THE MORNING AFTER | William Tell Brings a Riveting Spectacle to Roy Thomson Hall (Review)

By Lev Bratishenko on December 7, 2014

How do you bring a 188-member orchestra and chorus, their equipment and a dozen soloists from Italy to North America? You buy a ship, crew it, and like the Ark, stock two of every musician. Half will be eaten on the journey. Though historical precedents suggest it may be unsustainable, such extravagance was worth it. To the families of the eaten: we salute you. William Tell was a triumph.

COFFEE BREAK | Cool Video of Organist Vincent Boucher Playing the Beckerath Organ

By Michael Vincent on December 5, 2014

Just released from ATMA Classique is a cool video from organist Vincent Boucher’s recording session at St Joseph’s Oratory in Montreal. The video has some really trippy shots of the Beckerath organ.

Q&A | 30 Questions for James Ehnes

By Michael Vincent on December 4, 2014

Grammy Award Winner James Ehnes is one of Canada's most beloved violinists. He has performed in over 30 countries on five continents, and appears regularly with some of the most celebrated orchestras and conductors. He has an incredibly large discography of over 35 recordings featuring music ranging from J.S. Bach to John Adams.

THE SCOOP | Toronto Integral House Founder James Stewart Dies at Age 73

By Michael Vincent on December 4, 2014

THE CLASSICAL TRAVELER | Great Music (and Poutine) Deep in the Heart of Texas

By Paul E. Robinson on December 4, 2014

CRITIC’S PICKS | 11 Things You Absolutely Must Do This Week

By Michael Vincent on December 3, 2014

THE VOICE | Gianandrea Noseda Tells All

By Neil Crory on December 3, 2014

The dynamic Italian conductor, Gianandrea Noseda, needs little introduction to Torontonians. Since his local debut in April 2002, he has conducted nearly a dozen programmes with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra. For his upcoming appearance, however, Noseda is bringing his own orchestra and chorus from the Teatro Regio Torino in Italy, together with twelve soloists for a single, not-to-be-missed performance of Rossini's epic William Tell (or, more appropriately, Guglielmo Tell).

COFFEE BREAK | Chopin Boogie Woogie

By Michael Vincent on December 3, 2014

Filmed on location at Domaine Forget, Québec, Canada, pianist Matt Herskowitz plays his version of Chopin's most famous étude, all in one take.

SCRUTINY | Itzhak Perlman makes Roy Thomson Hall feel intimate (Review)

By Michael Vincent on December 2, 2014

Itzhak Perlman is one of the last of the Violin Rat Pack — an exclusive club with members including Jascha Heifetz, Yehudi Menuhin, David Oistrakh and Isaac Stern. It is a club in decline, making virtuosi like Perlman all the more valuable.

COFFEE BREAK | How Often is Each Piano Key Pressed in Chopin's Op. 25 Etudes?

By Michael Vincent on December 2, 2014

Pianists, which etude will you scale next? We'll be looking for the complementary set to Chopin's Opus 10 next...