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Volume 3 Issue 9 - June 1998

  • Text
  • Toronto
  • Symphony
  • Choir
  • Festival
  • Theatre
  • Classical
  • Orchestra
  • Arts
  • Choral
  • Singers

. . J'i HORAL HAPPENINGS

. . J'i HORAL HAPPENINGS AND HIGHLIGHTS ~ Pace slackens. but sunny moments still ahead by Larry Beckwith As I write this, the sun is shining and the prospect of a warm, slightly less hectic summer lies before the choral world in Toronto. Still, there are many choral events happening in the month June .and early July that I am happy to call your attention to. BUSY WEEKEND. The weekend of June 6 and 7 is a busy one for many choirs in the city: •Cantores Celestes, June 6: This fme women's choir, directed by Kelly Galbraith, is presenting a concert entitled "Dances and Spirituals", with pianist Ellen Meyer. •Toronto Camerata, June 6 & 7: I' am always amazed by the sheer volume of music and number of concerts this group performs during the course of a season. They offer "Spring Returns" for two nights, conducted by the boundlessly energetic Arthur Wenk. TORONTO CHILDREN'S CHORUS, June 7: This is a concert to try to get to, if you possibly can. Conductor Jean Ashworth Bartle, Guest conductor Sir David Willcocks, harpist Judy Loman and the participants in the TCC's International I Conductors Symposium join this first-class \ choir in music by Freedman, Tallis, Willcocks, Matthias, Britten and Ruth Watson Henderson. AMADEUS CHOIR, June 7: MaryLou Fallis offers her delightful personality and superb musicianship in a programme called "Viva la Diva!". CBC WINNERS. The following weekend, on June 14, the Victoria Scholars - winners again in this year's CBC Competition for Amateur Choirs - give a concert called "A Serenade to Music" , featuring the premiere of a work by Imant Raminsh. LATER IN THE MONTH, on June 17, 18, 19 and 20, the Toronto Symphony Orchestra teams up with the Toronto Men(jelssohn Choir for a series of performances of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony. Since the arrival of Jukka-Pekka Saraste, this has been an annual event. A WONDERFUL HIGHLIGHT of the 1993 Internationaf Choral Festival in Toronto was a performance by the Imilonji Kantu choir from South Africa. I was privileged to have been present that night in Massey Hall and when this · dynamic, powerful, joyful choir took to the stage they electrified the audience and for the next two hours we were mesmerized by their wonderful singing and dancing. At the end of the evening they sang their fmal encore - 0 Canada - and somehow a very palpable connection had been made between our two countries, - demonstrating the very real power of choral music to move and communicate. I write all this in order to urge you to go and hear this choir when they return to Massey Hall on :July 2. It may be one of the most important concerts you ever attend. NOT A CONCERT but of interest to choral musicians is what is described in the Oxford Churchmusic brochure as a 'singing vacation in England'. Adults of varying vocal abilities are welcome to attend the singing course that has been held six times over four years in places from Oxford to Dublin to Venice to Flo!ence. The two-week course that runs July 24 to August 8, covers choral music fr9m Gregorian chant to Gospel to Jazz to contemporary works and ends with a farewell concert in the historic church of St. Michael-at-the-North-Gate. For more details call Tim Elia at (416)766-1572. IT SEEMS QUITE· FITTING that the Ehner Iseler Singers should round things out June 30 at Trinity St. Paul's and then Canada Day at St. James. June 30 the concert is titled "The Maple Leaf Forever" in reference both to the song and the choir's recording. The following day's program is quite different-"A Midsummer Night's Fest: A choral evensong." Who better to sing us into summer? IF YOU ARE A COMPOSER and are interested in entering the Ruth Watson Henderson Choral Composition Competition, administered by the Ontario Choral Federation, please contact me at the office (phone 416-363-7488; fax 416-363-8236 ore-mail choirs.ontario@sympatico.ca) Choral Quick Guide Jun 2 Spm: Jewish Music- Toronto Jun 3 Spm: Toronto Choral Society Jun 5 Spm: Orpheus Choir, Toronto Jun 5 7:30: Canadian Music Competitioll: St. Michael's Choir Jun 5 7:30: Music at Metropolitan: Metropolitan United Church Choir Jun 5 Spm: Orpheus Choir f Toronto Jun 6 Spm: Cantores Celestes Jun 6 Spm: Jubilate Singers of North York Jun 6 Spm & Jun 7 3pm: Toronto Camerata Jun 6-Spm: Vox Nouveau Choir Jun 6 Spm: Toronto Camerata Jun 7 2pm: Tor. Children's Chorus Jun 7 3pm: Toronto Camerata Jun 7 3pm: Choirs of the Church of St. Mary Magdalene. Jun 7 7:30: Celebration Of Praise Jun 7 4:30: Great Music at St. Anne's. Abendmusik Jun 7 7 :30: Amadeus Choir Jun 10 & Jun 11 7:45: Cantabile Chorale Jun 10 Spm: Yorkminstrels Show Choir Jun 1 2 Spm, Jun 13 2pm & Spm, Jun 14 2pm: North Metro Chorus & MegaCity Chorus '- Jun 13 7:30: Toronto United Mennonite Church; Voices Chamber Choir Jun 14 2pm: Choralairs of North York Jun 14 Spm: Victoria Scholars Jun 15 12:15: Church of the Holy Trinity: Choir of Christ Church Deer Park Jun 17, 18 & 20: Spm; Jun 21: 3pm: Toronto Symphony Orchestra: Toronto Mendelssohn Choir Jun 19 Spm: Toronto ·Symphony Orchestra: Toronto Mendelssohn Choir Jun 20 1 pm: Oakville Symphony · Orchestra: Toronto Choral Society Jun 22 & 23: Spm; Jun 24 & 25: 2pm & Spm: Toronto Symphony Orchestra: Toronto Mendelssohn Choir; Canadian Children's Opera Chorus Jun 24 Spm: Piet Roelen Jun 27 7:30: Toronto Symphony Orchestra: Elmer lseler Singers Jun 30 Spm: Elmer lseler Singers Jun 30 Spm: Kingston Summer Festival. lmilonji KaNtu Choral Society-of Soweto ' JunJuly 1 Spm: Elmer lseler Singers JunJuly 2 Spm: lmilonji Kantu Choir of Soweto ~ Larry Beckwith is the General Manager of the Ontario Choral Federation TORONTO S ONLY COTy1PREt-JENSIVE MONTHLY CLASSICAL & CONTEMPORARY CONCERT LISTING SOURCE

