ZERO IN | The Final Frontier — The Surprising Classical Music Origins Of The Star Trek Theme Song

By Michael Vincent on April 5, 2019

Exploring the connection between the iconic Star Trek theme song and some of history’s greatest classical music composers, including Beethoven, Brahms, and Mahler. 

FEATURE | Life's Intercultural Mashup: The Silk Road Project with Yo-Yo Ma

By Michael Vincent on September 14, 2015

It's a song still finding its chorus, but the Silk Road Project seem destined to find it. An interview with the Silk Road Ensemble.

FEATURE | Toronto Film Composers Create a Community to Call Their Own

By Robin Roger on December 22, 2014

My inner curmudgeon was pleasantly affirmed by Michael Vincent’s November 27th post on Composer insults. Nice to know that those demigods who have created the sounds that express our highest aspirations, tender sensitivities, and most profound perceptions are capable of being petty, envious, competitive and begrudging. Yet for me, there was a simultaneous dissonance (pun intended) because of attending a recent monthly gathering of Toronto composers called The Toronto Ravel.

WEEKEND ROUNDUP | Fifteen Posts You May Have Missed This Week

By Michael Vincent on December 21, 2014

WHO'S WHO | Canadian Opera Company Youth Opera Lab

By Member on December 21, 2014

Youth Opera Labs (YOL) are FREE events for teens and young adults ages 16 to 24 that happen five times in the opera season and include: an interactive workshop; a Q&A with an opera professional; an exclusive glimpse of the first rehearsal of cast, crew and orchestra; a pair of free tickets to attend the BMO Financial Group Student Dress Rehearsal of the opera...

Thank You For An Amazing 2014

By Ludwig Van on December 19, 2014

As the holidays are quickly approaching, we’d like to say a big thank you to all our readers for your support. We wish you a wonderful and safe holiday season, full of family, friends, and music! Seasons greetings and fair winds in the new year! Musical Toronto

CD Review | Cecilia Bartoli Sheds Light On Old Russia

By Paul E. Robinson on December 19, 2014

Just a few weeks ago, I was standing in the Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg admiring its vast holdings of mostly European art, pondering the vision of the great Eighteenth Century tsaritsas, especially Catherine the Great (1729-96) who made it all possible. Now comes this imaginative CD researched and performed by mezzo-soprano Cecilia Bartoli, celebrating the music from this period. I was primed and ready, you might say, to enjoy this new release and it didn’t disappoint me...

BREAKING NEWS | City of London Votes Against Bailing Out Orchestra London

By Robert Harris on December 18, 2014

The rapid unraveling of Orchestra London continued Thursday as London City Council refused to advance the beleaguered organization any additional funds to cover their rapidly deteriorating financial situation. With a gallery packed with students, members of the Orchestra and the general public, Mayor Matt Brown said “it is a tough decision to say no (to the orchestra), but we need to hit the re-set button”

SCRUTINY | Messiah Vs. Messiah: TSO Beats Tafelmusik This Year

By Michael Vincent on December 18, 2014

Like tree-lighting ceremonies, Santa Claus parades and yuletide office parties, George Frideric Handel’s “Messiah” is, for many, a tradition without which Christmas just wouldn’t be Christmas. The Toronto Symphony Orchestra, and Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra and Chamber Choir have always delivered the most popular Messiahs in town, but they differ widely...

Q&A | 20 Questions for Nurhan Arman

By Michael Vincent on December 18, 2014

Maestro Nurhan Arman is the founding music director of Sinfonia Toronto - one of Canada's finest chamber orchestras made up of a core of 13 string players. The Armenian-born maestro has a busy career conducting throughout Europe and North America, as also has taught conducting, locally at the Royal Conservatory of Music. Arman has collaborated with André Laplante, Alexander Ghindin, Maria Kliegel, Measha Bruegergosman, Anton Kuerti, Janina Fialkowska, Lara St. John, Yuli Turovsky, Andrea Bacchetti, and many others. Here's what he had to say...