Views
8 years ago

Volume 16 Issue 2 - October 2010

  • Text
  • Choir
  • Toronto
  • Concerts
  • Artistic
  • Choral
  • Singers
  • Orchestra
  • Musical
  • Arts
  • Ensemble

Blue PagestheWholeNote

Blue PagestheWholeNote Presenter Profiles | 2010-2011Scarborough Philharmonic OrchestraThe Scarborough Philharmonic Orchestra is a communityensemble with a professional core that bringsa unique and affordable concert season to the easternGTA, under the leadership of music director RonaldRoyer.Our 31st season opens with a special fundraisingevening of Russian masterpieces by Tchaikovsky andStravinsky (October 23) and a programme of chambermusic for viola (October 30). The SPO continues itsrelationship with the 120-voice Toronto Choral Societyin two concerts: a seasonal programme led by veteranmaestro Howard Cable (December 11) and a performanceof Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony (March 5).“Spring Serenade” (April 2) will showcase the windsection of the SPO in music by Mozart alongside newCanadian works, and the season will conclude withmusic inspired by Hollywood (May 14), featuringL.A. flutist Louise Di Tullio and English horn virtuosoCary Ebli.Our concerts are at Birchmount Collegiate (3663Danforth Ave.) and St. John’s Norway AnglicanChurch (470 Woodbine Ave.) which have free parkingand are wheelchair accessible.416-429-0007spo@spo.cawww.spo.caShow One ProductionsThe Canadian media have called her “an icon in themaking,” a “Russian-born superwoman.” For sevenyears, Svetlana Dvoretskaia and Show One Productionshave brought to Canada some of the world’sbiggest classical music stars – among them operaticluminaries Dmitri Hvorostovsky and Sondra Radvanovsky,Valery Gergiev and the Mariinsky Orchestra,the Rotterdam Philharmonic and Yannick NézetSéguin, and pianists Denis Matsuev and Olga Kern.Violinist/conductor Vladimir Spivakov returns forhis fifth Show One visit November 18 at Roy ThomsonHall, leading the Moscow Virtuosi, with Tchaikovsky-winningpianist Alexander Ghindin in hisToronto debut. Upcoming in 2011 are recitals by stunningpianist Denis Matsuev (May 12, Koerner Hall)and our very own soprano superstar Sondra Radvanovsky.Show One also presents such great dancecompanies as Argentina’s famed Tango Fire, the St.Petersburg Ballet on Ice (on a theatre stage!) and thebeloved Ballet Trockadero de Monte Carlo, comingback in February 2011. Ms. Dvoretskaia is particularlyproud of her annual Gala featuring young prodigiesfrom the Vladimir Spivakov International CharityFoundation, joined by Canadian counterparts.Svetlana Dvoretskaia, president & producer416-737-6785info@showoneproductions.cawww.ShowOneProductions.caSilverthorn Symphonic WindsFounded in 2006, Silverthorn Symphonic Winds(SSW) is an auditioned, all-volunteer wind ensemblecomprised of accomplished musicians who sharea commitment to performing challenging music andachieving the highest possible standard of musicalexcellence. SSW rehearses on Tuesday evenings inThornhill (near Dufferin/Steeles), under the musicaldirection of Andrew Chung. Beginning in the2010/2011 season, SSW will present major concertstwice a year at the Richmond Hill Centre for the PerformingArts, as well as performing in other venueswithin York Region and the GTA. The coming seasonalso marks the beginning of SSW’s Artist in Residenceprogramme, featuring a prominent professionalmusician who will sit in on several rehearsals, leadcoaching sessions and perform as soloist in selectedconcerts. The ensemble currently has openings forthe following instruments: clarinet, trumpet, bassoon,french horn and percussion. In addition, wehave openings on our substitute list for all sections.Carol Anne Lynch, president416-652-2077membership@silverthornsymphonicwinds.cawww.silverthornsymphonicwinds.caSine Nomine Ensemble for MedievalMusicSine Nomine is an ensemble of talented, versatilesingers and instrumentalists, passionate about themusic of the Middle Ages and about bringing it to lifefor modern audiences. Since 1991, the group has performedin Toronto and other Ontario centres, and hastoured in Alberta, Quebec, the Maritimes, the easternUSA and England.Concerts take place on Saturday December 18,“Minstrels at a Christmas Court”; Friday February25, “Revelry and Bawdiness”; and Friday April 29,“New Life Arising,” at Saint Thomas’s Church, 383Huron St. (beginning at 8 pm). Sine Nomine programmescombine vocal and instrumental musicfrom medieval courts and churches with readings,drama and liturgical action to give audiences an insightinto the fascinating artistic and intellectualculture of the Middle Ages.Sine Nomine has produced three recordings: anindependent cassette, the CD-ROM The Art of the Chant(PBS/Jasmine) and the CD A Golden Treasury of MediaevalMusic (Saydisc/AmonRa).Sine Nomine is ensemble-in-residence at the PontificalInstitute of Mediaeval Studies.Andrea Budgey, 