Views
8 years ago

Volume 8 Issue 8 - May 2003

  • Text
  • Choir
  • Toronto
  • Singers
  • Theatre
  • Choral
  • Concerts
  • Musical
  • Choirs
  • Jazz
  • Festival

quodlibet VOCAL RECITALS

quodlibet VOCAL RECITALS I found several vocal recitals in the · listings between May 1 and June 1 well worth investigating. The Alde- burgh Connection's annual Greta Kraus Schubertiad on May 7 will present the master's music sung by four exciting young singers, soprano Shannon Mercer, mezzo Kristina Sz- ab6, tenor Colin Ainsworth and bari- tone Alexander Dobson with pianists Stephen Ralls and Bruce Ubukata. Best-known as a trumpeter, Guy by Allan Pulker CASSANDRA IanMcAndrew, thecomposerofthe new opera, Cassandra, (Hamilton on May 23, Toronto on May 25) has been smitten by the story of Cassandra and the idea at the centre of this myth of being given a gift by the gods and denying it. "For me this was very important beciiuse of being all my life on the Few is also an accomplished pianedge of music, and yet I felt that I Ian McAruirew ist, and will perform in that capacity had a musical gift that I was not us- the role of Cassandra, told me that in a CD release concert with soprano ing". Finally about five years ago he "Cassandra is wonderfully written_ Maria Piazza at Metropolitan Comdecided "to give composition a seri- very intense and very satisfying. Peo- munity Church on May 10 and 11. ous shot". He composed choral set- pie may not leave the performance And Catherine Robbin, one ofCantings for five songs from Shake- hwnming the tunes, but they will ada's best-loved mezzo-sopranos, is speare' s As You like It, which were have had an emotional experience!" joined by members of Tafelmusik in given their world premiere in March As a singer, she told me, she wants an already sold--0ut farewell concert by the Victoria Scholars. He went to convey emotion and move the au- at Glenn Gould Studio May 12. on to write a 22 minute opera, Ben- dience, and Cassandra is giving her PIANO RECITALS jamin Braun, "the world's first aton- plenty of scope for this. "I am blown The pianO highlight of the month must al children's opera"! About two away by his music, and feel very be Murray Perahia's recital at Roy years ago he began thillking about strongly about this project." Thomson Hall on May 6. A threecomposing a full-length opera based "WORLD" MUSIC time Grammy winner, Murray Peon the Cassandra myth. rahia has 'been described as "the Toronto abounds 41 music. I was In January 2002 after a workshop struck by something George Crumb world's subtlest keyboard conjurer" production of a play by his friend said to Paul Steenhuisen in by BBC Music Magazine, and by Gordon Portman he shared his op- WholeNote last month: "I think of The London Times as "one of the era idea with Portman who. was so all music as being one thing. I [have piano's most lyrical contemporary excited about it that he began work been] haunted by the thought that all poets." If you are interested in exon the libretto on the streetcar that the many musics of the world are periencing an informal encounter very night and by April gave McAn- coming together as one." · with Mr. Perahia you might considdrew the first act. The libretto was Wh" ile recordings are one of the er attending a master class given by finished last September and Ian fin- ways that this process.is occurring, him from lOam to 12 noon ~t the ished the music in March. Rehears- there is no substitute for live music Royal Conservatory of Music on als begin on May 12, and a week af- and the contact with living exemplars , May 7. . ter the performances a commercial of "all musics." So here are some S~g of the RCM, the RCM CD will be made. opportunities ihat made it into our list- C:ommuruty School presents v~teran "We're following the Broadway ings this month: · p~ano teacher, Frank Tetreau m remodel of the original cast recording On May 2 and 3 the South Asian c1tal on. May 15. And Glenn ~ould - it is so difficult for Canadian oper- Heritage Foundation's JYAFEST Prof~ss1onal School scholarship stuas to get a second performance, and and RaagMala Music Society. .dent ~drew A~ons whom I wrote a CD of the first performance could present concerts of Classical Indian ?bo_ll~,m the April. 2002 Whole Note make a big difference." The origi- music at the Royal Ontario Museum ~ g1vmg a solo ~ital.on M~y 22_and nal cast reco'rdings of Stephen Sond- and the U of T Medical Sciences 1s also perfo~g Samt-Saens Piano heim's musicals, he noted, gave peo- Auditorium. JYAFEST with Small Concerto #2 with the York Symphople a chance to hear the music again World Music will present Shivku- ny Orchestra on Ma~ ~ . . and re-evaluate it after disastrous first mar Sharma, a player of the Indian And on May~· Bng1tte Poulm, a runs, making all the difference to hammered dulcimer.called the san- well_-respected mterpreter of the Sondheim's career. toor and tabla-player Zakir Hussain music of John Cage and other 20th Ian described his Cassandra mu- at the Toronto Centre for the Arts on Cen~ry composers, will perform sic as "lyrical serial atonlil music in May 16. The Toronto Tabla Ensem- mus~c by Morton Feldman at the which tonal implications are al- hie will perform on May 9 at Har~ Music Gallery. lowed". It is all based on five tone bourfront. The Orchid Ensemble SCHOOL OF PHILOSOPHY rows, each associated with a char- will bring us the sounds of China on MUSIC-ON-THE-LAKE FESTIVAL acter or group of characters. He has May 6, and the Flying Bulgar Klez- Does a mid-May weekend in Niagarashaped these rows into recognizable mer Band is giving a CD release on-the-Lake sound appealing, with lots themes. "Iamtryingtomake 12-tone concert on May lOand 11 at Hugh's of live music and surroundings 'that music accessible. It is a l~guage, Room. The soundS of the Evergreen make you feel as if the clock has been not a ~tyle. It can be shaped mto any Club Ensemble's gamelan will fill turned back a century or so? If you can style. . . . . . the air on May 11 at the Du Maurier make time for such an interlude, why . The story !~If, he sa1~, IS gnp- Theatre Centre and on May 25 at not head across or around the lake the pmg, and ~e hbr~tto ~ a natural Glenn Gould Studio. On May 31 the weekendofMay 15-18, or even for only rh~ to it, ~epic quality~ ~w- Ukrainian Bandurist Chorus will part of the weekend if you can't afford e~l ~gery .. Caro~yn Smclau:' a play at MacMillan Theatre and Bal- to be away that long. It promises to be Iync soprano, who will be creatmg let Creole is at the Music Gallery. a restorative excursion. 10 www.thewholenote.com Nicholas McGegan ORCHESTRAS The Toronto Symphony Orchestra alone has sixteen concerts listed in this issue, including three consisting entirely ofBaroque period repertoire conducted by Nicholas McGegan, (May 8 & '10), and two conducted by conductor-designate Peter Oundjian (May 28-29). In addition' many of our community and regional orchestras are also listed in this issue. On June 8, just beyond the scope of the listings in this issue, the Symphony Orchestra of Canada will present a concert conducted by Stephanos Karabekos, also a composer, whose · Second Rhapsody will be performed by Orchestra Toronto at their May 25 concert. CHAMBER MUSIC There's lots of interesting chamber music to choose from. The extraordinary Boston Symphony Orchestra Chamber Players, are on May 6. The Royal Conservatory of Music presents the early chamber music of Richard Strauss on May 8. Amici' s last concert of the season is on May 9, and on May 10 toneArt Ensemble is at the Heliconian Hall. Violinist and violist Parmela Attariwala has a CD release concert at the Music Gallery with the Penderecki String Quartet on May 11 and the Rudolph Family Players will play music by Toronto composer, Michael Colgrass, among others, on May 12 at First Unitarian. The Gryphon Trio will "unravel Ravel" on May.16 and 30 at the Assembly Hall in Etobicoke. The Scarborough series, Music Alive! is expanding to Richmond Hill, where it will present two concerts (May 11 & 25) in addition to its two in Scarborough (May 4&27). And some concerts to watch out for in early June are the annual Rupert Schieder Concert at Hart House on June 1, the Talisker Players on June 3, the Millaer Duo on June 5 and Via Salzburg on June 6. LA TE CANCELLATION: READERS PlEASE NOTE, THE BOSTON SYMPHONY CHAMBER PIAYERS MAY 6 CONCERT, HAS BEEN CANCEllfO • May ·1 - June 7 2003

