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Volume 16 Issue 2 - October 2010

  • Text
  • Choir
  • Toronto
  • Concerts
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  • Choral
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Blue PagestheWholeNote Presenter Profiles | 2010-2011www.taliskerplayers.caTallis ChoirFounded in 1977, the Tallis Choir, directed by PeterMahon, specializes in Renaissance chamber musicbut performs a wide variety of musical styles. The2010-2011 four-concert season begins in October with“Music For The Six Wives of Henry VIII,” includingmusic by Tallis, Shepherd and Josquin. In December,Gabrieli, Midnight Mass 1605, features poly-choralmasterpieces with period brass ensemble. The modernFrench renaissance is featured in February withmusic by Poulenc, Durufle and Villette and the Massfor Double Choir by Swiss composer Frank Martin.Finally, on May 7, the choir closes the season withHandel’s Coronation Anthems and Utrecht Te Deumand Jubilate, welcoming the Talisker Players as ourguests. Rehearsals are Wednesday evenings at TrinityCollege, U of T.Peter Mahon416-533-6179www.tallischoir.comTapestry New OperaNow in its 31 st season, Tapestry New Opera is aninternational home for new work creation, developmentand performance through its unique and highlycollaborative work process. Under the leadership ofManaging Artistic Director Wayne Strongman, CM,Tapestry engages the hearts and minds of artists andaudiences, using opera to tell the stories that needto be told.The 2010-2011 season is presented in the intimacyof the Ernest Balmer Studio at Tapestry in the DistilleryHistoric District and features the annual seasonopener Opera Briefs, scenes from the Composer-LibrettistLaboratory, the launch of the TapestrySongbook – the most memorable arias from 30 yearsof Tapestry productions, workshop performances ofThe Enslavement and Liberation of Oksana G. (Aaron Gervais/ColleenMurphy), the short operas for Opera to Go2012, and an intimate workshop production of Shelter(Juliet Palmer/Julie Salverson) – an opera inspired bythe “Highway of the Atom”, in advance of its worldpremiere next season. Studio Passes and Single Ticketsavailable at 416.537.6066 or www.tapestrynewopera.comWayne Strongman, managing artistic director416-537-6066information@tapestrynewopera.comwww.tapestrynewopera.comToronto Centre for the ArtsThe Toronto Centre for the Arts is a vibrant and excitingdestination, where Toronto comes to celebratethe art and culture of this great and diversecity, where artists of all backgrounds find an exquisiteplatform for their artistic expression. With classicaland popular concerts, plays, musicals, comedy,spoken word and dance events filling out the calendarin our Main Stage, George Weston Recital Halland Studio Theatre, there is always something foreveryone and we hope to have you back again andagain. Welcome to your Centre!416-733-9388www.tocentre.com416-872-1111 or www.ticketmaster.ca416-733-0545 (subscriptions only)Toronto Chamber ChoirThe Toronto Chamber Choir, an enthusiastic earlymusic ensemble since 1968, presents authentic performancesof Baroque and Renaissance masterpiecesin collaboration with historical instrument playersand dedicated soloists.Music director Mark Vuorinen is widely recognizedfor his appealing programming and energeticconducting style. Hear his engaging talks at OpeningNotes, our pre-concert lectures, and Kaffeemusiks,where words and voices illuminate composers andtheir creations.Our 2010/11 subscription series offers four concerts:500 Years of English Song, from Weelkes toBritten; O Magnum Mysterium, Italian Christmasdelights by Palestrina, Monteverdi and Vivaldi; Renaissancemaster Josquin’s Motets and Chansons; andBach and Numerology – sure to arouse curiosity.Concerts are located at Christ Church Deer Park,1570 Yonge St., just north of St. Clair. TCC proudlysponsors a mentoring partnership with RosedaleHeights Secondary School of the Arts. Two CDs areavailable, Welcome My Lord Sir Christemas and The Voice ofMy Beloved.Mark Vuorinen, music directorMary Ella Magill, president416-763-1695info@torontochamberchoir.cawww.torontochamberchoir.caToronto Children’s ChorusProviding life-enhancing experiences through thestudy and performance of the choral art, the TorontoChildren’s Chorus is recognized as one of the world’sleading treble choirs. The Chorus performs with anartistry that inspires audiences and critics alike.Founded 33 years ago by Jean Ashworth