CLASSICAL LEXICON | Basso Continuo
By Ludwig Van on February 13, 2015
Basso Continuo | Musical term, a.k.a "continuous bass", "continuo" | A type of musical accompaniment used in the baroque era (1600-1750)...
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By Ludwig Van on February 13, 2015
Basso Continuo | Musical term, a.k.a "continuous bass", "continuo" | A type of musical accompaniment used in the baroque era (1600-1750)...
(Continue reading)By Michael Vincent on February 12, 2015
If art is the decoration of space, then music is the decoration of time. And in mid-February, time can seem as bland as the three-month-old piles of brown-coloured snow at the corner of the driveway, which makes a concert at this time of year particularly decorative...
(Continue reading)By Colin Eatock on February 12, 2015
Jack Diamond isn’t a musician – but he’s been a big influence on the classical music scene in Toronto. Many opera fans will recognize him as the architect of the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts, where the Canadian Opera Company and the National Ballet of Canada perform...
(Continue reading)By Paul E. Robinson on February 12, 2015
Tchaikovsky wrote ten operas, but only two of them, Eugen Onegin and Pique Dame, are performed with any regularity in opera houses outside Russia. His last opera, Iolanta, composed just before the Pathétique symphony, has recently received a good deal of attention, thanks to Anna Netrebko’s interest in it. In addition to being the subject of this new recording starring Netrebko, the opera is currently in production at the Met and will be screened Feb. 14 (encore/Feb. 18) as part of the Met’s Live in HD movie theatre series. Finally, tenor Sergey Skorokhodov will appear in a Dallas Opera production of Iolanta conducted by Emmanuel Villaume (April 10-18)...
(Continue reading)By Michael Vincent on February 11, 2015
Let's face it, there aren't a lot of credible options out there for those looking for classical music themed clothing. And no, sorry, your uncles music themed neck-tie he wore at your Bat Mitzvah doesn't count....
(Continue reading)By Michael Vincent on February 11, 2015
Musical Toronto’s weekly Critic’s Picks are a fully curated list of some of the best concerts happening now through the end of the week. Of course this is not to say we are the provocateurs of taste, but simply seek to provide a good weekly summary. For a look at the full breadth of what’s available in and around Toronto, check out the comprehensive concert listings from our friends at Wholenote Magazine...
(Continue reading)By Joseph So on February 10, 2015
For diehard voice fans, there’s nothing like a vocal competition. You get to hear (and see) young artists strutting their stuff, striving for fame and glory, not to mention prize money. The Christina and Louis Quilico Awards is a competition with a twist – it’s only open to current Canadian Opera Company Ensemble Studio members. The 2014-15 COC Ensemble Roster is a particularly strong one with some wonderful singers, so this promised to be good. The event took place last evening at the Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre from 5:30 to 7:30 pm. Sadly, illness prevented tenor Andrew Haji from competing, and fellow tenor Owen McCausland was out in Victoria singing Arturo in Pacific Opera Victoria’s production of Lucia di Lammermoor. But the rest of the Ensemble was out in full force and it proved to be a highly enjoyable evening...
(Continue reading)By Lev Bratishenko on February 10, 2015
Wear a down parka to the Met in winter for a Slavic double-bill like Iolanta and Bluebeard’s Castle and you feel like the only caveman too stupid to club a mink. A sweet Russian lady handed me her spare with maternal concern, but if I felt any embarrassment it vanished in the dead animal’s embrace, and people stopped staring...
(Continue reading)By Michael Vincent on February 10, 2015
Ever try to write a 5 line staff without a ruler? Even with a ruler it's a pain. We'll now this handy little 3 inch pen will tackle the job for you. Whether you are a composer or a music student needing a write out some musical sketches, this pen does the trick. It could also be handy for musicians needing to make an extra ossia staff above a staff in a printed score. Either way, we think this is a pretty nifty pen perfect for musicians...
(Continue reading)By Michael Vincent on February 9, 2015
Despite being billed as a concert by the National Arts Centre Orchestra, it really should have been named the Pinchas Zukerman, Amanda Forsyth and Yefim Bronfman show...
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