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Volume 18 Issue 4 - December 2012

  • Text
  • Toronto
  • December
  • Theatre
  • Jazz
  • January
  • February
  • Arts
  • Symphony
  • Choir
  • Concerts

!!December 11 8:00: Toronto SymphonyOrchestra. A Merry TSO Christmas. RoyThomson Hall, 60 Simcoe St. Also Dec 12(mat and eve).!!December 14 7:00: Passport Duo. ’Twas theNight Before Christmas. Array Music Studio,155 Walnut Ave.!!December 14 7:30: Toronto SymphonyOrchestra. Barenaked Ladies: Hits & HolidaySongs. Roy Thomson Hall, 60 Simcoe St.!!December 15 3:30: York SymphonyOrchestra. YSO Holiday Spectacular. TrinityAnglican Church, 79 Victoria St., Aurora. Alsoat 8:00.!!December 16 1:30: Oakville SymphonyOrchestra. Family Christmas Concert.Oakville Centre for the Performing Arts,130 Navy St. Oakville. Also at 4:00.!!December 16 7:00: Kitchener-WaterlooSymphony. Barenaked Ladies: Greatest Hitsand Holiday Songs. Centre in the Square,101 Queen St. N., Kitchener.!!December 18 7:30: Kingston Symphony.Candlelight Christmas. St. George’sCathedral, 270 King St. E., Kingston.Also Dec 19.!!December 23 3:00: Royal Conservatory.Canadian Brass Christmas. Koerner Hall,273 Bloor St. W.Sharna Searle trained as a musicianand lawyer, practised a lot more pianothan law and is listings editor at TheWholeNote. She can be contacted atclassicalbeyond@thewholenote.com.18 thewholenote.com December 1 – February 7, 2013

Jennifer BauerBeat by Beat | Choral SceneRutter’ing SeasonAsked to identify the true meaning of Christmas, those of uswho look to the Grinch and Ebenezer Scrooge for spiritual guidanceand inspiration might come up with a list that includedtraffic jams, grumpy people lined up at cash registers, un-spiked eggnog,Christmas cards=writer’s cramp, Christmas presents=credit cardbills, snow=slush/shovelling/chiropractor fees.Confronted with TinyTim, Cindy Lou Who and afew sad puppies in Santahats, we might grudginglyacknowledge that somewherein the midst of thechaos there is a chanceto connect with familyand friends and maybedo the odd bit of singingas well.Choral musicianswould likely addfavourite composers,songs, oratoriosJohn Rutter.BENJAMIN STEINand operas to theChristmas mix. Thename of English composerand arranger John Rutter would show up on a fewtop ten lists — or on a few “to be avoided whenever possible” lists,because Rutter can be a polarizing name, especially as pertains toChristmas music.Rutter’s original Christmas carols and carol arrangements havebeen a regular part of choral concerts since at least the 1970s, whenhis composition and recording work at Cambridge began to attractattention. While his academic background has led to work as a fineeditor of choral music, it is his compositions that have made him aninstantly recognizable name in choral circles.For many people, Rutter’s work is synonymous with Christmassinging, and works like “Candlelight Carol” and “Star Carol” are compositionsfit to stand alongside other famous and familiar seasonalsongs. Others deem his music saccharine and sentimental, relentlesslymiddle of the road like Dunstan Ramsey’s description of himselfas a reliable dinner guest in Robertson Davies’ Fifth Business: classy,heavily varnished, and offensive to no one.My own opinion of Rutter’s work probably leans closer to the lattercategory. I find that his over-busy arrangements of carols oftenobscure the strength and simplicity of the old tunes and his musicaltropes and lyrical sentiments usually leave me unmoved. But anyderision I might have felt for this composer disappeared after seeinghis musical skills in action firsthand.Some years ago I sang for a choir that was recording some ofRutter’s works and Rutter himself came to conduct. Towards the endA CHORUSCHRISTMAS– DANCING DAYSSat. Dec. 15 2:00 p.m.Roy omson HallAlumni carollingin the Lobby from 1:15 p.m.This annual holiday favouritewill feature all choirs of the TCC andour Alumni Choir performing a joyousseasonal repertoire. Guest artistsJudy Loman (harp), Andy Morris (percussion),Chris Dawes (organ), and The True North Brasswill join with us to celebrateour 35th Anniversary season.For Tickets Call 416-872-4255 www.roythomson.comDecember 1 – February 7, 2013 thewholenote.com 19

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