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Volume 25 Issue 4 - December 2019 / January 2020

  • Text
  • Faculty
  • Performing
  • Musical
  • Arts
  • Jazz
  • Theatre
  • Symphony
  • December
  • January
  • Toronto
Welcome to our December/January issue as we turn the annual calendar page, halfway through our season for the 25th time, juggling as always, secular stuff, the spirit of the season, new year resolve and winter journeys! Why is Mozart's Handel's Messiah's trumpet a trombone? Why when Laurie Anderson offers to fly you to the moon you should take her up on the invitation. Why messing with Winterreisse can (sometimes) be a very good thing! And a bumper crop of record reviews for your reading (and sometimes listening) pleasure. Available in flipthrough here right now, and on stands commencing Thursday Nov 28. See you on the other side!

Dr., Mississauga.

Dr., Mississauga. 905-306-6000. -. Jan 25, 8pm. Also Jan 28. ●●Musical Stage Company/Obsidian Theatre Company. Caroline, or Change. Music by Jeanine Tesori, lyrics and book by Tony Kushner. Jully Black, performer. Measha Brueggergosman, performer. Winter Garden Theatre, 189 Yonge St. 416-872-1212. and up. Opens Jan 30, 7:30pm. Runs to Feb 15. Days and times vary; visit musicalstagecompany.com for details. ●●Musical Theatre Productions/Allswell Productions. Sweeney Todd. Music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, book by Hugh Wheeler. McManus Stage at the Grand Theatre, 471 Richmond St., London. 519-672-8800. .90. Opens Nov 28, 7:30pm. Runs to Dec 7. Wed-Sat(7:30pm), Sun(1:30pm). Note: also Dec 7, 1:30pm. ●●National Ballet of Canada. Etudes & Piano Concerto #1 & Petite Mort. Music by Carl Czerny, Dmitri Shostakovich, and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Harald Lander, choreographer. Alexei Ratmansky, choreographer. Jiří Kylián, choreographer. Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts, 145 Queen St. W. 416-345-9595. and up. Opens Nov 27, 7:30pm. Runs to Dec 1. Wed-Sat(7:30pm), Sat/ Sun(2pm). ●●National Ballet of Canada. The Nutcracker. Music by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, with libretto by James Kudelka. James Kudelka, choreographer. Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts, 145 Queen St. W. 416-345-9595. and up. Opens Dec 12, 7pm. Runs to Jan 4. Days and times vary. Visit national.ballet.ca for details. ●●Next Stage Theatre Festival. Every Silver Lining. Written by Laura Piccinin and Allison Wither. Factory Theatre, 125 Bathurst St. 416-966-1062. . Opens Jan 8, 7pm. Runs to Jan 19. Days and times vary; visit fringetoronto. com for details. ●●Off Centre Music Salon. Runaway Waltz. Works of Strauss, Debussy, Poulenc, Glinka, Tchaikovsky and others. Trinity-St. Paul’s Centre, 427 Bloor St. W. 416-466-6323. ; (sr); (13-25); (12 and under). Dec 1, 3pm. ●●Orangeville Music Theatre. Mamma Mia! C. Music Theatre Music and lyrics by Benny Andersson, Björn Ulvaeus, and some songs with Stig Anderson, book by Catherine Johnson. Town Hall Opera House, 87 Broadway, Orangeville. 519-942- 3423. . Opens Jan 10, 8pm. Runs to Jan 19. Fri(8pm), Sat(7pm), Sun(2pm). ●●Orangeville Music Theatre. Elf Jr. Music and lyrics by Matthew Sklar and Chad Beguelin, book by Thomas Meehan and Bob Martin. Town Hall Opera House, 87 Broadway, Orangeville. 519-942-3423. ; (ch). Opens Jan 24, 8pm. Runs to Jan 26. Fri(8pm), Sat(2pm/7pm), Sun(2pm). ●●Peterborough Theatre Guild. 33 Variations. By Moisés Kaufman. The Guild Hall, 364 Rogers St., Peterborough. 