November and December combined for the first time in our history, with January and February likewise joined at the hip up next. Window-shop the 2025/26 Blue Pages (ten new members since last issue). "Critical mass" is the flavour of the issue, with "A Mass for the Endangered" leading the way, and a feast of Music Theatre, serious and not, close behind. Choral Scene looks at choirs augmenting their year-ending offerings with instrumental forces, and orchestras likewise augmenting their offerings with massed human voice. And masses of new recordings to discover and listen to. ALL THIS AND MORE.
EDGE OF YOUR
EDGE OF YOUR SEATINTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL IIAlex Pauk, Music Director & Conductor8:00PM CONCERTS, 7:15PM MUSICAL INSIGHTSWITH ALEXINA LOUIE & GUESTSTICKETS NOW AVAILABLE!VISIT ESPRITORCHESTRA.COMTOUR DE FORCENOVEMBER 30TH, 2025KOERNER HALLWorks by Anna Thorvaldsdottir, ThomasAdès, Christopher Goddard, Ben Nobuto& Gabriella SmithSUPERSTRINGS VJANUARY 29TH, 2026KOERNER HALLMark Fewer ViolinWorks by Alexina Louie, Arvo Pärt, AndrewNorman, Anders Hillborg & Jimi HendrixHEAT EFFICIENCYMARCH 26TH, 2026KOERNER HALLNils Mönkemeyer ViolaWorks by Dieter Ammann, Aziza Sadikova,Nicholas Ma, & Claude VivierHALLELUJAH SIM.APRIL 23RD, 2026KOERNER HALLAkiko Suwanai ViolinElmer Iseler SingersConcreamus Chamber ChoirWorks by Misato Mochizuki, Ben Nobuto,Poul Ruders & Chris Paul HarmanESPRIT ORCHESTRAThe Clearview Foundation, The Michael & Sonja Koerner Charitable Foundation & The Mary-Margaret Webb Foundation4 | November & December 2025 thewholenote.com
3102_Cover.indd 1At Soulpepper, Amaka Umehin Bad Hats Theatre’s Narnia2025-10-21 10:43 PMVolume 31 No 2 | November & December 2025Come DISCoverThe WholeNoteListening Room!ON OUR COVERVOLUME 31 NO 2NOVEMBER & DECEMBER 2025STORIESprofiles, previews and interviewsEVENT LISTINGSMusic, live & livestreamedDISCOVERIESRecord reviews & listening roomAmaka Umeh, as The Witch in the Toronto premiere ofBad Hats Theatre’s actor/musician-driven Narnia, basedon C.S. Lewis’ The Lion The Witch and The Wardrobe andthe broader Chronicles of Narnia. (A co-production withSoulpepper and Crow’s Theatre). We were captivated by thispicture because of how it invites us all into some kind ofmagic, at a time of year when great – or just plain delightful –mysteries are unfolding themselves to us on so many differentstages. See page 8 for more about Amaka Umeh, and page 14for more about the musical.PHOTO: DAHLIA KATZSTORIES & INTERVIEWS8 ON OUR COVERAmaka Umeh at Soulpepper |DAVID PERLMAN10 IN WITH THE NEW |A Mass for the Endangered |WENDALYN BARTLEY9 FOR OPENERS | Critical Mass |DAVID PERLMAN12ENHANCED REVIEWSsample tracksartist videosa BUY NOW buuonsee page 55 or visitthewholenote.com/listeningthewholenote.com November & December 2025 | 5
