True to form, Tafelmusik Chamber Choir conductor Ivars Taurins teased rich colours and textures from the 25-member-strong-orchestra flanked at the back of the stage by the same number of singers. The sound balance was very good. The pacing natural, dynamic and fluid.

Johann Sebastian Bach was the city of Leipzig’s second choice to become music director at St. Thomas’s Church. Their first choice, Christoph Graupner, couldn’t get permission to leave from his patron.

 

 

"If you have even the slightest interest in Russian civilisation, you will need to experience this music without delay."

This situation includes two worthy new albums of piano sonatas by Franz Schubert (1797-1828): One by Inon Barnatan on the Avie label featuring two of the composer’s last three — C minor (D958) and A Major (D959) — plus the sweet Op. 90 No. 3 Impromptu; and an ATMA Classique release by Janina Fialkowska of the No. 13 in A Major (D664) and No. 18 in G Major (D894).

Suffice to say, it has been a long and tumultuous week in Ottawa. For some here in the nation's capital, it was recently capped off with a remarkably timely and well-executed rendition of Liszt's Lenore and the Dante Symphony.

A new recording featuring works by McCarthy era target Hanns Eisler serves as a reminder of a voice that deserves reintroduction.

New release of early string quartets by Henryk Mikolai Gorecki sounds "just right".

University of Toronto’s Faculty of Music had organized a concert to mark the composition professor’s 60th birthday with two chamber ensembles who have championed his work.