The Latest
By Paul E. Robinson on December 19, 2014
Just a few weeks ago, I was standing in the Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg admiring its vast holdings of mostly European art, pondering the vision of the great Eighteenth Century tsaritsas, especially Catherine the Great (1729-96) who made it all possible. Now comes this imaginative CD researched and performed by mezzo-soprano Cecilia Bartoli, celebrating the music from this period. I was primed and ready, you might say, to enjoy this new release and it didn’t disappoint me...
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By Robert Harris on December 18, 2014
The rapid unraveling of Orchestra London continued Thursday as London City Council refused to advance the beleaguered organization any additional funds to cover their rapidly deteriorating financial situation. With a gallery packed with students, members of the Orchestra and the general public, Mayor Matt Brown said “it is a tough decision to say no (to the orchestra), but we need to hit the re-set button”
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By Michael Vincent on December 18, 2014
Like tree-lighting ceremonies, Santa Claus parades and yuletide office parties, George Frideric Handel’s “Messiah” is, for many, a tradition without which Christmas just wouldn’t be Christmas. The Toronto Symphony Orchestra, and Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra and Chamber Choir have always delivered the most popular Messiahs in town, but they differ widely...
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By Michael Vincent on December 18, 2014
Maestro Nurhan Arman is the founding music director of Sinfonia Toronto - one of Canada's finest chamber orchestras made up of a core of 13 string players. The Armenian-born maestro has a busy career conducting throughout Europe and North America, as also has taught conducting, locally at the Royal Conservatory of Music. Arman has collaborated with André Laplante, Alexander Ghindin, Maria Kliegel, Measha Bruegergosman, Anton Kuerti, Janina Fialkowska, Lara St. John, Yuli Turovsky, Andrea Bacchetti, and many others. Here's what he had to say...
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By Michael Vincent on December 17, 2014
What's better than Monks undergoing a vow of silence singing Handel's Hallelujah Chorus from Messiah with cue cards? Bravissimo!
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By Mylene Vincent on December 17, 2014
Soundstreams has officially released their annual report this week, which is quick progress, considering their fiscal year ended on August 31. It has been a busy year for Toronto’s intrepid contemporary classical music presenter. They moved offices across town, and also welcomed well-known arts manager, Susan Worthington as their new Executive Director effective early September 2014. It is yet to be seen what she will bring to this dynamic organization, but according to the report, she has a fairly healthy slate to work with.
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By Michael Vincent on December 16, 2014
We are delighted and humbled to announce Musical Toronto won first place in the Arts & Entertainment Category at the fifth annual Canadian Weblog Awards!
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By Michael Vincent on December 16, 2014
Every once in a while, a video comes along that makes you remember the magic of music as heard by children. Watch what happens at the end! Priceless.
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By Paul E. Robinson on December 16, 2014
Here we have two complete cycles of the 15 Shostakovich string quartets. How to choose between them? Actually, anyone seriously interested in this music needs have both of them.
The Beethoven Quartet cycle is practically self-recommending. The original members of the quartet worked together for the first time in 1923 as the Moscow Conservatory Quartet and regularly thereafter into the 1970s. As the Beethoven Quartet this great Soviet ensemble worked closely with Shostakovich for most of his life and gave the premieres of most of his quartets. The details of the relationship between Shostakovich and the Beethoven Quartet are well told by producer Jacob Harnoy in his liner notes. He quotes first violinist Dimitry Tsyganov on the subject of how they went about preparing the composer’s new quartets...
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By Michael Vincent on December 16, 2014
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...
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