705-745-4211. -$25. Opens Jan 17, 8pm. Runs to Feb 1. Thurs- Sat(8pm), Sun(2pm). ●●Randolph Academy. Cabaret. Music by John Kander, lyrics by Fred Ebb, book by Joe Masteroff. Annex Theatre, 730 Bathurst St. 416-924- 2243. . Opens Dec 3, 8pm. Runs to Dec 7. Tues-Sat(8pm), Sat(2pm). ●●Ross Petty Productions. Lil’ Red Robin Hood. Written by Matt Murray. Tracey Flye, director and choreographer. Winter Garden Theatre, 189 Yonge St. 416-872-1212. -. Opens Nov 29, 7pm. Runs to Jan 4. Days and times vary. Visit rosspetty.com for details. ●●Scarborough Music Theatre. Little Shop of Horrors. Music by Alan Menken, lyrics and book by Howard Ashman. Scarborough Village Community Centre, 3600 Kingston Rd. 416- 267-9292. ; (sr/st). Opens Feb 6, 8pm. Runs to Feb 22. Thurs-Sat(8pm), Sun(2pm). Note: Feb 22 show at 2pm. ●●Shakespeare in Action/Weston Silver Band. A Weston Christmas Carol. Actors of Shakespeare in Action; Weston Silver Band Quintet. Artscape Weston Common, 35 John St. For information, contact shakespeareinaction.org. PWYC. Bring a non-perishable food item. Opens Dec 10. Also Dec 11 & 12. ●●Shaw Festival. A Christmas Carol. Adapted by Tim Carroll, music by Paul Sportelli. Royal George Theatre, 85 Queen St., Niagara-onthe-Lake. 1-800-511-7429. and up. Opens Nov 13, 1pm. Runs to Dec 22. Days and times vary. Visit shawfest.com for details. ●●Shaw Festival. Irving Berlin’s Holiday Inn. St. Anne’s Music & Drama Society presents Gilbert and Sullivan’s Patience Artistic Director - Laura Schatz Musical Director - Kate Carver Choreographer - Jennie Garde Jan 24, 30, & 31, 7:30pm Jan 25, 26, Feb 1 & 2, 2pm St. Anne’s Parish Hall 651 Dufferin Street, Toronto FOR TICKETS: www.stannesmads.com or 437-233-MADS (6237) Music and lyrics by Irving Berlin, book by Gordon Greenberg and Chad Hodge, based on the film. Festival Theatre, 10 Queen’s Parade, Niagara-on-the-lake. 1-800-511-7429. and up. Opens Nov 16, 1pm. Runs to Dec 22. Days and times vary. Visit shawfest.com for details. ●●Soulpepper Theatre. Peter Pan. Adapted by Fiona Sauder and Reanne Spitzer, music by Landon Doak, based on the play. Young Centre for the Performing Arts, 50 Tank House Ln. 416-866-8666. -. Opens Dec 6, 7pm. Runs to Dec 24. Days and times vary. Visit soulpepper.ca for details. ●●St. Anne’s Music and Drama Society. Patience. Music by Arthur Sullivan, libretto by W. S. Gilbert. St. Anne’s Parish Hall, 651 Dufferin St. 437-233-6237. ; $25(sr/st). Opens Jan 24, 7:30pm. Runs to Feb 2. Thurs/ Fri(7:30pm), Sat/Sun(2pm). ●●St. Francis Centre. Broadway Divas Live! Jennifer Walls, performer. St. Francis Centre, 78 Church St. S., Ajax. 905-619-2529. . Jan 25, 7pm. ●●Starvox Entertainment. Bend It Like Beckham: The Musical. Music by Howard Goodall, lyrics by Charles Hart, book by Gurinder Chadha and Paul Mayeda Berges, based on the film. St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts, 27 Front St. E. 416-366-7723. and up. Opens Dec 7, 8pm. Runs to Dec 24. Tues-Sun(8pm), Sat/Sun(2pm). Note: Dec 24 shows at 1pm and 5pm. ●●Stratford Symphony Orchestra. New Year in Vienna. Avondale United Church, 194 Avondale Ave., Stratford. 519-271-0990. ; (st); free(under 12). Jan 1, 3pm. ●●Theatre Ancaster. Christmas at the Movies. Old Firehall Arts Centre, 334 Wilson St. E., Ancaster. 905-304-7469. ; (sr); (st). Opens Dec 13, 7:30pm. Also Dec 14(2pm/7:30pm). ●●Theatre Aquarius. Hairspray. Music by Marc Shaiman, lyrics by Scott Wittman and Marc Shaiman, book by Mark O’Donnell and Thomas Meehan, based on the film. Theatre Aquarius, 190 King William St, Hamilton. 