mercer shoots to near the top of sopranos I will be
on the lookout for in the future, and Paetkau a conductor I’ll make
note of as well.”
Fanfare’s Raymond Tuttle wrote in July 2013: “This CD introduced me
to Eric Paetkau, group of 27, Shannon Mercer, and Norbert Palej. I am
looking forward to my next encounter with any of them, or with all of
them together, and I hope I do not have to wait too long. This is Want
List material.”
Paetkau’s methodical route to making g27 viable sprang out of his
vast experience as a freelancer himself, from his early days playing
viola in the Nuremburg Symphony, TSO, COC, National Ballet of
ric Paetkau, tall and lean, appeared confident, serious and
enthusiastic on a mid-November visit to The WholeNote’s office
as he described the program for group of 27’s January 30 concert
“Journey.” He characterized it as “ a wonderful mix of music,”
from Mozart’s beloved Symphony 35 “The Haffner” to the lyrical Dvorak
Romance and Andrew Staniland’s Voyageur, with Beethoven’s rarely
performed, delightful 12 Contredanses broken up and interspersed
between the three works. Each piece is a kind of journey, he explained,
“taking you to a different place.”
Staniland’s dates from 2007 and was inspired by the adventurous,
boisterous spirit the composer believed the early voyageurs must have
had as they searched for a water route over the Rocky Mountains to
the Pacific Ocean. “Composers at their best embody this very spirit:
exploring the new and unfamiliar, charting new courses of statement
and expression,” Staniland wrote at the time.
Then there were Mozart’s own travels around Europe and Dvorak’s
Romance which went on a specific musical journey, beginning life
first as a movement of a string quartet, only to be fleshed out and
re-orchestrated when the quartet was discarded.
Paetkau began group of 27 (g27) -- “a supergroup [led by] a freelance violist with really good friends,” he called it -- with a single
concert in 2007. Drawing on a base of TSO and COC orchestral players
with a coterie of freelancers – he’s clearly very well connected – to add
to the talent pool, he was able to cobble together additional concerts
in 2009 and 2011. Two concerts in 2012 were a springboard to four in
2013 and 2014. An added recital series featuring friends or members of
the group provided even more programmatic opportunities.
The latest in g27’s recital series takes the form of a holiday party
December 10 in the intimate Heliconian Hall. After mezzo-soprano
Krisztina Szabó, a friend, sings, accompanied by another friend,
pianist Gregory Oh, she will lead the audience at this PWYC event
in song in what promises to be a celebratory evening of music, food
and fun.
That kind of audience participation offers a hint of Paetkau’s more
A Recording Of New Transcriptions
Beethoven - Spring Sonata | Ravel - Le Tombeau De Couperin | Schumann - Dichterliebe
Julie Baumgartel violin | Leslie De’Ath piano | Carol Lynn Fujino violin | Margaret Gay ’cello
Patrick Jordan viola | James Mason oboe | Douglas Miller flute | Timothy Phelan classical guitar
Joseph Phillips double bass | Brett Polegato baritone | Peter Shackleton clarinet
Eybler Quartet: Julia Wedman violin, Aisslinn Nosky violin, Patrick Jordan viola, Margaret Gay ’cello
ON
SALE
NOW
www.galleryplayers.ca
find us on
facebook
& digitally at many retailers including iTunes
16 | December 1 2014 - February 7, 2015
thewholenote.com
Aurora Cultural Centre presents
2015 Great Artist
Music Series
Enjoy a dazzling concert series featuring
internationally-acclaimed performers in
the intimate salon setting of Brevik Hall.
HENDERSONKOLK
guitar duo
January 23, 8pm
Bach, Mozart, Rodrigo & Piazzolla
MOSHE
HAMMER violin
Angela Park piano
March 6, 8pm
Brahms, Franck & Sarasate
JUE
WANG piano
May 1, 8pm
Liszt, Strauss & Gershwin
3-Concert Subscription Series
$95 Adult
$78 Senior (60+) & Student (18 and under)
Receive a free Naxos CD with subscription purchase!
Single Concert
$34 Adult $28 Senior / Student
Available in person, or over the phone
HST applicable on all tickets
All sales final; no refund or exchange.
General Admission seating
Fully accessible building – enter at north doors.
Generously sponsored by Bonnie & Norbert Kraft.
22 Church St. Aurora
905 713-1818
auroraculturalcentre.ca
thewholenote.com
December 1 2014 - February 7, 2015 | 17
Beat by Beat | Classical & Beyond
Eric Paetkau
conducting g27
To Make
The Piano Sing
S
PA U L E N N I S
een and
Heard: After
each standing
ovation that followed
his performances
of three Beethoven
piano concertos
with the TSO in
November, 19-yearold budding superstar Jan Lisiecki
would take a seat at
the piano and confidently greet the
RTH capacity crowd
with the words
“Good evening.” He
added at the last of
his six concerts, “As
has become traditional, I will now
play some Chopin.”
The Nocturne No.
Lisiecki, Dausgaard and the TSO performing Beethoven’s “
20 in C Sharp Minor,
Op. Posth. followed, flowing as naturally as the encores in the first
two programs, the Prelude Op.28 No.1 and the Etude Op.25 No.1. Like
putting on a comfortable shirt.
Lisiecki’s playing of the first movement of the Fourth Piano
Concerto on November 12 had an almost fortepiano quality; the
melancholy second movement had a conversational tone until it
time-travelled into the future before meeting up with the impetuous
Rondo. At intermission TSO composer advisor Gary Kulesha asked
Lisiecki to compare Beethoven to Mozart and Chopin, the latter two
composers having supplied the contents of the pianist’s two Deutsche
Canada Orchestra and Tafelmusik to three years as a conductor in
Quebec, most notably 40 dates with the prestigious Les Violons
du Roy.
He learned that raising money is difficult. Fortunately his musical
integrity, commitment and charm helped make g27 workable.
Conducting had always been in the back of his mind. In the early
2000s he quit Nuremburg, freelanced and made the switch. School
in Amsterdam and an 18-month program in the U.S. provided a very
intense musical education from the basics to hours in front of an
orchestra. This was on top of his earlier viola studies under the guidance of the legendary Lorand Fenyves and the tutelage of Steven Dann.
With g27’s ability to draw on Toronto’s top orchestral professionals,
the musicians can do much more than in their normal concerts. In
the performers’ minds, Paetkau explained, indie and classical is the
same world. They might play with Arcade Fire one day and g27 the
next. What matters, says Paetkau, is “the artistic integrity that has to
be fantastic.”
“Musical excellence should be anyone’s goal,” Paetkau said.
Knowing the score inside out is the first step in bringing out as much
of the music as possible and “giving the players the confidence to
explore within that realm. “I really love to learn the scores so well you
can play the piece in your head the way you want it. It’s also a lot of
fun when you’re off hiking or on a plane.”
Paetkau describes conducting as the conduit that translates “what
is part of you to what is part of the players.” His excitement is clearly
contagious. “I love it when things are really tight; I love that intensity so that every concert is an event, the connectiveness between
conductor and orchestra.”
And it’s a two-way street: “The players enjoy the energy, the intensity and the musicianship; we’ve built a bond.”
You could say that g27 is where Toronto’s musicians go to play, on
their day off.
Benny S luchin
Marco Stroppa
Barbara Pritchard
Thursday December 11
Piano Recital January 20
Want more news, and reviews?
Subscribe to HalfTones
The WholeNote’s
between-issue
e-letter.
Scan the code or go to
thewholenote.com/halftones
to register.
The Music Gallery
www.NewMusicConcerts.com
Jane Mallett Theatre
www.NewMusicConcerts.com
Have a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year with NMC!
18 | December 1 2014 - February 7, 2015
thewholenote.com
AngelaHewitt.ca
Artist Store
We keep all titles in stock and process
orders in 24 hours - free shipping.
We only ship to Canada
thewholenote.com
December 1 2014 - February 7, 2015 | 19
MALCOLM COOK
by the Danish composer Carl Nielsen, all under the enthusiastic baton
of Neilsen’s countryman Thomas Dausgaard. Judging by the orchestra’s generous applause and responsive playing, their connection to
the guest conductor was genuine. For his part, Dausgaard exudes joy
on the podium, which manifests itself occasionally as open-mouthed.
And he often lowers his arms and lets the orchestra play on their own,
trusting them for bars at a time. He turned away from the audience in
his introduction to the final concert and spoke directly to the players:
“Can I say to you Toronto Symphony – you own this music.”
Lisiecki too fell under his spell as the two musicians intently
locked eyes at the beginning of the finale of the “Emperor,” the young
Canadian drawing on the Dane’s energy.
Trifonov Trifecta: Daniil Trifonov, only 23, the 2011 Tchaikovsky
Competition multi-award-winner, having already proved his technical prowess at the Arthur Rubinstein International Piano Master
Competition earlier that year, seemed intent on establishing his
artistic reputation with three programs available to Toronto audiences this season. The first, a dazzling performance of Rachmaninov’s
Rhapsody on a Theme by Paganini with the TSO took place in
September. An ambitious solo recital December 9 at Carnegie Hall will
be live streamed on medici.tv (and available free for 90 days thereafter). Consisting of Bach’s Fantasy and Fugue for Organ in G Minor,
BWV 542 (transcribed for piano by Franz Liszt, S. 463), Beethoven’s
Piano Sonata No. 32 in C Minor, Op. 111 and Liszt’s Transcendental
Etudes, it will likely add to his burgeoning reputation.
Then on January 20 at Koerner Hall, Trifonov turns to chamber
music with the great Gidon Kremer. Mozart’s Violin Sonata No. 33
in E-flat Major, K. 481. Schubert’s Fantasy in C Major, D. 760 and
Rachmaninov’s Trio élégiaque No. 2 in D Minor, Op. 9 comprise a
program that will certainly reveal yet another side of this talented
Russian-born phenom.
A Trio of Quartets: Music Toronto presents the latest incarnation of the Juilliard String Quartet January 8 in a program headed
by Webern’s shimmering Five Movements, Op.5. Three weeks later
the mighty St. Lawrence String Quartet returns for its annual visit to
its first home. The exuberant Geoff Nuttall will lead us in a “Haydn
Discovery” followed by the father of the string quartet’s Op. 33, No.2
“The Joke.” A major new work by John Adams fills the concert’s
second half. On January 6 the New Orford String Quartet treats us to
Beethoven’s Op. 95 and Brahms’ Op. 51, No.1 before premiering a new
work by Gary Kulesha. The New Orford then teams up with Amici
for one of the most interesting programs of the new year, “Bohemian
Contrasts.” They join cellist David Hetherington and violist Teng Li in
a performance of Schulhoff’s String Sextet and Joaquin Valdepeñas
in Brahms’ unforgettable Clarinet Quintet in B-minor, Op.115. Pianist
Serouj Kradjian fills out the rest of the program with piano works by
Grammophon CDs.
“In Mozart you’re completey exposed – elegant; in Chopin you
can play the concerto without the orchestra; in Beethoven you’re a
member of the orchestra,” he responded.
“My modus operandi is to make the piano sing,” Lisiecki said. Along
with a wonderful tone, that’s his approach to every piece he plays.
Kulesha wondered how Lisiecki would characterize the three
Beethovens. The Third “has a similar ferocity and darkness as the
D minor Mozart K.466 which it parallels”; the Fourth “pushes the
boundaries . . . [it] begins from the soul of the piano”; the Fifth
“broadens what can be done in a concerto.”
Three days later came a first-rate
performance of the Third. It had great
cohesion, its architecture proceeding
organically from the propulsive Allegro
con brio and delicacy of the Largo to
the pure joy of the inverted theme after
the Rondo’s cadenza. You could feel the
composer’s notes straining against classical convention but revelling in it. In the
Chopin etude, Lisiecki demonstrated the
beauty of tone over technique.
Lisiecki’s playing of the “Emperor”
the following Saturday was dynamically diverse yet always controlled, from
the wondrously hushed non-cadenza of
the Allegro and the magical Adagio which
felt as though the piano’s notes were
walking on air, to the radical contrasts of
the Rondo.
In a conversation with William Littler
during intermission, Lisiecki divulged
that a teacher in pre-school had suggested
that the five-year-old child be given piano
“Emperor” Concerto, Nov 20, 2014
lessons. It took most of that year and a
generous gift of a 100-year-old upright from a family friend before
his parents agreed. Curiously, the Third Piano Concerto was the first
piece by Beethoven he can remember as a child. Lisiecki also revealed
that if he doesn’t practise he doesn’t feel right: “You don’t want to be
around me.”
Talking about his instrument and the fact that every pianist is at the
mercy of the venue where he performs, he raved about the piano at
Koerner Hall, declined to comment on those at RTH and gushed over
the one he played in Hamburg. “Not knowing what to expect forces us
to create art in the moment,” he said.
Lisiecki’s Beethoven coincided with a series of three symphonies
ROGER MASTROIANNI
Daniil Trifonov
Liszt and Janáček.
KWCMS’s 40th:
The KitchenerWaterloo Chamber
Music Society has
designated the week
of November 28 to
December 7 to mark
its considerable
achievement. Over
the years the cumulative volume of talented
performers who have
made their way to Jan
and Jean Narveson’s
home is astonishing
enough, but it is the
KWCMS’ penchant for
programming complete cycle concerts that really makes one sit up and
take notice. [For a glimpse into how they do it, see my October 2013
Classical and Beyond column.] Two cycles over the December-January
period caught my eye: Trio Celeste’s complete traversal of Beethoven’s
Piano Trios December 12, 14 and 16; and the scintillating Duo
Concertante performing Schubert’s complete music for violin and
piano January 29 and 31. It promises to be an even more musically
satisfying event than the Beethoven. Schubert’s music in this case is
Gidon Kremer
consistently of the highest order, charming and melodious; the opportunity to hear all of it should not be missed.
Quick Picks
Dec 6 the prodigious Stewart Goodyear performs Tchaikovsky’s The
Nutcracker entirely on the piano joined by dancers from the National
Ballet School of Canada and Ballet Creole, and singers from the
Toronto Children’s Chorus.
Dec 7 two recent Glenn Gould School appointees, celebrated pianist
John O’Conor and former first cellist of the Cleveland Orchestra,
Desmond Hoebig, team up for Beethoven’s serene Cello Sonata No.3 in
A Major, Op.69. O’Conor will play a selection of Nocturnes by his Irish
countryman John Field and by Chopin; Yehonatan Berick, Cordelia
Paw and Barry Shiffman join them for Schumann’s masterful Piano
Quintet in E-flat Major, Op.44.
Dec 7 two admirable pianists make their Toronto debut in
Mooredale Concerts’ “Piano Dialogue.” Wonny Song will play
Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata and David Jalbert Poulenc’s Les soirées
de Nazelles before coming together for duets by Ravel and Schubert
and Rachmaninoff’s Suite No.2 in C Major, Op.17 for two pianos.
Dec 12 Anastasia Rizikov brings her already considerable 15-yearold experience to Chopin’s Piano Concerto No.1 accompanied by
Sinfonia Toronto before performing a staggering KWCMS solo concert
Jan 24. Bach, Chopin and Liszt lead in to Mussorgsky’s Pictures at
an Exhibition; then after intermission Chopin and Mozart precede
Balakirev’s fiendishly difficult Islamey.
Jan 9 Angela Hewitt, the subject of this month’s cover story, is
joined by mezzo-soprano Anne Sofie von Otter in a program rich
in songs by Beethoven, Schubert, Brahms, Fauré, Debussy and
Chaminade. Interspersed between them Hewitt will play piano music
by Schubert, Brahms and Chabrier.
Jan 14, 15, 17 and 18 mark the beginning of the TSO’s Mozart@259
festival curated by Les Violons du Roy’s Bernard Labadie. The impressive young British conductor and keyboardist Matthew Halls leads
the orchestra in three varied programs showing Mozart’s range as an
instrumental composer.
Jan 22 to 25 will see the Montreal Symphony’s Kent Nagano make a
rare foray into the forest of period instruments as he leads Tafelmusik
in performances of Beethoven’s Symphony No.5 in C Minor, Op. 67
and his Mass in C Major, Op.67. It will be fascinating to compare this
performance of the symphony to that in Nagano’s recent recording
[reviewed by Richard Haskell in this issue of The WholeNote].
Feb 7 Pinchas Zukerman makes his final Toronto appearance as
music director of the National Arts Centre Orchestra in an RTH
program with two of Brahms’ most beloved concertos. Zukerman
is joined by NAC principal cellist Amanda Forsyth for the Double
Concerto for Violin and Cello in A Minor, Op.102; Yefim Bronfman
is the soloist in the Piano Concerto No.2 in B-flat Major Op. 83, the
epitome of 19th century romanticism.
Paul Ennis is managing editor of The WholeNote. He
can be reached at editorial@thewholenote.com.
20 | December 1 2014 - February 7, 2015
thewholenote.com
Beat by Beat | In With the New
Sound Stories
of Water
W
W E N D A LY N B A R T L E Y
ith the climate
Barbara Croall
debate and pipeline protest
actions heating up, along
with the coming of
winter with its potentially
destructive storms, we
can’t help but feel something is stirring of critical
significance that can no
longer be ignored. Our
very survival as a species
is under threat, as we
are well aware. Not jolly
holiday thoughts to ponder, I know. However, many movements are
under way pointing towards a green revolution with a commonsoriented economy and clean energy sources. One of the major voices
offering an alternate way comes from the indigenous community with
a world view steeped in the traditions of honouring the wisdom of the
land and the practices of how to live in a balanced relationship with
all creatures and the elemental forces. Music and storytelling is just
one of the ways these traditions and knowledge are passed on through
the generations.
Manitoulin Island-born Odawa First Nations composer Barbara
Croall has risen to the challenge of this cultural moment in her new
work titled Manidoog, which translates into English as the spirit
beings who dwell in the waters. In this epic work in ten movements,
she weaves together ten traditional stories that speak to the importance of our right relationship with water. The work was commissioned by Trio d’Argento and will be premiered on December 11 as
part of Music Toronto’s season. I spoke with one of the trio members,
flutist Sibylle Marquardt about the work, the upcoming concert, and
the trio’s relationship with Croall.
Manidoog opens with a story that summons the presence of the
underwater panther. As the piece progresses stories of different creatures and beings weave their presence onto the stage: the spirit turtle
emerging from the waters; the rising of the Venus morning star; the
pregnant skywoman falling through a hole down onto earth; the
winds and a swan catching her as birdcalls fill the air. Stories of the
underworld play an important role as well: music brought forth by
the guardian of the underworld, the mermaids and mermen luring
people disrespectful of the waters down into the underworld; the
trickster energies of the little people who live in the forest and along
the river banks; the rising and falling of the giant underworld serpent;
and, finally, the protective energy of the thunderbird who flies over
the world and its waters. Overall, this combination creates something
akin to a visionary narrative highlighting a fundamentally different
way of living in relationship with the spirit of water and all relations.
The piece is fully staged with lighting design and the players
moving from station to station to play out the different characters
of the stories. Croall herself is one of the performers, playing traditional instruments and singing and speaking in the Ojibwe language.
Trio member Peter Stoll performs on the full family of clarinet instruments, recorder and whistle, while Marquardt performs on the full
range of flutes. Pianist Anna Romai performs on the keys while Croall
joins her at times playing inside on the piano strings. There is also a
recorded soundtrack with environmental sounds to add to the mix.
Marquardt has enjoyed a long relationship with Croall, at one time
performing in Croall’s Ergo Ensemble. She is passionate about the
thewholenote.com
December 1 2014 - February 7, 2015 | 21
Hu Xaio-ou
Norbert Palej
Kong presenting lectures, masterclasses and concerts of music
from U of T faculty composers
and students. Now, Palej is organizing this year’s New Music Festival
to present the works of Hu and
several of his students from the
Sichuan Conservatory in Chengdu,
as well as a work by Wendy Lee,
who currently teaches in Hong
Kong. Both Hu and Lee will be in
attendance in Toronto, and interestingly, both have Canadian connections. Hu is a part-time resident of
Vancouver and Lee was a former
student at U of T studying with
Chan Ka Nin. The concerts on February 4 and 5 will feature chamber
music by the guest Chinese composers, including the performance of
a new work by Hu by the Cecilia Quartet.
The festival will finish off with a collaboration Palej developed
with the Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony. On February 6 and 7, the
orchestra will perform concerts featuring the world premiere of Hu’s
new pipa concerto with Lan Weiwei as soloist. Also on the program
will be the premiere of Palej’s Shan Shui Miniatures based on Chinese
folk themes, and the winning pieces of the Friendship Orchestral
Composition Competition. Other festival events include concerts on
January 30 and February 1 of student operas based on a libretto by
Michael Albano and on February 2, works by international emerging
composers performed by the Ecouter Ensemble. The festival will finish
on a lighter note with a modern jazz concert on Sunday February 8.
The full schedule of events will be on the Faculty of Music website
early in December.
Esprit Orchestra: Esprit’s January 29 concert brings us the world
premiere of English composer Philip Cashian’s the world’s turning
inspired by the sculptures of Stephen Vince. The visual theme
continues with Icelandic composer Daniel Bjarnason’s Over Light Earth
which pays tribute to painters Mark Rothko and Jackson Pollock. The
program is rounded out with works by New Music Concerts’ artistic
director Robert Aitken, whose Berceuse explores the balance of Yin
and Yang while commemorating those “who sleep before us” and an
Esprit-commissioned new work by Canadian Samuel Andreyev titled
The Flash of the Instant.
Overview: And finally to finish off 2014 and move into 2015, an
overview of other noteworthy new music concert events for December
and January.
Canadian Music Centre: December 18 with the Toronto Guitar
Society. Premiere of works by Leggatt, Oickle, Sandquist and Tse.
January 13 the CMC’s 21st Century Virtuoso series presents works from
Messiaen’s Catalogue d’Oiseaux and Gilles Tremblay’s Musique de
l’eau performed by Ryan MacEvoy McCullough
Music Gallery Emergents Series: December 4 curated by Melody
McKiver. Works by Clarinet Panic Deluxx and Cris Derksen, two
cellist/composers. January 30 curated by Felicity Williams: Dan Fortin
and Robin Dann/Claire Harvie.
Exultate Chamber Singers: December 5. Works by Canadian
composers in their “A Canadian Noël” concert.
Spectrum Music: December 6. Concert titled “Journeys” with works
for guitar and string quartet by Alex Goodman and Graham Campbell
with the Ton Beau String Quartet.
Syrinx Concerts Toronto: December 7. Concert includes Stillness of
the 7th Autumn by Brian Cherney
Toy Piano Composers: January 24. Concert titled “Grit” with works
by Brophy, Labadie, Pearce, Puello, Tam and others. Performances by
Chelsea Shanoff and Nadia Klein with the TPC Ensemble.
group of 27: January 30. Concert includes Voyageur by Andrew
Staniland.
importance of this work and the
need for us to rethink our relationship with the earth and in
particular, the waters. The rest
of Trio d’Argento’s concert that
evening blends together a work
by Beethoven, a piece by French
composer Jacques Ibert and a
funky, jazz/world music-inspired piece by Minnesota-based
composer Russell Peterson. The
evening will also be a celebration of Trio d’Argento’s new CD
just being released on the Opening
Day label that includes the Ibert
piece. To learn more about this
rising virtuosic ensemble, I encourage you to check out their website
(triodargento.ca).
Concerts in December
New Music Concerts: On the theme of new music talents named
Barbara, the January 20 New Music Concerts joins with Music Toronto
January 20 to present a program performed by Halifax-based pianist
Barbara Pritchard. In 2009 Pritchard was awarded the Canadian
Music Centre’s Music Ambassador title for her work in promoting and
performing the music of Canadian composers. This concert includes
11 Canadian works by composers primarily from the Atlantic region,
and an aria from Bach’s Goldberg Variations. Prior to this event on
December 11, New Music Concerts joins up with the Music Gallery to
present two Canadian premieres of pieces by Italian-German guest
composer Marco Stroppa, along with a new commissioned work from
Paul Steenhuisen and a performance of Elliot Carter’s final work entitled Epigrams written in 2012. Stroppa worked for part of his career as
a composer and researcher in Paris at IRCAM, an institution devoted
to computer music. He will bring his electronic expertise to this
concert, performing alongside trombonist Benny Sluchin and saxophonist Wallace Halladay.
More in December: In amongst all the traditional holiday music
available in December, the Music Gallery is offering a unique way to
tune into the holiday spirit with “Unsilent Night,” an outdoor walking
event created by Phil Kline on December 19. Audience members are
invited to bring their own portable sound system (boom box, etc) to
play back one of four tracks of music, while being led on a guided
walk through alleyways, crowded streets or empty spaces. You will
experience your own unique mix of the tracks and the specific acoustics of each place visited. (And after the walk, at 9pm, you can return
to the Music Gallery for a festive fundraiser with the O’Pears a female
a cappella trio performing folk, R&B, celtic, and bluegrass music.)
Up on St. Joseph St., on December 13, the Canadian Music Centre
presents festive Canadian music in its 21st century Virtuoso series
with tenor Sean Clark. December is also CD celebration time at the
CMC, with two concerts of new releases: on December 12, composer
and turntablist Nicole Lizée with her Bookburners launch and on
December16, composer and oboist Elizabeth Raum with her Myth,
Legend, Romance CD.
And speaking of CD-related concerts, I’ll be presenting works
in 5.1 surround sound from my Sounddreaming CD at Array Space
on December 5. Another celebration, also at Array, salutes the
iconic work of experimentalist Udo Kasemets spread over two days
with screenings of Kasemets’ videos December 6 and a concert on
December 7. These concerts are part of this season’s ArrayMusic’s
concert series.
January
The University of Toronto’s New Music Festival: Moving into
January/February, we have the U of T annual New Music festival
running from January 30 to February 8. This year’s festival was
inspired by a meeting between University of Toronto’s Faculty of
Music composer Norbert Palej and China’s Hu Xiao-ou during the
Beijing Modern Music Festival a few years ago. What began as a friendship has grown to a cultural exchange. This past October, Palej travelled with 11 colleagues from the Faculty of Music to China and Hong
22 | December 1 2014 - February 7, 2015
Wendalyn Bartley is a Toronto based composer and electrovocal sound artist. sounddreaming@gmail.com.
thewholenote.com
Beat by Beat | World View
Autorickshaw
Tours South Asia
M
ANDREW TIMAR
y last column, highlighting
the music programming at
the Aga Khan Museum, noted
the concert appearance of Toronto’s
award-winning group Autorickshaw at
the AKM auditorium on November 15.
I attended the show to get an overview of their current repertoire, the
range of which is wide and the boundaries fluid.
In addition to arrangements of
South Indian classical and folk songs,
original songs and numbers based on
tala principles (overlapping Carnatic
solkattu and Hindustani tabla bols)
alternated with good-humoured
ironic takes on 1970s Bollywood
hit film songs. “Autorickshawified”
hybrid adaptations of songs by Joni
Mitchell and Leonard Cohen – “Bird
on a Wire” rendered in a relaxed 7/4 –
and the jazz standard “Caravan” were
Autorickshaw
among my personal favourites. While
(from left) Dylan Bell,
vivacious vocalist Suba Sankaran, the
Suba Sankaran, Ed Hanley
heart of the group, claimed front stage
centre for most of the concert, the
skilled band comprised of Dylan Bell (bass/keyboards/beatboxing),
Ed Hanley (tabla), with Ben Riley (drum set) and John Gzowski
(guitar) stepping in for the night, shone in solos. “Caravan” was a
rollicking example.
Well into Autorickshaw’s second decade of genre-blending
musicking, summing up its repertoire, which is very often multigenre and transnational in reach, is not an effortless undertaking;
especially so for a persnickety listener like me. Autorickshaw’s
website nevertheless helpfully weighs in, situating its music “on the
cultural cutting edge, as contemporary jazz, funk and folk easily rub
shoulders with the classical and popular music of India.”
That statement makes such hybridization sound like an easy reach.
It’s anything but. Anyone who has seriously attempted it, or listened
to fusion experiments where genres from across the world “easily rub
shoulders,” knows how easy it is to fail to satisfy musical expectations
– and for many reasons. In fact it is one of the most difficult forms of
musical alchemy to pull off effectively and gracefully. Having persevered as a group for a dozen years Autorickshaw is proof that diligent work in the transcultural song mines can pay off. In their case it’s
been rewarded with two JUNO nominations for World Music Album
of the Year and the 2005 Canadian Independent Music Award. In 2008
they were awarded the John Lennon Songwriting Competition Grand
Prize in World Music, in addition to the CAPACOA Touring Artist
of the Year.
Autorickshaw’s web statement also accurately geographically
locates the overlapping bi-continental musical territories the group
primarily explores: North America and the Indian subcontinent.
Furthermore testing the effectiveness of such transculturalism in the
fire of international audiences via touring seems an essential part of
the group enterprise. Autorickshaw has done just that. It’s been on the
road exporting its “Canadian-made Indo-fusion” not only across its
Canadian home base, the U.S.A. and Europe, but also to India during a
three-week tour in late 2006.
As I write this the Autorickshaw Trio consisting of Sankaran,
thewholenote.com
December 1 2014 - February 7, 2015 | 23
CAMERON OGILVIE
Hanley and Bell is preparing for an unprecedented two-month
subcontinent-wide tour of at least two dozen dates in ten projected
cities in India and Nepal (in Pokhara and Kathmandu). Departing
Toronto on November 28, “we are acting as our own agents, mainly
cold-calling our way to India and Nepal” wrote Sankaran in an email
interview, building on “contacts [made] the last time we toured India.”
She further predicted that “once on the ground, we will likely be
approached to do other performances in the various regions we are
touring. This happened the last time around as well, so we’re trying to
build some buffer time for that.”
I asked about the sort of venues they will be playing.
Sankaran commented on their diversity. “We are doing
a variety of shows, from soft-seaters to outdoor festivals, from clubs to hotel dates, house concerts, workshops in ashrams, and collaborating with string
and choral departments in schools; the majority
are performances, [but] we’re offering some workshops as well.”
The incentive for the tour initially came from the
group’s desire to commemorate, on December 3, 2014
the 30th anniversary of the Bhopal “gas tragedy,”
widely considered the world’s worst industrial disaster.
Sankaran and Hanley have a personal commitment to
the affected people of that city. In 2009 they co-wrote
and recorded the song “The City of Lakes.” All proceeds
from the song go to the Bhopal Medical Appeal which
funds two local clinics offering free healthcare to thousands of survivors. While in Bhopal the Autorickshaw
Trio will also appear as the opening act at the Indian
premiere of the motion picture about the disaster,
A Prayer for Rain, starring Martin Sheen. Another
focal point of the tour is the promotion of songs from
its strong new album Humours of Autorickshaw, in
newly-minted trio arrangements.
Turquoise Gaze), four leading
singers and instrumentalists on
the Toronto world music scene,
take the Centre’s stage. Brenna
MacCrimmon, Maryem Tollar,
Sophia Grigoriadis and Jayne
Brown are the remarkable musicians whose appearance at the
Aga Khan Museum I wrote about
last month. Having collected,
performed and recorded
songs from Turkey, the Middle
East, Greece and the Balkans
for decades, you can expect
masterful renditions of this
repertoire, “cultivating a sweet
sonic union” along the way.
December 6 may well
mark a first in my column: a
musical film screening. The
Centre presents two films by
Ensemble Polaris
American director Matthew
Dunning collectively tilted The
Stirring of a Thousand Bells (2014), released on DVD by the hipster
Seattle, Washington label Sublime Frequencies. This fascinating niche
publisher focuses exclusively on “acquiring and exposing obscure
sights and sounds from modern and traditional urban and rural frontiers.” Its roster encompasses audio field recordings, repackaged
folk and pop compilations, radio collages and DVDs, mostly from
Southeast Asia, North Africa and the Middle East.
Dunning’s films take viewers on a musical-visual journey of life
in Central Java, Indonesia, focussing on gamelan music, a regional
orchestral practice unbroken – though continuously shifted geographically, refreshed stylistically and hybridized – for some four centuries.
In the city of Solo, where a Sultan still reigns, gamelan and its meditative palace dances remain a part of everyday life. I’ve been to Java
five times studying and playing gamelan, and still feel like a beginner
in the face of the complex interactive music’s inner workings and
emotional life. The director will be present to contextualize his own
gamelan practice and his films.
Ensemble Polaris: January 18, 2015 at 2pm the Gallery Players of
Niagara present Ensemble Polaris in “Definitely Not the Nutcracker” at
the Silver Spire United Church, St. Catharines. This fun concert celebrates Tchaikovsky’s popular music for the ballet but with a whimsical twist. Arrangements by the Ensemble alternate with songs and
instrumentals from the Russian folk tradition. The instrumentation
gives a hint of what they’re up to. Marco Cera (guitar, jarana barroca);
Kirk Elliott (violin, Celtic harp, mandolin); Margaret Gay (cello, guiro);
Katherine Hill (voice, nyckelharpa); Alison Melville (baroque flute,
recorders); Colin Savage (clarinet, bass clarinet); Debashis Sinha
(percussion, birimbao) and Jeff Wilson (percussion, musical saw). This
new year why not stretch your musical legs, travel to St. Catharines
and experience something other than customary?
Master Shajarian: January 31, 2015 Persian master singer, composer,
teacher and instrument innovator Mohammad Reza Shajarian takes
centre stage at Roy Thomson Hall. Shajarian has been widely celebrated and decorated at home and internationally. UNESCO in
France presented him in 1999 with the prestigious Picasso Award,
one of Europe’s highest honours. In 2006 he was decorated with the
UNESCO Mozart Medal and he has twice been nominated for the
Grammy for Best World Music album. I had the privilege of hearing
him sing about a decade ago and was impressed with his mastery of
the difficult classical dastgah idiom. His vocal performances are justly
savoured for their technical beauty, power and strong emotional presence. This concert is another good way to celebrate your good luck in
reaching 2015 in good nick.
In an email
interview with
Hanley I wondered
how exporting
Autorickshaw’s
hybrid music
to South Asia
compared to
performing and
marketing it domestically. He replied
with insight and
humour: “There may
be weight to the
Canadian adage that
you can’t ‘make it’
at home until you
make it elsewhere.
I’m not sure why
that seems to be
true, but anecdotally
it does seem to be
the case. We’re not
trying to make it in India, but perhaps to lay foundations for future
tours … The fact that we incorporate a lot of traditional Indian classical elements in our music seems to be a gateway for South Asian
audiences. It’s [also] always nice to represent Canada and Canadian
music,” on the international stage, therefore “we’re looking forward
to playing some Autorickshawified Joni Mitchell, Leonard Cohen and
Canadian folk songs (“J’entends le Moulin” with solkattu and tabla
bols anyone?)”
I asked Hanley how he expected the various genres their repertoire
explores to resonate with tour audiences. “We will definitely adapt
our repertoire to the venue and audience. For example we’re doing
some Christmas carols with local musicians in Darjeeling – at their
request. That should be fun!” He added: “New audiences are always an
adventure. There is a magic in performing for people who know, and
perhaps like, your music, but there’s a very different kind of magic
playing for an audience who has never heard you before, hearing the
music … for the first time.”
As for South Asian sales of Autorickshaw music mediated via
physical product vs downloads, Hanley noted that they “will take
some CDs, and will ship a box ahead. We will carry a lot of download cards, which we can give away as a musical business card, or sell
much cheaper than a physical CD. [Plus] all our music is online [and
we’ve uploaded] lots of videos onto our YouTube channel.”
Hanley neatly summed up the music scene in India: “It’s really
happening [with] clubs popping up. There are festivals galore, with
lots of bands producing original music. What we do might come from
a different place simply because we grew up in Canada and have a
strong Western foundation in various forms such as pop, jazz etc. And
why are Indian presenters eager to present us? I’m not sure. Could it
be our [unique] Canadian perspective on our blend of styles?
On one hand Autorickshaw’s two-month tour sounds like a grand
adventure in (re)encountering the roots of some of the musical
streams it has been exploring throughout its collective career. It will
also no doubt expand the awareness among South Asian audiences
of a Canadian world music accent. I for one will enjoy reading the
trio’s “reports from the road,” vicariously experiencing their musical
travels which will take them on December 15 to the Kathmandu
Jazz Conservatory, Nepal, and on January 26 to SpringFest in
Kharagpur, India.
Following are some of the stories I would likely have written about
in depth had I not been sidetracked into talking about covert world
music elements embedded in Canadian Christmas repertoire (Aaron
Davis, page 14) and Canadian world musicians about to embed themselves in South Asia.
Small World Music Centre: December 5 Nazar-i Turkwaz (My
24 | December 1 2014 - February 7, 2015
Andrew Timar is a Toronto musician and music writer. He
can be contacted at worldmusic@thewholenote.com.
thewholenote.com
Beat by Beat | Choral Scene
A Non-Shoppers
Guide to Carols
T
BENJAMIN STEIN
he term “Christmas carol” has become a kind of catchall for
a multifarious group of songs from many parts the world and
about 500 years of history. These songs emerge from hiding once
a year, saturate our brains like an aural snowstorm and then retreat to
their lairs for another ten months.
Christmas music, much of it beautiful, serene and profound, is
commonly used by stores of all types to attempt to move product and
it’s not surprising that people’s frustration with the hard sell becomes
anger at the music itself. I’m not blaming the businesses, who have
their own bills to pay, but carols really ought to be for singing, not
for shopping. This is where choirs have a crucial role, because as I’ve
written in the past, carol concerts are one of the few areas left in
modern life where audiences of non-musicians are invited to participate in music making.
Christmas saturation brings with it musical anachronism, as
carol singers hired for the holidays often find themselves wandering
through 21st century malls, dressed up in garb that is meant to
evoke late 19th-century England, while warbling tunes written by an
American composer from Pennsylvania in 1951. Here’s a quick guide
to help you differentiate one Christmas song from another.
Carols. Rarer than you’d think, carols are thought to have originated from dances; the words were sometimes cadged from pre-Christian sources and retro-fitted to coincide with Christmas celebrations.
There were carols for all seasonal and liturgical occasions of the year,
and it is only in the last couple of centuries that carolling became
solely associated with Christmas. Carols often tell stories, have lively
rhythms and a directness of expression that has actually caused
church authorities to ban them on occasion. “The Holly and the Ivy,”
with its pagan imagery and dancelike tempo, might be considered a
true carol.
Christmas Hymns. Often mistaken for carols, Christmas hymns
tend to be grander, statelier, with more ornate and even stuffy
language. The classic familiar ones were often written by professional
priests and clerics, such as Wesley’s “Hark the Herald Angels Sing.” At
their best, such as in the work of John Goss (“See Amid the Winter’s
Snow”), Christmas hymns combine brilliant lyrics with pellucid song
composition.
Christmas Anthems. Compositions with a Christmas theme, often
composed or arranged specifically for choral performance, and not
meant for group singing. Benjamin Britten’s Ceremony of Carols and
much of the work of John Rutter fall into this category.
Christmas Songs. This is almost an entirely American,20th-century
phenomenon that exploded with the rise of recording technology.
Like hymns, Christmas songs tend to tell us what we ought to be
feeling, albeit from a secular perspective: excitement, anticipation,
HANNAFORD STREET
SILVER BAND
Welcome Christmas II
December 16, 2014 7:30 p.m.
Yorkminster Park Baptist Church, 1585 Yonge St.
Back by popular demand! Orpheus and the incomparable
Hannaford Street Silver Band join forces once more for
a sparkling and festive Christmas celebration – a seasonal
gift of big brass and song!
Tickets: $40; $30 senior; $15 student
www.orpheuschoirtoronto.com hssb.ca/events
BMO
Financial Group
an Ontario government agency
un organisme du gouvernement de l’Ontario
Financial Group
BMO
thewholenote.com
Financial Group
Financial Group
The Vern and Frieda Heinrichs Foundation
The Jackman Foundation
December 1 2014 - February 7, 2015 | 25
Toronto Children’s Chorus
mounted by the downtown Church of the Holy Trinity (just behind
Eaton Centre) is a cultural event that has proved so popular over the
years that the pageant runs into repeat performances, taking place at
various times between December 12-21. For information, see holytrinitytoronto.org/thechristmasstory/.
Briggs’ Snowman: On December 7 the Bach Children’s Chorus joins
Orchestra Toronto for a concert that features the animated film The
Snowman , with live musical accompaniment by the orchestra and
choir. The film is based on the celebrated book by English illustrator
Raymond Briggs. Briggs’ trademark combination of gentle imagery
and dark, disturbing themes is a welcome antidote to more sugary
Christmas entertainments. The concert also features the premiere
of Canadian Dean Burry’s A Hockey Cantata. Burry’s work for children is accessible without being pandering, and this concert is highly
recommended.
Brother Heinrich: On a similar note, on Dec 20 the Toronto
Children’s Chorus will perform A Chorus Christmas: Ceremonial
Splendour. a concert that includes John Rutter’s enjoyable choral
togetherness, as opposed to religious fervour. It’s hard to contest the
sentiment, but after weeks of it, you start to feel like you’re being
beaten on the head with a soft pillow; it doesn’t really hurt, but you
wish it would stop. I wonder if the depressed feelings that many
experience around Christmas time has to do in part with the gap
between the Christmas song paradigm and the reality of credit bills
and feuding relatives? Nonetheless, at their best all four categories of
Christmas song contain works of genius. As I pointed out in an earlier
column, Christmas has become a big pan-cultural party that can
reasonably be enjoyed by people of all backgrounds.
On to the concerts: I’m going to assume that the readers of this
column need no urging from me to find a Messiah performance or a
carol singalong this time of year, and so will instead focus on some
concerts that take an unusual angle, as well as looking ahead at the
post-Christmas concert scene in the new year.
Trinity Pageant: There are many pageants and Lessons and Carols
services being held this year at churches and civic centres – please
check the listings for events in your area. The Christmas pageant
LYDIA ADAMS, Conductor & Artistic Director
2014 • 2015 TORONTO CONCERT SERIES
0
4
Elmer
Handel’s
Iseler
Singers Messiah
Lydia Adams, Conductor
Virginia Hatfield
Sure On This
Shining Night
Friday, December 5, 2014
at 8:00 pm
Metropolitan United Church
56 Queen St. East, Toronto
GUEST HOST
MARY LOU FALLIS, C.M. – AMADEUS CHOIR HONORARY PATRON
HONOURING THE TORONTO ARTS COUNCIL’S 40TH ANNIVERSARY
Special Guest Artists
The Amadeus Choir
Lydia Adams, conductor
Saturday, December 13, 2014 • 7:30 pm
Yorkminster Park Baptist Church 1585 Yonge Street, Toronto
Virginia Hatfield, Soprano
Marion Newman, Mezzo Soprano
David Pomeroy, Tenor
Giles Tomkins, Bass
Patricia Wright, Organist
Robert Venables and
Robert DiVito, Trumpets
And Orchestra
Sure in this Shining Night by Lauridsen, works by
Wilberg, Daley and Willcocks. Winning compositions from
our 28th Annual Seasonal Song-Writing Competition.
FEATURING: Amadeus Choir, Lydia Adams, conductor;
Bach Children’s Chorus, Linda Beaupré, conductor;
TICKETS
Trillium Brass; Ed Reiffel, percussion;
$15-$40
Eleanor Daley & Shawn Grenke, piano & organ.
UPCOMING CONCERTS: Celtic Celebration • Sat. Feb. 28, 2015, 7:00 pm
Of Heart And Tide: The Gift Of Water • Sat. Apr. 11, 2015, 7:30 pm Sandra Parsons
Earth Songs, Love Songs • Sat. May 24, 2015, 4:00 pm
Tickets; $55, Seniors $50, Students $20
Reserve now: 416-217-0537
Concert Sponsor
416-446-0188 • www.amadeuschoir.com
David Pomeroy
Giles Tomkins
Canada Council for the Arts
Conseil des Arts du Canada
416-217-0537
an Ontario government agency
un organisme du gouvernement de l’Ontario
26 | December 1 2014 - February 7, 2015
Marion Newman
www.elmeriselersingers.com
thewholenote.com
fable, Brother Heinrich’s Christmas, about the 14th-century
Dominican mystic Heinrich Seuse, thought to be responsible for
composing the famous macaronic carol In Dulci Jubilo. The piece is
narrated by legendary actor/writer Gordon Pinsent.
Coro San Marco was founded in 1995 by Toronto residents who hail
from Italy’s Veneto region (the area around Venice). On December 6
they perform their Advent/Christmas concert, with a selection of
Christmas songs from around the world.
Victoria Scholars: On December 19 and 21 this chamber choir of
men’s voices, perform Yuletide on the Cool Canadian Side, a concert
of carols arranged by Canadian composers.
Echo Women’s Choir: The ancient concept of the Divine Feminine
came to the fore in the last century, as a spiritual conjunct to the
struggles for women’s rights that were carried out under the banner
of modern feminism. Male-centered aspects of monotheistic worship
in Christian and other religions have been challenged and reassessed,
and the spiritual insights and strengths of female religious leaders,
thinkers, mystics and composers have become part of our modern
discussion. On December 7 the Echo Women’s Choir perform The
Divine Feminine, a concert that includes music by the12th-century
German composer Hildegard von Bingen.
This concert is also notable for a rare appearance by the co-founders
of Stringband, Marie-Lynn Hammond and Bob Bossin. Toronto audiences born before the Beatles first album came out may remember
Stringband well from a series of celebrated albums from the 1970s, as
well as their many club, concert and folk festival appearances.
Pax Christi Chorale
Stephanie Martin, Artistic Director
two seasonal concerts
to warm your heart and soul
Winter Nights
J.S.Bach – Christmas Oratorio Part II
Stephanie Martin – Winter Nights
J.S.Bach – Nunn komm der Heiden Heiland
Michèle Bogdanowicz, mezzo-soprano
Sean Clark, tenor
Doug MacNaughton, baritone
With orchestra
Saturday, December 6, 7:30pm
Sunday, December 7, 3:00pm
Grace Church on-the-Hill, Toronto
The Children’s
Messiah
A beloved classic abridged
especially for children.
With soloists and orchestra
Adults pay what you can at door; children are free.
Saturday, December 13, 4:00pm-5:00pm
Church of St. Mary Magdalene, Toronto
PaxChristiChorale.org
boxoffice@paxchristichorale.org
thewholenote.com
December 1 2014 - February 7, 2015 | 27
Bossin and Hammond are two of the most skilled songwriters to
come out of the first wave of the Canadian modern folk music movement. Bossin writes in a deliberately political and historical manner,
taking politics and cultural issues as subjects for his clever and
amusing songs. Hammond’s work is more introspective, mining her
family history, in particular her mixed French and English background, for truths found amidst the conflicts and encounters that are
part of the Canadian experience. Hammond is based in Toronto, but
Bossin now lives on the West Coast, and any chance to see these two
folk legends perform together is not to be missed.
A Grand “Midsummer”: Looking ahead to the new year, on
January 16 and 17 the Grand Philharmonic Choir Female Chorus
joins the Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony Orchestra for “A Midsummer
Night’s Dream,” a concert title which in January is going to seem
either like wishful thinking or rubbing it in. But the music selection
is excellent: Vaughan Williams’ Serenade to Music; Mendelssohn’s
famous incidental music for the above play and selections from
Purcell’s The Fairy Queen. Purcell never set Shakespeare’s poetry,
but The Fairy Queen has great moments of humour, pathos and the
composer’s peerless text settings.
Tafelmusik Orchestra and Chamber Choir present a Beethoven
double bill from January 22 to 25. The orchestra plays Beethoven’s
Fifth Symphony, and then are joined by the choir for his Mass in C.
Guest conducting is the Montreal Symphony Orchestra’s Kent Nagano.
Both pieces were written in the first decade of the 19th century.
The Mass in C was composed for the Austrian ruler Prince Nikolaus
Esterházy II in 1807, and has the classical structure of liturgical works
composed by Mozart and Haydn under similar conditions and royal
patronage. At the premiere there was a scene – the prince was not
sufficiently appreciative of the piece, perhaps -- and Beethoven left
the concert venue in a fury, a breach of royal protocol that would have
been unthinkable, and professionally fatal, to the older composers
mentioned above. Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony captures unforgettably
the spirit that led the composer to assert his humanity and freedom
against the patronage system to which most European composers had
been forced to submit for centuries.
CITY
Carol SIng
Saturday, december 6, 2:00 pm
With gord Martineau, Deborah Hay,
Ted Dykstra, choirs, brass.
an annual benefit for the Daily Bread/
Churches-on-the-Hill Food Banks
CarolS BY
CanDlelIgHT
Sunday, december 14, 4:30pm
a traditional candlelight choral
presentation featuring choirs and
musicians of Yorkminster Park.
Benjamin Stein is a Toronto tenor and lutenist. He
can be contacted at choralscene@thewholenote.
com. Visit his website at benjaminstein.ca.
nIne leSSonS
& CarolS
PETER MAHON
Sales Representative
416-322-8000
Sunday, december 21, 4:30pm
pmahon@trebnet.com
www.petermahon.com
Following the historic tradition of
King’s College in Cambridge.
FREE ADMISSION
Doors open at 3:30pm.
Child care for children 5 years and under.
Yorkminster Park Baptist Church
1585 Yonge St., (1 block north of St. Clair Ave.
(416) 922-1167 | yorkminsterpark.com
28 | December 1 2014 - February 7, 2015
thewholenote.com
Beat by Beat | Early Music
I
BILL BLACKSTONE
First Rate,
Serious Stuff!
DAV I D P O D G O R S K I
n deference to holiday tradition, I’ll mention the Messiahs first:
Tafelmusik’s sing-along Messiah will be at Roy Thomson Hall at
2pm on December 21 this year, while Aradia’s Dublin Messiah will
happen on the December 20 at 7:30 at St. Anne’s Anglican Church.
These are the only two Messiahs in Toronto I think you need to see. If
a Messiah was all you were planning on catching over the holidays,
please turn the page!
Right. Now if you’re serious about music, and you want to find
some first-rate medieval, Renaissance, and baroque music this holiday
season, or if you’re just looking for an antidote to every saccharine
Christmas carol you’ve been subjected to in every shopping mall
you’ve been to since the beginning of November, keep reading.
You certainly might find something new in the Toronto Consort’s
Christmas concert, “The Little Barley-Corne,” a program of Yuletide
hits from Renaissance Europe. This program is based on the Consort’s
fifth album of the same name, which although, or indeed perhaps
because, it included very few tunes that were immediately recognizable as traditional Christmas carols, was a breakthrough hit for
the Consort, and quickly established them as a Toronto-based early
music group that deserved to be taken seriously. It will certainly be
a special treat to revisit this seminal album again after 15 years. The
Toronto Consort performs The Little Barley-Corne December 12 to 14
at Trinity-St. Paul’s Centre.
Caprice: Another early music group that deserves our attention is
thewholenote.com
Ensemble Caprice
Montreal’s Ensemble Caprice, a recorder-based baroque ensemble that
quickly gained recognition on the Montreal scene for their free, and at
times bizarre, interpretations of Telemann and Vivaldi. This group can
typically be trusted to blow the roof off the concert hall. Caprice will
be coming to Ontario to present their Christmas program “Baroque
Christmas Around the World,” which features Arcangelo Corelli’s
Christmas Concerto, some 17th-century South American songs, traditional carols and music by J. S. Bach and Handel. It also has the
potential to be more subdued than a typical Caprice concert – a roofraising Christmas concert being somewhat blasphemous in the eyes of
the concertgoing public – but I can guarantee the group will perform
with panache. This all takes place at the Port Hope United Church in
Port Hope December 12 at 7:30pm and in Barrie December 14 at Grace
United Church on December 14 at 2:30pm.
Poculi Ludique: If you’re looking for something completely out
there as an alternative to Christmas carols and the Messiah, or if
you’re just something of a medievalist, consider checking out this
group of medieval-revival performers and musicians: the Poculi
Ludique Societas (or the “Cup and Game Society”). This group will be
performing selections from the York Mystery Plays on December 13
December 1 2014 - February 7, 2015 | 29
Beat by Beat | On Opera
at 7:30pm at St. Thomas’s Anglican Church. The York Mystery plays
were a series of performances based on bible stories ranging from the
Genesis creation to the Passion of Jesus that were performed in the
city of York around the 14th century; some were centred around the
biblical story of Christmas. Each guild in town was responsible for
a specific performance (based around a Christian divine miracle or
mystery, hence the name). The mystery plays seem like a particularly
insightful view into what life was like in the Middle Ages, given that
the typical medieval European was a devout Christian and a member
of a guild of some kind, but couldn’t read the bible (or even his own
name) and depended on dramatizations like the York Mystery Plays
to understand what he was supposed to be believing. In any case, the
Poculi Ludique Societas are all medieval scholars from the University
of Toronto and can probably explain all of this much better than I
can. Plus, the music is under the supervision of Larry Beckwith of
Toronto Masque Theatre, so the musical part of the production is in
capable hands. As an unusual form of entertainment that nevertheless
captures the original meaning of Christmas, this may be exactly what
the Christmas season needs.
Tafel’s Quest: But if you’re looking for good live music, there’s no
need to limit yourself to holiday-themed entertainment in the coming
weeks. For example, Tafelmusik’s musical quest for a new artistic
director, featuring the most outstanding violinists they can find,
continues in the beginning of December. Amandine Beyer, a virtuoso
violinist from France, will lead the ensemble in an all-French program
at Trinity-St. Paul’s Centre on December 4 to 7. It looks to be a killer
program of French composers, including Rameau, Corrette, Campra
and Rebel. Beyer herself will attempt to wow the crowd with a Leclair
concerto, and we’ll see once and for all if the orchestra can put on
a sublime performance of French baroque repertoire. It’s all very
exciting, as you can probably guess.
Scaramella: Another Toronto group that’s keeping busy over
the holiday season is Scaramella, led by Joëlle Morton. They’ll be
playing a concert devoted to the English composer William Lawes
on December 6 at Victoria College Chapel at 8pm. As a gamba-based
ensemble, doing a concert devoted to Lawes just makes sense – he was
great composer of music for everything viol, from duets to consorts
of four, five and six gambas. As a figure from music history, he’s even
more compelling, living as he did during the period of the English
Renaissance and taking the laws of composition (sorry, couldn’t
resist) to strange and unusual places. His music is both engaging and
intelligent, but his approach to tonality is at times either extremely
liberal or extremely strange. If you don’t manage to catch their Lawes
concert, Scaramella is also doing a program of 17th-century German
composers in Victoria College Chapel on January 31 at 8pm. This time
the group will be joined by countertenor Daniel Cabena – this concert
could be worth a look as well.
Out of the ordinary: If you’re looking for something to do over New
Year’s Day, you might want to drop by Heliconian Hall at 2:30, where
the Musicians in Ordinary will be playing their annual New Year’s Day
concert. They’ll be joined by Christopher Verrette and Patricia Ahern
of Tafelmusik as well as Boris Medicky on harpsichord for a mixed
program including Scarlatti, Vivaldi and Corelli. The Musicians have
put together a solid lineup of players to play some decent repertoire
for this concert.
Finally, there are a couple of other concerts worth mentioning
as we get into the coldest days of winter: Toronto Masque Theatre
will be performing Handel’s Acis and Galatea at the Enoch Turner
Schoolhouse on January 15, 16 and 17 at 8pm. And a group of six
young Toronto-based violinists are taking an encyclopedic approach
to concert programming and tackling all six of Bach’s unaccompanied
solo violin partitas in one go. That concert will include Tafelmusik
violinists Julia Wedman, Cristina Zacharias and Aisslinn Nosky, as well
as Elyssa Lefurgey-Smith of Aradia. You can catch it all at Metropolitan
United Church on January 9 at 7:30pm.
Of Partnerships,
Productions &
Other Diversions
CHRISTOPHER HOILE
T
he two largest-scale opera
productions for the period from
December 1 to February 7 are those
of the Canadian Opera Company’s winter
season. Taken together they provide an
example of the two models that the COC
is currently following: partnering and
production.
From January 24 to February 21, the
company presents Mozart’s Don Giovanni,
a co-production with Festival d’Aix-enProvence, Bolshoi Theatre and Teatro Real
Madrid. This production is an example
of what the COC calls partnering: the
company contributes money toward the
Cameron McPhail
as Uncle John in the
production, but there is little or no COC
Banff, 2014 production.
input in the design or direction. So,
much depends upon choosing one’s partners wisely.
Don Giovanni had its premiere at the Festival d’Aix-en-Provence
in 2010, directed by acclaimed Russian director Dmitri Tcherniakov.
The most controversial aspect of the production is that Tcherniakov
has replaced Da Ponte’s original scenario with his own. He reimagines Mozart’s characters as the neurotic members of one present-day
bourgeois family. Zerlina is now Donna Anna’s daughter from her first
marriage, while Leporello is “a young relative of the Commendatore’s,
living in his house.” Don Giovanni is presented as unhappily married
to Donna Elvira. In the new plot Don Giovanni does not destroy
himself, rather, his relatives combine to destroy him. The production has been around long enough that it is already available on DVD
and in excerpts on YouTube for anyone who wishes to see whether
Tcherniakov’s concept works or not.
For the COC, Russell Braun sings Don Giovanni, Kyle Ketelsen is
Leporello, Jennifer Holloway is Donna Elvira, Jane Archibald is Donna
Anna and Michael Schade is Don Ottavio. Michael Hofstetter conducts.
In terms of COC original productions, from January 31 to
February 22 it presents Die Walküre, a production designed and
directed by Canadians and owned solely by the COC. This COC
production of Wagner’s Die Walküre had its premiere in 2004 and was
revived in 2006 as the second opera of Wagner’s complete Ring Cycle.
This will be the first time it has been revived on its own. Atom Egoyan
directs, Michael Levine is the designer and Johannes Debus conducts.
Of particular note is that renowned German soprano Christine
Goerke will be making her role debut in Toronto as Brünnhilde.
Clifton Forbis, who sang Siegmund in this production in 2004 and
2006, returns to sing the role again. Sieglinde, Siegmund’s sister and
lover will be sung by Heidi Melton; Wotan is Johan Reuter; Hunding,
Sieglinde’s brutal husband is Dimitry Ivashchenko; and Fricka,
Wotan’s implacable goddess-wife is Janina Baechle. For more information about both productions, visit coc.ca.
Crunching the numbers: At the end of October this year the COC
held its Annual General Meeting covering the 2013/14 fiscal year and
reported “an impressive average attendance of 94 percent (an increase
of 4 percent over last season),” a figure that was duly disseminated in
David Podgorski is a Toronto-based harpsichordist, music
teacher and a founding member of Rezonance. He can
be contacted at earlymusic@thewholenote.com.
30 | December 1 2014 - February 7, 2015
thewholenote.com
thewholenote.com
Christopher Hoile is a Toronto-based writer on opera and
theatre. He can be contacted at opera@thewholenote.com.
December 1 2014 - February 7, 2015 | 31
JAVIER DEL REAL
December 27, 28 and 31, 2014, and
January 2, 3 and 4, 2015. The production
features Joseph Angelo, Lucia Cesaroni,
Adrian Kramer, David Ludwig and Giles
Tomkins. Derek Bate conducts and
Guillermo Silva-Marin directs.
From January 15 to 17 Toronto Masque
Theatre presents a new production of
Handel’s Acis and Galatea (1718) at the
Enoch Turner Schoolhouse. Lawrence
Wiliford sings Acis, Teri Dunn is Galatea,
Peter McGillivray is Polyphemus and
Graham Thomson is Damon. Larry
Beckwith conducts a seven-member
period instrument band from the violin.
Daniel Taylor’s Schola Cantorum will be
the chorus.
Meanwhile Opera by Request is busy
with Humperdinck’s Hansel and Gretel
(1893) on December 7, Moreno Torroba’s
zarzuela Luisa Fernanda (1932) on
December 10, the Canadian premiere
of Danish composer August Enna’s
The Princess and the Pea (1900) on
January 11 and Mozart’s Die Entführung aus dem Serail on January 24.
All performances are in concert at the College Street United Church
with William Shookhoff as pianist and music director.
Finally, on February 1, Voicebox: Opera in Concert presents
Kurt Weill’s Street Scene (1946) with Jennifer Taverner and Colin
Ainsworth. Robert Cooper is the conductor and pianist.
BRENT CALIS
Russell Braun
the media. By comparison in 2012/13 the COC had
as Don Giovanni
90 percent attendance.
from 2013 Teatro
Digging deeper into the numbers is interReal Madrid
esting though: in 2012/13 the company presented
production.
61 performances totalling 114,133 tickets sold.
