EARLY MUSIC by Frank Nakashima VERY illGH ON MY PERSONAL LIST this month,' The Women's Musical' Club of Toronto presents the wizardry of the world's finest recorder ensemble, the Amsterdam Loeki Stardust Quartet, in their Toronto debut (March 20). Whether they are playing medieval or contemporary mu~ sic, this quartet will reveal its unparalleled virtuosity. Have you heard of these composers - Errol Gamer, Vivaldi, Rimslcy-Korsakov, Nicolas Gombert, Diego Ortiz, Antonio de Cabezon,. Dick Koomans, Henry Purcell, and Peter Jan Wagemans? Just imagine what four of the world's most brilliant recorder play ers will do with that list! INTERNATIONALLY ACCLAIMED conductor Bruno Weil, a partner with Tafelmusik on numerous award-winning Sony recordings, directs the Tafelrµusik Orchestra and Chamber Choir in their first Toronto performances of one of Haydn's finest (but rarely heard around these parts) works, The Seasons (March 7, 8). Soloists include Ann Monoyios, soprano; Rufus Millier, tenor; and Locky Chung, baritone. The Musicians in Ordinary, soprano H.allie Fishel and John Edwards, theorbo and baroque guitar, are joined by guests, baritone Matthew Leigh, and bass Rudy Neufeld in a concert of Italian madrigals, entitled "Love She Sa.id" (March 1). By this point in the 17th century, the madrigal had evolved far beyond the fa-la-la ditties of not long before. For example, the harmonically wayward ensemble madrigals of Carlo Gesualdo, the concertato madrigals by Monteverdi (which alternate solo singers with a chorus), and the solo madrigals of Giulio Caccini, demonstrate the inventiveness and experimentation of these trail-blaz ing composers. (harpsichord) cooks up a sunny storm with Vivaldi's sparkling Concerto in A minor for recorder, two violins & continua, Sammartini' s Concerto in F, a Corelli sonata, and other genial works for smaller instrumental combinations. MALcoL>.i BILSON IS ONE OF the fmest exponents' of the fortepiano. Smaller and less resonant than the mOclern piano, the fortepiano nonetheless possesses an abundance of subtle colours. With Tafelmusik, Mr. Bilson performs Mozart's Piano Concerto no. 1 in . G major (March 20-23, 25). On this TIRED OF THE WINTER BLAHS? Why program, you can also hear Mozart's not cheer yourselfup with Vivaldi's . Symphony no. 40 in G minor. virtuoso concerti from sunny Italy IF YOU'VE EVER HEARD the remarka (March 14 in Hamilton, March 15 bl e some · . magru · "fi cence o fth e 40-p art in Toronto, March 16 in Niagara- (count 'em!) motet, Spem in Alium on-the-Lake)? The musical team of by Thomas Tallis, you will never Alison Melville (recorder), Julie· forget it. This extraordinary piece is Baumgartel (violin), Linda Melsted t:xemplary of the musical craft of the (violin), PatrickJordan"(viola), Mar- Golden Age of polyphony at the Tugaret Gay (cello), and MichaelJarvis dor and Stuart courts of England. Other works (with not as many partS) to be heard in this Tallis Choir· concert are Missa Sancti Wilhelmi Devotio by Taverner, This is the Record of John by Gibbons, \.Wien David Heard by Weelkes, and Lamentations by Tallis (March 2~). ONE OF THE NEWEST early music ensembles in town is Musick's Hand~ maid (Valerie Sylvester, baroque violin; Sheila Smyth, baroque violin and viola; Laura Jones, cello and viola da gamba; and Janet Scott, harpsichord and organ). They will Amsterdam Loeki Stardust Quartet be joined by guest performers Jenni Hayman (soprano), Elaine Robertson(mezw-soprano), Cristina Zacharias (baroque violin), Curtis Scheschuk (bass), and John Edwards , (archlute) to present a Lenten concert featuring the Stabat Mater by Alessandro Scarlatti (for soprano, alto, two violins and continua), as well as music by Nicola Porpora (notable for having trained the great castrato Farinelli) and Vivaldi (March 28 in Toronto, and March 23 