{"id":107852,"date":"2024-09-25T12:39:05","date_gmt":"2024-09-25T16:39:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/?p=107852"},"modified":"2024-09-25T14:00:02","modified_gmt":"2024-09-25T18:00:02","slug":"scoop-toronto-consort-announces-appointment-daniel-taylor-general-artistic-director","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/2024\/09\/25\/scoop-toronto-consort-announces-appointment-daniel-taylor-general-artistic-director\/","title":{"rendered":"THE SCOOP | The Toronto Consort Announces the Appointment Of Daniel Taylor As General & Artistic Director"},"content":{"rendered":"
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A selection of The Toronto Consort\u2019s 2024-25 Ensemble Members & Scholars From L to R, Back Row: *Peter Koiners, countertenor, Ana\u00efs Kelsey-Verdecchia, soprano, Sharang Sharma, Tenor, Rebecca Genge, Soprano, Martin Gomes, Bass, Sinead White, Soprano, Jonathan Stuchbery, Lute, Daniel Taylor, Artistic & General Director; Front Row: Felix Deak, Gamba, *Jane Fingler, Soprano, Ryan McDonald, Countertenor, Keith Lam, Bass, *Cristina Pratts Costa, Violin, *Alexander Cappellazzo, tenor *Denotes Consort Scholar (Photo: Aleksandar Antonijevic)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

After taking a hiatus from performance programming<\/a> earlier this year, Toronto Consort have announced new leadership appointments, along with the 2024\/25 season lineup.<\/p>\n

Countertenor and conductor Daniel Taylor will be taking on the dual roles of General and Artistic Directors. Dame Emma Kirkby, a British soprano and early music specialist, was named to the role of Honorary Patron.<\/p>\n

The announcement was made by Heather Turnbull, President of the Board, The Toronto Consort, earlier today. The Toronto Consort\u2019s 2024-2025 Season is titled BLESSED LIGHT \u2014 BLESSED ECHO.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is an extraordinary moment in the history of The Toronto Consort,\u201d said Heather Turnbull<\/strong> in a statement. \u201cDaniel Taylor is a beloved Canadian singer, a leading figure in the field of opera and early music, and noted by the CBC as Canada\u2019s most prolific classical recording artist. Dame Emma Kirkby is an iconic legendary soprano known for her clarity of text and message and for her guidance of a new generation of singers across the world.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs co-curators of our season\u2019s first concert, they will welcome a stunning roster of rising young artists alongside returning Consort members, ushering in a new era of early music in Toronto. Daniel and Emma are the perfect individuals to introduce our audiences to promising young voices, program sought-after guest artists active on today\u2019s world stage, and program beautiful yet often neglected repertoire spanning from the 12th century to today.\u201d<\/p>\n

Daniel Taylor<\/strong>, O.C., commented on his appointment, \u201cI am grateful to work with The Toronto Consort here on Turtle Island and to join a truly inclusive collective of artists. I appreciate the support and welcome that I have been offered during these first few days with the company and I look forward to engaging with our community. I have known David Fallis, the Consort\u2019s former Artistic Director, since I first sang for him when I was a university student before my studies overseas. I was impressed by his musicianship and \u00e9lan and I count him among my valued colleagues and friends.\u201d<\/p>\n

In January 2024, Daniel Taylor performed at a state funeral in a tribute to the life of the Honourable Ed Broadbent and to Social Democracy. In addition to his international performing career as a countertenor, Daniel Taylor is a Professor of Opera, Voice and Early Music and the Director of Historical Performance at the University of Toronto. He conducts The Trinity Choir and the Theatre of Early Music, both early music ensembles.<\/p>\n

The Toronto Consort has renewed its relationship with The University of Toronto\u2019s Historical Performance Department for the first time in decades. The Department will host pre-concert lectures, and student performances from the Historical Performance program.<\/p>\n

Executive Director Andrew Adridge<\/strong> commented, \u201cI am very excited about the Board\u2019s decision to appoint Daniel to this role. Visionary leadership is something that our artists and administration have actively pursued during my time here, and I have every confidence that Daniel will bring a unique and informed perspective to the role that will maintain the Consort\u2019s level of excellence. We sincerely thank the team of dedicated Artistic Associates who so passionately led The Toronto Consort over the past few years, and who remain valued collaborators.\u201d<\/p>\n

Emma Kirkby studied classics at \u00a0Somerville College, Oxford University, and did not intend on becoming a professional singer \u2014 not until she became part of the School Cantorum of Oxford student choir. She worked initially as a school teacher, but her involvement in choirs and the early music scene grew. It was the early 1970s, during a revival of early music, and her performing career grew gradually into that of a sought after soloist and recording artist.<\/p>\n

She had made more than 100 recordings of Renaissance, Baroque, and Classical music. Among many career honours, she won the\u00a0Queen’s Medal for Music in 2011.<\/p>\n

Toronto Consort 2024\/25: Personnel<\/h3>\n

Dame Emma Kirkby<\/strong> remarked, \u201cI am deeply honoured to be appointed as Patron of the Toronto Consort. After more than half a century it is clearly as vital as ever, and I look forward to the next phase in its distinguished history. It is a particular joy for me that Daniel Taylor will now be directing, as he and I go back a long way to my first trip across the Atlantic. We sang a duet together \u2014 the first of many!\u201d<\/p>\n

She continues, \u201cI am lucky to have sung with him in so many projects, live and recorded, but also in the last two decades to have met the hosts of singers who have studied with him, first in Montr\u00e9al and now in Toronto. They are very fine and confident artists, each as individual as one could wish, (the sure sign of a good teacher), and I love to come and work with them.\u201d<\/p>\n

Lutenist Esteban La Rotta<\/strong> and bass Martin Gomes<\/strong> return to the roster of Toronto Consort artists. They\u2019ll be joined by casts that blend early music specialists and emerging artists, including sopranos Sin\u00e9ad White<\/strong>, Rebecca Genge<\/strong>, and Jennifer Wilson<\/strong>, countertenor Nicholas Burns<\/strong>, tenors Sharang Sharma<\/strong> and Shane Hanson<\/strong>, and baritone Keith Lam<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Members of Diapente<\/strong>, a Renaissance vocal ensemble will be performing during the seasons, along with violinist Cristina Prats Costa<\/strong>, viola da gambist Felix Deak<\/strong>, lutenist Jonathan Stuchbery<\/strong>, and virginal and harpsichordist Louise Hung<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Consort members soprano Ana\u00efs Kelsey-Verdecchia<\/strong> and countertenor Ryan McDonald<\/strong> will join the new Artistic and Administrative team.<\/p>\n

BLESSED LIGHT \u2014 BLESSED ECHO<\/h3>\n

\u201cOur goal in programming BLESSED LIGHT \u2014 BLESSED ECHO as this debut season is to allow our audiences to see themselves represented not only by the people on the stage but also to hear their own voices and stories. Together, we will travel through time exploring repertoire spanning from the 12th century to the present day. We welcome excellent musicians to the Consort who will no doubt grow and nourish the artistic vision of the larger ensemble through their unique lived experiences,\u201d says Daniel Taylor.<\/p>\n