In 2013/14 it had 94 percent attendance for 58
performances totalling 111,421 tickets sold. Thus
the percentage “increase” of 4 percent at each
show had as its corollary a 2.4 percent decline in
overall attendance.Worrying is that the number
of tickets sold has now declined for the fifth year
in a row. Average attendance of 94 percent per
show is indeed impressive, but not if the only
way to achieve those numbers is by decreasing
the number of productions, and the number of
performances of those
productions.
Other diversions:
The COC winter
season only begins
at the end of January,
but there are many
operatic diversions in
December. The starriest of these is a concert production
with orchestra of Gioacchino Rossini’s
last, and, many would say, greatest opera,
Guillaume Tell (1829). It is based on
Friedrich Schiller’s play Wilhelm Tell
(1804) about Switzerland’s struggle for
independence from the Habsburg Empire
in the 14th century. The most famous
episode is when the Habsburg tyrant
Gessler demands proof of Tell’s skill as a
marksman by having him shoot an apple
off the head of Tell’s own son. Musically, the opera is best known for
its overture, which despite the fame accruing to it from its use in The
Lone Ranger and in countless cartoons, in fact provides a précis of the
entire action of the opera.
The single performance on December 5 is part of a North American
tour of the Teatro Regio Torino with its full orchestra and chorus. The
opera-in-concert will be presented in its Italian version (from 1833)
with English surtitles and will be conducted by the company’s famed
music director Gianandrea Noseda. Featured among the all-Italian
cast are baritone Luca Salsi as Guglielmo Tell, mezzo-soprano Anna
Maria Chiuri as his wife Edwige, soprano Marina Bucciarelli as his son
Jemmy and bass Gabriele Sagona as the villainous Austrian governor
Gessler. The running time is approximately four hours. Consult the
Toronto Symphony Orchestra website (tso.ca) for more information.
Next in December is another reimagining of Mozart’s Don
Giovanni, this time as #UncleJohn by Toronto’s small but feisty
Against the Grain Theatre which produced a highly successful Pelléas
et Mélisande outdoors earlier this year. Director Joel Ivany’s notion
is to change the period to the present and to set the entire action at
the reception for the marriage of Zerlina and Masetto. There is no
stage. Instead, the singers mingle with and sing from the audience as
invited members of the reception. Ivany has translated and updated
Da Ponte’s libretto so that Leporello’s famous catalogue aria now
counts up Uncle John’s social network followers. Ivany’s version was
developed in conjunction with the COC at Banff and had its highly
praised premiere there in August 2014.
Cameron McPhail sings Uncle John, Neil Craighead is Leporello,
Miriam Khalil is Donna Elvira, Betty Waynne Allison is Donna Anna
and Sean Clark is Don Ottavio. The design is by Patrick Du Wors
and the accompaniment is by a piano quintet with conductor Miloš
Repický at the piano. #UncleJohn plays at The Black Box Theatre,
December 11, 13, 15, 17 and 19.
December and January also hold offerings for those seeking music
theatre written before Mozart or after Rossini. Toronto Operetta
Theatre presents Gilbert and Sullivan’s ever-popular The Mikado
Beat by Beat | Art of Song
an important stage in that
development.
Other Events: On
December 3 Erin Bardua,
soprano, Christina
Stelmacovich, mezzo, Charles
Davidson, tenor, and Graham
Robinson, baritone, sing
Bach’s cantata Wachet! betet!
betet! wachet! at St. James
Cathedral, PWYC.
Miriam Khalil, soprano,
and Julie Nesrallah, mezzo,
are the singers in a concert of
Arab music on December 4 at
Koerner Hall.
Daniel Cabena
Two concerts on December 7:
Off Centre Music Salon presents Ilana Zarankin, soprano, and Erica
Iris Huang, mezzo, singing works from Russia (Glenn Gould Studio);
Marie-Lynn Hammond will sing with the Echo Women’s Choir at
Church of the Holy Trinity.
On December 8; the soloists in the Toronto Masque Theatre
Christmas concert are Lizzie Hetherington and Jean Edwards,
soprano, Jessica Wright, mezzo, and David Roth, baritone at 21
Shaftesbury Avenue.
The third and final installment of the International Divas series takes
place on December 21; the singers are Rita Chiarelli, Maryem Hassan
Tollar, Lara Solnicki, Sharlene Wallace, the Ault Singers and Hisaka at
Trinity-St. Paul’s Centre.
Whitney O’Hearn, mezzo, and Bud Roach, tenor, will perform
songs from the Irving Berlin songbook, with the Talisker Players at
Trinity-St. Paul’s Centre, January 11 and, 13.
Nathalie Paulin, soprano, Laura Pudwell, mezzo, Lawrence
Wiliford, tenor, and Sumner Thompson, baritone, will be the soloists in Beethoven’s Mass in C with Tafelmusik. The concert at Koerner
Hall, January 22 to 25, also includes Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony; the
conductor is Kent Nagano (Koerner Hall, January 22 to 25).
On January 25 Emily Klassen, soprano, and Jean-Sebastien
Beauvais, countertenor, will sing Pergolesi’s Stabat Mater at St. David’s
Anglican Church.
On February 1 Melanie Conly, soprano, will sing Brott, Purcell,
Berlioz and Schubert at Heliconian Hall.
And beyond the GTA: Marie-Josée Lord, soprano, will perform songs
and melodies from Spain and Latin America at (All Saints’ Anglican
Church in Peterborough, January 17).
Catherine Carew, mezzo, performs at the Glenn Crombie Theatre,
Fleming College, in Lindsay January 18.
Two Postscripts: I enjoyed Opera Atelier’s production of Handel’s
Alcina. Most of it was very well sung and Allyson McHardy was spectacular in the role of Ruggiero. I wish though that the company had
not advertised it as a Canadian premiere as there was a fully staged
and very successful production of the work by the Opera School in the
Faculty of Music at the University of Toronto in November 2002. This
was with a modern orchestra but Essential Opera also performed the
work with a chamber orchestra with period instruments in May 2012.
I have been reading with great pleasure the memoir of Mary Willan
Mason, The Well-Tempered Listener: Growing Up with Musical
Parents (Words Indeed, 2010). Mason is the daughter of Healey Willan,
the composer, organist and choirmaster, and of Gladys (“Nell”) Hall,
who had been a distinguished pianist and singer before her marriage.
Mason is now 94 and retains a lively interest in musical events in
the city. One of the many details in the book that struck me was an
account of how during the Depression Evelyn Pamphilon “augmented
her piano-teaching income by producing a pamphlet, What’s On,
listing local concerts and recitals.” This was clearly a forerunner of The
WholeNote. Do any copies survive, I wonder.
Two Busy Singers
T
HANS DE GROOT
he countertenor voice had been prominent in English music
in the late 17th century, the time of Purcell, but was only kept
alive afterwards in the cathedral choirs. That changed in 1944
when the composer and conductor Michael Tippett plucked Alfred
Deller from the choir stalls in Canterbury Cathedral and helped him
to develop a solo career. Initially many people found the experience of
hearing a man sing in the alto register odd. There is a famous story of
Deller being confronted by a woman who asked him whether he was
a eunuch. The story goes on to say that Deller did not miss a beat but
replied immediately: “I think Madam the word you are looking for is
‘unique’.” Well, si non è vero, è ben trovato, but the very fact that the
story rings true even if it isn’t, and has been repeated by many tells us
something about the way audiences felt about this high male voice.
Things have changed: now there are many countertenors and only the
naive and inexperienced will be nonplussed by what they hear. The
other day there was a very good countertenor, singing Schubert’s Ave
Maria during the evening rush hour inside the Bloor-Yonge Station.
Nobody seemed to take any notice (I suppose people had trains to
catch) but nobody there seemed to find it at all unusual either.
Countertenor Daniel Cabena will be a new voice for many. I
remember hearing him with the Toronto Consort and I was recently
listening to the splendid recording by Les Violons du Roy and the
Chapelle de Québec of the Mozart Requiem. Cabena sings on that
recording too. In 2004 he moved to Montreal, where he studied at the
Université de Montréal; since then he has been a student at the Schola
Cantorum Basiliensis in Basel and has performed in Switzerland with
Musica Fiorita and La Cetra and in France with the Concert Spirituel
and Le Parlement de Musique. He recently returned to Canada and
now lives in Guelph.
December and January are going to be busy months for him. On
December 7 at 3pm he will be performing a free concert with the
pianist Stephen Runge at Hart House. The countertenor voice is
now largely associated with early music but Cabena has chosen late
19th and 20th century works, mainly British, for this recital: songs
by Stanford, Vaughan Williams, Ireland, Finzi, Warlock, Quilter,
Howells, Butterworth, Gurney, Britten and William Denis Browne. Of
special interest are two songs by Barrie Cabena, Daniel’s father. The
elder Cabena was born in Australia, studied in England with Herbert
Howells, moved to Canada and taught at Wilfrid Laurier University in
Waterloo from 1970 until his retirement.
On December 13 and 14 Daniel Cabena will sing in a concert of
sacred music by Bach, with the Nota Bene Baroque Orchestra in
Hamilton and Waterloo, respectively. On December 20 he will be the
alto soloist in Messiah with the Guelph Chamber Choir at the River
Run Centre, Guelph and on January 31 he will sing with the ensemble
Scaramella in a program of 17th century German music at Victoria
College Chapel.
Tenor Sean Clark is another busy singer. Fresh from his performance of Tamino in Ottawa’s Opera Lyra children’s version of The Magic
Flute (set in space), he has begun rehearsals for another Mozart role,
that of Don Ottavio in Against the Grain Theatre’s #UncleJohn, an
adaptation of Don Giovanni at the Great Hall’s Black Box Theatre
December 11, 13, 15, 17 and 19). He is giving a recital of Canadian and
American music that consists of Verlaine settings by Mathieu as well
as folk-song arrangements by John Beckwith and John Jacob Niles
at the Canadian Music Centre on December 13. He is also the tenor
soloist in Pax Christi Chorale’s performance of Bach’s Nun kommt
der Heiden Heiland as well as part of the Christmas Oratorio and in
Stephanie Martin’s secular cantata Winter Nights at St. John Vianney
Church in Barrie on December 5; Grace Church on-the-Hill on
December 6 and 7. Clark has been a member of the Canadian Opera
Company chorus for some time and is continuing in that role. But he
is interested in developing a solo career and these concerts may mark
32 | December 1 2014 - February 7, 2015
Hans de Groot is a concertgoer and active listener
who also sings and plays the recorder. He can be
contacted at artofsong@thehwolenote.com.
thewholenote.com
Beat by Beat | Bandstand
E
A Night to
Remember
he had the opportunity, Clarence played euphonium in a Salvation
Army band.)
After discussion with Salvation Army Major Doug Hammond,
the format for the event was agreed upon. Advertised as “A Night to
Remember,” there would be no admission charged. Instead, audience members wwould be invited to donate to a charitable program in
Zimbabwe sponsored by this Bloor Central Corps.
During World War I conductor Eugene Goossens put out a call for
a fanfare to be played at the beginning of every concert in Britain
during the war. It had been very successful. So,
shortly after the United States entered World War II,
Goossens, now in the U.S., put out a similar call. Of
all of the submissions, Aaron Copland’s Fanfare for
the Common Man is the only one to have survived. It
couldn’t be a more appropriate selection to open this
remembrance program. In any war it is the “common
man,” not the leader, who must carry on the fight.
The event that followed the fanfare was a multimedia look at the struggles of one such common man
from small-town Saskatchewan. Private Clarence O.
Bourassa was that common man. As the program
progressed, between musical interludes, Ken Hodge,
a member of the band, read letters from Clarence to
his wife as a wide variety of war scenes and other
images were projected on the screen behind. At other
times Lisa Kapp, also from the band, read letters from
Dorothy to Hazel.
Throughout the program no fewer than 120 photos
or posters were projected on the screen. From a band
member’s vantage point, even with no opportunity to see the images
on the screen, it was a very moving evening. On speaking to some
audience members who had the benefit of the combination of music,
dialogue and images, they indicated that the impact was considerable.
This format is one which could well be employed by school teachers
when planning remembrance services in future years. Once again Dan
Kapp deserves congratulations for making remembrance ceremonies
more meaningful.
Wychwood Clarinet Choir: Another recent musical event deserving
mention was the “Wind Song” concert offered by the Wychwood
Clarinet Choir this past month. Having awarded Howard Cable with
the title of conductor-in-residence, or something similar, it was only
natural that he would play a significant role in the choir’s recent
concert. The name of the concert came from the name of one of
Cable’s first compositions for clarinet choir when he was the civilian
associate conductor and arranger with the NORAD Command Band in
Colorado Springs in 1964. Wind Song was the opener for the second
JACK MACQUARRIE
ver since their inaugural days in Toronto, I have
been a keen advocate of the New Horizons Bands
in this part of the country. When I was invited
to join the senior Toronto New Horizons band and sit
in for one of their performances in early November,
I was pleased and accepted. I thought that this was
to be a typical fall band concert. I couldn’t have been
more mistaken.
I had been told that the concert was to be at the
nearby Salvation Army Dovercourt location as a
thank-you for the many times that the band had been
able to rehearse there when their regular rehearsal
space was unavailable. Since the title of the event was
“A Night to Remember,” and since it was just a few
days before November 11, I assumed that it would be
a remembrance concert. However, in his planning,
director Dan Kapp wanted something more respectful
of the pain and suffering at home and with members
of the forces during their times of separation.
Kapp’s research on the internet led him to a book
titled One Family’s War: The Wartime Letters of Clarence Bourassa,
1940-1944. This is primarily a collection of letters written by Private
Clarence O. Bourassa, of the South Saskatchewan Regiment, to his
wife Hazel from March 1940 to July 1944, when he was killed, aged
30, in the Battle of Normandy. It was edited by Clarence’s son Rollie.
While on leave in England, Clarence had established a friendship with
one family, and letters from Dorothy Starbuck to Hazel have been
included in this collection. Clarence’s letters reveal the complexity
of the emotional life of the Canadian soldier far from his beloved
wife and two children. Obviously, it would not have been possible to
obtain any of Hazel’s letters to Clarence, but Dorothy’s letters provide
much insight.
Once he had read the book, Kapp knew that he had the basis of
what he wanted. In his words: “It was clear that this was all I really
needed to tie the show together.” It would chronicle, with musical
interludes, the many torments of the war for a young soldier and
his family. (One extra tie-in was that, while in England, whenever
thewholenote.com
December 1 2014 - February 7, 2015 | 33
Beat by Beat | Jazz Notes
half of the program which
featured Cable as composer,
arranger and conductor.
The program closed with
his Wychwood Suite which
was written to showcase the
solo artistry of the choir’s
conductor Michele Jacot.
A new group: While it isn’t
a band, Strings Attached is a
new community ensemble.
As the name might suggest,
the group is a Toronto-based,
The Encore Symphonic Concert Band
member-run string orchestra
made up of adult, amateur
string musicians. The orchestra was formed in the summer of 2014,
when three violinists and a cellist got together with a plan to form a
group that would suit their needs. Specifically, they wished to play
a diverse repertoire of music arranged or written for strings, with a
group of like-minded, dedicated amateur musicians. While, like other
amateur groups, a primary objective is the personal enjoyment of
making music, their goal is also to serve the community at large with
performances at nursing homes, hospitals and similar venues. Interest
in the project grew quickly and Strings Attached now has over 25
members and is growing.
Conductor Ric Giorgi is a Toronto jazz bassist, pianist and singer,
with a broad history of composing music for film and television, as
well as having conducted various local orchestras and ensembles
including the Scarborough and Toronto District School Board Music
Camps. Under his baton, Strings Attached meets every Monday from
September to June in the Bathurst and Sheppard area.
It is unusual to hear a new group state that some sections are full,
but that is the case here. They say that their cello section is full and
the viola and bass sections are close to capacity. However, they are
currently looking for more violins. Anyone with a background in
playing a string instrument, and an interest in playing with a friendly,
encouraging group, is welcome to visit their website
(stringsattachedorchestra.com) or pay a visit to a rehearsal.
Concerts coming: Last month I mentioned that the new Toronto
Concert Band had begun rehearsals in west end Toronto in September.
Now, only two months after their first rehearsal, they have just
confirmed the venue for their inaugural public performance. Rather
than perform in a local location, they wanted to reinforce their
mandate of serving the entire City of Toronto, and have selected the
CBC Glenn Gould Studio for their first appearance on the local music
scene. Under the direction of conductors Les Dobbin and Ken Hazlett
they will kick off their season on Saturday, January 31, at 8pm.
See the listings section for concerts by The Encore Symphonic
Concert Band (Dec 4, Jan 8, Feb 5), The Festival Wind Orchestra
(Dec 14), The Pickering Community Concert Band (Dec 14) and the
Flute Street Flute Choir (Jan 31).
Concert missed: By the time this issue is off the press, the annual
“Seasonal Celebration” of the Markham Concert Band on Sunday
November 30 will be history. Unfortunately the information on that
concert wasn’t received in time. One work scheduled for that program
was a composition by Louie Madrid Calleja, who came to Canada from
the Philippines and holds a master’s degree from York University. The
information received does not mention the title of the work. Perhaps
it was his Soliloquy for Band Op. 40a which was well received at the
CBA Community Band Weekend in October. Keep your ears open. We
should be hearing more from this young composer in the future.
Definition Department: This month’s lesser known musical term
is maestro: A person who, standing in front of the orchestra and/or
chorus, is able to follow them precisely.
We invite submissions from readers. Let’s hear your daffynitions.
The More It
Changes ...
J I M G A L LO W AY
This being the 15th or 16th December/January edition of these Jazz
Notes for The WholeNote, I thought that rather than essaying something completely new, I’d dip back through my little stack of back
issues for things that, still being appropriate, I might appropriate.
Take this, for one example:
This month’s column is a departure from the familiar concert listings of previous issues, reason being that the above mentioned departure was mine - for a month-long trip to Europe! As a result this
article is coming to you from the waltz capital of the world, Vienna.
First of all, for the record, the Danube is not blue, but an industrial brown which would not inspire Johann were he to see it today.
Also the Viennese waltz does not make up 3/4 of the music heard in
Vienna, even though it is in 3/4, and since being here I have not heard
a single zither play the theme from The Third Man.
Is there jazz in this stronghold of Strauss? – this fatherland of
Freud? – this Mecca of Mozart? – this city where you can have your
Vienna Phil? Yes there is and quite a lot of it at that, although, as
anywhere else it is music for a small minority – and a minority that is
broken into at least two camps. There are the obvious ones traditional
and modern, and it would seem that never – or very seldom – the
twain shall meet. (No, not you, Mark!)
The stronghold for the traditional/swing/bebop audience – and
I include bebop because in the overall picture of what is called jazz
today, bebop is pretty traditional sounding – is a club called Jazzland,
located in the heart of the old city, underneath what was the wall of
the old city. It is, of course, a cellar club, full of atmosphere, with the
original walls and vaulted ceiling still in place.
The walls are lined with photos of jazz artists who have played the
club and it is quite a Who’s Who ranging from pioneers like Teddy
Wilson and Wild Bill Davison to the recently deceased Art Farmer.
Artists appearing in November, for example, included Red Holloway,
Trevor Richards, Conte Candoli, Melissa Walker and Hal Singer along
with some of the leading local players. It is the oldest club in Vienna
currently in its 27th year as a jazz haunt and something like its 500th
as a cellar. It was an escape route in times of siege but serves now as
an escape for jazz fans who like to know where the bar is and prefer
their music to swing.
Jazzland is run by a remarkable couple, Axel and Tillie Melhardt,
assisted by a really friendly staff including Martin and Thomas, a pair
of great bartenders. Alex and Tillie’s love of the music is genuine and
the long succession of visiting artists thinks the world of them. If you
can find better anywhere I’ll buy an oversized Tam O’Shanter and eat
it. (It’s a hat Mabel). Incidentally Axel Melhardt comes by his love of
music honestly. His mother was an opera singer and his great-granduncle was Antonín Dvořák!
There are several other clubs where mostly local musicians are
featured. They don’t have jazz six nights a week so you have to check,
but you can make some nice discoveries in venues such as Papa’s
Tapas, Blues Man, Miles Smiles, tunel, and Vienna Unplugged. Worth
noting is Reigen Live, a club which featured one-nighters last week
by Archie Shepp, Les McCann, Jimmy Scott and Cubanismo. There is
also a club called Porgy And Bess operating once a week just now. It
presents the more avant-garde end of the spectrum so don’t expect
much Gershwin, despite the name.
There are plans to build a new Porgy and Bess club heavily funded
by the city, as the planned new Birdland club, being built by Joe
Zawinul, will be. I heard a good singer called Barbara Pfluger who
appeared last month in a spot called Celeste. The local talent pool is
good. Some of the groups I am familiar with cover a wide range of
Jack MacQuarrie plays several brass instruments and
has performed in many community ensembles. He can
be contacted at bandstand@thewholenote.com.
34 | December 1 2014 - February 7, 2015
thewholenote.com
marvellously new, some precisely because it isn’t.
Incidentally, I rang in that millennial new year at The Montreal
Bistro, Sherbourne and Adelaide… performing from the 28th to Jan 1,
starting at 9pm each night. “The music will swing,” I wrote, “and so
will my kilt on New Year’s Eve.”
So some things do change: the Montreal Bistro and the five-day gig
both seem a long time ago.
Here are another couple of excerpts to ponder (both from the
following year, the first December of the brave new millennium):
Looking back over the past year I realize just how much good jazz
is available in this city. On any given week in Toronto you can hear a
wide range of music. the performers are sometimes visiting “names”
but the majority are our own artists – and the standards are high. the
concentration of good musicians in our own community is astonishing. The number of playing opportunities regrettably small, for it
is an unfortunate fact that there is a lot less work for musicians than
there used to be.
… And this:
The somewhat unusual contradiction in all of this is the problem
that we live in an age where there is not enough work for muscians,
while at the same time there is too much music around us!
It’s a personal opinion, but I hold it very firmly, and I know I’m
not alone. Music has been devalued or at least the contribution of the
people who make the music. Because of its omnipresence – in elevators, in shops, in restaurants, in waiting rooms, in washrooms – incessantly – it is rammed down our throats, well our ears, to be more
accurate, day and night, to the extent that it is simply noise in the
background and of absolutely no aesthetic value. And silence becomes
increasingly golden.
And so I come to the end of another column and another year,
with a final quote from that December 2000 column.
“Have an excellent holiday season, and if you need a resolution for
the new year, how about making a point of getting out to see more live
music. Those of us who toil on stages and in clubs will be grateful.”
Or in the words of what has become my standard Jazz Notes signoff over the years: Happy listening, and why not make some of
it live!
Jazzland Revisited, April 2012: Axel and Tillie Melhardt with Jim Galloway
styles. If you like it New Orleans style, there are The Red Hot Pods who
have played the Toronto festival a couple of times A little more towards
the Chicago style, in spite of their name, you have The Original
Storyville Jazz Band and advancing chronologically in terms of style
there are groups like the Stanton Big Band, Together, Koolinger, and
The Vienna Art Orchestra. I can’t list everybody and I apologise if
I leave out names that deserve to be included, but two of the most
impressive musicians I heard were drummer Walter Grossrubatscher
and pianist/clarinettist Herbert Swoboda who can easily hold their
own in any company.
Jazz in Vienna is not confined to clubs, although it is interesting, in
view of some earlier comments in this column, to note that performances in clubs are frequently referred to as “concerts.” The “real”
concert hall scene is also quite active. Over the current four week
period the line-up is Dave Brubeck Quartet, Manhattan Transfer, The
Ron Carter Quintet, and Joe Zwainul in a “Homage to Johann Strauss”
if you can believe that one!
So is there a jazz scene here? You can bet your Vienna
Woods there is.
It seems to me that more has stayed the same in Vienna jazz life
than has changed since mid-November 1999, which is when I wrote
this little sketch – Axel Melhardt is still at the helm of a Jazzland,
now in its 44th year. The Porgy and Bess and Birdland ventures
I mentioned amounted to nothing; places announced in a blaze
of glory only to fizzle are a part of the scene’s overall wonderful
consistency. Audiences remain a consistent mix of grey and not
yet grey, coming to actually listen to music, some of it because it is
Jim Galloway is a saxophonist, band leader and former
artistic director of Toronto Downtown Jazz. He can
be contacted at jazznotes@thewholenote.com.
Mainly clubs, Mostly Jazz!
WITH Ori Dagan. See page 63.
Featuring some of Toronto’s best jazz musicians
with a brief reflection by Jazz Vespers Clergy
St. Philip’s Anglican Church
●
Dec. 7 at 4:30 pm
Christmas Jazz
“The Nutcracker Suite” by Ellington and Strayhorn
BRIAN BARLOW BIG BAND
Sunday, December 14, 4:00 PM |
Christmas Jazz Vespers
Mark Eisenman Quartet
St. Philip’s Anglican Church
Sunday, January
11, 4:00
PM | Jazz
Vespers
| Etobicoke
St. Philip’s
Anglican
Church
Barbra
Lica
Trio
25
● St. Phillips Road (near Royal York + Dixon)
416-247-5181
• stphilips.net
willVespers
offering
| Jazz
Sunday, January
25, 4:00 •
PMfree
Hilario Duran Trio
Sunday, February 8, 4:00 PM | Jazz Vespers
Joy Lewis Quartet
Jan. 11 at 4:30 pm
BOB BROUGH QUARTET – Bob (saxophone)
Artie Roth (bass), Adrean Farrugia (piano)
Terry Clarke (drums)
Jan. 25 at 4:30 pm
Rob Piltch and Lorne Lofsky (guitar duo)
Feb. 8 at 4:30 pm - TRIBUTE TO EUBIE BLAKE
Gord Sheard (solo piano) Tribute talk by Brian Barlow
St. Philip’s Anglican Church | Etobicoke
25 St. Phillips Road (near Royal York + Dixon)
416-247-5181 • stphilips.net • free will offering
thewholenote.com
2015
416-920-5211
Christ Church Deer Park, 1570 Yonge St.
(north of St. Clair at Heath St.)
Admission is free; donations are welcome.
www.thereslifehere.org
December 1 2014 - February 7, 2015 | 35
A. Concerts in the GTA
LISTINGS
IN THIS ISSUE: Ajax, Aurora, Brampton, Burlington, Etobicoke, King
Township, Markham, Milton, Mississauga, Newmarket, Oakville,
Richmond Hill, Scarborough, Thornhill, Uxbridge.
The WholeNote listings are arranged in four sections:
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
GTA (GREATER TORONTO AREA) covers all of Toronto
plus Halton, Peel, York and Durham regions.
Monday December 1
●● 12:30: York University Department
of Music. Music at Midday: Instrumental Masterclass Concert. Patricia Wait, conductor. Tribute Communities Hall, Accolade
East Building, 4700 Keele St. 647-459-0701.
Free.
●● 7:30: LOFT Community Services. Home
for the Holidays. Christmas Concert Benefit. Broadway, carols, and other choral works.
Thom Allison, Breanne Dietrich, Stephanie
Martin, Billy Newton Davis and others. St.
James Cathedral, 65 Church St. 416-979-1994
x233. $35.
●● 7:30: University of Toronto Faculty of
Music. Student Chamber Ensembles Concert:
Brass. Walter Hall, Edward Johnson Building,
80 Queen’s Park. 416-408-0208. Free.
●● 7:30: York University Department of
Music. Jazz Festival: Jazz Orchestra. Mike
Cadó, conductor. Martin Family Lounge,
219 Accolade East Building, 4700 Keele St.
647-459-0701. Free. Festival runs Dec 1–5(mat
and eve).
●● 8:00: Corporation of Massey Hall and
Roy Thomson Hall. Itzhak Perlman. Vivaldi:
Sonata in A for Violin and Continuo Op.2 Rv31;
Schumann: Fantasiestücke, Op.73; Beethoven:
Sonata No.7 in c Op.30; Ravel: Sonata for Violin and Piano No.2 in G. Itzhak Perlman, violin; Rohan De Silva, piano. Roy Thomson Hall,
60 Simcoe St. 416-872-4255. $29.50-$129.50.
●● 8:00: Toronto Theatre Organ Society.
Dave Wickerham, Wurlitzer organ. Casa
Loma, 1 Austin Terrace. 416-449-6262. $20.
●● 12:00 noon: Canadian Opera Company.
Dance Series: Ballet 360. Classical and contemporary ballet. Highlights from Cinderella,
Nutcracker, A Canadian Tradition and Desrosier’s Bouffonia. Ballet Jörgen. Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre, Four Seasons Centre for
the Performing Arts, 145 Queen St. W. 416363-8231. Free.
●● 12:10: Nine Sparrows Arts Foundation/
Yorkminster Park Baptist Church. Lunchtime Chamber Music. Alheli Pimienta, flute;
Adam Sherkin, piano. Yorkminster Park Baptist Church, 1585 Yonge St. 416-241-1298.
Free. Donations welcome.
BEYOND THE GTA covers many areas of Southern
Ontario outside Toronto and the GTA. Starts on page 58.
MUSIC THEATRE covers a wide range of music types:
from opera, operetta and musicals, to non-traditional
performance types where words and music are in some
fashion equal partners in the drama. Starts on page 61.
IN THE CLUBS (MOSTLY JAZZ)
is organized alphabetically by club.
Starts on page 62.
THE ETCETERAS is for galas, fundraisers, competitions,
screenings, lectures, symposia, masterclasses, workshops,
singalongs and other music-related events (except
performances) which may be of interest to our readers.
Starts on page 66.
A GENERAL WORD OF CAUTION. A phone number is provided
with every listing in The WholeNote — in fact, we won’t publish
a listing without one. Concerts are sometimes cancelled or postponed; artists or venues may change after listings are published.
Please check before you go out to a concert.
HOW TO LIST. Listings in The WholeNote in the four sections above
are a free service available, at our discretion, to eligible presenters.
If you have an event, send us your information no later than the
8th of the month prior to the issue or issues in which your listing is
eligible to appear.
LISTINGS DEADLINE. The next issue covers the period from
November 1 to December 7, 2014. All listings must be received by
6pm Wednesday October 8.
LISTINGS can be sent by e-mail to listings@thewholenote.com or
by fax to 416-603-4791 or by regular mail to the address on page 6.
We do not receive listings by phone, but you can call 416-323-2232
x27 for further information.
LISTINGS ZONE MAP. Visit our website to see a detailed version
of this map: thewholenote.com.
Tuesday December 2
Georgian
Bay
●● 12:10: University of Toronto Faculty of
Lake
Huron
8
7
6
Music. Performance Class for Singers: Songs
of the Season! Walter Hall, Edward Johnson
Building, 80 Queen’s Park. 416-408-0208.
Free. Public welcome.
●● 12:30: York University Department of
Music. Jazz Festival: Jazz Vocal Workshop.
Mike Cadó, conductor. Martin Family Lounge,
219 Accolade East Building, 4700 Keele St.
647-459-0701. Free.
●● 1:00: Cathedral Church of St. James.
Organ recitals. Andrew Ager, organist.
65 Church St. 416-364-7865 ext. 245. Free;
donations welcomed.
●● 7:30: University of Toronto Faculty of
Music. Guitar Orchestra. Jeffrey McFadden, conductor. Walter Hall, Edward Johnson Building, 80 Queen’s Park. 416-408-0208.
Free.
●● 7:30: York University Department of
3 4
2
1 City of Toronto
Lake Ontario
5
Lake Erie
36 | December 1 2014 - February 7, 2015
Music. Jazz Festival: Jazz Combos. Artie
Roth and Mark Eisenman, conductors. Martin Family Lounge, 219 Accolade East Building,
4700 Keele St. 647-459-0701. Free. Festival
runs Dec 1–5(mat and eve).
●● 8:00: Arraymusic. Array Session #29. An
evening of improvisation in the tradition of
the Columbia U Radio jams or CCMC Music
Gallery evenings. Rick Sacks, conductor.
Array Space, 155 Walnut St. 416-532-3019.
Free/PWYC.
●● 8:00: Gallery 345. A Woman Is a Secret:
Music Salon. Classic love songs in a cabaret style. Emmy Rouge and Secret Surprise
Guests. 345 Sorauren Ave. 416-822-9781.
$20;$15(advance).
Wednesday December 3
●● 12:30: York University Department of
Music. Jazz Festival: Vocal Ensembles. Mike
Cadó, conductor. Martin Family Lounge,
219 Accolade East Building, 4700 Keele St.
647-459-0701. Free. Festival runs Dec 1–5(mat
and eve).
●● 12:30: Yorkminster Park Baptist Church.
Noontime Recitals. Andrew Adair, organ.
1585 Yonge St. 416-922-1167. Free.
●● 2:00: York University Department of
Music. Ahmed Dickinson Cardenas, guitar.
Cuban. William Thomas, conductor. Martin
Family Lounge, 219 Accolade East Building,
4700 Keele St. 647-459-0701. Free.
●● 5:30: Canadian Opera Company. Jazz Series: Ripple Effect. Jazz standards and original
music. Highlights from Ripple Effect album
and upcoming recording. Mike Downes,
bass; Larnell Lewis, drums; Robi Botos, piano.
Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre, Four
Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts,
145 Queen St. W. 416-363-8231. Free.
●● 6:00: Cathedral Church of St. James. Cantatas in the Cathedral. Bach: “Wachet! betet!
betet! Wachet!” BWV 70. Erin Bardua, soprano; Christina Stelmacovich, alto; Charles
Davidson, tenor; Graham Robinson, bass.
65 Church St. 416-364-7865 x245. PWYC.
●● 7:00: Civic Light-Opera Company. The
Judy Garland Christmas Show (That never
was!). Caroline Moro-Dalicando as Judy; Eric
Botosan; Mickey Brown; Joe Cascone; David
Haines and others. Zion Cultural Centre,
1650 Finch E. 416-755-1717. $28. Also Dec 4, 5,
6, 7, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 (start times vary).
●● 7:30: University of Toronto Faculty of
Music. 11 O’Clock Jazz Orchestra and Vocal
Jazz Ensemble. Jim Lewis and Christine Duncan, conductors. Walter Hall, Edward Johnson Building, 80 Queen’s Park. 416-408-0208.
Free.
●● 7:30: York University Department of
Music. Jazz Festival: Jazz Combos. Kelly
Jefferson,and Kevin Turcotte, directors. Martin Family Lounge, 219 Accolade East Building,
4700 Keele St. 647-459-0701. Free. Festival
runs Dec 1–5(mat and eve).
●● 8:00: Musideum. Jonathan Feldman. Jazz.
Suite 133 (main floor), 401 Richmond St. W.
416-599-7323. $20.
●● 8:00: Toronto Symphony Orchestra.
Masterworks: Best of Tchaikovsky. Tchaikovsky: Jurisprudence March; Piano Concerto No.1; The Nutcracker (Act II). Alice Sara
thewholenote.com
Ott, piano; Cristian Măcelaru, conductor. Roy
Thomson Hall, 60 Simcoe St. 416-593-4828.
$38.75-$169. Also Dec 6.
Thursday December 4
●● 12:00 noon: Adam Sherkin. Mozart:
Involuntary Genius. Mozart: Rondo in D K485;
Sonata in B-flat K333; Sherkin: Amadeus A.D.
Adam Sherkin, piano. Bluma Appel Lobby, St.
Lawrence Centre for the Arts, 27 Front St. E.
416-366-7723. Free.
●● 12:00 noon: Canadian Opera Company.
Piano Virtuoso Series: Virtuoso Masterworks. Works by Bach, Beethoven and Liszt.
Rossina Grieco, piano. Richard Bradshaw
Amphitheatre, Four Seasons Centre for the
Performing Arts, 145 Queen St. W. 416-3638231. Free.
●● 12:15: Music at Metropolitan. Noon at Met:
Alexa Wing, soprano and Peter Bishop, piano.
Metropolitan United Church, 56 Queen St. E.
416-363-0331 x26. Free.
●● 12:30: York University Department
of Music. Jazz Festival: Vocal Ensembles. Richard Whiteman, conductor. Martin
Family Lounge, 219 Accolade East Building,
4700 Keele St. 647-459-0701. Free. Festival
runs Dec 1–5(mat and eve).
●● 12:30: York University Department of
Music. Music at Midday: Classical Piano
Showcase. Christina Petrowska Quilico,
piano/conductor. Tribute Communities Hall,
Accolade East Building, 4700 Keele St. 647459-0701. Free.
●● 1:00: Encore Symphonic Concert Band.
In Concert. Classics and jazz. John Edward
Liddle, conductor. Encore Hall, Wilmar
Heights Centre, 963 Pharmacy Ave., Scarborough. 416-346-3910. $10. Includes coffee and snack.
●● 7:00: Ross Petty Productions. Cinderella.
The rags to riches family musical. Ross Petty
(Evil Step-Mother); Danielle Wade (Cinderella); Dan Chameroy (Plumbum); Eddie Glen
(Buttons); Jeff Lillico (Max Charming). Elgin
Theatre, 189 Yonge St. 1-855-599-9090. $34$83; $34-$66(under 12). Runs Dec 4 to Jan 4.
See Section C: Music Theatre for details.
●● 7:00: Royal Conservatory/Canadian Arab
Institute/Small World Music. Sultans and
Divas. Julie Nesrallah, mezzo; Miriam Khalil,
soprano; Bassam Bishara, oud; Okotécho;
Sultans of String w. Chris McKhool, violin.
Koerner Hall, 273 Bloor St. W. 416-408-0208.
$35-$80.
●● 7:30: Classical Music Artist Management.
Clarinet Fantasy. Gershwin: 3 Preludes for
clarinet; Stravinsky: 3 pieces for solo clarinet; Brahms: Clarinet Sonata No.1; Luigi Bassi:
Fantaisie brillante on Verdi’s Rigoletto. Yao
Guang Zhai, clarinet; Jeanie Chung, piano.
Heliconian Hall, 35 Hazelton Ave. 647-2019776. $20; $10(st).
●● 7:30: University of Toronto Faculty of
Music. World Music Ensembles. Raigelee
Alorut, World Music Artist in Residence. Walter Hall, Edward Johnson Building, 80 Queen’s
Park. 416-408-0208. Free.
●● 7:30: York University Department of
Music. Symphony Orchestra. Works by Wagner, Berlioz, Sibelius, Haydn and Tchaikovsky. Mark Chambers, conductor. Tribute
Communities Hall, Accolade East Building,
4700 Keele St. 416-736-5888. $15; $10(sr/st).
●● 7:30: York University Department of
Music. Jazz Festival: Jazz Combos. Anthony
Michelli and Frank Falco, conductors. Martin
thewholenote.com
Family Lounge, 219 Accolade East Building,
4700 Keele St. 647-459-0701. Free. Festival
runs Dec 1–5(mat and eve).
●● 8:00: Civic Light-Opera Company. The
Judy Garland Christmas Show (That never
was!). See Dec 3; Dec 5, 6, 7, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14
(Start times vary).
●● 8:00: Music Gallery. Emergents I, curated
by Melody McKiver: Clarinet Panic Deluxx
Cris Derksen. Cris Derksen, cello, looper,
drum machines, keys and vocals; Cory Latkovich, cello; Karen Ng, saxophone; Sebastian
Shinwell, guitar; D. Alex Meeks, percussion.
197 John St. 416-961-9594. $12;$8(member).
2014-2015
Concert Season
syrinxconcerts.ca
EDA,
REA NOS
GIANAND R
TO
CONDUC
L:
M TEEL
TRE
WILLRIA
A
H
T
L
A
OY
)
RINO
TURIN
REGIO TO
(TEATRO
DEC 5 /WilliamTell
TSO.CA
Fabrizio Beggi, (Melcthal), bass; and others;
Orchestra and Chorus Teatro Regio Torino;
Gianandrea Noseda, conductor. Roy Thomson
Hall, 60 Simcoe St. 416-593-4828. $33-$145.
Italian with English SURTITLES™. 6:15: Rick
Phillips pre-concert chat.
●● 7:30: Brampton Folk Club. Friday Folk
Night: Songs for the Snowy Season. Boreal (Tannis Slimmon, Katherine Wheatley
and Jude Vadala). St. Paul’s United Church
(Brampton), 30 Main St. S., Brampton. 647233-3655. $15;$12(sr/st).
●● 7:30: Sony Centre For the Performing
Arts/Attila Glatz Concert Productions.
Gladiator Live. Film with live music. Clara
Sanabras, vocals; Motion Picture Symphony
Orchestra; Tallis Choir of Toronto; Justin
Freer, conductor. Sony Centre For The Performing Arts, 1 Front St. E. 1-855-872-7669.
$47-$97.
●● 7:30: University of Toronto Faculty of
Music. Wind Symphony. Cable: Ontario Pictures; Henze: Ragtimes and Habaneras; Children’s March; Copland: Down A Country
Lane; Chance: Incantation and Dance; Weill:
Three Penny Music. Tony Gomes, conductor.
MacMillan Theatre, Edward Johnson Building, 80 Queen’s Park. 416-408-0208. $30;
$20(sr); $10(st).
●● 7:30: York University Department of
MUSIC OF
THE FRENCH
BAROQUE
Dec 4-7
416.964.6337
tafelmusik.org
●● 8:00: Tafelmusik. The French Connec-
tion. Rebel: Les Éléments; and works by Campra, Corrette, Leclair and Rameau. Amandine
Beyer, violin and conductor. Trinity-St. Paul’s
Centre, Jeanne Lamon Hall, 427 Bloor St. W.
416-964-6337. $37-$89; $29-$79(sr); $15$79(under 36). Also Dec 5, 6, 7(mat).
●● 8:30: Rant Maggie Rant. Frost & Fire: A
Celtic Christmas Celebration! Traditional to
modern Celtic melodies, jigs and reels, carols and other works. Lindsay Schindler, fiddle,
vocals; Glen Dias, vocals, recorders, percussion; Barry James Payne, guitars, harmonica,
vocals; Rob Larose, percussion; Steve Clark,
bass; Daev Clysdale, Irish whistle, Irish flute,
accordion. Hugh’s Room, 2261 Dundas St. W.
416-531-6604. $27.50/$25(adv). Reservations
are recommended for dinner.
Free concerts
at 12:15 pm
●● 1:10: Gordon Murray Presents. Piano Pot-
pourri. Classics, opera, operetta, musicals,
ragtime, pop, international and other genres.
Gordon Murray, piano. Trinity-St. Paul’s
United Church, 427 Bloor St. W. 416-6314300. PWYC. Lunch and snack friendly.
●● 7:00: Toronto Symphony Orchestra.
Masterworks: William Tell Opera-in-Concert
- Turin Royal Theatre. Rossini. Dalibor Jenis,
baritone (Guglielmo Tell); Enea Scala, tenor
(Arnoldo Melcthal); Angela Meade (Matilde);
Marco Palazzi, bass (Gualtiero Farst) and
Music
at Metropolitan
Dec. 11 Andre Rakus
organist
Dec. 18 �omas Gonder
organist
Andrew Ager
organist
Metropolitan United Church
56 Queen Street E.,Toronto
416-363-0331 (ext. 26)
www.metunited.org
cello
Sunday Feb 1
Melanie Conly
soprano
Peter Stoll clarinet
Emily Rho piano
Sunday Mar 1
Anastasia Rizikov
piano
Sunday Apr 12
Seiler Trio:
Mayumi Seiler violin
Angela Park piano
Rachel Mercer cello
Sunday May 3
piano
Dec. 4 Alexa Wing, soprano
Peter Bishop, piano
Jan. 8
Patricia Parr piano
Erika Raum violin
Winona Zelenka
Sofya Gulyak
‘NOON
AT MET’
Friday December 5
Sunday Dec 7
All Concerts 3pm
Heliconian Hall
35 Hazelton Ave
tickets: $25
students:$20
purchase tickets
syrinxconcerts.ca
info 416.654.0877
December 1 2014 - February 7, 2015 | 37
A. Concerts in the GTA
Music. Jazz Festival: Jazz Combos. Roy Patterson, Jim Vivian and Lorne Lofsky, conductors. Martin Family Lounge, 219 Accolade East
Building, 4700 Keele St. 647-459-0701. Free.
Festival runs Dec 1–5(mat and eve).
●● 8:00: Aga Khan Museum. Siavash: Stories from the Shah-Nameh. Multi-media world
premiere. Shahrokh Yadegari, composer;
Gordafarid, naqal; Siamak Shajarian, vocals;
Keyavash Nourai, violin, cello and kamancheh.
Aga Khan Museum Auditorium, 77 Wynford
Drive. 416-646-4677. $50-$75. Also Dec 6.
●● 8:00: Civic Light-Opera Company. The
Judy Garland Christmas Show (That never
was!). See Dec 3; Dec 6, 7, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14
(Start times vary).
Uncompromising Experimentalist, Day One.
Array Space, 155 Walnut St. 416-532-3019.
$10. See Section D, The ETCeteras, under
Screenings. Also Dec 7.
●● 3:00: Onstage Productions. Sounds of
Christmas... Home for the Holidays. A Christmas musical celebration. Flato Markham
Theatre, 171 Town Centre Blvd., Markham.
416-556-9552. $28; $26(sr/youth). Also 8:00,
Dec 7(2:30).
●● 3:00: Scarborough Choralaires. Christmas Time Is Here. Knob Hill United Church,
23 Gage Ave., Scarborough. 416-498-8993.
$10; $5(st). Refreshments to follow.
●● 3:00: Singing Out. Closer to the Flame.
Holiday Concert. Snider: Midnight Lullaby;
Brown (arr.): Chanukah Suite; Beorsma:
Closer to the Flame; and other holiday favourites. Singing Out LGBTQ Chorus; Jody Malone,
conductor; Beth Hanson, piano. Jane Mallett
Theatre, St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts,
27 Front St. E. 416-859-4248. $25; $15(12 and
under). Also 7:30.
●● 4:30: Beach United Church. Jazz and
Reflection: Jazzy Christmas. Bill MacLean,
vocals; Brian Stevens, piano. 140 Wineva Ave.
416-691-8082. Freewill offering.
●● 7:00: Music at St. Andrew’s. Annual Rugby
Christmas Carol Service. Christmas Carols
with David Leask, the St. Andrew’s Choristers and the members of the Rugby Leagues
of Ontario. St. Andrew’s Church, 73 Simcoe
St. 416-593-5600 x231. Freewill offering. Proceeds in support of Out of the Cold program
at St Andrew’s Church.
●● 7:00: Oakville Children’s Choir. Let It
Snow. Poetry contest commission premiere:
Snowflake. St. John’s United Church (Oakville), 262 Randall St., Oakville. 905-337-7104.
$25; $20(sr); $15(child).
●● 7:30: Cantores Celestes Women’s Choir.
An Appalachian Christmas. Walker: Appalachian Carols; Bass: Gloria; Caccini: Ave Maria;
and other works. Trillium Brass; Tom Power,
banjo and guitar; John Showman, violin; Ellen
Meyer, piano; Kelly Galbraith, conductor.
Runnymede United Church, 432 Runnymede
Rd. 416-236-1522. $25. Proceeds go towards
annual donation of $1,000 to Romero House.
●● 7:30: Coro San Marco. Advent/Christmas
Concert. Selection of Christmas songs from
around the world. St. Lawrence the Martyr Church, 2210 Lawrence Ave. E. 416-7599359. $10.
●● 7:30: Counterpoint Community Orchestra. A Joyful Noise. New Canadian works;
Tchaikovsky: Symphony No.5; Holst: Jupiter, the Bringer of Jollity; Dvořák: Serenade
for Strings Waltz. St. Luke’s United Church,
353 Sherbourne St. $20; $15(students with
ID); $10(under 12). 416-902-7532.
●● 7:30: Etobicoke Centennial Choir. Sacred
Traditions. Handel: Messiah (part 1); seasonal
carols and songs. Carl Steinhauser, piano;
Henry Renglich, conductor; guests: The Kingsway College School Choir. Humber Valley
United Church, 76 Anglesey Blvd., Etobicoke.
416-769-9271. $25.
●● 7:30: Northern Lights Chorus. Welcome
Christmas. Guests: Test Drive, Yonge Guns,
‘Shoptimus Prime and others. Metropolitan
United Church, 56 Queen St. E. 1-866-7447464. $26; $16(st).
●● 7:30: Pax Christi Chorale. Winter Nights.
J.S.Bach: Christmas Oratorio Part II; Nun
komm der Heiden Heiland; Martin: Winter
Nights. Michele Bogdanowicz, mezzo; Sean
Clark, tenor; Doug MacNaughton, baritone.
director. 345 Sorauren Ave. 416-822-9781.
$20; $10(st).
●● 8:00: Royal Conservatory. Canadian
Brass. Featuring recent CD release: Christmas Time is Here. Coletti: Bach’s Bells;
Dedrick: Angel Choir and the Trumpeter;
Kenton: Angels We Have Heard on High; and
other works. Koerner Hall, 273 Bloor St. W.
416-408-0208. $45-$90.
●● 8:00: Small World Music. Nazar-i Turkwaz. Traditional music from the Middle East,
Turkey, Greece and the Balkans. Brenna MacCrimmon, Maryem Tollar, Sophia Grigoriadis
and Jayne Brown. Small World Music Centre, Artscape Youngplace, 180 Shaw St. 416536-5439. $20.
●● 8:00: Tafelmusik. The French Connection.
See Dec 4; Also Dec 6, 7(mat).
●● 8:00: Upper Canada Choristers. Winter Fanfare. Rutter: Blow, Blow Thou Winter Wind; Jenkins: Stella Natalis (Celebro and
Wintertide); Sevivon and We Are Lights; and
other works; audience sing-along. Natasha
Farnsblow, piano; Cantemos a capella Latin
Ensemble; Laurie Evan Fraser, conductor.
Guest: Mark Ruhnke, baritone. Grace Church
on-the-Hill, 300 Lonsdale Rd. 416-256-0510.
$25; free(child & high school).
●● 8:00: Wendalyn Bartley. Sound Dreaming CD Concert Celebration. Electroacoustic
music, live performances and improvisations.
Wendalyn Bartley, vocals; Penelope Cookson, vocals; Ian de Souza, electronics; and
others. Jacky Sawatzky, video. Array Space,
155 Walnut St. 647-938-3994. $20(incl. CD).
Saturday December 6
●● 2:00: Mississauga Festival Choir. Jin-
●● 8:00: Elmer Iseler Singers. Handel: Mes-
siah. Guests: Virginia Hatfield, soprano; Marion Newman, mezzo; David Pomeroy, tenor;
Giles Tomkins, bass; Amadeus Choir; Lydia
Adams, conductor. Metropolitan United
Church, 56 Queen St. E. 416-217-0537. $55;
$50(sr); $20(st).
●● 8:00: Exultate Chamber Singers. A Canadian Noël. Works by Canadian composers; Christmas stories from singers in the
ensemble; audience carol sing-along. Hilary
Apfelstadt, conductor. Guests: Mississauga
Children’s Chorus (Caron Daley, conductor).
St. Thomas’s Anglican Church, 383 Huron St.
416-971-9229. $25; $20(sr); $10 (st).
●● 8:00: Gallery 345. Chelsea McBride’s
Socialist Night School Big Band. 18-piece big
band. Original compositions and arrangements influenced by socialism, ECM-style jazz,
pop and nature. Chelsea McBride, composer/
38 | December 1 2014 - February 7, 2015
gle Jazz. Berlin: White Christmas, Guaraldi:
A Charlie Brown Christmas, and other traditional and jazz selections; sing-along. Guest:
Shannon Butcher Trio. RBC Theatre, Living
Arts Centre, 4141 Living Arts Dr., Mississauga.
905-306-6000. $30; $28(sr/st); $25(child).
Also 8:00.
●● 2:00: Royal Conservatory. Family Concerts: Stewart Goodyear. Nutcracker Suite
(piano solo version). Stewart Goodyear,
piano; dancers from Canada’s National Ballet School and Ballet Creole; singers from
Toronto Children’s Chorus. Koerner Hall,
273 Bloor St. W. 416-408-0208. $25-$35.
75-minute concert.
●● 2:00: Yorkminster Park Baptist Church.
City Carol Sing. Guests: Deborah Hay, Ted
Dykstra and Gord Martineau; True North
Brass; Toronto Children’s Chorus; Larkin
Singers; and others. 1585 Yonge St. 416-9221167. Free. Donations for Churches-on-the-Hill
Food Bank accepted.
●● 3:00: Arraymusic. Udo Kasemets,
WINTER
NIGHTS
Dec 6, 7:30pm
Dec 7, 3:00pm
PaxChristiChorale.org
Grace Church on-the-Hill, 300 Lonsdale Rd.
416-786-2509. $35; $30(sr); $25(st). Also
Dec 7(mat).
●● 7:30: Pocket Concerts. Chansons de mon
Placard (Songs from my Cupboard). Arnold:
Sonatina for Clarinet and Piano; Strauss:
Songs(Morgen, Nacht, Allerseelen, Zueignung); Tiefenbach: Jazz Arrangements;
Chansons de mon Placard; Korngold: Arias
from The Silent Serenade. Beth Hagerman,
soprano; Peter Tiefenbach, piano; Anthony
Thompson, clarinet. Home of Roland and
Marion Wilk, 57 York Rd., North York. 647896-8295. $40; $25(35 and under); $12(child/
youth).
●● 7:30: Royal Conservatory. Mazzoleni Masters: Speak Low. Cabaret evening: Weill
and Lenya’s musical journey from Berlin to
Broadway. “Speak Low”; “September Song,”
“Schickelgruber,” “Nanna’s Lied,” and other
songs. Adi Braun, vocals; Dave Restivo, piano;
Pat Collins, bass; Daniel Barnes, drums. Conservatory Theatre, 273 Bloor St. W. 416-4080208. $32.
●● 7:30: Singing Out. Closer to the Flame.
Holiday Concert. Snider: Midnight Lullaby;
Brown (arr.): Chanukah Suite; Beorsma:
Closer to the Flame; and other holiday favourites. Singing Out LGBTQ Chorus; Jody Malone,
conductor; Beth Hanson, piano. Jane Mallett
Theatre, St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts,
27 Front St. E. 416-859-4248. $25; $15(12 and
under). Also 3:00.
●● 7:30: St. Michael’s Choir School. St
Michael’s Choir School at Massey Hall. Christmas Concert. Jerzy Cichocki, Teri Dunn and
Kathleen Allan, conductors; William O’Meara,
accompanist; guests: True North Brass;
Schola Cantorum Strings. Massey Hall,
178 Victoria St. 416-872-4255. $20-$50.
●● 7:30: Toronto Beach Chorale. In Concert.
Rutter: Magnificat; other seasonal favourites.
Alexa Wing, soprano. Kingston Road United
Church, 975 Kingston Rd. 416-699-6634.
$25/$20(adv); $12(youth 7-18)/$10(adv);
free(under 7). Cash only at the door.
●● 7:30: University of Toronto Faculty of
Music. Wind Ensemble. Bryant: Ecstatic
Fanfare; Copland: Emblems; Chan Ka Nin:
Memento Mori; Estacio: Frenergy; Gillingham: Be Thou My Vision; Maslanka: Give Us
This Day. Jeffrey Reynolds, conductor. MacMillan Theatre, Edward Johnson Building, 80 Queen’s Park. 416-408-0208. $30;
thewholenote.com
$20(sr); $10(st).
●● 7:30: Village Voices. Christmas Joy. Seasonal music for choir and brass. Works by
Pinkham, Chatman and Willcocks. Guests:
Brass A Peal. Markham Missionary Church,
5438 Major Mackenzie Dr. E., Markham. 905294-8687. $20; $10(st).
●● 7:30: VOCA Chorus of Toronto. Winter
North & South. Rogers: Northwest Passage;
Gjeilo: Northern Lights; Susa: Carols & Lullabies: Christmas in the Southwest; and other
works. Jenny Crober, conductor; Elizabeth
Acker, piano. Guests: Lori Gemmell, harp;
William Beauvais, guitar; Les Allt, flute/tin
whistle/pan pipes; Ray Dillard, percussion.
Eastminster United Church, 310 Danforth
Ave. 416-947-8487. $25; $20(sr); $10(st).
●● 7:30: York Chamber Ensemble. Winter
Concert. Vivaldi: Winter; Britten: St Nicolas;
Tchaikovsky: The Nutcracker Suite; other
works. Guests: Trinity Festival Chorus. Trinity Anglican Church (Aurora), 79 Victoria St.,
Aurora. 905-727-6101. $20; $15(sr/st).
●● 8:00: Aga Khan Museum. Siavash: Stories from the Shah-Nameh. Multi-media world
premiere. Shahrokh Yadegari, composer;
Gordafarid, naqal; Siamak Shajarian, vocals;
Keyavash Nourai, violin, cello and kamancheh.
Aga Khan Museum Auditorium, 77 Wynford
Dr. 416-646-4677. $50-$75. Also Dec 5.
●● 8:00: Civic Light-Opera Company. The
Judy Garland Christmas Show (That never
was!). See Dec 3; Dec 7, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 (Start
times vary).
●● 8:00: Gallery 345. An Evening with Kirk
MacDonald & Harold Mabern. An evening of
duets; originals by Mabern and McDonald and
selections from the Great American Songbook. Kirk MacDonald, saxophone; Harold
Mabern, piano. 345 Sorauren Ave. 416-8229781. $20;$10(st).
●● 8:00: Greater Toronto Philharmonic
Orchestra. Joy to the World. Randall Thomson: Nativity according to St. Luke; Reed
(arr.): Greensleeves; Shari (arr.): Carol of the
Bells. Lenard Whiting, conductor; University of Scarborough Concert Choir; Ensemble
TrypTych Chamber Choir. Calvin Presbyterian Church, 26 Delisle Ave. 647-478-6122.
$25; $20.
●● 8:00: Mississauga Festival Choir. Jingle
Jazz. See 2:00.
●● 8:00: Onstage Productions. Sounds of
Christmas. Flato Markham Theatre, 171 Town
Centre Blvd., Markham. 416-556-9552. $28;
$26(sr/youth).See 3:00. Also Dec 7.
●● 8:00: Scaramella. Lawes Unto Himself.
Lawes: Harp Consorts. Julia Seager-Scott,
harp; Paul Zevenhuizen, violin; Joelle Morton, bass viol; Madeleine Owen, theorbo.
Victoria College Chapel, 91 Charles St. W. 416760-8610. $30; $25(sr); $20(st); free(14 and
under).
●● 8:00: Sony Centre For the Performing
Arts. Distant Worlds: music from Final Fantasy. Videos and art stills of the games with
live music. Music by Uematsu. Susan Calloway, vocals; Distant Worlds Philharmonic
Orchestra; Tallis Choir of Toronto; Arnie Roth,
conductor. Sony Centre For The Performing
Arts, 1 Front St. E. 1-855-872-7669. $30-$115.
●● 8:00: Spectrum Music. Journeys. Works
by Goodman and Campbell. Alex Goodman
and Graham Campbell, guitar. Guest: Ton
Beau String Quartet. Alliance Française de
Toronto, 24 Spadina Rd. 416-922-2014. $10 &
up. 7:30: pre-concert chat.
thewholenote.com
●● 8:00: Tafelmusik. The French Connection.
416-286-8260. $15. Also 7:30.
●● 2:30: Onstage Productions. Sounds of
Christmas. Flato Markham Theatre, 171 Town
Centre Blvd., Markham. 416-556-9552. $28;
$26(sr/youth).See Dec 6, 3:00.
●● 2:30: University of Toronto Faculty of
Music. Choirs in Concert: Gloria! Young
Voices Toronto (Zimfira Poloz, conductor),
MacMillan Singers, Men’s Chorus, Women’s
Chamber Choir and Women’s Chorus; André
Heywood, conductor. MacMillan Theatre,
Edward Johnson Building, 80 Queen’s Park.
416-408-0208. $30; $20(sr); $10(st).
●● 3:00: Arraymusic. Udo Kasemets,
Uncompromising Experimentalist, Day Two.
Musical tribute to one of Toronto’s most
respected thinkers and composers. Array
Ensemble. Array Space, 155 Walnut St. 416532-3019. $15. 2:00: Pre-concert talk. Reception to follow. See also Dec 6.
●● 3:00: Harmony Singers. It’s the Holiday Season! Cool Santa, Winter Wonderland, Christmas in Killarney, The Secret of
Christmas and other songs. Guest: Etobicoke
School of the Arts scholarship winner. Humber Valley United Church, 76 Anglesey Blvd.,
Etobicoke. 416-239-5821. $20; $15(sr/st).