905-522- 7529. and up. Opens Nov 27, 7:30pm. Runs to Dec 24. Tues-Sat(7:30pm), Sat/Sun(1:30pm). Note: Dec 24 show at 1:30pm. ●●Theatre Aurora. Assassins. Music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, book by John Weidman. Theatre Aurora, 150 Henderson Dr., Aurora. 905-727-3669. $25; (sr); (st). Opens Nov 28, 8pm. Runs to Dec 7. Thurs-Sat(8pm), Sun(2pm). ●●Theatre Orangeville. Little Women. Music and lyrics by Jim Betts, book by Nancy Early. Orangeville Town Hall Opera House, 87 Broadway, Orangeville. 519-942-3423. ; (st). Opens Nov 28, 8pm. Runs to Dec 22. Days and times vary. Visit theatreorangeville. ca for details. ●●Theatre Sheridan. Newsies. Music by Alan Menken, lyrics by Jack Feldman, book by Harvey Fierstein, based on the film. Macdonald-Heaslip Hall, 1430 Trafalgar Rd, Oakville. 905-815-4049. ; (sr). Opens Nov 26, 7:30pm. Runs to Dec 8. Tues-Thurs(7:30pm), Fri/Sat(8pm), Sat/Sun(2pm). Note: no show Dec 1. ●●Theatre Sheridan. Nine. Music and lyrics by Maury Yeston, book by Arthur Kopit. Studio Theatre, 1430 Trafalgar Rd., Oakville. 905-815-4049. ; (sr). Opens Nov 29, 7:30pm. Runs to Dec 8. Tues-Sat(7:30pm), Sat/ Sun(2pm). ●●TO Live. Taj Express: The Bollywood Musical Revue. St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts, 27 Front St. 1-855-985-2787. -. Opens Nov 24, 2pm. Runs to Dec 1. Tues-Sat(8pm), Sat/Sun(2pm). ●●TO Live. The SpongeBob Musical. Meridian Hall, 1 Front St. E. 1-855-985-2787. and up. Opens Dec 18, 7:30pm. Runs to Dec 22. Wed-Sat(7:30pm), Sat(2pm), Sun(12:30pm, 6:30pm). ●●Toronto International Ballet Theatre. The Nutcracker. Music by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. Meridian Hall, 1 Front St. E. 416-368-6161. to 7. Dec 14, 2pm and 7pm. ●●Toronto Operetta Theatre. The Gypsy Baron. Music by Johann Strauss II, libretto by Ignaz Schnitzer. St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts, 27 Front St. E. 416-366-7723. -. Opens Dec 28, 8pm. Runs to Jan 5. Days and times vary; visit torontooperetta.com. ●●Toronto Youth Theatre. Cinderella: The Panto. Annex Theatre, 730 Bathurst St. 1-888- 324-6282. .99-.99. Opens Dec 14, 3:30pm. Runs to Jan 5. Days and times vary; visit tyttheatre.com for details. ●●Torrent Productions. Jack and the BeansTalk: A Merry Magical Pantomime. Royal Canadian Legion #001, 243 Coxwell Ave. 1-800-838-306. ; (ch). Opens Dec 20, 7pm. Runs to Dec 29. Mon/Tues/Thurs- Sun(2pm), Fri/Sat(7pm). ●●Tweed and Company Theatre. A Tweed and Company Christmas. St. Andrew’s Church, 55 Victoria St. N., Tweed. Tweedancompany. com. . Dec 21, 2pm/7pm. ●●University of Toronto Faculty of Music. U of T Symphony Orchestra: Operatic Showpieces. MacMillan Theatre, Edward Johnson Building, 80 Queen’s Park. 416-408-0208. ; (sr); (st). U of T students admitted free with a valid TCard, space permitting. Dec 5, 7:30pm. ●●University of Toronto Faculty of Music. New Music Festival: UofT Opera presents Coffee with the Composers. Colin McMahon. Geiger-Torel Room, Edward Johnson Building, 80 Queen’s Park. 416-978-3750. Free. Jan 19, 1pm. ●●University of Toronto Faculty of Music. New Music Festival: Opera Student Composer Collective presents “Maid and Master: The Massey Murder”. MacMillan Theatre, Edward Johnson Building, 80 Queen’s Park. 416-978- 3750. Free. Jan 19, 2:30pm. ●●VOICEBOX: Opera in Concert. Kata Kabanová. Music by Leoš Janáček. Sung in English. Jane Mallett Theatre, St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts, 27 Front St. E. 416-366- 7723. -. Dec 1, 2:30pm. ●●White Mills Theatre Company. A Christmas Carol. Adapted by Brandon White, based on the book. Spadina Museum, 285 Spadina Rd. whitemillstheatreco.com. -.50. Opens Nov 29, 7pm. Runs to Dec 14. Fri/Sat(7pm). Also Dec 4. ●●Young People’s Theatre. The Adventures of Pinocchio. Music and lyrics by Neil Bartram, book by Brian Hill. Young People’s Theatre, 165 Front St. E. 416-862-2222. -. Opens Nov 11, 10:15am. Runs to Jan 5. Days and times vary. Visit youngpeoplestheatre.ca for details. ●●Young People’s Theatre. A Million Billion Pieces. By David James Brock, music by Gareth Williams. Young People’s Theatre, 165 Front St. E. 416-862-2222. ; (st). Opens Nov 25, 10:30am. Runs to Dec 13. Days and times vary. Visit youngpeoplestheatre.ca for details. 