Volume 21 Issue 2 - October 2015

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BLUE PAGES 2015/16 ● Syrinx Concerts ●Talisker Players ●Tapestry Opera Syrinx will present six Sunday concerts during the 2015/16 season. Each concert will feature a work by a Canadian composer, integrated within a more familiar repertoire. Our performers include well-established award-winning artists as well as up-and-coming young musicians who have won prestigious prizes. In supporting and encouraging our Canadian musicians we offer a substantial vehicle for new works to be heard and appreciated. Our concerts are held in an intimate chamber music setting and all concerts are recorded for archives and the benefit of the artists. After each concert there is a reception so that both the audience and artists may mingle. This season Syrinx offers exciting collaborations between many outstanding musicians including James Campbell, Leo Erice, and Leslie Fagan; Tom Wiebe with Sharon Wei, Douglas McNabney, Solomiya Ivakhiv and Scott St. John, and Ensemble Made In Canada. Peter Longworth will be back by popular demand alongside Sheila Jaffé. Ilya Poletaev will perform with Axel Strauss, and in a special four hands concert Syrinx presents Narmina Efendiyeva and Lisa Tahara. Dorothy Glick 416-654-0877 dorothyglick@hotmail.com syrinxconcerts.ca ●Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra and Chamber Choir Music of the 17th and 18th centuries, performed on period instruments with Tafelmusik’s renowned “passion and refinement.” (The Globe and Mail) Join Tafelmusik in 2015/16 for a season that celebrates the future, as we welcome guest artists and returning favourites to the beautifully revitalized Trinity-St. Paul’s Centre, Jeanne Lamon Hall, while continuing our popular series at Koerner Hall and George Weston Recital Hall. Celebrated guest artists join Tafelmusik to lead the orchestra in diverse programs sure to delight all audiences, including violinists Rodolfo Richter, Cecilia Bernardini, and Elisa Citterio. Other highlights include Bruno Weil conducting Beethoven’s remarkable 9th Symphony, the “Best of Mozart” with Tafelmusik musicians, Bach’s Goldberg Variations with the virtuosic Benjamin Alard, and “Tales of Two Cities”, our latest multimedia creation. Choral highlights include the always-popular Messiah and “Sing-Along Messiah” and Bach’s Christmas Oratorio, led by choir director Ivars Taurins. William Norris, managing director Box Office: 416-964-6337 Administrative Office: 416-964-9562 info@tafelmusik.org tafelmusik.org Talisker Players is a unique ensemble of instrumentalists dedicated to working with singers and to exploring the interaction of words and music. The group presents an adventurous concert series in Toronto, and also performs throughout southern Ontario and across the country. The roots of the ensemble are in the choral tradition, and it maintains a busy schedule of engagements with choirs of all sizes in music ranging from baroque to contemporary, sacred and secular. The ensemble’s own concert series, at Trinity St. Paul’s Centre, takes its collaborative skills into the intimate realm of chamber music. Core players are joined by leading vocal soloists and actors in an annual series of programmes that are as much theatrical as they are musical. “Renovated Rhymes” (October 27 & 28, 2015) – songs and stories for grown-up children. “High Standards” (January 10 & 12, 2016) – favourites from the great American songbook. “Spirit Dreaming” (March 1 & 2, 2016) – creation myths from indigenous cultures around the world. “Cross’d by the Stars” (May 3 & 4) – tales of true love, doomed by the fates. Mary McGeer, artistic director Elizabeth Shannon, administrative director 416-466-1800 words.music@taliskerplayers.ca taliskerplayers.ca ●Tallis Choir The Tallis Choir is a chamber ensemble of 36 voices that has earned a reputation for innovative programming and polished performances across Southern Ontario. Works from Gregorian Chant to contemporary choral music are represented, but the choir is best known as one of the few Canadian ensembles specializing in the music of the renaissance, particularly 16th-century Italy and England. The choir consists primarily of auditioned amateur singers, built around a small core of professional musicians. Founded in 1977, the choir presents an annual four-concert subscription series, including a cappella programs, small chamber ensembles, organ works and, on several