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Volume 21 Issue 7 - April 2016

  • Text
  • April
  • Toronto
  • Jazz
  • Musical
  • Symphony
  • Arts
  • Theatre
  • Orchestra
  • Concerto
  • Choir

pianos; Choralis

pianos; Choralis Camerata; Chorus Niagara Children’s Choir. FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre, 250 St. Paul St., St. Catharines. 1 -855-515- 0722. ; (sr); (st); (under 30), (child). May 7, 7:30pm. ●●Civic Light Opera Company. Two by Two. Music by Richard Rodgers, lyrics by Martin Charnin, book by Peter Stone. Joe Cascone, director/designer. Zion Cultural Centre, 1650 Finch Ave. E. 416-755-1717. . Opens April 6, 7:00pm. Runs to April 17. Days and times vary. Visit civiclightoperacompany.com for details. ●●Coleman Lemieux & Compagnie. Against Nature / À Rebours. Music by James Rolfe, libretto by Alex Poch-Goldin. Second in a series of music/dance/theatre pieces by James Kudelka. The Citadel, 304 Parliament St. 416- 364-8011x1. . Opens May 4, 8:00pm. Runs to May 15. ●●Curtain Call Players. The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas. Music and lyrics by Carol Hall, book by Larry L. King and Peter Masterson. Fairview Library Theatre, 35 Fairview Mall Dr. 416-703-6181. . Opens April 29, 8:00pm. Runs to May 7. Days and times vary. Visit curtaincalltoronto.com for details. ●●Essential Opera. She’s The One. Contemporary operas by Uyeda, Raum, Höstmann, Pidgorna, Estacio and Heggie. Erin Bardua, soprano; Maureen Batt, soprano; Maureen Ferguson, soprano; Julie Ludwig, soprano; Cheryl Duvall, music director and piano. Heliconian Hall, 35 Hazelton Ave. 416 -827- 3009. ; (sr/st/arts worker). April 8, 7:30pm. ●●Living Arts Centre. Stomp. The international award-winning percussion sensation. Mississauga Living Arts Centre, 4141 Living Arts Dr. 905-306-6000. -. April 19, 7:00pm. Also April 20. ●●Lower Ossington Theatre. Anne of Green Gables. Music by Norman Campbell, lyrics by Don Harron, Norman Campbell, Elaine Campbell and Mavor Moore, book by Don Harron, based on novel by Lucy Maud Montgomery. The Lower Ossington Theatre, 100A Ossington Ave. 416-915-6747. .99-.99. Opens April 14, 7:30pm. Runs to May 8. Days and times vary. Visit lowerossingtontheatre.com for details. ●●Lower Ossington Theatre. Avenue Q. Music and lyrics by Robert Lopez and Jeff Marx, book by Jeff Whitty. Seanna Kennedy, stage director. The Lower Ossington Theatre, 100A Ossington Ave. 416-915-6747. .99-.99. Opens Mar 10, 7:30pm. Runs to April 3. Days and times vary. Visit lowerossingtontheatre. com for details. ●●Lower Ossington Theatre. Disney’s The Little Mermaid: A Broadway Musical. Music by Alan Menken, lyrics by Howard Ashman and Glenn Slater, book by Doug Wright. Alan Kinsella, stage director. Randolph Theatre, 736 Bathurst St. 416-915- 6747. .99-.99. Opens April 2, 12:00pm. Sat 12/3:30pm; Sun 12/3:30pm; to April 24. ●●Metro Youth Opera. The Rape of Lucretia. Music by Benjamin Britten, libretto by Ronald Duncan. Aki Studio, Daniels Spectrum, 585 Dundas St E. 416-531-1402. ; (sr); (st). Opens April 29, 7:30pm. Also April 30, May 1, 2:30pm. ●●Mirvish. If/Then. Music by Tom Kitt, book and lyrics by Brian Yorkey. Princess of Wales Theatre, 300 King St W. 416-872-1212. - 0. Opens April 12, 8:00pm. Runs to May 8. C. Music Theatre Tues-Sat(8pm), Wed/Sat/Sun(2pm). ●●Mirvish. Kinky Boots. Music and lyrics by Cyndi Lauper, book by Harvey Fierstein. Jerry Mitchell, stage director and choreographer. Royal Alexandra Theatre, 260 King St.W. 416- 872-1212. -0. Ongoing. Tues-Sat(8pm), Wed/Sat/Sun(2pm). ●●Opera Atelier. Lucio Silla. Music by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, libretto by Giovanni de Gamerra. Kresimir Spicer (Lucio); Inga Kalna (Cinna); Mireille Asselin (Celia); Peggy Kriha Dye (Cecillio); Meghan Lindsay (Giunia); Marshall Pynkoski, director; Jeannette Lajeunesse Zingg, choreographer; Artists of Atelier