Views
8 years ago

Volume 10 Issue 10 - July/August 2005

  • Text
  • Festival
  • Toronto
  • Jazz
  • August
  • Theatre
  • Musical
  • Trio
  • Concerts
  • Arts
  • Orchestra

16 THE Die schtine

16 THE Die schtine Postmeisterin Against all the mores of the time, and married the daughter of the i interlocks with the worlds of a within the framework of music A Christmas Party We herald the festive season with excerpts from Britten's Paul Bun yan, For subscription and ticket information call (416) 735-7982, or visit www.aldeburghconnection.org Mozart among Friends '& "t Our celebration of Mozart's q~arter milleti rii um will and oratorio, as well as musi~< by those who infl revered him. ~f w% Fetes galantes A survey of Debussy's songs c/e into a recreation of the characters. . . . j lady Blarney ., ... ~. ,{·April 30 The lnsh wnter Anna Jameson Canada in 183~ to join her husband, the colony's Attorney-General, and, orded her lively observations of town and country in Winter Studies and Summer Ramblt;s in' Canada. Her story is set within songs from the period. \ and Two Spring Recitals! Schubert's Florilegium Tues. May 9, 7:30 pm We continue our annual celebration of the wprld's gre~~~t song -writer by samplmg h1s excurs1ons mto the world of flowers. Be oy r }l • ,ltes. t for V1ennese delicacies and wine at our intermission party! :f't if 'JI ' Michael Schade 'Wed. May 31, 8 pm We end our season with a solo recital by th is favourite tenor as he brings us a new programme of Lieder by Schubert, Mendelssohn, Pfi tzner and others. 11' Tol9. by Colin Eatock Then and Now (Irony Alert!) June 5, 2005: Today, at a concert at the University of Toronto's Hart House, I had the pleasure of chatting with an icon of Toronto's classical music scene - a man some decades my senior. (As this was a casual conversation rather than a. formal interview, I hesitate to mention his name. But his initials are "Stuart Hamilton.") Our conversation turned to· the musical history .of this city: to the Hart House String· Quartet, to Boyd Neel , Glenn Gould and Eiisabeth Schwarzkop-f's legendary appearance at Eaton Auditorium. This chance encounter made me think: how many classical music fans in Toronto have a sense of this city's musical history? How many people, for instance, would have any idea of what the musical life of Toronto was like a hundred years ago? In recognition of this, the IOOth issue of The WholeNote, I decided to do a little research and write the kind of column that might have appeared in this magazine a century ago- had The WholeNote existed back then. I soon discovered that some things have changed , and other things haven't changed much at all. May 4, 1905: The Toronto Festival Chorus and Orchestra's performance tonight at Massey Music Hall reminded us that we are doubly blessed in Toronto, with an abundance of musical talent and a fine, modern concert hall. Dr. Torrington once again distinguished himself on the podium, leading Mendelssohn's Elijah to fine effect, before a near-capacity audience. Word has reached my ear that Torrington's concerts next season will include Handel's. Messiah and Gounod's Redemption- with none other than Miss Emma Albani appearing as a soloist in the latter composition. As magnificent as these works are, is it too much to wish that we might also become acquainted with more current works? What, for· instance, of this Dream of Gerontius by the young Edward Elgar, that made such an impression in London a few years ago? It sometimes seems that too few music lovers today have an interest in the music of our time - and this not, perhaps, a healthy state of affairs. With the close of yet another concert season, we might ask ourselves what opportunities the future will offer to musically inclined Torontonians. Happily, there is no lack of talent among our young folk, as was demonstrated last year by the remarkable organ recital of Master Ernest MacMillan, a local boy of ten years. As well , there are hopeful signs that our orchestral concerts, which have had their ups and downs here in recent years, may at last be finding a more stable footing. And would a proper opera house be too much to hope for? That may lie far in the future - but the day may come when the great music-dramas of Wagner's Ring cycle will be performed in our city . Yet perhaps the greatest need for improvement lies in the near-absence of music from the summer months. There are, of course, a few efforts being made to remedy this situation - and these should be encouraged rather than scorned for their modesty. But despite such well-intentioned ventures, July and August remain largely destitute of Caliope's noble art. We can, alas, do little but eagerly await the resumption of professional music making in the fall, with the muchanticipated appearance of Miss Emma Eames at Massey Hall. No doubt our descendents, a century hence, will wonder why we subjected ourselves to such musical deprivations - as they partake of an abundance of concerts, recitals and perhaps even fully staged operas in Toronto in the summer of 2005. ** This will, unfortunately, be my last T .O Musical Diary column for some months . In September I' ll travel to London, England, to undertake a musical research project - and it would be hard to write about music in Toronto from over there. To my readers I extend my best wishes, and the hope that you will all survive and thrive in an ironydeprived environment until my return next spring. ** Colin Eatock is a composer and writer in Toronto who contributes to the Globe and Mail and other publications. His T.O. Musical Diary has been a regular monthly feature of The WholeNote magazine. WWW. THEWHOLENOTE.COM 5

IW Canada Trust tf{IHic NYOC ~ ONJC National Youth Orch6tra of Canada I Orch.,.trc national d6 jeun6 du Canada Tour & Audition Sponsor Port Theatre NANAIMO, BC July 26th 7:30 PM Tickets: 250 .754.8550 UV!C Farquhar Auditorium VICTORIA, BC July 27th 7:30 PM July 28th 7:30 PM Tickets: 250.721.8480 GISS SALT SPRING ISLAND, BC July 30th 7:00 PM Tickets: 1.866.537.2102 NATIONAL YOUTH ORCHESTRA OF CANADA 2005 National Concert Tou~ July 26 - August 16 Civic Centre PRINCE GEORGE, BC August 1st 7 :30 PM Prince George Symphony Orchestra Office: 250.562.0800 Studio 2880 Ticket Centre: 250.563.2880 Kelowna Community Theatre KELOWNA, BC August 3rd 7 :30PM Tickets: 250.762.5050 Chan Centre VANCOUVER,BC August 5th 8:00 PM Tickets: 604.280.3311 Jack Singer Concert Hall CALGARY, AB August 7th 7 :30 PM Tickets : 403.777.0000 www.ticketmaster.ca Roberta Bondar Pavilion SAULT STE. MARIE, ON August 11th 7:00PM Free Community Concert! Pollack Hall, McGil l University MONTREAL, QC August 13th 7:30 PM Tickets : 514.790.1245 www.admission .com Grant Hall, Queen's University KINGSTON, ON August 14th 7 :30 PM Free Community Concert! National Arts Centre OTTAWA, ON August 15th 7:30 PM Free Community Concert! Tickets ONLY available in person at the NAC Box Office 4 ticket limit! Roy Thomson Hall TORONTO, ON August 16th 8 :30 PM Tickets: 416.872.4255 For more information call 416.532.4470, Toll Free (Canada) 1.888.532.4470 or email info@nyoc.org July 8 & 15, 3 pm. Wallar Hall. Fraa POWERMUSIC Camp Young Student Concerts A'IIIJU 13, 7:30 pm. Wallar Hall. Tickats at SILVER CREEK Chamber Music Concert: . - ····"'"'"'"'""'" Trio, Scott St. John & Shauna Rolst.on

Volumes 26-29 (2020- )

Volumes 21-25 (2015-2020)

Volumes 16-20 (2010-2015)

Volumes 11-15 (2004-2010)

Volumes 6 - 10 (2000 - 2006)

Volumes 1-5 (1994-2000)