occasions, larger scale productions featuring choir, professional soloists and chamber orchestra. The Tallis Choir has earned particular acclaim from audiences for its presentation of themed concert programs and historical recreations, placing both well-known and rarely heard choral masterpieces in their broader historical context. The Tallis Choir can also be engaged for special performances outside their regular concert series. Customized programs featuring both current repertoire and new music can be developed to suit individual needs and budgets. David Martin 416-286-9798 info@tallischoir.com tallischoir.com Tapestry is a professional company creating and producing opera from the heart of here and now. For 35 years, the company has presented award winning works by preeminent artists, brought to life by some of the most talented and versatile performers of the contemporary stage. As Canada’s leader in opera developments, Tapestry is committed to cultivating new creators and performers to serve the evolution of the form and build a lasting Canadian repertoire. tapestryopera.com ●That Choir Celebrating its 8th season, That Choir is one of Toronto’s most exciting a cappella ensembles, combining high-calibre performance with storytelling through choral music. Founded in 2008 by artistic director Craig Pike, That Choir now draws together 30 auditioned singers with diverse backgrounds in work and study. That Choir’s 15/16 season features four selfpresented concerts: “That Choir Remembers,” - November 8, 2015; “That Choir Carols,” with a reading of A Child’s Christmas in Wales – December 13, 2015; “That Choir Kitchen Party” featuring folk music of Ireland and Newfoundland - March 13, 2016; and “That Choir Horizons” an exploration of contemporary choral music from around the world – May 15, 2016. It is That Choir’s goal to share our passion for choral music with the arts community and to inspire audiences both young and young at heart. We look forward to sharing our music with you in our 15/16 season in Toronto. Please follow us @thatchoir on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter! Colin Frotten 416-419-1756 info@thatchoir.com thatchoir.com ●Toronto Chamber Choir For over four decades, the Toronto Chamber Choir’s mission has been to present creative programs of Renaissance and Baroque repertoire, including performances with period instruments. The choir also explores music from later periods that complements or illuminates this core repertoire. Established in 1968, we number around 35 singers and are now in our second season with artistic director Lucas Harris. The TCC auditions new singers throughout the season as necessary; interested singers should bring a rich choral background and a deep love for early repertoire. Our season presents two full-length evening concerts and two Kaffeemusiks: Sunday afternoon presentations that combine music with commentary or narration as well as a slideshow. This season’s concerts will feature sacred polyphony from Italy and Iberia in “The Memory Palace of Matteo Ricci” (Nov. 1), festive music by B22 | theWholeNote 2015/16 PRESENTER PROFILES

Praetorious and Schutz in “Christmas in Dresden” (Dec. 12), music by women composers in “A Voice of Her Own” (March 13), and music from Eastern & Central Europe in “The Sun Rises in the East” (May 28). 416-763-1695 torontochamberchoir.ca info@torontochamberchoir.ca ●Toronto Children’s Chorus The Toronto Children’s Chorus, marking its 38th season and its ninth year under conductor Elise Bradley, has given thousands of children exceptional musical opportunities. Auditions are held in May and early September for membership in one of five choral levels. Non-auditioned KinderNotes classes for children aged three to six are also offered, as well as the Youth Choir. This season, “Music of the Spheres” features performances by all TCC choristers, aged six to 16. Concerts in St. Anne’s Anglican Church (October 24), Calvin Presbyterian Church (November 7 and June 26), Roy Thomson Hall (December 19), Yorkminster Park Baptist Church (February 27), Church of the Redeemer (April 2), Toronto Centre for the Arts (May 7), and Trinity-St. Paul’s Centre (June 16) will delight audiences of all ages. Guest artists for the 2015/16 season include the world renowned percussion ensemble Nexus, baritones Russell Braun and James Westman, and more. During the March Break, the Chamber Choir will be performing in Carnegie Hall and will