Volume 18 Issue 9 - June/July/August 2013

Beat by Beat | Early MusicA MadrigalianRamble ThroughSummerSimone DesiletsRambling through three months of early music performanceswithin the space of one column might seem a bit foolhardybut it can be done; here, with the help of a few judiciouslychosen madrigals, is my run-down of concert activity for the comingsummer months.June, she’ll change her tune, in restless walks she’ll prowl the night.Well, not exactly renaissance lyrics — it’s Simon and Garfunkel — yet itdoes describe this month of transition, the last vestiges of the winterseason giving way to festivals that herald the arrival of summer.We’ll start with a lovely ending to the TEMC’s Musically Speakingseries, which has been going on monthly at Toronto’s St. David’sChurch since January. What better way to draw to a close than witha program of viol music? “The English Viol” features works by Locke,Purcell and others and is performed by the Cardinal Consort of Violson June 16.No sooner have they wrapped up their busy regular season thanTafelmusik bursts vigorously upon the scene in June with theirBaroque Summer Institute, an advanced training program in baroqueperformance which draws musicians from around the world. Fourpublic concerts are offshoots of this program: June 4, “DelightfullyBaroque” features music by Handel, Vivaldi, Blow and othersperformed by the Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra and Chamber Choir;June 9, “Musical Interlude” is a casual concert of chamber music byCastello, Merula, Bononcini and others played by members of thefaculty; June 13, “The TBSI Orchestras and Choirs” presents musicby Purcell, Fasch, Vivaldi and others; June 16, “The Grand Finale” is abaroque extravaganza involving participants and faculty, with musicby Handel, Rameau, Charpentier and Mondonville.And still in June, the Tafelmusik orchestra and chamber choirappear at the Luminato Festival, joining the Mark Morris DanceGroup and vocal soloists for three performances, June 21, 22 and 23,of Handel’s L’Allegro, il Penseroso edil Moderato. Choreographed by MarkMorris, this piece is widely consideredone of the great dance works of the20th century.On June 22, a step back to themedieval: Vocem Resurgentis presents“Journey into the Medieval Convent:Music of Hildegard von Bingen andLas Huelgas Codex,” with sopranosLinda Falvy and Mary Enid Haynesand alto Catherine McCormack,performed at the Church of St. MaryMagdalene.If you’re in Burlington on June 29,you can experience all six of Bach’sBrandenburg Concertos performedin two concerts, by members of theBrott Music Festival’sLa Nef.National AcademyOrchestra. And if youfind yourself in OldMontreal from June21 to 24, you have awonderful opportunityto experience the spectacularMontreal BaroqueFestival, this year titled“Nouveaux Mondes/New Worlds.” It featuresMotezuma, an opera by Vivaldi, and too many events both grand andintimate to list here (you can find it all at montrealbaroque.com). Italso celebrates the 50th anniversary of the Montreal Recorder Society,with workshops, masterclasses and concerts focused on the recorder.Festivals are in my mistress’ face; and July in the Garden hathplace. Okay, it’s a paraphrase (and no disrespect intended) of amadrigal by Morley, but it does point out that Toronto’s Music Gardenconcerts are in full swing in July and that summer festivals areabounding everywhere, with lots of early music to hear. Let me tellyou about a few of these:In Exeter, the Bach Music Festival of Canada takes place July 14 to 20.While it’s not all early music, there’s a concert of Bach’s great choruseswith choir and orchestra (July 15), a performance by CappellaIntima titled “Celestial Sirens,” featuring the revolutionary music ofBenedictine nun Chiara Maria Cozzolani (July 16) and a full performanceof Bach’s St. John Passion (July 20).June events AtMusicin the Orchardsundays: 1:30 to 2:30 p.m.June 9: ventelation.June 16: taffanel Wind ensemble.enjoy music ranging fromclassical to modern.Bring a blanket and a picnic.pay what you wish.Spadina MuSeuM285 Spadina Road • 416-392-6910 • spadina@toronto.caGatsbyGarden Partysunday, June 23, 12 to 4 p.m.dance the Charleston,enjoy live jazz. playperiod games, make cras,solve a mystery and more.$5 per person. 12 & under Free.MediA sponsortoronto.ca/museum-eventsSpadinaMuseum@SpadinaMuseum10 | June 7 – September 7, 2013 thewholenote.com