Volume 29 Issue 2 | October & November 2023

The WholeNote VOLUME

The WholeNote VOLUME 29 NO 2 OCTOBER & NOVEMBER 2023 IN THIS EDITION STORIES AND INTERVIEWS Wendalyn Bartley, Paul Ennis, Jennifer Parr, David Perlman, Sophia Perlman, Colin Story, Andrew Timar CD Reviewers Stuart Broomer, Max Christie, Sam Dickinson, Daniel Foley, Raul da Gama, Janos Gardonyi, Richard Haskell, Tiina Kiik, Kati Kiilaspea, Lesley Mitchell-Clarke, Cheryl Ockrant, David Olds, Ted Parkinson, Ivana Popovic, Terry Robbins, Michael Schulman, Andrew Scott, Bruce Surtees, Andrew Timar, Yoshi Maclear Wall, Ken Waxman, Matthew Whitfield Proofreading Paul Ennis, John Sharpe Listings Team John Sharpe, Gary Heard, Colin Story Design Team Kevin King, Susan Sinclair Circulation Team Jack Buell, Bruno Difilippo, Carl Finkle, Vito Gallucci, Josh Gershateer, James Harris, Bob Jerome, Marianela Lopez, Miguel Brito-Lopez, Chris Malcolm, Sheila McCoy, Lorna Nevison, Janet O’Brien, and Tom Sepp UPCOMING DATES AND DEADLINES Weekly Online Listings Updates 6pm every Tuesday for weekend posting Volume 29 No. 3, DECEMBER & JANUARY 2023-24 will be published Friday, November 24 (digital) Tuesday, November 28 (print) Print edition listings deadline 6pm Tuesday, November 7 Print advertising, reservation deadline 6pm Tuesday, November 14 Web advertising can be booked at any time VOLUME 29 includes six print editions: September 2023 (Aug 29); October & November (Sept 26); December & January (Nov 28); February & March (Jan 30); April & May (Mar 26); Summer (May 28) Printed in Canada Couto Printing & Publishing Services Circulation Statement - August 29, 2023 9000 printed & distributed Canadian Publication Product Sales Agreement 1263846 ISSN 14888-8785 WHOLENOTE Publications Mail Agreement #40026682 WholeNote Media Inc. accepts no responsibility or liability for claims made for any product or service reported on or advertised in this issue. COPYRIGHT © 2023 WHOLENOTE MEDIA INC FOR OPENERS All in the same storm A very wise associate, at that time working for a large performing arts organization shuttered by COVID, drew an important distinction for me back in the days of COVID when fully masked collective lamentation was the only form of choral activity permitted, and “We’re all in the same boat together” was just about the only morale-boosting song on the collective songsheet. I remember her pausing for a moment during one of our digital conversations after I resorted to the “same boat” refrain. “Hmm,” she eventually said. “It’s actually more like we’re in the same storm together, I think.” It struck me as a profoundly important point. “All in the same boat” is more comfortably true for the first-class passengers on the liner than it is in steerage (except perhaps when it means a grandstand view of the iceberg ahead). And it’s just as true, but terrifyingly so, if the boat you’re all in together is massively overloaded, and in danger of not making it to the yearned-for destination, even in the calmest of seas. And it’s definitely not true at all for the vast majority of self-employed and contract workers, bobbing around in craft of various shapes and sizes, in danger of being left far behind or, worse, run down by all the bigger boats cheerfully en route to the “new normal.” Twist to the plot if I have already told you this story, blame my memory lapse on long COVID and accept my apology. But stay with me, because there has been a significant twist to the plot since then. The twist in question is the fact that for many of us, in ways most of us couldn’t foresee, surviving the post-pandemic peace has been harder to deal with than the “war against COVID” was. Was this especially so for those who work in the gig economy? Maybe. But definitely not exclusively, as we shall see. Here at TheWholeNote, for example, there was no way to predict or plan for the fact that paper costs would rise to unprecedented levels right at the time we were ready to rebuild a circulation network that had been, literally, decimated by the pandemic – right when the performing arts community was, groundhog like, coming out of isolation, and taking off its masks just long enough to sniff the post-pandemic air. T'KARONTO continued on page 10 For thousands of years before European settlement, T’karonto (The Meeting Place) was part of the traditional territory of many Nations, including the Mississaugas of the Credit River, the Anishinaabe, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee, and the Wendat peoples, and remains their home to this day, as it now is for many diverse First Nations, Inuit and Metis peoples. This Meeting Place lies within the territory governed by the Sewatokwa’tshera’t (Dish with One Spoon) treaty between the Anishinaabe, Mississaugas and Haudenosaunee – a Treaty which bound them to share the territory and protect the land. Subsequent Indigenous Nations and Peoples, and all newcomers are invited into this treaty in the spirit of peace, friendship, respect and reconciliation. We are grateful to live and work here, helping spread the word about the healing power of music in this place. 8 | October & November 2023 thewholenote.com