Ballet; Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra; David Fallis, conductor. Elgin Theatre, 189 Yonge St. 1-855-622-2787. -1; (under 30). Opens Apr 7, 7:30pm. Runs to Apr 16. Days and times vary. Visit operaatelier.com for details. ●●Opera by Request. Don Giovanni. Music by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, libretto by Lorenzo Da Ponte. College Street United Church, 452 College St. 416-455-2365. . April 16, 7:30pm. ●●Opera by Request. Norma. Music by Vincenzo Bellini, libretto by Felice Romani. College Street United Church, 452 College St. 416-455-2365. . April 23, 7:30pm. ●●Opera by Request. La Wally. Music by Alfredo Catalani, libretto by Luigi Illica. College Street United Church, 452 College St. 416-455-2365. . May 7, 7:30pm. ●●Oriana Singers of Northumberland. Operetta 101. Music by Lehar, Bernstein, Sondheim, Gilbert and Sullivan. Virginia Hatfield, soloist. Trinity United Church, Division Street at Chapel Street, Cobourg. 613-392-7423. ; (sr); (st). April 2, 7:30pm. ●●Opera by Request. Weber’s Abu Hassan and Bartók’s Bluebeard’s Castle. Music by Carl Maria von Weber and Béla Bartók, libretti by Franz Carl Hiemer and Béla Balázs. Henry Irwin, baritone (Abu Hassan); Michele Danese, soprano (Fatima); Steven Henrikson, baritone (Omar); Deena Nicklefork, soprano (Judith); Larry Tozer, baritone (Bluebeard); Gregory Finney, stage director; William Shookhoff, piano/conductor. College Street United Church, 452 College St. 416-455-2365. . April 2, 7:30pm. ●●Rosedale Heights School of the Arts Musical Theatre. Rent. Music, lyrics and book by Jonathan Larson. Additional material by the RHSA’s Musical Theatre Class of 2015- 2016. Rosedale Heights School of the Arts, 711 Bloor St. E. 416-393-1580. ; (st). Opens April 13, 7:00pm. Runs to April 15. ●●Scarborough Music Theatre. Damn Yankees. Music and lyrics by Richard Adler and Jerry Ross, book by George Abbott and Douglass Wallop. Scarborough Village Theatre, 3600 Kingston Rd. 416-267-9292. . Opens April 28, 8:00pm. Runs to May 14. Days and times vary. Visit theatrescarborough.com. ●●Shaw Festival. Alice in Wonderland. Music and lyrics by Allen Cole, book by Peter Hinton, based on the book by Lewis Carroll. Festival Theatre, 10 Queen’s Parade, Niagara-on-thelake. 1-800-511-7429. and up. Previews begin April 27, 2:00pm. Runs to October 16. Days and times vary. Visit shawfest.com for details. ●●Soulpepper Concert Series. Downtown Manhattan - The Melting Pot. Writer and Host Albert Schultz, Music Director Mike Ross, Lynn McDonald's Czech Connection continued from page 19 I asked McDonald about her connection to Prague and how she became such a loyal tourist. She was happy to share her memories: “When a dear friend from Czechoslovakia, now the Czech Republic, died suddenly, I made it my mission to visit his homeland,” she recalls. “In Prague I felt more at home than I do in my own province! I never get lost. My biggest thrill is packing my music charts and going somewhere I do not speak the language. I smile at the band, I count the tune in, and then we communicate.” The Czechs are not “touristic," as she puts it. “They make no effort to be phony or charming. Having suffered both Nazi dictatorship, ghettoization, and then Communist occupation, they are quite serious. However, Czechs form very deep and lasting friendships. I was sincerely welcomed in the 90s. It was rare to get a visitor’s visa and took weeks. They called me ‘Canada,’ saying ‘You must be Canada,’ when we met over the years. Back in my early visits to Bohemia, we would practise by candlelight in small flats heated by coal, electricity being an ‘option.’ I swear all the musicians lived on nicotine and caffeine then. Oh, and Pilsen on a good day.” “They often asked if I was a diplomat, a jazz ambassador. The jazz musicians at that time had all learned their craft in secret, behind closed Lynn McDonald and company create an original concert that explores the history and culture of the original neighbourhoods of New York. Young Centre for the Performing Arts, 50 Tank House Lane. 416-866-8666. -. Opens April 2, 7:30pm. Runs to April 12. Days and times vary. Visit soulpepper.ca for details. ●●Stratford Festival. A Chorus Line. Music by Marvin Hamlisch, lyrics by Edward Kleban, book by James Kirkwood and Nicholas Dante. Conceived and originally directed and choreographed by Michael Bennett. Donna Feore, director and choreographer. Festival Theatre, 55 Queen St, Stratford. 1-800- 567-1600. -5. Previews begin April 19, 2:00pm. Runs to October 30. Days and times vary. Visit stratfordfestival.ca for details. ●●Theatre Sheridan. Grand Hotel. Music and lyrics by Robert Wright and George Forrest, book by Luther Davis. Macdonald-Heaslip Hall, 1430 Trafalgar Road, Oakville. 905- 815-4049. ; .50(sr). Opens April 12, 7:30pm. Runs to April 24. Days and times vary. Visit tickets.sheridancollege.ca for details. ●●Theatre Sheridan. Sunday in the Park with George. Music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, book by James Lapine. Studio Theatre, 1430 Trafalgar Road, Oakville. 905-815-4049. ; .50(sr). Opens April 14, 7:30pm. Runs to April 24. Days and times vary. Visit tickets. sheridancollege.ca for details. ●●Toronto Concert Orchestra. Piaf Encore. La vie en rose; I Love Paris, Rien de rien, Pauvre Jean, Milord and other songs. Pandora Topp, vocals (Piaf); Kerry Stratton, conductor. The Extension Room, 30 Eastern Ave. 647-352-7041. . April 2, 7:30pm. ●●Toy Piano Composers/Bicycle Opera Beat by Beat | Jazz Stories Project. TPC Curiosity Festival: Travelogue. Works by Monica Pearce, August Murphy- King/Colleen Murphy- King, Elisha Denburg, and Tobin Stokes. Members of the Bicycle Opera Project. Arts and Letters Club, 14 Elm St. 647 -829- 4213. (festival pass). Opens April 1, 8:00pm. Also April 2. ●●University of Toronto Faculty of Music. The Art of the Prima Donna. Staged and costumed program of romantic opera. Works by Bellini, Donizetti, Verdi and others. Paul Widner, conductor. Walter Hall, Edward Johnson Building, University of Toronto, 80 Queen’s Park. 416-408-0208. ; (st). April 1, 5:00pm. ●●Victoria College Chorus. Patience. Music by Arthur Sullivan, libretto by W.S. Gilbert. Isabel Bader Theatre, 93 Charles St.W. 416- 978-8849. ; (sr); (st). April 1, 8:00pm. Also April 2, 3:00pm. ●●Voicebox/Opera in Concert. Isis and Osiris: Gods of Egypt. Music by Peter Anthony Togni, libretto by Sharon Singer. Lucia Cesaroni (Isis); Michael Barrett (Osiris); Julie Nesrallah (Nephtis); Michael Nyby (Seth); Stuart Graham (The Grand Vizier); and others; Orchestra and Chorus of Voicebox: Opera in Concert; Robert Cooper, conductor and chorus director. St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts, 27 Front St. E. 416-366-7723. and . Apr 1, 8:00pm and Apr 3, 2:30pm. ●●Young People’s Theatre. The Wizard of Oz. Music and lyrics by Harold Arlen and E.Y.Harburg, book by L. Frank Baum. Young People’s Theatre, 165 Front St.E. 416-862- 2222. -. Opens April 4, 10:15am. Runs to May 15. Days and times vary. Visit youngpeoplestheatre.ca for details. 58 | April 1, 2016 - May 7, 2016 thewholenote.com

doors, mostly from contraband recordings, which they still value. The Communists were pulling out and all kinds of Czech art was coming out of the alleyways and shadows into the bright light of day. Classical musicians were changing to jazz and playing, literally on the bridge all night. I was so exhilarated by the value put on freedom. The Czechs restored their beloved Prague to its former 16th-century glory, with new velvet and gold, recobbled streets and fresh paint and frescoes. Sadly in 2002, the Vlata River flooded its banks and destroyed much of their hard work. They started over. The Czechs are in a constant process of reinventing themselves; tirelessly healing, fixing, repairing.” Over