Volume 23 Issue 4 - December 2017 / January 2018

PRICELESS
Vol 23 No 4
DOUBLE ISSUE
DECEMBER 2017 / JANUARY 2018
CONCERT LISTINGS
FEATURES | REVIEWS
COVER STORY
Artful Glitcher
Nicole Lizée
Q & A
Richard Rose on
Hamlet (the musical)
DISCoveries
Old Wine:
On Bernstein
Remastered
Nicole Lizée

17.18 Music
James Rolfe + Morris Panych
the overcoat:
a musical tailoring
MAR 27- APR 14
voices 3
3 unique concert events
musica nuda
FEB 22-24
fides krucker:
in this body
MAR 14-18
tanya tagaq
+ laakkuluk
williamson
bathory
MAR 22-24
Geoffrey Sirett (The Overcoat: A Musical Tailoring), photo: Dahlia Katz
Njo Kong Kie +
Folgaa Gang Project
picnic in the
cemetery
APR 26-MAY 6
17.18 Season
Sponsor
17.18 Berkeley
Season Sponsor
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2017/18
SEASON
HANDEL
MESSIAH
Directed by Ivars Taurins
Joanne Lunn soprano
James Laing countertenor
Rufus Müller tenor
Brett Polegato baritone
DEC 13–16, 2017 AT 7:30PM
Tickets start at $39 for Toronto’s favourite
holiday tradition! Seats selling quickly!
SING-ALONG MESSIAH AT MASSEY HALL DIRECTED BY “HERR HANDEL” | DEC 17, 2017 AT 2PM
WORLD
PREMIERE!
SAFE HAVEN
A NEW PROGRAM FROM ALISON MACKAY
DIRECTED BY ELISA CITTERIO
JAN 18–21, 2018
JEANNE LAMON HALL,
TRINITY-ST. PAUL’S CENTRE
JAN 23, 2018
GEORGE WESTON RECITAL HALL,
TORONTO CENTRE FOR THE ARTS
Featuring music from Vivaldi’s L’estro armonico, Telemann,
Bach, and Vivaldi’s “Winter” from The Four Seasons.
Production Sponsor
Safe Haven is generously supported by The Pluralism Fund
GWRH Series sponsored by
tafelmusik.org

December 31 • 7:00 pm
OPERA CANADA SYMPHONY • OPERA CANADA CHORUS
Marco Guidarini, conductor
Barbara Bargnesi
soprano
David Pomeroy
tenor
Carolyn Sproule
mezzo-soprano
Francesca Sassu
soprano
Carmen • Aida • La bohème • Turandot
Massimo Cavalletti
baritone
Celebrate New Year’s at
January 1 • 2:30 pm
Strauss Symphony of Canada
Niels Muus, conductor (Vienna)
Lilla Galambos, soprano (Vienna)
Thomas Weinhappel, baritone (Vienna)
Featuring dancers from Kiev-Aniko Ballet of Ukraine &
International Champion Ballroom Dancers
European Singers,
Ballroom Dancers, Ballet
Enjoy Waltzes, Polkas & Operetta Excerpts
Co-presented by Attila Glatz Concert Productions and Roy Thomson Hall.
Artists subject to change without notice.
Media Partner:
Tickets: 416.872.4255 • roythomsonhall.com