Bartle, theToronto Children’s Chorus is celebrating its fourthconcert season under the leadership of artistic directorElise Bradley. The Chorus offers children (ages6 – 17) a comprehensive music education of the highestcalibre that includes sight-singing, ear training,music theory and performance experience.The Toronto Children’s Chorus proudly representsCanada on their regular tours around theworld. These young choral ambassadors have performedat revered venues such as the Musikverein,Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, and Royal AlbertHall with internationally celebrated conductorsincluding Sir Simon Rattle, Helmuth Rilling, andSir David Willcocks. The Chorus has been invitedto perform at the 9th World Symposium on ChoralMusic in the summer of 2011 – one of only twenty-fivechoirs invited to participate in the symposium andone of two choirs representing Canada.416-932-8666info@torontochildrenschorus.comwww.torontochildrenschorus.comwww.twitter.com/TCCHighNotesToronto Choral SocietyThe Toronto Choral Society was founded in 1845 topresent concerts and foster the development of thelocal musical community. Today, under the leadershipof artistic director Geoffrey Butler, the 140-voiceTCS choir presents great works of the choral repertoire,produces innovative concerts celebrating ourcity’s rich history and diversity, and participates inspecial community events. The 2010-11 season willinclude a Remembrance Day concert, The Larks, StillBravely Singing, on November 10; Handel’s Messiah onDecember 15; Beethoven and Bruckner, a co-productionwith Scarborough Philharmonic Orchestra, onMarch 5; and a celebration of the music brought toour city by generations of immigrants in Toronto: AMusical History on May 18.The Toronto Choral Society includes two smallerchoirs In addition to the main TCS choir. StreetHaven Women’s Choir, drawn from clients of StreetHaven at the Crossroads, performs at concerts andcommunity events in downtown Toronto. North 44Ensemble, an auditioned chamber choir, performs byrequest on special occasions.Please call or visit our website for informationabout membership in TCS.Geoffrey Butler, artistic directorMarjorie Perkins, presidentErin Smith, secretary416-410-3509info@torontochoralsociety.orgwww.torontochoralsociety.orgToronto Classical SingersThe Toronto Classical Singers, established in 1992,is a non-profit auditioned choir whose long-standingreputation for excellence and dedication to theperformance of quality classical music has made ita magnet for serious singers, and is one of the city’smost vibrant choral organizations. Members of theTCS are inter-generational, ranging from talentedstudents to mature singers with years of choral singingexperience representing a wide variety of professionsand walks of life. Performing three concertsa year accompanied by the Talisker Players Orchestra,TCS presents some of the country’s finest professionalsoloists. The choir is committed to excellencein the performance of choral music for the culturalenrichment and enjoyment of its audience and itsmembers.We invite you to come and enjoy our three-concertseason in a relaxed and informal setting at ChristChurch Deer Park (wheelchair accessible).Choir membership is by audition. Rehearsals areheld on Mondays, 7:30-9:30pm, September to May atChrist Church Deer Park, 1570 Yonge St., at Heath St.W. (two blocks north of St. Clair).416-443-1490members@torontoclassicalsingers.cawww.torontoclassicalsingers.caToronto ConsortOne of Canada’s premier period music ensembles,The Toronto Consort breathes life into the music ofthe Middle Ages, Renaissance and early Baroque.Founded in 1972, the Consort presents an annualsubscription series at Trinity St Paul’s Centre indowntown Toronto. The Consort has toured extensively,recorded 11 CDs and recorded music for filmand television, including the CBC Television seriesThe Tudors.Artistic director David Fallis has programmed“a picture-perfect season” for 2010-11: “The Ambassadors”(October 15 and 16); “Praetorius ChristmasVespers” (December 10, 11 and 12); “The MarcoPolo Project: Part 2” with vocalist Suba Sankaranand Sampradaya Dance Creations; “Canti di a terra,”a meeting of musical cultures between Montreal’sConstantinople and the Corsican vocal quartet BarbaraFurtuna (April 1 and 2); and “Songs of the CelestialSirens” (May 6, 7 and 8). For tickets and information,visit our website.New this season: “Sunday Sampler” – two concertsat 3:30pm. This Sampler series