In this issue: our sixteenth annual Choral Canary Pages; coverage of 21C, Estonian Music Week and the 3rd Toronto Bach Festival (three festivals that aren’t waiting for summer!); and features galore: “Final Finales” for Larry Beckwith’s Toronto Masque Theatre and for David Fallis as artistic director of Toronto Consort; four conductors on the challenges of choral conducting; operatic Hockey Noir; violinist Stephen Sitarski’s perspective on addressing depression; remembering bandleader, composer and saxophonist Paul Cram. These and other stories, in our May 2018 edition of the magazine.
Eugenio Fagiani in
Eugenio Fagiani in concert May 16 7:30 p.m. organixconcerts.ca Cultura. Gala Concert Event. Eugenio Maria Fagiani, organ. St. Basil’s Church, University of St. Michael’s College, 50 St. Joseph St. 416- 571-3680. . Thursday May 17 ●●1:30: Music at Metropolitan. 200th Anniversary Concert. Metropolitan Silver Band. Metropolitan United Church (Toronto), 56 Queen St. E. 416-363-0331 x26. Donations welcome. Friday May 18 ●●12:10: Music at St. Andrew’s. Noontime Recital. Works by Bach, Albéniz, Mertz, Regondi and Roux. Daniel Ramjattan, classical guitar. St. Andrew’s Church (Toronto), 73 Simcoe St. 416-593-5600 x231. Free. ●●8:00: Classical Context. Michael Bridge: Accordion Fever. J.S. Bach: French Suite No.5; Albeniz: Asturias; Bridge: Intoxicating; Petri Makkonen: Tango-Tokkata; Tchaikovsky: 1812 Overture. Michael Bridge, accordion. Canadian Music Centre, 20 St. Joseph St. 647-784-6229. /(adv). Also May 19 A. Concerts in the GTA (7:30pm, Heron Park Baptist Church). ●●8:00: Gallery 345. Four Short Song Cycles. Beethoven: An die ferne Geliebte; Finzi: Let us garlands bring; Rolfe: Moths; Brahms: Vier ernste Gesänge. Michael Nyby, baritone; Giles Tomkins, bass-baritone. 345 Sorauren Ave. 416-822-9781. ; 10(st). Cash only. ●●8:00: TorQ Percussion Quartet. Light Years/Dark Matter. Music for percussion quartet inspired by space. 918 Bathurst Centre for Culture, Arts, Media and Education, 918 Bathurst St. 416-538-0868 or torqpercussion.ca. TBA. ●●8:30: World Fiddle Day/Batuki Music/ Polyphonic Ground. Featuring fiddlers from three different traditions: Afro-Cuban, Old Time Fiddling, Ethiopian Masenqo. Abebe Fikade, Ethiopian masenqo; Mimi Zenebe, Ethiopian vocals; Okan (Elizabeth Rodriguez, violin; Magdelys Savigne, percussion); Shane Cook, Old Time fiddler. Hugh’s Room Live, 2261 Dundas St. W. 416-533-5483. /(adv). Saturday May 19 ●●4:30: Canadian Opera Company. The Nightingale and Other Short Fables. See May 1. ●●7:30: Classical Context. Michael Bridge: Accordion Fever. J.S. Bach: French Suite No.5; Albeniz: Asturias; Bridge: Intoxicating; Petri Makkonen: Tango-Tokkata; Tchaikovsky: 1812 Overture. Michael Bridge, accordion. Canadian Music Centre, 20 St. Joseph St. 647- 784-6229. /(adv). Also May 18 (8pm, Canadian Music Centre). ●●8:00: Acoustic Harvest. Madison Violet. Opening set: Abigail Lapell. St. Nicholas Birch Cliff Anglican Church, 1512 Kingston Rd. 416- 729-7564. /(adv). ●●8:00: Kindred Spirits Orchestra. Wrath and Revolution. Saint-Saëns: Danse macabre; Piano Concerto No.4 in c Op.44; Shostakovich: Symphony No.11 Op.103 “The Year 1905”. Kristian Alexander, conductor; Alexander Gangurean, violin; Gregory Millar, piano; Michael Berec, host. Flato Markham Theatre, 171 Town Centre Blvd., Markham. 905-604-8339. - ; (sr); (youth). 