PRICELESS
Vol 23 No 4
ON OUR COVER
DOUBLE ISSUE
DECEMBER 2017 / JANUARY 2018
CONCERT LISTINGS
FEATURES | REVIEWS
COVER STORY
Artful Glitcher
Nicole Lizée
Q & A
Richard Rose on
Hamlet (the musical)
DISCoveries
Old Wine:
On Bernstein
Remastered
Nicole Lizée
PHOTO: MURRAY LIGHTBURN
Volume 23 No 4 | December & January 2017/18
The 2013 Lachine Canal Sessions - Reel-to-Real Photography
The photo session took place in mid November 2013. Murray
Lightburn – whose day job is fronting indie rock band The
Dears – is also a great photographer and we share a love of
analogue. He brought three or four of his vintage film cameras,
including a Rolleiflex. I brought a few of my vintage machines
in a large suitcase, including an AKAI reel-to-reel and an
oscillator robot. Over the course of four hours we shot near
the iconic lighthouse on the pier in the heart of Old Lachine. It
was brutally cold and the wind was like a knife. I was standing
directly on the rocks on the water’s edge wearing heels. The
tape from the reels began blowing off the reel into the camera
(making for some great shots), and then eventually all over
Lachine. We got a few looks from passersby. And there are some
outtakes of the session that capture my emotional state as I
casually froze to death. — Nicky Lizée
The Choir of
the Church of St. Andrew
and St. Paul presents
LUX
a collection
of sacred songs
FEATURES
7 OPENER | Back to the
Future | DAVID PERLMAN
8 FEATURE | Artful Glitching:
Nicole Lizée |
WENDALYN BARTLEY
12 QUESTIONS & ANSWERS |
Rock and Rage: director
Richard Rose |
JENNIFER PARR
14 FEATURE| Seminal
Schoenberg: the Second
Viennese School |
DAVID JAEGER
16 QUESTIONS & ANSWERS |
Finding the Balance:
pianist George Li |
PAUL ENNIS
70 REMEMBERING |
Celebrating Cathy Elliott |
JENNIFER PARR
71 WE ARE ALL MUSIC’S
CHILDEN | MJ BUELL
91 DISCOVERIES | Old Wine:
Bernstein Remastered |
BRUCE SURTEES
ACD2 2771
O Come
All Ye Faithful
Once in Royal David’s City
A Spotless Rose
Lux Aurumqueand
Just released!
November 17, 2017
92
G R I G O R I A N . C O M

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VOLUME 23 NO 4 | DECEMBER & JANUARY 2017/18
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18 Classical & Beyond |
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21 Music Theatre | JENNIFER PARR
22 In with the New |
WENDALYN BARTLEY
23 Early Music |
MATTHEW WHITFIELD
25 On Opera | CHRISTOPHER HOILE
27 Art of Song | LYDIA PEROVIĆ
30 Choral Scene | BRIAN CHANG
33 World View | ANDREW TIMAR
35 Jazz Notes | STEVE WALLACE
36 Bandstand | JACK MACQUARRIE
LISTINGS
39 A | Concerts in the GTA
58 B | Concerts Beyond the GTA
63 C | Music Theatre
56 D | In the Clubs (Mostly Jazz)
67 E | The ETCeteras
33
DISCOVERIES:
RECORDINGS REVIEWED
72 Editor’s Corner: DAVID OLDS
74 Strings Attached:
TERRY ROBBINS
76 Keyed In: ALEX BARAN
78 Vocal
80 Classical and Beyond
82 Modern and Contemporary
83 Jazz and Improvised Music
88 Pot Pourri
89 Something in the Air |
KEN WAXMAN
91 Old Wine, New Bottles |
BRUCE SURTEES
MORE
6 Contact Information
7 Upcoming dates and
deadlines
69 Classified Ads
6 | December 2017 / January 2018 thewholenote.com