●● 3:00: Hart House. Sunday Concerts. Daniel
Cabena, countertenor; Stephen Runge, piano.
Great Hall, Hart House, 7 Hart House Circle.
416-978-2452. Free.
●● 3:00: Opera by Request. Humperdinck:
Hansel and Gretel. Sarah Helmers, mezzo
(Hansel); Brittany Stewart, soprano (Gretel); Roz McArthur, mezzo (Witch); Austin
Larusson, baritone (Father); and others; William Shookhoff, piano/music director. College Street United Church, 452 College St.
See Dec 4; Also Dec 6, 7(mat).
●● 8:00: Toronto Mendelssohn Choir. Festival of Carols. Noel Edison, conductor. Richmond Hill Centre for the Performing Arts,
10268 Yonge St., Richmond Hill. 905-7878811. $40; $35(sr/st).
●● 8:00: Toronto Symphony Orchestra.
Masterworks: Best of Tchaikovsky. Tchaikovsky: Jurisprudence March; Piano Concerto No.1; The Nutcracker (Act II). Alice Sara
Ott, piano; Cristian Măcelaru, conductor. Roy
Thomson Hall, 60 Simcoe St. 416-593-4828.
$38.75-$169. Also Dec 3.
●● 8:00: Voices Chamber Choir. A Garland of Carols. Vaughan Williams: Fantasia
on Christmas Carols; Holst: Christmas Day;
works by Phllips, Rutter, Chilcott and others.
Ron Ka Ming Cheung, conductor; John Stephenson, piano. Church of St. Martin-in-theFields, 151 Glenlake Ave. 416-519-0528. $20;
$15(sr/st).
Sunday December 7
●● 10:30am: Music at St. Andrew’s. Advent
Choral Service. Works by Mendelssohn,
Ives and Burchard. St. Andrew’s Church,
73 Simcoe St. 416-593-5600 x231. Freewill
offering.
●● 1:00: Toronto Children’s Chorus. Sing
Loo. Choristers will “sing their pledges” to
thank donors for their support of the choir’s
annual sing-a-thon fundraiser. Elise Bradley,
Carole Anderson, Judith Bean and Matthew
Otto, conductors. Sheraton Centre Toronto
Hotel lobby, 123 Queen St. W. 416-932-8666
x231. Free.
●● 1:15: Mooredale Concerts. Music and Truffles: Jalbert and Song. Interactive performance for young audiences. David Jalbert and
Wonny Song, pianos. Walter Hall, Edward
Johnson Building, 80 Queen’s Park. 416-9223714 x103. $13(includes a chocolate truffle at
conclusion).
●● 2:00: City of Toronto. Sunday Concert Series. Ed Vokurka: Jazz Violin. Scarborough
Civic Centre, 150 Borough Dr., Scarborough.
416-397-9887. Free.
●● 2:00: Civic Light-Opera Company. The
Judy Garland Christmas Show (That never
was!). See Dec 3; Dec 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 (Start
times vary).
●● 2:00: Off Centre Music Salon. Russian
Salon: St. Petersburg, Petrograd, Leningrad ... St. Petersburg. Stravinsky: L’histoire
de soldat; other works. Marie Bérard, violin; Ilana Zarankin, soprano; Erica Iris Huang,
mezzo; Inna Perkis and Boris Zarankin, piano;
William Webster, actor. Glenn Gould Studio,
250 Front St. W. 416-466-1870. $60; $50(sr);
$25 (age13-25); $15(child).
●● 2:00: Royal Conservatory. Mazzoleni Masters: John O’Conor & Desmond Hoebig. Nocturnes by Field and Chopin; Beethoven: Cello
Sonata No.3; Schumann: Piano Quintet.
John O’Conor, piano; Desmond Hoebig, cello;
guests, other members of RCM Faculty. Mazzoleni Concert Hall, 273 Bloor St. W. 416-4080208. $32.
●● 2:00: St. Barnabas on the Danforth.
Empire Trio. Works by Haydn, Vivaldi, J.
Kenins and T. Kenins. 361 Danforth Ave. 905477-7042. Freewill offering.
●● 2:30: Bel Canto Singers. The Most Wonderful Time of Year. Jacqueline Mokrzewski,
piano; Linda Meyer, conductor. St. Dunstan
of Canterbury, 56 Lawson Rd., Scarborough.
416-455-2365. $20.
●● 3:00: Orchestra Toronto. The Snowman.
The Snowman (animated film) w. orchestral
and choral accompaniment; Burry: A Hockey
Cantata (world premiere); Plau: Concerto
for Tuba and Strings. Jarrett McCourt, tuba;
guests: Bach Children’s Chorus. Toronto Centre for the Arts, 5040 Yonge St. 855-9852787. $43; $37(sr); $15(OTopus, child).
●● 3:00: Pax Christi Chorale. Winter Nights.
See Dec 6(eve).
●● 3:00: Riverdale Share Community Association. 22nd Annual Riverdale Share Concert.
Steve Briggs, band leader; Tom Leighton, music director. Danforth Music Hall,
147 Danforth Ave. 416-721-4262. $20 plus
a non-perishable food donation. Proceeds
benefit families in need and other community charities.
●● 3:00: St. Anne’s Anglican Church. Cantate: A Neighbourhood Christmas Concert.
Vaughan Williams: Fantasia on Christmas Carols; Handel: Messiah (excerpts);
carol-sing. Choir of St. Anne’s; Junction
Trio & Friends; Matthew Otto, conductor.
270 Gladstone Ave. 416-536-3160. $15;
free(child). In support of Youth Scholarship
Program, Div. 14, Community Police Liaison
Committee.
●● 3:00: St. Michael’s Choir School. St
Michael’s Choir School at Massey Hall. See
Dec 6, 7:30.
●● 3:00: Symphony on the Bay. Christmas
Treats. Corelli: Christmas Concerto; Reed:
Russian Christmas Music; Baer: God Bless
Us Everyone (narration by Burlington’s Gregory Cross); carol sing-along. Guests: Burlington Civic Chorale Choir (Gary Fisher, musical
December 1 2014 - February 7, 2015 | 39
A. Concerts in the GTA
director). Burlington Performing Arts Centre, 440 Locust St., Burlington. 905-6816000. $18–$31.
Sunday
December 7
3 pm
Patricia Parr
piano
*
Erika Raum
violin
*
Winona
Zelenka
cello
Heliconian
Hall
SyrinxConcerts.ca
●● 3:00: Syrinx Concerts Toronto. A Celebra-
tion of Canadian Composers. Kodály: Duo for
violin and cello; Cherney: “Stillness of the 7th
Autumn”; Schubert: Trio No.1 in b for piano,
violin and cello. Patricia Parr, piano; Erika
Raum, violin; Winona Zelenka, cello. Heliconian Hall, 35 Hazelton Ave. 416-654-0877. $25;
$20(st). Post-concert meet and greet with
artists.
65 Church St. 416-364-7865 ext. 245. Free;
donations welcomed.
●● 4:00: Church of St. Mary Magdalene.
Organ music for Advent. Andrew Adair,
organ. 477 Manning Ave. 416-531-7955. Free.
●● 4:30: Christ Church Deer Park. Christmas Vespers. Ellington and Strayhorn: The
Nutcracker Suite. Brian Barlow Big Band.
1570 Yonge St. 416-920-5211x22. Freewill
offering.
●● 7:00: Kir Stefan the Serb Choir. Remembrance. In commemoration of St. Mokranjac.
Jasmina Vucurovic, conductor, and others.
Eglinton St. George’s United Church, 35 Lytton
Blvd. 888-222-6608. $30; $15(sr/st).
●● 7:00: Mississauga Big Band Jazz Ensemble. Annual Christmas Concert. Cooksville
United Church, 2500 Mimosa Row, Mississauga. 905-270-4757. $20; $10(sr/child).
●● 7:30: Bel Canto Singers. The Most Wonderful Time of Year. See 2:30.
●● 7:30: Echo Women’s Choir. The Divine Feminine. Hammond: The Sixth Day of December;
Von Bingen: 12th-century chant; 19th-century American Shaker song of encouragement; Carillo: Ave Maria; Busto: Salve Regina;
and other works. Becca Whitla, piano and
conductor; Deanna Yerichuk, conductor; Alan
Gasser, conductor. Guests: Marie-Lynn Hammond; Stringband with Bob Bossin. Church of
the Holy Trinity, 10 Trinity Sq. 416-779-5554.
$20/$15(adv); $10(sr/child/un(under)waged).
●● 7:30: Leaside United Church. Lessons and
Carols. Larson: In Silence We Wait; Carter:
Mary’s Magnificat; Parotta: Just One Child;
Ewer: Go Tell It on the Mountain; Rutter: Child
in a Manger; and other works. Chancel Choir
of Leaside United; Sharon L. Beckstead, conductor; C Flats Jazz Band; Cynda Fleming,
conductor. 822 Millwood Rd. 416-425-1253.
Freewill offering. In support of the Out of the
Cold Program.
●● 8:00: Musideum. Steve Koven and Jayson Dale. Jazz. Suite 133 (main floor),
401 Richmond St. W. 416-599-7323. $20.
●● 3:00: Toronto Symphony Orchestra.
Family Christmas Concert: The Bear. Anderson: A Christmas Festival; Delius: Sleigh Ride;
Blake: The Bear; Rimsky-Korsakov: The Snow
Maiden (Dance of the Tumblers); Tchaikovsky: Suite from The Nutcracker Op.71a; and
other works. Alex Hetherington, soprano;
Owen McCausland, tenor; Mark S. Doss, bass;
Tom Allen, narrator; Cawthra Park Chamber Choir; The Holiday Dancers; David Amado,
conductor. Roy Thomson Hall, 60 Simcoe St.
416-593-4828. $25-$65; $20-$39(child). Recommended for children aged 5-12. No children under 2. Free intermission art activity
with Avenue Road Arts School.
●● 3:00: Wesley Mimico United Church. The
Four Men CD Launch. Ballads, Maritime folk
songs, Broadway show tunes, jazz and pop
hits, songs from CD “Inspired” and Christmas music. Mimico Presbyterian Church,
119 Mimico Ave. 416-251-5811. $20; $15(sr);
$10(youth); free(under7). Fundraising concert for Mission and Service Fund.
●● 3:15: Mooredale Concerts. Piano Dialogue
with David Jalbert and Wonny Song. Music
for two pianos. Beethoven: Moonlight Sonata;
Poulenc: Les soirées de Nazelles; Ravel: Ma
Mère l’Oye “Mother Goose” M.60; Schubert:
Fantasie in f D940 Op.103; Rachmaninoff Suite
No.2 Op.17. David Jalbert and Wonny Song,
pianos. Walter Hall, Edward Johnson Building, 80 Queen’s Park. 416-922-3714 x103. $30;
$20(under 30).
●● 3:30: Tafelmusik. The French Connection.
See Dec 4; Also Dec 6, 7(mat).
●● 4:00: Cathedral Church of St. James.
Organ recitals. Andrew Ager, organist.
Monday December 8
Festival
of Carols
●● 7:30: Cantabile Chorale of York Region.
The Joy of Christmas. Traditional Christmas style. Robert Richardson, director; Lona
Richardson, accompanist; guest musicians.
Thornhill United Church, 25 Elgin St., Thornhill. 905-731-8318. By donation to Thornhill
Christmas Assistance Program. Seasonal
reception.
●● 7:30: Toronto Masque Theatre. A Very
Merry TMT Christmas. An old-fashioned seasonal celebration, masque-style. Lizzie Hetherington, soprano; Jean Edwards, soprano;
Jessica Wright, mezzo; Kathleen Kajioka and
Larry Beckwith, violins; Christopher Bagan,
piano. Shaftesbury Studio, 21 Shaftesbury
DEC 10, 2014 | 7:30 PM
YORKMINSTER PARK BAPTIST CHURCH
1585 YONGE ST.
Join us for a concert of music and stories
for the Christmas season – this year with the
acclaimed Canadian Staff Band.
A Very Merry
TMT Christmas
Monday Dec 8,
7:30pm
torontomasquetheatre.com
Ave. 416-410-4561. $20; $15(under 30).
Snacks, cash bar and seasonal silent auction.
●● 7:30: University of St. Michael’s College. Inspired by Venice. Monteverdi: Beatus
Vir; Confitebor Tibi all Francese; Grandi:
Ave Maris Stella; Tunder: Dominus Illuminatio mea; Schütz: Singet dem Herrn; canzonas by Gabrieli and Schein; and other
works. Musicians In Ordinary (Hallie Fishel,
soprano; Christopher Verrette, baroque violin); St. Michael’s Schola Cantorum (Michael
O’Connor, conductor). St. Basil’s Church, University of St. Michael’s College, 50 St. Joseph
St. 416-535-9956. Free. Donations welcome.
●● 7:30: University of Toronto Faculty of
Music. PianoFest. Students from the piano
department. Walter Hall, Edward Johnson
Building, 80 Queen’s Park. 416-408-0208.
Free. Also Dec 10, 12.
●● 8:00: Corporation of Massey Hall and
Roy Thomson Hall. The Blind Boys of Alabama Christmas Show. Roy Thomson Hall,
60 Simcoe St. 416-872-4255. $39.50-$69.50.
Tuesday December 9
●● 12:00 noon: Canadian Opera Company.
Chamber Music Series: Apparations. Music
commemorating the two World Wars and
the fall of the Berlin Wall. Artists of The Glenn
Gould School; Brian Current, music director. Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre, Four
Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts,
145 Queen St. W. 416-363-8231. Free.
●● 12:10: Nine Sparrows Arts Foundation/
Yorkminster Park Baptist Church. Lunchtime Chamber Music: Rising Stars Recital.
Students from Glenn Gould School. Yorkminster Park Baptist Church, 1585 Yonge St. 416241-1298. Free. Donations welcome.
Noel Edison conductor
Caron Daley associate conductor
David Briggs organ
Canadian Staff Band, John Lam bandmaster
TICKETS
VOX TIX
$ 35 – $ 76 $ 20
40 | December 1 2014 - February 7, 2015
FOR 30
AND UNDER
TMC BOX OFFICE
416-598-0422 x221
tmchoir.org/boxoffice
thewholenote.com
●● 1:00: Cathedral Church of St. James.
Organ recitals. Andrew Ager, organist.
65 Church St. 416-364-7865 ext. 245. Free;
donations welcomed.
●● 7:00: Somewhere There/Arraymusic.
audiopollination. A smorgasbord of improvisation. Array Space, 155 Walnut St. 416-5323019. PWYC.
●● 7:30: Brampton Chamber Music Concert
Series. Duo AquaDulci. Pierre-André Pashley,
violin; Renee Kruisselbrink, piano; and others.
St. Paul’s United Church (Brampton), 30 Main
St. S., Brampton. 905-450-9220. By donation.
●● 8:00: Gallery 345. Carissa Klopoushak
& Philip Chiu. Works for violin and piano by
Debussy, Janacek, Willan, Viver, Carrabré.
Carissa Klopoushak, violin; Philip Chiu, piano.
345 Sorauren Ave. 416-822-9781. $20;$10(st).
●● 8:00: Musideum. Sunday Wilde. Blues/
Roots. Sunday Wilde, vocals w. Reno
Jack, upright bass. Suite 133 (main floor),
401 Richmond St. W. 416-599-7323. $20.
●● 8:00: Toronto Symphony Orchestra. Pops:
Celtic Christmas with Donnell Leahy & Family.
Stephenson: Holiday Overture; Herbert: “Hail
to Christmas”; Herman: “The Best Christmas
of All”; Bernard: “Winter Wonderland”; Leahy:
Sleigh Ride Medley; Tunes A-Plenty; and other
seasonal works. Etobicoke School of the
Arts Chorus; Steven Reineke, conductor. Roy
Thomson Hall, 60 Simcoe St. 416-593-4828.
$33-$110. Also Dec 10(mat & eve).
Wednesday December 10
●● 12:00 noon: Canadian Opera Company.
Jazz Series: Sax Appeal. Four young artists
of Humber College’s jazz program; Alex Dean,
music director. Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre, Four Seasons Centre for the Performing
Arts, 145 Queen St. W. 416-363-8231. Free.
●● 2:00: Toronto Symphony Orchestra.
Pops Matinee: Celtic Christmas with Donnell
Leahy & Family. Stephenson: Holiday Overture; Herbert: “Hail to Christmas”; Herman:
“The Best Christmas of All”; Bernard: “Winter Wonderland”; Leahy: Sleigh Ride Medley;
Tunes A-Plenty; and other seasonal works.
Etobicoke School of the Arts Chorus; Steven Reineke, conductor. Roy Thomson Hall,
60 Simcoe St. 416-593-4828. $29-$82. Also
8:00; Dec 9(eve).
●● 3:00: Opera by Request. Zarzuela: Luisa
Fernanda. Torroba. Karla Berganza, soprano (Luisa Fernanda); Pablo Benitez, tenor
(Javier); Tsu-ching Yu, soprano (Carolina);
Marco Petracchi, baritone (Vidal); Jenny
Cohen, mezzo (Rosa); Larry Tozer, baritone
(Nogales); Margaret Bardos, mezzo (Mariana); Jeannette Burgos, actor (Anibal); William Shookhoff, piano and music director.
College Street United Church, 452 College St.
416-455-2365. $20.
●● 7:00: Civic Light-Opera Company. The
Judy Garland Christmas Show (That never
was!). See Dec 3; Dec 11, 12, 13, 14 (Start times
vary).
●● 7:30: group of 27. Holiday Party! Krisztina Szabo, soprano, Eric Paetkau, conductor.
Heliconian Hall, 35 Hazelton Ave. 416-3231292. PWYC.
●● 7:30: Toronto Mendelssohn Choir. Festival of Carols. Canadian Staff Band; James
Bourne, piano; Michael Bloss, organ; Noel
Edison, and Caron Daley, conductors; John
Lam, bandmaster. Yorkminster Park Baptist
Church, 1585 Yonge St. 416-578-0422 x221.
$35–$76; $35–$70(sr); $20(30 and under).
thewholenote.com
●● 7:30: University of Toronto Faculty of
Ensemble
Polaris
Music. PianoFest. Students from the piano
department. Walter Hall, Edward Johnson
Building, 80 Queen’s Park. 416-408-0208.
Free. Also Dec 8, 12.
●● 8:00: Gallery 345. Julia Pal CD Release.
Dual CD release. Selections from “Frail Gesture” (8 poems by e.e.cummings, set by
Pal, arranged by Andrew Downing; selections from “Imprint” (a personal selection
of jazz and pop standards). Julia Pal, voice;
and others. 345 Sorauren Ave. 416-822-9781.
$20;$10(st).
●● 8:00: Incontra Vocal Ensemble. O Magnum Mysterium. Works by Chilcott, Halley,
Lauridsen, Rutter, Victoria and other carols and Christmas works. Matthew Otto, conductor. St. Joseph’s Chapel, Regis College,
University of Toronto, 100 Wellesley St. W.
416-922-5474. $25; $15(st).
●● 8:00: Musideum. Mike Gennaro Presents.. Experimental. Suite 133 (main floor),
401 Richmond St. W. 416-599-7323. $10.
●● 8:00: North York Concert Orchestra.
Wednesday Night at the Opera. Rafael Luz,
conductor. Calvin Presbyterian Church,
26 Delisle Ave. 416-628-9195. $25; $20(sr);
$10(st).
●● 8:00: The Toronto Oratory. J.S. Bach,
Cantata 36. J.S. Bach: Cantata 36 “Schwingt freudig euch empor”; Valet will ich dir
geben, BWV 736, and the Prelude & Fugue in
D Major, BWV 532; other works: Sung Compline incl. settings of Te lucis ante terminum.
Andrea Ludwig, soprano; Richard Whittall, alto; Jamie Tuttle, tenor; Paul Oros, bass;
Baroque orchestra (Christopher Verrette,
leader); Philippe Fournier, organ. The Oratory, Holy Family Church, 1372 King St. W. 416532-2879. Free.
●● 8:00: Toronto Symphony Orchestra. Pops:
Celtic Christmas with Donnell Leahy & Family.
Stephenson: Holiday Overture; Herbert: “Hail
to Christmas”; Herman: “The Best Christmas
of All”; Bernard: “Winter Wonderland”; Leahy:
Sleigh Ride Medley; Tunes A-Plenty; and other
seasonal works. Etobicoke School of the
Arts Chorus; Steven Reineke, conductor. Roy
Thomson Hall, 60 Simcoe St. 416-593-4828.
$33-$110. Also 2:00; Dec 9(eve).
Benny S luchin
Marco Stroppa
Thursday, Dec. 11,
8pm
Thursday December 11
auroraculturalcentre.ca
905 713-1818
www.NewMusicConcerts.com
●● 8:00: Aurora Cultural Centre. Ensem-
ble Polaris: Definitely Not The Nutcracker.
Arrangements of Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker;
folk tunes of the times with Scandinavian
bluegrass, Klezmer, Celtic, Chinese classical
influences. 22 Church St., Aurora. 905-7131818. $30; $25(advance).
●● 8:00: Civic Light-Opera Company. The
Judy Garland Christmas Show (That never
was!). See Dec 3; Dec 12, 13, 14 (Start times
vary).
Music TORONTO
TRIO
D’ARGENTO
with
BARBARA CROALL
The Music Gallery
Eye. Benny Sluchin, trombone; Wallace Halladay, saxophone; New Music Concerts Ensemble; Robert Aitken, conductor. Music Gallery,
197 John St. 416-961-9594. $35; $25(sr/arts
worker); $10(st). 7:15: introduction.
Friday December 12
●● 1:10: Gordon Murray Presents. Piano Pot-
pourri. Classics, opera, operetta, musicals,
ragtime, pop, international and other genres.
Gordon Murray, piano. Trinity-St. Paul’s
United Church, 427 Bloor St. W. 416-6314300. PWYC. Lunch and snack friendly.
●● 7:00: Etobicoke Philharmonic. Christmas Chestnuts. Around the World at Christmas Time(arr. B. Chase); Mozart: Exsultate
Jubilate(Tu Virginum Corona and Alleluja);
Anderson: The Christmas Festival; RimskyKorsakov: The Snow Maiden(Dance of the
Tumblers); Adams: O Holy Night; and other
works. Guest: Allison Cecilia Arends, soprano.
Humber Valley United Church, 76 Anglesey
Blvd., Etobicoke. 416-239-5665. $25; $20(sr);
$10(st).
Thursday December 11
●● 10:00am: Kingsway Conservatory of
Music. Christmas with Markus! Children’s
Cushion Concert. 2848 Bloor Street W.,
Etobicoke. 416-234-0121. $5. Please reserve
tickets in advance.
●● 12:15: Music at Metropolitan. Noon at Met.
Andre Rakus, organ. Metropolitan United
Church, 56 Queen St. E. 416-363-0331. Free.
●● 7:30: Against the Grain Theatre.
#UncleJohn. A modern interpretation of Don
Giovanni with a new English libretto. Cameron
McPhail (Uncle John); Neil Craighead (Leporello); Miriam Khalil (Elvira); Betty Waynne
Allison (Anna); Miloš Repický, guest music director; Joel Ivany, director. The Black Box Theatre, The Great Hall, 1087 Queen St. West.
416-792-1268. $40. Also Dec 13, 15, 17, 19.
●● 7:30: Toronto Symphony Orchestra. Special: Barenaked Ladies - Hits & Holiday Songs!
Leontovych: “Carol of the Bells”; Tchaikovsky: The Nutcracker (Trépak); and seasonal
songs performed by Barenaked Ladies.
Lucas Waldin, conductor. Roy Thomson Hall,
60 Simcoe St. 416-593-4828. $25-$69. Also
Dec 12.
December 11 at 8 pm
●● 8:00: Music Toronto. Discovery Ser-
ies: Trio D’Argento with Barbara Croall.
Beethoven: Trio WoO 37 for flute, clarinet and
piano; Jacques Ibert: Deux Interludes; Russell Peterson: Trio for flute; Barbara Croall:
Manidoog (Spirits/Spirit beings). Sibylle
Marquardt, flute; Peter Stoll, clarinet; Anna
Romai, piano; Barbara Croall. Jane Mallett
Theatre, St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts,
27 Front St. E. 416-366-7723. $21.50; $10(st).
●● 8:00: Musideum. Steve Amirault. Jazz.
Steve Amirault, piano/vocals. Suite 133 (main
floor), 401 Richmond St. W. 416-599-7323.
$20.
●● 8:00: New Music Concerts. An Evening with Marco Stroppa and Benny Sluchin.
Stroppa: of Silence; Steenhuisen: Anthropo;
Carter: Epigrams; Stroppa: From Needle’s
●●7:30: Cathedral Church of St. James. Han-
del’s Messiah. Erin Bardua, soprano; Rebecca
Claborn, mezzo; Andrew Haji, tenor; Giles
Tomkins, bass; The professional choir of St.
James Cathedral; Talisker Players Orchestra;
December 1 2014 - February 7, 2015 | 41
A. Concerts in the GTA
Vicki St. Pierre, conductor. 65 Church St.
16-364-7865 x245. $40;$35(sr/st).
●● 7:30: Canadian Music Centre. Nicole
Lizée Presents: “Bookburners” CD Launch.
Nicole Lizée, composer & turntables; Megumi
Masaki, piano; Steve Raegele, guitar; Ben
Reimer, percussion. 20 St. Joseph St. 416961-6601 x201. Free. 7:00: Doors open. Light
refreshments.
●● 7:30: Church of the Holy Trinity. The
Christmas Story. Nativity play – a Toronto
tradition since 1938. Professional musicians and a volunteer cast. 10 Trinity Sq. 416598-4521 x301. By donation. $20; $5(child)
suggested. American Sign Language interpretation at selected performances. Also
Dec 13(mat/eve), 14, 19(mat), 20(mat/eve),
21(mat/eve).
●● 7:30: St. Thomas’s Anglican Church/
Poculi Ludique Societas. A Medieval Christmas: With Song We Seek Our Saviour. Select
plays from the York Mystery cycle. Larry
Beckwith, conductor. St. Thomas’s Anglican
Church, 383 Huron St. 416-978-5096. $20;
$15(sr); $10(st). Also Dec 13(mat & eve).
Studio, 250 Front St. W. 1-866-943-8849. $39;
$32(sr); $12(st).
●●8:00: Gallery 345. The Path Home. An Evening of Celebration with Lee Pui Ming, piano,
Dong-Won Kim, Korean drum; Rob Clutton, bass; Mary Ganzon, movement; Randi
Helmers, voice/visual art. 345 Sorauren Ave.
416-822-9781. $25;$15(st and art workers).
●● 8:00: Musideum. Stephanie Martin, singer/
songwriter. Show 1. Suite 133 (main floor),
401 Richmond St. W. 416-599-7323. $20.
●● 8:00: Royal Conservatory. Music Mix:
Hot Sardines and the Barbra Lica Quintet.
Two young energetic jazz bands, one Canadian and the other from New York City. Elizabeth Bougerol and Barbra Lica, lead vocals.
Koerner Hall, 273 Bloor St. W. 416-408-0208.
$25-$65.
●● 7:30: Surinder S. Mundra. A Choral Christ-
mas from across Europe. European choral
Christmas music from early Renaissance to
present day. Iris Rodrigues, soprano; Chiaroscuro Chamber Singers; Surinder S. Mundra, conductor. St. George’s Anglican Church
(Pickering Village), 77 Randall Dr., Ajax. 905683-7981. $30; $25(st). Refreshments during intermission and after concert. Benefits
Church Outreach Programs.
●● 7:30: Toronto Symphony Orchestra. Special: Barenaked Ladies - Hits & Holiday Songs!
Leontovych: “Carol of the Bells”; Tchaikovsky: The Nutcracker (Trépak); and seasonal
songs performed by Barenaked Ladies.
Lucas Waldin, conductor. Roy Thomson Hall,
60 Simcoe St. 416-593-4828. $25-$69. Also
Dec 11.
●● 7:30: University of Toronto Faculty of
Music. PianoFest. Students from the piano
department. Walter Hall, Edward Johnson
Building, 80 Queen’s Park. 416-408-0208.
Free. Also Dec 8, 10.
●● 7:30: Univox Choirs of Toronto. Winter Song. Works by Raminsh, Gjeilo, Pärt,
Rabinovitch, Hatfield, and Donkin. Florivox
Women’s Choir; Frances Farrell, conductor.
Christ Church Deer Park, 1570 Yonge St. 416697-9561. $25/$20(adv/sr/st). In support of
Sistering.
●● 7:30: Westwood Concerts. Night and
Dreams. Works by Schubert, Fauré, Debussy
and others. Kripa Nageshwar, soprano;
Michael Westwood, clarinet; Chad Heltzel,
piano. Heliconian Hall, 35 Hazelton Ave. 289987-4877. $20.
●● 7:30: Whitby Brass Band. In Concert.
Guest: O’Neil Chamber Choir. Hebron Christian Reformed Church, 4240 Anderson St.,
Whitby. 905-666-2049. $15; $10(sr/st). 6:45:
Pre-concert music by the Whitby Junior
Brass Band.
●● 8:00: Baarbad Music. Keivan Saket, Salar
Aghili and Baarbad Ensemble. Persian classical and contemporary music. City Playhouse
Theatre, 1000 New Westminster Dr., Thornhill. 416-823-9042. $45.
●●8:00: Aga Khan Museum. Lara Bello:
Reflections of Granada. Music drawing on
classical music and jazz, flamenco dance
and song. Aga Khan Museum Auditorium,
77 Wynford Drive. 416-646-4677. $60, $50,
$45.
●● 8:00: Civic Light-Opera Company. The
Judy Garland Christmas Show (That never
was!). See Dec 3; Dec 13, 14 (start times vary).
●● 8:00: Corporation of Massey Hall and Roy
Thomson Hall. Medeski Scofield Martin &
Wood. Improvisational jazz, rock, soul, blues
and reggae. Massey Hall, 178 Victoria St. 416872-4255. $29.50-$89.50.
●● 8:00: Elixir Baroque Ensemble. The
Annual Elixir Mixer. Three, four and solo violin concertos by Telemann, Valentini, Vivaldi,
and Leclair; works for obbligato, harpsichord
and more. St. Barnabas Church, Anglican,
361 Danforth Ave. 416-463-1344. $2;$10(sr/
st).
●● 8:00: Flato Markham Theatre. All That
Jazz Series: An Evening with Matt Dusk.
Songs from CD My Funny Valentine: The Chet
Baker Songbook; and holiday favourites.
171 Town Centre Blvd., Markham. 905-3057469. $54-$59.
●● 8:00: Sinfonia Toronto. Chopin. Piano Concerto No.1 in e for Violin and Orchestra(arr.
Arman); Pokorny: Flute Concerto in D; Morlacchi: The Swiss Shepherd; Beethoven:
Sinfonia Op.18 No.1(arr. Arman). Anastasia Rizikov, piano; Mario Carbotta, flute;
Nurhan Arman, conductor. Glenn Gould
~E LI#LE
BA|lEY-CºRNE
December 12 – 14
Trinity St-Paul’s Centre
Call 416-964-6337
TorontoConsort.org
●● 8:00: Toronto Consort. Little Barley-
Corne: Yuletide Revels from the Renaissance. Celebration of the festivals of winter in
the spirit of revelry and merry-making. English ballads, country dance tunes and French
noëls. Guest: David Greenberg, fiddle. Trinity-St. Paul’s Centre, 427 Bloor St. W. 416964-6337. $26-$61; $21-$55(sr); $10(30 and
under). Also Dec 13, 14(mat).
Saturday December 13
●● 1:30: Oakville Children’s Choir. Com-
munity Carol Concert. Guest: Simon Walker,
organ. St. John’s United Church (Oakville),
262 Randall St., Oakville. 905-337-7104. $25;
$20(sr); $15(child). Also 4:00.
●● 2:00: Civic Light-Opera Company. The
Judy Garland Christmas Show (That never
was!). See Dec 3; Dec 14 (Start times vary).
●● 2:00: The King Music Collective. HolidayThemed Series Debut Event. Music of Peter
Appleyard and Oscar Peterson; other works.
John Sherwood, piano; Paul Novotny, bass;
Terry Clarke, drums. TKMC, 15785 8th Concession, King Township. 1-800-838=3006
ex.1. $30. Ticket price includes a beverage
and snack.
●● 2:00: Toronto Public Library. Lunchtime
Music - Welcome Winter with Song. Singalong of popular and seasonal music. Linda
Eyman. Deer Park Library, 40 St. Clair E. 416393-7657. Free.
●● 2:30: St. Thomas’s Anglican Church/
Poculi Ludique Societas. A Medieval Christmas: With Song We Seek Our Saviour. See
42 | December 1 2014 - February 7, 2015
thewholenote.com
Dec 12 7:30; Also 7:30.
●● 3:00: The Salvation Army. Christmas with
The Salvation Army. Guests: singer Robert
Pilon; The Toronto Northern Lights Chorus
(Steve Armstrong, musical director); The
Festival Chorus; The Salvation Army’s Canadian Staff Band (John Lam, bandmaster).
Roy Thomson Hall, 60 Simcoe St. 416-8724255. $20-$30.
●● 4:00: Oakville Children’s Choir. Community Carol Concert. Guest: See 1:30.
●● 4:00: Pax Christi Chorale. Children’s Messiah. Handel: favourite choruses and arias.
Church of St. Mary Magdalene, 477 Manning
Ave. 416-531-7955. PWYC; free(child).
●● 4:30: Church of the Holy Trinity. The
Christmas Story. See Dec 12(eve); Also
Dec 13(eve), 14(eve), 19, 20(mat/eve), 21(mat/
eve).
●● 5:00: St. Elizabeth RC Church. Christmas
Concert. Pachelbel, Esterhazy and Christmas
Carols. St Elizabeth Scola Cantorum and Children Choir’s. 432 Sheppard Ave. E. 416-4419300. $20/$10(st). Post-concert reception.
●● 5:30: Canadian Music Centre. CMC on the
13th: Canucks à la Carte II - The 21st Century
Virtuoso. Canadian works in the festive spirit.
Sean Clark, tenor. 20 St. Joseph St. 416-9616601 x201. $20/$15(adv). 7:00: Doors open.
Light refreshments.
●● 7:30: Against the Grain Theatre.
#UncleJohn. See Dec 11; Also Dec 15, 17, 19.
●● 7:30: Amadeus Choir. Sure on This Shining Night. Morten Lauridsen: Sure on This
Shining Night; works by Wilberg, Daley and
Willcocks, winning compositions from the
Amadeus Choir 28th Annual Seasonal SongWriting Competition – children and youth
thewholenote.com
●● 7:30: Ardeleana Chamber Music Soci-
ety. Gloria! Vivaldi: Gloria; and other orchestral and seasonal works. Ardeleana Academy
Soloists; Blue Bridge Festival Choir and
Orchestra. St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church
(Newmarket), 484 Water St., Newmarket.
289-796-0130. $20; $15(sr/st).
●● 7:30: Church of the Holy Trinity. The
Christmas Story. See Dec 12(eve); Also
Dec 14(eve), 19, 20(mat/eve), 21(mat/eve).
●● 7:30: Espressivo Singers. Stille Nacht:
Christmas with a German Accent. Christmas
choral music from German composers and
arrangements of carols from German-speaking countries. J-C. Coolen, conductor. Westminster United Church, 1850 Rossland Rd. E.,
Whitby. 905-435-3439. $20; $14(under 13).
●● 7:30: Royal Conservatory. Discovery Series: Academy Chamber Orchestra. String students from the RCM’s Young Artists Academy.
Mazzoleni Concert Hall, Royal Conservatory,
273 Bloor St. W. 416-408-0208. Free (ticket
required).
●●7:30: St. Thomas’s Anglican Church/Poculi
Ludique Societas. A Medieval Christmas:
LYDIA ADAMS, Conductor & Artistic Director
Sure On
This Shining
Night
40
Sat. Dec. 13,
7:30pm
Yorkminster Park
Baptist Church
416-446-0188
www.amadeuschoir.com
category. Amadeus Choir of Greater Toronto
(Lydia Adams, conductor); Bach Children’s
Chorus (Linda Beaupré, conductor); Trillium
Brass; Ed Reiffel, percussion; Eleanor Daley
and Shawn Grenke, piano and organ. Yorkminster Park Baptist Church, 1585 Yonge St.
416-446-0188. $15-$40.
●● 7:30: Annex Singers. The Ice Storm.
Choral drama; works by Purcell, Elgar, Tavener and Lightfoot; and other seasonal
works. Vickie Papavs, Richard Partington and Murray Furrow, actors; Maria Case,
music director. Bloor Street United Church,
300 Bloor St. W. 647-888-1979. $20; $15(sr/
st); free(under 13).
With Song We Seek Our Saviour. See Dec 12
7:30.
●●8:00: Cathedral Bluffs Symphony Orchestra. Subscription Concert #2. Albano/Gay:
Alice in Wonderland (Finale); A Dickens of a
Christmas (medley); Burry: The Hobbit (“Far
Over the Misty Mountains”); Mozart: Horn
Concerto No.2 in E-flat K417; Hely-Hutchinson: Carol Symphony; and seasonal favorites. Canadian Children’s Opera Company;
Samir Abd-Elmessih, horn. P.C. Ho Theatre, Chinese Cultural Centre of Greater
Toronto, 5183 Sheppard Ave. E., Scarborough. 416-879-5566. $33-$53; $28-$43(sr/
st); free(under 12).
●● 8:00: Civic Light-Opera Company. The
Judy Garland Christmas Show (That never
was!). See Dec 3; Dec 14 (Start times vary).
●● 8:00: Kindred Spirits Orchestra. A Night
with Beethoven. Beethoven: Romance for
violin and orchestra No.2 in F; Concerto for
piano and orchestra No.3 in c; Concerto for
piano and orchestra No.4 in G. Kristian Alexander, conductor; Younggun Kim, piano;
Marie-Andrée Gray, violin; Alexa Petrenko,
December 1 2014 - February 7, 2015 | 43
A. Concerts in the GTA
interactive Christmas Pageant and Family
Service. 33 Overland Dr. 416-444-8881. Free
will offering.
●● 1:30: Oakville Symphony. Family Christmas Concert. Seasonal favourites. Oakville
Children’s Choir; Roberto De Clara, conductor. Oakville Centre for the Performing
Arts, 130 Navy St., Oakville. 905-815-2021 or
1-888-489-7784. $25; $21(sr); $13(st). Also
4:00.
●● 2:00: City of Toronto. Sunday Concert Series. The Royal Regiment of Canada Band.
Scarborough Civic Centre, 150 Borough Dr.,
Scarborough. 416-397-9887. Free.
●● 2:00: Civic Light-Opera Company. The
Judy Garland Christmas Show (That never
was!). See Dec 3.
●● 2:00: Festival Wind Orchestra. Holiday
Reflections. Benoît Chantry: Two Marimba
Reflection, and other works. Keli Schmidt,
marimba; Keith Reid, conductor. Glenn Gould
Studio, 250 Front St. W. 416-205-5551. $20;
$15(sr/st); free(child).
●● 2:00: Neighbourhood Unitarian Universalist Congregation Concert Series.
Toronto Beach Chorale. Works from modern
to Mozart. Mervin William Fick, conductor.
Neighbourhood Unitarian Universalist Congregation, 79 Hiawatha Rd. 416-686-6809.
$15.
●● 2:00: Pickering Community Concert
Band. Yuletide for Band. Chestnuts Roasting
on an Open Fire; Gaudete (arr. Hunter; world
premiere); Hark the Herald Angels Sing (arr.
Breen); A Christmas Festival; Sleigh Ride;
audience sing-along. Forest Brook Community Church, 60 Kearney Dr., Ajax. 905-4275443. $15; $10(sr/under 18).
●● 2:00: Toronto All-Star Big Band. A
Swingin’ Christmas. Includes arrangements
by Clooney, Gormé & Lawrence, Straight No
Chaser, Armstrong and other big band standards. Flato Markham Theatre, 171 Town Centre Blvd., Markham. 905-305-7469. $35.
●● 3:00: Musideum. Sarah Teitel. Singer/
songwriter. Suite 133 (main floor),
401 Richmond St. W. 416-599-7323. $20.
●● 3:00: Royal Conservatory. Vocal Concerts:
King’s Singers. A capella songs for Christmas by Lassus, Byrd, Howells, Head, and Poulenc, as well as traditional Catalan folk songs.
Koerner Hall, 273 Bloor St. W. 416-408-0208.
CE
LL
ED
host. Flato Markham Theatre, 171 Town Centre Blvd., Markham. 905-305-7469. $15-$35.
7:15: pre-concert talk.
CA
N
Marcello Giordani
with Bruce Stasyna &
Ashley Thouret
SAT., DEC. 13, 2014 8PM
KOERNER HALL
TICKETS: 416.408.0208
●●8:00: Corporation of Massey Hall and Roy
Thomson Hall. Barra MacNeils. Guests: Rose
Cousins, David Francey and Lennie Gallant.
Massey Hall, 178 Victoria St. 416-872-4255.
$29.50-$69.50.
●● 8:00: Mississauga Symphony Orchestra. Hallelujah! Messiah and Friends. Handel: Messiah(highlights); Bach: Christmas
Oratorio Part 1. Guest chorus and solo
vocals. Hammerson Hall, Living Arts Centre,
4141 Living Arts Dr., Mississauga. 905-3066000. $48–$62.
●● 8:00: Musideum. Stephanie Martin, singer/
songwriter. Show 2. Suite 133 (main floor),
401 Richmond St. W. 416-599-7323. $20.
●● 8:00: Richmond Hill Philharmonic Orchestra. Holiday Spectacular on the Hill. Holiday
pop and classical works. Richmond Hill Centre for the Performing Arts, 10268 Yonge St.,
Richmond Hill. 905-787-8811. $29; $24(sr/st);
$9(under 13). 7:15: pre-concert talk.
●● 8:00: Royal Conservatory. Vocal Concerts:
Marcello Giordani with Bruce Stasyna and
44 | December 1 2014 - February 7, 2015
Ashley Thouret. Arias and songs by Bellini,
Donaudy, Mascagni, Leoncavallo, Verdi, Tosti
and Puccini. Koerner Hall, 273 Bloor St. W.
416-408-0208. $40-$95. CANCELLED.
●● 8:00: Toronto All-Star Big Band. A
Swingin’ Christmas. Includes arrangements
by Clooney, Gormé & Lawrence, Straight No
Chaser, Armstrong and other big band standards. Milton Centre for the Arts, 1010 Main
St. E., Milton. 905-878-6000. $30.
●● 8:00: Toronto Chamber Choir. Beautiful
as a Dove: Songs of Mary. A journey through
several centuries, from medieval chant to
the Afro-American spiritual. Donaldson:
Mary, the Rose (premiere). Guest: Julia Seager-Scott, Baroque and modern harps; Lucas
Harris, conductor. Grace Church on-the-Hill,
300 Lonsdale Rd. 416-763-1695. $30; $25(sr);
$12.50(under 30). Coffee, tea and home baking follow.
●● 8:00: Toronto Consort. Little BarleyCorne: Yuletide Revels from the Renaissance.
See Dec 12; Also Dec 14(mat).
Sunday December 14
●● 10:30am: Church of the Ascension. An
$35-$90.
●● 3:30: Living Arts Centre. Rudolph the
Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Musical. Arrangements and orchestrations by Timothy Splain.
4141 Living Arts Dr., Mississauga. 905306-6000 or 1-888-805-8888. $45-$60;
$36-$48(children). Also 7:30.
●● 3:30: Toronto Consort. Little Barley-Corne:
Yuletide Revels from the Renaissance. See
Dec 12(eve).
●● 4:00: ASLAN Boys Choir of Toronto.
Christmas with the ASLAN Boys Choir. Traditional and contemporary Christmas favourites. Thomas Bell, conductor. Guest: Norman
Engel, trumpet. Church of the Transfiguration, 111 Manor Rd. E. 416-859-7464. $15;
$5(child).
●● 4:00: Aurora United Church Chancel
Choir and Handbell Ensembles. Carols by
Candlelight: A Quiet Christmas. Trinity Anglican Church (Aurora), 79 Victoria St., Aurora.
905-727-6101. Freewill offering. Also 7:30.
Refreshments to follow.
●● 4:00: Cathedral Church of St. James.
Organ recitals. David Briggs, organist.
65 Church St. 416-364-7865 ext. 245. Free;
donations welcomed.
●● 4:00: Eglinton St. George’s United
Church. All This Night. Christmas celebration with carols, choir, brass and organ.
Works by Daley, Lauridsen, Rutter, Willcocks
and others. Andrew Adair, organ; Shawn
Grenke, conductor. Eglinton St. George’s
United Church, 35 Lytton Blvd. 416-481-1141.
$30; $15(st).
●● 4:00: Oakville Symphony. Family Christmas Concert. See 1:30.
●● 4:00: St. Philip’s Anglican Church. Christmas Jazz Vespers: Mark Eisenman Quartet.
25 St. Phillips Rd., Etobicoke. 416-247-5181.
Freewill offering.
●● 4:00: Toronto Classical Singers. Vaughan
Williams’ Hodie. Sandra Boyes, Adrian
Kramer, and James Baldwin, solos; Elora
Youth Singers (Emily Petrenko, conductor);
Talisker Players Orchestra (Jurgen Petrenko,
conductor). Christ Church Deer Park,
1570 Yonge St. 416-443-1490. $25-$30.
●● 4:30: Yorkminster Park Baptist Church.
Carols by Candlelight. Traditional candlelight choral presentation. Choirs and musicians of Yorkminster Park. 1585 Yonge St.
thewholenote.com
●● 7:30: Living Arts Centre. Rudolph the Red-
Carols by
Candlelight
Sun., Dec. 14, 4:30pm
nine lessons
& Carols
Sun., Dec. 21, 4:30pm
Yorkminster Park
Baptist Church
yorkminsterpark.com
416-922-1167. Free.
●● 7:00: Sam Broverman. A Jewish Boy’s
Christmas. Cabaret show. Sam Broverman, vocals; Jordan O’Connor, bass; Peter
Hill, piano; members of the Toronto Mendelssohn Choir. Guest Whitney Ross-Barris,
vocals. Jazz Bistro, 251 Victoria St. 416-3635299. $15.
●● 7:00: Somewhere There/Arraymusic.
Somewhere There Concert. Array Space,
155 Walnut St. 416-532-3019. PWYC.
●● 7:00: The Choir of Trinity-St. Paul’s
United Church/VIVA! Youth Singers of
Toronto. Carols by Candlelight. L’Arche Daybreak, spirit dancers. Trinity-St. Paul’s United
Church, 427 Bloor St. W. 416-788-8482. Free.
●● 7:00: Theatre 20. 2nd Annual Holiday
Cabaret. Alleycatz, 2409 Yonge Street. 416847-6327. $20.
●● 7:30: Aurora United Church Chancel
Choir and Handbell Ensembles. Carols by
Candlelight: A Quiet Christmas. Trinity Anglican Church (Aurora), 79 Victoria St., Aurora.
905-727-6101. Freewill offering. Also 4:00.
Refreshments to follow.
●● 7:30: Church of the Holy Trinity. The
Christmas Story. See Dec 12(eve); Also
Dec 19, 20(mat/eve), 21(mat/eve).
●● 8:00: Uxbridge Messiah Singers. 18th
Nosed Reindeer: The Musical. See 3:30.
●● 7:30: the studio @ west hill. Singing the
Season: A Secular Sing-Along. Traditional
Christmas carols reworded for secular and
atheist audiences. Scott Kearns, piano, and
guests. Audience participation. West Hill
United Church, 62 Orchard Park Dr., Scarborough. 416-282-8566. Free. 7:15: Tree lighting. Refreshments to follow.
●● 8:00: John Findlay. IN2 The Spirit. Carol
of the Bells, Little Drummer Boy, Silent Night,
White Christmas and other seasonal works.
Jackie Richardson, Barbra Lica and Michael
Dunston, vocals; Robi Botos, piano; Mike Murley, sax. Gladstone Hotel Ballroom, 1214 Queen
St. W. 416-531-4635 x0. $35/$40(res). Proceeds of CD sales go to Covenant House.
●● 8:00: Music Gallery/Kith and Kin. Kith
and Kin Holiday Wassail. Featuring medieval
carols, rousing sing-alongs, and seasonal
music from Appalachia, the British Isles and
the shape-note tradition. Kith and Kin trio:
Ivy Mairi, Martha Mairi, Kathleen McDonnell; choir; Shadowland Theatre. Music Gallery, 197 John St. 416-961-9594. $17/$15(adv);
$10(member); free(under 12).
●● 8:00: That Choir. Carols by Candlelight.
Runestad: Alleluia; Mealor: The Holly & the
Ivy; Whitacre: Lux Nova; Lauridsen: O Magnum Mysterium; and other carols. Craig Pike,
conductor. Guests: Cawthra Park Chamber
Choir (Robert Anderson, conductor; Jeanne
Yuen, piano). Metropolitan United Church,
56 Queen St. E. 416-460-1783. $25; $15(sr/
arts workers); $5(st).
biennial rendition of Handel’s Messiah. 100voice choir; professional orchestra; Sasha
Liebich-Tait, soprano; Jennifer Neveu, alto;
Adam Bishop, tenor; Jonathan Liebich, baritone; Thomas Baker, conductor. Trinity United
Church (Uxbridge), 20 First Ave., Uxbridge,
On. 905-722-0133. Free ($20 suggested donation). Also Dec 16.
Tuesday December 16
●● 1:00: Cathedral Church of St. James.
Organ recitals. David Briggs, organist.
65 Church St. 416-364-7865 ext. 245. Free;
donations welcomed.
●● 5:30: Canadian Opera Company. World
Music Series: Cantautore: Here and Now.
Presentation of jazz-world music project
Espresso Manifesto, a reinterpretation of
Italian music and culture. Daniela Nardi,
singer-songwriter. Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre, Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts, 145 Queen St. W. 416-363-8231.
Free.
Monday December 15
●● 7:00: University of Toronto Faculty of
Music. Student Chamber Music Concert–
The Haydn Challenge. Walter Hall, Edward
Johnson Building, 80 Queen’s Park. 416-4080208. Free.
●● 7:30: Against the Grain Theatre.
#UncleJohn. See Dec 11; Also Dec 17, 19.
●● 7:30: Art of Time Ensemble. Madeleine
Peyroux with the Art of Time Ensemble. A
programme of Peyroux’s favourite songs.
Madeleine Peyroux; Art of Time Ensemble
(Andrew Burashko, director). Harbourfront
Centre Theatre, 235 Queens Quay W. 416-9734000. $25-$59.
Welcome
Christmas II
December 16, 2014
7:30 p.m.
Yorkminster Park Baptist Church
1585 Yonge Street
orpheuschoirtoronto.com
hssb.ca/events
HANNAFORD STREET
SILVER BAND
●● 7:30: Hannaford Street Silver Band/
Orpheus Choir of Toronto. Welcome Christmas II. Seasonal Celebration of Big Brass and
Song. Robert Cooper, conductor (Orpheus);
David Pell, artistic director (Hannaford). Yorkminster Park Baptist Church, 1585 Yonge St.
416-922-1167. $40;$30(sr);$15(st).
●●7:30: Canadian Music Centre. CD Launch:
Myth, Legend, Romance. Pre-release event
for Elizabeth Raum’s new CD of concertos.
Elizabeth Raum, composer; Erika Raum, violin; Rivka Golani, viola. 20 St. Joseph St. 416961-6601 x201. Free. 7:00: Doors open. Light
refreshments.
●● 8:00: Toronto Symphony Orchestra. Special: Messiah. Handel. Jane Archibald, soprano; Allyson McHardy, mezzo; Lawrence
Wiliford, tenor; Philippe Sly, bass; Toronto
Mendelssohn Choir; Grant Llewellyn, conductor. Roy Thomson Hall, 60 Simcoe St.
416-593-4828. $38-$105. Also Dec 17, 19, 20,
21(mat).
●● 8:00: Uxbridge Messiah Singers. 18th
THAT CHOIR CAROLS
CONDUCTED BY CRAIG PIKE
with special guests CAWTHRA PARK CHAMBER CHOIR
LAURIDSEN.
RUNESTAD.
GIACOMIN.
MEMLEY.
WHITACRE.
Sunday, Dec. 14 | 8pm
Metropolitan United Church
56 Queen St. E, Toronto
Tickets: $25 | $15 | $5
thatchoir.com | 416 460 1783
thewholenote.com
December 1 2014 - February 7, 2015 | 45
A. Concerts in the GTA
Thursday December 18
biennial rendition of Handel’s Messiah. 100voice choir; professional orchestra; Sasha
Liebich-Tait, soprano; Jennifer Neveu, alto;
Adam Bishop, tenor; Jonathan Liebich, baritone; Thomas Baker, conductor. Trinity United
Church (Uxbridge), 20 First Ave., Uxbridge,
On. 905-722-0133. Free ($20 suggested donation). Also Dec 15.
Wednesday December 17
●● 12:00 noon: Canadian Opera Company.
MESSIAH
@KOERNER
HALL
Dec 17-20
416.408.0208
tafelmusik.org
Guest:Jackie Richardson. Trinity-St. Paul’s
Centre, 427 Bloor St. W. 416-408-0208.
$45;$35(sr);$30(st).
●● 8:00: Toronto Symphony Orchestra. Special: Messiah. See Dec 16; Also Dec 19, 20,
21(mat).
Also Dec 18, 19, 20, and 21: Sing-Along Messiah, Massey Hall(mat).
●●8:00: The Nathaniel Dett Chorale. An
Indigo Christmas: Black Nativity ... Ask Your
Mama. Langston Hughes: Black Nativity (concert presentation); Great Joy (Gospel Suite).
Friday December 19
●● 12:00 noon: Corporation of Massey Hall
and Roy Thomson Hall/Amadeus Choir.
Make a Joyful Sound. A selection of SeasonalSong-Writing Competition winning songs;
other works. Lydia Adams, conductor Shawn
Grenke, organ. Roy Thomson Hall, 60 Simcoe
St. 416-872-4255. Free.
●●7:30: Against the Grain Theatre.
#UncleJohn. See Dec 11; Also Dec 19.
●●7:30: Toronto Choral Society. Music of the
Americas. Ramirez: Navidad Nuestra; Misa
Criolla. CASSAVA Latin Band; Ernesto Cárdenas; Toronto Choral Society. Eastminster
United Church, 310 Danforth Ave. 416-4103509. $25/$20(adv).
●●7:30: Tafelmusik. Handel: Messiah. Lydia
Teuscher, soprano; James Laing, countertenor; Colin Balzer, tenor; Brett Polegato,
baritone; Ivars Taurins, conductor. Koerner
Hall, 273 Bloor St. W. 416-408-0208. $49–
$119; $39–$104(sr); $29–$104(35 and under).
46 | December 1 2014 - February 7, 2015
World Music Series: Gracias a la Vida: A Holiday Celebration. Latin jazz blending Mexican
and South African music with elements of flamenco and Afro-Cuban rhythms. Amanda
Martinez, vocals. Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre, Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts, 145 Queen St. W. 416-363-8231.
Free.
●● 12:15: Music at Metropolitan. Noon at Met.
Thomas Gonder, organ. Metropolitan United
Church, 56 Queen St. E. 416-363-0331. Free.
●● 7:30: Canadian Music Centre/Toronto
Guitar Society. Class Axe Concert. Premiere of works by Leggatt, Oickle, Sandquist
and Tse. Rob MacDonald, classical guitar.
Canadian Music Centre, 20 St. Joseph St.
416-961-6601 x201. Free. Part of Class Axe
Workshop.
●● 7:30: Tafelmusik. Handel: Messiah. See
Dec 17; Also Dec 19, 20, and 21: Sing-Along
Messiah, Massey Hall(mat).
●● 8:00: Aga Khan Museum. Spoken Word
Jam with Tanya Evanson and Sheniz Janmohamed. Improvisations with local musicians. Aga Khan Museum Auditorium,
77 Wynford Drive. 416-646-4677. $15.
●● 8:00: Musideum. A Steel Pan Christmas.
Caribbean Xmas concert. Solomon Joseph,
steel pannist, w multi-instrumentalists Roger
Sader and Donald Quan. Suite 133 (main
floor), 401 Richmond St. W. 416-599-7323.
$20;$10(children).
●● 1:10: Gordon Murray Presents. Piano Pot-
The Toronto
Choral Society presents
Wednesday, Dec 17, 2014
7:30 p.m.
Eastminster United Church
310 Danforth Avenue
(between Broadview & Chester)
Tickets: $20 in advance
or $25 at the door
www.torontochoralsociety.org
pourri. Classics, opera, operetta, musicals,
ragtime, pop, international and other genres.
Gordon Murray, piano. Trinity-St. Paul’s
United Church, 427 Bloor St. W. 416-6314300. PWYC. Lunch and snack friendly.
●● 4:30: Church of the Holy Trinity. The
Christmas Story. See Dec 12(eve); Also
Dec 20(mat/eve), 21(mat/eve).
●● 7:30: Against the Grain Theatre.
#UncleJohn. See Dec 11.
●● 7:30: Cadence - 4 guys acapella. Cool Yule.
Beach United Church, 140 Wineva Ave. 416691-8082. $20;$10(children). Proceeds support community development programs of
Beach United.
●● 7:30: Evoid collective/Arraymusic. evoid
Dance w/live music. Bea Labikova, saxophone; Bryant Didier, bass; Mike Clark, guitar;
Pierre Mongeon, piano/trumpet; Freedom
Forever, voice. Array Space, 155 Walnut St.
thewholenote.com
Choir and Youth Choir. A Chorus Christmas:
Ceremonial Splendour. John Rutter’s choral
fable, Brother Heinrich’s Christmas, narrated
by Gordon Pinsent. Instrumental accompaniment; Elise Bradley, Carole Anderson, Judith
Bean and Matthew Otto, conductors. Roy
Thomson Hall, 60 Simcoe St. 416-872-4255.
$35.50-$45.50. 1:15: Alumni Choir sing carols in the lobby with guest conductor Mitch
Bondy.
●● 3:30: York Symphony Orchestra. Holiday
Concert. Carols; audience sing-along. Denis
Mastromonaco, conductor. Trinity Anglican
Church (Aurora), 79 Victoria St., Aurora. 416410-0860. $28; $23(sr); $15(st). Also 8:00.
●● 4:00: Cathedral Church of St. James. La
Nativité du Seigneur. Messiaen: La Nativité
du Seigneur (The Nativity of the Lord or The
Birth of the Saviour). David Briggs, organ.
65 Church St. 416-364-7865 ext. 245. Free.
●● 4:30: Church of the Holy Trinity. The
Christmas Story. See Dec 12(eve); Also
Dec 20(eve), 21(mat/eve).
●● 7:30: Aradia Ensemble. Dublin Messiah.
Handel. Jacqueline Woodley, soprano; Maria
Soulis, mezzo; Adam Fisher, tenor; Dion
Mazerolle; Kevin Mallon, conductor. St. Anne’s
Anglican Church, 270 Gladstone Ave. 647960-6650. $35; $20(sr/st).
●● 7:30: Bach Children’s Chorus/Bach
Chamber Youth Choir. Sleighbells Ring ...
thewholenote.com
BACH CHAMBER YOUTH CHOIR
Linda Beaupré, Conductor
Eleanor Daley, Pianist
Sleighbells
ring . . .
SATURDAY DECEMBER 20, 2014
AT 7:30PM
$40 and $35 at the Toronto Centre box office
or TicketMaster at 1-855-985-2787 (ARTS)
Toronto Centre for the Arts 5040 Yonge Street
Photo by Flickr user clovermountain
Used under Creative Commons licence
Design by David Kopulos www.davidkopulos.com
facebook.com/BCCandBCYC bachchildrenschorus.ca
CELEbr atE
Saturday December 20
●● 2:00: Toronto Children’s Chorus, Alumni
BACH CHILDREN’S CHORUS
Christmas at Toronto Centre for the Arts.
Seasonal, old and new. The four choirs of
the BCC and BCYC; Linda Beaupré, conductor; Eleanor Daley, piano. Toronto Centre
for the Arts, 5040 Yonge St. 1-855-985-2787.
$45,$35.
●● 7:30: Church of the Holy Trinity. The
Christmas Story. See Dec 12(eve); Also
Dec 21(mat/eve).
●● 7:30: Musikay. Messiah. Handel: Messiah.