KOERNER HALL 2023.24 CONCERT SEASON Omar Kamal: Sway with Me FRI., OCT. 20, 7:30PM KOERNER HALL Performing with a Toronto all-star big band and strings, Omar Kamal brings together a stunning repertoire of emotional hits for one enchanting evening of standards at Koerner Hall. The evening is dedicated to the memory of Tony Bennett. Presented in partnership with the Canadian Arabic Orchestra Taylor Academy Showcase Concert SAT., OCT. 21, 4:30PM & SAT., NOV. 18, 4:30PM MAZZOLENI CONCERT HALL FREE (TICKET REQUIRED) The Phil and Eli Taylor Performance Academy for Young Artists presents a concert by the leading young classical musicians in Canada. Hear the stars of tomorrow! Chanticleer FRI., OCT. 27, 8PM KOERNER HALL Hailed as “the world’s reigning male chorus” by The New Yorker, the Grammy Award-winning vocal ensemble will perform some of their greatest hits. Series generously supported by an anonymous donor Generous support provided from The Michael and Sonja Koerner Fund for Classical Programming Django Festival Allstars and Edmar Castañeda FRI., NOV. 10, 8PM KOERNER HALL An unforgettable night of jazz and world music featuring the internationally renowned Django Festival Allstars and Latin Grammy Award nominated jazz harp virtuoso Castañeda. GGS Chamber Opera FRI., NOV. 3, 7:30PM & SAT., NOV. 4, 7:30PM MAZZOLENI CONCERT HALL Students from The Glenn Gould School’s vocal program present their annual chamber opera. Part of the Price Opera Program Israel Fernández and Seffarine SAT., NOV. 11, 8PM KOERNER HALL The leader of a new generation of flamenco vocalists, Israel Fernández makes his Koerner Hall debut. Arab/Andalusian ensemble, Seffraine, opens the show. JoAnn Falletta conducts the Royal Conservatory Orchestra Henry From, piano FRI., NOV. 24, 8PM KOERNER HALL Multiple Grammy Award-winning conductor JoAnn Falletta will lead Ihnatowycz Prize in Piano recipient Henry From and the Royal Conservatory Orchestra in a program of works by Brahms, Roussel, and Hindemith. Part of the Temerty Orchestral Program ARC Ensemble: Celebrating 20 Years WED., NOV. 29, 7:30PM MAZZOLENI CONCERT HALL The ARC Ensemble (Artists of The Royal Conservatory) celebrates its 20th anniversary with the music of two extraordinary composers. Generous support provided from The Michael and Sonja Koerner Fund for Classical Programming TICKETS & SUBSCRIPTIONS ON SALE NOW! 416.408.0208 RCMUSIC.COM/PERFORMANCE 237 BLOOR STREET WEST (BLOOR ST. & AVENUE RD.) TORONTO