FOR OPENERS | DAVID PERLMAN
Back to
the Future
Sometimes the way I can tell that things are going well around
here is by noticing how small, in the overall scheme of
things, the things I am fretting about actually are. Like two
days ago when I found myself agonizing about whether it would be
more accurate, on the cover, to describe this two-month issue as
“combined” or “double.” “Double,” I told myself, is how I think we
have usually done it. But with the concert scene being significantly
put on hold in the latter part of December, for Festivus or whatever
you choose to call it, and the first couple of weeks of January
significantly dedicated to recovery, there isn’t double the amount of
activity. “Combined” would be more accurate. I went searching for
answers in our “rear view mirror” – the complete 23-year flip-through
archive of this publication on our website – to see what we’ve done
in the past, all the way back to Vol 1 No 4 in December 1995. (Click on
Previous Issues under the “About” tab.)
The results: “double” takes the prize by a long way, with “nothing
in particular” a respectable second (as in the cover of Vol 1 No 4 illustrated
here). “Combined” is almost nowhere to be found, except this
time last year. (Things must have been going well for even longer than
I thought!)
There were three other things that I particularly noticed, as I flipped
my way through the archive.
First was how often the subjects of the covers of past Dec/Jan
issues, especially the early ones, still crop up in our current coverage:
Tafelmusik’s Ivars Taurins in his “Herr Handel” Massey Hall “Sing-
Along Messiah” outfit (Vol 2); Val Kuinka, who will be stage-directing
Highlands Opera Studio’s production of Andrew Balfour’s new opera
Mishaabooz’s Realm this December (Vol 3); the Toronto Children’s
Chorus (Vol 5) and mezzo Krisztina Szabó (Vol 7) who will appear
together in the TCC’s concert “The Fire Within” December 16 at Roy
Thomson Hall; Barbara Hannigan (Vol 6), just here in November
for a Koerner art song recital, who dropped into her hometown in
December 1999, fresh off her Lincoln Center debut, to see in Y2K as
the Merry Widow for Toronto Operetta Theatre, whose New Year’s
Day-straddling productions of light opera and operettas are a timehonoured
fixture of the holiday season … The list goes on.
Second, amusingly, was noticing the different ways the cover copy
on these various issues riffs on the contrast, performance-wise,
between December and January: “The Holiday Season and Its (Not-
So) Flip Side”; “December Glitter, January Gold”; “To the Holidays and
Beyond!”; and (my favourite), “Mid-Season Blip.”
Third, and this is for you, whomever you may be: in analyzing the
pattern of when we did and didn’t make an effort on the cover to call
attention to the fact that it was a double issue, it seems that the years
we made an extra effort (like the words DOUBLE ISSUE in 30-point
type around a medallion of two-headed Janus) were right after years
when we had made no effort at all. And that is because those were
the years when you phoned me up to complain that it was already
January 8 and your January WholeNote had still not arrived.
It won’t this year either!
The Rear View Mirror: The context for the headline on Vol 1 No 4,
pictured here (still one of my favourites), is that it coincided with
a time when funders of the arts (in particular the Ontario Arts
Council) were reeling under the impact of the politics of the time.
The “Common Sense Revolution” it was called. This year, for the first
time in many years, we are seeing significant increases in funding to
the OAC (increases that are being passed along). If it’s a sign that the
value of the contribution that artists make to the wellbeing of Ontario,
economically and in every other way, has been recognized, it’s a
welcome sign indeed.
publisher@thewholenote.com
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Tuesday January 30 (online)
Thursday February 1 (Print)
Volume 23 No 5 “FEBRUARY”
covers February 1, 2018 –
February 28, 2018
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thewholenote.com December 2017 / January 2018 | 7

COVER STORY: IN WITH THE NEW
ARTFUL GLITCHING:
Nicole Lizée WENDALYN BARTLEY
STEVE RAEGALE
MURRAY LIGHTBURN
Each year at the
University of Toronto’s
New Music Festival,
a composer is invited to
be the Roger D. Moore
Distinguished Visitor in
Composition. This year the
festival, which runs from
January 21 to 28, will host
Canadian composer, sound artist and keyboardist Nicole
Lizée. I’ve been fascinated by Lizée’s unique approach to
working with technology and instruments, so this felt
like a perfect opportunity to learn more.
One of the key features of her work is the use of what she calls
“glitch.” In our recent interview she offered an inspiring description
of her unique relationship to working with media-based technologies
and what it is that fascinates her about malfunctioning machines.
“I was born into that world. My father is an electronics repairman,
salesman and collector who was always repairing or beta testing new
technologies and devices. During the 1960s, 70s and 80s there was
a lot of experimentation, and many of the machines didn’t always
work at first. I grew to love these machines – the way they looked and
smelled, as well as the sounds and visuals they would produce.”
Lizée’s parents were huge fans of music, including classical,
soundtracks and easy listening, and had an extensive LP collection. Old
films were also a favourite, and she grew up watching films on video by
Hitchcock, Kubrick and Bergman. “We would watch on repeat, repeat,
repeat, and inevitably the tapes would melt or malfunction. This is
when those movies became the most interesting to me. The version of
The Sound of Music that I know is not the version most people know.”
Lizée’s passion for both music and film led to a desire to merge
these worlds. This, in combination with her strong emotional
connection to the malfunctioning analogue technologies of her
childhood, inspired her vision to bring this world into the concert hall
and to mix it with live instrumental performers.
The main source of fascination was the glitch – machines
malfunctioning and not behaving as planned. “Analogue devices
have a life beyond what they’re intended to do. They continue to live.
The tapes would become chewed or worn down, but would still play
back. Their material would then become altered and new rhythms
would emerge.” She gives the example of a video game machine
that would play, “but if you pushed a certain button in a particular
way, something else that wasn’t supposed to happen would start
happening. It was crazy – and like going into a portal. I wanted to
capture those sounds and those visuals, and compose with that
in mind. Capturing glitch means capturing the malfunction, the
stuttering, the rhythms and sounds that would be produced.”
8 | December 2017 / January 2018 thewholenote.com