Catherine Arcand-Pinette, soprano; Erikay
Bailey, alto; Michael P. Taylor, tenor; Jeremy
Ludwig, bass; Stéphane Potvin, conductor. St.
John’s United Church (Oakville), 262 Randall
St., Oakville. 905-825-9740. $35; $30(sr);
$15(under 35); $70(family package).
●● 7:30: Tafelmusik. Handel: Messiah. See
Dec 17; Also Dec 21: Sing-Along Messiah, Massey Hall(mat).
●● 8:00: Aga Khan Museum. The 4th Light:
Niyaz with Tanya Evanson. Music for kamaan,
lafta, and kanun mixed with electronica.
Niyaz; Tanya Evanson, poet-performer. Aga
416-532-3019. $10 or PWYC. Signup 7pm.
●● 7:30: Tafelmusik. Handel: Messiah. See
Dec 17; Also Dec 20, and 21: Sing-Along Messiah, Massey Hall(mat).
●● 7:30: Victoria Scholars. Yuletide on
the Cool Canadian Side. Blessed Sacrament Church, 24 Cheritan Ave. 416-7617776. $30/$25(adv); $25/$20(sr/st). Also
Dec 21(Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church).
●● 8:00: Corporation of Massey Hall and
Roy Thomson Hall. Roch Voisine with special
guest Amy Sky. Massey Hall, 178 Victoria St.
416-872-4255. $29.50-$69.50.
●● 8:00: Music Gallery. Unsilent Night. Kline.
Audience members each given one of four
tracks of recorded music to be played on
boomboxes as they walk a pre-planned route
through the city. 197 John St. 416-961-9594.
Free. Followed by concert at Music Gallery.
●● 8:00: Musideum. The Starfires and The
Roblin/Newman/Jurgensen Express. Free
improvisation. Starfires: (Michael Kaler, bass;
Paul Newman, sax; Jamie Thomson, flute;
Arnd Jurgensen, guitar; Andy Yue, keyboards;
Roblin/Newman/Jurgensen Express:Diane
Roblin, keyboards; Paul Newman, sax;
Arnd Jurgensen,guitars. Suite 133 (main
floor), 401 Richmond St. W. 416-599-7323.
$20;PWYC(st/artists).
●● 8:00: Sine Nomine Ensemble for Medieval
Music. Transeamus: A Medieval Christmas
Pilgrimage. St. Thomas’s Anglican Church,
383 Huron St. 416-978-8849. $20; $14(sr/st/
unwaged). See ad pg 45.
●● 8:00: Toronto Symphony Orchestra.
Special: Messiah. See Dec 16; Also Dec 20,
21(mat).
●● 9:00: Music Gallery. Festive fundraiser
with O’Pears. Folk, R&B, celtic, and bluegrass
music performed by female a cappella trio.
O’Pears: Meg Contini, Jill Harris, Lydia Persaud. 197 John St. 416-961-9594. PWYC; $20
suggested donation. 8:00: Unsilent Night.
Advent &
Christmas
with ESG!
Sunday,novEmbEr30th
Advent I – Hope
drama:ChristmasPlateSpinner
Sunday,dECEmbEr7th
Advent II - Peace
adventGift
Sunday,dECEmbEr14th
Advent III – Joy
Pick-upPageant|4:00pmConcert
Sunday,dECEmbEr21St
Advent IV – Love
LessonsandCarols
Christmas Eve
5pm–FamilyServicewithSt.nicolas
9pm-CandlelightServicewithCommunion
SundayServicesbeginat10:30am
35 Lytton Blvd., Toronto
416.481.1141
www.esgunited.org
December 1 2014 - February 7, 2015 | 47
A. Concerts in the GTA
Lackenbauer, baritone. Grace Anglican
Church, 15 Albion St., Brantford. 519-8419708. $25; $15(sr/st).
●● 3:00: Mooredale Youth Orchestras. In
Concert. Mozart: Symphony No.40 in g; Corelli: Christmas Concerto in g “Fatto per la
Notte di Natale” Op.6 No.8; Handel: Water
Music Suite (La Réjouissance, arr. Herfurth);
Purcell: Suite No.5 (Rigaudon); Gluck: Alceste
(Caprice in G). William Rowson and Clare
Carberry, conductors. Laidlaw Auditorium,
Upper Canada College, 200 Lonsdale Rd. 416922-3714 x103. $15; $10(sr/st).
●● 3:00: No Strings Theatre and the Toronto
Onyx Lions Club. Amahl and the Night
Visitors and other seasonal favourites. St.
Matthew’s Cathedral, 875 Queen St. E. 416551-2093. $20;$15(sr/st).
●● 3:00: Toronto Symphony Orchestra. Special: Messiah. See Dec 16.
●● 4:00: Cathedral Church of St. James.
Organ recitals. David Briggs, organist.
65 Church St. 416-364-7865 ext. 245. Free;
donations welcomed.
●● 4:00: Church of the Ascension. Festival of
Lessons and Carols. Ascension Choir (Lawrence Green, director); Ashley Tidy, organ.
33 Overland Dr. 416-444-8881. Free will offering; post-service Yuletide reception.
●● 4:00: St. Barnabas on the Danforth. Nine
Lessons and Carols for Christmas. A replication of the original 1880 carol service from
Truro Cathedral (England). St. Barnabas
Church, Anglican, 361 Danforth Avenue. 416463-1344. Freewill offering.
●● 4:30: All Saints Kingsway Anglican
Church. Candlelight Christmas. Lessons
& Carols. Britten: Ceremony of Carols.
2850 Bloor St. W. 416-233-1125. Freewill
offering.
●● 4:30: Church of the Holy Trinity. The
Christmas Story. See Dec 12(eve); Also
Dec 21(eve).
●● 4:30: Yorkminster Park Baptist Church.
Nine Lessons and Carols. 1585 Yonge St. 416922-1167. Free.
instrumentation. Jesse and the Field Wizards.
Suite 133 (main floor), 401 Richmond St. W.
416-599-7323. $20.
●● 8:00: Toronto Symphony Orchestra. Special: Messiah. See Dec 16; Also Dec 21(mat).
●● 8:00: York Symphony Orchestra. Holiday
Concert. See 3:30.
Sunday December 21
●● 10:30am: Eglinton St. George’s United
Khan Museum Auditorium, 77 Wynford Drive.
416-646-4677. $65,$50,$40.
●● 8:00: Gordon Murray Presents. Piano
Soirée: Highlights from 2014. Works by Chopin, Rachmaninoff, Gershwin and others(arr.
Murray). Gordon Murray, piano. Trinity-St.
Paul’s United Church, 427 Bloor St. W. 416631-4300. $15; $10(st).
●● 8:00: Musideum. Sacred Solstice Soundbath. Ambient/crystal singing bowls/eclectic
Church. Advent IV - Love. Lessons and Carols. Eglinton St. George’s United Church,
35 Lytton Blvd. 416-481-1141. Free. Religious
Service.
●● 10:30am: Lawrence Park Community
Church. Lessons and Carols. Choir of Lawrence Park Community Church. 2180 Bayview
Ave. 416-489-1551. Freewill offering. Religious
Service. Free parking; wheelchair accessible.
●● 11:00am: Music at Metropolitan. Worship Service. Bach: Cantata No.147. Metropolitan Choir, members of Talisker Players
and others. Metropolitan United Church,
56 Queen St. E. 416-363-0331. Freewill
offering.
●● 2:00: Tafelmusik. Sing-Along Messiah.
Handel. Ivars Taurins, conductor. Koerner
Hall, 273 Bloor St. W. 416-872-4255. $29–
$47. See also Dec 17, 18, 19, and 20(Koerner
Hall, eve).
●● 3:00: Grand River Chorus. Singalong Messiah. Handel. Grand River Orchestra; Shannon McCracken, soprano; Timothy Wong,
countertenor; Shawn Oakes, tenor; Kirk
Nutcracker Nouveau Plus
Saturday December 27, 7:30 pm
Ensemble POLARIS:
Margaret GAY | Katherine HILL |
Deb SINHA | Kirk ELLIOTT |
Colin SAVAGE | Marco CERA |
Jeff WILSON | Alison MELVILLE
918 Bathurst St., Toronto
$25 ($15 st/sr, $10 kids)
416-588-4301 ensemblepolaris.com
NO STRINGS
THEATRE
presents
‘SPIRIT OF
THE SEASON’
Gian Carlo Menotti’s
AMAHL AND THE
NIGHT VISITORS
in concert with other
seasonal favourites
SUNDAY DEC. 21, 2014
3pm and 7:30 pm
St Matthews Cathedral,
875 Queen St E
416-551-2093
Doors open 2-9pm
for refreshments and a cash bar
nostringstheatre.com
48 | December 1 2014 - February 7, 2015
●● 5:00: Eglinton St. George’s United Church.
Christmas Eve Services. 5pm - Family Service with St. Nicolas; 9pm - Candlelight Service with Communion. Eglinton St. George’s
United Church, 35 Lytton Blvd. 416-481-1141.
Free. Religious Service.
●● 7:00: Music at Metropolitan. Candlelight
Service of Lessons and Carols. Bach: Cantata No.147. Metropolitan Choir; Dr. Patricia
Wright, and Matthew Whitfield, organ. Metropolitan United Church, 56 Queen St. E. 416363-0331. Freewill offering.
●● 7:30: Church of the Holy Trinity. The
Christmas Story. See Dec 12(eve).
●● 7:30: No Strings Theatre and the Toronto
Onyx Lions Club. Amahl and the Night
Visitors and other seasonal favourites.
See 3:00.
●● 7:30: Victoria Scholars. Yuletide on the
Cool Canadian Side. See Dec 19(Blessed Sacrament Church).
international
divas
divasiiii
III
Sunday December 21, 8pm
RITA CHIARELLI • LARA SOLNICKI
THE AULT SISTERS • SHARLENE WALLACE
MARYEM
MARYAM HASSAN TOLLAR • HISAKA
trInIty-st. Paul’s centre
tIcketbreak.com
InternatIonaldIvas.net
●● 8:00: George Koller. International Divas
III. All acoustic: world, folk, roots, jazz, classics, singer/songwriter. Rita Chiarelli,
Maryem Hassan Tollar, Lara Solnicki, Sharlene Wallace, The Ault Sisters, Hisaka with
their accompanists. Trinity-St. Paul’s Centre,
427 Bloor St. W. 866-943-8849. $49; $25(sr/
st). Portion of ticket sales to YWCA.
Tuesday December 23
●● 1:00: Cathedral Church of St. James.
Organ recitals. David Briggs, organist.
65 Church St. 416-364-7865 ext. 245. Free;
donations welcomed.
Wednesday December 24
●● 4:30: All Saints Kingsway Anglican
Church. Christmas Pageant with Candlelight.
2850 Bloor St. W. 416-233-1125. .
●● 4:30: Cathedral Church of St. James.
Christmas Eve at the Cathedral. 4:30pm:
A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols;
7:30 Choral Eucharist and Procession to the
Creche. 65 Church St. 416-364-7865 ext.
245. .
●● 5:00: Metropolitan United Church. Special Christmas Services. 5pm: Christmas at
Queen - the Pageant live on the front steps;
11pm Christmas Eve Communion Service.
56 Queen St. E. 416-363-0331 x26. Free.
●● 7:00: All Saints Kingsway Anglican
thewholenote.com
Saturday December 27
●● 7:30: Ensemble Polaris. Nutcracker Nou-
veau Plus. Music from Sweden, Canada,
England, Russia, Norway and others. Colin
Savage, clarinets/recorders; Kirk Elliott,
accordion/violin/bagpipes; Marco Cera, guitar/banjo; Margaret Gay, cello; Alison Melville,
recorders, flutes; and others. 918 Bathurst
Centre, 918 Bathurst St. 416-588-4301. $25;
$15(sr/st); $10(child).
●● 8:00: Toronto Operetta Theatre. Mikado.
thewholenote.com
Gilbert and Sullivan. Joseph Angelo (Ko-Ko);
Lucia Cesaroni (Yum-Yum); Adrian Kramer
(Nanki-poo); Mia Lennox (Katisha); David Ludwig (Poo Bah); Giles Tomkins (Mikado); Derek
Bate, conductor. Jane Mallett Theatre, St.
Lawrence Centre for the Arts, 27 Front St. E.
416-366-7723 or 1-800-708-6754. $72-$95.
Also Dec 28(mat), 31, Jan 2, 3, 4(mat).
KADO
I
M
Sunday December 28
●● 2:00: Toronto Improvisers Orchestra/
Arraymusic. Toronto Improvisers Orchestra. Array Space, 155 Walnut St. 416-5323019. Free.
●● 2:00: Toronto Operetta Theatre. Mikado.
See Dec 27(eve); Also Dec 31(eve), Jan 2(eve),
3(eve), 4.
●● 4:00: Cathedral Church of St. James.
Organ recitals. David Briggs, organist.
65 Church St. 416-364-7865 ext. 245. Free;
donations welcomed.
Gilbert & Sullivan
Lucia Cesaroni, Mia Lennox, Adrian Kramer,
Joseph Angelo, David Ludwig, Giles Tomkins
Derek Bate, Conductor
Guillermo Silva-Marin, Stage Director
the
Church. Choral Celebration with Candlelight. 2850 Bloor St. W. 416-233-1125. Free
will offering.
●● 7:00: Music at St Andrew’s. Lessons and
Carols with The Pine Ridge Brass Quintet.
St. Andrew’s Church, 73 Simcoe St. 416-5935600 x231. Freewill offering.
●● 10:30: Metropolitan Community Church.
25th Annual Christmas Eve Celebration. Traditional Christmas music. The Choir of MCC;
Guests: Thom Allison, singer; Broadsway
(Heather Bambrick, Julie Michaels, Diane
Leah). Roy Thomson Hall, 60 Simcoe St. 416872-4255. $25. Door open at 10pm Christmas
Carols at 10:15.
●● 10:30: St. Anne’s Anglican Church. Choral
Eucharist: Christmas Midnight Mass. Candlelight Eucharist w. Willan: Missa Brevis No.4
“Corde natus ex parentis”; and carols. Choir
of St. Anne’s; Matthew Otto, conductor.
270 Gladstone Ave. 416-536-3160. Free. All
are welcome.
●● 11:00: All Saints Kingsway Anglican
Church. Choral Celebration with Candlelight. 2850 Bloor St. W. 416-233-1125. Free
will offering.
December 27 & 31 (NYE Gala)
& January 2 & 3 at 8 pm
Dec. 28 & Jan. 4 at 2 pm
Wednesday December 31
●● 7:00: The Home Smith Bar. New Year’s Eve
Jazz Party. Alex Pangman and her Alleycats.
The Home Smith Bar at The Old Mill, 21 Old
Mill Road. 416-207-2020. $125. Includes dinner buffet, entertainment, dessert and sparkling wine.
●●7:00: Roy Thomson Hall and Attila Glatz
Concert Productions. Bravissimo! Opera’s
Greatest Hits. New Year’s Eve Celebration, all
before 10pm. Music by Puccini, Verdi, Rossini, Offenbach and other composers, from
La Traviata, Aida, Carmen, La Boheme and
more. Natalia Ushakova, soprano; Viktoria
Vizin, mezzo soprano; Andreas Schager,
tenor; Brett Polegato, baritone; Opera Canada
Come Celebrate with us!
New Year’s Eve Gala
A 30th Anniversary Ball to greet 2015.
Dinner, Dancing, Champagne at midnight!
Reserve early. Call 416-366-7723
Ask for New Year’s Eve Gala Package.
Guillermo Silva-Marin
General Director
416-366-7723 |
JACKMAN
FOUNDATION
1-800-708-6754 | www.stlc.com
The Bedolfe
Foundation
The Dalglish Family Foundation
an Ontario government agency
un organisme du gouvernement de l’Ontario
December 1 2014 - February 7, 2015 | 49
A. Concerts in the GTA
United Church, 427 Bloor St. W. 416-6314300. PWYC. Lunch and snack friendly.
●● 8:00: Musicians In Ordinary. New Year’s
Day Baroque Concert. See Jan 1(mat).
●● 8:00: Toronto Operetta Theatre. Mikado.
See Dec 27(eve); Also 3(eve), 4.
2015!
New Year’s Eve 7:00 pm
Tickets: 416.872.4255
roythomson.com
Thursday January 1
Saturday January 3
●● 2:00: Musicians In Ordinary. New Year’s
●● 8:00: Toronto Operetta Theatre. Mikado.
Day Baroque Concert. Works by Scarlatti,
Corelli, Vivaldi, Pez and others. Hallie Fishel,
soprano; John Edwards, lute; Christopher
Verrette and Patricia Ahern, baroque violin;
Borys Medicky, harpsichord. Heliconian Hall,
35 Hazelton Ave. 416-535-9956. $30; $20(sr/
st). Also Jan 2(eve).
See Dec 27(eve); Also 4.
Sunday January 4
●● 2:00: Toronto Operetta Theatre. Mikado.
See Dec 27(eve).
●● 4:00: Cathedral Church of St. James.
Organ recitals. Andrew Ager, organist.
65 Church St. 416-364-7865 ext. 245. Free;
donations welcomed.
●● 4:00: Church of St. Mary Magdalene.
Organ music for Epiphany. Andrew Adair,
organ. 477 Manning Ave. 416-531-7955. Free.
New Year’s Concert
Tuesday January 6
20th Anniversary Season
●● 12:00 noon: Canadian Opera Company.
Roy Thomson Hall
Dance Series: Brazil, The Land of Tears and
Soul. Newton Moraes’ choreography celebrates his Brazilian culture and connects
it with today’s world in an evocative series of vignettes. Newton Moraes Dance Theatre: Marco Placencio, Michelle Zimmerman,
Patrizia Gianforcaro, Nicheshia Garrick, Falciony Pacino Cruz and others. Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre, Four Seasons Centre for
the Performing Arts, 145 Queen St. W. 416363-8231. Free.
●● 12:10: Nine Sparrows Arts Foundation/
Yorkminster Park Baptist Church. Lunchtime Chamber Music: Rising Stars Recital.
Students from Glenn Gould School. Yorkminster Park Baptist Church, 1585 Yonge St. 416241-1298. Free. Donations welcome.
●● 12:10: University of Toronto Faculty of
Music. Performance Class for Singers. First
year undergraduate students. Walter Hall,
Edward Johnson Building, 80 Queen’s Park.
416-408-0208. Free. Open to the public.
●● 1:00: Cathedral Church of St. James.
Organ recitals. Andrew Ager, organist.
65 Church St. 416-364-7865 ext. 245. Free;
donations welcomed.
●● 7:00: University of Toronto Faculty
of Music. New Orford String Quartet.
Beethoven: String Quartet Op.95; Brahms:
Symphony; Opera Canada Chorus; Francesco
Lanzillotta, conductor. Roy Thomson Hall,
60 Simcoe St. 416-872-4255. $65-$155. All
before 10pm.
●● 8:00: Toronto Operetta Theatre. Mikado.
See Dec 27(eve); Also Jan 2(eve), 3(eve), 4.
Tickets: 416.872.4255
roythomson.com
VIP Tickets Available
January 1 • 2:30 pm
Roy Thomson Hall
●● 2:30: Roy Thomson Hall and Attila Glatz
Concert Productions. Salute to Vienna 20th
Anniversary Gala Concert. Music from operettas including Die Fledermaus and The
Merry Widow; polkas, Strauss waltzes and
more. The Strauss Symphony of Canada
(Christian Schulz, conductor); Natalia Ushakova, soprano; Katalin Benedekffy, soubrette;
Andreas Schager, tenor; Szabolcs Kádár,
buffo tenor; dancers from Vienna Imperial
Ballet; International Champion Ballroom Dancers, Hamilton Children’s Choir. Roy Thomson
Hall, 60 Simcoe St. 416-872-4255. $55-$145.
VIP Post-Concert Reception; $50.
●● 9:00: Toronto All-Star Big Band. New
Year’s Eve Party. Toronto Don Valley Hotel,
175 Wynford Drive. 416-385-6726. $155. See
section E - Galas.
String Quartet in c Op.51 No.1; Kulesha: new
work(premiere). Walter Hall, Edward Johnson Building, 80 Queen’s Park. 416-408-0208.
$40; $25(sr); $10(st).
Wednesday January 7
●● 5:30: Canadian Opera Company. Jazz Ser-
ies: Easy to Love: The Cole Porter Songbook.
Porter: Just One of Those Things; Night and
Day; I’ve Got You Under My Skin; Easy to Love;
All of You; Ev’ry Time We Say Good-bye. Amy
McConnell, vocals; William Sperandei, trumpet; Mark Kieswetter, piano; Ross MacIntyre, bass. Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre,
Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts,
145 Queen St. W. 416-363-8231. Free.
Thursday January 8
●● 12:00 noon: Canadian Opera Company.
Dance Series: Sirocco. Dancer/choreographer Anjelica Scannura moves beyond geographical and stylistic boundaries in search
of the Arabic roots of flamenco. Ritmo Flamenco Dance and Music Ensemble. Richard
Bradshaw Amphitheatre, Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts, 145 Queen St. W.
416-363-8231. Free.
●● 12:10: University of Toronto Faculty of
Music. Thursdays at Noon. Works by Stravinsky, Bartók and Tansman. Fraser Jackson, bassoon; Jamie Parker, and Monique de
Margerie, pianos; Beverley Johnston, and
Ed Reifel, percussion. Walter Hall, Edward
Johnson Building, 80 Queen’s Park. 416-4080208. Free.
●● 12:15: Music at Metropolitan. Noon at Met.
Andrew Ager, organ. Metropolitan United
Church, 56 Queen St. E. 416-363-0331. Free.
●● 1:00: Encore Symphonic Concert Band.
In concert: Classics and Jazz. John Edward
Liddle, conductor. Wilmar Heights Centre,
963 Pharmacy Ave., Scarborough. 416-3463910. $10. Incl. coffee and snack. Also Feb 5.
●● 7:00: Sounds of Sinai. Not Your Usual Klezmer. Rare klezmer repertoire with jazz, raga,
blues, and chamber arrangements. Jonno
Lightstone, clarinet and flute; Brian Katz, guitar and piano. Temple Sinai, 210 Wilson Ave.
416-487-4161. $10.
●● 8:00: Music Toronto. Juilliard Quartet.
Webern: Five Movements, Op.5; Ran: Quartet No.2, Vistas; Haydn: Quartet in F, Op.135.
Joseph Lin, violin; Ronald Copes, violin; Joel
Music TORONTO
JUILLIARD
QUARTET
Friday January 2
●● 1:10: Gordon Murray Presents. Piano Pot-
pourri. Classics, opera, operetta, musicals,
ragtime, pop, international and other genres.
Gordon Murray, piano. Trinity-St. Paul’s
New Orford
String Quartet
Tuesday, January 6, 2015
7:00 pm. Walter Hall, U of T
Call 416-408-0208
50 | December 1 2014 - February 7, 2015
January 8 at 8 pm
thewholenote.com
Krosnick, cello; Roger Tapping, viola. Jane
Mallett Theatre, St. Lawrence Centre for the
Arts, 27 Front St. E. 416-366-7723. $55;$50;
$10(st); age 18 to 35 pay your age.
Friday January 9
I FURIOSI
Baroque Ensemble
GET
RICH
●● 8:15: Schola Magdalena. Compline in hon-
our of Marguerite Bourgeoys. Plainchant
and motets. Church of St. Mary Magdalene,
477 Manning Ave. 416-531-7955. PWYC.
Saturday January 10
●● 1:10: Gordon Murray Presents. Piano Pot-
pourri. Classics, opera, operetta, musicals,
ragtime, pop, international and other genres.
Gordon Murray, piano. Trinity-St. Paul’s
United Church, 427 Bloor St. W. 416-6314300. PWYC. Lunch and snack friendly.
●● 7:30: Music at Metropolitan. Sei Solo: A
Violino senza Basso. Bach: Sei Solo – a violino
senza Basso accompagnato. Elyssa Lefurgey-Smith, Cristina Zacharias, Julia Wedman,
Valerie Gordon, Aisslinn Nosky, and Michelle
Odorico, violins. Metropolitan United Church,
56 Queen St. E. 416-363-0331. $20; $10(18
and under).
●● 8:00: Royal Conservatory. Vocal Concerts: Anne Sofie von Otter and Angela Hewitt. Works by Beethoven, Schubert, Brahms,
Fauré, Debussy, Chabrier and Chaminade.
Anne Sofie von Otter, mezzo; Angela Hewitt,
piano. Koerner Hall, 273 Bloor St. W. 416-4080208. $40-$95.
Schola
Magdalena
Compline in honour of
Marguerite Bourgeoys
Friday, Jan. 9, 8:15 pm
scholamagdalena.ca
thewholenote.com
Opera Canada Chorus, Brigitte Bogar, conductor; William Shookhoff, piano and music
director. College Street United Church,
452 College St. 416-455-2365. $20.
●● 3:00: Vesnivka Choir. A Ukrainian Christmas. Guests: Toronto Ukrainian Male Chamber Choir; Borys Ostapienko, bandur.
Islington United Church, 25 Burnhamthorpe
Rd. 416-246-9880; 416-763-2197. $25; $20(sr/
st).
QUICK
TAFELMUSIK
WINTER
INSTITUTE
Sat. Jan. 10, 2015, 8pm
Calvin Presbyterian Church
26 Delisle Ave, Toronto
CONCERT
String Orchestra
of Baroque England
Jan 10 @7:30pm
Pay-what-you-can
www.ifuriosi.com
Sunday January 11
●● 1:30: Seicho-No-Ie Centre. 6 Cellists,
6 Concerts, 6 Bach Suites. Bach: Suite
for unaccompanied cello, No.4 in E-flat
(BWV1010). Winona Zelenka, cello. SeichoNo-Ie Toronto, 662 Victoria Park Ave. 416690-8686. $20.
●● 3:00: Opera by Request/Nordic Opera
Canada. Princess and the Pea (Prinsessen
paa Aerten). Enna. Steven Henrikson, baritone (King Julius); Jason Lamont, tenor
(Prince Basilius); Brigitte Bogar, soprano
(Princess Ilse/Queen Gertrud); Nicole Malcolm, soprano (Princess Gudrun); Sven Ericson, baritone (Master-at-Arms); Nordic
●● 7:30: Tafelmusik. The String Orchestra
in Baroque England. Music by Locke, Purcell, Handel, Arison, and Geminiani. Students
of the Tafelmusik Winter Institute. Trinity-St.
Paul’s Centre, 427 Bloor St. W. 416-964-6337.
PWYC ($20 suggested donation). First come,
first seated.
●● 8:00: Li Delun Music Foundation. An
East-Meets-West Concert of Favourite Classics. Works by Rossini, Huang, Vivaldi, Puccini, Wang Luo-Bin and others. Tak-Ng Lai,
conductor; Hua-Dian Li, tenor; Mary Liu,
soprano; Jonathan Mak, piano; Toronto Festival Orchestra. George Weston Recital Hall,
Toronto Centre for the Arts, 5040 Yonge St.
416-733-9388. $28–$88.
●●8:00: I Furiosi. Get Rich Quick. Works
by Rameau, Charpentier, Bach and others.
Guests: Max Mandel and Pemi Paull, violas;
Christopher Bagan, harpsichord. Calvin Presbyterian Church, 26 Delisle Ave. 416-5362943. $10-$20.
The Irving Berlin
songbook
JANUARY 11, 3:30 PM &
JANUARY 13, 8:00 PM
www.taliskerplayers.ca
Talisker Players Music
●● 3:30: Talisker Players. Puttin’ On The
Ritz. Selections from the Irving Berlin songbook. Whitney O’Hearn, mezzo; Bud Roach,
tenor; Talisker Players. Trinity-St. Paul’s
December 1 2014 - February 7, 2015 | 51
A. Concerts in the GTA
Centre, 427 Bloor St. W. 416-466-1800. $35;
$25(sr); $15(st). 3:00: Pre-concert chat. Also
Jan 11(eve), 13(mat/eve).
●● 4:00: Cathedral Church of St. James.
Organ recitals. Trinity Organ Scholar.
65 Church St. 416-364-7865 ext. 245. Free;
donations welcomed.
●● 4:00: St. Philip’s Anglican Church. Jazz
Vespers: Barbara Lica Trio. 25 St. Phillips Rd.,
Etobicoke. 416-247-5181. Freewill offering.
●● 4:30: Christ Church Deer Park. Jazz Vespers. Bob Brough Quartet (Bob Brough, saxophone; Artie Roth,bass; Adrean Farrugia,
piano; Terry Clarke, drums). 1570 Yonge St.
416-920-5211x22. Freewill offering.
Tuesday January 13
●● 12:00 noon: Canadian Opera Company.
Chamber Music Series: The Golden Violin.
Virtuoso masterworks for violin and piano.
Victor Fournelle-Blain, violin; Philip Chiu,
piano. Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre, Four
Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts,
TORONTO
MASQUE
THEATRE
The Performing
Arts in FUSION
●● 12:15: Music at Metropolitan. Noon at Met.
Paolo Busato, organ. Metropolitan United
Church, 56 Queen St. E. 416-363-0331. Free.
●● 8:00: Toronto Masque Theatre. Acis and
Galatea. Handel. Teri Dunn, soprano; Lawrence Wiliford, tenor; Graham Thomson,
tenor; Peter McGillivray, baritone; period
orchestra; members of UofT’s Schola Cantorum; Larry Beckwith, conductor. Enoch
Turner Schoolhouse, 106 Trinity St. 416-4104561. $50; $43(sr); $20(under 30). 7:15: preshow lecture and recital. Also Jan 16, 17.
●● 8:00: Toronto Symphony Orchestra.
Mozart@259: Mozart as Performer. Mozart: Serenade No.6, K.239 “Serenata notturna”; Mozart: Piano Concerto No.23, K.488;
Mozart: Sonata No.15 in C Major for Organ
and Strings; Mozart: Symphony No.31, K.297
“Paris”. Matthew Halls, conductor; Jonathan
Crow, leader & violin; Benedetto Lupo, piano;
Patricia Krueger, organ. Roy Thomson Hall,
60 Simcoe St. 416-598-3375. $33–$145.
145 Queen St. W. 416-363-8231. Free.
●● 12:10: Nine Sparrows Arts Foundation/
Yorkminster Park Baptist Church. Lunchtime Chamber Music. Amahl Arulanandam,
cello. Yorkminster Park Baptist Church,
1585 Yonge St. 416-241-1298. Free. Donations
welcome.
●● 12:10: University of Toronto Faculty of
Music. Orastoryo! Performance class for
singers. Darryl Edwards, voice; Mia Bach,
piano. Walter Hall, Edward Johnson Building,
80 Queen’s Park. 416-408-0208. Free. Open
to the public.
●● 1:00: Cathedral Church of St. James.
Organ recitals. Andrew Ager, organist.
65 Church St. 416-364-7865 ext. 245. Free;
donations welcomed.
●● 5:30: Canadian Music Centre. CMC on the
13th: Avian Allure - The 21st Century Virtuoso.
Messiaen: Catalogue d’Oiseaux (Book IV);
Tremblay: Musique de l’eau. Ryan MacEvoy
McCullough, piano. 20 St. Joseph St. 416-9616601 x201. $20/$15(adv).
●● 8:00: Talisker Players. Puttin’ On The Ritz.
See Jan 11(mat/eve), 13(mat).
Friday January 16
●● 12:30: York University Department of
Music. Music at Midday: Aria with Me. Students of Classical Vocal Performance. Tribute Communities Hall, Accolade East Building,
4700 Keele St. 647-459-0701. Free.
●● 1:10: Gordon Murray Presents. Piano Potpourri. Classics, opera, operetta, musicals,
ragtime, pop, international and other genres.
Gordon Murray, piano. Trinity-St. Paul’s
United Church, 427 Bloor St. W. 416-6314300. PWYC. Lunch and snack friendly.
●● 7:30: Eybler Quartet. It’s About Time. An
all-Beethoven evening. Beethoven: String
Quartets Op.18 No.1-3. Aisslinn Nosky and
Julie Wedman, violins; Patrick Jordan,
viola; Margaret Gay, cello. Heliconian Hall,
35 Hazelton Ave. 416-463-2154. $25; $20(sr);
$15(st/arts workers).
●● 8:00: Hart House Theatre. Jesus Christ
Superstar. David Michael Moote (Jesus);
Aaron Williams (Judas); Claire Hunter (Mary);
Harold Lumilan (Simon); James King (Peter);
Matthew Fuller (Caiaphas). 7 Hart House Circle. 416-978-8849. $28; $17(sr); $15(st). Runs
Jan 16 to 31(start times vary).
●● 8:00: Musideum. Spirit Music Matters.
Spirit music; healing new age. Christopher
Reynolds, Paul Béla Ray & Friends. Suite 133
Wednesday January 14
●● 12:30: Yorkminster Park Baptist Church.
Noontime Recitals. Imre Olah, organ.
1585 Yonge St. 416-922-1167. Free.
●● 6:30: Toronto Symphony Orchestra. Mozart@259: Mozart as Performer. Mozart:
Piano Concerto No.23, K.488; Mozart: Symphony No.31, K.297 “Paris”. Matthew Halls,
conductor; Benedetto Lupo, piano; Tom Allen,
host. Roy Thomson Hall, 60 Simcoe St. 416598-3375. $39–$82.
Thursday January 15
●● 12:00 noon: Canadian Opera Company.
Jazz Series: All or Nothing at All. Jazz standards and original compositions. Rémi
Bolduc, saxophone; McGill Honours Jazz
Combo. Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre,
Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts,
145 Queen St. W. 416-363-8231. Free.
●● 12:10: University of Toronto Faculty of
Music. Thursdays at Noon: Composing Comedy. Works by the students of Eric Robertson. Walter Hall, Edward Johnson Building,
80 Queen’s Park. 416-408-0208. Free.
Acis and Galatea
2014-2015 SEASON
By George Frideric Handel
Imagine, on a cold
winter’s night, the historic
Enoch Turner Schoolhouse
lit by candlelight. Imagine
experiencing Handel’s
masterpiece of love and
transformation.
January 15-17, 2015
torontomasquetheatre.com
416-410-4561
Prelude to a Fantasia
January 17, 2015, 8pm
Saturday January 17
●● 6:30: VIVA! Youth Singers of Toronto.
Songs of Innocence. 15th Anniversary. Trinity-St. Paul’s United Church, 427 Bloor St. W.
416-788-8482. $20/$15(adv).
●● 7:30: Toronto Symphony Orchestra. Mozart@259: Mozart Family Ties. Mozart: A
Musical Joke, K.522; L. Mozart: Concerto for
Alto Trombone; L. Mozart: Concerto for Trumpet in D Major; Haydn: Symphony No.60 in
C Major “Il distratto”; Peter Schickele: Eine
kleine Nichtmusik. Matthew Halls, conductor;
Andrew McCandless, trumpet; Gordon Wolfe,
trombone. Roy Thomson Hall, 60 Simcoe St.
416-598-3375. $33–$93. Also Jan 18 (mat).
●● 8:00: Academy Concert Series. Prelude
to a Fantasia. Works by Bach, Telemann and
others. Emily Eng, viola; Kerri McGonigle,
cello; Marco Cera, oboe; Anna March, bassoon; Philip Fournier, harpsichord. Eastminster United Church, 310 Danforth Ave.
416-629-3716. $20; $14(sr/st).
●● 8:00: Acoustic Harvest. Pre-Winterfolk
Festival Showcase. Brian Gladstone, Tony
Quarringon, Noah Zacharin, Lynn Harrison,
Clela Errington & Jocelyn Barth and others.
St. Nicholas Anglican Church, 1512 Kingston
Rd. 416-264-2235. $25/$22(adv). 7:30: Doors
open.
●● 8:00: Arraymusic. Spanning Tree, a New
Work by Michael Oesterle. Full-length composition for solo percussion. David Schotzko,
percusssion. Array Space, 155 Walnut St. 416532-3019. $20.00; $15 (sr/st/arts workers);
$17/$12 (advance). 7:15: pre-show talk.
●● 8:00: Hart House Theatre. Jesus Christ
Superstar. See Jan 16; Runs Jan 16 to 31(start
times vary).
●● 8:00: Toronto Masque Theatre. Acis and
Galatea. See Jan 15.
Sunday January 18
●● 3:00: Toronto Symphony Orchestra. Moz-
art@259: Mozart Family Ties. Mozart: A
Musical Joke, K.522; L. Mozart: Concerto for
Alto Trombone; L. Mozart: Concerto for Trumpet in D Major; Haydn: Symphony No.60 in
C Major “Il distratto”; Peter Schickele: Eine
‘NOON
AT MET’
Free concerts
at 12:15 pm
Music
at Metropolitan
Jan. 15 Paolo Busato,
The Baroque practice of “improvising” is an elegant and
practical way to warm up and check tuning. Each musician
will perform a solo prelude or fantasy before each of the
main works by a range of Baroque composers from Italy,
Germany, France and England. With Marco Cera, oboe;
Anna March, bassoon; Emily Eng, viola; Kerri McGonigle,
cello; Philip Fournier, harpsichord.
organist
Jan. 22 Emily Chiang
pianist
Jan. 29 Radka Hanáková
pianist
Feb. 5 Timothy Wisnicki
pianist
Eastminster United Church, 310 Danforth Avenue
(West of Chester) All 3 concerts begin at 8pm • doors open at 7:30pm
REGULAR TICKETS: $20 ($49 for 3) , STUDENT/SENIOR: $14 ($32 for 3)
academyconcertseries.com 416.629.3716
52 | December 1 2014 - February 7, 2015
(main floor), 401 Richmond St. W. 416-5997323. $20.
●● 8:00: Toronto Masque Theatre. Acis and
Galatea. See Jan 15; Also Jan 17.
an Ontario government agency
un organisme du gouvernement de l’Ontario
Metropolitan United Church
56 Queen Street E.,Toronto
416-363-0331 (ext. 26)
www.metunited.org
thewholenote.com
kleine Nichtmusik. Matthew Halls, conductor;
Andrew McCandless, trumpet; Gordon Wolfe,
trombone. Roy Thomson Hall, 60 Simcoe St.
416-598-3375. $33–$93. Also Jan 17 (eve).
●● 4:00: ASLAN Boys Choir of Toronto. Charity concert for Sanctuary Shelter. Works by
Joubert, Holman and others. Church of the
Transfiguration, 111 Manor Rd. E. 416-8597464. Freewill offering. All proceeds go to the
Sanctuary Shelter.
●● 4:00: Cathedral Church of St. James.
Organ recitals. Andrew Ager, organist.
65 Church St. 416-364-7865 ext. 245. Free;
donations welcomed.
●● 4:00: Vocal Mosaic and Celebration Choir.
Catch a Falling Star. Popular and folk music.
Linda Eyman, conductor. Trinity-St. Paul’s
United Church, 427 Bloor St. W. 416-4559238. $20; $15 (sr/st).
●● 5:00: Nocturnes in the City. George Grosman Jazz Quintet. Prague Restaurant , Masaryktown, 450 Scarborough Golf Club Rd.
416-481-2716. $25.
●● 8:00: Musideum. Hannah Shira Naiman.
Oldtime folk country singer-songwriter dancer. Suite 133 (main floor), 401 Richmond St.
W. 416-599-7323. $10.
Music TORONTO
BARBARA
PRITCHARD
Masters: Afiara String Quartet. Haydn: String
Quartet in C Op.50 No.2; Schumann: String
Quartet in a Op.41 No.1. Mazzoleni Concert
Hall, 273 Bloor St. W. 416-408-0208. $32.
●● 8:00: Hart House Theatre. Jesus Christ
Superstar. See Jan 16; Runs Jan 16 to 31(start
times vary).
Pianist
Thursday January 22
●● 12:00 noon: Canadian Opera Company.
Vocal Series: Songs of Love and War. Music
commemorating both World Wars and the fall
of the Berlin Wall. Artists of the COC Ensemble Studio. Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre,
Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts,
145 Queen St. W. 416-363-8231. Free.
●● 12:10: University of Toronto Faculty of
Music. Thursdays at Noon: Follow Us. Schubert: Arpeggione Sonata; Schumann: Kreutzer Sonata; new work by Beckwith. Peter
Stoll, clarinet, and Adam Zukiewicz, piano.
Walter Hall, Edward Johnson Building,
80 Queen’s Park. 416-408-0208. Free.
●● 12:15: Music at Metropolitan. Noon at Met.
Emily Chiang, piano. Metropolitan United
Church, 56 Queen St. E. 416-363-0331. Free.
●● 12:30: York University Department of
Music. Jazz at Noon: Barry Elmes Quintet.
Original works. Barry Elmes, drums; Kevin
Turcotte, trumpet; Mike Murley, saxophone;
Reg Schwage, guitar; Steve Wallace, bass.
Martin Family Lounge, 219 Accolade East
Building, 4700 Keele St. 647-459-0701. Free.
●● 8:00: Hart House Theatre. Jesus Christ
Superstar. See Jan 16; Runs Jan 16 to 31(start
times vary).
●● 8:00: Musideum. Michael Finlay. Classical. Solo piano. Suite 133 (main floor),
401 Richmond St. W. 416-599-7323. $20.
January 20 at 8 pm
Farrell). Barbara Pritchard, solo piano. Jane
Mallett Theatre, St. Lawrence Centre for the
Arts, 27 Front St. E. 416-366-7723. $55; $50;
18 to 35, pay your age; $10(st).
Monday January 19
●● 7:00: Royal Conservatory/Toronto Blues
Society. Music Mix: Maple Blues Awards. Featuring guest musicians from across Canada
representing the most current blues music,
backed by the Maple Blues Band. Koerner
Hall, 273 Bloor St. W. 416-408-0208. $28-$65.
●● 7:00: University of Toronto Faculty of
Music. Monday Evening Concerts. Crumb:
Voice of the Whale for 3 Masked Players;
Angelo: Sonata para flauta, viola y piano;
Hatzis: Nadir for flute, viola and tape. Susan
Hoeppner, flute; Teng Li, viola; Shauna
Rolston, cello; Lydia Wong, piano. Walter Hall,
Edward Johnson Building, 80 Queen’s Park.
416-408-0208. $40; $25(sr); $10(st).
Tuesday January 20
●● 12:00 noon: Canadian Opera Company.
Jazz Series: Cross Cultural Journey. Compositions that blend elements of traditional
Indian classical raga music and contemporary jazz. Justin Gray’s Indo-Jazz Collective. Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre, Four
Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts,
145 Queen St. W. 416-363-8231. Free.
●● 12:10: Nine Sparrows Arts Foundation/
Yorkminster Park Baptist Church. Lunchtime
Chamber Music: Ragtime. Angus Sinclair, piano.
Yorkminster Park Baptist Church, 1585 Yonge
St. 416-241-1298. Donations welcome.
●● 12:30: York University Department of
Music. Music at Midday: Student Showcase.
Martin Family Lounge, 219 Accolade East
Building, 4700 Keele St. 647-459-0701. Free.
●● 1:00: Cathedral Church of St. James.
Organ recitals. David Briggs, organist.
65 Church St. 416-364-7865 ext. 245. Free;
donations welcomed.
●● 8:00: Musideum. Conrad Gayle. Christian
jazz. Suite 133 (main floor), 401 Richmond St.
W. 416-599-7323. $20.
●● 8:00: New Music Concerts and Music
Toronto. Maritime Miniatures with Canadian Music Ambassador Barbara Pritchard.
Alwynne Pritchard: Mesarch; Anthony Genge:
History and Memory; Daryl Jamieson: mountain/cherry/blossoms; Bach: Aria; and selections from “Variations” (Ross; Genge; Altman;
Blais; Crutchley; Gibson; Bauer; Litke; Parker;
thewholenote.com
soprano; Julie Boulianne, mezzo-soprano;
John Tessier, tenor; Jean-Phillipe FortierLazure, tenor; Gordon Bintner, bass-baritone;
Elmer Iseler Singers and Amadeus Choir. Roy
Thomson Hall, 60 Simcoe St. 416-598-3375.
$$38.75–$169. Also Jan 24 and 25 (George
Weston Recital Hall).
Friday January 23
●● 1:10: Gordon Murray Presents. Piano Pot-
pourri. Classics, opera, operetta, musicals,
ragtime, pop, international and other genres.
Gordon Murray, piano. Trinity-St. Paul’s
United Church, 427 Bloor St. W. 416-6314300. PWYC. Lunch and snack friendly.
●● 4:00: Kevin Komisaruk. Organista. Knox
College Chapel, 59 St George St. 416-9782079. Free.
HendersonKolk
guitar duo
Friday, Jan. 23
8pm
auroraculturalcentre.ca
905 713-1818
Gidon Kremer and
Daniil Trifonov
●● 8:00: Aurora Cultural Centre. 2015 Great
TUES., JAN. 20, 2015 8PM
KOERNER HALL
Generously supported by
Deanne and Joseph Bogdan.
BEETHOVEN
TICKETS: 416.408.0208
SYMPHONY NO.5
@KOERNER HALL
●● 8:00: Royal Conservatory. String Series:
Gidon Kremer and Daniil Trifonov. Mozart:
Violin Sonata No.33 in E-flat K481; Schubert:
Fantasy in C D760; Rachmaninov: Trio élégiaque No.2 in d Op.9. Gidon Kremer, violin;
Daniil Trifonov, piano. Koerner Hall, 273 Bloor
St. W. 416-408-0208. $35-$85.
Artist Music Series: Henderson-Kolk Guitar
Duo. Works by Bach, Mozart, Rodrigo & Piazzolla. Drew Henderson, Michael Kolk, guitars. Brevik Hall, Aurora Cultural Centre,
22 Church St., Aurora. 905-713-1818. $34;
$28(sr/st).
●●8:00: Sinfonia Toronto. Mozart and
Shostakovich. Shostakovich: Viola Sonata for
Viola and Orchestra(arr. Levkovich); Mozart:
String Quartet No.23 in F K590(arr. Arman).
Jan 22-25
416.408.0208
tafelmusik.org
Wednesday January 21
●● 12:00 noon: York University Depart-
ment of Music. Music at Midday: New Music
Ensemble. Original works. Students of Matt
Brubeck. Martin Family Lounge, 219 Accolade
East Building, 4700 Keele St. 647-459-0701.
Free.
●● 12:30: Yorkminster Park Baptist Church.
Noontime Recitals: Music for Robbie Burns
Day. John McKay, bagpipes; Angus Sinclair,
organ. 1585 Yonge St. 416-922-1167. Free.
●● 3:00: Toronto Mendelssohn Choir. Community Concert. Toronto Mendelssohn Choir;
Elora Festival Singers; Noel Edison, conductor. Yorkminster Park Baptist Church,
1585 Yonge St. 416-598-0422 x223. Free.
●● 7:30: Royal Conservatory. Mazzoleni
●● 8:00: Tafelmusik. Beethoven No.5.
Beethoven: Symphony No.5; Mass in C. Guest:
Kent Nagano, conductor; Nathalie Paulin, soprano; Laura Pudwell, mezzo; Lawrence Wiliford, tenor; Sumner Thompson, baritone;
Chamber Choir. Koerner Hall, 273 Bloor St.
W. 416-408-0208. $47–$107; $35–$89(sr);
$25–$89(35 and under). Also Jan 23, 24, and
25(mat).
●● 8:00: Toronto Symphony Orchestra. Mozart@259: Mozart Mass in C Minor. Mozart: Selections from Lo sposo deluso K.430
and Zaide, K.344;Mozart: Mass in c, K.427.
Paul Goodwin, conductor; Hélène Guilmette,
December 1 2014 - February 7, 2015 | 53
A. Concerts in the GTA
Sharon Wei, viola; Nurhan Arman, conductor.
Glenn Gould Studio, 250 Front St. W. 1-866943-8849. $39; $32(sr); $12(st).
●● 8:00: Hart House Theatre. Jesus Christ
Superstar. See Jan 16; Runs Jan 16 to 31(start
times vary).
●● 8:00: Small World Music and Link Music
Lab. Mohsen Namjoo. Blend of Persian classical poetry with rock, blues and jazz. Richmond Hill Centre for the Performing Arts,
10268 Yonge St., Richmond Hill. 905-7878811. $60-$100.
●● 8:00: Tafelmusik. Beethoven No.5. See
Jan 22; Also Jan 24, and 25(mat).
Saturday January 24
●● 3:30: Tafelmusik. Beethoven No.5. See
Jan 22; Also Jan 24 8:00, and 25(mat).
●● 4:30: Canadian Opera Company. Don Gio-
vanni. Mozart. Jane Archibald, soprano
(Donna Anna); Jennifer Holloway, mezzo
(Donna Elvira); Michael Schade, tenor (Don
Ottavio); Russell Braun, baritone (Don Giovanni); Kyle Ketelsen, bass-baritone (Leporello); COC Orchestra and Chorus; Michael
Hofstetter, conductor. Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts, 145 Queen St.
W. 416-363-8231. $49-$424; $22(under 30).
Also Jan 27, 30, Feb 1, 3, 6, 12, 14, 18, 21(start
times vary).
●● 7:30: Opera by Request. Die Entfuhrung
aus dem Serail. Mozart. Abigail Freeman, soprano (Constanza); Marion Samuel-Stevens,
soprano (Blondchen); Avery Krisman, tenor
(Belmonte); Oliver Dawson, tenor (Pedrillo);
Steven Henrikson, bass-baritone (Osmin);
Gregory Finney, speaker (Selim Pasha);
launch party for Tapestry’s collection of Canadian opera developed over the years in the
LibLab, Opera Briefs, Opera2Go, and mainstage productions. Peter McGillivray, baritone; singers from Tapestry’s Opera 101.
Ernest Balmer Studio, 55 Mill St. 416-5376066. $25.
●● 8:00: Toy Piano Composers. Grit. Works
by Brophy, Labadie, Pearce, Puello, Tam, and
others. CelloPhone Duo; Katherine Watson, flute; Anthony Thompson, clarinet; Wesley Shen, piano; Daniel Morphy, percussion;
Sharon Lee, violin; Adam Scime, bass. Heliconian Hall, 35 Hazelton Ave. 416-922-3618.
$20/$15(adv/sr/st).
William Shookhoff, piano and music director.
College Street United Church, 452 College St.
416-455-2365. $20.
●● 7:30: Toronto Symphony Orchestra. Mozart@259: Mozart Mass in C Minor. Mozart:
Selections from Lo sposo deluso K.430 and
Zaide, K.344;Mozart: Mass in c, K.427. Paul
Goodwin, conductor; Hélène Guilmette, soprano; Julie Boulianne, mezzo-soprano; John
Tessier, tenor; Jean-Phillipe Fortier-Lazure,
tenor; Gordon Bintner, bass-baritone; Elmer
Iseler Singers and Amadeus Choir. Roy Thomson Hall, 60 Simcoe St. 416-598-3375. $33$105. Also Jan 22 and Jan 25 (George Weston
Recital Hall).
●● 8:00: Hart House Theatre. Jesus Christ
Superstar. See Jan 16; Runs Jan 16 to 31(start
times vary).
●● 8:00: Live Nation. Nikki Yanofsky. Jazz.
Massey Hall, 178 Victoria St. 416-872-4255.
$39.50-$69.50.
●● 8:00: Ontario Philharmonic. Triple Concerto of Beethoven. Beethoven: Triple Concerto; Schubert: Symphony No.9 “Great.”
Jacques Israelievitch Trio; Marco Parisotto,
conductor. Regent Theatre (Oshawa), 50 King
St. E., Oshawa. 905-721-3399 x2. $45-$56.
●● 8:00: Royal Conservatory/Songwriters Association of Canada. Music Mix: Bluebird North. Canadian songwriters come
together to perform their music and tell the
stories and inspiration behind their songs.
Blair Packham, host. Conservatory Theatre,
273 Bloor St. W. 416-408-0208. $25.
●● 8:00: Tafelmusik. Beethoven No.5. See
Jan 22; Also Jan 25(mat).
●● 8:00: Tapestry Opera. Songbook 5. Score
Sunday January 25
●● 2:30: Toronto Early Music Centre. Music-
ally Speaking. Pergolesi: Stabat Mater; works
by Scarlatti. Emily Klassen, soprano; JeanSebastien Beauvais, countertenor. St. David’s
Anglican Church, 49 Donlands Ave. 416-4647610. PWYC.
●● 3:00: St. Anne’s Anglican Church. Emerging Voices. Repertoire from lieder to opera.
Young artists from the University of Toronto’s
Voice Faculty. 270 Gladstone Ave. 416-5363160. Freewill offering. Proceeds to St. Anne’s
Choral Scholar programme.
●● 3:00: Toronto Symphony Orchestra. Mozart@259: Mozart Mass in C Minor. Mozart:
Selections from Lo sposo deluso K.430 and
Zaide, K.344;Mozart: Mass in c, K.427. Paul
Goodwin, conductor; Hélène Guilmette, soprano; Julie Boulianne, mezzo-soprano; John
Tessier, tenor; Jean-Phillipe Fortier-Lazure,
tenor; Gordon Bintner, bass-baritone; Elmer
Iseler Singers and Amadeus Choir. George
Weston Recital Hall, 5040 Yonge St. 416-5983375. $43.50-$98.50. Also Jan 22 and Jan 24
(Ro Thomson Hall).
●● 3:30: Tafelmusik. Beethoven No.5. See
Jan 22.
●● 4:00: Cathedral Church of St. James.
Organ recitals. David Briggs, organist.
65 Church St. 416-364-7865 ext. 245. Free;
donations welcomed.
●● 4:00: St. Philip’s Anglican Church. Jazz
Vespers: Hilario Duran Trio. 25 St. Phillips Rd.,
Etobicoke. 416-247-5181. Freewill offering.
●● 4:30: Christ Church Deer Park. Jazz Vespers. Rob Piltch and Lorne Lofsky, guitar
duo. 1570 Yonge St. 416-920-5211x22. Freewill offering.
St. Anne’s G & S
Presents
bert & Sullivan’s
Gil
Monday January 26
●● 12:30: York University Department of
Music. Music at Midday: Classical Instrumental Recital. Student solos. Tribute Communities Hall, Accolade East Building, 4700 Keele
St. 647-459-0701. Free.
Artistic Director: Laura Schatz
Musical Director: Brian Farrow
●● 7:30: Associates of the
Toronto Symphony
Orchestra. Five Small Concerts: Origins. Ravel
Sonata for violin; Messiaen: Quartet for the End
of Time. Shane Kim, violin; Joseph Johnson,
cello; YaoGuang Zhai, clarinet; Angela Park,
piano. Trinity-St. Paul’s Centre, 427 Bloor St. W.
416-282-6636. $20; $17(sr/st).
Tuesday January 27
●● 12:00 noon: Canadian Opera Company. Vocal
Series: A Celebration of Canadian Art Song.
Mozetich: Enchantments of Gwendolyn (premiere); Ridout: Cantiones Mysticae; Prévost:
Musiques Peintes; Tu te souviens; Soleils d’été;
Pépin: Cycle-Éluard. Joni Henson, soprano;
Nathalie Paulin, soprano; Allyson McHardy,
mezzo; Adam Sherkin and Robert Kortgaard,
piano. Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre, Four
Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts,
145 Queen St. W. 416-363-8231. Free.
●● 12:10: Nine Sparrows Arts Foundation/
Yorkminster Park Baptist Church. Lunchtime Chamber Music. Izabella Budai, flute.
Yorkminster Park Baptist Church, 1585 Yonge
St. 416-241-1298. Free. Donations welcome.
●● 1:00: Cathedral Church of St. James.
Organ recitals. Andrew Ager, organist.
65 Church St. 416-364-7865 ext. 245. Free;
donations welcomed.
●● 7:30: Canadian Opera Company. Don Giovanni. See Jan 24; Also Jan 30, Feb 1, 3, 6, 12,
14, 18, 21(start times vary).
●● 7:30: Royal Conservatory. Discovery Series: Joaquin Valdepeñas Conducts. Messiaen: Oiseaux exotiques for piano and small
orchestra; Dvořák: Serenade for Wind Instruments Op.44. Glenn Gould School Chamber
Ensemble; Benjamin Smith, piano. Mazzoleni
Concert Hall, 273 Bloor St. W. 416-408-0208.
January 30, 31
February 1, 5, 6, 7, 8
St. Anne’s Parish Hall,
651 Dufferin Street, Toronto
Call 416-922-4415 for tickets
For more information visit our website at
www.saintanne.ca
54 | December 1 2014 - February 7, 2015
thewholenote.com
$15.
●● 7:30: University of Toronto Faculty of
Music. Student Composers Concert. Walter
Hall, Edward Johnson Building, 80 Queen’s
Park. 416-408-0208. Free.
Wednesday January 28
●● 12:30: Yorkminster Park Baptist Church.
Noontime Recitals. Rashaan Allwood, organ.
1585 Yonge St. 416-922-1167. Free.
●● 8:00: Hart House Theatre. Jesus Christ
Superstar. See Jan 16; Runs Jan 16 to 31(start
times vary).
Thursday January 29
●● 12:00 noon: Canadian Opera Company.
Chamber Music Series: Introducing the
Academy. Artists of the COC Orchestra Academy perform alongside their mentors of the
COC Orchestra in a program of gems from
the chamber music repertoire. Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre, Four Seasons Centre for
the Performing Arts, 145 Queen St. W. 416363-8231. Free.
●● 12:10: University of Toronto Faculty of
Music. Thursdays at Noon. Ravel: Gaspard de
la Nuit(Ondine and Scarbo); Schumann: Fantasy Op.17 in C. Emily Chiang, piano. Walter
Hall, Edward Johnson Building, 80 Queen’s
Park. 416-408-0208. Free.
●● 12:15: Music at Metropolitan. Noon at Met.
Radka Hanáková, piano. Metropolitan United
Church, 56 Queen St. E. 416-363-0331. Free.
●● 12:30: York University Department of
Music. Faculty Spotlight Series. Mark Chambers, cello; Patricia Wait, clarinet; Elizabeth Acker, piano. Tribute Communities Hall,
Accolade East Building, 4700 Keele St. 647459-0701. Free.
●● 7:30: Sony Centre For The Performing
Arts. The Scottish Tattoo: The Music of Scotland. Bagpipe players, drummers, musicians,
singers and dancers. 1 Front St. E. 1-855-8727669. $55-$85.
●● 7:30: University of Toronto Faculty of
Music. Wind Ensemble. Husa: Divertimento
for Brass and Percussion; Healey: Hunter, A
Homage to Robert Flaherty; Gorb: Symphony
No.1 in C for 12 Winds and Double Bass; Wilson: Piece of Mind. Jeffrey Reynolds, conductor. MacMillan Theatre, Edward Johnson
Building, 80 Queen’s Park. 416-408-0208.
$30; $20(sr); $10(st).
●● 8:00: Esprit Orchestra. the world’s
thewholenote.com
turning. Cashian: the world’s turning (world
premiere); Andreyev: The Flash of the Instant
(world premiere); Aitken: Berceuse for flute
and orchestra; Bjarnason Over Light Earth.
Guest: Robert Aitken, flute. Koerner Hall,
273 Bloor St. W. 416-408-0208. $45–$65;
$40–$60(sr); $20–$30(under 30). 7:15 Preconcert chat.
●● 8:00: Hart House Theatre. Jesus Christ
Superstar. See Jan 16; Runs Jan 16 to 31(start
times vary).
Music TORONTO
ST. LAWRENCE
QUARTET
January 29 at 8 pm
●● 8:00: Music Toronto. St. Lawrence Quar-
tet. Haydn Discovery with Geoff Nuttall;
Haydn: Quartet in E-flat, Op.33, No.2, Joke;
John Adams: New work commissioned for
the SLSQ; Haydn: Quartet in C, Op.76, No.3
“Emperor”. Geoff Nuttall, violin; Mark Fewer,
violin; Lesley Robertson, viola; Chris Costanzo,
cello. Jane Mallett Theatre, St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts, 27 Front St. E. 416-366-7723.
$55; $50; $10 student tickets; Age 18 to 35
pay your age.
Percussion Quartet; Vincent: Ondas; Rodrigo: Adagio; Young: Tempered Steel; and
other works. Tony Gomes, conductor. MacMillan Theatre, Edward Johnson Building, 80 Queen’s Park. 416-408-0208. $30;
$20(sr); $10(st).
●● 8:00: group of 27. Journey. Dvořák:
Romance; Beethoven: 12 Contredanses;
Staniland: Voyageur; Mozart: Symphony 35
“Haffner.” Eric Paetkau, conductor. TrinitySt. Paul’s Centre, 427 Bloor St. W. 416-3231292. PWYC.