consists of the“Praetorius Christmas Vespers” on December 12 and“Songs of the Celestial Sirens” on May 8.David Fallis, artistic director & general manager416-966-1045Box office: 416-964-6337www.torontoconsort.orgToronto Heliconian ClubThe Toronto Heliconian Club was founded in 1909 togive women in the arts and letters an opportunity tomeet socially and intellectually. It continues to holdto its original purpose while responding to the changesof contemporary life.To mark its centennial in 2009, the Toronto HeliconianClub instituted a series of concerts featuringsingers, pianists and other instrumentalists drawnfrom the club’s professional musicians and fromacross Canada. Reflecting the multidisciplinary natureof the club, select concerts highlighted visual

and literary artists. The series flourished and continues,with the final concerts of 2010 to be held onSeptember 24 and October 29. In 2011, all concertswill be on Fridays at 8pm: February 11, April 8, September23 and October 28. Please contact the club fordetails.Heliconian Hall, the club’s visual and acousticgem dating from 1875, is available to rent for recitalsand corporate events at reasonable rates. Recentlythe concert hall’s seven foot Steinway “B” wascompletely rebuilt and new state-of-the art stage andhouse lighting was installed.John Greco, building manager416-922-3618rentals@heliconianclub.orgGeneral Information info@heliconianclub.orgwww.heliconianclub.orgToronto Jewish Folk ChoirLet’s sing the songs of our people! In its 85th season,the Toronto Jewish Folk Choir is Canada’s longestcontinuing Jewish choir. Formed in 1925 by immigrantgarment workers, the choir celebrates its 85thspring concert in May 2011 with In Amerike, Sid Robinovitch’spoignant suite about the immigrant experience,and poetry of the late Canadian writer SholemShtern, joined by a klezmer band. Rounding outthe programme are songs old and new: Yiddish theatrefavourites, songs in Hebrew, Ladino and otherlanguages, and more. This year’s plans, still beingfinalized, include a performance with a youth choir,the annual Warsaw Ghetto Uprising Commemorationand a trip to Montreal next June for a Yiddishtheatre festival.The TJFC aims to preserve and maintain our secularJewish heritage and experience. We also strive toenhance contemporary Jewish culture through performingnew works by Jewish-Canadian composersand arrangers. You don’t need to be Jewish – justenjoy making beautiful music with friendly people.Rehearsals are Wednesdays, 7:30-10pm atthe Winchevsky Centre, 585 Cranbrooke Ave.(Bathurst-Lawrence).Alexander Veprinsky, music directorLina Zemelman, accompanist416-593-0750tjfolkchoir@sympatico.cawww.winchevskycentre.org/institutions/choir.htmlToronto Masque TheatreToronto Masque Theatre’s mission is to bring thecenturies-old art form of the masque alive for contemporaryaudiences. TMT presents multimediaperformances combining elements of theatre, music,and dance, from the Renaissance to today. Past highlightsinclude commissions of five new works (byAbigail Richardson, Omar Daniel, James Rolfe andDean Burry); a critically-acclaimed cycle of HenryPurcell’s major music theatre works; A Moliere Celebration;and Masques of War, an ingenious pairing ofsignificant music theatre works by Monteverdi andStravinsky.Audiences and critics have praised TMT for highstandards and a warm and inclusive atmosphere. Our7th season includes the Masque of the Muses, with TeriDunn and Alison Melville; a Masque of Irony, featuringthe music of American songwriting legend RandyNewman sung by tenor Benjamin Butterfield; andMasques of Orpheus, a gripping double-bill of operas byCharpentier and James Rolfe.A number of smaller TMT readings, lectures andconcerts will be presented throughout the year.“Beckwith & Co. have the right idea and the rightattitude, thinking not only of the past, but of thepresent and future.” —John Terauds, Toronto StarLarry Beckwith, artistic directorDerek Boyes & Marie-Nathalie Lacoursiere,artistic associates416-410-4561admin@torontomasquetheatre.cawww.torontomasquetheatre.comToronto Mass ChoirThe Juno-award winning Toronto Mass Choir hasgarnered multiple awards for their original andpivotal musical output since they began over 22 yearsago.After six albums, this 35-member choir continuesto deliver the powerfully intense sound that greatgospel choirs are known for. Their seventh album, AChristmas Gift, releases this fall.Karen Burke, a professor of music at York University,continues as their