Volume 9 Issue 3 - November 2003

(the year before
Mendelssohn's
death). The Toronto
Mendelssohn
Choir
gives a performance
of Elijah on
November 5.
Canada's veteran
bass-baritone
Gary Relyea inhabits
the title
role, as he has on
so many occasions
across· the
country. With his
commanding
presence and stentorian
sound, Relyea
provides a
solid centre
around which the
choir, orchestra
and other soloists
can revolve.
A little more Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir
than a century
after Mendelssohn gave us Elijah, Two significant cop.certs take place
Benjamin Britten wrote a powerful
setting of the text of the Requi­
featuring performances of Harry
on the same night (Novembed5)
em Mass interspersed with antiwar
poetry by poet Wilfrid Owen, Lydia Adams conducting) and a
Somers' Gloria (Amadeus Choir,
who was killed at the age of 25, new piece by Laryssa Kuzmenko
one week before ihe epd of World (Vesnivka Choir, Toronto
War I. Britten's "War Requiem" Ukrainian Male Chamber .
was given its premiere at the reconsecration
of Coventry Cathedral Kuzmenko's piece is entitled
Choir, Gary Kulesha conducting).
in 1962 at what must have been a "1933" and is in memory of the
tremendously moving occasion. famine-genodde in the Ukraine in
Howard Dyck will conduct a 1933.
troupe of musicians from the Kitchener-Waterloo
area in a performance
of the work at Roy Thomson people sing not only to express joy
In many cultures in the world,
Hall on Remembrance Day (November
11). Britten's theme was to grief and anguish, as well. The
and happiness, but to give voice
reconciliation and "the pity of war" themes of many of these concerts
and his message is as pertinent and are not pleasant, but we know surely
that art is more - much more -
poignant today as it was 41 years
ago.
than entertainment, more than revenue-generating
for the hotel and
The month of November begins restaurant business, more than
with performances on the 1st and something to clap along to. At our
2nd of Ruth.Fazal's new "Oratorio
Terezin", using biblical texts horror and grief, art can take us
time of greatest need, calamity,
and poetry by the children detained by the hand and give us succour,
and eventually slaughtered at a concentration
camp in Czechoslovakia. the mind with ever new and in­
comfort and hope. "Two things fill
creasing wonder and awe", wrote
Soundstreams Canada continues the 18th century philosopher Imits
tradition of bringing in fine choirs · manuel Kant, "the starry heaven
this month, with two performanc- above me and the moral law withes
(November 7 and 9) by the re- in me". I would add to that "the
nowned Estonian Philharmonic power of human voices joined to­
Chamber Choir and their conductor
Paul Hillier. Focussing on new
music, the choir will collaborate
with the Elmer Iseler Singers in
the second program.
NOVEMBER 1 - DECEMBER 7 2003
gether to make music".
Bravo, Toronto. What an impressive
line-up of choral concerts.
La.rry Beckwith can be reached via
choralscene@thewholenote.com
WWW. THEWHOLENOTE .COM
I
Tho
O..lw~
Children·~ Choir
The O~alt Children's Choir
2003-2004 Concert Season
Celebrating 10 Years
A Boy Was Born
Special Guests: The Elm.er lseler Singers
Friday, December 12, 2003, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, December 13, 2003, 7:30 p.m.
St. John's United Church, Oakville
Annual Christmas Carol Sing
Pron•1•1h to the Kerr Street Ministries
Sunday, December 21, 2003, 3:00 p.m.
Saturday, December 22, 2003, 2:00 p.m.
The Meeting Place, Oakville
,.
•·
A
Tenth Anniversary Celebration
Sp1•ci11/ G1t