416-638-9445sine.nomine@3web.netwww.pims.ca/amici/sinenomine.htmlSinfonia TorontoSinfonia Toronto performs its seven “MasterpieceSeries” concerts in Glenn Gould Studio (250 Front St.W.) The orchestra concertizes in other Ontario centres,broadcasts on CBC and performs communityoutreach concerts. In 2010 and 2011 Sinfonia Torontowill serve as orchestra-in-residence of Barrie’s Coloursof Music Festival. In October 2010 the orchestrawill tour Spain.Sinfonia Toronto’s strings perform standing, inthe tradition of great chamber orchestras, blendingsoloistic energy into a brilliant ensemble underNurhan Arman. Winds and percussion join thestrings for programmes drawn from the chamber orchestrarepertoire. This fall the orchestra will releaseits third CD on Cambria Records. In 2008 the orchestratoured Germany’s Hessen state. Its performanceswere recorded by Hessischer Rudfunk for state-widebroadcast.Soloists for 2010-2011 include pianists André Laplante,Sara Buechner, violinists Judy Kang, AndréaTyniec, flutist Marc Grauwels and Spanish trumpeterVicente Campos.Sinfonia Toronto has been acclaimed: “A WorldClass Ensemble” (Germany’s Russelheimer Echo); “Aremarkable range of colour,” “ample eloquence” and“gripping authority” (The Toronto Star); “NurhanArman and his orchestra literally conquered us”(LaScena Musicale).Nurhan Arman, music director & conductorMargaret Chasins, director of operations416-499-0403sinfoniatoronto@sympatico.cawww.sinfoniatoronto.comSmall World Music SocietySmall World Music Society is a charitable organizationthat presented its first event in 1997. Since then,close to 400 presentations have solidified its reputationas Toronto’s most adventurous and visionaryworld music concert presenter.Small World is a celebration of cultural diversityexpressed by one of the most potent tools available:music. It is based on a vision of sharing cultural experienceand ultimately building bridges betweencultures through this experience. It is about discoveryand ‘opening ears.’ In this role, the companyhas presented many Canadian and Toronto debutsby international performers; has given a platformto dozens of developing Canadian artists of variousbackgrounds; and has presented innovative, risktakingprogramming that uniquely represents Canadaand Toronto.The Small World experience ranges from internationalgiants of world music in the city’s grandestperformance spaces to emerging local artists inintimate club settings. Supported by funding fromthree levels of government, we present roughly 50concerts annually, with the annual Small WorldMusic Festival being one of the highlights of Toronto’sfall arts calendar.416-536-5439info@smallworldmusic.comwww.smallworldmusic.comSOUNDSTREAMSFor almost three decades, Soundstreams has ignitedaudiences with an annual concert series that rangesfrom intimate chamber music events to multi-choralspectaculars, operas, and 8 highly successful internationalfestivals. Led by founding Artistic DirectorLawrence Cherney, Soundstreams creates and programsmusic concerts that weave together globallydiverse genres, artists and eras. An internationalcentre for new directions in music, Soundstreams isone of the largest and most dynamic organizations ofits kind anywhere in the world.Programming focuses on music by living composers,with a special emphasis on Canadian composers.Soundstreams regularly commissions new worksfrom both Canadian and international composers,adding over 160 new works to the global repertoiresince 1982.Soundstreams’ community outreach initiativesgenerate dynamic encounters among creators, performersand audiences and inspire youth in creatingthe future of music. Soundstreams brings visitingcomposers and musicians to schools for mentorshipand composition workshops. Students showcasetheir talents in the Young Artist Overture, a mainstageperformance series presented as part of ourperformance series.Jennifer Winchester, director of operationsjenniferw@soundstreams.cawww.soundstreams.caSouthern Ontario Chapter Hymn SocietySOCHS is a growing non-denominational organizationsupporting congregational song, offering threeevents each season in the Barrie, Kitchener-Waterloo,Pickering triangle. Anyone with an interest in hymnsand congregational song may join us or participate inour activities.John L. Bell and James Abbington have broughtexciting songs to our gatherings. Internationallyrecognized hymn writers Mary Louise Bringle,Carl Daw and Brian Wren have also been our guests.Radio personality Judy Maddren will narrate a festivalof hymns old and new at Humbercrest UnitedChurch on October 17 at 2:30pm, assisted by HumbercrestChoir led by Melvin J. Hurst, organist FredKimball Graham and trumpeter Barton Woomert.The winter event, at the Convent of St. John theDivine in Toronto on Sunday February 20, 2011, at2:30pm, will feature hymns written by the Sistersof St. John the Divine, known around the world fortheir creativity in this genre.