the past few decades, McDonald has become intimately familiar with the city’s jazz club scene, as well as the Praguers’ way of life: “In Prague, there is a cover charge. People value art and come out seven nights a week to hear music, cuddle in the corner and relax. They are smoking less in the clubs today, if at all. Their homes are small flats so Praguers socialize in coffee shops and clubs. “Czechs love the standards. They listen with their eyes shut, experiencing what they had only heard on recordings. I enjoy walking home at 1am, hearing my solitary footsteps on the cobblestones, feeling safe in the medieval narrow streets and the archaic gas lamplights. Sheer bliss for me. There is no physical crime that I have heard of. The odd beggar, but I always carry provisions for them.” When she isn’t in Prague, McDonald proudly presents live jazz for people who want to listen; she currently books a series at the Jester’s Court in Port Perry: “There is a no-talking policy. I was raised in George’s Spaghetti House, the Imperial Room, Café des Copains and Montreal Bistro, where there was attentive silence during the performances. That is why players like to come to Port Perry to be in my music series in the Listening Room at Jester’s Court. I pay them, feed them and guarantee an appreciative audience. Roman Pokorny People drive from Barrie, Peterborough, Oshawa, Bowmanville, Newmarket and Toronto to sit in a quiet reverie. Similar to the vibe in Prague, if you can believe it!” McDonald met guitarist Roman Pokorny in the early 1990s; he put together a band for her and booked gigs. “When I first heard Roman (romanpokorny.com) he was cranking out one blues after another at the Ungelt in Prague. His band, Blues Box Heroes, cleans up all the awards. The next night he was in a Latin band, Brazilian Mood, with Yvonne Sanchez. The third time I saw him he was playing like Grant Green in a fabulous jazz venue. Roman is a force of Nature on the guitar. Powerful and aggressive or tasty and delicate. A child in Europe is handed an instrument at four years of age and expected to practise daily for hours, for years. He did and it shows. During the height of Communist oppression he would ride his bicycle to the forest and practise alone or jam with friends, willing to chance getting caught, learning forbidden American jazz songs. Czech folk know that nothing is free and nothing comes easy. “Roman is recording with a New York rhythm section and visiting me for a few days. Tuesday April 19 at 6pm as you know, we are at 120 Diner. But Jester’s Court (Sunday, April 17, 7pm) is in the works and also Blues and Brews at the Old Flame Brewery with Howard Ross and Dave Restivo. (Wednesday, April 20, 8pm).” Ori Dagan is a Toronto-based jazz musician, writer and educator who can be reached at oridagan.com. D. In the Clubs (Mostly Jazz) 120 Diner 120 Church St. 416-792-7725 120diner.com (full schedule) April 1 6pm The Sinners Choir. April 2 6pm Autorickshaw; 8:30pm Chelsea Bennett; 10pm Robert Scott. April 3 6pm Thaller Family Klezmer Band; 8pm KlezFactor; 10pm iSpy. April 5 6pm AHI; 8pm Linda Lavender; 10pm Royal Condition. April 6 6pm Genevieve Marentette; 8pm Lisa Particelli’s GNO Jazz Jam. April 7 6pm Laura Marks; 8pm Chelsea Keeney; 10:30pm Sophia Perlman & Terra Hazelton. April 8 6:30pm Stevey Ross and the Blue Mambo Swing. April 9 6pm Samantha Windover. April 10 5pm Pamela Hyatt’s 80th Birthday Cabaret. April 12 6pm Emilie Mover; 8pm Andrea Ramolo; 10pm Chelsea McBride’s Cityscape. April 13 6pm Genevieve Marentette; 8pm Lisa Particelli’s GNO Jazz Jam. April 14 6pm Ryley Murray Trio. April 15 6pm Simone Morris +1. April 16 6pm Brian Katz; 11pm Natasha Buckeridge. April 17 6pm Jacky Bouchard; 8pm Mel Cote. April 19 6pm From Prague: Roman Pokorny; 8pm Chris Birkett; 10pm Tiffany Gooch. April 20 6pm Mandy Goodhandy; 8pm Lisa Particelli’s GNO Jazz Jam. April 21 