{"id":114861,"date":"2025-06-04T14:08:35","date_gmt":"2025-06-04T18:08:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/?p=114861"},"modified":"2025-06-04T16:11:06","modified_gmt":"2025-06-04T20:11:06","slug":"feature-toronto-choirs-come-together-union-station-launch-luminato-dawn-chorus","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/2025\/06\/04\/feature-toronto-choirs-come-together-union-station-launch-luminato-dawn-chorus\/","title":{"rendered":"FEATURE | Toronto Choirs Come Together At Union Station To Launch Luminato With Dawn Chorus"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Choirs
Choirs in Union Station for Luminato 2025, L-R (top): Babel, led by Artistic Director Elaine Choi; Ot Izvora – Bulgarian Folk Music Choir, led by Artistic Director Dr. Irene Markoff; The One Group, led by Artistic Director Jonathan Spooner; (bottom): Forte – Toronto Gay Men’s Chorus, led by Artistic Director Edward Connell; Penthelia Singers, led by Artistic Director Alice Malach; The Amadeus Choir, led by Artistic Director Kathleen Allan (Photos: Anya Wassenberg)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Voices gathered in song, commuters, and a little protest along the way \u2014 Luminato Toronto kicked off its 2025 Festival with a public performance by six city choirs in Union Station. For those trying to get to work, it was a pleasant diversion, but there also seemed to be a sizable dedicated audience that followed the choirs through the train station to the finale, where all six were massed together.<\/p>\n

The project was spearheaded, and directed, by Polish opera director and librettist Krystian Lada<\/strong>. Lada is an acclaimed opera artist, the first recipient of the Mortier Next Generation Award (in 2019), and a finalist and prizewinner in the 2021 Ring Award., an international opera competition. The former Director of Dramaturgy, Communication and Empowerment, and Artistic Adjunct at La Monnaie, Brussels (2013-17) and General and Artistic Director of The Airport Society: a Brussels-based cooperative of opera artists, he is currently the Director of Artistic Programme at Ruhrtriennale, an arts festival in Duisburg, Germany.<\/p>\n

The Choirs<\/h3>\n

Three choirs performed in the VIA rail station. Penthelia Singers<\/strong>, led by Artistic Director Alice Malach<\/strong>, were the smallest of the choirs. With a softer sound, they sang an Indigenous work.<\/p>\n

The Amadeus Choir<\/strong>, led by Artistic Director Kathleen Allan<\/strong>, was nearby, serenading passersby both above and walking through the lower level of the station, where the tunnels and passages lead to GO trains and the TTC.<\/p>\n

Babel<\/strong>, led by Artistic Director Elaine Choi<\/strong>, performs both Canadian and Chinese repertoire. Their performances were dynamic, and often accompanied by choreography.<\/p>\n

Downstairs in the lower passages, Ot Izvora \u2014 Bulgarian Folk Music Choir,<\/strong> led by Artistic Director Dr. Irene Markoff<\/strong>, surprised the crowds shuffling between the trains and the subway with striking folk melodies and harmonies.<\/p>\n

Artistic Director Edward Connell<\/strong> led Forte \u2014 Toronto Gay Men’s Chorus<\/strong> from the ground floor as the choir sang arrangements of pop songs from above. At the other end of the station, in the Bay Street concours, The One Group<\/strong>, led by Artistic Director Jonathan Spooner<\/strong>, offered up a dynamic slate of RnB and gospel.<\/p>\n

In short, it was a showcase of Toronto\u2019s talent and diversity. You can check out a sampling of it here<\/a><\/strong> and here:<\/p>\n

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A post shared by LUDWIG VAN (@ludwigvantoronto)<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n