Jazz-style congregational song will be featured atthe spring workshop with Tim Elliott and friends.Time and place to be announced on the website.416-342-6034info@sochs.orgwww.sochs.orgSt. Philip’s Anglican ChurchThe Church of St. Philip, Etobicoke (25 St. PhillipsRd.) is one of the oldest Anglican churches in Toronto.Established in 1828, St. Philip’s welcomes allpeople to vibrant celebrations on Sunday mornings at8:30 and 10:30am and to an eclectic series of Sundayafternoon concerts (4pm) that include Jazz, Blues,Polka, Fado, Mariachi, Klezmer, and Latin music.Performances feature some of Toronto’s finest musicians.Come and celebrate with us in our beautifuland historic church.Rev. Canon Allan Budzin416-247-5181www.stphilips.netSt. Anne’s ChurchEstablished in 1862, St. Anne’s has occupied its currentByzantine sanctuary since 1907. It is a NationalHistoric Site because it contains the only religiousart of members of the Group of Seven. Renowned forits music and acoustics, St. Anne’s is the venue forspecial musical events by our own choir and othergroups. Daniel Norman, director of music, welcomesnew members to the choir, which plays an importantrole at the 10:30am Sunday services.In the 300-seat Parish Hall auditorium at 651 DufferinSt., the Music and Drama Society (MADS) willfeature Gilbert & Sullivan’s H.M.S. Pinafore this seasonalong with a curtain raiser, The Zoo. In 2009,MADS performed to critical acclaim at the Buxton,England International Gilbert & Sullivan Festival.Artistic director Laura Schatz and music directorDaniel Norman will present MADS’ 48th annual G&Sproduction from January 28 to February 6. Parkingarrangements and TTC access to Dufferin & Dundasare excellent.Diana Schatz, 416-922-4415royschatz@bell.netwww.stannes.on.caSt. Clement’s Anglican ChurchBesides providing excellent music at the Sundayliturgies, St. Clement’s maintains a vigorous programmeof fine concerts throughout the 2010/11season.The Sundays at Three series includes five concerts:November 14, folk singer Joanna Chapman-Smith; December12, Christmas concert featuring Ceremony ofCarols by Benjamin Britten, sung by the choirs of StClement’s, and sing-along carols; February 6, 2011,San Agustin Duo featuring Emma Banfield, violinand Diana Dumlavwalla, piano; March 6, PeterBarnes, baritone and Doreen Uren Simmons, piano;April 10, The Glenn Gould School Reprise, a superbensemble of graduating students. All concerts startat 3pm and include refreshments and “meet the performers”afterwards.More Music includes October 17 at 11am, the exuberantsetting of Rejoice in the Lamb by Benjamin Britten;October 31 at 4pm “Commemoration of All Souls”(music: Messe Solennelle by Vierne and Kontakion by RupertLang); November 28 at 4pm, Advent Carol Service;Good Friday April 22 at 2pm, “Music for Passiontide”:A Hymn of St. Columba by Britten and FiveLenten Motets by Antonin Tucapsky.Thomas Fitches, organist & director of music416-483-6664 x26www.stclements-church.orgSt. Michael’s Choir SchoolThe treasury of sacred music can be heard everyweekend at St. Michael’s Cathedral where a finechoral tradition has been maintained since 1937,when St. Michael’s Choir School was founded. Trebleand SATB boys’ choirs sing at the Saturday eveningand Sunday morning Masses, at the solemn liturgiesof the Christmas and Easter seasons, and at importantarchdiocesan events. Join us at the Cathedral forJubilate Deo, an evening of sacred choral music, Friday,October 15 th . The joyous sounds of the seasonfill Massey Hall every December as the boys presenttheir Annual Christmas Concert, this year on the10 th and 11 th . The Choir School provides an enrichedlearning environment for boys in grades 3 to 12, withdaily choral rehearsals, and individual instructionin piano, organ, voice, strings and guitar. The FraserInstitute has ranked both elementary and secondaryacademic programs highly. Admission is basedon the successful completion of a musical audition,entrance examination and interviews.Mr. W. Edward McCall, directorMr. Barry White, principalDr. Jerzy