Many of her works also use video, but not as accompaniment to
the music – rather, the video becomes an instrument itself that the
performer engages with in a synced-up dialogue. Even the glitches
themselves become instruments.
On the stage, Lizée uses both malfunctioning technologies such
as reel to reel tape recorders and old synths, as well as “behaving
ones” – usually performed on by others. The glitching devices are
unpredictable, so she needs to perform with that in mind and often
she has no idea what will happen with them. It requires keeping an
open mind and working with whatever happens. Using such devices
gives new colours such as hums and hisses, and even when they don't
work properly, other things will be present. Despite the glitches, the
analogue machines will always offer her something to work with.
They won’t shut off or fail to function – unlike digital devices. “I have
never come across an analogue device that completely shuts down. It
may go crazy and be unpredictable in a concert, and sometimes there
will be a malfunctioning cable, but it will never shut down. It just
keeps going.”
“I have never come across an analogue
device that completely shuts down. It may
go crazy … but it just keeps going.”
CHRIS HUTCHESON
What enables Lizée to use these glitch features in the composing
process is the notation system she has devised. And she doesn’t
just approximate the sound, but rather employs great precision
to accurately translate what is occurring within the glitch. Using
changing time signatures for example, rather than adjusting
everything to regular 4/4 time, is one outcome of her approach.
Spending years developing her transcription process was essential to
developing her perspective on composing music.
And yes, she admits, it is labour intensive, but “ultimately it has
pushed me in many ways, and performers tell me repeatedly how
it has made them play differently. They all have their stories and it’s
extremely interesting to hear how their relationship to this element
has pushed them. It taps into different emotions and requires a
spot-on precision. The stops and starts, changing tempos, metres,
volume extremes, this all requires a player to completely commit to
delving into this world.”
Working with glitch brings up emotions in players that are of a
different order than usual. The glitch often creates a “forlorn and
thewholenote.com December 2017 / January 2018 | 9

