Volume 24 Issue 2 - October 2018

BLUE PAGES

BLUE PAGES 2018/19 SECTION I: PRESENTERS & PERFORMERS two Sunday afternoon “Kaffeemusiks,” with music, commentary or narration and slideshow. This season’s presentations include: The gathering of the choir’s extended ‘family’ including former choir members, directors, section leads and other friends, including the world premier of “Gaudeamus” by David Barber (September 29); a “Kaffeemusik” exploring the links between fairy tales and music (November 25); music from early Spain when three major faiths lived together in harmony (March 2); and women who persisted against the odds to create wonderful music (May 26). We have about 40 singers and are now in our fifth season with artistic director Lucas Harris. He auditions new singers throughout the season as necessary. Interested singers should bring a rich choral background and a deep love for early repertoire. Sharon Adamson 416-763-1695 info@torontochamberchoir.ca www.torontochamberchoir.ca ●Toronto ● Children’s Chorus The award-winning Toronto Children’s Chorus marks its 41st season and its 12th under artistic director Elise Bradley this 2018/19 season. The Chorus comprises a family of choirs: KinderNotes for children aged three to six (no audition required), four Training Choirs, Main Choir (four ensembles) and Toronto Youth Choir. More than 300 choristers develop skills in vocal technique, sight-singing and music theory each year. Main Choir offers master classes and exceptional performance and recording opportunities, including with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra. Programming is available in Midtown (for ages 3 to 30) and in North York (for ages 3 to 9). Bonnie O’Sullivan 416-932-8666 x225 bonnie@torontochildrenschorus.com www.torontochildrenschorus.com ●Toronto ● Choral Society The Toronto Choral Society (TCS) was founded in 1845 to foster a positive musical environment in which members can learn and develop their musical ability and choral repertoire. The TCS plays an integral part in the community presenting important works from the traditional choral repertoire, while exploring the music of the cultural mosaic that is our city. This year the Toronto Choral Society presents Misa Criolla and Navidad Nuestra, by composer Ariel Ramirez, both widely regarded as stunning artistic achievements. The sound of traditional Argentinian instruments, combined with the 150-voice choir, make this concert both exhilarating and haunting. We will be performing at Koerner Hall, December 5, 2018, at 7:30pm. The artistic director and conductor of three of the TCS choirs is Geoffrey Butler, who joined the TCS in 1994. The accompanist of this Community Choir is William O’Meara. Debby Neill Blyth 416-465-9614 info@torontochoralsociety.org www.torontochoralsociety.org ●Toronto ● Classical Singers Toronto Classical Singers is known for its unique musical point of view and its high-quality performances, often presenting the lesserknown and rarely performed vocal/orchestral repertoire as well as the standard works. With its exuberant approach, the group celebrates the choral tradition with full orchestra. For its 27th performance year, founding conductor Jurgen Petrenko will lead the choir, the Talisker Players and soloists through three concerts featuring Bach, Mozart and Mendelssohn. Opening with “Jubilance and Joy” on December 9, 2018, the most intellectual composer tells the most joyful story in Bach’s Christmas Oratorio. On March 3, 2019, “The Path of Genius” – from Salzburg to Vienna, we present two brilliant Mozart pieces, his Solemn Vespers and the revered Requiem – an evening prayer and a profound goodbye. “A Whirlwind to Heaven” completes our season on May 5, 2019. Enduring drought, rain, fire, storm and earthquake, find out why it’s not easy being a prophet by joining us for Mendelssohn’s Elijah. All concerts are on Sundays at 4pm, Christ Church Deer Park, 1570 Yonge Street. Season tickets .00, single tickets .00. Please visit us at www.torontoclassicalsingers.ca for more information. Kathleen Payne 416-444-7863 info@torontoclassicalsingers.ca www.