●● 8:00: Hart House Theatre. Jesus Christ
Superstar. See Jan 16; Runs Jan 16 to 31(start
times vary).
●● 8:00: Music Gallery. Emergents II, curated by Felicity Williams: Dan Fortin and Robin
Dann/Claire Harvie. Song and sound work
together with still and moving images to look
at what we take or leave from our parents
and guardians. Claire Harvie, photographer;
Robin Dann, singer-songwriter; Phil Melanson, percussion; Daniel Fortin, bass. 197 John
St. 416-961-9594. $12; $8(member).
●● 8:00: The Musicians in Ordinary. Catholic
“House Music” at St. Michaels: “The Cure for
Religious Melancholy”. Music by John Dowland. Hallie Fishel, soprano; Christopher Verrette, baroque violin; John Edwards, lute and
other members of The Musicians In Ordinary. Fr. Madden Auditorium, Carr Hall, St.
Michael’s College, 100 St. Joseph St. 416535-9956. $30;$20 (sr/st), are available at
the door. 7:30: pre-concert talk w. Rev. Lisa
Wang.
●● 8:00: University of Toronto Faculty of
Music/Campbell House Museum. Footsteps
in Campbell House: Opera Student Composer
Collective. Museum tour. Libretto by Michael
Patrick Albano. Campbell House Museum,
160 Queen Street W. 416-597-0227x2. $20.
Also 2:00 Jan 31(eve and mat), Feb 1(mat).
lift up my eyes; and other works. Women’s
Chamber Choir; Women’s Chorus; Floreat with William Brown, conductor. MacMillan Theatre, Edward Johnson Building,
80 Queen’s Park. 416-408-0208. $30;
$20(sr); $10(st).
●● 8:00: Canadian Sinfonietta. Wine and
Cheese Concert 2. Martucci: Piano Quintet;
Curcin: Piano Trio; Current: Faster Still. Lynn
Kuo, violin; Erika Crinó, piano; CS String Quartet: Joyce Lai, violin; Alain Bouvier, violin; Ian
Clarke, viola; Andras Weber, cello. Heliconian Hall, 35 Hazelton Ave. 647-223-2286. $30;
$25(sr); $20(st).
●● 8:00: Corporation of Massey Hall and
Roy Thomson Hall. Master Shajarian. Persian classical Dastgah music. Mohammad
Reza Shajarian, singer. Roy Thomson Hall,
60 Simcoe St. 416-872-4255. $35 - $85.
Saturday January 31
The Music Gallery
●● 2:00: Hart House Theatre. Jesus Christ
Superstar. See Jan 16; Runs Jan 16 to 31(start
times vary).
●● 2:00: University of Toronto Faculty of
Music/Campbell House Museum. Footsteps
in Campbell House: Opera Student Composer
Collective. Museum tour. Libretto by Michael
Patrick Albano. Campbell House Museum,
160 Queen Street W. 416-597-0227x2. $20.
Also 8:00, Jan 30(eve and mat), Feb 1(mat).
●● 2:30: St. Anne’s Music & Drama Society.
Gilbert & Sullivan’s The Mikado. See 7:30; Also
Jan 30, Feb 1, 5-8.
●● 7:00: Canadian Opera Company. Die
Walküre. Wagner. Christine Goerke, soprano (Brünnhilde); Heidi Melton, soprano
(Sieglinde); Clifton Forbis, tenor (Siegmund);
Johan Reuter, baritone (Wotan); COC Orchestra and Chorus; Johannes Debus, conductor.
Four Seasons Centre for the Performing
Arts, 145 Queen St. W. 416-363-8231. $49$424; $22(under 30). Also Feb 4, 7, 10, 13, 19,
22(start times vary).
●● 7:30: Royal Conservatory. Discovery Series: Glenn Gould School Vocal Showcase.
GGS voice students present an evening of art
songs and opera arias. Mazzoleni Concert
Hall, 273 Bloor St. W. 416-408-0208. $15.
●● 7:30: St. Anne’s Music & Drama Society.
Gilbert & Sullivan’s The Mikado. See Jan 30;
Also Feb 1, 5-8.
●● 7:30: University of Toronto Faculty of
Music. Choirs in Concert: In High Voice.
Galuppi: Dixit Dominus; Randall Stroope: I will
Friday January 30
●● 1:10: Gordon Murray Presents. Piano Pot-
pourri. Classics, opera, operetta, musicals,
ragtime, pop, international and other genres.
Gordon Murray, piano. Trinity-St. Paul’s
United Church, 427 Bloor St. W. 416-6314300. PWYC. Lunch and snack friendly.
●● 2:00: University of Toronto Faculty of
Music/Campbell House Museum. Footsteps
in Campbell House: Opera Student Composer
Collective. Museum tour. Libretto by Michael
Patrick Albano. Campbell House Museum,
160 Queen Street W. 416-597-0227x2. $20.
Also 8:00, Jan 31(eve and mat), Feb 1(mat).
●● 7:30: Brampton Folk Club. Blues–From
Madagascar to the Mississippi. Alfie Smith
and Donne Roberts. St. Paul’s United Church
(Brampton), 30 Main St. S., Brampton. 647233-3655. $15;$12(sr/st).
●● 7:30: Canadian Opera Company. Don Giovanni. See Jan 24; Also Feb 1, 3, 6, 12, 14, 18,
21(start times vary).
●● 7:30: St. Anne’s Music & Drama Society. Gilbert & Sullivan’s The Mikado. Laura
Schatz/Brian Farrow, directors. St. Anne’s
Parish Hall, 651 Dufferin St. 416-922-4415.
$25; $20(sr/st). Also Jan 31, Feb 1, 5-8.
●● 7:30: University of Toronto Faculty of
Music. Wind Symphony. Zappa: Dog Breath
Variations; Savageau: Three Pieces for
DISTINCTIVELY
CANADIAN
Flute Street
Toronto’s Professional
Flute Choir
With Flutist and
New Music Advocate
Mark Takeshi McGregor
January 31, 8pm
●● 8:00: Flute Street Flute Choir. Distinctively
Canadian. Butler: With This Breath(Toronto
premiere); Tsurumoto: Cursor 4(world premiere); Chan: Ecstasy for Flutes; Tremblay:
Acht Flötenfest für Robert Aitken; McIntosh:
Blow Them Away(Toronto premiere); and
other works. Guest: Mark Takeshi McGregor,
flute. Music Gallery, 197 John St. 416-4629498. $30, $25, $15.
●● 8:00: Gordon Murray Presents. Piano
Soirée. Scriabin: Etude in E Op.8 No.5; Rachmaninoff: Vocalise(arr. Murray); Piano Concerto No.2(first movement, arr. Murray);
Novello: We’ll Gather Lilacs(arr. Murray); and
other works. Gordon Murray, piano. TrinitySt. Paul’s United Church, 427 Bloor St. W. 416631-4300. $15; $10(st).
●● 8:00: Hart House Theatre. Jesus Christ
Superstar. See Jan 16; Runs Jan 16 to 31(start
times vary).
●● 8:00: Oakville Symphony. From Vienna
with Love. Brahms: Concerto for violin;
Beethoven: Symphony No.1; Johann Strauss:
Voices of Spring. Emmanuel Vulkovich, violin;
Roberto De Clara, conductor. Oakville Centre
for the Performing Arts, 130 Navy St., Oakville. 905-815-2021 or 1-888-489-7784. $51;
$46(sr); $26(st). Also Feb 1(mat).
●● 8:00: Scaramella. In Paradisum. Music
by 17th-century German composers. Daniel Cabena, countertenor; Joëlle Morton and
Marilyn Fung, viols; Paul Jenkins, chamber
organ. Victoria College Chapel, 91 Charles
St. W. 416-760-8610. $30; $25(sr); $20(st);
December 1 2014 - February 7, 2015 | 55
A. Concerts in the GTA
free(14 and under).
●● 8:00: Toronto Concert Band. In Performance! Inaugural Performance. Les Dobbin,
Ken Hazlett, conductors. Glenn Gould Studio,
250 Front St. W. 647-479-2941. $15.
●● 8:00: University of Toronto Faculty of
Music/Campbell House Museum. Footsteps
in Campbell House: Opera Student Composer
Collective. Museum tour. Libretto by Michael
Patrick Albano. Campbell House Museum,
160 Queen Street W. 416-597-0227x2. $20.
Also 2:00, Jan 30(eve and mat), Feb 1(mat).
Sunday February 1
●● 1:30: Seicho-No-Ie Centre. 6 Cellists,
6 Concerts, 6 Bach Suites. Bach: Suite for
unaccompanied cello, No.2 in d (BWV1008).
Rachel Mercer, cello. Seicho-No-Ie Toronto,
662 Victoria Park Ave. 416-690-8686. $20.
●● 2:00: Canadian Opera Company. Don Giovanni. See Jan 24; Also Feb 3, 6, 12, 14, 18,
21(start times vary).
●● 2:00: Oakville Symphony. From Vienna
with Love. See Jan 31(eve).
●● 2:00: University of Toronto Faculty of
Music/Campbell House Museum. Footsteps
in Campbell House: Opera Student Composer
Collective. Museum tour. Libretto by Michael
Patrick Albano. Campbell House Museum,
160 Queen Street W. 416-597-0227x2. $20.
Also Jan 30. 31(eve and mat).
●● 2:30: St. Anne’s Music & Drama Society.
Gilbert & Sullivan’s The Mikado. See Jan 30;
Also Feb 5-8.
●● 2:30: VOICEBOX: Opera in Concert. Street
Scene. Weill. Allison Angelo, soprano; Jennifer Taverner, soprano; Colin Ainsworth,
VOIC E B OX
Celebrating Women in Classical Music. Brott:
Songs of Contemplation; Purcell: Bess of Bedlam; The Blessed Virgin’s Expostulation; Berlioz: La Mort d’Ophélie; Schubert: Shepherd
on the Rock; and other works. Melanie Conly,
soprano; Emily Rho, piano; Peter Stoll, clarinet. Heliconian Hall, 35 Hazelton Ave. 416-9223618. $25; $20(st).
●● 4:00: Church of St. Mary Magdalene.
Organ music for Candlemas. Andrew Adair,
organ. 477 Manning Ave. 416-531-7955. Free.
tenor; VOICEBOX Chorus; Robert Cooper,
conductor. Jane Mallett Theatre, St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts, 27 Front St. E.
416-366-7723 or 1-800-708-6754. $52-$73.
Reception following.
●● 3:00: Amici Chamber Ensemble. Bohemian Contrasts. Brahms: Clarinet Quintet in b
Op.115; Schulhoff: String Sextet; piano works
by Liszt and Janáček. Guests: New Orford
String Quartet; Teng Li, viola. Mazzoleni Concert Hall, 273 Bloor St. W. 416-408-0208.
$10-$45.
●● 3:00: Syrinx Concerts Toronto.
Sun. 1st Feb. at 4 p.m.
Choral Evensong
Sunday
with Schola Ecclesiam
plus Candlemas Tea and
February 1
C A R O LS
3 pm
THEN AND NOW
Peter Stoll
On the Eve of Candlemas
(which marked the end
of the Christmas season in
ancient times) Clem Carelse
directs the choir in anthems
by Eccard, Warlock and
Howells. He then discusses
the carol’s evolution from
folk idiom to quasi-anthem.
clarinet
*
Melanie
Conly
soprano
*
Emily Rho
piano
St. Olave’s Church
Heliconian
Hall
SyrinxConcerts.ca
Bloor and Windermere
416-769-5686
stolaves.ca
●● 4:00: St. Olave’s Anglican Church. Choral
Evensong for Candlemas. Anthems by Eccard,
Kurt
Weill’s
Warlock and Howells. Schola Ecclesiam;
Clem Carelse, conductor. 360 Windermere
Ave. 416-769-5686. Contributions appreciated. Post-concert chat with conductor;
refreshments.
●● 4:00: University of Toronto Faculty of
Music. New Music Festival. New works by
Sophie Dupuis and Shelley Marwood. Sistema
Toronto. Walter Hall, Edward Johnson Building, 80 Queen’s Park. 416-408-0208. Free.
Monday February 2
●● 7:30: University of Toronto Faculty of
Music. New Music Festival: Ecouter Ensemble. Chamber music by Anthony Green, Cristina Spinei, Daniel Nass, Luci Holland, John
Winiars and others. Walter Hall, Edward
Johnson Building, 80 Queen’s Park. 416-4080208. Free. 6:00: Pre-concert chat.
Tuesday February 3
●● 12:00 noon: Canadian Opera Company.
Vocal Series: Poèmes pour Mi. Messiaen:
Poèmes pour Mi; Theme and Variations for
violin and piano. Artists of the COC Ensemble Studio: Aviva Fortunata, soprano; Karine
Boucher, soprano; Kerry DuWors, violin; Liz
Upchurch, piano. Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre, Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts, 145 Queen St. W. 416-363-8231.
Free.
●● 12:10: Nine Sparrows Arts Foundation/
Yorkminster Park Baptist Church. Lunchtime Chamber Music: Rising Stars Recital.
Students from the Glenn Gould School. Yorkminster Park Baptist Church, 1585 Yonge St.
416-241-1298. Free. Donations welcome.
●● 12:10: University of Toronto Faculty of
STREET
SCENE
OPERA IN CONCERT
Guillermo Silva-Marin, General Director
Colin Ainsworth, Allison Angelo, Jennifer Taverner
Robert Cooper, C.M., Conductor
with full orchestra and The VOICEBOX Chorus
This Tony Award winner is Weill’s most irresistible score
portraying a 20th-Century slice of tenement life in New
York. The urban melting pot boils over with intense drama
and melodic richness!
Sunday, February 1 at 2:30 pm
416-366-7723 | 1-800-708-6754 | www.stlc.com
56 | December 1 2014 - February 7, 2015
thewholenote.com
Music. New Music Festival: Presentation
No.1. Works by visiting composers. Walter
Hall, Edward Johnson Building, 80 Queen’s
Park. 416-408-0208. Free.
●● 7:00: University of Toronto Faculty of
Music. New Music Festival: Presentation
No.2. Works by visiting composers. Walter
Hall, Edward Johnson Building, 80 Queen’s
Park. 416-408-0208. Free.
●● 7:30: Canadian Opera Company. Don
Giovanni. See Jan 24; Also Feb 6, 12, 14, 18,
21(start times vary).
Wednesday February 4
●● 10:00am: Royal Conservatory. Discovery
Series: Glenn Gould School Concerto Competition Finals. Solo performers of the Glenn
Gould School compete for the opportunity to
perform a concerto with the Royal Conservatory Orchestra during the 2015-16 season.
Koerner Hall, 273 Bloor St. W. 416-408-0208.
Free (ticket required).
●● 12:30: Yorkminster Park Baptist Church.
Noontime Recitals. Simon Walker, organ.
1585 Yonge St. 416-922-1167. Free.
●● 7:00: Canadian Opera Company. Die
Walküre. See Jan 31; Also Feb 7, 10, 13, 19,
22(start times vary).
●● 7:30: University of Toronto Faculty of
Music. New Music Festival: Chamber Music
Concert No.1. Works by visiting composers from China. Walter Hall, Edward Johnson Building, 80 Queen’s Park. 416-408-0208.
Free.
Also Feb 8.
416-363-8231. Free.
●● 12:10: University of Toronto Faculty of
Music. New Music Festival: Chamber Music
Concert No.2. Works by visiting composers
from Sichuan and Guizhou Conservatories;
Chinese University of Hong Kong. Walter Hall,
Edward Johnson Building, 80 Queen’s Park.
416-408-0208. Free.
●● 12:15: Music at Metropolitan. Noon at Met.
Timothy Wisnicki, piano. Metropolitan United
Church, 56 Queen St. E. 416-363-0331. Free.
●● 12:30: York University Department of
Music. Faculty Spotlight Series. Mozart:
The Complete Sonatas(selections). Jacques
Israelievitch, violin, and Christina Petrowska Quilico, piano. Tribute Communities Hall,
Accolade East Building, 4700 Keele St. 647459-0701. Free.
●● 1:00: Encore Symphonic Concert Band.
In concert: Classics and Jazz. John Edward
Liddle, conductor. Wilmar Heights Centre,
963 Pharmacy Ave., Scarborough. 416-3463910. $10. Incl. coffee and snack. Also Jan 8.
●● 7:30: St. Anne’s Music & Drama Society.
Gilbert & Sullivan’s The Mikado. See Jan 30;
Also Feb 6-8.
●● 7:30: University of Toronto Faculty of
Music. New Music Festival: Chamber Music
Concert No.3. Works by visiting composers from China. Walter Hall, Edward Johnson Building, 80 Queen’s Park. 416-408-0208.
Free.
●● 8:00: Toronto Symphony Orchestra. Mozart@259: Mozart and Chopin. Schubert:
Impromptu; Mozart: Piano Concerto No. 14,
K.449; Chopin: Grande Polonaise; Rachmaninoff: Symphonic Dances. Peter Oundjian, conductor; Emanuel Ax, piano; Pavel Kolesnikov,
piano. Roy Thomson Hall, 60 Simcoe St. 416593-4828. $33-$145. 6:45: Pre-concert Performance featuring pianists Pavel Kolesnikov
and Orion Weiss.
●● 4:00: Toronto Symphony Orchestra. Piano
SPLENDºURS oƒ
~E EMPE|oR’S
CHAPEL
February 6 & 7, 8pm
Trinity St-Paul’s Centre
Call 416-964-6337
TorontoConsort.org
of music from the Viennese court and chapel of Holy Roman Emperor Leopold I. Works
by Schmelzer, Biber, Bertali and Leopold I
for cornettos, sackbuts, strings, keyboards,
and voice. Toronto Consort; guest director:
Lucas Harris, theorbo. Trinity-St. Paul’s Centre, 427 Bloor St. W. 416-964-6337. $23-$54.
Also February 7.
●●8:00: York University Department of
Music. Improv Soiree. Open mic. Casey Sokol,
host. Sterling Beckwith Studio, 235 Accolade
East Building, 4700 Keele St. 647-459-0701.
Free.
Saturday February 7
●● 2:00: Toronto Symphony Orchestra. Piano
Extravaganza: Pianorama. Saint-Saëns: The
Carnival of the Animals. Peter Oundjian, conductor; Emanuel Ax, Pavel Kolesnikov, Patricia
Krueger, piano; Richard Chao Gao, Amadeusz
Kazubowski-Houston, Coco Ma, Artun Miskciyan, Marko Pejanovic, Anastasia Rizikov,
Anna Vertypolokh, Victoria Wong, Annie Zhou,
Harmony Zhu, Winner of the Toronto International Piano Competition 2014, piano; David
Briggs, organ. Roy Thomson Hall, 60 Simcoe
St. 416-593-4828. $29-$79. Also at 4pm.
●● 2:30: St. Anne’s Music & Drama Society.
Gilbert & Sullivan’s The Mikado. See Jan 30;
Friday February 6
●● 1:10: Gordon Murray Presents. Piano Pot-
NO
L AX, PIA
EMANUE
T
MOZAR
OPIN
& CH
&5
FEB 4
Piano
TSO.CA/
●● 8:00: Toronto Symphony Orchestra. Moz-
art@259: Mozart and Chopin. Schubert:
Impromptu; Mozart: Piano Concerto No. 14,
K.449; Chopin: Grande Polonaise; Rachmaninoff: Symphonic Dances. Peter Oundjian, conductor; Emanuel Ax, piano; Pavel Kolesnikov,
piano. Roy Thomson Hall, 60 Simcoe St. 416593-4828. $33-$145. 6:45: Pre-concert Performance featuring pianists Pavel Kolesnikov
and Orion Weiss.
Thursday February 5
●● 12:00 noon: Canadian Opera Company.
Piano Virtuoso Series: Opera Transcriptions
for Piano. Works by Granados and WagnerLiszt. Pavel Kolesnikov, piano; Orion Weiss,
piano; Emanuel Ax, host. Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre, Four Seasons Centre
for the Performing Arts, 145 Queen St. W.
thewholenote.com
pourri. Classics, opera, operetta, musicals,
ragtime, pop, international and other genres.
Gordon Murray, piano. Trinity-St. Paul’s
United Church, 427 Bloor St. W. 416-6314300. PWYC. Lunch and snack friendly.
●● 7:30: Canadian Opera Company. Don Giovanni. See Jan 24; Also Feb 12, 14, 18, 21(start
times vary).
●● 7:30: St. Anne’s Music & Drama Society.
Gilbert & Sullivan’s The Mikado. See Jan 30;
Also Feb 7, 8.
●● 7:30: Toronto Symphony Orchestra. What
Makes It Great?® Beethoven Piano Concerto
4. Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 4. Rob
Kapilow, conductor and host; Emanuel Ax,
piano. Roy Thomson Hall, 60 Simcoe St. 416593-4828. $29-$79.
●● 7:30: University of Toronto Faculty of
Music. Symphony Orchestra. Sibelius: Finlandia; Debussy: Nocturnes; Stravinsky: Petrouchka. David Briskin, conductor; Women’s
Chamber Choir with Hilary Apfelstadt, conductor. MacMillan Theatre, Edward Johnson Building, 80 Queen’s Park. 416-408-0208.
$30; $20(sr); $10(st).
●● 8:00: Royal Conservatory. World Music:
Pavlo. Mediterranean sound integrating
exotic instruments. Pavlo, Chinese erhu, Portuguese guitarra, Arabic flute, Indian sitar
and Greek bouzouki,. Koerner Hall, 273 Bloor
St. W. 416-408-0208. $40-$80.
●● Feb 06 8:00: Toronto Consort. Splendours of the Emperor’s Chapel. A concert
Extravaganza: Pianorama. Saint-Saëns:
The Carnival of the Animals. Roy Thomson
Hall, 60 Simcoe St. 416-593-4828. $29-$79.
See 2pm.
●● 4:30: Canadian Opera Company. Die
Walküre. See Jan 31; Also Feb 10, 13, 19,
22(start times vary).
●● 4:30: Royal Conservatory. Discovery
Series: Taylor Academy Showcase Concert. Featuring young artists from the Phil
and Eli Taylor Performance Academy. Mazzoleni Concert Hall, 273 Bloor St. W. 416-4080208. Free.
●● 7:30: Opera by Request. Cosi fan
tutte. Mozart. Jami-Lynn Gubbe, soprano
(Fiordiligi); Melissa Peiou, mezzo (Dorabella);
Andrea Nunez, soprano (Despina); Jan Nadal,
tenor (Ferrando); Janaka Welihinda, baritone
(Guglielmo); Lawrence Shirkie, bass-baritone
(Don Alfonso); William Shookhoff, piano and
music director. College Street United Church,
452 College St. 416-455-2365. $20.
●● 8:00: Acoustic Harvest. John Prince and
Safe Harbour. Guest: Ron Jones. St. Nicholas
Anglican Church, 1512 Kingston Rd. 416-2642235. $25/$22(adv). 7:30: Doors open.
●● 8:00: Arraymusic. Array Session #30. An
evening of improvisation in the tradition of
the Columbia U Radio jams or CCMC Music
Gallery evenings. Rick Sacks, conductor.
Array Space, 155 Walnut St. 416-532-3019.
Free/PWYC.
●● 8:00: Cathedral Bluffs Symphony Orchestra. Subscription Concert #3. Puccini: Il
Tabarro; Verdi: Nabucco (Overture); Finals
of the 2014-15 Cathedral Bluffs Symphony
Orchestra Clifford Poole Vocal Competition.
Guest: Tryptych Concert and Opera. P.C. Ho
Theatre, Chinese Cultural Centre of Greater
Toronto, 5183 Sheppard Ave. E., Scarborough. 416-879-5566. $33-$53; $28-$43(sr/
st); free(under 12).
●● 8:00: Mississauga Festival Choir. Festival of Friends. Local choirs in solo and
massed repertoire. Eden United Church,
3051 Battleford, Mississauga. 905-824-5578.
$25; $15(under 13). Proceeds to a Mississauga charity.
●● 8:00: Royal Conservatory. TD Jazz: A
Salute to the Big Bands: Zap Mama and
December 1 2014 - February 7, 2015 | 57
A. Concerts in the GTA
Antibalas. Afrobeat band Antibalas joins
forces with Congolese/Belgian artist Marie
Daulne who sings polyphonic Afro-pop.
Koerner Hall, 273 Bloor St. W. 416-408-0208.
$40-$80.
●● 8:00: Spectrum Music. Starry Night.
Works by Graham, Segger, Dietschi, Lewis,
McBride, Richards, and Willes. Lina Allemano,
trumpet; Jim Lewis, trumpet; Heather Segger, trombone; Tom Richards, trombone;
Aline Homzy, violin; Matt Roberts, bass. Alliance Française de Toronto, 24 Spadina Rd.
Church (Woodstock), 190 Springbank Ave. N.,
Woodstock. 519-537-6946. $25; $20(sr/st);
free(under 14). Also Dec 6.
●● 8:00: Kitchener-Waterloo Chamber
Music Society. 40th Anniversary Week Concerts: Soo Bae, cello. Bach: Solo Suites nos 1
in G, 6 in D; Fauré, Elegy; Popper, Hungarian
Rhapsody (with Olena Klyucharova, piano.).
KWCMS Music Room, 57 Young St. W., Waterloo. 519-886-1673. $30; $25(sr); $20(st).
●● 8:00: Rant Maggie Rant. Frost & Fire: A
Celtic Christmas Celebration! Traditional to
modern Celtic melodies, jigs and reels, carols and other works. Lindsay Schindler, fiddle,
vocals; Glen Dias, vocals, recorders, percussion; Barry James Payne, guitars, harmonica,
vocals; Rob Larose, percussion; Steve Clark,
bass; Daev Clysdale, Irish whistle, Irish flute,
accordion. Aeolian Hall, 795 Dundas St. E.,
London. 519-672-7950. $32/$27(adv); $27(sr/
st)/$22(adv); free(CAP or Citizen Culture
members). 7:00: doors open.
●● 8:00: The ARTS Project. Stephen Harper:
The Musical or How to Survive and Thrive in
the Dying Days of the Empire of Oil. See Dec 3;
Also Dec 6.
416-988-3127. $15; $10(sr/st/arts).
●●Feb 07 8:00: Toronto Consort. Splendours
of the Emperor’s Chapel. A concert of music
from the Viennese court and chapel of
Holy Roman Emperor Leopold I. Works by
Schmelzer, Biber, Bertali and Leopold I for
cornettos, sackbuts, strings, keyboards, and
voice. Toronto Consort; guest director: Lucas
Harris, theorbo. Trinity-St. Paul’s Centre,
427 Bloor St. W. 416-964-6337. $23-$54. Also
February 6.
B. Concerts Beyond the GTA
IN THIS ISSUE: Ancaster, Barrie, Bracebridge, Brantford, Cobourg,
Dundas, Fergus, Grimsby, Guelph, Hamilton, Jerseyville, Kingston, Kitchener,
Lindsay, London, Millbrook, Niagra-On-The-Lake, Orillia, Owen Sound,
Peterborough, Port Hope, St. Catharines, Stratford, Waterloo, Woodstock.
Monday December 1
●● 8:00: Kitchener-Waterloo Chamber
Music Society. 40th Anniversary Gala Concert. Brahms: Piano Quintet in f; Mendelssohn: Octet for Strings; Barber: Dover Beach
for string quartet and baritone. Daniel Lichti,
baritone; Robert Silverman, piano; Penderecki Quartet; Lafayette Quartet. KWCMS
Music Room, 57 Young St. W., Waterloo.
519-886-1673. $95(very limited). Reception
following.
Tuesday December 2
●● 12:00 noon: Brock University Department
of Music. RBC Foundation Music@Noon:
Recital: Piano Students. Sean O’Sullivan Theatre, Centre for the Arts, Brock University,
500 Glenridge Ave., St. Catharines. 905-6885550 x3817. Free.
●● 12:15: St. George’s Cathedral. Advent Concerts. Michael Capon, organ. St. George’s
Cathedral (Kingston), 270 King St. E., Kingston. 613-548-4617. Freewill offering. Also Nov,
27, Dec 4, 9, 11, 16 and 18.
●● 7:30: Brock University Department of
Music. University Wind Ensemble. Zoltan
Kalman, conductor. Sean O’Sullivan Theatre, Centre for the Arts, Brock University,
500 Glenridge Ave., St. Catharines. 905-6885550 x3257. $8.85.
Wednesday December 3
●● 8:00: Kitchener-Waterloo Chamber
Music Society. 40th Anniversary Week Concerts: Robert Silverman, piano. Late Brahms
piano works: Op.76, 118, 119. KWCMS Music
Room, 57 Young St. W., Waterloo. 519-8861673. $35; $30(sr); $20(st).
●● 8:00: The ARTS Project. Stephen Harper:
The Musical or How To Survive and Thrive in
the Dying Days of the Empire of Oil. Musical
play with mixed media and audience participation. James Gordon, singer/songwriter.
203 Dundas St., London. 519-642-2767. $15;
$10(sr/st/unwaged). Also Dec 4-6.
●● 8:00: Wilfrid Laurier University Faculty
of Music. Chamber Music Concert. Maureen
Forrester Recital Hall, Wilfrid Laurier University, 75 University Ave. W., Waterloo. 519-8840710x4439. Free.
Thursday December 4
●● 12:15: St. George’s Cathedral (Kingston).
Advent Concerts. Alexander Colpa, flute;
58 | December 1 2014 - February 7, 2015
Susan Yee, piano. 270 King St. E., Kingston.
613-548-4617. Freewill offering.
●● 8:00: The ARTS Project. Stephen Harper:
The Musical or How to Survive and Thrive in
the Dying Days of the Empire of Oil. See Dec 3;
Also Dec 5, 6.
Saturday December 6
●● 11:00am: Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony
Friday December 5
Orchestra. Youth Orchestra Program Concert 1. Preludium Strings; Youth Strings;
Youth Sinfonia. Conrad Centre for the Performing Arts, 36 King St. W., Kitchener. 519745-4711 or 888-745-4717. $13; $11(child). Also
2:30(Youth Orchestra and Band).
●● 2:00: Woodstock Fanshawe Singers.
Sleigh Bells Ring!: A Family Christmas Concert. Woodstock Youth Choir; Angus Sinclair,
organ; Janet Robb, piano; Val Easton, and
Shawn Grenke, conductors. St. David’s United
Church (Woodstock), 190 Springbank Ave. N.,
Woodstock. 519-537-6946. $15; $10(sr/st);
free(under 14). Also Dec 5.
●● 2:30: Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony
Orchestra. Youth Orchestra Program Concert 2. Youth Orchestra and Youth Concert
Band. Conrad Centre for the Performing
Arts, 36 King St. W., Kitchener. 519-7454711 or 888-745-4717. $13; $11(child). Also
11:00am(Youth Strings and Sinfonia).
●● 7:00: Guelph Youth Singers. A Starry Blue
Night. Markus Howard, conductor; Heather
Fleming, assistant conductor; Ken Gee, piano.
Harcourt Memorial United Church, 87 Dean
St., Guelph. 519-763-3000. $25; $20(sr/st);
$5(eyeGo).
●● 7:30: Chorus Niagara. Messiah: A Niagara
Holiday Tradition for 50 years. Handel’s Messiah performed on period instruments. Jennifer Krabbe, soprano; Lyndsay Promane,
mezzo; Charles Sy, tenor; Tristan Jones, bass;
Talisker Players. Mountainview Christian
Reformed Church, 290 Main St. E., Grimsby.
1-866-617-3257 or 905-688-5550 x3257. $35;
$33(sr); $25(under 30); $15 (st); $5(eyeGO).
Also Dec 7(mat, St. Catharines). Donations
welcome of non-perishable food items in support of Grimsby Benevolent Fund.
●● 7:30: Grand Philharmonic Choir. Messiah.
Handel. Jennifer Taverner, soprano; Kimberly Barber, mezzo; Cory Knight, tenor; Daniel Lichti, bass-baritone; Kitchener-Waterloo
Symphony; Mark Vuorinen, conductor. Centre in the Square, 101 Queen St. N., Kitchener.
519-578-6885. $25–$75.
●● 7:30: Lyrica Chamber Choir of Barrie.
The Joy of Christmas. Britten: Ceremony
●● 12:00 noon: Hamilton Philharmonic
Orchestra. Free Holiday Concert. HPO Brass
Quintet. Hamilton Public Library, 55 York
Blvd,, Hamilton. 905-526-7756. Free. Bring
your lunch.
●● 7:00: Northumberland Centre of the
Royal Canadian College of Organists. Christmas Music in Millbrook. Christmas carols, popular Christmas music and seasonal
readings. St. Thomas’s Anglican Church
(Millbrook), 16 Centre St., Millbrook. 705932-2233. Free.
●● 7:00: PeaceQuest Kingston. Joyeux
Noel. Blend of song, film, meditation and
poetry to mark the 100th anniversary of the
WWI Christmas Truce. Kingston City Hall,
216 Ontario St., Kingston. 613-583-2569.
PWYC.
●● 7:30: Arcady. Christmas with Arcady.
Christmas music of Ronald Beckett. St.
Andrew’s United Church, 95 Darling St.,
Brantford. 519-752-5823. $20; $10(st).
●● 7:30: Melos Choir/Period Instruments.
Sur la Naissance: Advent and Christmas
Music of Marc-Antoine Charpentier. Traditional French Noëls; Oratorio On the Nativity;
and other works in French Baroque style. St.
George’s Cathedral (Kingston), 270 King St. E.,
Kingston. 613-767-7245. $15-$25.
●● 7:30: Moston Concerts. Liona Boyd: A Winter Fantasy. Holiday classics and other songs.
Liona Boyd, guitar; Michael Savona, guitar
and vocals. St. James Anglican Church (Stratford), 41 Mornington St., Stratford. 1-888222-6608. $30; $25(st/12 and under).
●● 7:30: Pax Christi Chorale. Winter Nights.
J.S.Bach: Christmas Oratorio Part II; Nun
komm der Heiden Heiland; Martin: Winter
Nights. Michele Bogdanowicz, mezzo; Sean
Clark, tenor; Doug MacNaughton, baritone.
St. John Vianney Parish, 13 Baldwin Ln, Barrie. 705-726-8007. $35; $30(sr); $25(st). Also
Dec 6,7 (see GTA).
●● 7:30: Woodstock Fanshawe Singers.
Come Colours Rise. Angus Sinclair, organ;
Janet Robb, piano; Val Easton, and Shawn
Grenke, conductors. St. David’s United
of Carols; works by Thomas, Rutter, Emery
and Arcadelt. Angela Scharzkopf, harp;
Brent Mayhew, piano. Burton Avenue United
Church, 37 Burton Ave., Barrie. 705-722-0271.
$17; $14(sr/st).
●● 7:30: Moston Concerts. Liona Boyd: A
Winter Fantasy. Holiday classics and other
songs. Liona Boyd, guitar; Michael Savona,
guitar and vocals. Trinity United Church,
284 Division St., Cobourg. 1-888-222-6608.
$30; $25(st/12 and under).
●● 7:30: Orchestra Kingston. Messiah SingAlong. Guest soloists; audience participation.
Salvation Army Citadel, 816 Centennial Dr.,
Kingston. 613-634-9312. $15-$20. Rehearsals Nov 25 & Dec 2 at 5:30, Salvation Army
Citadel.
●● 7:30: Peterborough Symphony. Come
Home for the Holidays. Favourite Christmas
music. Guests: Peterborough Pop Ensemble and Kawartha Youth Orchestra; Michael
Newnham, conductor. Showplace Performance Centre, 290 George St. N., Peterborough. 705-742-7469. $30; $15(st).
●● 7:30: Woodstock Fanshawe Singers.
Come Colours Rise. Angus Sinclair, organ;
Janet Robb, piano; Val Easton, and Shawn
Grenke, conductors. St. David’s United
Church (Woodstock), 190 Springbank Ave. N.,
Woodstock. 519-537-6946. $25; $20(sr/st);
free(under 14). Also Dec 5.
●● 8:00: The ARTS Project. Stephen Harper:
The Musical or How to Survive and Thrive in
the Dying Days of the Empire of Oil. See Dec 3.
●● 8:00: Toronto All-Star Big Band. A
Swingin’ Christmas. Includes arrangements
by Clooney, Gormé & Lawrence, Straight No
Chaser, Armstrong and other big band standards. Regent Theatre, 224 Picton Main St,
Picton. 613-476-8416 x28 or 1-877-411-4761.
$29.
Sunday December 7
●● 2:00: Kitchener-Waterloo Chamber
Music Society. 40th Anniversary Week Concerts: Pivot Chamber Soloists. Beethoven:
Trio Op.11; Messiaen: Quartet for the End of
Time. Minghuan Xu, violin; Soo Bae, cello;
Romy de Guise, clarinet; Winston Choi, piano.
KWCMS Music Room, 57 Young St. W., Waterloo. 519-886-1673. $35; $30(sr); $20(st).
●● 2:30: Chorus Niagara. Messiah: A Niagara Holiday Tradition for 50 years. Calvary Church, 89 Scott St., St. Catharines.
1-866-617-3257 or 905-688-5550 x3257. $35;
$33(sr); $25(under 30); $15 (st); $5(eyeGO).
See Dec 6(eve, Grimsby). Donations welcome
of non-perishable food items in support of
Community Care.
●● 2:30: Kawartha Concerts / Encore Children’s Productions. Hansel and Gretel. Metro
Youth Opera. Glenn Crombie Theatre, Fleming
College, 200 Albert Street S., Lindsay. 705878-5625. $15; $10(child/youth). 1:30: Preconcert event for family.
●● 2:30: Kingston Symphony. Afternoon at the Opera. Lucia Cesaroni, soprano; Andrew Haji, tenor; Geoffrey Sirett,
baritone; Evan Mitchell, conductor. Grand
Theatre, 218 Princess St., Kingston. 613530-2050. $20-$50(adult), $20-$45(senior),
$15-$25(student), $10(child).
●● 2:30: Niagara Symphony Orchestra.
Next Gen 1: It’s OUR Game. Two members of
the Niagara Ice Dogs hockey team narrate
Roch Carrier’s The Hockey Sweater. Bradley
Thachuk, conductor. Sean O’Sullivan Theatre,
thewholenote.com
Centre for the Arts, Brock University,
500 Glenridge Ave., St. Catharines. 905-6874993. $13.50-$29.50. Donations of canned
food and toys will be collected at the concert
for the Lincoln County Humane Society.
●● 2:30: Salvation Army. Peterborough Community Carol Sing: A Christmas Event for
Everyone. Combined Choirs; Timbrel Choir;
Salvation Army Band; Andrew Burditt; Graham Hart; and others. Salvation Army Temple,
219 Simcoe St., Peterborough. 705-745-2240.
Special Offering. Proceeds to Salvation Army
Christmas Hamper Fund.
Jennifer Taverner, Jennifer Enns Modolo, Joseph Levesque and Benjamin Covey,
vocals; Mitchell Pady, artistic director; Blair
Bailey, organ. St. Paul’s United Church (Orillia), 62 Peter St. N., Orillia. 705-817-7664. $30;
$15(st). Also Dec 12(eve).
●● 3:00: Kokoro Singers. The Spirit of Christmas. Brenda Uchimaru, conductor. Duff’s
Presbyterian Church, 319 Brock Rd. S.,
Guelph. 289-439-9447. $20; $15(sr/st). Also
Dec 13 (Ancaster).
●● 3:00: Peterborough Singers. Handel’s
Messiah. Pamela Birrell, soprano; Laura Pudwell, mezzo; Colin Ainsworth, tenor; Michael
Adair, bass; Paul Otway, trumpet; and others;
Sydney Birrell, conductor. George Street
United Church, 534 George St. N., Peterborough. 705-745-1820. $20-$30; $10(st). Also
Dec 15(eve).
●● 8:00: Kitchener-Waterloo Chamber
Music Society. Trio Celeste. Beethoven: Complete Trios, second of three programs (Trio in
E-flat Op.1 No.1; Variations for Piano in G “Kakadu” Op.121a; Trio in E-flat Op.70 No.2). Iryna
Krechkovsky, violin; Ross Gasworth, cello;
Kevin Kwan Loucks, piano. KWCMS Music
Room, 57 Young St. W., Waterloo. 519-8861673. $35; $30(sr); $20(st).
●● 8:00: Nota Bene Baroque Players. Christmas in Leipzig. Bach: Magnificat. First United
Church Waterloo, 16 William Street, Waterloo. 226-808-9567. $40; $30(sr); $15(st). Also
Dec 13 (Hamilton).
Thursday December 11
●● 12:15: St. George’s Cathedral (Kingston).
Advent Concerts. Celtic Strings (Sharon
McLaughlin, Celtic harp; Mary Kennedy, violin; Brent Schneider, guitar). 270 King St. E.,
Kingston. 613-548-4617. Freewill offering.
●● 7:30: Centre for the Arts, Brock University. Natalie MacMaster and Donnell Leahy:
A Family Christmas. Husband & wife fiddling
duo. Sean O’Sullivan Theatre, Centre for the
Arts, 500 Glenridge Ave., St. Catharines.
905-688-5550 x3257 or 1-866-617-3257. $55.
Also Dec 12.
Friday December 12
●● 7:30: Cellar Singers. Messiah. Handel.
Sunday, December 7th
St. Joseph’s Church, Fergus
●● 3:00: Elora Festival and Singers. A Vil-
lage Messiah. Handel. Elora Festival Singers;
Noel Edison, conductor. St. Joseph’s Catholic
Church, 760 St. David N., Fergus. 519-8460332. $40.
●● 3:00: La Jeunesse Youth Orchestra. Home
for the Holidays. Around the World at Christmas and other works. Port Hope United
Church, 34 South St., Port Hope. 1-866-4605596. $20; $15(st); $10(children).
Tuesday December 9
●● 12:00 noon: City of St. Catharines. Civic
Carol Concert. Yuletide carol sing-along. Area
secondary school choirs; brass ensemble;
Ross R. Stretton, organ; Peter M. Partridge,
conductor of massed choir. St. Thomas Anglican Church, 99 Ontario St., St. Catharines.
905-688-5601x2160. Freewill offering. Proceeds to Christmas Community Care.
●● 12:15: St. George’s Cathedral. Advent Concerts. Michael Capon, organ. St. George’s
Cathedral (Kingston), 270 King St. E., Kingston. 613-548-4617. Freewill offering. Also Nov,
27, Dec 2, 4, 11, 16 and 18.
Wednesday December 10
●● 2:30: Seniors Serenade. An Innisdale
Christmas. Choirs and instrumentalists from
Innisdale Secondary School. Grace United
Church, 350 Grove St. E., Barrie. 705-7261181. Free.
●● 7:30: Centre for the Arts, Brock University. Madeleine Peyroux with the Art of Time
Ensemble. Sean O’Sullivan Theatre, Centre
for the Arts, 500 Glenridge Ave., St. Catharines. 905-688-5550 x3257 or 1-866-6173257. $55.
thewholenote.com
Jennifer Taverner, Jennifer Enns Modolo,
Joseph Levesque and Benjamin Covey, vocals;
Mitchell Pady, artistic director; Blair Bailey,
organ. St. Joseph’s Church (Bracebridge),
118 McMurray St., Bracebridge. 705-8177664. $30; $15(st). Also Dec 14(mat).
●● 7:30: Centre for the Arts, Brock University. Natalie MacMaster and Donnell Leahy: A
Family Christmas. See Dec 11.
●● 7:30: Port Hope Friends of Music. Christmas Around the World. Works by Corelli,
Manfredini, Handel and others. Ensemble
Caprice, period instruments; guest: Dawn
Bailey, soprano. Port Hope United Church,
34 South St., Port Hope. 905-797-2295. $39;
$15(st). Post-concert reception with artists.
●● 8:00: Kitchener-Waterloo Chamber
Music Society. Trio Celeste. Beethoven: Complete Piano Trios, first of three programs
(Op.11 No.4 in B-flat “Gassenhauer”; Op.1 No.2
in G; Op.70 No.1 in D “Ghost”). Iryna Krechkovsky, violin; Ross Gasworth, cello; Kevin Kwan
Loucks, piano. KWCMS Music Room, 57 Young
St. W., Waterloo. 519-886-1673. $35; $30(sr);
$20(st).
Monday December 15
●● 7:30: Peterborough Singers. Handel’s
Messiah. See Dec 14(mat).
Tuesday December 16
●● 12:15: St. George’s Cathedral. Advent Con-
certs. Michael Capon, organ. St. George’s
Cathedral (Kingston), 270 King St. E., Kingston. 613-548-4617. Freewill offering. Also Nov,
27, Dec 2, 4, 9, 11 and 18.
●● 7:30: Kingston Symphony. Candlelight
Christmas. Evan Mitchell, conductor; Kingston Symphony; Kingston Choral Society;
Ian Juby, chorus master. St. George’s Cathedral, 270 King St. E., Kingston. 613-5302050. $30(adult), $25(senior), $15(student),
$10(child). Also Wednesday December 17.
●● 8:00: Kitchener-Waterloo Chamber
Music Society. Trio Celeste: Beethoven’s
Birthday Concert. Beethoven: Complete
Trios, third of three programs (Variations for
Piano in E-flat Op.44; Trio in c Op.1 No.3; Trio
in B-flat Op.97 “Archduke”). Iryna Krechkovsky, violin; Ross Gasworth, cello; Kevin Kwan
Loucks, piano. KWCMS Music Room, 57 Young
St. W., Waterloo. 519-886-1673. $40; $35(sr);
$25(st).
Saturday December 13
●● 7:30: Arcady. Messiah. Handel. Ron-
ald Beckett, conductor. Ancaster Christian
Reformed Church, 70 Garner Rd. E., Ancaster. 877-700-3130. $25.
●● 8:00: Kokoro Singers. The Spirit of Christmas. Brenda Uchimaru, conductor. Ryerson
United Church, 265 Wilson St. E., Ancaster.
289-439-9447. $20; $15(sr/st). Also Dec 14
(Guelph).
●● 8:00: Nota Bene Baroque Players. Christmas in Leipzig. Bach: Magnificat. St. Joseph
Catholic Church, 260 Herkimer Street, Hamilton. 226-808-9567. $40; $30(sr); $15(st).
Also Dec 14 (Waterloo).
●● 8:00: Rant Maggie Rant. Frost & Fire: A
Celtic Christmas Celebration! Traditional to
modern Celtic melodies, jigs and reels, carols and other works. Lindsay Schindler, fiddle,
vocals; Glen Dias, vocals, recorders, percussion; Barry James Payne, guitars, harmonica,
vocals; Rob Larose, percussion; Steve Clark,
bass; Daev Clysdale, Irish whistle, Irish flute,
accordion. Knox Presbyterian Church (Stratford), 142 Ontario St., Stratford. 519-2710373. $25. Benefit for Knox.
Wednesday December 17
●● 12:00 noon: Music at St. Andrews. David
Rosevear, Organ. Works by Bach, Bedard,
Daquin, Kihlken, Peeters and Sumsion. St.
Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, 47 Owen St.,
Barrie. 705-726-1181. $5; free(st).
●● 7:30: Kingston Symphony. Candlelight
Christmas. See Dec 17.
Sunday December 14
Thursday December 18
●● 2:30: Georgian Music. Baroque Christ-
mas Around the World. Dawn Bailey, soprano;
Ensemble Caprice. Grace United Church,
350 Grove St. E., Barrie. 705-726-1181. $65.
Four concert series: $85; $25(st).
●● 3:00: Cellar Singers. Messiah. Handel.
●● 12:15: St. George’s Cathedral (Kingston).
Advent Concerts. Valery Lloyd-Watts and
Clare Gordon, pianos. 270 King St. E., Kingston. 613-548-4617. Freewill offering.
Friday December 19
●● 7:30: Gallery Players of Niagara. Around
The World. Poems and short stories woven
together with seasonal music from around
the world. Guy Bannerman, narrator; Deborah Braun, harp; David Braun, violin; Douglas
Miller, flute. Grace United Church (Niagara-on-the-Lake), 222 Victoria St., Niagaraon-the-Lake. 905-468-1525. $33; $30(sr);
$11(st/child/arts worker). Also Dec 21 (St.
Catharines).
●● 8:00: Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony
Orchestra. Yuletide Spectacular. ‘Twas
the Night Before Christmas; Sleigh Ride;
Yes, Virginia—There is a Santa Claus; and
other works. Brian Duyn, tenor; Grand Philharmonic Choir; Grand Philharmonic Children’s Choir; Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony
Youth Orchestra; Carousel Dance Company;
Daniel Bartholomew-Poyser, conductor. Centre in the Square, 101 Queen St. N., Kitchener.
519-745-4711 or 888-745-4717. $19 and up.
Also Dec 20(mat and eve), 21(mat).
Saturday December 20
●● 2:00: Toronto All-Star Big Band. A
Swingin’ Christmas. Includes arrangements
by Clooney, Gormé & Lawrence, Straight
No Chaser, Armstrong and other big band
standards. Roxy Theatre, 251 9 St. E., Owen
Sound. 519-371-2833 or 1-888-446-7699.
$28.50.
●● 2:30: Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony
Orchestra. Yuletide Spectacular. See 8:00;
Also Dec 19(eve), 21(mat).
●● 7:30: Guelph Chamber Choir. Messiah.
Handel. Sheila Dietrich, soprano; Daniel
Cabena, countertenor; Chris Fischer, tenor;
Alexander Dobson, bass; Musica Viva Orchestra on period instruments; Gerald Neufeld,
conductor. River Run Centre, 35 Woolwich
St., Guelph. 519-763-3000. $35/$30(4 or
more); $10(st); $5(eyeGO).
●● 7:30: Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra. Home for the Holidays. RichardsonSchulte: Hockey Sweater; and other holiday
favourites. Roch Carrier, narrator; Hamilton Philharmonic Youth Orchestra; Martin MacDonald, conductor. Hamilton Place,
10 Macnab St. S., Hamilton. 905-5267756. $23–$67; $21-$64(sr); $17(under 35);
$10(child).
●● 8:00: Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony
Orchestra. Yuletide Spectacular. See 8:00;
Also Dec 21(mat).
Sunday December 21
●● 2:00: Gallery Players of Niagara. Around
The World. St. Barnabas Anglican Church,
31 Queenston St., St. Catharines. 905-4681525. $33; $30(sr); $11(st/child/arts worker).
See Dec 19 (Niagara-on-the-Lake).
●● 2:30: Centre for the Arts, Brock University. Matt Dusk. Jazz singer. Sean O’Sullivan
Theatre, Centre for the Arts, 500 Glenridge
Ave., St. Catharines. 905-688-5550 x3257 or
1-866-617-3257. $49.
●● 2:30: Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony
Orchestra. Yuletide Spectacular. See 8:00.
●● 3:30: Huronia Symphony Orchestra. The
Glory of Christmas. Moll/Balaburski: Sadie’s
Door (premiere); Handel: Overture to Messiah; Calvert: ‘Twas in the Moon of Wintertime; Anderson: Sleigh Ride; traditional
Christmas classics; carol sing-along. Oliver Balaburski, conductor. Guests: Barrie
December 1 2014 - February 7, 2015 | 59
B. Concerts Beyond the GTA
Belltones Handbell Choir. Collier Street
United Church, 112 Collier St., Barrie. 705-7214752. $25; $10(st); $5(child).
●● 5:00: St. George’s Cathedral (Kingston). Christmas Lessons and Carols Service. Christmas works by Ord, Telfer, Walton,
Carter, Davis and others. Cathedral Christmas Choir and Children’s Choir; audience
participation. 270 King St. E., Kingston. 613548-4617. Freewill offering.
Wednesday December 31
●● 8:00: Crystal Journey. Psychedelic Dance
Party. Improvised sound journey. Dance
music of the 60s. David Michael Hickey, paiste
planet gongs, quartz crystal bowls, vibraphone and Iranian santoor. Ancaster Fairgrounds, Concession Building, 630 Trinity Rd.
S., Jerseyville. 905-928-9706. $45. Organic
snacks and drinks. Dress in your favourite
hippie clothes.
Sunday January 4
●● 2:30: Attila Glatz Concert Productions.
Salute to Vienna New Year’s Concert. Music
from operettas including Die Fledermaus and
The Merry Widow; polkas, Strauss waltzes
and more. The Strauss Symphony of Canada
(Christian Schulz, conductor); Natalia Ushakova, soprano; Katalin Benedekffy, soubrette;
Andreas Schager, tenor; Szabolcs Kádár,
buffo tenor; dancers from Vienna Imperial Ballet; International Champion Ballroom
Dancers, Hamilton Children’s Choir. Hamilton
Place Theatre, 10 MacNab St, Hamilton. 855872-5000. $51-$108. Complimentary Viennese Strudel and Cafe Reception.
Wednesday January 7
●● 12:00 noon: Midday Music with Shigeru.
Tabitha Johnson, Piano. Works by Bach and
Chopin. Hi-Way Pentecostal Church, 50 Anne
St. N., Barrie. 705-726-1181. $5; free(st).
Friday January 9
●● 8:00: New Music Kingston. Kingston
Pianist/Composers John Burge and Michel
Szczesniak. Szczesniak: Scherzos Nos. 1 and
2; Vocalise; White Keys Nos. 2 and 3; Introduction, Ballade and Burlesque; Burge: TwentyFour Preludes (first complete performance).
The Isabel, 390 King Street W., Kingston.
613-533-2424. $20;$15(sr);$10. 7:15: pre-concert chat.
Sunday January 11
●● 2:00: Chamber Music Hamilton. Ying
Quartet. Prokofiev: Quartet No.2 in F Op.92;
Zhou: Song of the Ch’in; Fung: Pizzicato;
Liang: Gobi Gloria; Schumann: Quartet in F
Op.41 No.2. Art Gallery of Hamilton, 123 King
St. W., Hamilton. 905-525-7429. $30; $27(sr);
$10(st). Includes Gallery admission.
●● 2:30: Queens University: Faculty Artist Series. Beethoven, Brahms & Tchaikovsky. Tchaikovsky Piano Trio in a, Op.50; violin
sonata by Beethoven; cello sonata by Brahms.
Wolf Tormann, cello; Cynthia Tormann, piano;
Corey Gemmell, violin. The Isabel, 390 King
Street W., Kingston. 613-533-2424. From
$10 up.
●● 8:00: Kitchener-Waterloo Chamber
Music Society. Ménage à Six String Sextet. Pichl: Duo for Viola and Cello; Martinů:
Duo No.2 for Violin and Cello; Dvořák: Terzetto in C (two violins and viola); Sextet Op.48
60 | December 1 2014 - February 7, 2015
Anglican Church, 235 Ribidge St., Peterborough. 705-878-5625. $35-$40.
●● 7:30: Kingston Symphony. A Celtic Journey. Kelli Trottier, fiddle; Glen Fast, conductor.
Grand Theatre, 218 Princess St., Kingston.
613-530-2050. $20-$50(adult), $20-$45(senior), $15-$25(student), $10(child).
●● 8:00: Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony
Orchestra. Mendelssohn: A Midsummer
Night’s Dream. Purcell: Selections from The
Fairy Queen; Vaughan Williams: Serenade
to Music. Grand Philharmonic Choir Female
Chorus; Scott Belluz, countertenor; Carla
Huhtanen, soprano; Mervon Mehta, and Brigit
Wilson, actors; nEdwin Outwater, conductor.
Centre in the Square, 101 Queen St. N., Kitchener. 519-745-4711 or 888-745-4717. $19 and
up. Also Jan 16.
in A. Yehonatan Berick and Csaba Koczo, violins; Caitlin Boyle and Theresa Rudolph, violas; Rachel Desoer and Rachel Mercer, cellos.
KWCMS Music Room, 57 Young St. W., Waterloo. 519-886-1673. $35; $30(sr); $20(st).
Tuesday January 13
●● 12:00 noon: Brock University Department
of Music. RBC Foundation Music@Noon:
Music Ed Plus ensembles. Sean O’Sullivan
Theatre, Centre for the Arts, Brock University, 500 Glenridge Ave., St. Catharines. 905688-5550 x3817. Free.
Wednesday January 14
●● 2:30: Seniors Serenade. The “C” List.
Mike Lewis, jazz piano. Grace United Church,
350 Grove St. E., Barrie. 705-726-1181. Free.
●● 7:30: Centre for the Arts, Brock University. Jill Barber. Singer-songwriter. Sean
O’Sullivan Theatre, Centre for the Arts,
500 Glenridge Ave., St. Catharines. 905-6885550 x3257 or 1-866-617-3257. $44.
●● 7:30: Queens University: The Isabel. The
Soloists: Cédric Tiberghien, piano. Works by
Mozart, Schubert and Beethoven. The Isabel,
390 King Street W., Kingston. 613-533-2424.
$25.50-$44; $13.25-$22(st).
Sunday January 18
●● 2:00: Gallery Players of Niagara. Defin-
itely Not the Nutcracker. Ensemble Polaris
celebrates Tchaikovsky’s popular music with
whimsical arrangements by the band, juxtaposed with instrumentals and songs from
the Russian folk tradition. Marco Cera, guitar, jarana barroca; Kirk Elliott violin, Celtic
harp, mandolin; Margaret Gay, cello, guiro;
Katherine Hill, voice, nyckelharpa; Alison Melville, baroque flute, recorders; Colin Savage clarinet, bass clarinet; Debashis Sinha,
percussion, birimbao; Jeff Wilson percussion, musical saw. Silver Spire United Church,
366 St. Paul Street, St. Catharines. 905-4681525. $33; $30(sr); $11(st/child/arts worker).
●● 2:30: Kawartha Concerts. Catharine
Carew, Mezzo-Soprano. Glenn Crombie Theatre, Fleming College, 200 Albert Street S.,
Lindsay. 705-878-5625. $35-$40.
Thursday January 15
●● 8:00: Kitchener-Waterloo Chamber
Music Society. Kristóf Baráti, Violin. Bach:
Partita in E; Partita in d; Bartók: Sonata
for Solo Violin. Nancy Dahn, violin; Timothy Steeves, piano. KWCMS Music Room,
57 Young St. W., Waterloo. 519-886-1673.
$30; $25(sr); $20(st).
Friday January 16
Monday January 19
●● 8:00: Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony
●● 7:30: Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony
Orchestra. A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
Purcell: Selections from The Fairy Queen;
Vaughan Williams: Serenade to Music; Mendelssohn: A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
Grand Philharmonic Choir Female Chorus;
Scott Belluz, countertenor; Carla Huhtanen,
soprano; Mervon Mehta, and Brigit Wilson,
actors; Edwin Outwater, conductor. Centre in the Square, 101 Queen St. N., Kitchener. 519-745-4711 or 888-745-4717. $19 and
up. Also Jan 17.
Orchestra. KW Glee Live! Works by Coldplay,
Adele, The Beatles and others. Steve Lehmann, musical director; Amanda Kind, vocal
director; Trevor Wagler, conductor. Centre in
the Square, 101 Queen St. N., Kitchener. 519745-4711 or 888-745-4717. $35. Also Jan 20.
Tuesday January 20
●● 12:00 noon: Brock University Depart-
ment of Music. RBC Foundation Music@
Noon: Faculty and Guest Recital. Colin Maier,
oboe; Alexander Sevastian, accordion. Sean
O’Sullivan Theatre, Centre for the Arts, Brock
University, 500 Glenridge Ave., St. Catharines. 905-688-5550 x3817. Free.
●● 7:30: Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony
Orchestra. KW Glee Live! See Jan 19.
Saturday January 17
●● 2:30: Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony
Orchestra. Family Series: Wonderful Winds.
Daniel Bartholomew-Poyser, conductor. Centre in the Square, 101 Queen St. N., Kitchener.
519-745-4711 or 888-745-4717. $18; $11(child).
●● 7:30: Barrie Concerts. Sheng Cai,
Piano. Works by Beethoven, Chopin, Liszt
and Debussy. Hi-Way Pentecostal Church,
50 Anne St. N., Barrie. 705-726-1181. $85.
Subscription series: $160; $35(st).
●● 7:30: Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra.
Tchaikovsky’s Sixth. Tchaikovsky: Symphony
No.6 “Pathétique”; Verdi: Overture to La Forza
del Destino; Glazunov: Violin Concerto. Corey
Cerovsek, violin; Theodore Kuchar, conductor.
Hamilton Place, 10 Macnab St. S., Hamilton. 905-526-7756. $23–$67; $21-$64(sr);
$17(under 35); $10(child).