WHAT’s NEW?
In the New Year
(and Previously Mentioned)
STEVE RAEGALE
plaintive sound which gets into the ears and head of the player. People
tell me how they’ve gone through shock, fear and sadness, and that’s
because of the source material and the way it is dealt with. It is being
torn apart, hacked and taken into a different direction than originally
intended.”
At the U of T New Music Festival, Montreal’s Architek Percussion
will be joining forces with Lizée’s ensemble SaskPwr on the evening
of January 25 to perform selections from Lizée’s The Criterion
Collection. These short works are an homage to both glitch and to her
favourite film directors, Alfred Hitchcock and Stanley Kubrick. While
watching these films growing up, “I was getting into the language
and techniques of the director, but also while watching it, the tape
was deteriorating and this whole other world was being created by
the glitch and malfunction. The sound and image are completely
synonymous and intertwined. When the glitch happens, it happens
to both. The performance will be one hour long, nonstop. Everything
will be live and synced, with heavily glitched scenes.”
Another of her works, Malfunctionlieder, will be performed
during the festival's noon concert on January 25. This piece was
commissioned as a test piece for voice and piano for the 2017
Eckhardt-Gramatté Competition, which is designed to encourage
the performance of Canadian and contemporary music. Lizée’s piece
includes an accompanying soundtrack and video and represents the
first time in the history of the competition (which began in 1976)
that the repertoire has included the worlds of both acoustic music
and technology. This work also represents a more recent direction
for Lizée – to write works for voice. Writing for the voice “opens up
the possibility of a whole other world where the live human voice
engages with the glitched characters on the screen as well as with the
audience.”
And finally, her work Isabella Blow at Somerset House will be
performed on January 24 by the Cecilia String Quartet, who played the
work earlier this year at the 21C Festival in May. Lizée wrote the piece
as an acoustic representation of fashion designer Isabella Blow and
what her impact on the fashion industry might sound like. If you are
intrigued to experience more of Lizée’s fascinating work, I encourage
you to attend not only the concerts, but also her composition
masterclasses on January 24 and 26, and the composers’ forum on
January 23.
The festival will also feature concerts from the Faculty of
Music’s opera, chamber music and orchestra series, a night of
improvising music from the jazz department and a concert devoted
to electroacoustic music. In addition to Lizée’s Isabella Blow, the
Karen Kieser Prize Concert on January 24 features Tyler Versluis’
2017 prizewinning work 3 Unuttered Miracles for accordion and
percussion, along with past prize winner Riho Maimets’ Three
Movements for Marimba.
On January 26 in the Array Space on Walnut Ave., The
Array Ensemble performs four new works by four Canadian
composers: Rebecca Bruton (Calgary), Marielle Groven
(Montréal), Stephen Parkinson (Toronto) and Holger Schoorl
(Toronto). Bruton’s work happens in the intervening spaces
between avant-pop, experimental chamber music and noise,
and one of her current projects is co-creative producer of
Tidal ~ Signal, a Vancouver-based festival dedicated to
increasing representation of women and transgender artists
within the fields of sound art and experimental music.
Groven’s work draws on raw and emotionally charged
sounds, with attention to connections between evocative
human and instrumental sounds. Parkinson is a composer
and performer with the Drystone Orchestra. His work,
Desires Are Already Memories, is part of Arraymusic’s New
World CD. Schoorl is a guitarist who is an active participant
in Toronto’s improvisation community. The day following the
concert, all four composers will re-gather and spontaneously
compose together in various combinations.
Many of early December’s events of new music were mentioned
in my November column, including the “Urgent Voices” concert
presented by Continuum Contemporary Music on December 8
and 9 at the Daniels Spectrum Aki Studio, ...as well as New
Music Concerts’ “Concertos” on December 3 at the National
Ballet School’s Betty Oliphant Theatre.
Upcoming New Music Concerts productions in the new
year include “Kammerkonzert” on January 14 at the same
venue, with a focus on music by the primary composers of
the Second Viennese School, Arnold Schoenberg and Alban
Berg. Michael Oesterle’s Chamber Concerto will also receive
its world premiere there. Then on February 4, NMC presents
Calgary’s Land’s End Ensemble at Gallery 345 on Sorauren
Ave., performing compositions by Canadians Hope Lee, Sean
Clarke and Matthew Ricketts. Anton Webern’s 1922 chamber
arrangement of Schoenberg’s Kammersymphonie Op.9 will
round out the program.
And finally, the Music Gallery presents their first Emergents
Concert of the season on December 7 at the the 918 Bathurst
Centre for Culture, Arts, Media and Education, with four
contemporary song cycles created as part of the Sounds Of
Silence Initiative. After just one year, this initiative has brought
together over 50 composers, poets and musicians to create new
Canadian art song that tells the story of a diverse Canadian
cultural identity, and supports, in particular, artists from
Indigenous, immigrant, black, refugee and LGBT communities.
For details on all these and other performances of interest,
consult our comprehensive concert listings in this December-
January double issue of the magazine, or online at
thewholenote.com/just_ask, where you can filter the listings by
genre to simplify your search.
Wendalyn Bartley is a Toronto-based composer and electrovocal
sound artist. sounddreaming@gmail.com.
10 | December 2017 / January 2018 thewholenote.com