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 a five-show concert series at the revitalized Trinity-St. Paul’s Centre. The Consort has toured extensively and has recorded music for film and television, including the hit television series The Tudors and The Borgias, and released its 14th CD recording in November 2017: The Italian Queen of France. From glittering 17th-century Rome to the enchanting soundscapes of the 21st century, the 2018/19 season is bursting with the colours of early music, opening with the opulent “Frescobaldi and The Glories of Rome” (October 19 and 20, 2018). “Praetorius Christmas Vespers” – Toronto’s much-loved yuletide tradition –returns December 14, 15, and 16; then fall in love with early music again at “Love, Remixed” (February 15 and 16, 2019); explore an ancient city with “Four Quarters of Jerusalem” (March 8 and 9); and close the season with “Night Games” – a musical roast where nothing is too gauche (featuring commedia dell’arte master, Marie-Nathalie Lacoursiere). tickets are available for ages 35 and under through Club Consort. Tickets on sale at TorontoConsort.org or by calling 416-964-6337. Michelle Knight 416-966-1045 www.torontoconsort.org ●Toronto ● Mendelssohn Choir Grand symphonic sound, clarity of expression, and above all emotional impact are the hallmarks of Toronto Mendelssohn Choir performances. Canada’s world-renowned 120- voice vocal ensemble, including a professional core and auditioned volunteers and apprentices, performs choral masterworks from across five centuries. The TMC presents its own concert series while also performing regularly with the TSO, including Handel’s Messiah. TMC’s 2018/19 season, under interim conductor David Fallis, includes: “Festival of Carols” with the acclaimed Canadian Staff Band of the Salvation Army and the Toronto Youth Choir, December 4 and 5; a free Community Concert featuring music by Canadian and American composers, January 26; a program of Handel’s beloved Coronation Anthems and Haydn’s Mass in a Time of War with full orchestra, February 27; and “Sacred Music for a Sacred Space”, April 17 and Good Friday, April 19 in the beautiful Groupof-Seven-decorated St. Anne’s Anglican Church. The TMC’s education and outreach programs include live concert webcasts of select performances and Singsation Saturday choral workshops for anyone who loves to sing. Cynthia Hawkins, executive director 416-598-0422 www.tmchoir.org ●Toronto ● Mozart Players Operated by the Mozart Project, the Toronto Mozart Players are comprised of professional solo, chamber and orchestral musicians dedicated to performance of the highest calibre. Specializing in the music of Mozart and his contemporaries, the Toronto Mozart Players perform a varied repertoire from the early 18th century to the 21st century under the direction of David Bowser. Concerts are held at Church of the Redeemer and programs include chamber, orchestral, vocal and choral works. The Toronto Mozart Players have welcomed outstanding guest artists such as soprano Nathalie Paulin and trumpeter Andrew McCandless and have partnered with the Hart House Chorus and the Cantabile Chamber Choir. The Toronto Mozart Players perform as guest orchestra in Pax Christi Chorale concerts every season. During the 2018/19 concert season, performances include: Pergolesi’s Stabat Mater, the world premiere of Odawa First Nation composer Barbara Croall’s oratorio Miziwe (Everywhere) and B22 | theWholeNote 2018/19 PRESENTER PROFILES

Mozart’s Requiem. Lawrence Peddie 647-478-7532 info@mozartproject.ca www.mozartproject.ca ●Toronto ● Operetta Theatre Toronto Operetta Theatre is in its third decade as Canada’s only performing arts company dedicated to music theatre in all its variety, offering up a memorable season, Gold and Silver Age of Melody! The season opens with a concert dedicated to Latin America, “Out of Character.” Performance is on Saturday, November 3, 2018, featuring Lynn Isnar, Margie Bernal, Guillermo Silva-Marin; Larry Beckwith is the music director and pianist. Our holiday production is the golden age hit, Die Fledermaus by Johann Strauss, featuring Lara Ciekiewicz, Caitlyn Wood, Elizabeth Beeler, Adam Fisher, and Derek Bate as a conductor, December 28, 2018 to January 2, 2019. Following is Perchance to Dream by Ivor Novello on Sunday, March 3, 2019, featuring Lynn Isnar, Caitlin McCaughey, Cian Horrobin and Eugenia Dermentzis, with Peter Tiefenbach as music director and pianist. The Spring production is from operetta’s Silver Age, The Merry Widow by Franz Lehár, from April 23 to 28, 2019, featuring Lucia Cesaroni, Michael Nyby, Daniela Agostino and Gregory Finney with Larry Beckwith as conductor. All performances are held at