Besides being the bastion of baroque classical music, J.S. Bach wrote an incredible 1080 compositions during his lifetime. Some say the number is closer to 1120, but unless you own a copy of Bach’s complete recordings, you probably haven’t heard them all. Thanks to the Netherlands Bach Society, they are on a mission to change that.

Italy is a favourite destination for the popular guest conductor, who will be venerating his 16^th trip back to Italy this month. Nurhan Arman has conducted orchestras all across, Europe, Asia, South America, Canada and the United States, including the Moscow Philharmonic, Orchestra Sinfonica di Roma, Deutsches Kammerorchester Frankfurt, Filarmonica Italiana, St. Petersburg State Hermitage Orchestra, Orchestre Regional d’Ile de France, Hungarian Symphony, Milano Classica and Belgrade Philharmonic.

A major step forward for Tapestry Opera was announced today, with a new partnership with Vancouver Opera and Canadian Stage for a production of a new full-length opera The Overcoat.

Torontonians might remember Osborne most vividly from an endearing turn as Lauretta in the Canadian Opera Company’s double-bill production of Giacomo Puccini’s Gianni Schicchi last spring.

Fortunately, composers, like most other creators, are full of gifts that keep on giving — as long as there is a willing interpreter and eager ears in the room.

The bulk of these pieces, published monthly in music magazines or as sheet music, are as forgotten as their composers. Even those pieces by famous names rarely get heard these days.

The passport is the brainchild of the Toronto New Music Alliance. It has gathered all the large and small groups who present new music in order to facilitate open exchange and collective action that promotes the appreciation of new music to a wider audience.

South African-born Wagnerian soprano Elizabeth Connell, who had a great career in England, died on Saturday, aged 65. There’s a nice obituary in the Telegraph.

The day includes a big flag-raising and celebration at noon, featuring the cultures of all 41 participant countries at Nathan Phillips Square. That evening, at David Pecaut Square, outside the former Metro Hall on King St W., CBC Radio’s Andrew Craig hosts a big concert that will, in its wake, unleash 41 pianos onto Toronto streets, parks, squares and, if things go according to plan, the ferry to Centre Island.