7:15pm pre-concert recital; 7:30pm pre-concert talk; intermission discussion with Michael Berec and Gregory Millar. ●●8:00: Labyrinth Musical Workshop Ontario. Ali Akbar Moradi and Imamyar Hasanov: Two Concerts in One. Ali Akbar Moradi, Kurdish tanbur; Imamyar Hasanov, Azeri kamancha. Eastminster United Church, 310 Danforth Ave. 647-702-8680. . ●●8:00: Small World Music Society. 16th Annual Asian Music Series: Near East Album Release. Ravi Naimpally, tabla; Ernie Tollar, saxophone, bansuri, ney; Demetri Petsalakis, oud, guitar; Majd Sekkar, clarinet; Tamer Pinarbasi, qanun. Small World Music Centre, Artscape Youngplace, 180 Shaw St. 416-536- 5439. /(adv). Sunday May 20 ●●2:00: Canadian Opera Company. Anna Bolena. See May 3. Also May 24, 26. ●●2:00: Gallery 345. Arthouse Ensemble. Works by Chausson, Fauré and Sibelius. Arkday Yanivker, violin; Ethan Filner, viola; Britton Riley, cello; Elina Kelebeev, piano. 345 Sorauren Ave. 416-822-9781. ; 10(st). Cash only. Monday May 21 ●●12:15: Music Mondays. Spring Serenade. Works by Schubert, Pritsker, Pujol, De Falla and De Sarasate. Warren Nicholson, guitar; Mark Whale, violin. Church of the Holy Trinity, 19 Trinity Sq. 416-598-4521 x223. PWYC ( to suggested). Tax receipts and up. ●●1:00: University of Toronto. Soldiers’ Tower Carillon Recital. Soldiers’ Tower War Memorial, 7 Hart House Circle. 416-978- 3485. Free. ●●8:00: Stereo Live. Mark Fewer, violin. Solo violin works by Ysaye, Schulhoff, Novacek and Arad. Campbell House Museum, 160 Queen St. W. 416-597-0227 x2. . Tuesday May 22 ●●12:00 noon: Canadian Opera Company. Vocal Series: A Journey of Transformation. Art songs and arias. Keri Alkema, soprano; Michael Shannon, piano. Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre, Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts, 145 Queen St. W. 416-363- 8231. Free. First-come, first-served. Late seating not available. ●●12:10: Nine Sparrows Arts Foundation/ Yorkminster Park Baptist Church. Lunchtime Chamber Music. Jacqueline Leung, piano; Jin Lee Youn, violin. Yorkminster Park Baptist Church, 1585 Yonge St. 416-241-1298. Free; donations welcomed. Wednesday May23 ●●12:00 noon: Canadian Opera Company. Jazz Series: Joy Spring. Big band favourites. JAZZ.FM Youth Big Band; Jules Estrin, conductor. Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre, Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts, 145 Queen St. W. 416-363-8231. Free. Firstcome, first-served. Late seating not available. ●●12:30: Organix Concerts/All Saints Kingsway. Kingsway Organ Concert Series. Rich Spotts, organ. All Saints Kingsway Anglican Church, 2850 Bloor St. W. 416-571-3680. Freewill offering. 45-minute concert. ●●12:30: Yorkminster Park Baptist Church. Noonday Organ Recital. Rashaan Allwood, organ. 1585 Yonge St. 416-922-1167. Free. ●●7:00: VIVA! Youth Singers of Toronto. Songs for a Spring Evening. Vivaldi: Gloria. Featuring VIVA!’s Everyone Can Sing Inclusion Choir and VIVA!’s newest choir, the Community Choir. Regis College Chapel, 100 Wellesley St. W. 416-788-8482. PWYC. ●●7:30: Toronto Choristers. Annual Spring Concert. Music from Broadway, spirituals, Canadian composers, The Everly Brothers, The Chordettes, and other works. Sir John A. MacDonald Collegiate Institute, 2300 Pharmacy Ave., Scarborough. 416-331- 8097. . ●●8:00: Joel Sheridan. Spellbound CD Launch Party. Jazz standards, rarely-heard musical treasures, and originals. Joel Sheridan, vocals; Adrean Farrugia, piano; Jordan O’Connor, bass; Reg Schwager, guitar; Mark Miklethwaite, drums. Jazz Bistro, 251 Victoria St. 416-363-5299. . Seating is limited. Dinner reservations are highly recommended. ●●8:00: Royal Conservatory. 21C Music Festival: Kronos Quartet with Jherek Bischoff. Chipsy (arr. Garchik): Zaghlala; Lizée: Another Living Soul; Sharlat: Pencil Sketches; Gershwin (arr. Garchik): Summertime; and other works. Kronos Quartet; Jherek Bischoff, bass guitar. Koerner Hall, Telus Centre, 273 Bloor 50 | May 1 – June 7, 2018 thewholenote.com
