Will you be one of the
Will you be one of the live musicians? And along with who? Yes! I will very happily be playing the double bass and I’m happy to say that I hand-picked all of the other musicians for the performance. Kevin Turcotte and William Carn (trumpet and trombone) are VERY longtime collaborators of mine, whom I trust wholeheartedly. Aline Homzy (violin) is only relatively newer to me, but she and I have shared many many stages in many many situations and she is a fantastic musician. Sheba Thibideau (bassoon) was a student of mine at the University of Toronto many moons ago, but even then she was a capable, thoughtful, creative musician and I am always happy to be in her musical presence, and Naomi McCarroll-Butler, a Montréal resident, is equal parts super-creative improviser and highly adept clarinet player, and I always love what she brings to the mix! Joy Lee, the pianist, has been playing with the Amadeus Choir for a while now, and my first experience with her, on my score for Nosferatu, was extremely positive, so I’m happy to welcome her to this performance as well. David Perlman can be reached at publisher@thewholenote.com MOVIES & MUSIC WHEN FILM MEETS MUSIC TIFF ’26: September 10-20 When film and music cohere MJ BUELL The 2026 TIFF website is wonderfully navigable and an engaging entertainment all of its own if, instead of browsing a daunting and still growing list of films (385 at last count), you filter your search. You can do so in a number of ways. You can pick among the 18 program categories the films are grouped in (things like TIFF Classics, Short Cuts, Midnight Madness and Unhidden Gems, for example). Or, as we did, you can select from an impressive list of genre keywords: from 2slgbtq+, Aboriginal+Indigenous, and Action+Adventure, to Sports, War, and Western. (“Canadian”, by the way, isn’t one of the genres. Instead, all films with Canadian credentials sport a maple leaf next to their titles. We counted 41.) MARQUIS ENTERTAINMENT Music and Musicals were the two categories we selected as our initial filters, and our search yielded 19 movies (out of 244 when we did our search) that for a whole range of reasons were deemed worthy of “musical” designation. With the assistance of the photos, trailers and descriptions accompanying each title, we’ve winnowed that list of nineteen down to nine. These are not necessarily your “top nine” - but as a group they’re representative of the beauty and richness of what can happen when these two mighty art forms share the bed. JACK LANDAU FROM THE WINERY TO THE WEST COAST Top to bottom: Jackson Triggs Winery Amphitheatre, Niagara on the Lake; The ORPHEUM Vancouver; The Eglinton Grand, Toronto VANCOUVER HERITAGE FOUNDATION The descriptions that follow, edited down, are directly from the TIFF website Congo Boy Rafiki Fariala The film draws upon the director’s own experience as a displaced Congolese finding purpose in art. Featuring a rousing performance from newcomer Bradley Fiomona Dembeasset, Congo Boy is about forging a path for yourself while never forgetting where you came from. Adrien Lallau’s handheld camera generates an immediacy, while César Simonot’s editing establishes the film’s singular rhythms in tandem with Robert’s rapping, which is where this inspiring film reveals its colossal heart. 16 | September 2026 thewholenote.com
Gail Michael Maxxis WORLD PREMIERE The titular character of Michael Maxxis’ documentary is a New York City subway station agent from the Bronx who, in her free time, is a dedicated superfan of the Canadian band Our Lady Peace. An unconventional music doc, music is a key component. With an original score by Canadian composer Lesley Barber (Bonjour Tristesse, TIFF ’24) and orchestral arrangements by Eric Rosse (who produced Tori Amos’ groundbreaking album Little Earthquakes), music amplifies the dynamic soundscape of Gail’s Our Lady Peace experience. A raw and resolute look at how music can impact one person. Neil Peart: No One’s Disciple Scot McFadyen, Sam Dunn If the surest means of determining the talent of the musician behind the kit is the number of air drummers in a packed arena, then no one matched Neil Peart. During his fourdecade tenure with Canadian power trio Rush, Peart continually astonished and thrilled both fans and fellow drummers. The remembrances and anecdotes of the musicians and other intimates help fill out the portrait that Dunn creates via archival interviews and other footage. 26 27 A SEASON of HEROES ON SALE NOW OPERAATELIER.COM BE A HERO. BE A SUBSCRIBER. M. A. CHARPENTIER The Descent of Orpheus OCT 22-25 KOERNER HALL G.F. HANDEL The Resurrection APR 15-18 KOERNER HALL The Violinist / La Violinista Ervin Han, Raúl García A journalist’s curiosity over the story behind a virtuoso’s violin unearths the melodic tale of Fei and Kai, two children drawn close at the cusp of WWII through music while surviving the turbulent historical changes happening in Singapore. The Violinist is a treat for the ears. Its recurring original theme music stands out even among the great classics, lingering far beyond the credits. It’s no surprise the film was awarded best original soundtrack at the Annecy Animation Film Festival, as well as the Cristal, the highest honour, for best feature film. This rare animation from Singapore is also a rare exploration of the nation’s wartime past. Turtle Island Rap Alexandra Lazarowich Documentary filmmaker Alexandra Lazarowich’s feature debut following her acclaimed short film Fast Horse. “The bumpy road to success … the journey of three young Indigenous artists, Wiidaaseh, A$h Da Hunter, and Travis Thompson, from the hustle to the stage. In cinema verité style, the hard-won triumphs and trials are seen as their individual journeys are taken with warmth and humour, even when things are tough. Each artist is incredibly candid, sharing their family issues, disappointments and more, surrounded by their support networks and communities. A DIVERSE ERA ON THE LYRIC STAGE FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2027 I 7:30PM Erich Wolfgang Korngold DIE TOTE STADT German SATURDAY, MARCH 20, 2027 I 3PM Jules Massenet MANON French SATURDAY, MAY 15, 2027 I 3PM Charles Wilson KAMOURASKA A Canadian opera with orchestra Trinity-St. Paul’s United Church 2026 2027 OPERA SALON Edward Jackman Centre 11.14.26 4 pm 427 Bloor St W (@ Spadina) Please visit operainconcert.com for ticket information OPERA SALON Edward Jackman Centre The Canadian Opus and Anne Hebert’s Novel 2.27.27 4 pm thewholenote.com September 2026 | 17