●● 7:30: Kawartha Concerts. BRAVO Series:
A Latin Voyage with Marie-Josée Lord. Songs
and melodies of Spain and Latin America.
Marie-Josée Lord, soprano; David Jacques,
guitar; Ian Simpson, double bass. All Saints’
Wednesday January 21
●● 12:00 noon: Music at St. Andrews. Chris-
topher Dawes, Organ. St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, 47 Owen St., Barrie.
705-726-1181. $5; free(st).
●● 8:00: Kitchener-Waterloo Chamber
Music Society. Penderecki String Quartet. Jerzy Kaplanek and Jeremy Bell, violins;
Christine Vlajk, viola; Katie Schlakjer, cello.
KWCMS Music Room, 57 Young St. W., Waterloo. 519-886-1673. $30; $25(sr); $20(st).
Saturday January 24
●● 8:00: Kitchener-Waterloo Chamber
Music Society. Anastasia Rizikov, Piano.
Bach: Prelude and Fugue in a, BWV865; Chopin: Etude in F, Op.10/8 and Ballade No.4; Liszt:
Concert Etude “la Leggierezza”; Mussorgsky: Pictures at an Exhibition; Mozart: Sonata
No.13, K333; Balakirev: Islamey. KWCMS
Music Room, 57 Young St. W., Waterloo. 519886-1673. $30; $25(sr); $20(st).
Sunday January 25
●● 3:00: Dundas Valley Orchestra. A Cele-
bration of Black History. Chevalier de
Saint-Georges: Symphony in D Op.11 No.2;
Coleridge-Taylor: Petite Suite de Concert
Op.77; Joplin: Elite Syncopations (arr. L.
Thomas); Dett: In the Bottoms Suite (arr. L.
Thomas); Rutter: Every time I feel the Spirit.
Dundas area choristers; Teresa Holierhoek,
mezzo; narrator TBA; Laura Thomas, conductor. St. Paul’s United Church, 29 Park St.
W., Dundas. 905-387-4773. Free. Donations
gratefully accepted (tax receipts over $10).
Reception to follow. Wheelchair accessible.
●● 3:30: Huronia Symphony Orchestra. Blast
off to Jupiter. Works by Khachaturian, Williams and Holst. With the HSO Youth Program; Oliver Balaburski, conductor. Collier
Street United Church, 112 Collier St., Barrie.
705-721-4752. $25; $10(st); $5(children).
●● 5:00: St. George’s Cathedral (Kingston).
Choral Evensong. Cathedral Evensong Choir.
270 King St. E., Kingston. 613-548-4617. Freewill offering.
Tuesday January 27
●● 12:00 noon: Brock University Department
of Music. RBC Foundation Music@Noon:
Recital: Voice students. Sean O’Sullivan Theatre, Centre for the Arts, Brock University,
500 Glenridge Ave., St. Catharines. 905-6885550 x3817. Free.
Wednesday January 28
●● 7:30: Centre for the Arts, Brock Univer-
sity. Alan Doyle. Songwriter, actor. Sean
O’Sullivan Theatre, Centre for the Arts,
500 Glenridge Ave., St. Catharines. 905-6885550 x3257 or 1-866-617-3257. $49.
Thursday January 29
●● 7:30: Centre for the Arts, Brock Univer-
sity. La Bottine Souriante. Folk band from
Quebec. Sean O’Sullivan Theatre, Centre for
the Arts, 500 Glenridge Ave., St. Catharines.
905-688-5550 x3257 or 1-866-617-3257. $49.
●● 8:00: Kitchener-Waterloo Chamber
Music Society. Duo Concertante. Schubert:
Complete music for violin/piano, first of two
concerts (Sonatina in a; Sonatina in g; Sonata
in A). Nancy Dahn, violin; Timothy Steeves,
piano. KWCMS Music Room, 57 Young St.
W., Waterloo. 519-886-1673. $30; $25(sr);
$20(st).
Friday January 30
●● 7:30: Brock University Department of
Music. ENCORE! Concert Series: Quartetto
Gelato. Sean O’Sullivan Theatre, Centre for
the Arts, Brock University, 500 Glenridge
Ave., St. Catharines. 905-688-5550 x3257.
$28.50; $22.50(sr/st); $5(eyeGO).
●● 8:00: Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony
Orchestra. Edwin’s Orchestra Follies. Works
by P.D.Q. Bach, Rossini and more. David
Baron, countertenor; Edwin Outwater, conductor. Centre in the Square, 101 Queen St. N.,
Kitchener. 519-745-4711 or 888-745-4717. $19
and up. Also Jan 31(mat and eve).
●● 8:00: New Music Kingston. Solo Electric Guitar Extravaganza. Tim Brady,
thewholenote.com
B. Concerts Beyond the GTA
composer and electric guitarist. The Isabel,
390 King Street W., Kingston. 613-533-2424.
$20;$15(sr);$10. 7:15: pre-concert chat.
Saturday January 31
●● 2:30: Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony
Orchestra. Edwin’s Orchestra Follies.
See 8:00; Also Jan 30( eve).
●● 8:00: Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony
Orchestra. Edwin’s Orchestra Follies. See,
Jan 30( eve).
●● 8:00: Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony
Orchestra. Edwin’s Orchestra Follies. Works
by P.D.Q. Bach, Rossini and more. David
Baron, countertenor; Edwin Outwater, conductor. Centre in the Square, 101 Queen St. N.,
Kitchener. 519-745-4711 or 888-745-4717. $19
and up. Also 2:30, Jan 30( eve).
Sunday February 1
●● 2:30: Georgian Music. Hugo Wolf String
Quartet. Schubert: “Death and the Maiden;”
and works by Mozart. Grace United Church,
350 Grove St. E., Barrie. 705-726-1181. $65.
Four concert series: $85; $25(st).
●● 2:30: Kingston Symphony. Dvořák &
Brahms. Beethoven: Overture to the Creatures of Prometheus; Brady: Symphony No.4;
Dvořák: Romance; Brahms: Symphony No.2.
Gisèle Dalbec, violin; Evan Mitchell, conductor.
The Isabel, 390 King Street W., Kingston. 613530-2050. $20-$50(adult), $20-$45(senior),
$15-$25(student), $10(child).
Friday February 6
●● 7:30: University of Toronto Faculty of
Music/Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony.
New Music Festival: Friendship–A Journey to
China. Traditional Chinese, and new works by
University of Toronto composers. Lan Weiwei,
pipa; Edwin Outwater, conductor. Conrad
Centre for the Performing Arts, 36 King St.
W., Kitchener. 1-888-745-4717. $35; $14(st).
Also Feb 7.
Saturday February 7
●● 10:00am and 11:00am: Kitchener-Wat-
erloo Symphony Orchestra. Kinderconcert
Series: The Three Musical Pigs and the Wolf.
Works by Bach, Mozart and Beethoven. Licorice Allsorts Clarinet Quartet. Conrad Centre for the Performing Arts, 36 King St. W.,
Kitchener. 519-745-4711 or 888-745-4717. $13;
$11(child). Also 11:00am, Feb 21(Waterloo
Museum), 28(Woolwich Memorial Centre).
●● 7:30: Queens University: The Isabel. The
Soloists: Sarah Chang, violin. Sarah Chang,
w.Julio Elizalde, piano. The Isabel, 390 King
Street W., Kingston. 613-533-2424. SOLD OUT.
●● 7:30: University of Toronto Faculty of
Music/Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony.
New Music Festival: Friendship–A Journey to
China. See Feb 6.
●● 8:00: Peterborough Symphony Orchestra. Dark Passion. Mozart: Sinfonia Concertante; Tchaikovsky: Symphony No.6. Jerzy
Kaplanek, violin; Christine Vlajk, viola; Michael
Newnham, conductor. Showplace Performance Centre, 290 George St. N., Peterborough. 705-742-7469. $30; $15(st).
M U S I C T H E AT R E
MUSIC THEATRE covers a wide range of music types: from opera,
operetta and musicals to non-traditional performance types where
words and music are in some fashion equal partners in the drama.
These listings have been sorted alphabetically. Some information
here is also included in our GTA and Beyond The GTA listings
sections, but readers whose primary interest is MUSIC THEATRE
should start their search with this section.
This section is still in development. We welcome your comments
and suggestions at publisher@thewholenote.com
●●Against the Grain Theatre. #Uncle John.
A modern interpretation of Don Giovanni
with a new English libretto. Cameron McPhail
(Uncle John); Neil Craighead (Leporello);
Miriam Khalil (Elvira); Betty Waynne Allison
(Anna); Miloš Repický, guest music director;
Joel Ivany, director. The Black Box Theatre,
The Great Hall, 1087 Queen St. W. 416-7921268 againstthegraintheatre.com. $40. Runs
Dec 11 – 19, 7:30.
●●Annex Singers. The Ice Storm. Choral
drama; works by Purcell, Elgar, Tavener and
Lightfoot; and other seasonal works. Vickie
Papavs, Richard Partington and Murray Furrow, actors; Maria Case, music director. Bloor
Street United Church, 300 Bloor St. W. 647888-1979. $20; $15(sr/st); free(under 13).
Dec 13 7:30.
●●Canadian Opera Company. Die Walküre.
Wagner. Christine Goerke, soprano (Brünnhilde); Heidi Melton, soprano (Sieglinde);
thewholenote.com
Clifton Forbis, tenor (Siegmund); Johan Reuter, baritone (Wotan); COC Orchestra and
Chorus; Johannes Debus, conductor. Four
Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts,
145 Queen St. W. 416-363-8231. $49-$424;
$22(under 30). Jan 31 - Feb 22, start times
vary.
●●Canadian Opera Company. Don Giovanni.
Mozart. Jane Archibald, soprano (Donna
Anna); Jennifer Holloway, mezzo (Donna
Elvira); Michael Schade, tenor (Don Ottavio);
Russell Braun, baritone (Don Giovanni); Kyle
Ketelsen, bass-baritone (Leporello); COC
Orchestra and Chorus; Michael Hofstetter,
conductor. Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts, 145 Queen St. W. 416-363-8231.
$49-$424; $22(under 30). Jan 24 - Feb 21,
start times vary.
●●Church of the Holy Trinity. The Christmas
Story. Nativity play -- a Toronto tradition since
1938. Professional musicians and a volunteer
December 1 2014 - February 7, 2015 | 61
C. Music Theatre
cast. 10 Trinity Sq. 416-598-4521 x301 holytrinitytoronto.org. By donation. $20; $5(child)
suggested. American Sign Language interpretation at selected performances. Dec 12 21, start times vary.
●●Civic Light-Opera Company. The Judy Garland Christmas Show (That never was!).
Caroline Moro-Dalicando as Judy; Eric Botosan; Mickey Brown; Joe Cascone; David
Haines and others. Zion Cultural Centre,
1650 Finch E. 416-755-1717 civiclightoperacompany.com. $28. Runs Dec 3 - 14, start
times vary.
●●Cow Over Moon Children’s Theatre.
Hansel & Gretel. Maja Prentice Theatre
3650 Dixie Road, Missisauga. 905-510-8210
cowovermoon.com. $15; $10(sr/children).
Dec 9 – 14, start times vary.
●●Cow Over Moon Children’s Theatre.
Hansel & Gretel. Red Sandcastle Theatre,
922 Queen E. 905-510-8210 cowovermoon.
com. $15; $10(sr/children). Dec 3 – 7, start
times vary.
●●Hart House. Jesus Christ Superstar. Webber. Hart House, 7 Hart House Circle. 416978-8849 harthouse.ca. $28; $17(sr); $15(st).
Runs Jan 16 – 31, start times vary.
●●Kawartha Concerts / Encore Children’s
Productions. Hansel and Gretel. Metro Youth
Opera. Glenn Crombie Theatre, Fleming College, 200 Albert Street S., Lindsay. 705-8785625. $15; $10(child/youth). 1:30: Pre-concert
event for family. Dec 7 2:30.
●●Living Arts Centre. Rudolph the RedNosed Reindeer. Hammerson Hall, Living Arts
Centre, 4141 Living Arts Drive, Mississauga.
905-306-6000 or 1-888-805-8888 livingartscentre.ca. $45-$60; $36-$48(children).
Dec 14 3:30 and 7:30.
●●Lower Ossington Theatre. Avenue Q.
Lower Ossington Theatre Studio, 100A Ossington Avenue. 416-915-6747 lowerossingtontheatre.com. $50-$60. Runs Dec 4 – 21, start
times vary.
●●Lower Ossington Theatre. Jesus Christ
Superstar. Lower Ossington Theatre Mainstage, 100A Ossington Avenue. 416-915-6747
lowerossingtontheatre.com. $50-$60. Runs
Dec 4 – Jan 24, start times vary.
●●Mirvish Theatre. Jersey Boys. Ed Mirvish
Theatre, 244 Victoria St. 416-872-1212 mirvish.
com. $25-$200. Runs Dec 18 – Jan 4, start
times vary.
●●No Strings Theatre/Toronto Onyx Lions
Club. Amahl and the Night Visitors. St Matthew’s Anglican Church, 875 Queen St E. 416551-2093 nostringstheatre.com. $20; $15(sr/
st/children). Dec 21 3:00 and 7:30.
●●Opera by Request. Così fan tutte. Mozart. Jami-Lynn Gubbe, soprano (Fiordiligi);
Melissa Peiou, mezzo (Dorabella); Andrea
Nunez, soprano (Despina); Jan Nadal, tenor
(Ferrando); Janaka Welihinda, baritone
(Guglielmo); Lawrence Shirkie, bass-baritone (Don Alfonso); William Shookhoff, piano
and music director. College Street United
Church, 452 College St. 416-455-2365. $20.
Feb 07 7:30.
●●Opera by Request. Die Entfuhrung aus
dem Serail. Mozart. Abigail Freeman, soprano (Constanza); Marion Samuel-Stevens,
soprano (Blondchen); Avery Krisman, tenor
(Belmonte); Oliver Dawson, tenor (Pedrillo);
Steven Henrikson, bass-baritone (Osmin);
Gregory Finney, speaker (Selim Pasha);
62 | December 1 2014 - February 7, 2015
651 Dufferin St. 416-922-4415. $25; $20(sr/st).
Jan 30 - Feb 8, start times vary.
●●St. Thomas’s Anglican Church/Poculi
Ludique Societas. A Medieval Christmas:
With Song We Seek Our Saviour. Select plays
from the York Mystery cycle. Larry Beckwith,
conductor. St. Thomas’s Anglican Church,
383 Huron St. 416-978-5096 stthomas.on.ca.
$20; $15(sr); $10(st). Dec 12 (7:30) and 13
(2:30 and 7:30).
●●Tapestry Opera. Tapestry Songbook V.
Ernest Balmer Studio, 55 Mill St. 416-5376066 tapestryopera.com. $25. Jan 24 8:00.
See Section A – GTA Listings for details.
●●The ARTS Project. Stephen Harper: The
Musical or “How To Survive and Thrive In The
Dying Days of the Empire Of Oil.” 203 Dundas
Street, London. 519-642-2767 artsproject.ca.
$15; $10(sr/st/unwaged). Runs Dec 3-6 8:00.
●●Theatre Aquarius. Mary Poppins. Theatre
Aquarius Main Stage, 190 King Williams St.
Hamilton. 905-522-7529 or 1-800-465-7529
theatreaquarius.org. $25-$85. Runs Dec 3 –
28, start times vary.
●●Toronto Masque Theatre. Acis and Galatea. Handel. Teri Dunn, soprano; Lawrence
Wiliford, tenor; Graham Thompson, tenor;
Peter McGillivray, baritone; period orchestra;
members of UofT’s Schola Cantorum; Larry
Beckwith, conductor. Enoch Turner Schoolhouse, 106 Trinity St. 416-410-4561. $50;
$43(sr); $20(under 30). 7:15: pre-show lecture and recital. Jan 15 – 17, 8:00.
William Shookhoff, piano and music director.
College Street United Church, 452 College St.
416-455-2365. $20. Jan 24 7:30.
●●Opera by Request. Humperdinck: Hansel and Gretel. Sarah Helmers, mezzo (Hansel); Brittany Stewart, soprano (Gretel); Roz
McArthur, mezzo (Witch); Austin Larusson,
baritone (Father); and others; William Shookhoff, piano/music director. College Street
United Church, 452 College St. 416-455-2365.
$20. Dec 7 3:00.
●●Opera by Request. Zarzuela: Luisa Fernanda. Torroba. Karla Berganza, soprano (Luisa Fernanda); Pablo Benitez, tenor
(Javier); Tsu-ching Yu, soprano (Carolina);
Marco Petracchi, baritone (Vidal); Jenny
Cohen, mezzo (Rosa); Larry Tozer, baritone
(Nogales); Margaret Bardos, mezzo (Mariana); Jeannette Burgos, actor (Anibal); William Shookhoff, piano and music director.
College Street United Church, 452 College St.
416-455-2365. $20. Dec 10 3:00.
●●Opera by Request/Nordic Opera Canada.
Princess and the Pea (Prinsessen paa Aerten). Enna. Steven Henrikson, baritone (King
Julius); Jason Lamont, tenor (Prince Basilius);
Brigitte Bogar, soprano (Princess Ilse/Queen
Gertrud); Nicole Malcolm, soprano (Princess
Gudrun); Sven Ericson, baritone (Master-atArms); Nordic Opera Canada Chorus, Brigitte
Bogar, conductor; William Shookhoff, piano
and music director. College Street United
Church, 452 College St. 416-455-2365. $20.
Jan 11 3:00.
●●Randolph Academy For The Performing
Arts. Curtains. A Musical Comedy Whodunit.
Annex Theatre, 736 Bathurst Street. 416 924
2243 randolphacademy.com. $26.75. Runs
Dec 2-6, start times vary.
●●Ross Petty Productions. Cinderella. The
rags to riches family musical. Ross Petty
(Evil Step-Mother); Danielle Wade (Cinderella); Dan Chameroy (Plumbum); Eddie Glen
(Buttons); Jeff Lillico (Max Charming). Elgin
Theatre, 189 Yonge St. 1-855-599-9090 rosspetty.com. $34-$83; $34-$66(under 12).
Runs Dec 4 - Jan 4, start times vary.
●●Roy Thomson Hall and Attila Glatz Concert
Productions. Bravissimo! Opera’s Greatest
Hits. New Year’s Eve Celebration, all before
10pm. Music by Puccini, Verdi, Rossini, Offenbach and other composers, from La Traviata,
Aida, Carmen, La Bohème and more. Natalia
Ushakova, soprano; Viktoria Vizin, mezzo soprano; Andreas Schager, tenor; Brett Polegato,
baritone; Opera Canada Symphony; Opera
Canada Chorus; Francesco Lanzillotta, conductor. Roy Thomson Hall, 60 Simcoe St. 416872-4255. $65-$155. All before 10pm. Dec 31
7:00.
●●Sheridan Theatre. Hello Dolly. Herman. Sheridan College of Technology and
Advanced Learning, 1430 Trafalgar Rd, Oakville. 905-815-4049 sheridancollege.ca. $25;
$22.50(sr); $20(alumni). Runs Dec 2 to 7,
start times vary.
●●Sheridan Theatre. Little Women. Howland. Sheridan College of Technology and
Advanced Learning, 1430 Trafalgar Rd, Oakville. 905-815-4049 sheridancollege.ca. $25;
$22.50(sr); $20(alumni). Runs Dec 2 to 7,
start times vary.
●●St. Anne’s Music & Drama Society. Gilbert
& Sullivan’s The Mikado. Laura Schatz/Brian
Farrow, directors. St. Anne’s Parish Hall,
●●Toronto Operetta Theatre. The Mikado.
Gilbert and Sullivan. Joseph Angelo (Ko-Ko);
Lucia Cesaroni (Yum-Yum); Adrian Kramer
(Nanki-poo); Mia Lennox (Katisha); David Ludwig (Poo Bah); Giles Tomkins (Mikado); Derek
Bate, conductor. Jane Mallett Theatre, St.
Lawrence Centre for the Arts, 27 Front St.
E. 416-366-7723 or 1-800-708-6754 torontooperetta.com. $72-$95. Runs Dec 27 – Jan 4,
start times vary.
●●Toronto Symphony Orchestra. Masterworks: William Tell Opera-in-Concert - Turin
Royal Theatre. Roy Thomson Hall, 60 Simcoe
St. 416-593-4828. $33-$145. Dec 5 7:00. See
Section A: GTA Listings for details.
●●University of Toronto Faculty of Music/
Campbell House Museum. Footsteps in
Campbell House: Opera Student Composer
Collective. Museum tour. Libretto by Michael
Patrick Albano. Campbell House Museum,
160 Queen Street W. 416-597-0227x2. $20.
Jan 30 to Feb 1, start times vary.
●●VOICEBOX: Opera in Concert. Street
Scene. Weill. Allison Angelo, soprano; Jennifer Taverner, soprano; Colin Ainsworth,
tenor; VOICEBOX Chorus; Robert Cooper,
conductor. Jane Mallett Theatre, St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts, 27 Front St. E. 416366-7723 or 1-800-708-6754 operainconcert.
com. $52-$73. Feb 1 2:30.
D. In the Clubs (Mostly Jazz)
The following contains only the listings for the month of December 2014. To be
notified of the January “In The Clubs” listings follow us on Twitter (@thewholenote), like us on Facebook (facebook.com/likethewholenote) or sign up for
HalfTones, our mid-month newsletter, at thewholenote.com.
120 Diner
120 Church St. 416-792-7725
102diner.com (full schedule)
80 Gladstone
80 Gladstone Ave. 416-516-7199
80gladstone.com (full schedule)
Alleycatz
2409 Yonge St. 416-481-6865
alleycatz.ca
All shows: 9pm unless otherwise indicated.
Call for cover.
Every Mon 8pm Salsa Night w/ Frank Bischun
and free lessons. Every Tue 8:30pm Bachata
Night w/ DJ Frank Bischun and free lessons.
Every Wed 8:30pm Carlo Berardinucci Band.
No Cover. December 5, 12, 13, 19, 20, 26,
27 Lady Kane. December 6 Taxi. December
18 Shahi Teruko Band.
Annette Studios
566 Annette St. 647-880-8378
annettestudios.com
Every Mon 9:30pm Jazz Jam w/ Nick Morgan
Quartet. Suggested donation $12/$9(st).
Artword Artbar
15 Colbourne St., Hamilton. 905-543-8512
artword.net (full schedule)
December 13 8pm Hamilton Dixieland AllStars Christmas Special: Frank Musico
(trumpet), Don Templeton (trombone), Don
Hall (clarinet), Matt Kennedy (piano), Jimmy
Howard (bass), Steve Wilson (drums).
Axis Gallery and Grill
3048 Dundas St. W 416-604-3333
axisgalleryandgrill.com (full schedule)
All shows: No cover/PWYC
Blakbird, The
812b Bloor St. West 647-344-7225
theblakbird.com/ (full schedule)
Every Tue 8pm Night Bird Vocal JAZ Jam Session with the Kayla Ramu Quartet. December
3, 10, 17 8pm “Tresor Otshudi”: R&B Soukouss
and French Cabaret Music. December 5
10pm Overfunk’d – James vs. Fela DJ. December 6pm Sonia Aimy. Lazursuzan 8pm Lazursuzan. December 13 9pm Turbo Street Funk.
December 14, 28 8pm Clifton Joseph presents: Negus and the Platinum Records Crew.
December 18 8pm Harry Vetro Trio. December 19 8pm Janel Jones Quartet. December
20, 27 8pm YX Projekt.
Bloom
2315 Bloor St. W. 416-767-1315
bloomrestaurant.com
All shows: No minors. Call for reservations.
December 11 7pm Mike Downes Trio $45
(with dinner).
Boat Restaurant, The
158 Augusta Ave. 416-593-9218
theboatkensington.com (full schedule)
December 2 7:30pm A Kensington Bohemian Cabaret with Guy Moreau (voice),
Jordan Klapman (keyboards), Carrie Chestnutt (saxophone), Kevin Barrett (guitar)
$15(adv)/$20(door). December 19 7:30pm
thewholenote.com
Taste of Motown with The Barrymores.
Castro’s Lounge
2116e Queen St. E 416-699-8272
castroslounge.com (full schedule)
All shows: No cover/PWYC
Every Wed 6pm The Mediterranean Stars.
Every Saturday 4:30 Big Rude Jake.
C’est What
67 Front St. E (416) 867-9499
cestwhat.com (full schedule)
December 6, 20 3pm The Boxcar Boys No
cover/PWYC. December 13 3pm The Hot Five
Jazzmakers No cover/PWYC.
Chalkers Pub, Billiards & Bistro
Classico Pizza & Pasta
2457 Bloor St. W 416-763-1313
classicopizza.com (Full schedule)
DeSotos
1079 St. Clair Ave. W 416-651-2109
desotos.ca (Full schedule)
Every Sun 11am-2pm Sunday Live Jazz
Brunch hosted by Anthony Abbatangeli No
Cover.
Dominion on Queen
500 Queen St. E 416-368-6893
dominiononqueen.com (full schedule)
Call for cover charge info.
Emmet Ray, The
924 College St. 416-792-4497
theemmetray.com (full schedule)
All shows: No Cover/PWYC
December 4 9pm John Wayne Swingtet:
Alexander Tikhonov (clarinet), Wayne Nakamura (guitar), Abbey Sholzberg (bass), John
Farrell (guitar).
Flying Beaver Pubaret, The
488 Parliament St. 647-347-6567
pubaret.com (full schedule)
Free Times Cafe
320 College St. 416-967-1078
freetimescafe.com (full schedule)
Gate 403
403 Roncesvalles Ave. 416-588-2930
gate403.com All shows: PWYC.
December 1 5pm Mike Daley Jazz Trio; 9pm
Chloé Watkinson Jazz Band. December 2
5pm Chris Platt Trio; 9pm Danny Marks and
Alec Fraser Duo. December 3 5pm Howard Willett Blues Duo; 9pm Julian Fauth Blues
Night. December 4 5pm Roberta Hunt Jazz
& Blues Band; 9pm Mélanie Brûlée’s Band.
December 5 5pm Annie Bonsignore Jazz
Duo or Trio; 9pm Tevlin Swing Band. December 6 5pm Bill Heffernan and His Friends;
9pm Donné Roberts Band. December 7
5pm Carter Brodkorb Jazz Quintet; 9pm
Ken Kawashima: Sugar Brown Blues Band.
December 8 5pm Mason Victoria Jazz Trio;
9pm Rob Davis Blues Duo. December 9 5pm
Jazzforia feat. Clarie Riley; 9pm Danny Marks
thewholenote.com
All Over the Place
ORI DAGAN
Steve Amirault
ORI DAGAN
247 Marlee Ave. 416-789-2531
chalkerspub.com (full schedule)
Every Wed 8pm-+midnight Girls Night Out
Jazz Jam w/ host Lisa Particelli. PWYC.
Saturday Dinner Jazz Series. All shows 6pm
December 6 Dave Young Quartet. December
13 Robi Botos Trio. December 20 Brian Chahley Quartet. $15 Artist Fee.
Beat by Beat | Mainly Clubs, Mostly Jazz!
and Alec Fraser Duo. December 10 5pm Paul
O’Conner: Concord Jazz Quintet; 9pm Julian
Fauth Blues Night. December 11 5pm Roger
Chong Jazz Band; 9pm Kevin Laliberté Jazz &
Flamenco Trio. December 12 5pm Doc. Barrister Jazz Band; 9pm Denielle Bassels Jazz
Band. December 13 5pm Bill Heffernan and
His Friends; 9pm Sweet Derrick Blues Band.
December 14 5pm Ejay: Motown/Soul/R&B/
Funk Band; 9pm Root Down Trio. December 15 5pm Ashley St. Pierre Jazz Band; 9pm
The Sleaper Group. December 16 5pm Leigh
Graham Jazz Duo; 9pm Danny Marks and
Alec Fraser Duo. December 17 5pm Danny B
and Brian Gauci Blues Duo; 9pm Julian Fauth
Blues Night. December 18 5pm G Street Jazz
Trio; 9pm Annie Bonsignore Jazz Duo or Trio.
December 19 5pm Whitney Ross-Barris Jazz
Band; 9pm Fraser Melvin Blues Band. December 20 5pm Bill Heffernan and His Friends;
9pm Juno Award Winner: Brownman Akoustic Trio. December 21 5pm The Gypsy Rebels;
9pm Cyndi Carleton Jazz & Swing Band.
December 22 5pm Everloin Jugband; 9pm
Bruce Chapman Blues Duo. December 27
5pm Felix Wong Jazz Trio; 9pm Lisa Hutchinson Blues Quartet. December 28 5pm
David Buchbinder Jazz Band; 9pm Alex Maksymiw Jazz Trio. December 29 7pm Cheryl
White Rhythm & Blues Band. December 30
5pm Lawrence Cotton Jazz Duo; 9pm Danny
Marks and Alec Fraser Duo. December 31
9pm Fraser Melvin Blues Band.
P
ianist Steve Amirault is a welcome addition to the Toronto music
scene. The critically acclaimed Acadia- born musician has been
based in Montreal for most of his career; he also lived in New
York City from 1990 to 1993 where he worked with Dave Liebman,
Sheila Jordan, Eddie Henderson, Joe Chambers and Eddie Gomez. In
this country he has had the pleasure of working with Ingrid Jensen,
Christine Jensen, Kirk MacDonald, Mike Murley, Seamus Blake and
countless others; and since September of 2014 he has been happy to
make Toronto his new home, already having performed at Jazz Bistro,
The Rex, as well as the Savoury Sweet restaurant in Niagara Falls and
the Jazz Room in Waterloo.
“I love it here and have found the scene, fans and musicians very
welcoming,” says Amirault.
Known primarily as a pianist with an energetic, thoughtful style, in
the past decade he has added vocals to his act, revealing a smooth and
sensitive vocal instrument.
“I sang a lot of pop and rock music in high school, but when I
went to the University of St. Francis, I put singing aside and concentrated on the piano. Then in my early 30s I became interested in vocal
music and I started writing lyrics. It seemed natural to put words to
my music and I have always thought myself to be more of a songwriter
than jazz composer. I wasn’t planning on becoming a singer, but about
seven years ago I started singing one song per set on my shows, to
see how it felt, and fell in love with it. I recorded my first vocal CD,
One Existence, a few years ago, and I’m now preparing a standards
recording.“
On December 11 at 8pm Steve Amirault will perform a solo show at
Toronto’s most intimate venue, Musideum.
“I’ll play a mix of original pieces, both vocal and instrumental,
and some new arrangements of standards that will be on my next
recording. I’m really looking forward to playing my music in this
lovely space.”
There’s no mistaking that soulful vocalist Sacha Williamson sings
directly from her heart, taking listeners on a journey that is frequently
spiritual and always expressive. While one can hear jazz, blues and
R&B in her delivery, Williamson’s original sound mixes contemporary
traditions including new soul, hip hop and electronica. On Sunday
December 7 at Hugh’s Room, Williamson celebrates the release of her
latest collection of originals.
“I’m all over the place but I think it blends nicely,” she says. “One
song is a down tempo soul tune that goes into a bossa nova…another
one starts with hip hop beats with Billie Holiday-esque vocals on top.
It’s called Love Life and these songs are all about elements of my love
life and places I’ve been in love – everything from the joy and the heat
Grossman’s Tavern
379 Spadina Ave. 416-977-7000
grossmanstavern.com (full schedule)
All shows: No cover (unless otherwise noted.)
December 1 10pm No Band Required. December 2 9:30pm Ms. Debbie & the Don Valley Stompers. December 3 9:30pm Bruce
Domoney.
Habits Gastropub
928 College St. 416-533-7272
habitsgastropub.com (full schedule)
December 4 9pm Wonderfest PWYC ($10
suggested). December 6 9pm Jessica Blake
& the Dinner Club $10.
Harlem Restaurant
67 Richmond St. E. 416-368-1920
harlemrestaurant.com (full schedule)
All shows: 7:30-11pm (unless otherwise
noted.) Call for cover charge info.
December 5 Zimzum. December 6 Liz Loughrey & Adrian X. December 12 Neil Brathwaite.
December 13 Kristen Fung. December
19 Jazz Lovers Society. December 27 Gyles.
Hirut Cafe and Restaurant
2050 Danforth Ave. 416-551-7560
All shows: PWYC / $5 / $10
Every Sun 3pm Open Mic with Nicola
Vaughan: folk/country/jazz/world/R&B.
December 2, 23 8pm Finger Style Guitar
Association. December 3 8pm The Best Originals: Singer/Songrwriter/Spoken Word
Competition.
Home Smith Bar – See Old Mill, The
Hugh’s Room
2261 Dundas St. W. 416-531-6604
hughsroom.com
All shows: 8:30pm (unless otherwise noted).
December 1 Holly Days – Luke McMaster
$20(adv)/$25(door). December 2 10am
December 1 2014 - February 7, 2015 | 63
MICHELLE HAZELL
Beat by Beat | Mainly Clubs, Mostly Jazz!
In addition to Butcher’s busy performance schedule he hosts Dig!
On CIUT 89.5FM every Wednesday from 12 to 2pm.
“The show is largely geared as a jazz show but I have an eclectic
taste and deep love for many styles of music so expect to hear
anything I’ve been digging on lately. I try and keep the show very
connected to the Toronto scene on the ground level. That means you’re
going to hear tracks by local artists or people coming to town before
they’re released and before the big radio boys in town are playing
them. I also have artists in for interviews and features at least on a
weekly basis. This means you may hear a renowned musician with
an international following like Elizabeth Shepherd or Adonis Puentes
or you may hear a local guy like James McEleney, the bassist in my
quartet, down playing tracks and talking music. You can tune in
worldwide at ciut.fm.”
Speaking of James McEleney, he just let me know of an exciting
weekly residency he has been enjoying with The Breakemen Trio for
the past few months in Toronto’s west end, Thursday nights at the
Passenger located at 2968 Dundas Street West.
The Breakemen Trio is chordless: Bobby Hsu on saxophone, James
McEleney on bass and Sly Juhas on drums.
“I have an affinity for this formation,” says McEleney, “because of
classic Sonny Rollins recordings like
Way Out West and Live at the Village
Vanguard, Toronto’s own Time Warp
(which is now a quartet but still
without chords) and as I player I find
it feels very open and free.”
Of his sidemen, McEleney says:
“I work in a variety of settings with
Bobby Hsu including his group A
Sondheim Jazz Project. He and I have
very similar tastes in music and he
is well-versed in the world of chordless trios, in particular the aforementioned Sonny Rollins records. Sly
Juhas is a no-brainer for this gig. He
swings, he has very focused ideas and
has a way of pushing everybody’s playing up to a higher level. In the
past year or so the three of us started to get together regularly to play
tunes and work out some musical ideas so we’ve been really excited to
share our work. Any day where I get to play music with these two is a
great day.”
The Passenger is an intimate space with a cool vibe, great food
including some late night snacks, a special cocktail menu and a wide
selection of craft beer. There’s no cover for this series, which they call
“The J-Train.” Join the Breakemen Trio at The Passenger on a Thursday
night for some jazz in the Junction.
Sacha Williamson
of it, to anger and
the uncertainty of
a relationship.”
With music
that often relies
on extensive
production, one
of Williamson’s
challenges is
in translating
it into a live
performance.
“You need to
have a very highly skilled band – and my thing is with this kind of
music I need to have a pianist who definitely knows more than one
kind of genre – he needs to know Odyssey Arp and 808 sounds –
synth sounds – I guess you can say he needs to have gone through the
Herbie Hancock school.”
Joining Sacha Williamson at Hugh’s Room on December 7 will
be keys wiz Michael Shand, along with bassist Andrew Stewart and
drummer Maxwell Roach.
Trombonist Chris Butcher
keeps himself busy with a
variety of projects these days,
including the Heavyweights
Brass Band, The Lula All Stars,
Changui Havana, Roberto
Linares Brown, as well as
his own quartet, which just
wrapped up a residency at the
Bellwoods Brewery. This month
he is excited about playing a
gig with Jay Douglas and his
All Stars featuring the patriarch of Jamaican jazz, 82-yearChris Butcher (trombone)
old Ernest Ranglin, who was
Bob Marley’s guitar teacher as well as one of the most prolific record
producers in Jamaica’s history.
“The last time he was in town he played the main stage of the
Luminato Festival on the week of his 80th birthday,” remembers
Butcher. “Age has not slowed him down and he is still a pervasive and
individual voice on the guitar.”
Ranglin, along with Jay Douglas and his All Stars, will perform
an afternoon Sunday Jam at Seven44 (formerly the Chick’n Deli) on
December 14 at 4pm. Tickets are $50 at the door or $40 in advance
and can also be purchased at Henry’s Records in Scarborough,
130 Shorting Road, or at Crasher and O’Neil Barbershop at 169
Eglinton Ave. W.
Ori Dagan is a Toronto-based jazz musician, writer and
educator who can be reached at oridagan.com.
D. In the Clubs (Mostly Jazz)
Toronto Ravel $15; 8:30pm Ron Hynes
& Friends – CD Re-Release – Standing in
Line in the Rain $27.50(adv)/$30(door).
December 3 8pm The 2014/15 JAZZ.
FM91 Songwriters Series – A Kosher Christmas $39(general)/$35(students)/$135
(subscription). December 4 Rant Maggie Rant – Frost & Fire: A Celtic Christmas Celebration $25(adv)/$27.50(door).
December 5 Rik Emmett with Dave Dunlop $35(adv)/$40(door). December 6 The
Arrogant Worms $30(adv)/$35(door).
December 7 Sacha Williamson CD
Release: “Love Life” $18(adv)/$20(door).
December 8 Stringband’s Bob Bossin & Marie-Lynn Hammond: Together
Again $20(adv)/$22.50(door).
December 9 Al Tuck and No Action
$17.50(adv)/$20(door). December 10 Steve
64 | December 1 2014 - February 7, 2015
Bell CD Release: “Pilgrimage” (Solo Show)
$20(adv)/$22.50(door). December 12 The
Foggy Hogtown Boys CD Release: “Animals,
Insects and People” $22.50(adv)/$25(door).
December 13 Paul DesLauriers Band & Chris
Antonik $30(adv)/$32.50(door). December
14 Sharon Robinson $25(adv)/$30(door).
December 16 John McDermott & Special
Guests $45(adv)/$50(door). December 17
A Quartette Christmas $42(adv)/$47(door).
December 18 Ladies in Waiting CD Release:
“Jingle Ma Belle” $20(adv)/$22.50(door).
December 19 Kevin Kane (of The Grapes
of Wrath) & Bryan Potvin (of The Northern Pikes) $20(adv)/$22.50(door). December 20 Craig Cardiff $20(adv)/$22.50(door).
December 21 1pm The Ault Sisters Celebrate the Season Concert – Matinee Performance $20(adv)/$22.50(door) children
under 12: $10(adv)/$12(door); 8:30pm
Dr. Draw $40(adv)/$45(door). December 22, 23 Have a Bluesy Christmas
$25(adv)/$30(door). December 27 8am
Don Ross $30(adv)/$32.50(door). December 28 Suzie Vinnick $22.50(adv)/$25(door).
December 30 The Fred Eaglesmith Travelling
Steam Show $35(adv)/$40(door). December 31 9:30pm Chris Whiteley & Diana Braithewaite – New Year’s Eve Extravaganza
$45(adv)/$50(door).
Jazz Bistro, The
251 Victoria St. 416-363-5299
jazzbistro.ca
December 2 8pm Matt Lagan (saxophone)
Quartet with Ewen Farncombe (piano), Holt
Stuart-Hitchcox (bass), Louis Baranyi-Irvine
(drums) $10. December 6 9pm An Evening
with Robi Botos $20. December 7 12pm
“Sundays in New York” Brunch with Micah
Barnes and his Trio $15; 7pm Sunday Cabaret with Glenda del E (piano) featuring Juan
Pablo Dominguez (bass), Ahmed Mitchel
(drums) $15. December 9 8pm Paula Gardin “Two of Cups” CD Release: Paula Gardin
(voice), Nancy Walker (piano), Kieran Overs
(bass), Steve Heathcote (drums) Kirk MacDonald (saxophone) $15. December 10 9pm
Cocktails and Candy Canes $10. December
11 9pm Natasha Buckeridge (voice) Quartet with Chris Tsujiuchi (piano), Jeff Deegan
(bass), Robin Claxton (drums) $15. December
13 9pm Ori Dagan (voice) Quartet with Dave
Restivo (piano), Jordan O’Connor (bass), Sly
Juhas (drums) $15. December 14 12pm “Sundays in New York” Brunch with Micah Barnes
thewholenote.com
and his Trio $15; 7pm Sam Broverman Presents: “A Jewish Boy’s Christmas”: Sam
Broverman (voice), Peter Hill (piano), Jordan O’Connor (bass), featuring Whitney RossBarris (voice) and members of the Toronto
Mendelssohn Choir $15. December 16 8pm
The Woodhouse “Home for Christmas” CD
Release: Jennah Barry (voice), Nevin Dunn
(saxophone), James Ervin (trumpet), Matt
Giffin (piano), Soren Nissen (bass), Will Fisher
(drums) $15. December 19, 20 9pm Mark
Eisenman (piano) Quartet with Kelly Jefferson (saxophone), Neil Swainson (bass), Morgan Childs (drums) $15. December 21 12pm
“Sundays in New York” Brunch with Micah
Barnes and his Trio $15; 7pm Sunday Cabaret: Rita’s Parlour: Rita di Ghent (voice, piano),
Mike Daley (guitar), Rich Brisco (drums) $15.
December 27 9pm Chris Gale (saxophone)
Quartet with Amanda Tosoff (piano), Jon
Maharaj (bass), Joel Haynes (drums) $15.
December 28 12pm “Sundays in New York”
Brunch with Micah Barnes and his Trio $15;
7pm Sunday Cabaret with hisaka: hisaka
(voice), Mark Kieswetter (piano), George
Koller (bass), Davide DiRenzo (drums) $20.
December 31 New Year’s Eve at Jazz Bistro
with Soul Stew $150 (with dinner).
Jazz Room, The
Located in the Huether Hotel, 59 King St. N.,
Waterloo. 226-476-1565
kwjazzroom.com (full schedule)
All shows: 8:30-11:30. Attendees must be 19+.
December 5 Mary-Catherine Quartet: MaryCatherine McNinch-Pazzano (voice), Don
Buchanan (piano), Mike Grace (bass), Steve
James (drums) $15. December 6 Boom For
Rent: Chris Gale (saxophone), Reg Schwager
(guitar), Brendan Davis (bass), Ted Warren
(drums) $16. December 7 4pm Kirk MacDonald and Harold Mabern – Special Duo presentation $20/$10(st). December 12 Randy Lyght
Band $20. December 13 Mark Eisenman
Trio $16. December 14 Tom Nagy Christmas
Experience – “The Ghost of Christmas Specials Past”: Derek Hines (voice), Rob Gellner
(trumpet), Jason White (piano), Don McDougall (drums), Tom Nagy (bass) $15. December 26 Michael Dunston Sings the Music of
Donny Hathaway, with the Dave Young Sextet:
Michael Dunston (voice), Dave Young (bass),
Kevin Turcotte (trumpet), Bernie Senensky
(piano), Brian Legere (guitar), Mark Kelso
(drums), Perry White (saxophone). December 27 Jason White (piano) with Joe Ryan
(drums) and Paul VanDyk (bass) $19.
Joe Mama’s
317 King St. W 416-340-6469
joemamas.ca
Every Tue 6pm Jeff Eager. Every Wed 6pm
Thomas Reynolds & Geoff Torrn. Every Thurs
9pm Blackburn. Every Fri 10pm The Grind.
Every Sat 10pm Shugga. Every Sun 6:30pm
Organic: Nathan Hiltz (guitar); Bernie
Senensky (organ); Ryan Oliver (sax), Morgan
Childs (drums).
KAMA
214 King St. W. 416-599-5262
kamaindia.com (full schedule)
All shows: 5-8pm.
December 11 Steve McDade (trumpet, flugelhorn) with Lorne Lofsky (guitar). December
18 Bob DeAngelis (clarinet, saxophone) with
John Sherwood (piano).
thewholenote.com
Local Gest, The
Morgans on the Danforth
424 Parliament St. 416-961-9425 (call for concert schedule)
Jazz Sundays 4:30-7:30pm. No Cover.
December 7 Joanne Morra (voice) Trio with
Jeff Hewer (guitar), Rachel Melas (bass).
1282 Danforth Ave. 416-461-3020
morgansonthedanforth.com (full schedule)
All shows: 2-5pm, no cover.
December 7 Lara Solnicki and Ted Quinlan.
December 14 The Shannon Butcher Duo.
December 21 Boom for Rent. December
28 Lisa Particelli’s “Girls’ Night Out East” Jam
featuring Mark Kieswetter on piano.
Lula Lounge
1585 Dundas St. W. 416-588-0307
lula.ca (full schedule)
December 5 7:30pm Max Sennit Trio Free
before 8pm; 10:30pm Café Cubano $15
(Free for ladies before 10pm). December 6
10:30pm Conjunto Lacalu $15. December 7
8pm The Big Band Tap Revue $20. December 12 7:30pm Tribute to Antonio Carlos
Jobim with The Victor Monsivais Quartet
Free before 8pm. December 12 10:30pm Yani
Borrell $15 (Free for ladies before 10pm).
December 13 10:30pm Tipica Toronto $15.
December 19 7:30 Eliana Cuevas Trio Free
before 8pm. December 19 10:30pm Changui
Havana $15 (Free for ladies before 10pm).
December 20 10:30pm Orquesta Fantasia
$15. December 26 7:30pm Guaracha y Son
Free before 8pm; 10:30pm Havana Norte with
Roberto Linares Brown and special guest
Jane Bunnett $15. December 27 10:30pm
Ricky Franco $15. December 28 8pm Gary
Morgan Panamericana with Hilario Duran
$20. December 31 10:30pm New Year’s
Eve Salsa Party with The Lula All Stars $35
(includes champagne and dance lesson).
Musideum
401 Richmond St. W., Main Floor
416-599-7323
musideum.com (Full schedule)
December 3 8pm Jonathan Feldman $20.
December 7 8pm Steve Koven & Jayson Dale
$20. December 9 8pm Sunday Wilde $20.
December 11 8pm Steve Amirault $20.
Nawlins Jazz Bar & Dining
299 King St. W. 416-595-1958
nawlins.ca
All shows: No cover/PWYC
Every Tue 6:30pm Stacie McGregor. Every
Wed 7pm Jim Heineman Trio. Every Thu 8pm
Nothin’ But the Blues w/ guest vocalists.
Every Fri 8:30pm All Star Bourbon St. Band.
Every Sat 6:30pm Sam Heinman 9pm All Star
Bourbon St. Band. Every Sun 7pm Brooke
Blackburn.
Nice Bistro, The
117 Brock St. N., Whitby. 905-668-8839
nicebistro.com (full schedule)
Manhattans Pizza Bistro & Music Club
Old Mill, The
951 Gordon St., Guelph 519-767-2440
manhattans.ca (full schedule)
All shows: PWYC
December 2, 16, 30 Brad Halls. December 9 Carmen Spada. December 17 Jokela
& Vogan feat. Charlie Cooley CD Release.
December 10 John Zadro. December
13 Bernie Senensky Trio. December 18 Jazz/
Funk Trio. December 19 Soulphonic. December 20 Steve Koven Trio. December 26 Jason
Raso Funktet. December 27 Paul Taylor Duo.
21 Old Mill Rd. 416-236-2641
oldmilltoronto.com
The Home Smith Bar: No Reservations. No
Cover. $20 food/drink minimum. All shows:
7:30-10:30pm
December 4 June Garber (voice) Quartet
with Mark Kieswetter (piano), John Johnson (saxophone), Pat Collins (bass). December 5 David Occhipinti (guitar) Trio with
Soren Nissen (bass), Ian Wright (drums).
December 6 Bruce Cassidy (trumpet, flugelhorn, EVI) Trio with Tom Szczesniak (piano,
bass), Pat Collins (guitar, bass). December
11 Sophia Perlman (voice) & Adrean Farrugia (piano) Quartet with Ross MacIntyre
(bass), Jeff Halischuk (drums). December
12 MRYIAD3 with Chris Donnelly (piano),
Dan Fortin (bass), Ernesto Cervini (drums).
December 13 Dave Field (bass) Trio with
David Braid (piano), Kelly Jefferson (saxophone). November 15 Fern Lindzon (voice,
piano) Trio with George Koller (bass), Nick
Fraser (drums). December 19 Gord Sheard
(piano) Trio with George Koller (bass), Mark
Kelso (drums). December 20 Genevieve
Marentette (voice) Trio with Mark Kieswetter (piano), George Koller (bass). December
31 8:30pm-12:30am Annual New Year’s Eve
Jazz Party with Alex Pangman and her Alleycats: Alex Pangman (voice), Ross Wooldridge
(clarinet, saxophone), Peter Hill (piano), Chris
Banks (bass), Glenn Anderson (drums) $125
(with reservations).
Mezzetta Restaurant
681 St. Clair Ave. W 416-658-5687
mezzettarestaurant.com (full schedule)
All shows: 9pm, $8 unless otherwise noted.
December 3 Klezmology: Jonno Lightstone
(clarinet), David Mott (sax). December 10
8pm Flamenco performance: Dino Toledo
(guitar), Fernando Gallego (voice) No cover.
December 17 David Young (bass), Robi Botos
(piano).
Monarch Tavern
12 Clinton St. 416-531-5833
themonarchtavern.com (full schedule)
December 8 7:30pm Martin Loomer & His
Orange Devils Orchestra $10.
Monarchs Pub
At the Eaton Chelsea Hotel
33 Gerrard St. W. 416-585-4352
monarchspub.ca (full schedule)
All shows: 8pm-midnight. No Cover.
December 3 The Robin Banks Quartet. December 4 The Swingin’ Blackjacks. December 10 The Vipers. December
11 The 24th Street Wailers. December 17 The
Melissa Lauren Quartet. December 18 Irene
Torres and the Sugar Devils.
Paintbox Bistro
555 Dundas St. E. 647-748-0555
paintboxbistro.ca (Full schedule)
Painted Lady, The
218 Ossington Ave. 647-213-5239
thepaintedlady.ca (full schedule)
Pilot Tavern, The
22 Cumberland Ave. 416-923-5716
thepilot.ca All shows: 3:30pm. No Cover.
December 6 Sugar Daddies. December
13 Dave Young Quartet. December 20 Jake
Koffman Quartet. December 27 Brian Chahley Quartet.
Poetry Jazz Café
224 Augusta Ave. 416-599-5299
poetryjazzcafe.com (full schedule)
Reposado Bar & Lounge
136 Ossington Ave. 416-532-6474
reposadobar.com (full schedule)
December 3 9:30pm Spy vs. Sly vs. Spy.
December 4, 5 10pm Reposadists Quartet.
December 6 9:30pm Bradley & the Bouncers.
December 7 9pm James Robertson Trio.
Reservoir Lounge, The
52 Wellington St. E. 416-955-0887
reservoirlounge.com (full schedule).
Every Tue 9:45pm Tyler Yarema and his
Rhythm. Every Wed 9:45pm Bradley and the
Bouncers. Every Thu 9:45pm Mary McKay.
Every Fri 9:45pm Dee Dee and the Dirty Martinis. Every Sat 9:45pm Tyler Yarema and his
Rhythm.
Rex Hotel Jazz & Blues Bar, The
194 Queen St. W. 416-598-2475
therex.ca (full schedule)
Call for cover charge info.
December 1 6:30pm University of Toronto
Student Jazz Ensembles; 9:30pm N.O.J.O. –
Neufeld/Occhipinti Jazz Orchestra. December 2 6:30pm Richard Whiteman Group;
9:30pm Classic Rex Jam hosted by Chris
Gale. December 3 9:30 New York’s Huntertones. December 4 6:30pm Laura Hubert
Band; 9:30 David Buchbinder. December 5 4pm Hogtown Syncopaters; 6:30pm
Sara Dell; 9:45 Alex Pangman. December 6
12pm Danny Marks & Friends; 3:30 Swing
Shift Big Band; 7:30pm Nick Teehan Group;
9:45 Michael Herring. December 7 12pm
Hart House/Jazz FM Youth; 3:30pm Club
Django; 7pm Brian de Lima Quartet; 9:30pm
Sean Bray Quartet. December 8 6:30pm
University of Toronto Student Jazz Ensembles; 9:30pm Michael Brooker & MB10.
December 9 6:30pm Richard Whiteman
Group; 9:30pm Classic Rex Jam hosted by
Chris Gale. December 10 6:30 Jim Gelcer
Groups; 9:30 The Woodhouse CD Release.
December 11 6:30pm Laura Hubert Band;
9:30 Michael Dunston’s Donny Hathaway
Tribute. December 12 4pm Hogtown Syncopaters; 6:30pm Sara Dell; 9:45 Eliana Cuevas. December 13 12pm Danny Marks &
Friends; 3:30 Tonight @ Noon; 7:30pm Nick
Teehan Group; 9:45 Steve Koven’s Project
Rex. December 14 12pm Excelsior Dixieland Jazz; 3:30pm Red Hot Ramble; 7pm
Brian de Lima Quartet; 9:30pm Random
Access. December 15 6:30pm Jake Koffman Groups; 9:30pm John Cheeseman Jazz
Orchestra. December 16 6:30pm Richard
Whiteman Group; 9:30pm Classic Rex Jam
hosted by Calgary’s John Reid. December 17
6:30 Jim Gelcer Groups; 9:30 Larnell Lewis.
December 18 6:30pm Laura Hubert Band;
9:30 Aaron Shragge’s The Music of Tom
Waits. December 19 4pm Hogtown Syncopaters; 6:30pm Sara Dell; 9:45 Dave Young.
December 20 12pm Danny Marks & Friends;
December 1 2014 - February 7, 2015 | 65
D. In the Clubs (Mostly Jazz)
3:30 Jerome Godboo; 7:30pm Nick Teehan
Group; 9:45 Jake Chisholm. December 21
12pm Excelsior Dixieland Jazz; 3:30pm Dr.
Nick & the Rollercoasters; 7pm Brian de Lima
Quartet; 9:30pm James Brown. December
22 6:30pm Jake Koffman Groups; 9:30pm
Mike Malone & The Writers Jazz Orchestra. December 23 6:30pm Richard Whiteman Group; 9:30pm Classic Rex Jam hosted
by Chris Gale. December 27 12pm Danny
Marks & Friends; 3:30pm The Sinners Choir;
7:30pm Nick Teehan Group; 9:45 Leyland Gordon. December 28 12pm Excelsior Dixieland
Jazz; 3:30pm Freeway Dixieland; 7pm Brian
de Lima Quartet; 9:30pm Jake Wilkinson’s
Xmas Jazz. December 29 6:30pm Jake Koffman Groups; 8:30pm Terry Lukiwski’s Crusader Rabbit. December 30 6:30pm Richard
Whiteman Group; 9:30pm Classic Rex Jam
hosted by Chris Gale. December 31 9:30pm
The Rex’s Annual New Year’s Eve R&B Bash:
GROOVEYARD.
Salty Dog Bar & Grill, The
1980 Queen St. E. 416-849-5064 (call for full
schedule)
Sauce on the Danforth
1376 Danforth Ave. 647-748-1376
sauceondanforth.com
All shows: No cover.
Every Mon 9pm The Out Of Towners: Dirty
Organ Jazz. Every Tue 6pm Julian Fauth
Seven44
(Formerly Chick n’ Deli/The People’s Chicken)
744 Mount Pleasant Rd. 416-489-7931
E. The ETCeteras
seven44.com (full schedule)
December 1 7:30pm Advocats Big Band No
cover. December 8 7:30pm Bob Cary Big
Band No cover. December 15 7:30pm George
Lake Big Band No cover. December 22
7:30pm Mega City Swing Big Band No cover.
Galas and Fundraisers
●●Dec 7 6:00: The Minstrel Foundation for
Music & Arts Advancement. Sip, Savour &
Celebrate. 16th annual fundraising event to
fund music lessons, Christmas, March Break
and summer music camps and scholarships
for advanced education, for the benefit of
youth in inner city and new immigrant communities across Toronto. Wine tasting, hot
and cold appetizers and holiday cocktails.
Entertainment by the Humber College Community Jazz Band, Minstrel graduate Thomson Egbo-Egbo and the Minstrel student
award winners for 2014. Canada’s National
Ballet School, 400 Jarvis St. 416-944-8244.
minstrelfoundation.org $150.
●●Dec 31 9:00pm-11:59pm: Toronto All-Star
Big Band. New Year’s Eve Gala. Featuring a
buffet dinner, party favours, a sweets table
at 11pm, and a champagne toast with truffles
at midnight, with live big band music by TABB
until 1am. Toronto Don Valley Hotel & Suites,
175 Wynford Drive. 416-385-6726. $155 (plus
tax) per person; overnight packages are also
available.
●●Jan 29 8:00: Tapestry Opera.
35th Anniversary Celebration Friend Raiser.
Cocktail party with special guest performances, Tapestry Retrospective Exhibition,
pop-up food stations, DJ and dancing. Gladstone Hotel, 1214 Queen Street W. Information
and registration: Tapestryopera.com Free.
Toni Bulloni
156 Cumberland St. 416-967-7676
tonibulloni.com (full schedule)
No Cover. Saturday shows: 9pm. $30 food/
drink minimum. Sunday shows: 6pm. $25
minimum.
Tranzac
292 Brunswick Ave. 416-923-8137
tranzac.org (full schedule)
3-4 shows daily, various styles. Mostly PWYC.
Every Mon 10pm Open Mic Mondays. Every
Thurs 7:30pm Bluegrass Thursdays: Houndstooth. Every Fri 5pm The Foolish Things
(folk). This month’s shows include: December
2 10pm Peripheral Vision. December 3 10pm
John Russon (guitar) with Chris Gale (saxophone), Tom Richards (trombone), Mike Milligan (bass) & Sly Juhas (drums). December
7, 21 5pm Monk’s Music. December 9 7:30pm
Aurochs: Ali Berkok (keyboards), Pete Johnston (bass), Jake Oelrichs (drums); 10pm
Stop Time. December 14 10pm The Lina Allemano Four. December 16 10pm The Ken
McDonald Quartet. December 24 7:30pm
Trevor Giancola. December 26 10pm The
Ryan Driver Sextet. December 30 10pm Nick
Fraser Presents.
Competitions
●●2015 Honens International Piano
Competition. Application deadline: February
2 2015. Pianists of all nationalities, aged 20 to
30 on September 3, 2015, with the exception
of past Honens Laureates and professionally
managed pianists, may apply. For comprehensive details, please see honens.com
Lectures, Salons, Symposia
●●Dec 2 to Dec 16 (Tuesdays), 10:00am–
12:00 noon: Royal Conservatory of Music.
The Glorious Music of Christmas: A 3-week
course. Delve into the rich treasury of music
from all ages, from Handel’s Messiah, to J.S.
Bach’s Christmas Oratorio, favourite carols, and more! 273 Bloor St. W. 416-4082825. $160.
●●Jan 5 2015: Toronto Mendelssohn Choir.
Deadline for applications for OBSERVERS,
Toronto Mendelssohn Choir Choral Conductors’ Symposium. The Symposium brings five
emerging choral conductors together to
work for five days with the Toronto Mendelssohn Choir, the Elora Festival Singers, and
Noel Edison. Observers are welcome at all
sessions. Yorkminster Park Baptist Church,
1585 Yonge St. tmchoir.org/emerging-conductors-program/tmc-choral-conductorssymposium-2015/ $20/session or $50/day.
●●Jan 13 to Feb 3 (Tuesdays), 1:00–3:00: Royal
Conservatory of Music. Opera in the City: A
4-week course. Lectures on the COC’s winter operas, Don Giovanni and Die Walküre.
273 Bloor St. W. 416-408-2825. $195.
rcmusic.ca/MusicAppreciation.
●●Jan 15 12:10: University of Toronto Faculty
of Music/Jackman Humanities Institute.
BUY POSTER
OR DONATE
musicmakesus.ca
66 | December 1 2014 - February 7, 2015
thewholenote.com
Thursdays at Noon: Composing Comedy.
Explore the treatment of humour, play and
games in new music and new media. Organized by doctoral student Paolo Griffin, with
support by Prof. Norbert Palej, the presentation will draw on the archive of film music
developed by the students of composer Eric
Robertson. Walter Hall, Edward Johnson
Bldg., 80 Queen’s Park. 416-978-3744. Free.
