CONCERT REVIEW: Toy Piano Composers and Cellophone are Pleasantly Gritty

By Tyler Versluis on January 30, 2015

In general, I find the best concert-going experiences are when not only the music is excellent but when the experience delivers a revelation. A presumptuous attitude, perhaps, but I feel this is what divides an entertaining experience from an artistic one...

SCRUTINY | Esprit Orchestra Walks Musical High Wire With Grace

By Michael Vincent on January 30, 2015

A lot of people talk about how lucky we are to have a boutique orchestra devoted to the performance of contemporary work. And we are. The problem is, Esprit Orchestra only produces four concert per season and, by those numbers, there is a lot riding on every show...

REVIEW | The Unforgettable Tanya Tagaq

By Robin Elliott on November 7, 2014

“Live Music is Best.” That is the motto of the musicians’ union, and it could well be the motto of Tanya Tagaq as well. No amount of familiarity with Tagaq’s recordings and videos can prepare one for the impact of witnessing her in live performance.

PREVIEW | Soundstreams opens season with loving tribute to Vivaldi in "The Seasons"

By Margaret Lam on September 26, 2014

LINES OF ENQUIRY | A Cathedral for Cathodes: J'Acousmatic Vol. 2 Lights Up Ottawa's Electroacoustic Scene

By Curtis Perry on September 25, 2014

Ottawa's electroacoustic music scene? After one discovers it exists, one realizes how vital and vibrant it is. Jeff Morton greeted the supportive and sizeable crowd on the evening of Saturday September 13th at the University of Ottawa's Freiman Hall in an appropriately mixed combination of grey blazer with dirty red sneakers. "There's a lot to be seen on this stage, but there's a lot of mystery too," he enthused, before promptly giving way to the music...

FITS & BURSTS | Toy Piano Composers Open a Quirky Pandora’s Box

By Michael Vincent on September 23, 2014

The Toy Piano Composers turned seven last weekend. To celebrate, they treated an audience to a program of chamber music based on the premise of integrating homemade/invented instruments. It was an evening full of whispers, creaks, rustles, hums, crackles, and rubbing. The turnout was good, and even the Music Gallery’s exceedingly uncomfortable pews didn’t detour a wholehearted gathering...

CRITIC’S PICKS | 10 Musical Outings You Absolutely Must Do This Week

By Michael Vincent on September 15, 2014

Concert review: Esprit Orchestra closes 21C Festival with mystery and discovery

By Michael Vincent on May 27, 2014

Review: 21C Music Festival Faster Still Anaïs Nin - forbidden desire and one sinful red couch

By Tyler Versluis on May 23, 2014

Toronto classical concert critics' picks for May 20 to May 25, 2014

By Michael Vincent on May 19, 2014