principal director. TMChas appeared at countless church services, festivals,award shows and venues such as the Toronto JazzFestival, Ottawa Bluesfest and local and internationalradio and television broadcasts. The choir has alsoappeared with well-known Gospel performers suchas Alvin Slaughter and Newworldson and awardwinningjazz giants Jane Bunnett and Jon Hendricks.Their 2010/2011 season highlights include theirChristmas CD Release Concert on November 21, 2010,the return of The Evolution of Gospel Music stage productioncelebrating gospel music from its roots in slaveryto the present day (February 4 and 5, 2011) and fromMarch 4 to 6, 2011, “Power Up,” a workshop weekendfor all lovers of gospel music.Karen Burke, director905-794-1139info@tmc.cawww.tmc.caToronto Mendelssohn ChoirThe Toronto Mendelssohn Choir is Canada’s worldrenownedlarge vocal ensemble. With over 150voices, the TMC is uniquely able to perform symphonicchoral works the way they were intended.TMC audiences enjoy sacred and secular masterpiecesperformed in stunning concert halls andbeautiful churches. The TMC also performs regularlywith the TSO.The 20-member Elora Festival Singers form theprofessional core of the TMC and of the MendelssohnSingers, a 70-voice ensemble formed from the TMC.The TMC’s new choral apprentice programme supportsthe development of young choristers.Under the direction of Noel Edison, the 2010/11season features six concerts: Mahler’s Symphony No. 2with the TSO in September to launch the TMC andTSO seasons; the annual “Festival of Carols” in Decemberfollowed by Toronto’s favourite Messiah withthe TSO; Bach’s St. John Passion at Koerner Hall inMarch; “Sacred Music for a Sacred Space” in St. Paul’sBasilica on Good Friday; and Mozart’s Mass in C minorat Koerner Hall in May.Noel Edison, artistic director and conductorCynthia Hawkins, executive director416-598-0422manager@tmchoir.orgwww.tmchoir.orgToronto Opera RepertoireCelebrating its 44th anniversary with its 2011 season,Toronto Opera Repertoire has delighted thecommunity with affordable productions of operaclassics, and given students, choristers and aspiringsingers the opportunity to learn new roles, singin the chorus and understand the complexities andchallenges of opera stagecraft.Run in conjunction with the Toronto DistrictSchool Board’s Continuing Education Programme,this community opera company presents two fullystaged, professionally costumed operas each year atthe Bickford Centre Theatre, 777 Bloor St. W.sounds symphonicsearch thewholenote.com/blueFor its February 2011 season, TOR will presentPuccini’s Madama Butterfly and Strauss’s DieFledermaus. TOR invites aspiring soloists to auditionand enthusiastic choristers to join the non-auditionedchorus.Gerald Hannon, chair416-698-9572chair@toronto-opera.comwww.toronto-opera.comToronto Operetta TheatreFounded in 1985 by general director Guillermo Silva-Marin, TOT is a vibrant company with a mandate toproduce classical operettas featuring professionalCanadian artists of exceptional talent.Our 2010/11 season began with “A Vienna GoldBenefit Concert,” September 11 and 12. JohannStrauss’ Die Fledermaus, starring Keith Klassen, DavidCurry, Laura Albino and Lucia Cesaroni follows fromDecember 28 to January 9. The Canadian premiere ofMoreno Torroba’s Luisa Fernanda is up next March 9to 13, starring Michele Bogdanowicz, Miriam Khaliland Edgar Ernesto Ramirez with conductor JoseHernandez. The season concludes with Gilbert &Sullivan’s The Pirates of Penzance starring Jessica Cheung,Jean Stilwell, Ryan Harper and David Ludwigwith conductor Robert Cooper, from April 26 to May1. All productions are staged by renowned directorGuillermo Silva-Marin, with TOT vocal ensemble andorchestra.Special events include “The President’s Reception”(November 14), TOT’s “New Year’s Eve GalaParty” at the HotHouse Café and “A Musical Journeyto Broadway” Dinner, Concert and Dance at the MarriottHotel (April 9). All performances are at the St.Lawrence Centre for the Arts.416-366-7723 or 1-800-708-6754.www.torontooperetta.comToronto Philharmonia OrchestraLaunching its first season as the new Toronto PhilharmoniaOrchestra, the enchanting North Torontoensemble will excite you and rekindle your lovefor classical music. Residing at the Toronto Centrefor the Arts in the George Weston Recital Hall,the new Toronto Philharmonia Orchestra presentspeter oundjian, tsotheWholeNote Presenter Profiles | 2010-2011

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