in Hamilton). Many composers have set this sacred Latin poem (believed to be of the 13th century) to music - Giovanni Batista Pergolesi, Josquin Desprez, Orlando di Lasso, Giovanni Perluigi da Palestrina, Marc-Antoine Charpentier and Antonio Vivaldi. Toronto Early Music Centre's presentation of soprano Nancy Argenta and countertenor Daniel Taylor features the Stabat Mater by Pergolesi (March 9). Accompanied by Taylor's instrumental ensemble from Montreal, the Theatre of Early Music, the program features some lesser known but fascinating repertoire - This international orchestral and choral Institute offers participants a comprehen· sive study of baroque repertoire and · performance practice through: . • daily instruction by Tafelmusik musicians; • student orchestra and choir rehearsals and performances; • daily masterclasses for solo instruments and voice; ' • instrumental and vocal chamber ensembles; • private lessons with Tafelmusii< faculty; • performances by Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra and Chamber Choir; • lectures on aspects of P.eriod performance practice; • multi-disciplinary sessions on such topics as baroque a·rt, theatre, dance and film; • visits to some of Toronto's premier cultural institutions; • final concert featuring combined faculty· . student orchestra and choir. fOR APPLICATIONS AND INFORMATION CONTACT Colleen Smith Director of Education ·rafelmusik 427 Bloor Street West, Toronto, ON, MsS 1X7 Tel. 416·964-9562 ext. 229 Fax. 416-964-2782 Email. csmith@tafelmusik.org Visit www.tafelmusik.arg under 'Artist Training' for information and application forms. 14
Frank T. Nakashima Johann ' Heinrich Schmelzer: Lomen- In their program, "M" Instre I s an d Sw1"tzerland • and substantial portions (franknak@interloa.com) . - - -•· -- is the to Som~'(J ta morte Ferdinandi Ill a Minnesinger" (March 7), the Sine o f Ea s t em E urope. President of the Toronto Early Music . r'' tre· Heinrich Schiltz: Erbarm dich Nomine Ensemble for Medie_val Centre, a non-profit charitable orgam- AND FINALL y, for the finale of their zarion which promotes the mefn, O Herre Gott (SWV 447); as Music explores a variety of German 30th Anniversary Season (April 4, appreeiation of historically informed well as Bach's Cantata" Nori sa che Music of the Middle Ages - early 5), the Toronto Consort present a performances of early music. sia do/ore" (BWV 209), Earlier in chant, archaic polyphony, the court- celebratory concert at the heart of -------------, the day, Thomas Georgi perfonns ·ly melodic lyricism of the Minnes- their repertoire - music of the High the music of Attilio Ariosti ( 1666- inger, and the ricli textures of the Renaissance. Violinist David Green- 1740), a monk, who worked with 15th-century Lied. In the Middle berg is the special guest, and toge~ Handel and Bononcini in the opera Ages Gennan was spoken over a er they will take you on a Rena1shouses of London in the early 18th wide geographical area which includ- sance grand tour ofEngland, France, century. In addition to the works of ed modem-day Germany.· Austria, Italy, Germany and Spain. Ariosti, the program includes works of Girolamo della Casa and Dietrich Stoeftken,.both composers of music · for the vlOla d'amore. Established 1981 OUR PRICE= MUSIC TO OUR CUSTOMERS' EARS YAMAHA DIGITAL PIANOS ELECTRONIC KEYBOARD I GUITARS ALSO USED PIANOS iuPRIGHTS & GRANDS) Really good food that ~ just happe~s to ~~ ® be vegetarian! & Live jazz piano · playing on every Thursday night Canada's foremost Violin Specialists 201 Church Street Toronto, On. MSB 1Y7 email GHCL@idirect.com . www.georgeheinl.com 65 5 Bay St. (e.,ter off Elm) (416) 596-9~64 toronto .com/ lcc;ommensal We arc a 10-minute walk• from many theatres. lnquir~ about .00 parking_ for dinner & show. M arch 1 - April 7 2003 www.thewholenote.com 15