●●Jan 17 1:00-4:00: University of Toronto
Faculty of Music/COC. The Opera Exchange:
“Directors Take the Stage: Debating Regieoper.” Walter Hall, Edward Johnson Bldg.,
80 Queen’s Park. 416-363-8231. $20; $15(university faculty); $10(full-time students with
ID); free(for UofT Faculty of Music faculty and
full-time students with ID).
●●Jan 21 to Mar 11 (Wednesdays), 10:00am–
12:00 noon: Royal Conservatory of Music.
How Music Works: An 8-week course. Enjoy
the music you hear with new understanding through this guided introduction to melody, rhythm, tonality, intervals, basic notation,
chords, and more! 273 Bloor St. W. 416-4082825. $395. rcmusic.ca/MusicAppreciation.
●●Jan 24 9:00am-5:00: University of Toronto
Faculty of Music/York University/Ryerson
University. Digital Media at the Crossroads.
A national conference for experts and students on the future of digital media content.
Features panels on subscription streaming
and a “dragon’s den” on alternative business
models. Walter Hall, Edward Johnson Bldg.,
80 Queen’s Park. music.utoronto.ca Registration information to follow.
●●Jan 25 2:00: Toronto Opera Club. Guest
speaker Johannes Debus, music director of
the Canadian Opera Company, gives a talk on
Wagner. Room 330, Edward Johnson Bldg.,
80 Queen’s Park. 416-9243940. $10.
●●Jan 28 5:30: University of
Toronto Faculty of Music. Lecture by Richard Bellis, Louis
Applebaum Distinguished Visitor in Film Composition. An
award-winning Hollywood
composer, Bellis is also past
president of the Society of
Composers & Lyricists; served
on the faculty of U of Southern
California where he lectured
for 11 years in the Scoring for
Motion Pictures and Television
program; served on the Board
of Governors for the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences; currently serves on the
Board of Directors of ASCAP.
Walter Hall, Edward Johnson
Bldg., 80 Queen’s Park. 416978-3744. Free.
Bldg., 80 Queen’s Park. 416-978-3744. Free.
●●Jan 28 to Feb 18 (Wednesdays), 1:30pm–
3:00: Royal Conservatory of Music. Schubert’s Song Cycles: A 4-week course.
Schubert’s songs of love, longing, and despair
illuminated through lectures and live performance. 273 Bloor St. W. 416-408-2825.
$150. rcmusic.ca/MusicAppreciation.
●●Jan 31 9:00am-5:00: University of Toronto
Faculty of Music. Interdisciplinary Colloquy
to Understand Creativity (ICUC). A look at
creativity, from social and economic values to
philosophical interpretations, from spiritual
and humanistic interactions to explorations
of musical interpretation, improvisation and
composition as applications of creative thinking and knowledge production. Features keynote speakers from multiple disciplines, short
research papers, and performances with
commentary. Walter Hall, Edward Johnson
Bldg., 80 Queen’s Park. Registration mandatory: go to icuc.eventbrite.ca for free tickets.
●●Feb 2 12:10: University of Toronto Faculty
of Music. New Music Festival: Roundtable
Discussion. With guests from the Sichuan
Conservatory, the Guizhou Conservatory and
the Chinese Conservatory of Hong Kong. Walter Hall, Edward Johnson Bldg., 80 Queen’s
Park. 416-978-3744. Free.
●●Feb 5 3:30: University of Toronto Faculty
of Music. Alexander Rehding, Kenneth H.
Peacock Lecturer. Fanny Peabody Professor
of Music and Chair of the theory department
at Harvard U’s Dept. of Music. As a music
theorist, Rehding is interested in the question of how music has been understood at different times in history: the history of music
theory, paleo- and neo-Riemannian theory,
music-aesthetic questions, and issues of
sound and media. Room 130, Edward Johnson
Screenings
●●Dec 6 3:00: Arraymusic. Udo Kasemets -
Uncompromising Experimentalist - Day One.
●●A tribute to one of Toronto’s most respected
thinkers and composers. Features a screening of Kasemets’ piano concerto, written for
Array’s pianist Stephen Clarke and performed
by Toronto’s New Music Concerts. This DVD
contains the definitive performance of the
work and an interview with Kasemets. Then,
a film by Mani Mazinani puts together this fine
multimedia artist and Kasemets’ solo piano
work. During the afternoon an animated
video that accompanies Kasemets’ Calendar Round, based on the Mayan calendar, will
play. The Array Space, 155 Walnut Street (2nd
floor). 416-532-3019.
$10.
●●Dec 6 8:00: Small World Music Centre. Film Screening: The Stirring of a Thousand Bells. Two films take viewers on a visual
/ musical tour of life in Indonesia: Sekaten Java’s most cosmic music festival where the
old world and the new are colliding, creating
captivating images and sound; Srimpi Muncar
- Enchanting melodies and meditative dance
from Mangkunegaran Palace, with arresting
PASQUALE B
PASQUALE
BROTHERS
ROTHERS
PURVEYORS OF FINE FOOD
(416) 364-7397
CATERING
WWW.PASQUALEBROS.COM
Music Appreciation
and History Classes
INTERNATIONAL RESOURCE CENTRE
FOR PERFORMING ARTISTS
DID YOU KNOW!
workshops | hot topics
career planning | mentoring
no membership fees
416.362.1422
www.ircpa.net
Learn more about the music you love,
enhance your concert experiences, and join a
growing community of music appreciators!
CHECK
US OUT!
• Morning, afternoon, and evening offerings
• Select classes include live performances and
special ticket offers
an Ontario government agency
un organisme du gouvernement de l’Ontario
• Courses across genres and historical periods,
from opera to Klezmer, Mozart to Mahler,
chamber music, film music — and more
Venue Rental
• in the heart of Yorkville
• historical heritage building
• Steinway Grand Piano
• recital and special events
• lighting and sound systems
• accomodates caterers
• reasonable rates
Winter courses begin January 13
Forcoursecatalogueanddetails,visit
rcmusic.ca/MusicAppreciation
REGISTER TODAY!
Online at rcmusic.ca/register, by calling 416.408.2825,
or in person at 273 Bloor St. West
35 Hazelton Avenue, Heliconian Hall
416-922-3618 rentals@heliconianclub.org
thewholenote.com
Coursestartdatesvary
December 1 2014 - February 7, 2015 | 67
E. The ETCeteras
images from throughout Java. 180 Shaw St.,
Studio 101. 416-536-5439. $10.
●●Jan 18 4:00 and 7:30: Toronto Jewish Film
Society/Kulanu Toronto/Inside Out Toronto
LGBT Film Festival. Cupcakes. When a bunch
of Tel Aviv neighbours composes a tune to
cheer up one of their own, they don’t imagine
that it will be entered in a European song contest. An exuberant and uplifting film from
Israeli filmmaker Eytan Fox that will have you
dancing in the aisles. Guest speaker: Jamie
Levin.
Al Green Theatre in the Miles Nadal
JCC, 750 Spadina Ave. 416-924-6211 x606.
$15; $10(ages18-35). ●●Jan 27 6:30: Royal Conservatory of Music/
Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival. Music on Film. Screening of film
“Let’s Get Lost,” revealing the life of legendary
jazz musician Chet Baker. Featuring Baker’s
family, friends and musicians, including William Claxton, Andy Minkser and many more.
Toronto saxophonist Pat LaBarbera, who
played with Baker on his frequent trips to
Toronto, will participate in a post-screening
Q&A. Bloor Hot Docs Cinema, 506 Bloor St.
West. 416-637-3123, bloorcinema.com $15;
$12(Bloor members).
Singalongs, Jams, Circles
Ensemble. How to Handle Messiah. In this
workshop/singalong,
director Stéphane Potvin will present examples of different interpretations of some key selections, discuss
their appeal and merit, and let you discover
the secrets hidden in the music. In addition, there will be a chance to sing some of
the majestic choral selections from Handel’s masterpiece, and some solos too! Grace
Lutheran Church, 304 Spruce St. Oakville.
905-825-9740, musikay.ca $30.
●●Dec 7 2:30: Musikay Early Music Ensemble. How to Handle Messiah. See Dec 6. Grace
Lutheran Church, 1107 Main Street West,
Hamilton.
●●Dec 19 11:59pm: Tapestry New Opera.
Deadline to apply for New Opera 101: An
Intensive Workshop for Singers and Collaborative Pianists. Please see Jan 23 and 24 listing below for details.
●●Jan 2 7:30: CAMMAC Recorder Players’
Society. Renaissance and Baroque Workshop for recorders and other early instruments. Mount Pleasant Road Baptist Church,
527 Mount Pleasant Rd. 416-480-1853.
$15(guests); members free. Refreshments
included.
●●Jan 17 10:30 am-1:00 pm: Toronto Mendelssohn Choir. Singsation Saturday. Join Canadian Opera Company chorus master Sandra
Horst to sing through some well-loved opera
choruses. Sandra is also head coach/conductor and chorus director for the Opera Division of UofT’s Faculty of Music. Bring your
diva and join us for what is always a popular
Singsation! Yorkminster Park Baptist Church,
1585 Yonge St. 416-598-0422. $10.
●●Jan 23 7:30: CAMMAC Recorder Players’
Society. Renaissance and Baroque Workshop for recorders and other early instruments. Mount Pleasant Road Baptist Church,
songwriter & performer Marni Levitt; interactive activities including Chanukah stories
& music, arts & crafts and more. A familyfriendly event to celebrate the Festival of
Lights. 918 Bathurst Street. 416-789-5502.
$5/person; $10/family. Please bring a potluck
lunch contribution.
●●Feb 7 8:00: Arraymusic. Evening of improvisation. With artistic director Rick Sacks,
some of Toronto’s finest musicians, friends
and out-of-town guests, heralding a return to
the Columbia U ●●Radio jams or the great tradition of CCMC
Music Gallery evenings. The Array Space,
155 Walnut Street (2nd floor). 416-532-3019.
PWYC.
Spoken Word, Performance Art
●●December 5-7, 12-14, 19-21 various times
(please check daily listings): Church of the
Holy Trinity. The Christmas Story. Nativity
pageant with acting and music. Susan Watson, director. 19 Trinity Square. thechristmasstory.ca 416-598-4521 Ext. 301. Suggested
donation: $20(adults); $5(children 17 &
under).
Workshops
●●Dec 2 12:10: U of Toronto Faculty of Music.
●●Dec 2 8:00: Arraymusic. Evening of Impro-
visation. With artistic director Rick Sacks,
some of Toronto’s finest musicians, friends
and out-of-town guests, heralding a return to
the Columbia U Radio jams or the great tradition of CCMC Music Gallery evenings. The
Array Space, 155 Walnut Street (2nd floor).
416-532-3019. PWYC.
●●Dec 14 11:00am-1:00: Morris Winchevsky
School. Latkes & Light... A Chanukah Delight!‘
‘Chanukah Sing-A-Long’ led by children’s
Performance class for singers: Songs of the
Season. Walter Hall, Edward Johnson Bldg.,
80 Queen’s Park. 416-978-3744. Free.
●●Dec 5 7:30: CAMMAC Recorder Players’
Society. Renaissance and Baroque Workshop
for recorders and other early instruments.
Coach: Janos Ungvary. Mount Pleasant Road
Baptist Church, 527 Mount Pleasant Rd.
416-480-1853. $20(guests); $5(members).
Refreshments included.
●●Dec 6 2:00: Musikay Early Music
527 Mount Pleasant Rd. 416-480-1853.
$15(guests); members free. Refreshments
included.
●●Jan 23 and 24: Tapestry New Opera. New
Opera 101: An Intensive Workshop for Singers and Collaborative Pianists. Two day intensive in which artistic director and stage
director Michael Mori, baritone Peter McGillivray and collaborative pianist Dr. Christopher
Foley will coach participants and address
the demanding role of singers and pianists
in interpreting new opera. Each performer
will be coached in an aria or duet from the
Tapestry Songbook – a library of produced
operas from Tapestry’s 35 year history. Participants may have the opportunity to perform alongside Mr. McGillivray and Dr. Foley
on the evening of Saturday January 24, in
Tapestry’s Songbook V concert. Applications
are due by electronic form submission by Friday December 19, 2014 11:59pm EST.
tapestryopera.com
●●Jan 25 2:00: CAMMAC Toronto Region.
Choral Reading: “Polyphony from the High
Renaissance”. Music by Byrd, Lassus, Victoria
and Gabrieli. Dallas Bergen, conductor. Christ
Church Deer Park, 1570 Yonge St. 416-6052973. $10; $6(members).
●●Jan 26 6:30: Canadian Music Centre.
Score Reading Club. Don’t read music? Don’t
worry! The Score Reading Club provides an
accessible way for music enthusiasts to learn
about various contemporary Canadian compositions through presentations given by
passionate community members. Presented
by composer Samuel Andreyev and others.
Start time 7:00. 20 St. Joseph St. 416-9616601 x201. Free.
List your non-concert music-related
events in the ETCetteras. Deadline for
February 2015 is January 8 2015.
2014 Blue Pages - Supplement
Aga Khan Museum
Opened to the public on
September 18, 2014, the Aga Khan
Museum is one of Toronto’s newest
cultural institutions. Housed in a
stunning building and surrounded by
a public park, the Museum presents
a dynamic roster of historical and
contemporary exhibitions and an
active season of dance, music and
film screenings that highlight artistic traditions from the Iberian
Peninsula to China.
In addition to flexible gallery and educational spaces, the Aga
Khan Museum has an auditorium of 330-plus seats capable of
hosting a wide range of multidisciplinary programming. In the
coming months, the Museum will present artists from India,
Iran, Siberia, China and Canada. With astonishing breadth and
eloquence, their performances will show the many ways in which
cross-cultural dialogue can take place through art.
Address: 77 Wynford Drive, Toronto. Please visit our website for a
full events calendar.
Alison Kenzie
416-646-4677
information@agakhanmuseum.org
Website: agakhanmuseum.org
68 | December 1 2014 - February 7, 2015
BLUE
15TH ANNUAL
PAGES
PRESENTER PROFILES 2014/15
Music presenters get the chance
to pitch their projects in our
annual October Blue Pages issue,
but the Blue Pages are available
year-round, and musicmaking in
southern Ontario happens around
the clock and throughout the calendar. Here’s a warm welcome
for newcomers this month to The
WholeNote’s Blue Pages directory. To check out our full roster of
members, please visit
thewholenote.com/blue.
Our Other Directories
ORANGE PAGES
Printed in April
Updated year round
education@thewholenote.com
CANARY PAGES
Printed in May:
Choral opportunities for everyone
canaries@thewholenote.com
GREEN PAGES
Printed in June:
Our annual summer music guide
summer@thewholenote.com
All directories online
All the time
thewholenote.com
thewholenote.com
Classified Advertising | classad@thewholenote.com
the WholeNote’s BASIC CLASSIFIEDS
and BOXED CLASSIFIEDS start at just
$24 for 20 words or less. Add $1.20
per additional word, and $6.00 for a
box. Discounts are offered for multiple
insertions (3x,5x,9x). BOOK NOW for
the February edition! Contact: classad@
thewholenote.com. Deadline: Friday
January 23.
AUDITIONS & OPPORTUNITIES
AVAILABLE PRO BONO POSITIONS FOR
MUSICIANS AT THE KINDRED SPIRITS
ORCHESTRA: Associate (or 2nd) Trumpeter,
Associate (or 2nd, tenor) Trombonist, 3rd
(bass) Trombonist, sectional Violinists,
Violists, Cellists and Contrabassists. The
KSO is an auditioned-based community
orchestra that rehearses once a week
(Tuesday evenings) at the state-of-the-art
Cornell Recital Hall in Markham (407
ETR and 9th Ln). Led by the charismatic
Maestro Kristian Alexander, the Orchestra
is enjoying an enormous popularity among
York Region’s residents and continues to
attract avid audiences across the GTA.
Interested musicians are invited to e-mail
General Manager Jobert Sevilleno at GM@
KSOrchestra.ca and visit
www.KSOrchestra.ca for more
information.
BASS SECTION LEAD NEEDED
for St. Andrew’s United Church in
Brantford. Contact Greg Walshaw at
standrewsucmusic@gmail.com, or 519-7525823. www.standresbrantford.com.
This is a paid position.
BEL CANTO SINGERS is a 40 voice SATB
choir, under the direction of Linda Meyer.
Repertoire includes classical, music theatre,
folk, jazz and pop tunes. Rehearsals are
Tuesdays at St. Nicholas Anglican Church
in Scarborough. We are currently looking
to strengthen our tenor and bass sections.
If you have ever wanted to participate in a
group that values music, fun and fellowship
please consider joining us. Auditions will take
place in the first two weeks of January 2015,
during our regular Tuesday night practice.
Website: www.belcantosingers.ca.
Contact Elaine at 416-699-4585.
NOW ACEPTING PRIVATE STUDENTS:
International Concert Pianist: 30 years
teaching experience, formerly faculty at the
Royal Conservatory of Music and University
of Toronto, now accepting students, all ages
and levels welcome. Central location. helena.
music.studio@gmail.com, 416-546-6664.
www.about.me/helena_bowkun
and the odd trombone. Tubas more than
welcome. There is minimal military hassles
and we have fun doing what we all love to do –
PLAY. Call Mike at 905 898-3438 or buskers.
jazz@rogers .com. Moss Park Armouries,
Tuesday nights from 8-10.
COUNTERPOINT COMMUNITY
ORCHESTRA (www.ccorchestra.org)
welcomes volunteer musicians for
Monday evening rehearsals, downtown
Toronto. We’re especially looking for
trombones and strings.
Email info@ccorchestra.org.
PIANO LESSONS: personalized instruction
by experienced teacher, concert pianist
EVE EGOYAN (M. Mus., L.R.A.M., F.R.S.C.). All
ages and levels. Downtown location.
eve.egoyan@bell.net or 416- 603-4640.
NORTH YORK CONCERT ORCHESTRA is
interested in welcoming new players for
the 2014-15 season. We are a community
orchestra which rehearses throughout
the year on Weds. nights, York Mills
Collegiate in Don Mills. There are four
subscription concerts and several outreach
opportunities. Especially interested in
hearing from violinists and string bass
players. Please contact personnel@nyco.
on.ca for further information.
PRIVATE LESSONS IN ALL LEVELS OF
RUDIMENTS, THEORY AND PIANO in
central Burlington. Please contact Natalie at
888-359-5670.
PRIVATE VOICE/PIANO/THEORY
LESSONS: Experienced, BFA Certified
Teacher located at Christ Church Deer
Park (Yonge & St. Clair). Prepares you or
your child for RCM exams, competitions &
auditions. Contact Jessika: jwithakmusic@
gmail.com (647) 214-2827.
DO YOU DRIVE?
FLUTE, PIANO,
THEORY LESSONS,
RCM EXAM PREPARATION
Do you love
The WholeNote?
Samantha
Chang
Share the love and earn a little
money! Join The WholeNote’s
circulation team: 9 times a year,
GTA and well beyond. Interested?
Royal Academy of Music PGDip,
LRAM, FLCM, FTCL, ARCT
Contact:
416-293-1302
circulation@thewholenote.com
samantha.studio@gmail.com
www.samanthaflute.com
INSTRUCTION & COURSES
CHILDREN’S PIANO LESSONS: Friendly,
approachable - and strict! Contact Liz
Parker at 416-544-1803 or liz.parker@rogers.com. Queen and
Bathurst area, Toronto.
SENSIBLE VOCAL TRAINING Build.
Restore. Refurbish your Voice. Whether
you just want to tone and tune up, or have a
burning desire to raise the bar and advance
your vocal abilities, this training is ideal!
Call for an introductory session. If you’re
a beginner, no worries; we build from
scratch!! Phone Pattie Kelly (905)271-6896
vocalsense.ca
FLUTE LESSONS with experienced and
highly trained teacher. Contact Dr. Izabella
Budai at 416-881-7972 or www.izabellabudai.com.
All levels and ages welcome.
VOICE LESSONS – experienced, professional
& supportive teacher. All ages & levels, adult
beginners welcome. Contact: Grant Allert
B.mus. 416-910-9605,
grantallert@hotmail.com
CHOPS FLOPPY? SIGHT READING GONE?
Why not come down to the 48th Highlanders
of Canada Brass & Reed Band, and get back
in shape? We need clarinets and saxophones
Ideal for ongoing promotion
of your services and products
to the WholeNote’s musically
engaged readership, in print and on-line.
Book by Jan 15th for February!
classad@thewholenote.com
WARMHEARTED PIANO TEACHER with
sterling credentials, unfailing good humor,
and buckets of patience. Royal Conservatory
washouts and shy or overwrought
teens/adults especially welcome. Lovely
Cabbagetown studio, with German grand
and Kleenex. Testimonials: “Best teacher
ever!” - Riverdale girl, age 14. “Bach is
more affordable than talk therapy!” Beaches fellow, 40s. “Beats studying with
those Quebec nuns!” - Rosedale lady, age
withheld. Peter Kristian Mose, 416-9233060. www.MoseMusicalArts.com. My
students have never won any prizes, except
for love of music. (And loyalty.)
INSTRUMENTS: FOR SALE / WANTED
5’4” CHICKERING BABY GRAND. Completely
rebuilt in 1992. New hammers, strings,
keytops, refinished cabinet. $6500 or BO.
smalch@yahoo.com
HARPSICHORD: 1965 single manual John
Morley. Refinished top, re-glued sound
board, some new strings. Full history and
documentation. advertised at $6500, but
NO REASONABLE OFFER REFUSED - MUST
SELL. View in Toronto. 416-927-7059
KAWAI GRAND, 5’ 10”, $6600, Model #500
(1968). Cabinet, soundboard, and action are
in amazing condition.
Call Stephen 905 483-1125.
Lorée OBOE & ENGLISH HORN stolen
from car on Sept 11 2014, Bloor/Bathurst
area. $700 reward for information leading
to return of these instruments. Serial #’s:
oboe TA 78, English horn HV 25. Please call
Karen 416-656-4312 or 416-323-2232 x.26
EXPERIENCED CHORISTERS REQUIRED
VOICE LESSONS
Performance of Scott Macmillan’s
CELTIC MASS for the SEA
Specializing in Italian &
Neapolitan Repertoire
Francesco Pellegrino
CARNEGIE HALL
New York City - MAY 23, 2015
416 356 5016
www.francescopellegrino.ca
www.vesuviusensemble.com
thewholenote.com
Introducing
BUSINESS
CLASSIFIEDS!
Listen to excerpts on itunes
Information: Prof. Pierre Perron – pperron@dal.ca; 902.425.5205
Toronto & Area: Jenny Crober – crober.best@gmail.com; 416.463.8225
December 1 2014 - February 7, 2015 | 69
Seeing Orange
Classified Advertising | classad@thewholenote.com
MASON AND RISCH UPRIGHT piano for sale.
Circa 194O. Lovely tone. Best offer. Please call
416-929-1797
WHILE YOUR GUITAR GENTLY WEEPS:
Garage band days just a hazy memory?
Your lovely old guitar / violin / clarinet is
crying out to be played! There’s someone
out there who’d love to love it, and give
it new life. Sell your unused instruments
with a WholeNote classified ad: contact
classad@thewholenote.com.
MUSICIANS AVAILABLE
ARE YOU A PARTY ANIMAL? The
WholeNote gets inquiries from readers
seeking musicians to provide live music for
all kinds of occasions. We can’t recommend
your ensemble, but YOU can! Contact
classad@thewholenote.com by January
23 and book your ad for the February
combined edition!
SERVICES
RESTORE & PRESERVE
YOUR MEMORIES
Recital and gig tapes | 78’s
& LPs | VHS and Hi8 | 35mm
Slides |News clippings | Photos
& more, transferred to
digital files: CD’s, DVD’s,
or Video slideshow
ArtsMediaProjects
416.910.1091
Publicity, press kits
& image consulting
for performers
416.544.1803
www.lizpr.com
The Benefits of
Music Education
NEED HELP WITH
YOUR TAXES?
Specializing in personal
and business tax returns
including prior years
and adjustments
HORIZON TAX SERVICES INC.
PA U L E N N I S
• free consultation • accurate work
For CRA stress relief call:
Leaving a recent recital at
Koerner Hall, as I passed a
table devoted to The Royal
Conservatory’s educational
programs, my attention was caught
by a colourful folded-up glossy
info sheet in the form of a poster
with an intriguing sentence coated
in two colours under a headline which is also the headline of
this article: The Benefits of Music
Education.
“Neuroscientists have demonstrated that learning to play an
instrument or sing leads to changes
in a child’s brain that make it
more likely they will reach their
full cognitive and academic potential,” it stated. As I read further, the
message continued connecting music education to cognitive development, promising stronger connections between brain regions, more
grey matter, improved brain structure and function, better memory
and attention. Even a higher IQ.
“Speech and reading skills dramatically improved in young children
taking music lessons after only four weeks of music training.” I kept
going. “Elementary school students in higher quality music education programs had 20 percent improvement in standardized tests of
English and math.”
This was heady stuff and gratifying to behold offering further
confirmation of the undeniable benefits of music on the developing brain.
The cognitive benefits of music education were then broken down
into IQ, Working Memory and Creativity. It was fascinating see scientific evidence of increased IQ scores among children who take music
lessons compared to children in drama classes or those who did
neither. Additionally, individuals who are musically trained show
better working memory abilities than those who are not, something
that is crucial to mental arithmetic and reading comprehension.
Scientists also found a marked difference in communication between
the right and left sides of the brain (which fosters creativity) in individuals with musical training than in those without.
I was already eager to learn more by visiting rcmusic.ca/resources
to download a copy of The Benefits of Music Education when I noticed
the quotation on the lower right of the poster:
1-866-268-1319
hts@horizontax.ca
www.horizontax.ca
VENUES AVAILABLE / WANTED
ARE YOU PLANNING A
CONCERT OR RECITAL?
Looking for a venue?
Bloor Street
United Church
300 Bloor Street West, Toronto.
416-924-7439 x22
tina@bloorstreetunited.org
PERFORMANCE / REHEARSAL / STUDIO
/ OFFICE SPACE AVAILABLE: great
acoustics, reasonable rates, close to
Green P Parking, cafés & restaurants.
Historic church at College & Bellevue,
near Spadina. Phone 416-921-6350. E-mail
ststepheninthefields@gmail.com
Our 3rd Floor
“Jazz Cellar” Lounge
is an ideal space for:
corporate functions | private
events | birthday parties |
product launches
416-363-5299| jazzbistro.ca
WholeNote
CLASSIFIEDS
really deliver!
“The theory of relativity occurred
to me by intuition, and music is the
driving force behind this intuition. My
parents had me study the violin from
the time I was six. My new discovery is
the result of musical perception.”
Sing out and reach
the right audience.
Starting at just $24.
Discounts for multiple insertions.
Deadline for our Febrary issue: January 23.
Below the text were the words Albert Einstein.
classad@thewholenote.com
70 | December 1 2014 - February 7, 2015
If you are looking to expand your music education, search no
further than our online Orange Pages Directory of music teachers at
thewholenote.com/orange. Teachers are always welcome to join for
free. Contact education@thewholenote.com for more information.
thewholenote.com
WE ARE ALL MUSIC’S CHILDREN
December’s Child
Lawrence Wiliford
MJ BUELL
NEW CONTEST!
Who is
FEBRUARY’s CHILD?
Lawrence Wiliford lives in the Woodbine/Danforth area of Toronto with his wife Prof.
Katherine Larson and their miniature schnauzer Hermes. When not performing or thinking
about the Canadian Art Song Project, Lawrence can often be found gardening, landscaping and
doing light renovations of their home.
LEIGH MILLER
American-Canadian tenor Lawrence
Wiliford’s 2014/15 season includes concert
engagements with major symphony orchestras,
choral and early music groups in the U.S. and
Canada, You may have heard him in Toronto
this past November with the Bach Consort as
The Evangelist in Bach’s Christmas Oratorio,
or with The Niagara Symphony in Britten’s:
Serenade for Tenor, Horn and Strings. Perhaps
you saw Wiliford make his Canadian Opera
Company leading role debut in Mozart’s Così
Fan Tutte as Ferrando (on five hours’ notice,
in 2006). He has also appeared with the COC
in A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Swoon;
and with Opera Atelier in Die Entführung
aus dem Serail, Acis and Galatea, Persée,
and Don Giovanni. Alongside his work as a
performer Wiliford is co-artistic director, with
pianist Stephen Philcox, of the Canadian Art
Song Project,
Do you remember that childhood photo
being taken? Yes – It reminds me of the
wonderful opportunity and education I
received while at The
American Boychoir School.
Your earliest memories
of music? I’m not sure
what my earliest memory
of hearing music is, but I
was surrounded by music
when I was young – hymns
being sung or my mom
and dad singing 60s folksongs. My early memories
of music are vocal and intimate.
First memory of making music? I remember
playing in my room making up songs when I
was very young. I also remember my younger
brother and I playing Beatles records and
pretending to sing those songs for my mom. We
were very surprised she knew that it wasn’t us
playing and singing.
Where did hearing music, both formal
and informal, fit into your life as a child? I
listened to a lot of music in the car riding with
my father from church to church on Sunday
mornings and on road trips.The soundtrack
of my early childhood included John Denver;
Peter, Paul & Mary; The Kingston Trio; Neil
Diamond; Kenny Rogers; etc. When I was about
8 or 9 I saw the movie Amadeus and became
enthralled with Mozart’s music. I began
purchasing recordings of his symphonies,
concertos and choral works. That was my introduction to classical music and I never looked
back. I sang in choirs at church when I was
very little and had piano lessons. I went to
The American Boychoir School from age 9 to
14, where I was exposed to
music in the broadest way,
performing across the U.S.
and internationally with
amazing conductors and
musicians.
A longer interview with
Lawrence Wiliford can be
read at thewholenote.com
Leading from the first chair (at right)
in dad’s study: Summerhill Gardens,
Toronto, 1969
~~ Toronto’s masqued marvel
un-settles old scores.
~~ Where he’ll next appear as
conductor, singer or baroque
violinist?
~~ Sightings include Tafelmusik,
Exultate, Elora, Soundstreams,
Toronto OperettaTheatre
~~ But some lucky high schoolers
know he’s keeping time for them.
~~ Proud son of his favourite
composer, proud husband and
father of three favourite singers.
~~ Former producer in the heyday of
CBC Radio Music.
see pages 30, 31, 40, 52
Know our Mystery Child’s name?
WIN PRIZES! Send your best guess
by January 24, to
musicschildren@thewholenote.com.
CONGRAULATIONS TO OUR WINNERS! HERE’S WHAT THEY WON
Messiah: at Roy Thomson Hall. Hallelujah! for the combined forces of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra and
the Toronto Mendelssohn Choir, with soloists Jane Archibald, soprano; Allyson McHardy, mezzo-soprano;
Lawrence Wiliford, tenor; Philippe Sly, bass-baritone. Grant Llewellyn, conducts while your heart soars. (Dec
16, 17, 19, 20, 21) A pair of Dec 16 tickets each for Doug McInroy and Joan Rosenfeld
Beethoven Symphony No. 5: at Koerner Hall. Kent Nagano (Orchestre symphonique de Montréal), directs the Tafelmusik Baroque
Orchestra in Beethoven’s revolutionary Symphony No. 5, later joined by the Tafelmusik Chamber Choir for Beethoven’s lyrical and joyous
Mass in C Major, with Nathalie Paulin, soprano; Laura Pudwell, mezzo-soprano; Lawrence Wiliford, tenor; Sumner Thompson, baritone
(Jan 22 to 25). A pair of tickets for Annie Odom
Acis and Galatea: Toronto Masque Theatre in the candle-lit Enoch Turner Schoolhouse . A perfect love, a spurned giant, an enduring memorial by George Frideric Handel. Featuring tenor Lawrence Wiliford as Acis, soprano Teri Dunn as Galatea,
baritone Peter McGillivray as Polyphemus and tenor Graham Thomson as Damon. A period ensemble is led by Larry
Beckwith (violin 1), with chorus (Schola Cantorum, Faculty of Music U of T) directed by Daniel Taylor. (Jan 15 to17) A
pair of tickets for Anne-Maria Pennanen
Ash Roses (Centrediscs 2014) This inaugural CD release by the Canadian Art Song Project (CASP) celebrates Canadian composer Derek Holman and a 20-year prolific period of writing art songs. The featured artists are also known for their dedication to song and chamber repertoire: tenor Lawrence Wiliford, soprano Mireille Asselin, pianist Liz Upchurch and harpist Sanya Eng
perform works all previously unrecorded. A copy for you, Sabrina Keyes!
Music’s Children gratefully acknowledges Lawrence & Terry Sue, Teri, Alison, Juliet, and John.
thewholenote.com
December 1 2014 - February 7, 2015 | 71
PETERHUNDERT.COM
Angela Hewitt’s 2020 Vision ... continued from page 10
carefully. I mark things carefully in my
scores so if I haven’t looked at a piece for ten
years I pick up my score and it’s there, you
know, at least the markings are there to go by.
I might change a lot of things but the basis is
still there.”
And since we are talking about revisiting scores, I ask about whether she would
like to revisit some of the recordings in her
now complete canon of Bach. “Oh sure” she
replies. “I already have recorded the WellTempered Clavier twice.” She describes
what she sees as the key differences in the
two recordings. Things like elasticity and a
wider range of colour. “I had a piano teacher
in Oregon write to me and say ‘I have my
students listen to your earlier recording
because the later one is more free, and
if they played it like that they would get
marked down in their exams.’ (laughs) But
I prefer the second. A lot of the new elasticity and colour comes from the fact that I
started working on Fazioli pianos after my
first recording of it. It expanded my imagination for colour. But you know, the older you
get, I was just thinking this today, playing
Beethoven, the older you get the more
freedom you can put into music. First of all
I suppose you have more authority and so
you are not scared at all about what people
are going to say. It doesn’t matter any more.
You know, you can put on a metronome
to see a tempo but you can’t play a whole
Beethoven sonata with a metronome going.
You see how it really has to follow the lines
and the breathing. So yeah, one has to be
open. It’s interesting to see how one develops
with age.”
It will be interesting to see, indeed. She
already has, she confides, one booking for the
year 2020, although she is not at liberty right
now to say what it is. So stay tuned. I will.
for the full conversation,
visit thewholenote.com/videos
DISCOVERIES | RECORDINGS REVIEWED
main (only?) piano teacher, was highly regarded as a composer,
pianist and pedagogue in his native Chile before settling in Toronto.
If this work is any indication we can only regret that he gave up
composing, although we certainly have to be thankful that he did not
abandon pedagogy since through nurturing the remarkable talents
of Gould, Guerrero left an indelible mark on this country and the
musical world.
Regarding the sound of the disc I do have a few qualms, mostly with
the sound of the cello. Recorded in City View Church in Ottawa by
Anton Kwiatkowski’s Audio Masters I am surprised to find the cello
quite harsh, a characteristic of the particular instrument itself rather
than the playing I suspect. It works quite well in the Archer, but I
would like a warmer sound in the more lyrical works. That thought
notwithstanding, this is still a significant release. The recordings of
the title track and the Guerrero are world premieres, the Archer has
not previously existed on compact disc as far as I can tell and the
Weinzweig and Coulthard sonatas have had only one iteration each
on CD. Now, if we could have a recording of Barbara Pentland’s cello
sonata from 1943 please…
I grew up with the understanding that Weinzweig, Archer and
Coulthard were the first generation of Canadian composers and they
were already in the late stages of their careers as I was coming to
musical consciousness. But the works presented by Harrison
and Keillor are the creations of young(ish) composers,
the most senior being Archer at the ripe
old age of 43 (although she did revisit
the work almost two decades later). In
another Naxos Canadian Classics release,
Sounds of Our Time (9.70212), we are given
the opportunity to hear a new generation of
composers, ranging in age from 22 to 35 at the
time of composition. Again the works are for
cello and piano, in this instance performed by
the Mercer-Park Duo (Rachel Mercer and Angela
Park), themselves emerging artists at the beginning of blossoming
careers, who perform together in a variety of contexts including this
duo, the Seiler Piano Trio, the Kang-Mercer-Park Trio and the piano
quartet Ensemble Made In Canada. They have each received innumerable distinctions, perhaps most notably Mercer’s being awarded the
loan of the 1696 Bonjour Stradivarius cello from the Canada Council
Instrument Bank from 2009 to 2012 which is heard in all its glory on
this recording. I said the works were for cello and piano, but in one
DAV I D O L D S
It has been a hard choice this month
winnowing down the plethora of new and
exciting discs that have crossed my desk to
the few that will fit in my allotted space. The
top of the pile is a recent release on the Naxos
Canadian Classics label, When Music Sounds
(9.70126), featuring cello and piano music by
some of this country’s most significant pioneers. I first heard rumours of this recording five
years ago when I was preparing the discography for John Weinzweig:
Essays on His Life and Music edited by John Beckwith and Brian
Cherney (Wilfrid Laurier University Press, 2011). Noted pianist and
musicologist Elaine Keillor notified us that she had just recorded
Weinzweig’s Sonata for Cello and Piano “Israel” (1949) with cellist
Joan Harrison and although the disc was not available in time to be
included in the book I have been looking forward to its release ever
since. Although I did not realize how much time would pass before
the disc would be in hand, I must say that seeing it released by Naxos
with its global distribution has been worth the wait. Weinzweig’s
sonata, dedicated to the newly established state of Israel, blends his
use of 12-tone technique, which he had been developing over a decade
at that point, and Jewish-influenced melodies, with the cello acting as
the voice of a cantor.
The disc is bookended by two works by Jean Coulthard, When
Music Sounds, a short and very lyrical, if somewhat contemplative
work dating from 1970 making it by far the most recent composition
to be found here, and the Sonata for Cello and Piano (1946) which I
must confess is my favourite selection with its shades of Debussy and
cascading melodies. Violet Archer is represented by another work
in traditional form, the four-movement Sonata for Cello and Piano
(1956, rev.1972). Again a lyrical work, but with an edge, especially
in the driving toccata-like finale. There is one delightful surprise on
the disc, the charming Chants oubliés and Danse (1916) by someone
whose name is very familiar, but not as a composer. Evidently
Alberto Guerrero (1886-1959), likely best known as Glenn Gould’s
72 | December 1 2014 - February 7, 2015
thewholenote.com
instance this is not the case and we get to
hear the Strad in duet with itself as Mercer
plays both parts in Ex Animo for Two Cellos,
a 2010 composition by 22-year-old Hunter
Coblentz. Producer Norbert Kraft says the
process of overdubbing was a new one for
him as a classical recording engineer, where
the norm is one player per instrument, but
the end result is entirely convincing with no
hint of prestidigitation in the warm and wellbalanced performance.
Coblentz is just one of the names new to me
here. The disc starts with William Rowson’s
(b.1977) Sonata for Cello and Piano (2012)
and finishes with I Thirst (2008) by Mark
Nerenberg (b.1973), both composers I was
unaware of. Rowson’s opens with belling
chords in the piano and a lilting melody in
the cello which is later traded back and forth
between the players. Like all the works on the
disc, chosen by the duo for their immediate
appeal, there is strong lyricism and fairly
traditional tonality combined with a sense
of drama. Inspired by the Seven Last Words
(of Christ on the Cross), I Thirst is a bit of an
exception with its mood of quiet contemplation providing a gentle and effective end to a
marvellous journey.
In between we encounter the work of a
couple of more established composers, Kevin
Lau and Abigail Richardson-Schulte, both
laureates of the Karen Keiser Prize at the
University of Toronto. Lau is currently an
affiliate composer of the Toronto Symphony
Orchestra, a post that Richardson-Schulte
held from 2006 to 2009. She continues
as the coordinator of the TSO’s annual
New Creations Festival and is currently
Composer-in-Residence with the Hamilton
Philharmonic. Lau’s one movement work
Starsail (2008) represents, in the composer’s words, “one individual’s journey into
the great unknown, both beautiful and terrifying in its infinitude and mystery.” As the
cello sails through the oft-stormy textures of
the piano we are taken along for a wild ride
with a transcendental ending. RichardsonSchulte’s Crossings (2011), although couched
in a traditional four-movement chamber
form, employs some interesting contemporary alternatives to standard practices
which the composer outlines in the program
note. Of particular interest to my ears is the
quietly playful second movement in which
the pianist explores the inside of the instrument with the aid of a ping-pong ball
resulting in some unusual sounds. This work
was commissioned by the Mercer-Park Duo
and, like the rest of the pieces included here,
is a world premiere recording. Throughout
the performances are brilliant and the sound,
recorded in Glenn Gould Studio, is flawless.
At the launch for this new “disc” I was
surprised to learn that it is one of Naxos’
digital only releases. I wondered how this
could be as I looked down at the hard-copy
in my hand and was told that the duo had
requested some physical product to sell at
performances. Evidently this is the way of
thewholenote.com
the immediate future. Naxos (and other
companies) are quickly moving away from
the production of discs and in many instances
downloads will be the only way to obtain new
releases other than from the artists themselves. As a staunch believer in full frequency
listening (not possible with mp3s) I am
initially skeptical about this new development. I have been assured however that “lossless” formats do exist and that Naxos will be
offering “high definition” downloads that
exceed the audio standards of the compact
disc. I am not yet convinced, but will try to
keep an open mind (and ear) as we explore
the various options and possibilities in
WholeNote articles in the coming months.
Lest you begin to suspect that all the
composers of the new generation are imbued
with romantic tendencies and write only
in traditional styles, or for that matter that
Naxos is the only source for contemporary
Canadian music, I want to disabuse you of
both notions. The Canadian Music Centre
continues to release a wealth of material
on its Centrediscs label in a wide range of
artistic styles and there are a number of
independent sources as well. A case in point
is young composer Nick Storring, recipient of
the 2011 Toronto Emerging Composer Award
administered by the CMC and supported by
Michael M. Koerner and Roger D. Moore. The
annual award “supports the creation of a new
musical work or the completion of an existing
music-based project. It will be offered to the
candidate who best demonstrates artistic
excellence matched by innovation, experimentation and a willingness to take risks.”
Incidentally, the deadline for proposals for the
next award is January 23, 2015.
Gardens (nickstorring.
ca) is a 45-minute
suite inspired by
composer/arranger
Charles Stepney
and more specifically, pop icon
Minnie Ripperton’s
debut album Come
To My Garden which Stepney produced
a decade before Storring was born. While
this may seem a surprising point of departure for a (post)classical composition, the
result is an intriguing melange of sound that
the composer says, contains no borrowed
material. Storring also points out that there is
no special effects processing involved in the
production of the somewhat otherworldly
sounds which all have their origins in live
instrumental performance. The list of instruments is extensive, some four dozen in all,
ranging from violin, cello, banjo and autoharp through a variety of electric strings
and keyboards to percussion instruments,
recorders, flutes, pan pipes and kazoo, plus a
number of exotic sounding things the nature
of which I can only imagine. All are played by
Storring himself. The overall effect is vaguely
dreamlike, at times reminiscent of Brian
Eno’s ambient experiments with touches of
Indonesian gamelan textures, Ry Cooder or
perhaps Bill Frisell guitar slides, bagpipe-like
drones (although I don’t see pipes listed) and
bell-chime melodies suggesting Ripperton’s
haunting soprano voice. All in all it must
be heard to be believed. Certainly the seed
money provided by the emerging composer
award has come to full
blossom on this disc.
I first heard the
music of Gordon
Fitzell when New
Music Concerts (of
which, in the spirit
of full disclosure, I
will admit to being
the general manager)
presented Generation 2000, the
first of what would become a bi-annual
cross country tour by the Ensemble contemporain de Montréal (now ECM+) as part of
the second Massey Hall New Music Festival.
In the intervening years New Music Concerts
and the Music Gallery have been the Toronto
hosts for each of the subsequent tours, which
feature four young composers selected by jury
from across Canada, most recently this past
November with Generation 2014. That occasion was also the launch of Magister Ludi
– Music of Gordon Fitzell, the latest CD by
ECM+ and their first on the Centrediscs label
(CMCCD 20414).
Manitoba-born Fitzell studied at the
Universities of Brandon and Alberta before
completing his doctorate at UBC, and now
teaches at the University of Manitoba. As
mentioned, his relationship with ECM+ dates
back a decade and a half and as director
Véronique Lacroix relates in the liner notes,
it has been something of an ongoing affair
and a rewarding one at that. In addition to
Flux, written for that first “Generation” tour,
ECM+ commissioned the title track – a work
for flute octet and solo cello – and premiered
Pangaea Ultima, for bass clarinet, percussion, piano, electric guitar, violin and double
bass. All of these are featured on this disc,
along with violence, a work commissioned
and previously recorded by the renowned
American contemporary sextet eighth blackbird, and Evanescence for small ensemble
(doubling on crystal glasses and ceramic
bowl) with interactive electronics. This latter
is actually based on the former work and
was premiered by eighth blackbird at The
Kitchen in New York in 2007. Since that
time Evanescence has received nearly 100
performances (including one in Toronto by
the New Music Concerts ensemble under the
direction of Robert Aitken in 2011) and was
the centrepiece of an ECM+ concert of the
same name in 2014.
Fitzell’s work is often inspired by extramusical ideas – Hermann Hesse’s Glass
Bead Game being the basis of “an audacious
expression of the fundamental and seemingly ethereal presence of the universe” in
Magister Ludi, “exploring the phenomenon of
perceived variances in the flow of experiential
December 1 2014 - February 7, 2015 | 73
time” in Flux and reflecting on the “hypothetical supercontinent that is expected to
form over the next several hundred million
years as the result of a merging of the Earth’s
landmasses” in Pangaea Ultima. His sound
world involves extended instrumental techniques and extra-musical effects – the
electronic processing and crystal glasses
mentioned above and a prominent musical
saw in Pangaea Ultima to name a few. The
language is firmly based in the “hard core”
school of contemporary composition with no
hint of the neo-Romanticism so prominent
among many younger composers, without
however being particularly abrasive. There is
a warmth and welcoming in the music that
belies the fact that you won’t come away
from the listening experience humming any
catchy tunes.
Like so much of what ECM+ takes on, this
is challenging repertoire and a brave undertaking. The ensemble proves itself once again
well up to the task with its virtuosity and
fluency in contemporary idioms. This disc
is a testament to the vision and determination, not to mention the consummate musicianship, of Lacroix who has been at the helm
since founding the ensemble in 1987.
If there’s one genre
I like above all others
it is the string quartet,
and it doesn’t get
any better than late
Beethoven. This is
not to say it doesn’t
get as good as that in
for instance Bartók
and Shostakovich, just that Beethoven is
hard to beat. So it was with pleasant anticipation that I took up the latest release from
the Penderecki String Quartet – Beethoven
String Quartets Opp.132 & 135 (Marquis
MAR 81449).
There is of course no shortage of recordings of Beethoven’s quartets; a quick search
of the Atelier Grigorian website resulted in
95 to choose from, including complete cycles
of all 16 by most of the major quartets of the
20th and 21st century. In a strange way this
is why it is in a sense refreshing to have a
single release from one of Canada’s premiere
ensembles, encouraging focus on just a
couple of great works rather than immersion in an entire oeuvre. These final two offerings (although as the liner note points out
No.15, Op.132 was in fact composed before
No.13, Op.130) stand alone in the canon and
are surprisingly different from each other.
Op.132 in A minor is extremely dark, but
never lugubrious, over most of its 45 minutes,
with a central Molto Adagio-Andante movement lasting more than a quarter of an hour.
A stately, but at times still mysterious Alla
Marcia provides a bridge to the uplifting
Molto appassionato; Presto finale providing
light at the end of the tunnel. The final quartet
in F major, is relatively light-hearted with its
Allegretto opening and scherzo-like Vivace
second movement in which, in the words
74 | December 1 2014 - February 7, 2015
of annotator Jan Narveson, “the lower three
instruments play the same slightly mad figure
over and over (48 times!) while the first violin
cavorts insanely above them.” A darker Lento
assai is then followed by a finale that starts
out Grave with Beethoven’s own question
“Must it be?” but soon resolves into a sunny
and ebullient response: “It must be!”
The Penderecki Quartet is in fine form
throughout, with its nuanced inflections
capturing the various moods of these mighty
works. This release confirms that the PSQ is
as at home in the standard repertoire as it is
in the realm of the modern and contemporary
where they are most often found. Known for
their interpretations of such modern masters
as Szymanowski, Bartók, Lutosławski and
their namesake, the quartet also champions
the work of Canadian composers including
Harry Freedman, Alice Ho, Gilles Tremblay,
Piotr Grella-Możejko, Glenn Buhr and Marjan
Mozetich to name a few. The PSQ website lists
30 CD titles (some unfortunately out of print)
including half a dozen on the Centrediscs
label, as testimony to its myriad activities
since being founded in Poland in 1986 (where
it won the Penderecki Prize at the National
Chamber Music Competition in Lódz, and
with that the right to use the composer’s name). The PSQ has been in residence
at Wilfrid Laurier University since 1991 and
an integral part of creative life in Southern
Ontario throughout the past two decades.
I began this article by saying that there was
just too much of interest to actually cover in
the allotted space. A couple of other quartet
titles that caught my attention but which
I will dutifully pass on to Terry Robbins
for Strings Attached in the next issue, after
enjoying them for a while longer, were
the first installment of the Alcan Quartet’s
Beethoven cycle (ATMA ACD2 2491) and the
Ying Quartet’s complete Schumann (Sono
Luminus DSL-92184). I mention them as
more than worthy of note in case you don’t
want to wait for Terry’s endorsement. Also
received too late for assignment this month,
an intriguing DVD and CD release from
Centrediscs, Bookburners – Music by Nicole
Lizée (CMCCD 20514). The DVD includes
the multi-media works Hitchcock Études
(a re-mix of Hitchcock scores replete with
images from his films) and the title track for
turntables and solo cello (featuring Stéphane
Tétreault). Stay tuned for full reviews in
February.
We welcome your feedback and invite
submissions. CDs and comments should
be sent to: DISCoveries, WholeNote Media
Inc., The Centre for Social Innovation, 503
– 720 Bathurst St. Toronto ON M5S 2R4.
We also encourage you to visit our website
thewholenote.com where you can find added
features including direct links to performers,
composers and record labels, and additional,
expanded and archival reviews.
David Olds, DISCoveries Editor
discoveries@thewholenote.com
VOCAL
Handel – Messiah
Gillian Keith; Daniel Taylor; Tom Randle;
Summer Thompson; Handel and Haydn
Society; Harry Christophers
CORO COR16125
The Boston Handel
and Haydn Society has
had a long and distinguished history. It
was founded in 1815
(these recordings
mark its 200th anniversary), at a time
when Handel represented the old and Haydn the new. Messiah
has been important for many years: the
Society performed excerpts in 1815, gave the
first American performance of the complete
work in 1818 and began its annual performances in 1854.
On this recording the soprano (Gillian
Keith) and the alto (Daniel Taylor), both
Canadians, are superb. I also liked the baritone, Summer Thompson, who is imposing
in exactly the right way. I have reservations
about the tenor, Tom Randle, who sings with
great involvement but also with a great deal of
vibrato. The very good orchestra of the Society
is now led by “our own” Aisslinn Nosky, who
in the past has given us so much pleasure as
a member of Tafelmusik, I Furiosi and the
Eybler Quartet. Harry Christophers conducts
with real momentum and the choir is terrific
(just sample them in All we like sheep).
High points: there are many, but I especially
enjoyed the soprano’s precision in Rejoice
greatly, the alto’s He was despised (beautifully decorated in the return of the opening
section in a way that never obscures the vocal
line) as well as the alto-soprano duet He
shall feed his flock. Handel originally wrote
the duet as a soprano aria and his revision
was well judged: the entry of the soprano
is magical. When I was asked to review
these discs, my first thought was: another
Messiah – who needs it? I couldn’t have been
more wrong.
Hans de Groot
Concert Note: There is a plethora of live
performances of Messiah to be found in our
December listings elsewhere in these pages.
St. Petersburg
Cecilia Bartoli; I Barocchisti; Diego Fasolis
Decca 478 6767
With celebrity
comes responsibility,
at least it should in the
arts. That is why many
celebrated soloists,
once having established themselves with
the standard repertoire, seek new or forgotten gems to create
thewholenote.com
their legacy. After all, Maria Callas opened
our ears anew to the music of Cherubini
and Bellini.
Cecilia Bartoli, a mezzo, whose impact on
the musical scene was in my opinion at times
overestimated, has researched and recorded a
fascinating disc of largely forgotten music. In
stark contrast to 2014, Russians of the 1700s
desperately tried to emulate and get closer
to Western Europe. Peter the Great, he of
St. Petersburg and the infamous “beard tax,”
started a cultural trend that continued until
the outbreak of the Bolshevik Revolution. A
large part of this Europeanization of Russia
was a musical development, encouraged
and supervised by three Tsaritsas – Anna,
Elizabeth and Catherine the Great. The course
chosen by those powerful women was to
import Italian opera wholesale, including
Italian composers and Italian musical sensibilities. Famously, Porpora refused to be
seduced by the “Third Rome” (as the Tsars
referred to their capitol, suggesting that they
had continued with the Byzantine tradition).
This opened the way for lesser talents such
as Francesco Domenico Araia and Vinzenco
Manfredini. Alas, even Cimarosa contributed
to this “Russian renaissance,” which came
to an abrupt halt when Catherine the Great
turned her attention to the stage plays of
Voltaire and Diderot.
Found in the archives of the Mariinsky
Theatre, the works recorded here are restored
to life in a lavishly illustrated edition, played
with great sensitivity by I Barocchisti. Kudos
to Bartoli for this find, although the arias
themselves at times tax her stubbornly
small mezzo.
Robert Tomas
Strauss – Arabella
Renée Fleming; Thomas Hampson; Dresden
State Opera; Christian Thielemann
Cmajor 717208
Fleming – Hampson
– Thielemann.
Salzburg Easter
Festival certainly
did well by getting
this team for a new
Arabella for the
Strauss anniversary season. Director
Florentine Klepper
overcame the challenge for something
new and different
yet in immaculate taste by traversing the
scene into the 20th century, the Art Deco
period with a gorgeous, panoramic set fitting
nicely onto the wide stage of the Grosses
Festpielhaus. Being a woman, she had the
right feeling and empathy for the female characters; so important in this opera.
Not that she had a difficult time. For
the title role, Renée Fleming has been the
reigning diva of Straussian heroines. Her
uncanny ability to delve her entire self into
thewholenote.com
the character has been legendary and her
soprano voice has all the delicacy and nuance
for this very demanding role. Arabella is in
the midst of a difficult decision of choosing a
husband from a trio of rich, bumbling suitors
and hopes for the right man to miraculously
appear, and he does.
The right man, American baritone Thomas
Hampson (Mandryka) is having some difficulty in becoming this gauche, shy provincial
fellow, but his handsome physique, stamina
and vocal power amply compensate. The
two fall into each other’s arms and the opera
would be over, but unfortunately that’s where
all the trouble begins, caused by the younger
sister and her lover, who provide a lot of
sparkle to the story.
Highest praise goes for Thielemann who
conducts with beautifully sustained broad
tempi, relishing in the beauties of the score,
keeping it as an undercurrent, but coming
to the fore just at the right moments and
towards a ravishing finale.
Janos Gardonyi
Vienna at the Turn of the Century – A
Recital with Renée Fleming
Renée Fleming; Maciej Pikulski
ArtHaus Musik 102 196
In an age of instant
gratification and overnight (YouTube)
success, enduring
artists like Renée
Fleming are a rare
breed. The singer,
currently in her
mid-50s, epitomizes the slow-burn. At
the age when many
sopranos are considering retirement, Fleming is in peak form,
defying any tarnishing of the upper register as
well as the visual impact of middle age. I was
not always a fan. In fact, some two decades
ago I dismissed her as a lightweight. What
I did not recognize then was that this was
a singer on her way to greatness. The proof
came a few seasons ago, at the Met, where
she conquered the role of Marschallin in Der
Rosenkavalier. Immediately inviting (and
challenging) comparisons with Elisabeth
Schwarzkopf, her erstwhile teacher, Fleming
has firmly established herself as the preeminent soprano of our times.
This glittering concert at the acoustically
perfect Golden Hall of the Musikverein hall
Vienna is a virtual compendium of lieder over
almost 50 years. From Mahler and Zemlinsky
to Korngold and Strauss, Fleming’s recital
tells in music the story of the Golden Age of
the great city on the Danube. Polish pianist
Maciej Pikulski offers sensitive, Gerald Moorelike piano support. This beautiful disc may
prompt listeners to get dressed in their
Sunday best before pressing the start button.
Robert Tomas
Milhaud – L’Orestie d’Eschyle
Soloists; University of Michigan Symphony
Orchestra, Chorus and Percussion
Ensemble; Kenneth Kiesler
Naxos 8.660349-51
Aeschylus’ Orestia
trilogy was transformed by Paul
Claudel and Darius
Milhaud into two
plays with music
and one opera. For
L’Agamemnon (1913),
Milhaud created one
notable imitative chorus with dramatic interpolations by Clytemnestra, who had just
murdered her husband. From her entering
high B onward, soprano Lori Phillips sings
Clytemnestra splendidly. Modal harmony
over long pedal notes, repetitive elements and
insistent rhythm become an early manifestation of minimalism.
In Les Choéphores (1915-16) Orestes
returns to avenge his father Agamemnon’s
death. Milhaud’s choral magic continues
in the funeral chorus underpinned by his
characteristic orchestral parallel chords in
different keys, and in the weeping Libation
chorus “Go away my tears, drop by drop.”
Dan Kempson’s baritone is lustrous in his
compelling portrayal of Orestes. As the slave
women’s leader Sophie Delphis is thrilling in
her rhythmically spoken solo (spoken word
poetry is not new!), amply propelled with no
less than 15 percussionists in the “kitchen.”
Completing the trilogy is the threeact opera Les Euménides (1917-23) where
Orestes is on trial. Presiding goddess Athena
emerges as complex, awe-inspiring and threevoiced! Her hair-raising trios sung magnificently by Brenda Rae, Tamara Mumford and
Jennifer Lane contain some of Milhaud’s most
adventurous vocal writing. Throughout, the
Michigan choirs and orchestra set a professional standard in this tremendous project
initiated by Milhaud-taught composer
William Bolcom. There’s much more to say,
about the choruses and orchestra, about
Milhaud’s Brazilian influences … a disc
recommended for the intrigued.
Roger Knox
Galicians 1: The Art Songs
Pavlo Hunka et al.
Ukrainian Art Song Project
(ukrainianartsong.ca)
For the past decade
the British-born bassbaritone Pavlo Hunka
has made it his life’s
work to share the art
songs of his Ukrainian
heritage with the
entire world. In partnership with Roman
Hurko, composer,
opera director and
December 1 2014 - February 7, 2015 | 75
producer, he has previously recorded three
CDs of this repertoire and has recently
unveiled a 6-CD collection of music from the
Galician (Western) region of Ukraine with
even more yet to come.
The first disc in this set also serves to introduce us to the team of celebrated Canadian
vocal artists that has given life to this ambitious project. In addition to Hunka’s own
powerful voice, they include sopranos Monica
Whicher, Nathalie Paulin and mezzo-soprano
Krisztina Szabó, tenors Benjamin Butterfield
and Colin Ainsworth, and baritone Russell
Braun, with additional support from pianists Carolyn Maule and Serouj Kradjian. This
initial volume is devoted to the art songs
of Denys Sichynsky (1865-1909) which
date mainly from the twilight of romanticism. They are typically declamatory, earnest
minor key laments with often quite elaborate
keyboard parts, dispatched with panache
by the expert pianist Albert Krywolt, who
accompanies the lion’s share of the songs in
this anthology.
The long life of Stanyslav Liudkevych
(1879-1979) requires two CDs to tell his
story. Though the majority of the 28 songs on
offer date from the early 20th century, the
composer was still active into the mid-1960s.
His harmonic language is often daring and
freely modulatory and the ingenious textures
of his piano accompaniments suggest an
orchestral conception. Eclecticism aside, it’s
nonetheless clear that a major talent is on
display here. The first CD is so totally dominated by male voices that the sole exception
sung by Nathalie Paulin comes as quite a
relief. Fortunately the second CD is more judiciously shared between the genders.
A tragic figure, Vasyl Barvinsky (1888-1963)
was the director of the Lysenko Institute of
Music and its successor institution the Lviv
Conservatory and maintained a commanding
profile both locally and internationally.