includes 27 performances from April 29 to May 11, 2003 Pacamambo Story by Wadji Mouawad I Composed by Zack Sette! Performed by Chants llbres, Montreal Canada I Performed in French The secrets of the dream of Pacamambo are more than a clue to a mysterious disappearance of a child, they are the legacy of .a .dying grandmother and the gift that helps a young child. Public shows: May 7 & 8 ·• School shows: May 8 & 9 Isabel Bader Theatre ··Recommended for ages 8 & up. Caribou Soni Story by Tomson Highway I Composed by Rick Sacks Performed by Red Sky Performance, Toronto, Ontario Award-winning writer Tomson Highway's delightful story of two Cree children who follow the thundering herd of the caribou is brought to life with music, storytelling and dance. Public shows: April 30, May 2, 3 & 4 • School shbws: May I & 2 Isa be.I Bader Theatre • Recommended for ages 6 and up. A ~idwint'er Ni1ht'·.4 Dream Story by Tim Wynne Jones, Composed by Harry Somers Conductor: Ann Cooper Gay Director: Todd Hammond A story rife with wit and humour, set to mesmerizing music, featuring a casf of over sixty young artists, adult soloists and dancers and drummers from Nanavut. Public shows: May 8; 10 & 11 • School show: May 9 Bluma Appel Theatre •·Recommended for ages 6 and up. Nut.4 Ab~ut NoAh By Kirmo lintinenJl(arla Lappi & Piiivi Loponen . Performed by Ooppera Skaala, Helsinki, Finland Performed in Engiish A pine cone war between the woodsman and the forest animals results in hilarious mayh~m. and it's going to take sonie special magic )o make peace! Public shows: April 29, May I & 3 School shows: April 30 & May I · Isabel Bader Th.eatre • Recommended for ages 6 and up. ·:

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)