70 | December 2019January 2020 thewholenote.com

Beat by Beat | Mainly Clubs, Mostly Jazz! If Only in Our Dreams COLIN STORY Later on, we’ll conspire As we dream by the fire To face unafraid The plans that we’ve made Walking in a winter wonderland Winter Wonderland, Felix Bernard/Richard B. Smith. 1934. starts on November 1;” so goes the knowing refrain, spoken in tones of world-weary authority to “Christmas those affronted by the instant shift from Halloween to Christmas in retail displays, both digital and physical. Those who repeat this defeatist bromide are not necessarily less affected by the sudden onslaught of candy canes and evergreens, of reindeer and elves, of living in a dystopian paternalistic surveillance state ruled by the Clauses. No, they are simply stating the obvious: that the secular advertorial spectacle of Christmas constitutes an overwhelming, inescapable part of our experience of the season, even in households for which the holiday holds a primarily religious significance. It is inevitable, in many ways, that this is the case. Christmas has a lengthy and complicated history, with the central conflict playing out between the holiday’s status as a solemn religious event, as a site of feast and drunken revelry, or as some combination thereof. This was the case in the 17th century, when Christmas was briefly banned, the Puritans having never really taken to drunken revelry. It is still the case today, to some extent, though the holiday’s Christian significance is largely outweighed by its secular rituals. In the commercial imagination, Christmas is nothing if not a feast: a celebration of plenty, an Alex Pangman, part of Jazzcast n’ Joy, Hugh’s Room, December 11 opportunity for sharing, for generosity, for giving gifts. It is, for better or worse, a holiday centred on consumption. That so much Christmas iconography – Christmas trees in living rooms, holly wreaths decorating doors, mistletoe hung slyly in conspicuous locations – tends to consist of bits of nature snipped and transplanted indoors is no mistake. Christmas, as a celebration of plenty, of the results of the harvest, tends to work better in urban environments, in which people are cut off from the labour that produces the goods to be consumed. It is no mistake that Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, one of the foundational texts of our current conception of Christmas, takes place in London, in the mid-19th century, at a time in which the material resources of half the world flowed to the Empire’s hegemonic centre. And yet, to return to the lyrics quoted at the beginning of this article, it is precisely the late-capitalist commodification of every facet of our waking lives, of which the commercialization of Christmas is but a symptom, that produces one of the holiday’s most enduringly appealing charms: the realization of a period of mutually agreedupon respite from the work week, from emails, from the burden NIRUPAM SINGH D. In the Clubs (Mostly Jazz) 120 Diner 120 Church St. 416-792-7725 120diner.com (full schedule) Most shows - All shows: PWYC (- suggested) Alleycatz 2409 Yonge St. 416-481-6865 alleycatz.ca All shows: Call for cover charge info. Mon 8:30pm Salsa Night with DJ Romantico with free lessons. Tues 8:30pm Bachata Night with Weekly Guest DJ with free lessons. Wed 7pm Midtown Blues Jam hosted by Andrew “Voodoo” Walters. Thurs 7pm Spotlight Thursdays. Fri & Sat 9:30pm Funk, Soul, R&B Top 40 cover after 9pm. Sat 3pm-6pm Matinee Jazz. Sun 4pm Blues in The Alley w/ Big Groove. Dec 5 Johnny Cox & Magnetic Line. Dec 6 Lady Kane. Dec 7 Blonde Ambition. Dec 12 20 Flight Rockers. Dec 13 DJ Marlon. Dec 14 Soular. Dec 19 The Garden. Dec 20 Lady Kane. Dec 21 York Jazz Ensemble (matinee) URequest (evening). Dec 26 Cheryn Lynn & The Catalysts. Dec 27 Red Velvet. Dec 28 URequest. Dec 31 New Year’s Eve Party w/ Blonde Ambition. Jan 3 Red Velvet. Jan 4 Veronika & The Sound. Jan 10 Switchbeat. Jan 11 Lady Kane. Jan 17 Blonde Ambition. Jan 18 Disco Night w/ Escapade. Jan 24 Lady Kane. Jan 25 Soular. Jan 31 Red Velvet. Bloom 2315 Bloor St. W. 416-767-1315 bloomrestaurant.com (full schedule) All shows 7pm 19+. Call for reservations. Burdock 1184 Bloor St. W. 416-546-4033 burdockto.com Ticket prices vary by show, but typically -; check website for individual show prices. Dec 1 6:30pm Mandy Lagan Origins, 9:30pm LaZz: Dreams of a Hustler. Dec 2 9:30pm Homer. Dec 4 7:30pm Replay Storytelling: All in the Family. Dec 6 9:30pm Graven w/ Merival / Brian MacMillan / Owen Davies. Dec 7 2:30pm Hannah Ana w/ Chris Molyneaux Jazz Trio and Chris Assad. Dec 8 9:30pm Melissa Paju, Felix Quastel, Savannah Shea, and Georgia Harmer. Dec 10 9:30pm Chelsea McBride’s Socialist Night School. Dec 12 7pm Blythwood Winds: Be Our Guest. Dec 14 2pm A Fung Farewell: Kristin Fung’s Blast-Off to the Fungtuary. Dec 15 6:30pm Diar. Dec 16 6:30pm and 9:30pm (two shows) The Barrel Boys & The O’Pears. Dec 20 9:30pm Blue Sky Miners. Dec 21 Longest Night. Dec 23 9:30pm North America: Canadiana feat. D.E.Z., Stretch, Jazzy Monika, & Mighloe. Cameron House 408 Queen St. W. 416-703-0811 thecameron.com Castro’s Lounge 2116 Queen St. E. 416-699-8272 castroslounge.com (full schedule) All shows: No cover/PWYC C’est What 67 Front St. E. (416) 867-9499 cestwhat.com (full schedule) All concerts are PWYC unless otherwise noted. Dec 6 9pm George Westerholm & The Wild Wildcats. Dec 7 3pm The Boxcar Boys. Dec 8 6pm Too Dumb to Quit!. Dec 14 3pm The Hot Five Jazzmakers. Dec 15 6pm Kristin Lindell, Matt Bentley, and friends. Dec 20 9pm Jack Walker’s 8 th Annual Festivus Miracle. Dec 21 3pm The Victor Monsivais Trio, 9pm The Soul Maitre D’s. Dec 22 6pm Too Dumb to Quit!. Dec 28 3pm The Hot Five Jazzmakers. Jan 4 3pm The Boxcar Boys. Jan 11 3pm The Hot Five Jazzmakers. Jan 25 3pm The Hot Five Jazzmakers. The Emmet Ray 924 College St. 416-792-4497 theemmetray.com (full schedule) All shows: No cover/PWYC Grossman’s Tavern 379 Spadina Ave. 416-977-7000 grossmanstavern.com (full schedule) All shows: No cover (unless otherwise noted). Every Sat 4:30pm The Happy Pals Dixieland Jazz Jam. Every Sun 4:30pm New Orleans Connection All Star Band; 10pm Sunday Jam with Bill Hedefine. Every Wed 10pm Action Sound Band w/ Leo Valvassori. Hirut Cafe and Restaurant 2050 Danforth Ave. 416-551-7560 hirut.ca Every Sunday 3pm Hirut Sundays Open Mic. First and Third Tuesday 8pm Fingerstyle Guitar Association. Dec 3 8pm Finger Style Guitar Association Open Stage. Dec 4 8pm Elite Music Academy Open Mic. Dec 5 8pm John Fraser Findlay. Dec 6 8pm The Steven Cole Trio. Dec 12 thewholenote.com December 2019January 2020 | 71

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)