6pm Janet Whiteway. April 22 6pm Rita di Ghent. April 23 6pm Melissa Lauren & Nathan Hiltz. April 24 6pm PerlHaze; 8pm Rachel Piscione. April 26 6pm Aaron de Souza; 8pm Ben Anthony; 10pm The Koopa Troop. April 27 6pm Genevieve Marentette; 8pm Lisa Particelli’s GNO Jazz Jam. April 28 6pm Reuven Grajner; 8:30pm The Ault Sisters; 10:30pm Leslie Huyler. April 29 6pm Kevin Barrett & Sharron McLeod. April 30 6pm Whitney Ross Barris; 8:30pm Chris Gale Trio plays Ellington & Strayhorn; 10:30pm Sarah Thawer Trio. Alleycatz 2409 Yonge St. 416-481-6865 alleycatz.ca All shows: 9pm unless otherwise indicated. Call for cover charge info. April 1 Orangeman. April 2, 9, 16 Soular. April 7, 21 Carlos Morgan & The Flow. April 8 North of 7 Band. April 14, 28 Solo & Duets Concert Series. April 15, 23, 29, 30 Lady Kane. April 22 Taxi. Artword Artbar 15 Colbourne St., Hamilton. 905-543-8512 artword.net (full schedule) April 1 8pm Worst Pop Band Ever: Adrean Farrugia (piano), Chris Gale (sax), Drew Birston (bass), Tim Shia (drums) feat. Sophia Perlman (voice) . April 7 8pm The ON TOPIC Trio: Kim Ratcliffe (guitar), Aubrey Dayle (drums), Brad Cheeseman (bass) . April 8 8pm Aaron Z Trio . April 14 8pm Jazz vocal jam with Sue Ramsay Trio PWYC ( suggested). April 16 8pm Jude Johnson with Carl Horton (piano) & Mike Malone (trumpet) . April 22 8pm Love & Spring: Colina Phillips (voice), Stacie McGregor (piano), Mike Milligan (bass), Ted Warren (drums) . Bloom 2315 Bloor St. W. 416-767-1315 bloomrestaurant.com All shows: 19+. Call for reservations. April 21 7pm Alex Pangman (voice) with Peter Hill (piano), John MacLeod (trumpet) (dinner included). Blue Goose Tavern, The 1 Blue Goose St. 416-255-2442 thebluegoosetavern.com Every Sun 4pm Blues At the Goose with the Big Groove Rhythm Section and special guests. Burdock 1184 Bloor St. W. 416-546-4033 burdockto.com (Full schedule) April 9 8pm Sonuskapos Jazz Orchestra (adv)/(door). Castro’s Lounge 2116e Queen St. E 416-699-8272 castroslounge.com (full schedule) All shows: No cover/PWYC C’est What 67 Front St. E (416) 867-9499 cestwhat.com (full schedule) April 2, 16, 30 3pm The Boxcar Boys. April 3 3pm Annie Bonsignore . April 9, 23 3pm The Hot Five Jazzmakers. De Sotos 1079 St. Clair Ave. W 416-651-2109 desotos.ca (full schedule) Every Sun 11am Sunday Live Jazz Brunch No cover. Emmet Ray, The 924 College St. 416-792-4497 theemmetray.com (full schedule) All shows: No cover/PWYC Fat City Blues 890 College St. 647-345-8282 Every Sun 8:30pm Fraser/Melvin Band. Every Thurs 8:30pm The Mercenaries. April 1 9:30pm Freeman Dre & The Kitchen Party . April 15 9:30pm Sugar Brown . April 16 9:30pm Charlie Jacobson . April 22 9:30pm Tyler Yarema . Gate 403 403 Roncesvalles Ave. 416-588-2930 gate403.com All shows: PWYC. April 1 5pm The Spirit of Jazz feat. Nina Richmond; 9pm “The Pearl Motel”. April 2 5pm Bill Heffernan and His Friends; 9pm Danny Marks and Alec Fraser Duo. April 3 5pm Grateful Sunday feat. Trevor Cape and The Field; 9pm Virginia MacDonald Jazz Quartet. April 4 5pm Mike and Jill Daley Jazz Duo; 9pm Blues and Troubles. April 5 5pm Howard Willett Blues Duo; 9pm Leigh Graham Jazz Duo. April 6 5pm Sebastian Brown Solo from Spain; 9pm Julian Fauth Blues Night. April 7 5pm Bruce Chapman Blues Duo with feature guests; 9pm Darcy Windover Band. April 8 5pm Lisa Patterson and The Roam Project; 9pm Dennis Gaumond and Jen Gillmor Blues Duo. April 9 5pm Bill Heffernan and His Friends; 9pm Julian Fauth Blues Quartet. April 10 5pm Hello Darlings; 9pm Kurt Nielsen and Richard Whiteman Jazz Band. April 11 5pm Jorge Miguel Latin Music Solo; 9pm Chris Staig Trio. April 12 5pm Grant Lyle Blues Music; 9pm Angela Howard Jazz Band. April 13 5pm Michelle Rumball with friend; 9pm Julian Fauth Blues Night. April 14 5pm Amber Leigh Jazz Trio; 9pm Kevin thewholenote.com April 1, 2016 - May 7, 2016 | 59

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