Volume 31 Issue 2 - November & December 2025

CHORAL SCENEAugmented

CHORAL SCENEAugmented forces: choirs plusANGUS MACCAULLEarly birdsThe early bird gets the worm, and the early WholeNotereader gets ... death!On November 1, Amadeus Choir of Greater Toronto brings accordionistMichael Bridge, who’s been described by CBC Music as “awizard of the accordion,” to the stage, along with aerial tango dancerElizabeth Snell. They’ll be celebrating the Day of the Dead. The sessionbegins with a friendly tango session you can either join or watch. It’sat The Playground on Carlaw AvenueAlso on November 1, Guelph Chamber Choir presents Tango toDeath, featuring another accordionist, Matti Pulkki. There will be asalsa dance to close the evening.And to celebrate Remembrance Day on November 11, the TorontoChoral Society presents “The Larks Still Bravely Singing.” This is adifferent take on death, commemorating the men and women whodied protecting our freedoms. It’s an interesting time to think aboutthe importance of the military. On the one hand, there are violentnationalist conflicts around the world. But on the other, we face apressing need to define our sovereignty in Canada.Big worksThe fall is often a time when choirs take on challenging repertoire.This is the juicy stuff that choristers love to sing.Soundstreams tackles Mass for the Endangered on November 22.This piece about climate change, which first premiered in 2018,provides a powerful reflection and a requiem of sorts for an eventthat has not yet happened. David Fallis conducts at Trinity St Paul’sUnited Church and Centre for Faith, Justice and the Arts. In additionto the mass by Sarah Kirkland Snider, the program contains work byR. Murray Schafer, Olivier Messiaen, Arvo Pärt, Andrew Balfour, andChris Hutchings. I think I might go to this one!On November 26, over in Hamilton, the Hamilton PhilharmonicOrchestra stages Craig Hella Johnson’s Considering Matthew Shepard,with The Elora Singers. This work is also a requiem, one for themurder of a young gay man in the late 1990s that sparked a wave ofanti-hate activism, ultimately resulting in legislation in the U.S. Thepiece first premiered in 2016. It’s a narrative work depicting the actualevents surrounding the murder and contains direct quotes referencingextreme violence and hate. As a powerful political piece, it will leaveyou thinking about how you can make a difference.Sound the trumpet ... and harp ... and jazz trio!As November moves into December, holiday concerts dominate thelistings. It’s a special time of year when choirs often join forces withorchestras and instrumentalists.And what’s a holiday season without a brass quintet. ThePeterborough Singers bring the Venabrass Quintet on stage for“Yuletide Cheer” on November 29. I love the sounds of brass atChristmas. This concert also features the Singers founder Syd Birrellon the organ. It’ll be his last concert with the Singers, and there’s beena special work commissioned to commemorate his retirement.Three groups of singers combine with the ScarboroughPhilharmonic Orchestra, also on November 29, for “Festive Fables.”It’ll be an evening of carols and music inspired by winter stories. TheCanto Singers, Serenata Singers, and the SPO Women’s Choir sing funmusic, including Believe from The Polar Express.The Cantorei sine Nomine, or the singers without name, tackle alarge holiday piece November 30 with Bach’s Christmas Oratorio.They’ll be singing the newer English translation by Neil Jenkins. Theconcert takes place in Uxbridge, which, as hikers may know, is a trailmecca. Why not pop up for one last weekend hike in the fall seasonand then take in the concert at 7pm?Brass quintets aren’t the only instruments that enjoy a holidayniche. Christmas is also the season of harps. Harpist JacquelineGoring joins the Mississauga Chamber Singers for “Christmas Joy”on December 6. The concert features soprano Leanne Kaufman, who,when she’s not singing, likes to bake; and baritone Alexander Hajek,who paints miniatures for the game Warhammer in his spare time.The Toronto Children’s Chorus comes to Roy Thompson Hall onDecember 14 with “Songs of the Season: Nostalgic Movie Moments.”If Let it Go from Frozen has finally fallen out of your head, now is agreat chance to get it back in there! Though overplayed for a while, it’sa great song. The TCC will be singing the modern classic along withCarol of the Bells from Home Alone and You’re a Mean One,Mr. Grinch from The Grinch Who Stole Christmas. A jazz trio joins for16 | November & December 2025 thewholenote.com

Clockwise from left: Toronto Choral Society; Michael Bridge (AmadeusChoir); Venabrass (Peterborough Singers), Jacqueline Goring(Mississauga Chamber Singers); and Herr Handel himself (Tafelmusik).the concert at 2pm. If you’re itching to sing some carols, come by at1:15pm for caroling in the lobby before the concert.Finally, the Hannaford Street Silver Band takes the stage onDecember 16 for “Merry & Bright,” a holiday celebration in voiceand brass, which includes a world premiere by Haitian conductorand composer Christopher Ducasse. The Orpheus Choir of Torontojoins the band for what promises to be an unforgettable concert. TheAmerican Record Guide has billed Hannaford as “the finest brass bandon the continent.” They are much bigger than a quintet and the onlyprofessional ensemble of their kind in Canada.Classic MessiahsPax Christi Chorale performs a “Children’s Messiah” on November 29at 4pm. It will feature solo and choral excerpts from Handel’s wellknownwork in an interactive, relaxed setting intended for families.A student orchestra, the Arts Unionville Strings, joins Pax on stage.Admission is free.The Toronto Symphony Orchestra brings its Messiah to RoyThompson Hall on December 16, 17, 19, 20 and 21. This grand holidaytradition, a collaboration with Toronto Mendelssohn Choir, is a localfavorite. TSO Musical Director Gustavo Gimeno has noted how theMessiah doesn’t have many markings for dynamics or articulations.A conductor needs to have their own vision for this piece. This meansthat every conductor’s Messiah is different. The TSO invites a differentconductor each year, and so audiences who come back hear somethingthat’s both familiar and new. This year the guest conductor isMichael Francis.Meanwhile, “Herr Handel” himself will conduct Tafelmusik’s singalongMessiah on December 21. It’s an annual tradition as well—thiswill be the first sing-along in the newly renovated Massey Hall. It soldout early last year, so get your tickets now! If you’d like to hear theMessiah without singing along, Tafelmusik will be performing it thethree preceding nights, December 18, 19 and 20 at Koerner Hall.Mr. Handel won’t be present for those. It’ll be Ivars Taurins, sans wigand period togs, conducting.Angus MacCaull is a Toronto-based journalist and poet.He is currently at work on a memoir about coming to termswith tinnitus as a promising young clarinettist.ANDRÉ GRÉTRYRichardCœur-de-LionCOLIN AINSWORTH IS RICHARD INOVEMBER 15, 20253 PMSUZY SMITHMusic Director & PianistBox Office Services provided byRCM Tickets416-408-0208 orrcmusic.com/performance/concerts-presented-by-othersTrinity-St. Paul’s United Church427 Bloor St W(Bloor x Spadina)thewholenote.com November & December 2025 | 17