By Michael Vincent on January 28, 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 Ludwig Van on January 28, 2015
Brandishing light-sabers, two high school students are caught on video in an epic Star Wars Sousaphone battle! One bystander is heard calling out, "Somebody die already!" This is pure nerdy awesomeness, and we love it...
(Continue reading)
By Michael Vincent on January 28, 2015
The 44th Annual JUNO Award Nominees have just been released. Each will participate in the 2015 JUNO Awards and JUNO Week celebrations over March 9-15. The awards will be broadcast on CTV from FirstOntario Centre on Sunday, March 15, 2015...
(Continue reading)
By Jay Caron on January 28, 2015
I am always skeptical of what I would call “fusion” composition; I would briefly describe this as taking the harmonic language, rhythms, or instruments of some non-western culture, or the elements of a popular music genre, and unceremoniously shoving them into the context of western art music. This could perhaps be analogized as mixing water and oil; things that are, on their own, valuable, but which resist amalgamation. The result can often leave me wondering whether greater care could have been taken to present each separate element in its best light. It is a technique dangerously prone to superficiality...
(Continue reading)
By Member on January 27, 2015
High Notes Avante Productions Inc. uses the power of music and words to put the spotlight on mental health, touch your soul and reduce stigma...
(Continue reading)
By Michael Vincent on January 26, 2015
Dinner with Lang Lang... (cartoon by Eugene Chan "don't shoot the pianist")
(Continue reading)
By Neil Crory on January 25, 2015
Contrary to popular belief, critics and reviewers do not - for the most part - enjoy writing negative commentary. I know that I don't. But what can be said about the Canadian Opera Company's new production of Mozart's Don Giovanni at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts which opened on Saturday afternoon?
(Continue reading)
By Member on January 24, 2015
Sinfonia Toronto’s next concert on Saturday February 28, 8 pm at George Weston Recital Hall will feature brilliant New York pianist Kariné Poghosyan and some of Toronto’s finest young artists, winners of the North York Music Festival. Soprano Kimberly-Rose Pefhany and violinists Julia Mirzoev and Lynn Sue-A-Quan will join Conductor Nurhan Arman and Sinfonia Toronto in a concert titled ‘Masters Meet Rising Stars’...
(Continue reading)
By Michael Vincent on January 23, 2015
Over the last quarter-century, the Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra has enjoyed the kind of PR that other arts organizations can only dream of. But to compare it with other orchestras is unfair, or is it?
(Continue reading)
By Michael Vincent on January 23, 2015
As any musician can attest, making amendments to printed scores can be a messy process. It entails crossing-out notes or rhythms, (sometimes to the chagrin of the composer), and adding your own. Beside the untidy look, these changes become difficult to change after the fact. Now there is something that solves this problem - elegantly and cheaply, this makes our list for cool stuff we want...
(Continue reading)
