EARLY. MUSIC . ONE OF
EARLY. MUSIC . ONE OF THE BIG events in February is certain to be the Toronto Consort's presentation (Feb 21 and 22) of the opera Oifeo by Claudio Monteverdi, a l(JJ'l masterpiece (see our cover story, page 6). See it, and then try telling me you don't like opera! HAVE YOU EVER HEARD Bach's Goldberg Variations played by anyone other than Glenn Gould? Well, isn't it about time? Making his Toronto debut in the Tafelmusik series is the young French harpsichordist Pierre Hantai' whose dazzling 1993 recording won both a G~ophone Award and a Diapason d'Or (February 13-16). Considered to be one of the most exciting harpsichordists of our time, Mr. Hantai will be a most welcome guest. FOR THE FIRST TIME, two of Canada's most exciting early music performers, Christina Mahler BLACK SEA KEMENTCHES FOR SALE LEIGH CLINE 416-778-5360 pontic@scimitarmusic.com AUDIO SAMPLE http://www.scimitarmusic.com/ pontosnyra.html by Frank Nakashima (principal cellist with Tafelmusik) and Susie Napper (gambist with the duo, Les Voix Humaines) are joining forces for a chamber music recital · together in the Academy Concert Series (February 15). The program will include early Italian works (as seems to be the theme this month!), as well as pieces by Marin Mara,is and J.S. Bach. IN THE Toronto Early Music Centre's continuing series, The Recordare Ensemble (A very MacLean,Stephanie Martin, and Michael Franklin) explore the versatility and virtuosity of the recorder. Their one-hour presentation includes three centuries of music for solo recorder and recorder consort apd the rarely heard double recorder. · There will also be fascinating 14thcentury examples of mimesis (art imitating nature), quizzical puzzles by Dufay and Baldwin, and glorious fantasias by Byrd, Blankes and Morley (February 9). Next month's presentation (March 9) features the music of Attilio Ariosti (1666-1740), performed on the viola d'amore by Thomas Georgi). Admission is free. FOR MOST, the word madrigal conjures up visions of small groups of singers happily gathered for an evening of singing (as in the Toronto Early Music Centre's Vocal Circle - (see Workshops, page 44) but, to 17th-century composers, the term applied to any secular work in which the text was the master of the music. The Musicians in Ordinary (Hallie Fishel and John Edwards) are joined, March 1, ty four singers to demonstrate ~e texture and Invention that these late madrigal is ts' experiments engendered. On the program is music by Carlo Gesualdo (whose harmonic ' waywardness reflected his mental instability), concertato madrigals (solos alternating with chorus) by Claudio Monteverdi, and solo madrigals of Giulio Caccini. IN THEIR PROGRAM, "Minstrels and Minnesinger (March 7)," the Sine Nomine Ensemble for Medieval Music explores a variety of German Music of the Middle Ages - early chant, archaic polyphony, the courtly melodic lyricism of the Minnesinger, and the rich textures of the 15thcentury Lied. The Genruin-speaking area of the Middle Ages covered a wide geographical area which included modern-day Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and substantial portions of Eastern Europe. STRANGELY, for a bilingual country such as Canada, there are not many opportunities, at least in Toronto, to hear French opera, let alone French Baroque opera. Thank gopdness for Opera in Concert in presenting Castor et Pollux by Jean-Philippe Rameau (1683-1764). Performers include Joshua .Hopkins, Colin Ainsworth, Meredith Hall, Monica Whicher, Giles Tomkins, Renee Winick, with the Aradia Ensemble (Toronto's other baroque orchestra), under the direction of Kevin Mallon, conductor; Opera in Concert chorus, Robert Cooper, director (February 8 & 9). If you go, don't miss the pre-concert chat with always. informative Iain Scott 45 minutes prior to the performance. SELDOM HEARD in North America (although enormously popular in Europe), The Seasons is a work which repre~nts some of Haydn's · Joshua Hopkins plays Pol/ux ·in · OIC's Castor and Pollux freshest, most inspired and original music at the pinnacle of his brilliant career. Tafelmusik's