In 1948 however, political intrigues brought
him crashing to earth. He was arrested, his
musical scores were publicly burned in the
Conservatory courtyard and he was sentenced
to spend the next decade toiling at a labour
camp in the backwaters of Mordovia. He
spent the remainder of his life attempting to
reconstruct his musical legacy, which is stylistically indebted to Debussy yet always strikingly lyrical. Fortunately compositions he had
considered lost forever are slowly coming to
light from Western sources. The majority of
the selection of 17 songs are shared between
Hunka and the excellent soprano Szabó and
include some beautifully rendered violin
passages by Annalee Patipatanakoon.
Though described as a “modernist,” there
is little to fear from the passionate and often
deeply autobiographical music of Stefania
Turkewich (1898-1977). Stylistically it does
not go far beyond the extended tonality of
the earliest works of Alban Berg. A pupil
of Barvinsky, she went on to study with
Schoenberg and Schreker in Berlin in the
1920s and subsequently worked in Lviv.
76 | December 1 2014 - February 7, 2015
Acclaimed as the first Ukrainian woman
composer, she emigrated to England in 1948,
where she sought recognition in vain within
the intensely insular post-war British musical
establishment. Hunko and company make
just emends for her neglect in this extensive
selection of 20 songs, including two winning
and resolutely tonal English-language
nursery rhymes.
A sixth compilation disc completes the set.
The recordings are accompanied by a lavish
booklet with texts and translations in four
languages. Seamless and consistent audio
editing throughout is credited to veteran
producer Doug Doctor at the helm in Glenn
Gould Studio. A most welcome and innovative aspect of the project includes making
newly engraved editions of the scores of
these neglected gems freely available through
ukrainianartsong.ca. The album may also be
ordered there as well as through iTunes.
Daniel Foley
EARLY MUSIC AND PERIOD PERFORMANCE
Metamorfosi – Impressions Baroques
Suzie LeBlanc; Constantinople
Analekta AN 2 9142
La Veillée de Noël
Suzie LeBlanc
ATMA ACD2 2523
Featuring the music
of Barbara Strozzi
and her mentors
and contemporaries (Monteverdi,
Kapsberger, Rossi,
Merula and Landi),
the incomparable soprano Suzie LeBlanc has teamed up
with a most remarkable ensemble. In this
recording, Constantinople looks to the early
baroque with its well-established technique
of infusing early and contemporary Western
music with Persian musical traditions. And
the repertoire of 17th-century Venice lends
itself very well to the fusion, with its own
tradition of highly-ornamented stylization,
resulting in an intricate and marvellous interpretation. Joining the Tabassian brothers
Kiya (setar) and Ziya (percussion) are Enrique
Solinis (baroque guitar/theorbo), Pierre-Yves
Martel (viola da gamba) and Miren Zeberio
(baroque violin). Unique exchanges abound
amongst the instrumentalists, particularly
in the Kapsberger selections, ever shifting
in rhythmic nuance. It is a delight to hear
LeBlanc interpret the songs of Barbara Strozzi,
a singer and composer known as much for
her intellect, learning and wit as her talent
and beauty. LeBlanc skillfully captures her
spirit. Her profoundly moving performance
of Monteverdi’s Si dolce è il tormento bears
witness to a wide range of emotion encapsulated in its simple strophic form. This has proven
to be a particularly prolific year for
LeBlanc. A scholar
in her own right, she
has also been busy of
late researching rare
Christmas tunes from
France and Acadia, resulting in the release
of a lovely collection on her latest CD, La
Veillée de Noël.
Dianne Wells
Giovanni Felice Sances – Complete Arias,
1636
Bud Roach
Musica Omnia mo0611
Bud Roach started
his professional career
as an oboist (he played
in several American
orchestras) but more
recently has concentrated on singing and
conducting. He is the
director of Capella
Intima, which in recent years has given us
performances of the anonymous Giuseppe
and of Gagliano’s Dafne. Both as a singer and
as a director he specializes in Italian work of
the early 17th century. His first recording as
a tenor was of songs by Alessandro Grandi
and he has now followed this up with a CD
of arias by Giovanni Felice Sances, music first
published in 1636. On both recordings he
accompanies himself on the baroque guitar. I
heard him perform these works at the Boston
Early Music Festival Fringe in July 2013 and it
gave me pleasure to renew my acquaintance
with them. The final song on the disc (Accenti
queruli) is not part of the 1636 edition: it is a
chaconne which was such a prominent and
influential form in the early baroque.
Roach’s voice is light but clear and
distinctive; he has no problem with the high
tessitura of many of the songs. Throughout he
sings with real expressiveness. These songs
can be seen as part of a Petrarchan tradition
of erotic poetry but at the same time they
show an affinity with popular song. They
are now little-known and under-performed.
Roach deserves credit for bringing this repertoire back to life.
Hans de Groot
Couperin – Apothéoses
Gli Incogniti; Amandine Beyer
Harmonia Mundi HMC 902193
It is crystal clear
that this recording
is a labour of love
and full of vibrancy
and personality. The
six instrumentalists of Gli Incogniti
throw themselves
into Couperin’s
thewholenote.com
music, infusing it with youthful vigour and
airy spontaneity.
The program is bookended by sonatas – La
Superbe and La Sultane – both played with
exquisite attention to detail and “French”
virtuosity, i.e. a wide vocabulary of fresh
ornamentation that gives one the idea that
everything is being improvised. Violinists
Amandine Beyer and Alba Roca are perfectly
matched and dance around each other with
great subtlety. Equally impressive is the
continuo team: solid as a rock and adding
heft and/or tenderness where needed.
The major pieces – Couperin’s Apothéoses
de Lulli et Corelli – are works of tremendous
scope, based on Couperin’s intended philosophical desire to reunite the tastes and styles
of Italian and French instrumental music.
They are programmatic, multi-movement
masterpieces and the performances on this
disc are very fine. My only argument is with
the tempos of some of the more transparent
movements. There is a driving quality to the
group’s playing that is immensely attractive
most of the time; however, some of the
ethereal, transparent movements need more
dreamy air and space – and could simply
be slower.
Special mention must be made of the
gorgeous, sensuous gamba playing of
Baldomero Barciela and Filipa Meneses in La
Sultane. Their performance of this sonata is
worth the price of the CD alone.
Larry Beckwith
Concert Note: Gli Incogniti’s leader, violinist
Amandine Beyer, is the latest guest director
with Tafelmusik this month, in a French
program – including a violin concerto by
Jean-Marie Leclair – with performances
December 4 to 7 in Jeanne Lamon Hall at
Trinity-St. Paul’s Centre.
Stradella – Duets
Susanne Rydén; Emma Kirkby; Sergio
Foresti; Harmonices Mundi; Claudio
Astronio
Brilliant Classics 94343
Alessandro
Stradella’s private life
has created a wave of
speculation although
it is clear that he was
killed in Genoa in
1682. His untimely
end deprived Italian
music of an exceptional composer. On this CD, however, we
enjoy the voice of the singer who is for
many both the face and the voice of early
music, Dame Emma Kirkby. She appears
on eight duets, commencing with the lively
Cara labbra che d’amore. More intense is
Pazienza, finirá l’influenza with its sombre
stringed introduction and continuo. Here
Susanne Rydén and bass Sergio Foresti convey
a message of hope, even though Foresti’s bass
and the continuo still combine to produce
a certain overshadowing darkness. Kirkby
thewholenote.com
displays a real intensity with her interpretation of Ahi, che posar non puote, a duet with
Foresti, where her skills are at their finest.
For Rydén, one of the most testing pieces
must be Fulmini, quanto sa quel sembiante
severo – the musical elements portraying the
arrows of emotion are clearly recognizable.
For Kirkby the test of how to demonstrate
pictorial qualities in music comes in Ardo,
sospiro e piango, where dissonance is used to
evoke musical sighs. Dietro l’orme del desio is
another highly demanding duet. Many of the
classic Italian devices are employed to great
effect; for example, in one passage, in addition to difficult notes, pauses underline the
meaning and rhythm of words.
There is no doubt that listening to this
recording confirms the loss to music when
we think what Stradella might have gone on
to compose and also Dame Emma Kirkby’s
place in early music.
Michael Schwartz
Bach – The Art of the Fugue
Angela Hewitt
Hyperion CDA67980
Four years ago,
Hyperion released all
of Canadian pianist
Angela Hewitt’s
recordings of Bach’s
solo keyboard works
as a 15-disc boxed set.
It was a huge project,
but it didn’t include
Bach’s monumental late work, The Art of the
Fugue. Hewitt has now tackled this set of
18 fugues and canons, which she describes
in her detailed booklet notes as “completely
overwhelming, both intellectually and
emotionally.”
Hewitt’s stylistic trademarks are here
– dancing rhythms, nuanced touch and
sparkling clarity. She colours each voice so
distinctively, you can hear right into the
complex textures. But her greatest achievement is to reveal the spiritual depth that
suffuses this work. It becomes not just an
exploration of all the things counterpoint can
do, but an exploration of just about everything that music can possibly do – and
then some.
Bach never specified the instrumentation
for this work. Hewitt makes as convincing a
case for performing it on a modern piano as
any I have heard, especially with an instrument as responsive as her Fazioli.
Bach’s score ends, enigmatically, part way
through the final fugue. Most performances
either stop there, or add on a completion in
Bach’s style. Following the original edition,
Hewitt stops mid-fugue, pauses, then plays
Bach’s “deathbed” chorale prelude Wenn wir
in höchsten Nöten sein (When in the hour of
utmost need), which C.P.E. Bach copied into
the score after his father’s death. It makes for
an intimate and moving finale.
Pamela Margles
Concert note: Angela Hewitt appears with
soprano Anne Sofie von Otter in a recital of
songs and solo piano works by Beethoven,
Schubert, Brahms, Fauré, Debussy and others
at Koerner Hall on January 9.
CLASSICAL AND BEYOND
Hummel – Piano Trios 1
Gould Piano Trio
Naxos 8.573098
Johann Nepomuk
Hummel (1778-1837)
was an influential
composer, virtuoso
piano performer and
a well-known teacher
during his lifetime. He
was a student of many
famous teachers:
Clementi, Mozart, Albrechtsberger, Salieri
and Haydn. His friends included Beethoven,
Schubert and Goethe. He wrote beautiful
music, mostly for piano, but also explored
other less popular instruments (such as
trumpet and guitar), and made Weimar a
European musical capital while he was active
there. Hummel’s musical aesthetics were
founded on a classical model of clean lines
and balanced melodies, at a time that was
giving birth to a new wave of bravura piano
players and general discontent with musical
conventions. The world’s obsession with the
romantic ideals could be the main reason
why Hummel’s music was forgotten after
his death.
The piano trios on this recording were
written over the span of 15 years and feature
all the elements of the classical style but also
offer a wealth of melodies and fresh musical
ideas. Each trio, for example, features a Rondo
as the concluding movement, but each Rondo
comes with its own style, whether borrowing
motifs from Turkish or Russian musical traditions or introducing scherzo elements and
surprising modulations.
The Gould Piano Trio (Lucy Gould, violin,
Alice Neary, cello, and Benjamin Frith,
piano) clearly enjoys bringing this somewhat forgotten music to life. Most impressive are the nuanced articulation in the violin
and balanced phrasing of the ensemble. This
recording will be greatly appreciated by fans
of the classical period who just might discover
a new voice.
Ivana Popovic
Beethoven – 9 Symphonies
Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal; Kent
Nagano
Analekta AN 2 9150-5
Has it really been nine years since Kent
Nagano took over the podium of the Montreal
Symphony? Never mind the mop of waving
hair or the animated conducting style, he is a
musician par excellence, and has maintained
December 1 2014 - February 7, 2015 | 77
the high standards set by his predecessor,
Charles Dutoit. For their newest release, the
orchestra has issued a
complete set of the
Beethoven
symphonies, having
presented them singly
during the past six
years. Six of them
were recorded live
between 2008 and 2014 and along with
excerpts from Egmont and the Creatures of
Prometheus, it’s a handsome collection on
the Analekta label.
There are innumerable recordings of
Beethoven’s complete symphonies, so what
makes this one stand apart from the others?
For one thing, it’s Nagano’s lack of sensationalism. Despite this conductor’s sometime exuberant persona, his interpretations
are known for their intelligence and clarity,
and this is nowhere more evident than in this
collection. The Symphony No.1 is a case in
point. From the first hesitant measures, the
listener immediately senses that indeed, this
is what Beethoven would have wanted. This
groundbreaking work is presented in an energetic and articulated manner, the phrasing
always carefully nuanced.
On the other hand, Symphony No.3 is
suitably heroic, my only quibble being a
slightly brisker tempo in the opening movement than I’m used to. When comparing
this to the more measured interpretations by
European conductors it may come across as
too hurried. But this is a minor point, and the
careful phrasing coupled with the exemplary
performance by the brass and woodwinds
more than makes up for it.
The much-beloved “Pastoral” is all gentleness, the strings demonstrating a particular
warmth and resonance.
What more can be said about the great
Symphony No.9? This particular performance was recorded for the inaugural concert
in the new Maison Symphonique de Montréal
in September, 2011 and features sopranos
Adrienne Pieczonka and Erin Wall, mezzo
Mihoko Fujimura, tenor Simon O’Neill and
bass Mikhail Petrenko along with the OSM
Chorus and the Tafelmusik Chamber Choir.
While the approach is noble and confident,
to my ears, it doesn’t break any new ground
in interpretation – but this is not necessarily
a bad thing, and the soloists all deliver solid
performances.
But how do they handle my favourite
symphony, the glorious No.7 written in 1812?
Not surprisingly, Nagano and the OSM live up
to expectations. The performance is magnificent – energetic and robust – at all times
displaying a wonderful cohesion of sound
particularly evident in the joyful finale.
Bravo to Maestro Nagano and the musicians of the Montreal Symphony Orchestra.
You have proven that there is indeed room
for yet another set of the complete Beethoven
symphonies – and the rousing applause at the
conclusion of the live performances is a clear
78 | December 1 2014 - February 7, 2015
indication that others felt the same.
Richard Haskell
Mahler – Symphony No.9
Gewandhaus Orchestra; Riccardo Chailly
Accentus Music ACC 20299
This is the sixth of
Chailly’s live performances of Mahler
symphonies thus far
released on Blu-Ray
video discs (and
DVD). Each release
(since the Second
and Eighth) contains
a discussion of the
particular symphony,
together with selected
rehearsals and concert excerpts to illustrate
Chailly’s rethinking of performance practices
and where he believes Mahler’s intentions
were misunderstood.
We observe Chailly and Mahler scholar and
author Henry-Louis de le Grange discussing
the work and weighing all the clues that led to
their considered opinion that this symphony
is not one of resignation and farewell as
Leonard Bernstein, for one, would have it. In
this performance, Chailly’s first movement
reflects the metre of the first movement of the
Fourth Symphony; the second movement is
faster than usual with a sense of fantasy and
the third, Rondo-Burleske, is pleasingly brisk.
His last movement is for listeners who are
weary of the hand-wringing performances,
especially those of Bernstein who helped
resurrect Mahler in the 1950s, that treat the
symphony as a tragic resignation, another
Abschied. Chailly’s is a mighty performance,
very positive and life-affirming.
These are Chailly’s own insights and after
several listening sessions I am inclined to
agree. There is no positive right or wrong,
simply different points of view. This is a brilliant performance, exceptional on every level,
and deserves to be heard and reheard.
Bruce Surtees
Invocation
Herbert Schuch
Naïve discoveries V 5362
Since he first
attracted attention by winning
three important
competitions – the
Casagrande, the
London International
Piano Competition
and the International Beethoven Competition
in Vienna, Romanian-born pianist Herbert
Schuch has been regarded as an artist less
focused on flash and pizzazz and more on
thoughtful and sensitive interpretation. This
is certainly the case with his newest CD,
Invocation. As a basis for the recording – his
tenth – he used his fascination with bells
and their sonorities, reflected in the inclusion of three 20th-century works: Tristan
Murail’s Cloches d’adieu, Messiaen’s Cloches
d’angoisse and La vallée des cloches by Ravel.
Apart from Bach transcriptions by Ferruccio
Busoni and Harold Bauer, the other compositions are all by Franz Liszt, resulting in a
most intriguing program.
What makes this disc particularly appealing
is the juxtaposition of musical styles. It opens
with a Busoni transcription of Bach’s chorale
Ich ruf zu dir, her jesu Christ BWV639,
music of quiet introspection. In total contrast
is the short piece by Tristan Murail from
1992, music showing distinct influences of
Messiaen with its tone clusters and use of
polymodality. We’re then back in the 19th
century for three movements from Liszt’s
set of Harmonies poétiques et religieuses.
The third and seventh, Benédiction de dieu
dans la solitude and Funérailles are largescale canvases that should be undertaken by
only the most capable of Liszt players, but
Shuch handles the technical requirements
with apparent ease, achieving a wonderfully sonorous tone throughout. The pieces
by Messiaen and Ravel are moody and
mysterious, and Shuch’s refined interpretation demonstrates a compelling sense of
rhythm and nuance.
Eclectic and thoughtfully programmed,
Invocation is a tribute to a wide range of
piano music performed in a manner that
combines sensitivity with brilliance – and
as such, it is a most welcome addition to the
catalogue.
Richard Haskell
MODERN AND CONTEMPORARY
The Transfigured Nightingale – Music for
Clarinet and Piano
Jerome Summers; Robert Kortgaard
Blue Griffin Records BGR339
bluegriffin.com
Clarinetist
Jerome Summers
has completed his
“Nightingale” trilogy
of recordings, a project
he began in 1994. This
one, Transfigured
Nightingale,
comprises mostly
works transcribed for clarinet, with the
exception of Brahms’ Sonata in E-flat Op.120,
No.2. Included on a mere technicality (it was
transcribed for viola by the composer), it’s
really here because Mr. Summers loves it, and
why not? Late Brahms is balm to the soul of
those who play the nerdiest of woodwinds,
the exploding cigar of the orchestra.
Summers handles the instrument with
ease. His tone on most of the material is
smooth and velvety. Michael Conway Baker’s
Canticle for Ryan (originally for violin)
and Marek Norman’s Just Think (originally
thewholenote.com
a setting of a poem by Robert Service) are
effective if sugary vehicles for Summers’
fluid cantabile. Two Shostakovich symphonic
extracts offer an austere counterpoint to
these selections. I particularly like hearing
the scherzo from the Ninth presented as a
solo piece with piano. Taking it at just under
full-on Russian March Hare tempo, Summers
sounds like he’d fit in with any orchestra in
the country.
Pianist Robert Kortgaard provides agreement, support and bundles of musicality.
He and Summers agreed to a stately set of
tempi for the Op.120, playing the part of elder
gentlemen rather than impersonating the
young Richard Mühlfeld, Brahms’ “nightingale.” Also included is Rachmaninov’s cello
sonata, in Summers’ own transcription. At a
hefty 36-plus minutes, it argues better for the
cello than the Brahms does for the viola.
Max Christie
Brian Current – Airline Icarus
Huhtanen; Szabó; Thomson; Dobson; Sirett;
Ensemble; Brian Current
Naxos 8.660356
Airline Icarus
by composer Brian
Current and librettist Anton Piatigorsky
was initially commissioned in 2001 and
underwent a series
TERRY ROBBINS
The idea for Music
from Armenia for Cello
and Piano, a Divine
Art CD (divineartrecords.com) featuring
Newfoundland cellist
Heather Tuach and the
Armenian-Canadian
pianist Patil Harboyan, began with a 2012
recital by the duo in Newfoundland that
included Alexander Arutiunian’s Impromptu,
the short work that opens this disc. The
enthusiastic audience reaction to the piece
encouraged the performers to search the
Armenian cello and piano repertoire for
music that would make for an appealing and
informative CD. They certainly succeeded.
Armenia was under Soviet Russian rule
from 1920 to 1991, and the music here is
essentially what you would expect from that
background (Arno Babajanian’s Vocalise, for
example, is very similar to Rachmaninov’s),
but the significant aspect of the CD is its
recognition of the importance of the documentation and preservation of Armenian
folk music.
The crucial figure in this respect was
Gomidas, described in the excellent booklet
notes as the founder of Armenian classical
music and ethnomusicology, working in
much the same manner as his direct contemporary Béla Bartók in Hungary. Most of his
ten short folk songs here are arrangements by
cellist Geronty Talalyan of the string quartet
versions by Sergei Aslamazian, and they’re
highly entertaining.
The one major work on the CD is the
Sonata for Cello and Piano Op.35 by Haro
Stepanian, who graduated from the Leningrad
Conservatory and also collected Armenian
melodies from his homeland; the influences of both his Russian training and his
Armenian folk music research are evident in a
thewholenote.com
very attractive and effective work.
The whole CD is a fascinating portrait of a
musical heritage perhaps most widely represented for most people by the music of Aram
Khachaturian, who openly acknowledged his
– and Armenian music’s – debt to Gomidas.
The performances are rich and full of nuance,
and the balance and
recorded sound are ideal.
Chamber Works is a
quite exceptional new
CD featuring members
of Camerata Pacifica
playing music by the
American composer
John Harbison, who turns 76 later this
month (harmonia mundi usa HMU 907619).
Violinist Amy Schwartz Moretti, violist
Richard O’Neill and cellist Ani Aznavoorian
combine for the six-movement String Trio
from 2013, a striking work of strength
and depth.
Paul Huang is outstanding in the Four
Songs of Solitude for solo violin, written for
Harbison’s violinist wife. Technically challenging, these are lyrical pieces (“songs, not
sonatas or fugues,” stresses the composer)
with a definite edge.
Songs America Loves to Sing, a set of
ten popular American melodies for flute,
clarinet, violin, cello and piano, rounds out a
marvelous CD. The final track, Anniversary
Song, ends with a wheezy harmonica contribution in Happy Birthday To You. It’s simply
terrific stuff!
One of the real benefits
of reviewing CDs is the
exposure to composers –
especially contemporary
ones – who are new to
you. Seven Deadly Sins,
the new Naxos American
Classics CD (9.70204)
of developments in the ensuing decade. This
intense, 45-minute chamber opera transports
the listener through an emotional journey
as it depicts the reactions of passengers and
crew on a doomed commercial flight. The
work was inspired by the tragic crash of a
Korean airliner that was struck by a Soviet
missile in 1983 and descended for nearly 15
minutes before impact.
The opera’s award-winning composer,
conductor and music director, Brian Current,
presents a cohesive vision for this impressive, multi-layered work that incorporates the myth of Icarus, whose wings melted
after flying too close to the sun. It serves as a
reminder that our technological advances can
have devastating results.
of music for violin and piano by Paul Reale,
who turned 71 this year, leaves me wondering
why I haven’t encountered his music before.
I’ve obviously been missing something. The
terrific Jessica Mathaes (another name new
to me) is the violinist here on her second CD,
and Colette Valentine the equally impressive pianist.
The Seven Deadly Sins suite was written in
2009 for Mathaes especially for this recording
(made in 2012) and offers humorous observations of their effect on the human condition. Composers’ Reminiscences is a suite for
solo violin written in 2000, but substantially
revised for this recording. The seven short but
challenging pieces are described as “impressions” (and not imitations) of the styles of
Bartók, Puccini, Paganini, Webern, Corelli,
Ives and Haydn, but to be honest it’s difficult
to differentiate between the two approaches.
The Sonata for Violin and Piano, “Celtic
Wedding” is another work that has been
extensively revised, this time from the 1991
original, for its publication in 2007.
The CD ends with the all-too-brief Holiday
Suite, three very short pieces celebrating
Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s; the
latter features Auld Lang Syne mixed with
the soul of Dave Brubeck’s Take Five. “This
is good-time music,” says Reale, “melody
driven, and devoid of pretension.”
That’s also a pretty good description of
the entire CD. This is immediately accessible
music written with craft, bite, intelligence
and humour, and given outstanding performances. Surprisingly, only the Celtic Wedding
is available in sheet music form. It’s a pity;
this is music that cries out for – and would
be greatly appreciated by – a much wider
audience.
Strings Attached continues at
thewholenote.com with new discs by Anne
Akiko Meyers, Julian and Jiaxin Lloyd Weber,
the Ensō String Quartet and Nigel Armstrong.
December 1 2014 - February 7, 2015 | 79
Piatigorsky’s insight into human nature
exposes a glimpse of humanity at its
most vulnerable as the libretto juxtaposes
mundane conversations with the characters’
introspective thoughts. This dramatic fluctuation is sustained, quite extraordinarily, by the
chamber chorus and soloists Carla Huhtanen
(Ad Exec), Krisztina Szabó (Flight Attendant),
Graham Thomson (Scholar), Alexander
Dobson (Worker/Pilot) and Geoffrey Sirett
(Business Man).
Current’s depiction of turbulence is
frighteningly realistic until an eerie stillness, beautifully performed by the instrumental ensemble, underscores the Pilot’s aria,
providing an impression of suspended time
and space. Superbly sung by Dobson, it ironically describes his joy of flying as the plane
descends. The disturbing Epilogue closes the
opera with a prolonged, final silence.
Dr. Réa Beaumont
áltaVoz Composers
JACK Quartet
New Focus Recordings FCR150
In this latest
release by the JACK
Quartet, four Latin
American composers
are featured, each of
whom are members
of the composer
consortium known
as áltaVoz. Members
of áltaVoz see it as their mandate to promote
cutting edge contemporary music concerts,
workshops, symposia and interdisciplinary
projects with the intension of providing a
provocative forum for artists, institutions and
the community at large.
The four quartets on this recording represent the confluence of its members’ willingness to embrace a wide spectrum of aesthetics
and influences. First on the disc, composer
Felipe Lara’s Tran(slate) invites us into a
world of daring gestures, pops and slides, that
charmingly evoke playful otherworldly sonic
landscapes. The vast array of extended playing
techniques is masterfully orchestrated and
elevates the composer’s language. Next, José
Luis-Hurtado’s L’ardito e quasi stridente gesto
creates an unsettling mood as quiet meandering dissonances explode with jagged interruptions. Throughout Mauricio Pauly’s Every
new volition a mercurial swerve, processdriven swells and pulses propel the listener
into a swarm of rhythmic activity. An ethereal
contrast is created with a luminous harmonic
lightness before the blistering climax
bombards the ear. In Jorge Villavicencio
Grossmann’s String Quartet No. 3 “música
fúnebre y nocturna,” the only multi-movement work on the disc, we receive the clearest
allusions to the tradition of the string quartet.
The influence of Bartók is quite clear and
reminiscences of tonal centres are unmistakable. This, matched with lively groove-driven
passages, secures this work as the most
80 | December 1 2014 - February 7, 2015
accessible of the lot.
The JACK Quartet has approached each
work with a passionate virtuosity and
impressive attention to detail. The punchiness and clarity of gesture throughout is a fine
example of the quartet’s expressive capabilities. The JACK Quartet is known for impassioned interpretations of contemporary
works, and this recording certainly lives up to
that expectation.
Adam Scime
Satie Slowly
Philip Corner
Unseen Worlds UW12
I was impressed
with the program
notes written by
Philip Corner in what
was really a small
book. His writing was
extremely entertaining
and informative.
The written words
really gave a sense of the wit and brilliance
of Satie. For example: “Satie is not as great
as John Cage would have us believe. Who
could be? Certainly not Bach or Beethoven.”
My favourite quote has to be: “If his piano
pieces are so easy why are they so badly
played? […They resist all] added expressivity;
they make those who indulge sound ridiculous. Yet nothing is lacking in them.” Corner’s
written analysis of each piece reflects the
personality of Satie’s music. Critics during
the time slandered Satie and called him a
“petit maître” alongside Debussy and Ravel.
He was not revolutionary in a flamboyant
way but cloaked his visions in traditional
forms reflected in the more obscure repertoire
chosen for these CDs.
A medieval theme is reflected in the
selections which are the Ogives, The Feast
Given By the Norman Knights to Honour a
Young Girl, Preludes of the Nazarene, The
Gothic Dances, Fanfares of the Rose+Cross,
Chorales. These were all played in a very
slow tempo but represented the nature of
the music. Gnossienne No.1, Gymnopedies
(1,2,3) and the Empire’s Diva didn’t fit the
rest of the program but were played in the
same tempo. I would have liked to hear more
swing in the Gnossienne and Gymnopedies
and definitely a more up-beat tempo for the
Empire’s Diva, who was a stripper in a music
hall. However, I could see a Satie wink in this
unique double CD.
Christina Petrowska Quilico
JAZZ AND IMPROVISED MUSIC
Reconnect
Diane Roblin
Independent (dianeroblin.com)
Following a more than 20-year intermission, talented keyboardist and composer
Diane Roblin has made a strong re-emergence
into the jazz world with the release of her
new independent
recording Reconnect.
The well-produced CD
is comprised of ten
original compositions
by Roblin that run the
gamut from funk and
fusion to soul and jazz.
Roblin has also surrounded herself with
creative and dynamic musicians (Jeff King on
tenor, Howard Spring on guitar, Russ Boswell
on bass and Roger Travassos on drums) who
easily and intuitively fit into her eclectic and
invigorating musical vision.
Reconnect kicks off with In the Beginning –
a vigorous funk exploration that calls to mind
electric-era Herbie Hancock. There is nothing
dainty about Roblin’s attack. She is a facile
and deeply emotional keyboardist who establishes her musical territory with a muscular
performance on the Fender Rhodes and technical skill on the acoustic piano. Her pianistic virtuosity is clearly evident on Suspend
Yourself – a complex piece of work in 7/4,
involving a trip to the etheric realms, as well
as a brash dose of fusoid and progressive jazz.
Of particular beauty and depth is Ballad
in 3/4. The haunting melodic line and King’s
sonorous tenor work are an evocative treat.
On Reconnect, Roblin also includes Tune
for Fraser – a stunning acoustic piano solo
piece dedicated to her late musician husband,
Fraser Finlayson. This brave composition
seems to emotionally expose the artist as
she transcends, through her music, all of the
stages of grief and finally arrives at ultimate
redemption.
Lesley Mitchell-Clarke
Bones Blues
Pete Magadini
Delmark/Sackville CD2-4004
(delmark.com)
Recently reissued
with an added track,
this 1977 Torontorecorded gem is
nearly timeless since
it’s an unpretentious
session by a consummate professional that
could have been taped
any time after 1954 … or tomorrow. Unlike
contemporary bop-era emulators however,
the participants in Bones Blues were around
as mainstream jazz was being forged and
played this mixture of blues, standards and
rhythm tunes almost daily in nightclubs.
Bones Blues has added value as well
because it initially gave Toronto piano legend
Wray Downes one of his first chances to
stretch out on record. On the intro to What a
Time We Had, for instance, his sympathetic
elegance is notable; as is his innate command
of the blues sensibility in the title tune.
In 1977, Massachusetts-born leader, drummer
thewholenote.com
Pete Magadini, had just begun his 28-year
Canadian residency as teacher and performer;
while on the disc Buffalo-born tenor saxophonist, Don Menza, consistently demonstrates his mastery of both bop and swing
that gave him featured status in big bands like
Buddy Rich’s. Buoyant even when assaying
assertive 1950s classics like Solar and Freddie
the Freeloader, the saxophonist’s skillful
balance is a highlight. Note how his caressing
of Poor Butterfly’s melody parallels Downes’
two-handed, near-boogie-woogie exposition, and how both lines are underscored by
Magadini’s subtle brush work. Amplifying
the others’ work with powerful strokes and
decorative cadenzas is bassist Dave Young,
who has in the intervening years become a
local legend, habitually busy with club and
concert work in a variety of contexts.
Overall, ballads and finger-snappers are
treated with the same respect and performed
at the same high level on this CD. Listening to
how the disc’s eight tracks evolve and gratify,
confirms why this session, unlike many
pretentious, highly vaulted projects of the
same era, has stood the test of time.
Ken Waxman
New
Alex Pangman
Justin Time JTR 8587-2
There can be no
doubt that that Alex
Pangman – Canada’s
own “Sweetheart
of Swing” – is a
national treasure
and a true original.
Feisty, authentic and
a fully realized music historian, Pangman
has continued to delight with New, her
latest recording on Justin Time Records. For
this project (and not unlike Aretha heading
to Muscle Shoals, Alabama), Pangman has
bravely stepped outside of her musical and
experiential comfort zone by recording in
the historic Algiers section of New Orleans
– accompanied by the popular local depression-era swing band, the Cottonmouth Kings.
It seems apparent that an important part of
this creative process was Pangman’s collaborator, producer/engineer (and Canadian
ex-pat) Andrew “Goat” Gilchrist.
New is a mature album, and Pangman’s
voice – while still maintaining her clear,
luminous sound – now reflects the depth and
subtext of her own life experience. She is fearless in her emotional openness – imbuing
each of the ten tasty tracks with large dollops
of confidence, sensuality, joy, irony and maybe
even a certain ennui.
Thoroughly enjoyable tracks include Fit
as a Fiddle (and Ready for Love), which
features rambunctious, Joe Venuti-esque
violin work by Matt Rhody. The popular Tin
Pan Alley tune also has special meaning for
Pangman, who recorded this track only seven
months following her second double-lung
thewholenote.com
transplant, and was finally feeling “Fit as a
Fiddle.” Canadian composer Ruth Lowe’s I’ll
Never Smile Again is a beauty – performed
with a languid, Crescent City feel which suits
Pangman’s sultry alto, and she also swings it
sweet and low on You Let Me Down.
Lesley Mitchell-Clarke
Guitar in the Space Age
Bill Frisell
Okeh 88843074612 (okeh-records.com)
In a career spanning four decades, Bill
Frisell (born 1951) has taken the idea of jazz
guitar in very different directions, emphasizing sonic architecture and sustained tones
Something in the Air
Outstanding and Unusual Boxed Sets
KEN WAXMAN
As the availability of music
on different media continues to
proliferate, the focus of the durable
box set has become equally
diverse. No longer does a multidisc collection have to be definitive or far-ranging. As a matter
of fact some of the best, like the
ones discussed here, concentrate on certain
sequences in an artist’s career.
Case in point is Discography (Jazz
Werksttatt JW 150 jazzwerkstatt.eu), a
four-CD collection of sessions from the 1980s
and 1990s by German bassist Peter Kowald
(1944-2002). Someone who began his career
in the 1960s ground zero for European Free
Jazz, over the years Kowald interacted with
those playing mainstream and contemporary
jazz as well as making forays into crosscultural improv with non-Western players.
His recorded career, with disc cover pictures
and personnel, is outlined in the 210-page
booklet included with the set. Still the focus
of Discography is Kowald’s Free Jazz achievements. Right off the bat, Solo Improvisation
Music on CD1 is a 35-minute tour-de-force
from 1981 that captures his unvarnished
inventiveness. Showcasing equal facility with
fingers or bow, he moves seamlessly from
strident smacks and slashing strums to a
collection of spiccato rubs and rasps producing aviary-like shrills as well as mellow
continuum. Discography also highlights
the talents of Greek clarinetist/saxophonist
Floros Floridis, a frequent Kowald playing
partner. Compare how the two reacted
without prevarication in different settings. A
1989 Athens session, for instance, emphasizes
the music’s bop and blues roots, due to the
inimitable time-keeping of American drum
master Andrew Cyrille. At the same time as
Kowald’s doubled strokes steady the beat
alongside Cyrille, jocular intensity on tunes
such as Nice Ending Folks! and Points Slashes
Etc. is expressed by Floridis’ fluid clarinet
flutters and vocalized blats from German
trombonist Conny Bauer. Six tracks from the
next year are more expansive since Kowald’s
and Floridis’ partners are American French
hornist Vincent Chancy and South African
drummer Louis Moholo. Kowald’s careful
note placement gives the proceedings a lighter
feel as the four prove themselves
on both spirited and sorrowful
tunes. The Spell is one of the latter
as Chancy’s facility emphasizes
not only melancholic cries, but
animates the tune through steady
pacing. With verbal interjections
from Moholo Mongezi is another
standout since tough vibrations from the horn
and Floridis’ saxophone reed bites work up to
freneticism as pulsating power from the bass
and percussion keep the narrative snappy.
Even better is CD4 from 1997 where Floridis
on alto and soprano saxophones, clarinet and
bass clarinet, Kowald and German percussionist Günter Baby Sommer – featured with
the bassist on a long improvisation on CD1
– turn out 26 brief “Aphorisms.” Ranging
from less than one minute to almost two and
a half, the concise motifs express everything
that others would need greater length to do. A
track like Aphorismus III for instance features
Kowald strumming what sounds like telephone-wire thick strings, Sommer pinging
gamelan-like bells and Floridis’ smooth
soprano sax surmounting both. Aphorismus
XI is pure jazz with mountaineering thumps
from the drummer, spiccato bass strokes
and reed bites; while Aphorismus VI parallels clarinet tongue-slaps with bagpipe-like
tremolos from the bass. Floridis’ alto saxophone tone can be as sharp as any bopper’s
as it is on Aphorismus XVII; while percussion
clip-clops are sophisticatedly smoothed into
a connective exposition on Aphorismus XIX.
The program ends with Sommer affectionately mocking Kowald’s chamber music-like
sweeps and Floridis’ delicate clarinet lines
with obtrusive Jew’s harp twangs.
To read about interesting multi-disc
sets from German pianist Hans Lüdemann,
American cornetist Taylor Ho Bynum and
Belgian jazz-rock-experimental big band Flat
Earth Society, see the continuation of this
column at thewholenote.com.
December 1 2014 - February 7, 2015 | 81
in explorations ranging from free improvisation and noise music to traditional blues and
folk, country and
western and mainstream pop. Guitar in
the Space Age is a
direct invocation of
the music that first
influenced Frisell, the
world of electric guitar
instrumentals of the
late 1950s and 1960s, spanning country, rock
and its own genre, surf music.
Pedal steel guitarist Greg Leisz extends
Frisell’s fondness for bending, reverberant
tones, suggesting the period song that’s key to
this project may be one that’s not here: Santo
& Johnny’s 1959 hit Sleepwalk. This is a sonic
dreamscape, in which melodies like Surfer
Girl are slowed down and magnified, with
sound so rich and dense that Sputnik-era
nostalgia (pedal steel virtuoso Speedy West’s
Reflections from the Moon – almost C&W Sun
Ra in its original form – and The Tornado’s
Telstar) assumes cathedral-like dimension.
Frisell both reimagines this music and
restores it, along the way touching on the
fundamental synthesis of jazz and country
in pieces like Merle Travis’ Cannonball Rag
and Jimmy Bryant’s Bryant’s Boogie as well
as invoking the broad sweep of the moral
compass of the times, from the Byrds’ ringing
arrangement of Pete Seeger’s Ecclesiastesfuelled Turn, Turn, Turn to Link Wray’s
juvenile delinquent anthem Rumble.
Stuart Broomer
POT POURRI
Great Wall of China
Canadian Brass
Opening Day ODR 7433
Having listened
to recordings of the
Canadian Brass for
many years, I was sure
that this CD would
be in the same style
as previous recordings. Not so. While it
has all of the performance polish that is the hallmark of this group,
there is a big difference. None of the music
is familiar. All 18 tracks are adaptations of
Chinese music. First time through I simply sat
back and listened from beginning to end. In a
few words: It is delightfully listenable.
Since there are no program notes, I was at
a bit of a loss as to where to start to obtain
information on the selections. Taking the
bull by the horns, I called both Howard Cable
(who wrote nine of the eighteen adaptations)
and Chuck Daellenbach, the founder and
tubist of the group. The selections are called
“adaptations” because the original material
was received as recordings on original
Chinese instruments which were then
82 | December 1 2014 - February 7, 2015
adapted for performance in the brass quintet.
As Daellenbach pointed out, just as the
day-to-day life in China has evolved due to
Western influence, so has Chinese music.
From soft melodies like The Moon Represents
My Heart which features the trombone in
a jazz style and a very melodic tuba passage
to Catching Butterflies While Picking
Tea with its definite Chinese flavour and
amazing ending, or the lullaby-like sensitivity of Colourful Clouds Chasing the Moon,
it’s a new musical experience. In particular,
Daellenbach’s sensitive melodic tuba is a joy
rarely heard. This CD should be added to the
listening material for the classes of instrumental music teachers to show students the
range of subtleties and colours achievable
with brass instruments in the right hands.
Jack MacQuarrie
Pampa Blues
Tango Boreal
ATMA ACD2 2706
Bandoneonist/
composer Denis
Plante cunningly
equates the music of
Pampa Blues with an
aural musical journey
of a horse travelling
north to south across
the Americas. Plante’s
tongue-in-cheek wit catches one’s attention with his opening liner notes sentence
“Tango is dead.” Start to listen, and Tango
Boreal begins to prove the statement wrong.
Plante’s compositions are rooted in the tango
tradition with touches of different styles
abounding. His performances with double
bassist Ian Simpson and guitarist David
Jacques gallop into an exciting treat of tight
ensemble playing, strong writing and heartwarming lyricism.
The tracks are grounded in themes.
Highlights are the great car-beeping-sound
performance of Ciudad (City), an extract
from Piazzolla’s Noche de Tango, while two
of Plante’s own stylistically similar exciting
works pay homage to the Argentinian great.
In contrast, Plante’s four works dedicated to
his family members are introspective and stirring. The trio plays with sensitivity to nuance
resulting in breathtaking musicality. I love
Plante’s idea of writing the world’s longest
phrase for the bandoneon in his Tango
Romance. The long phrase with no bellow
change is executed with agility and surprising
tonal control at the end of the line for both
the beautiful melody and the completely
extended bellows!
The musicianship is superb. The
tonal expertise of Plante’s bandoneon
is unmatched. Simpson drives the bass
rhythm with colour and bounce. Jacques is
equally great in both guitar lead melody and
supporting roles. Together they are keeping
more than just tango alive!
Tiina Kiik
Delicate Paths – Music for Shō
Sarah Peebles; with Evan Parker, Nilan
Perera, Suba Sankaran
unsounds 42U (unsounds.com)
For some quarter century the Torontobased American composer, improviser and
installation artist
Sarah Peebles has
conducted a musical
love affair with the
shō, the Japanese
mouth organ. Ever
since studying its
foundational repertoire embedded in the
music of the antique gagaku, performed by
the orchestra of the Japanese court, she has
sought to explore the shō’s sonic strengths.
She has particularly identified with its ability
to produce microtonal and psychoacoustic
effects reifying sound, often unfolding
leisurely over time.
There is yet another key element on this
album. Bees. Peebles’ installation art practice explores the lives of wild bees, pollination ecology and biodiversity, a branch of
BioArt. This concern not only explains some
of the titles of the works here – i.e. Resinous
Fold – but it is also reflected in the synergistic
relationships between mouth organs and the
resinous production of bees. Tropical stingless
bees secrete a resin which has been gathered
from wild nests for millennia and applied
to many human artifacts, including mouth
organs. The shō is no exception. You can view
a number of fascinating photos, of both bee
habitats and the delicate shō reeds for which
their products are an essential ingredient, on
the web page for Delicate Paths hosted by the
“unsounds” label.
Peebles’ music employs both improvisation and composition, embracing acoustic
as well as digitally processed performance.
While shō is clearly featured, the album
invites other musicians into the music
making. On Delicate Paths she has included
three star improvisers: a familiar reed instrument, a string, and a voice. Free jazz-rooted
saxophonist Evan Parker, prepared electric
guitarist Nilan Perera and multi-genre vocalist
Suba Sankaran join Peebles. They are canny
choices. Each effectively supports, contests
and offsets her shō’s melodic long tones and
clusters, providing welcome musical tensions,
cultural reframings, as well as textural and
timbral richness.
Slipping the CD out of its handsome black
trifold case I was delighted by its striking,
subtly translucent honey-coloured appearance. Repeated listening revealed music of
refinement, occasionally graced with a gentle
aural sweetness, which in my imagination at
least, resonates with a key component of the
shō’s inner workings.
Andrew Timar
thewholenote.com
STUART BROOMER
There’s evidently sufficient saxophone
talent in Canada now that we export it with
some regularity. Three émigré reed players
have recently released CDs of interest.
Toronto-born
Andrew Rathbun has
spent the past decade
playing and studying
in New York City,
recently joining the
Jazz Studies department at Western
Michigan University.
On Numbers & Letters (Steeplechase SCCD
31781 steeplechase.dk), Rathbun is an adroit
stylist on tenor and soprano, composing
memorably playful lines (the compositions
here are inspired by his two young children) and developing them with fleet, sometimes abstracted, sometimes effervescent
lines. The interval leaps of Etude can suggest
the influence of the late Kenny Wheeler with
whom Rathbun has recorded, and there is
a similar lyricism and facility in developing
complex, ambiguous moods. Rathbun has
put together a superb band for the recording,
building upward from the mobile, shifting
drumming of Bill Stewart and the bass of Jay
Anderson to virtuosic pianist Phil Markowitz,
the three creating ongoing stimulation for
Rathbun’s forays.
Anna Webber is
a young composer,
flutist and saxophonist
who has already
become a presence
in forward-looking
circles in Brooklyn
and Berlin. Her latest
recording, Simple (Skirl 027 skirlrecords.
com), was composed during solitary days
on Bowen Island off the coast of her native
British Columbia. While the music sounds
inspired, you’ll listen in vain for mimetic sea
sounds and easy tranquility: Webber’s music
is complex, angular and sometimes downright spiky; her inspirations funneled through
her own edgy sensibility and the creative
processes of her playing partners here,
pianist Matt Mitchell and percussionist John
Hollenbeck. The results are episodic pieces
that are never less than structurally sound
and loaded with sudden turns, whether
composed or improvised. Webber’s tenor
saxophone twists with
compound emotion
through the taut 1994,
while her flute weaves
through Simplify,
Simplify with scintillating precision.
Saxophonist
Peter Van Huffel has followed a similar
path from Kingston, Ontario to New York
and on to Berlin. On Bite My Blues (Clean
Feed CF302CD cleanfeed-records.com), he
leads his Berlin-based band Gorilla Mask
in performances at Toronto venues Emmett
Ray and Tranzac, recorded during a 2013
Canadian tour. While Van Huffel often works
in chamber-like textures, Gorilla Mask is a
visceral band driven by pounding, industrial polyrhythms and electronics provided
by Roland Fidezius on electric bass and
effects and Rudi Fischerlehner on drums. Van
Huffel uses the dense undergrowth and his
truncated, machine-gun themes to propel
furious alto saxophone improvisations, spiralling across registers
with blistering intensity, creating varied,
complex lines. Within
this assault, some
fascinating changes of
pace that reveal Van
Huffel’s specific roots:
on the lyrical Broken Flower, his keening
saxophone wail invokes Albert Ayler’s ballad
performances, while Fast and Furious shows
roots in Ornette Coleman.
That saxophone emphasis continues
with two new releases on Toronto’s Addo
Records. Alto and soprano saxophonist Tara
Davidson’s Duets (AJR026 addorecords.
com) explores what may be the most challenging of improvising formats with six different
collaborators. There are two pieces with each
partner, one a Davidson composition, the
other her collaborator’s. Davidson combines
forethought with an ability to work keenly
in the moment. What’s surprising is both the
variety of approaches and the sustained creativity. Interests in unusual modes link cellist/
bassist Andrew Downing’s Kontrbas Semaisi
to pianist David Braid’s two-part Lele’s Tune,
while Davidson’s duets with tenor saxophonists Mike Murley (her first saxophone
teacher) and Trevor Hogg possess subtleties of
harmony, timbre and line that suggest affinities with the fertile saxophone partnership of Lee Konitz and Warne Marsh. Turning
from her usual alto, Davidson’s most lyrical
moments come on soprano saxophone,
including the exchange of glassy, wispy
sounds with guitarist David Occhipinti on his
Silver Skates and the melodic effusion of For
Glenda with pianist Laila Biali.
Eli Bennett
is a 25-year-old
Vancouver-raised
tenor saxophonist
who has been piling
up awards for several
years while attending
Toronto’s Humber
College jazz program. He arrives with the
endorsement of numerous senior saxophonists, including Chris Potter, Cory Weeds
and the producer of his debut CD, Kirk
MacDonald. The enthusiasm is understandable given the general level of Breakthrough
(Addo Records AJR024). His key influence
is apparently John Coltrane, evident in the
beautiful metallic tone and gauzy highs of the
reflective Forever as well as a run-through
of Coltrane’s Giant Steps. It’s tempered by
Bennett’s enthusiasm for R&B-flavoured
soul jazz, bringing a quotient of funky licks
and sonic grit to originals like Let’s Roll and
the highlight of the CD, the majestic and
earthy title track, where all of his virtues
come together. He’s ably accompanied by an
excellent Toronto rhythm section of D’Arcy
Myronuk on piano and Fender Rhodes, bassist
Jon Maharaj and drummer Fabio Ragnelli.
Carol McCartney has been a vocalist to
seek out since her
2007 debut A Night
in Tunisia, declaring
with its title a devotion to jazz more
demanding than
many singers will risk,
stretching from standards and ballads to the demands of bop. The
breadth of her repertoire and the quality of
her soaring alto voice are evident on her latest
CD, Be Cool (Moxy 014, carolmccartney.com)
where she stretches from the Joni Mitchellcomposed title track to Duke Ellington’s
Tulip or Turnip and Wes Montgomery’s West
Coast Blues. She’s joined by stellar musicians, including guitarist Lorne Lofsky,
drummer Terry Clarke, bassist Kieran Overs
and tenor saxophonist Chris Robinson, with
pianist Brian Dickinson and Rick Wilkins
providing arrangements. McCartney’s scatting on Almost Twelve makes the bossa nova
a standout.
There’s always more music to DISCover online at thewholenote.com
thewholenote.com
December 1 2014 - February 7, 2015 | 83
Old Wine, New Bottles | Fine Old Recordings Re-Released
BRUCE SURTEES
In 2000 Testament
issued four CDs of
orchestral music
by Richard Strauss,
recorded by Decca in
the Grosser Saal of the
Musikverein by the
Vienna Philharmonic
Orchestra conducted
by Clemens Krauss. My excited review of
them at the time found these uniquely
inspired performances to be incomparable
in every respect. Decca has gathered them
all together in a compact 5-CD set, Clemens
Krauss – Richard Strauss The Complete
Decca Recordings (4786493), together with
the still talked about 1954 recording of
Salome with Christel Goltz, Julius Patzak,
Anton Dermota et.al. The Vienna-born
Krauss, although he worked through the Nazi
era, was not a Nazi. These Strauss performances, writes Nigel Simeone, reveal an interpreter “who understood the importance
of transparent orchestral textures, intelligent pacing, a natural sense of line, a fine
ear for detail and a clear sense of trajectory.” These qualities are abundant in each of
all nine works; Don Juan, Ein Heldenleben,
Zarathustra, Don Quixote, Sinfonia
Domestica, Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme Suite,
Aus Italien, Till Eulenspiegel and Salome.
Early in the 1950s when these recordings
were made, English Decca’s FFRR LPs had
already achieved a level of recording excellence unsurpassed by the other companies,
thriving in the new, world-wide enthusiasm
for classical music, an enthusiasm well
supported by the press and dedicated periodicals. People no longer had a record
player… they had a hi-fi. Victor Olof, Decca’s
head recording producer led the team that
documented these Strauss recordings that
awed and delighted the music lovers of the
day. The inspired and inspiring recordings
now find their ultimate realization in this
dynamic little set that is the icing on the cake
honouring this 150th anniversary year of
Strauss’ birth.
With Karajan 1980s,
DG completes its
decade by decade
re-issue program of
their entire library of
Herbert von Karajan’s
orchestral recordings (4793448, 78
CDs). In that decade
Karajan became separated from his orchestra,
the Berlin Philharmonic and returned to the
Vienna Philharmonic to conduct and make
recordings, both audio and video. Which
was Karajan’s best decade? The 1960s (DG
47900559, 82 CDs) the 1970s (DG47915775,
81 CDs) or the 80s? The 1960s box witnessed
84 | December 1 2014 - February 7, 2015
the emergence of Karajan the Superstar
and contents include a vast repertoire of
Beethoven including his now legendary
second complete Beethoven symphonies
cycle, a Brahms symphony cycle, Haydn
symphonies ... let’s forget the Pachelbel
Canon and the Albinoni Adagio. The 70s
box had new repertoire and also another
Beethoven cycle, a Tchaikovsky cycle, another
Brahms cycle, a Second Viennese School
collection and some fine Mahler. This new
big box of recordings from the 80s contains
some daring excursions into new repertoire together with tried and true Beethoven,
Brahms, Haydn and the usual suspects. Here
we may judge performances of some of these
154 works against Karajan’s own acclaimed
versions and I must say that they face some
formidable standards. I am informed that the
entire production of this limited edition has
shipped and is in the hands of dealers around
the world. Full details at
deutschegrammophon.com/en/cat/4793448.
In her book On
and Off the Record,
a memoir of her late
husband Walter Legge,
Elizabeth Schwarzkopf
relates an example
of conductor Otto
Klemperer’s perverse
sense of humour. In
the autumn of 1958 Klemperer was too ill
to conduct a Beethoven Ninth in London.
Against his better judgment, Legge took
Klemperer’s earnest pleading to heart and
engaged Hindemith as replacement. The
performance was a disaster. Legge: “It’s
your fault; you insisted that I engage him.
I’ll never take your advice about artists
again.” Klemperer: “You have been in the
music business long enough to know that
gloating over the misfortunes of colleagues
is the only joy left in life.” Months before
that London performance, on June 24, Paul
Hindemith had conducted a vital performance of the Bruckner Symphony No.7 with
the Stuttgart Radio Symphony in Saxony.
Remastered from the original SWR tapes,
Hänssler has issued an immaculate recording
of that event which clearly demonstrates
that Hindemith was more than at home with
Bruckner (CD 94.222). It is gratifying to hear
that Hindemith had well-defined views and
a sense of overriding control of arguably
Bruckner’s most beautiful symphony. His
reading is at least comparable with any of the
strong performances from the 50s including
Furtwängler and Jochum, although his sober
control is closer to Jochum even though in
places where we expect a pause, there is
none. The long lines are beautifully spun out
and never overindulged. Indeed, the final
coda which is usually handled as a blazing
apotheosis is achieved in subdued manner so
the moment of arrival is realized with a great
sense of serenity. The performance is lean
which better reveals the structure and sinew
of the symphony without sounding at all
undernourished.
The late highly
esteemed conductor,
Carlos Kleiber’s sole
performance of any
Mahler work took
place on June 7, 1967
in the Konzerthaus
in Vienna. On the
Vienna Symphony Orchestra program was
the Mozart Symphony No.33 followed by Das
Lied von der Erde with alto Christa Ludwig
and tenor Waldemar Kmentt. The orchestra
now has its own label on which they have
released this Das Lied in quite good mono
sound (WS007). We can only bewail that
Kleiber’s recorded legacy is so very small due
to his famously temperamental approach.
He was easily offended and capable of scrapping a well-rehearsed and consummately
prepared production in a fit of pique. So it
is all the more valuable to have this salvaged
and restored archival tape from this source.
He brings his vaunted objectivity and clarity
of approach to this final word of Mahler’s.
It is not usual to describe a performance of
this work as refreshing but this is what it
is, while doing full justice to the unsparing
subject matter.
“And now for something completely
different.” After
listening to an endless
stream of basic and
not-so-basic repertoire, a new disc from
Doremi had me sitting
up and paying fresh
attention to some really stimulating off-beat
repertoire played by the legendary pianist
Sviatoslav Richter (Volume 23 DHR-8037).
The music of Szymanowski is by no means
a simple affair. His scores are complex
and rich in unique post-Romantic originality which may seem initially foreign to
many ears and yet here we have music that
is full of surprises and unexpected turns.
From our point of view this exciting excursion into new repertoire is actually very
rewarding. Heard complete is a recital in
Warsaw on November 26, 1982 to commemorate the centenary of the composer’s birth
where Richter played the Second and Third
piano sonatas and was joined by the great
violinist Oleg Kagan playing the exquisite
three Mythes Op.30. The stereo sound is
of studio quality. I am eager to know these
pieces better.
thewholenote.com
DEC 13 8PM
MASSEY HALL
DEC 17 8PM
HARBOURFRONT CENTRE THEATRE
A Barra MacNeils Christmas
with special guests Rose Cousins,
David Francey and Lennie Gallant
FEB 11 8PM
WINTER GARDEN THEATRE
Jim Brickman
The Platinum Tour:
Celebrating 20 Years
David Myles:
It’s Christmas
Supported by
DEC 19 8PM
MASSEY HALL
DEC 20 2PM
ROY THOMSON HALL
Roch Voisine with special guest Amy Sky Toronto Children’s Chorus
Movin’ on Maybe and some Holiday A Chorus Christmas:
Ceremonial Splendour
Classics
With a special appearance by
Canadian acting legend Gordon Pinsent
MAY 1 8PM
ROY THOMSON HALL
Evgeny Kissin
Piano
MAY 30 8PM
ROY THOMSON HALL
Media Sponsor
Bobby McFerrin
Bobby Meets Canada: Toronto!
JUN 30 8PM
ROY THOMSON HALL
Pink Martini
Purchase a gift certificate and let them choose from these shows and more!
CALL 416-872-4255 VISIT masseyhall.com or roythomson.com
Supported in part by
SEASON PRESENTING SPONSOR
MOZART@259 FESTIVAL
An exquisite array of masterworks!
ANDREW
MCCANDLESS,
TRUMPET
JULIE BOULIANNE,
MEZZO-SOPRANO
Mozart as Performer
Mozart Family Ties
Mozart Mass in C Minor
WED, JAN 14 AT 6:30pm
THU, JAN 15 AT 8pm
SAT, JAN 17 AT 7:30pm
SUN, JAN 18 AT 3pm
Matthew Halls, conductor
Jonathan Crow, violin & leader (JAN 15 ONLY)
Benedetto Lupo, piano
Patricia Krueger, organ (JAN 15 ONLY)
Tom Allen, host (JAN 14 ONLY)
Matthew Halls, conductor
Andrew McCandless, trumpet
Gordon Wolfe, trombone
THU, JAN 22 AT 8pm
SAT, JAN 24 AT 7:30pm
SUN, JAN 25 AT 3pm*
Mozart: Serenade No. 6, K. 239
“Serenata notturna” (JAN 15 ONLY)
Mozart: Piano Concerto No. 23, K. 488
Mozart: Sonata No. 15 for Organ and
Strings, K. 336/336d (JAN 15 ONLY)
Mozart: Symphony No. 31,
K. 297/300a “Paris”
Mozart: A Musical Joke, K. 522
L. Mozart: Concerto for Alto Trombone
L. Mozart: Concerto for Trumpet
Haydn: Symphony No. 60, “Il distratto”
Peter Schickele: Eine kleine Nichtmusik
Intermission Chats in the Lobby on Jan 17 & 18
Paul Goodwin, conductor
Hélène Guilmette, soprano
Julie Boulianne, mezzo-soprano
John Tessier, tenor
Jean-Philippe Fortier-Lazure, tenor
Gordon Bintner, bass-baritone
Amadeus Choir & Elmer Iseler Singers
Mozart: Lo sposo deluso, K. 430
Mozart: Selections from Zaide, K. 344
Mozart: Mass in C Minor, K. 417a/427
*Concert at George Weston Recital Hall, Toronto Centre for
the Arts. For tickets, call Ticketmaster at 1.855.985.2787
Intermission Chat in the Lobby on Jan 15
6:45pm Free Pre-concert Performance featuring
The TSO Chamber Soloists on Jan 22. For details,
visit TSO.CA/ChamberSoloists
Intermission Chats in the Lobby on Jan 22 & 25
Post-concert Party in the Lobby on Jan 24
TICKETS FROM $33 | 416.593.4828 | TSO.CA/Mozart
OFFICIAL AIRLINE
SEASON PRESENTING SPONSOR
!
H
A
J
U
L
E
L
L
A
H
NCE
EXPERIE
O’S
TORONT UL
AUTIF
MOST BE Y
HOLIDA
N!
TRADITIO
TH
H
A
I
S
S
E
1
9, 20, 2
EM
17, 1 SON HALL
,
6
1
.
C
DE
Y THOM
RO
Handel: Messiah
Grant Llewellyn, conductor
Jane Archibald, soprano
Allyson McHardy, mezzo-soprano
Lawrence Wiliford, tenor
Philippe Sly, bass-baritone
Toronto Mendelssohn Choir
180 musicians perform
this glorious holiday work
for choir, orchestra, and
superstar vocalists.
TICKETS START AT $38 | 416.593.4828 | TSO.CA/Messiah
OFFICIAL AIRLINE