After taking a hiatus from performance programming earlier this year, Toronto Consort have announced new leadership appointments, along with the 2024/25 season lineup.
Countertenor and conductor Daniel Taylor will be taking on the dual roles of General and Artistic Directors. Dame Emma Kirkby, a British soprano and early music specialist, was named to the role of Honorary Patron.
The announcement was made by Heather Turnbull, President of the Board, The Toronto Consort, earlier today. The Toronto Consort’s 2024-2025 Season is titled BLESSED LIGHT — BLESSED ECHO.
“This is an extraordinary moment in the history of The Toronto Consort,” said Heather Turnbull in a statement. “Daniel Taylor is a beloved Canadian singer, a leading figure in the field of opera and early music, and noted by the CBC as Canada’s most prolific classical recording artist. Dame Emma Kirkby is an iconic legendary soprano known for her clarity of text and message and for her guidance of a new generation of singers across the world.
“As co-curators of our season’s first concert, they will welcome a stunning roster of rising young artists alongside returning Consort members, ushering in a new era of early music in Toronto. Daniel and Emma are the perfect individuals to introduce our audiences to promising young voices, program sought-after guest artists active on today’s world stage, and program beautiful yet often neglected repertoire spanning from the 12th century to today.”
Daniel Taylor, O.C., commented on his appointment, “I am grateful to work with The Toronto Consort here on Turtle Island and to join a truly inclusive collective of artists. I appreciate the support and welcome that I have been offered during these first few days with the company and I look forward to engaging with our community. I have known David Fallis, the Consort’s former Artistic Director, since I first sang for him when I was a university student before my studies overseas. I was impressed by his musicianship and élan and I count him among my valued colleagues and friends.”
In January 2024, Daniel Taylor performed at a state funeral in a tribute to the life of the Honourable Ed Broadbent and to Social Democracy. In addition to his international performing career as a countertenor, Daniel Taylor is a Professor of Opera, Voice and Early Music and the Director of Historical Performance at the University of Toronto. He conducts The Trinity Choir and the Theatre of Early Music, both early music ensembles.
The Toronto Consort has renewed its relationship with The University of Toronto’s Historical Performance Department for the first time in decades. The Department will host pre-concert lectures, and student performances from the Historical Performance program.
Executive Director Andrew Adridge commented, “I am very excited about the Board’s decision to appoint Daniel to this role. Visionary leadership is something that our artists and administration have actively pursued during my time here, and I have every confidence that Daniel will bring a unique and informed perspective to the role that will maintain the Consort’s level of excellence. We sincerely thank the team of dedicated Artistic Associates who so passionately led The Toronto Consort over the past few years, and who remain valued collaborators.”
Emma Kirkby studied classics at Somerville College, Oxford University, and did not intend on becoming a professional singer — not until she became part of the School Cantorum of Oxford student choir. She worked initially as a school teacher, but her involvement in choirs and the early music scene grew. It was the early 1970s, during a revival of early music, and her performing career grew gradually into that of a sought after soloist and recording artist.
She had made more than 100 recordings of Renaissance, Baroque, and Classical music. Among many career honours, she won the Queen’s Medal for Music in 2011.
Toronto Consort 2024/25: Personnel
Dame Emma Kirkby remarked, “I am deeply honoured to be appointed as Patron of the Toronto Consort. After more than half a century it is clearly as vital as ever, and I look forward to the next phase in its distinguished history. It is a particular joy for me that Daniel Taylor will now be directing, as he and I go back a long way to my first trip across the Atlantic. We sang a duet together — the first of many!”
She continues, “I am lucky to have sung with him in so many projects, live and recorded, but also in the last two decades to have met the hosts of singers who have studied with him, first in Montréal and now in Toronto. They are very fine and confident artists, each as individual as one could wish, (the sure sign of a good teacher), and I love to come and work with them.”
Lutenist Esteban La Rotta and bass Martin Gomes return to the roster of Toronto Consort artists. They’ll be joined by casts that blend early music specialists and emerging artists, including sopranos Sinéad White, Rebecca Genge, and Jennifer Wilson, countertenor Nicholas Burns, tenors Sharang Sharma and Shane Hanson, and baritone Keith Lam.
Members of Diapente, a Renaissance vocal ensemble will be performing during the seasons, along with violinist Cristina Prats Costa, viola da gambist Felix Deak, lutenist Jonathan Stuchbery, and virginal and harpsichordist Louise Hung.
Consort members soprano Anaïs Kelsey-Verdecchia and countertenor Ryan McDonald will join the new Artistic and Administrative team.
BLESSED LIGHT — BLESSED ECHO
“Our goal in programming BLESSED LIGHT — BLESSED ECHO as this debut season is to allow our audiences to see themselves represented not only by the people on the stage but also to hear their own voices and stories. Together, we will travel through time exploring repertoire spanning from the 12th century to the present day. We welcome excellent musicians to the Consort who will no doubt grow and nourish the artistic vision of the larger ensemble through their unique lived experiences,” says Daniel Taylor.
- The Muses Garden (October 11): A Renaissance program hosted by soprano Dame Emma Kirkby and performed by The Toronto Consort and the Dowland Collective, spotlighting the work of composers John Dowland, Tobias Hume, William Lawes and Henry Purcell.
- Navidad (December 6): Toronto Consort artists Esteban La Rotta and Martin Gomes and a lineup of guest artists delve into Latin American culture through Christmas traditions.
- Incarnation (January 10): Consort Artists will join the Theatre of Early Music for a candlelight concert of repertoire that ranges from 12th-century chants to 15th-century carols to contemporary works.
- Gregorius (January 25): European medieval ensemble Sequentia with co-founder Benjamin Bagby perform Hartmann von Aue’s 12th century tale, Gregorius — The Holy Sinner.
- Aprile is in My Mistress’ Face (April 4): The Toronto Consort performs Olde Madrigals and Folk Songs from the 15th and 16th centuries.
All concerts take place at Trinity-St. Paul’s United Church, 427 Bloor St W, Toronto.
- Find concert details and tickets [HERE].
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