performances of this joyous oratorio have been the highlight of the prestigious Klang und Raum Festival in Germany for many years. Internationally acclaimed conductor Bruno Weil, a collaborator with Tafelmusik on numerous award-winning Sony recordings, directs the Tafelmusik Orchestra and Chamber Choir (March 7, 8) in their first Toronto performances of this work with soloists Ann Morioyios, soprano; Rufus Miiller, tenor; and Locky Chung, baritone. Finally, an early mention of a special concert coming up on March 9, featuring London-based soprano Nancy Argenta with Canada's "fastest-rising star countertenor" Daniel Taylor in a performance with his ensemble, Theatre of Early Music (from Montreal). The program includes Pergolesi's most celebrated motet dedicated to the Virgin Mary, Stabat Mater Dolorosa. Frank T. Nakdshima (frankn,ak@interlog.com) is the President of the Toronto Early Music Centre, a non-profit charitable organization which promotes the appreciation of historically-informed peiformances of early music. ~~ tfie sound post Canada's String Shop . violins, violas, cellos & bows expert repairs & rehairs strings & accessories at guaranteed lowest prices Canada's largest stock of string music fast mail order service all prices in CDN $ - Not a US $price in the sto.re! 93 Grenville St., Toronto M5S .1B4 tel 416-971-6990 fax 416-5f)7-9923 Canada .. s foremost Violin Specialists , 201 Church Street Toronto, On. MSB 1Y7 email GHCL@idirect.com www.georgeheinl.com 12 www.thewholenote.com t-ebruary 1. - March 7 :WUJ
\CHORAL SCENE · by Larry Beckwith A GREAT NUMBER OF Toronto's Toronto area this month, including choirs are hibernating, this stops at the Heritage Theatre in month,rehearsingformajorconcerts Brampton on Feb 5 and York in March and April. This leaves the University's Burton Auditorium on field open for some interesting Feb: 26. To keep abreast of their wograrnsthatToronto'schoral-lovers activities, visit the!r handsome will not want to miss. website at www. nathanieldett COUNTER-TENOR Peter Mahon has chorale.org. been a mainstay in several Toronto The Mississauga Choral Society chamber and church choirs for many joins forces with the 'Glenview years. On February 1 he steps in Presbyterian Church Choir - both front of his own William Byrd conducted by Chrys Bentley - on Singers for a concert of English and Feb. 15 and 16, featuring a mixed Italian Renaissance gems in the program of primarily English and generous acoustic of St. Basil's Canadian composers. The MCS Church on the U ofT campus. Peter continues to impress with fine also gives a solo Vivaldi recital at performances of 'standard oratorio St. James' Cathedral on Feb 25. fare, commissioning of new works', The Hart House Chorus, under and guest appearances with the TSO. John Tuttle's direction, gives two Throwing in my 2c-worth on the concerts in the corning weeks. On Toronto Coni;ort's Orfeo, Feb Feb 2 they appear at the Royal 21,22, it is one of the first fine O~tario Museum, singing English examples of opera, combining as it and Italian madrigals ahd on March does monodic airs, recitativo, 2 they sing Palestrina, Howells and instrumental dances and madrigal-like Britten in the Hart House Great Hall. ensemble numbers. Consort director The Chorus is made up of members David Fallis counts the music of of the university community who Monteverdi among his specialties. sing for the love of it, and it Also on Feb. 22 the Amadeus shows ... they're a wonderful choir. Choir presents a majestic program The Nathaniel Dett Chorale, of Mozart.Elgar and ,Handel, directed by Brainerd Blyden-Taylor, including George Frideric's wild and has ·recently .released its debut daring setting of Psalm 110, Dixit recording on the Marquis label. It's Dorninus. Written in Rome, early in called "Listen to the Lambs" and his career, Handel's first major choral features Druihmondville-born work combines sublime solo composer R. Nathaniel Dett. Dett's numbers with virtuosic, colourful, . career flourished south of the border . passionate music for choir. It's a in the first third of the 20th century cb
