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Volume 22 Issue 3 - November 2016

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score by John Williams.

score by John Williams. This live performance screening of the very first Indiana Jones movie is led by pops conductor Steven Reineke, March 29, 2017 at 7:30pm, Roy Thomson Hall. Livenation presents Game of Thrones live featuring a huge multimedia, 360-degree stage, screens, special effects, orchestra and choir under direction of composer Ramin Djawadi, March 4, 2017 at 8pm, Air Canada Centre. The Diary of Anne Frank The Grand Philharmonic Choir presents the Canadian premiere of James Whitbourn’s choral work, Annelies: A Cantata on the Words of Anne Frank, November 19, 7:30pm at Maureen Forrester Hall, Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo. Based on a translation of the Diary of Anne Frank, this choral work is set for soprano, choir and instruments under music director Mark Vuorinen and featuring the Grand Philharmonic Chamber Singers. To mark the occasion, the Grand Philharmonic Choir has partnered an exhibition with the Kitchener Public Mark Vuorinen Library. There will be displays on Anne Frank’s life from the Anne Frank Centre for Mutual Respect, New York City. A special performance of Annelies by the Grand Philharmonic Chamber Singers under Vuorinen will be held in the Central Library Reading Lounge on November 13. . Beth Slepian, education director for the Anne Frank Centre, will be a guest speaker for this interactive, family-friendly presentation. The library exhibition runs to November 15. Whitbourn’s musical setting follows selected entries from Anne Frank’s actual words. Translated from the original Dutch, Whitbourn has assembled them chronologically to frame the story. Her writing is remarkable in its intimacy and simplicity. Whitbourn uses repetition of her own words to shape the music. At times, this intimacy is highlighted with solo soprano, at times with chorale. At times minimalist and dissonant, he uses plainchant, military, music hall, solo violin, solo clarinet and more. Whitbourn has also used a lot of repetition. When I queried Vuorinen’s thoughts on this compositional tool he said it requires the interpretation to be “deliberate and thoughtful” with each iteration. He also understands that “the repetition is there for emphasis, to hammer home the message. Which is a whole different approach to express these in a deliberate way to bring home the point.” It is remarkable to hear the repeated invocations of the choir repeating “We are Jews in chains.” The fifth movement, Life in Hiding, finishes with repetition of the text: “One day this terrible war will be over, and we’ll be people again, and not just Jews.” Her words are a deeply powerful tapestry to set music to. Whitbourn’s interpretation is evocative and challenges the listener to bear witness to this history. Vuorinen notes: “The text is important. Trying to get the voice of this girl. To hear this voice. It’s quite incredible to read these words, of a girl who is incredibly optimistic. There is optimism in this music. But there is juxtaposition of musical styles and it is crushing and very emotional. It is something the singers have to learn to deal with.” Vuorinen revisited Anne Frank’s diary over the summer in preparation for rehearsals and encouraged his singers to do the same. All the text is from her writings except for the Kyrie in the eighth movement, Sinfonia, and excerpts from the Book of Psalms and Lamentations in the 13th, penultimate movement of the work. We all know that Anne Frank and her companions were betrayed, captured and later died in a concentration camp. Her diary remains a poignant reminder of the impacts of racism, intolerance, hatred, and state-sponsored violence. Again, Anne’s words are best: “As long as you can look fearlessly at the sky, you’ll know you’re pure within” (February 23, 1944). This must be a remarkable experience for the Grand Philharmonic Chamber Singers and it will be for their audience as well. Other great opportunities Nov 13: The Amadeus Choir presents “Aurora Borealis: Magic and Mystery,“ featuring works by Timothy Corlis, Ola Gjeilo, Eric Whitacre, Eleanor Daley, Morten Lauridsen and Ēriks Ešenvalds at Eglinton St. George’s United Church. Nov 19: The Orpheus Choir of Toronto presents “Stories: Myths and Mysteries,” the first concert in their “Identities” theme for 2016/2017. This one includes a premiere of The Farthest Shore by Paul Mealor, with guests Young Voices Toronto at Grace Church on-the-Hill. And: Get out there and check out the huge variety of Christmas and holiday music. December is coming fast and you want to make sure you have tickets! Check out thewholenote.com for all the latest offerings! Follow Brian on Twitter @bfchang Send info/media/ tips to choralscene@thewholenote.com. Carols by Candlelight Sunday, december 11, 4:30 pm A traditional candlelight choral presentation. nine lessons & Carols Sunday, december 18, 4:30 pm Following the historic tradition of King’s College in Cambridge. FREE ADMISSION FOR bOth EvENtS | Doors open at 3:30pm. Yorkminster Park Baptist Church 1585 Yonge Street | (416) 922-1167 | yorkminsterpark.com 24 | November 1, 2016 - December 7, 2016 thewholenote.com

C H O R A L E C H O R L A E BACH CHILDREN’S CHORUS BACH CHAMBER YOUTH CHOIR Linda Beaupré, Conductor Eleanor Daley, Pianist P A X • C H R I S T • C H O R A L E I SATURDAY DECEMBER 10, 2016 AT 7:30PM and at the Toronto Centre box office or TicketMaster at 1-855-985-2787 (ARTS) Toronto Centre for the Arts 5040 Yonge Street Design by David Kopulos www.davidkopulos.com facebook.com/BCCandBCYC bachchildrenschorus.ca Handel’s Messiah Friday, December 2 at 8:00 pm Metropolitan United Church 56 Queen Street East, Toronto Special Guest Artists: The Amadeus Choir, Lydia Adams, Conductor Patricia Wright, Organ Robert Venables and Robert DeVito, Trumpets and Orchestra Tickets: call 416-217-0537 Elmer Iseler Singers Lydia Adams, Conductor and Music Director Allison Angelo Andrea Ludwig Zach Finkelstein Peter McGillivray Tickets: call 416-217-0537 www.elmeriselersingers.com thewholenote.com November 1, 2016 - December 7, 2016 | 25

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