the St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts. Yuki Azuma 416-922-2912 admin@torontooperetta.com www.torontooperetta.com ●The ● Toronto Singing Studio Welcome to a new adventures in singing! The Toronto Singing Studio offers many ways to improve and develop your voice and singing skills. Interested in private singing lessons? Discover the unique sound that is your singing voice. Or are you more comfortable in a group class? The very popular Singers’ Repertoire Class for experienced singers (adults) who want to work on solo song performance may be a good fit. Do you love Broadway shows? Do you dream of being on stage, singing, dancing and delivering funny, serious, or romantic lines in a play? Then you are a perfect candidate for the Musical Theatre Workshop for Adults program. The Toronto Singing Studio has two nonauditioned adult choirs: Celebration Choir (Thursday afternoons, for singers over age 55) and the Summer Singers (meets in June and July). The Toronto Singing Studio has locations downtown and East York. For more information, visit the TTSS website. Linda Eyman 416-455-9238 linda@thetorontosingingstudio.ca www.thetorontosingingstudio.ca TORONTO SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA ●● Toronto Symphony Orchestra Established in 1922, the Toronto Symphony Orchestra (TSO) is one of Canada’s most important cultural institutions. The TSO has distinguished itself as an active supporter of new Canadian and international works. Since 2008, the Orchestra has released eight recordings under its self-produced label tsoLive, and three recordings with Chandos Records. Over the past decade, the TSO has toured throughout Canada and internationally. Tour highlights include the Orchestra’s performance at Reykjavik’s Harpa Hall in 2014, and, more recently, the TSO’s first ever performances in Israel and residency at the Prague Spring International Music Festival in 2017. Toronto’s Roy Thomson Hall has been the TSO’s home since 1982. The TSO also serves the larger community with TSOUNDCHECK, the original under-35 ticket program; the Toronto Symphony Youth Orchestra (which is tuition free); and music-education programs that reach tens of thousands of students each year. Derolyn P. Kinkead 416-593-7769 x218 dkinkead@tso.ca www.tso.ca ●Toyich ● International Projects (TIP) Toyich International Projects (TIP) is a non-profit charitable organization devoted to developing the skills, professional training and musical education of music students, performers, mature amateur musicians and music teachers by providing them with opportunities to develop and present their talents nationally and internationally. Our acclaimed Monster Concerts (piano orchestras) have showcased many talented performers over the years and have been featured on radio, television and print media in Canada and Europe. TIP’s mandate is inclusive and we provide and support professional training on an ongoing basis to musicians of all genres, instrumentalists and vocalists (contact boyanna@sympatico.ca for information on participation). TIP, in collaboration with the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Music, is proud to present RomeS- MARTS (Rome Summer Musical Arts) in Rome, Italy, each summer offering performance programs for all musicians: masterclasses with Canadian and Italian teachers, lectures, collaborative studies, public performances and University of Toronto credit for eligible Faculty of Music students. The dates for next year’s program in Rome are July 8 to 19, 2019. Boyanna Toyich 416-922-0755 boyanna@sympatico.ca www.romesmarts.org www.toyichinternationalproects.ca ●Trio ● Arkel Chamber Music Group Trio Arkel is the collaboration of three women at the top of the classical music world in Canada, each a soloist and leader in her own right: Marie Berard is concertmaster of the Canadian Opera Company Orchestra; Teng Li is the principal violist of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra; Winona Zelenka is the assistant principal cellist of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra. Since 2008, they have joined forces to bring a wide variety of classical chamber music to the Toronto public, enlisting internationally-renowned guest artists for a truly stimulating and eclectic musical experience. Winona Zelenka 416-409-6824 admin@trioarkel.com www.trioarkel.com/index theWholeNote 2018/19 PRESENTER PROFILES | B23