perform two concerts with the Boston City Singers. The TCC has been invited to participate in Songbridge (a project of the International Federation for Choral Music) in the Bahamas in August. We welcome you to this exciting 2015/16 season! Elise Bradley, artistic director Victoria Buchy, managing director info@torontochildrenschorus.com torontochildrenschorus.com ●Toronto Choral Society The Toronto Choral Society was founded in 1845 to present concerts and foster the development of the local musical community. Today, under the leadership of artistic director Geoffrey Butler, the 150-voice TCS choir presents great works of the choral repertoire, produces innovative concerts celebrating our city’s rich history and diversity and participates in special community events. The 2015/16 season will include Bach’s Weihnachts-Oratorium on December 16; Shakespeare in Love, Romeo and Juliet, a co-production with the Scarborough Philharmonic Orchestra, on April 2; and in 2016 we will be conducting a singing tour of Iceland where we will sing a selection of choral pieces of Nordic origin. Elaine Alexander 416-410-3509 info@torontochoralsociety.org torontochoralsociety.org TORONTO CHILDREN’S CHORUS ●Toronto City Opera Toronto City Opera, under the artistic direction of Beatrice Carpino and the musical direction of Adolfo De Santis, is Toronto’s most public-access opera company, and one of Canada’s oldest opera organizations, unique in the world, with roots dating back to 1946. Anyone can join our Chorus, perform in a fully-staged opera, no audition required. We will help teach you to sing and to act. This year we are presenting Gaetano Donizetti’e L’elisir d’amore, which will be sung in Italian, as well as Johann Strauss’s Die Fledermaus, which will be sung in English. For more information see our website at www.torontocityopera.com. We will present our current Season (our 49th) in late February and early March, 2016. Come enjoy a show for as little as ! Chris Lea info@torontocityopera.com torontocityopera.com ●Toronto Classical Singers Under the direction of Jurgen Petrenko, the Toronto Classical Singers produce three performances each year, tackling the works of history’s most gifted and complex composers. For our 2015/16 season, we’re bringing you some alltime favourites: J.S. Bach’s Christmas Oratorio BWV 248 on Dec. 6; Fauré’s Requiem op.48 and Duruflé’s Requiem op.9 on Feb.28; Puccini’s Messa di Gloria and music from the world of opera on May 15. Concerts are held at 4pm at Christ Church Deer Park, 1570 Yonge St. Auditions are held in September. Season tickets (adult) (senior/student), with single tickets (adult) and (senior/student). Shirley Paquette 416-443-1490 tickets@torontoclassicalsingers.ca torontoclassicalsingers.ca ●Toronto Consort The Toronto Consort is Canada’s leading ensemble specializing in the music of the middle ages, renaissance and early baroque. Founded in 1972, the Consort presents an annual subscription series at the newly revitalized Trinity-St. Paul’s Centre in Toronto. The Consort has toured extensively and has recorded 13 CDs as well as music for film and television, including the hit television series The Tudors and The Borgias. Artistic director David Fallis has programmed a unique series of concerts for the 2015/16 season: “The Soul of Naples” with Vesuvius Ensemble November 13 & 14, 2015; “Christmas at the Monastery of Santa Cruz” with Žak Ozmo December 11, 12 & 13, 2015; “The Way of the Pilgrim” February 12 & 13, 2016; “Beowulf” with Benjamin Bagby March 11 & 12, 2016; and, “Monteverdi Vespers” with Charles Daniels May 6, 7 & 8, 2016. For tickets and information, visit our website and follow us on Facebook for updates. tickets are available for ages 30 and under through our Club Consort program. David Fallis, artistic director Terry Raininger, managing director Admin: 416-966-1045 Box Office: 416-964-6337 info@torontoconsort.org torontoconsort.org ●Toronto Masque Theatre Founded in 2003 by artistic director Larry Beckwith, Toronto Masque Theatre is one of the only companies in the world devoted to the performance of masque, an art form that results from a fusion of music, dance and theatre. Inspired by the rich courtly tradition of the late renaissance, we seek to reinvent the art form for today’s audiences, speaking to contemporary Toronto. We have produced over 40 critically-acclaimed productions, ranging in repertoire from the theWholeNote 2015/16 PRESENTER PROFILES | B23