21C MusiC Festival KRONOs QuaRtet WitH JHeReK BisCHOFF WED., MAY 23, 8PM KOERNER HALL TICKETS ON SALE NOW! 416.408.0208 WWW.pErfOrmANCE.rCmuSIC.CA St. W. 416-408-0208. -. Post-concert talk. ●●8:00: Toronto Symphony Orchestra. Beethoven Emperor Concerto. Saariaho: Ciel d’hiver (North American premiere); Ives: Symphony No.2; Beethoven: Piano Concerto No.5 “Emperor”. Yefim Bronfman, piano; Osmo Vänskä, conductor. Roy Thomson Hall, 60 Simcoe St. 416-872-4255. .75–8.00. Also May 24. Schola Magdalena celebrates 100 Years of Women’s Voting Rights in Canada MAY 23, 8:15PM scholamagdalena.ca ●●8:15: Schola Magdalena. Celebrating 100 Years of Votes for Women in Canada. Magnificat, Te Deum, and plainchant composed and sung by women; Laurin: organ music. Andrew Adair, organ. Church of St. Mary Magdalene (Toronto), 477 Manning Ave. 416-531-7955. PWYC. Thursday May 24 ●●12:00 noon: Canadian Opera Company. Chamber Music Series: Young Artist Spotlight. Winners of the Glenn Gould Chamber Music Competition. Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre, Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts, 145 Queen St. W. 416-363- 8231. Free. First-come, first-served. Late seating not available. ●●2:00: Northern District Public Library. Orchardviewers. Ezra Duo: Jacob Clewell, viola; Sasha Bult-Ito, piano. Room 224, 40 Orchard View Blvd. 416-393-7610. Free. ●●7:00: Ukrainian Art Song Project. 20th- Century Ukrainian Art Songs. Andrea Ludwig, mezzo; Laura McAlpine, mezzo; Andrew Skitko, tenor; Robert Kortgaard, piano. Gallery 345, 345 Sorauren Ave. 416-822-9781. ; (st). Includes complimentary glass of wine. Post reception and cash bar follows. ●●7:30: Canadian Opera Company. Anna Bolena. See May 3. Also May 26. AVARUS ENSEMBLE Thursday, May 24 Church of the Redeemer estonianmusicweek.com ●●7:30: Estonian Music Week. Opening Concert. Avarus Ensemble; Martin Kuuskmann, bassoon; Kara-Lis Coverdale, electronic artist; Justin Gray & Synthesis. Church of the Redeemer, 162 Bloor St. W. estonianmusicweek.ca. (concert only); (concert and reception). 5pm: Reception with performances by Roosi Lindau, singer; and Tiina Kiik, accordionist. Sassafraz Restaurant and Bar, 100 Cumberland St. Reception tickets available only on the website. ●●8:00: Royal Conservatory. 21C Music Festival: Anthony de Mare’s Liaisons - Reimagining Sondheim from the Piano (Part 1). Bolcom: A Little Night Fughetta (after Anyone Can Whistle and Send in the Clowns); Gordon: Every Day a Little Death (A Little Night Music); Kahane: Being Alive (Company); Muhly: Color and Light; Reich: Finishing the Hat - Two Pianos (Sunday in the Park with George); and other works. Anthony de Mare, piano. Mazzoleni Concert Hall, Telus Centre, 273 Bloor St. W. 416-408-0208. . ●●8:00: Small World Music Society. 