AUDIOFILE continued from page 15 Choir was particularly well known and has fostered a generation of excellent choral · ·singers. The present choir consists of 30 members, including 8 , professionals. They sing a fine varied repertoire of large choral and chora}-orchestral works. Their CD is due out this fall, and if you enjoy choral and organ music you will surely want it for your collection. Next month's final column for the season will discuss . recording of small ensembles and soloists. Robet1 Hanson, the owner and operator of The Audio Group, specialises in classical I acoustic location recording and digital editing serviceS. Please send comments or questions by fox to (905) 420-8421, or email to audiogrp@interlog.com Entrust your CD project to an industry professional * Cal")ada's most acclaimed producer/engineer of classical reco.rdings * 30 years profes.sional experience in Europe and N . America * 15 JUNO winning CDs- 80 JUNO nominations * World-Class recording at affordable rates VocalPoint Chamber Choir Ian Grundy, conductor· Toronto's newest chamber choir- National finalist in the 1998 CBC,Radio Cowpetit.ion for Amateur Choirs. Auditions for the 1998-99 Season Auditions wzll beheld W~d May20 toWed June 17. If you would hke to be part of this dyn;muc new choir for the 1998-99 season please contact: Bev Jahnkeat (416) 467-5961 to arrange an audition. Cantilena, the theatrical music ensemble, has openings for qualified singers. Cantilena performs Classical, Musical . Theatre, Folk, Spiritual, Sacred, Gospel, and Pop repertoire with elements of theatre added. PAID PERFORMANCES Calll-800-867-3281 for an audition and/ or for more information. lickets: 830 each + GST Available at: The Sound Post 93 Grenville Street, Toronto (418) 323·1839 The Centre at Trinity-St. Paul's 427 Bloor Street West, Toronto 8:00p.m. EL~ RA FESTIVAL Ac~~~Sc~ artistic director Noel Edison Visa I Mastercard Orders: Call (519} 846-0331

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