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Volume 10 Issue 4 - December 2004

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EDITOR'S CORNER<br />

by David Olds<br />

Last month due lO space constraints<br />

we had lO omit lhe chatt) introduction<br />

in which I welcomed John<br />

Beckwith back to the fold after a<br />

yearlong hiatus. and I'm pleased<br />

to say that he has contributed again<br />

this month with a review of his colleague<br />

John Burke's new Centrediscs<br />

release. I also noted that<br />

one reviewer whose voice is too<br />

seldom heard in these pages is baroque<br />

specialist Alison Melville.<br />

As director of Baroque Music Beside<br />

the Grange and a virtuoso<br />

baroque flute and recorder player,<br />

Alison is such an active member<br />

of the international early music<br />

scene that it is hard <strong>10</strong> find recordings<br />

in the field where she<br />

does not feel some conflict of inlcrest.<br />

Fortunately we were able<br />

to find one again this month n:­<br />

leased by the German recorder<br />

ensemble Trio Viaggio. In this issue<br />

we also welcome a new voice<br />

to the DISCoveries pages, jazz musician<br />

and WholeNote intern Eli<br />

Eisenberg. whose eclectic tastes<br />

introduce us to new relt:ases by<br />

Toronto violinist Lenny Solomon<br />

and the Montreal fusion group S<br />

Mos Quimet.<br />

Following her success in Christos<br />

Halzis' Constantinople which<br />

enjoyed four sold out performances<br />

at Harbourfront last month.<br />

Maryem Tollar·s new CD "Book<br />

of Lile" is reviewed by Whole­<br />

Note's World Music columnist<br />

Karen Ages. Our other World<br />

Music specialist. Annelle Sanger.<br />

turns her ears to the Evergreen<br />

Club's new Naxos CD "Sunda<br />

Song" and our very own "Santa's<br />

liule helper", Sarah Hood, gives us<br />

a rundown on a new crop of discs<br />

for the holiday the season. We also<br />

have n:views of seasonal offerings<br />

from Phil Ehrensaft (A Hanukka<br />

Celebration) and WholeNote publisher<br />

Allan Pulkcr (the Elmer lseler<br />

Singers Puer natus in Bethlehem).<br />

Mr. Pulker first expressed<br />

an imerest in reviewing this CD<br />

shortly after it arrived last <strong>December</strong><br />

just a week <strong>10</strong>0 late for inclusion<br />

in last year's Christmas edition.<br />

When he renewed his bid<br />

again last month I knew that this<br />

disc must have deeply moved him<br />

(and also realized that it's always<br />

a good idea to humour the boss) so<br />

I readily agret:d to the assignment.<br />

As always you will find diverse and<br />

eclectic offerings in the following<br />

pages.<br />

My O\\ n listening this month was<br />

commandeered by the recent release<br />

of Mendelssohn's Chamber<br />

Music - Complete (Brilliant Classics<br />

99983). Once again the Brilliant<br />

label has impressed me with<br />

its thoroughness. standard or exct:llcnce<br />

and value. I came across<br />

the release somewhat inadvertently<br />

while scarch111g for repertoire<br />

for my own chamber ensemble. On<br />

a visit to the Metro Reference Library<br />

I discovert.!d that Felix Mendelssohn<br />

had composed three piano<br />

quartets in his youth (Opp. 1-<br />

3) and I subsequently went in<br />

search of rt:cordings. The only<br />

ones currently available feature the<br />

fabulous Schubert Ensemble of<br />

London (whom I'd had the pleas·<br />

ure of interviewing during my tenure<br />

at CJRT-FM) and an: only to<br />

be had as pan of a I 0 CD set. Fortunately<br />

when dealing with Brilliant<br />

Classics you can get <strong>10</strong>·cDs<br />

for about the same price as 3 discs<br />

on any other major label. The set<br />

includes Mcndelssohn's string<br />

quartets, quintets and octet. piano<br />

trios, quartets and sextet. along<br />

with the sonatas for viol111. viola,<br />

cello and clarinet and several other<br />

miscellaneous chamber works.<br />

Brilliant has compiled earlier recordings<br />

of performances by the<br />

Banok Quartet, cellist Claude<br />

Starck with pianist Christophe Eschenbach,<br />

violist Ulrich Koch,<br />

clarinetist Rainer Schumacher and<br />

pianist Ronald Keller with recent<br />

performances by the Schubert Ensemble<br />

and new recordings featuring<br />

the Sharon Quanet, violist Petra<br />

Vahle, violinist Joan Berkhemer<br />

and pianist Kyoko Hashimoto.<br />

Three weeks after the purchase I'm<br />

still listening. and still enthralled!<br />

CONTINUES NC)(T PACE<br />

[<strong>December</strong> I January Highlights<br />

University of Toronto Symphonic Band<br />

Wednesday, <strong>December</strong> I - 8 pm. MacMillan Theatre.$ 13 ($7)<br />

Grepy Burton. director. Music by Gra1nr. Holst. Copbnd and others<br />

Vocal Jazz Ensemble<br />

Friday, <strong>December</strong> 3 • 8 pm. Walter Hall. $13 ($7)<br />

uu Marunell director<br />

"Christmas Gahu" Choral Concert<br />

Saturday, <strong>December</strong> 4 • 8 pm. MacMillan Theatre. $13 ($7)<br />

Aro Afro-centm; evening of singing. dancing ;ind drumming<br />

World Music Ensembles<br />

Monday, <strong>December</strong> 6. 12: I 0 pm· MacMiiian Theatre. FREE<br />

Fe;ituring ppanese taiko ensemble. Chinese tndltional music<br />

ensemble :and Afnan drumming and dancing ensemble<br />

University of Toronto Guitar Ensemble<br />

Monday, <strong>December</strong> 6 • 8 pm. Walter Hall. FREE<br />

Jeffrey Mcfadden. director<br />

University of Toronto Symphony Orchestra<br />

Wednesday, Dec:ember 8 • 8 pm. MacMillan Theatre. $17 ($9)<br />

Scott St. John and Shauna Rolston perform Brihms Double Concer<strong>10</strong>.<br />

conducted by 1Uff1 Armenian. With Schube1 t Rosomunde Overwre and<br />

BeethOYen Symphony No. J ·•frolcaH<br />

Nexus Percussion Ensemble<br />

Friday, <strong>December</strong> I 0 • 8 pm • Walter Hall. $21 ($I I)<br />

Canada's IOcvt7 or Mus•t • UnM!f11ty of Toronto<br />

Edw>rd JOhnsO 8uoldHIJ. 80 Q.,.•n's Park<br />

Ml>>•um •ut>wor stop<br />

www.music.utoronto.ca<br />

DECEMRER 1 <strong>2004</strong> · f£8RUAKY 7 2005 WWW, THEWHOlENOTE.COM 13

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