16th Annual Asian Music Series: Amely Zhou & Friends and Timar-Parsons Duo. Amely Zhou, erhu; Yi Wang, sheng; Lipeng Wu, dixi; Roa Lee, gayageum; Ravi Naimpally, tabla; Andrew Timar, zither; Bill Parsons, bamboo flute. Small World Music Centre, Artscape Youngplace, 180 Shaw St. 416-536-5439. /(adv). ●●8:00: Toronto Symphony Orchestra. Beethoven Emperor Concerto. Saariaho: Ciel d’hiver (North American premiere); Ives: Symphony No.2; Beethoven: Piano Concerto No.5 “Emperor”. Yefim Bronfman, piano; Osmo Vänskä, conductor. Roy Thomson Hall, 60 Simcoe St. 416-872-4255. .75–8.00. Also May23. ●●8:30: SING! The Toronto Vocal Arts Festival. SING! Swings Bernstein and More! Ault Sisters; The Watch; Hampton Avenue; Micah Barnes, host. Jazz Bistro, 251 Victoria St. 416-363-5299. . Friday May 25 ●●12:10: Music at St. Andrew’s. Noontime Recital. Beethoven: Eroica Variations; and works by Debussy and Chopin. Leonard Gilbert, piano. St. Andrew’s Church (Toronto), 73 Simcoe St. 416-593-5600 x231. Free. ●●4:00: Oakville Symphony Youth Orchestra. OSYO Season Finale Concert. Mahler: Symphony No.1 (mvts 2 and 3); Rimsky-Korsakov: Capriccio Espagnol; Dvořák: Symphony No.8. Two chamber orchestras; full symphony orchestra. St. Thomas Aquinas, 124 Dorval Dr., Oakville. 289-815-0018. ; (sr/st). ●●7:00: Ensemble Atlantica. EA+3G collaborative tour. Featuring works by emerging Canadian and international composers. Honstein: An Index of Possibility; Boiron: ... La lame... écumant...chandelle sauvage plantée au roc... vibre...diapason d’éole...; Kaminer: Songs for Nvram; Bard: Toc, Toc, Toc. Ensemble For tickets & information go to Ukrainian Art Song Project www.ukrainianartsong.ca Atlantica: mixed ensemble of seven musicians; 3G: percussion trio. Array Space, 155 Walnut Ave. 902-300-0161. at door only. Also May 27 (6:30pm, Montreal). ●●7:00: Estonian Music Week. The Estos Rock at Lee’s Palace. Pia Fraus, Erki Pärnoja, Diana, Kaili Kinnon, DJ Sander Mölder and The Leslie Spits. Lee’s Palace, 529 Bloor St. W. estonianmusicweek.ca. . ●●7:00: Opera by Request. Le Nozze di Figaro. Mozart. John Holland, baritone (Figaro); Jessica Clark, soprano (Susanna); Cristina Pisani, soprano (Countess Almaviva); Norman E. Brown, baritone (Count Almaviva); and others; Natasha Fransblow, piano and conductor. College Street United Church, 452 College St. 416-455-2365. . ●●7:30: Canadian Opera Company. An Evening with the Ensemble Studio. Excerpts from Mozart: Così fan tutte and Purcell: Dido and Aeneas. COC’s Ensemble Studio artists; COC Orchestra; Johannes Debus, conductor. Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts, 145 Queen St. W. 416-363-8231. . ●●7:30: Newmarket Citizens Band. Music and All That Jazz. Guest: After Hours Big Band; Michael Kearns, director. Old Town Hall, Newmarket, 460 Botsford St., Newmarket. 905- 726-2641. ; free(under 12). ●●8:00: Caliban Arts/Remix Lounge. Tribute to Archie Alleyne. Kollage. Remix Lounge, 1305 Dundas St. W. 647-722-4635. ; (adv); (Early Bird until Apr 27). ●●8:00: Etobicoke Community Concert Band. Homeward Bound. Guests: Winner of Kiwanis Club Harvey Rutledge award (TBA); Etobicoke Pops Orchestra; music students of Etobicoke Collegiate. Etobicoke Collegiate Auditorium, 86 Montgomery Rd., Etobicoke. 416-410-1570. ; free(under 12). ●●8:00: Exultate Chamber Singers. We Sing and Connect! Celebrating the retirement of Hilary Apfelstadt. Guests: Miles Nadal JCC Chamber Choir (May 26 only). St. Thomas’s Anglican Church (Toronto), 383 Huron St. 416-971-9229. . Also May 26. ●●8:00: Maria Soulis Trio. Dissolving We Sing and Connect! Friday, May 25, 2018, 8pm Saturday, May 26, 2018, 8pm Celebrating the Retirement of Hilary Apfelstadt With Special Guest (May 26 Only): The Miles Nadal JCC Chamber Choir 383 Huron Street, Toronto 416-971-9229 www.exultate.net an Ontario government agency un organisme du gouvernement de l’Ontario thewholenote.com May 1 – June 7, 2018 | 51