Cichocki, artistic director,conductor – Senior ChoirsMs. Caron Daley, conductor – Junior ChoirMs. Teri Dunn, conductor – Elementary Choir416-393-5518www.smcs.on.caSyrinx Sunday SalonsSyrinx Sunday Salons, as part of Syrinx Concerts Toronto,is a chamber music concert series that was establishedin 2004 to support and encourage Canada’sfinest musicians. In the past we have celebrated oneCanadian composer each season whose works havebeen featured in every concert along with the moretraditional repertoire.Our schedule this year will feature 5 differentCanadian composers. The performers have been requestedto programme a Canadian work they especiallyenjoy playing or a new work they have wantedto programme but havent had the opportunitybefore.The composers are David McIntyre, Jacques Hetu,Oskar Morawetz, Clermont Pepin and Derek Holman.Our artists include pianists Alexander andDaniel Tselyakov, The Duke Trio, The Arthur LeBlancstring quartet with Gregory Oh, the PendereckiString Quartet and baritone Alexander Dobson withJeanie Chung.416-654-0877dorothyglick@hotmail.comwww.syrinxconcerts.orgOPeratic high notessearch thewholenote.com/blueTafelmusik Baroque Orchestra &Chamber ChoirThrill to the gorgeous music of the 17th, 18th and 19thcenturies performed by Tafelmusik, Canada’s ninetimeJUNO award-winning baroque orchestra andchamber choir. Highlights of the 2010-2011 season:Chopin on Period Piano with Janina Fialkowska(Oct 7-10); “Mozart and Haydn: Concertos and Symphonies,”with Richard Egarr as guest director andfortepianist (Dec 1-5); Bach’s monumental Mass in BMinor (Feb 9-13); the multi-disciplinary Galileo Project– back by popular demand (Mar 2-6); Beethoven SymphonyNo. 9 at Koerner Hall (Apr 7-10); and “VirtuosoViolin,” a programme of exuberant Italian concertoswith guest director and soloist Stefano Montanari(May 11-15).For the holiday season: Handel Messiah at Trinity-St. Paul’s Centre (Dec 15-18), and Sing-Along Messiahwith “Maestro Handel” at Massey Hall (Dec 19).Tafelmusik continues their three-concert seriesat George Weston Recital Hall: “Bach at the CoffeeHouse” (Jan 18); “Daniel Taylor Sings Bach and Vivaldi”(March 29); and “Virtuoso Violin: Stefano MontanariReturns” (May 17).Ages 30 and under can purchase tickets starting at$16 for Tafelmusik’s Toronto season concerts throughthe Face the Musik programme. Also for ages 30 andunder: Pay-What-You-Can Fridays!Jeanne Lamon, music directorTricia Baldwin, managing directorBox Office 416-964-6337Administrative Office 416-964-9562info@tafelmusik.orgwww.tafelmusik.orgwww.facebook.com/tafelmusik.orgTalisker PlayersTalisker Players is a unique ensemble of instrumentalistsdedicated to working with singers. It wasfounded in 1995, and has earned an enviable reputationfor excellence in the art of choral accompanying.A flexible-size group, it is available for performancewith choirs large and small, in repertoire rangingfrom baroque (on original or modern instruments)to 21st century.The ensemble also presents its own concert seriesat Trinity St. Paul’s Centre, taking its skills in vocal/instrumental collaboration into the more intimaterealm of chamber music. Core members of the groupare joined by some of Canada’s leading vocal soloists,exploring the interaction of words and music inthree adventurous programmes.“Intimations of Heaven” (November 2 and 3, 2010)is a gorgeous programme of music from the greattradition of German lieder, with works by Schubert,Mahler and Wagner. “Love Letters” (February 1 and2, 2011) is an unabashed celebration of the sentimentality– and the passion – of Valentine’s Day. “Façade”(May 3 and 4, 2011) is an “entertainment” in whichnonsense and word-play offer sheer delight and surprisinginsights.“Good for the ears, and good for the soul”—Toronto StarMary McGeer, artistic director & general managerElizabeth Shannon, administrative director(Chamber Music Series)416-466-1800words.music@taliskerplayers.cauniversity of western ontario opera schooltheWholeNote Presenter Profiles | 2010-2011

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)