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Acclaimed quartet and beloved soprano
offer a special programme
BRENTANO QUARTET
with soprano DAWN UPSHAW
Thursday, January 11, 2018 at 8pm
“Witty, buoyant, and wickedly attentive”
—the Gazette, Montreal
ST. LAWRENCE QUARTET
Thursday, February 1, 2018 at 8pm
The Gryphon Trio add
Jethro Marks to play Brahms
GRYPHON TRIO
Thursday, December 7, 2017 at 8pm
A true polymath, both as a uniquely insightful
concert pianist, and as a writer and composer
STEPHEN HOUGH
Tuesday, January 23, 2018 at 8pm
TICKETS: 416.366.7723 | www.stlc.com
27 Front Street East, Toronto

Q & A
ROCK
AND RAGE
Richard Rose
on Tarragon’s
Hamlet
COURTESY TARRAGON THEATRE
JENNIFER PARR
“
Music Theatre” as we use the term in The WholeNote
is a large tent, covering a wide range of
productions and performances in which music
pervades the drama rather than simply decorating it. It’s
this interweaving that I will be hoping for in a new
version of a Shakespearean classic opening at the
Tarragon Theatre in Toronto on January 2. Artistic director
Richard Rose is making a foray into new and uncharted
(pun intended) territory with a rock and roll Hamlet,
with music and music direction by his longtime
collaborator Thomas Ryder Payne.
As a longtime devotee of both Shakespeare and musicals, with
a particular fascination for when the two become blended into
one, I contacted Rose to find out more about the inspiration
behind this idea and what we might expect.
The show isn’t even in rehearsal yet, so it is early for the
director to speak about what we will see in January – but in some
ways it was even more interesting to have that conversation now,
as the concept and its development are currently still in flux.
Here is some of what we spoke about (edited for length):
WN: What was the initial inspiration to turn Hamlet into a rock
and roll musical?
RR: I’ve always wanted to do Hamlet, and you want to find a great
time to do it. It’s not really a rock and roll musical. It’s part concert,
part radio play, part performance. I’m not sure where it will eventually
land. I had an idea that it would be interesting to do Hamlet
accompanied by a rock and roll concert. I didn’t really know what that
would lead to except that the play always seemed to be about a young
person’s despair and rage against the system, about trying to find out
who they are. Hamlet is struggling between being a hero who can
take action and his conscience: how do you act in the world when the
world is actually politically corrupt?
But why rock and roll particularly?
Because of the rage. Marshall McLuhan talks about how young
people have turned to rock and roll to push out all this information
of the electronic age that is coming at them, and they’re shrieking,
trying to express their identity – and that’s why it is so loud – to
somehow express their anger – and that’s Hamlet, isn’t it? He is
asking “Am I man of action or conscience? Can I kill someone, can
I commit an act of revenge knowing that the society and the world
around me is filled with lies? I have to do absolutely the right thing,
but I don’t know what the right thing is.”
If we have a world full of lies it is very hard to know who we are; here
the music, the rock and roll, will be a fundamental way of showing the
anger at the hypocrisy of the world and it goes further than that.
You and Thomas Ryder Payne are longtime collaborators. But every
show is different. How did it work this time?
He was part of the project from the beginning and we both felt that
Hamlet was the right fit for a rock and roll take, and rock and roll was
the way to connect to young audiences today. In a preliminary workshop
a rough concept emerged, of speaking the text against a musical
background. Hamlet’s soliloquies, for example, got bashed against
the progression of a rock and roll guitar accompaniment [capturing] a
feeling of what Hamlet is going through as he speaks. Then we started
to find and develop a sonic experience.
12 | December 2017 / January 2018 thewholenote.com

Sonic experience?
An environmental mood creating the overall time and space of the
play, as well as for specific scenes and effects such as the appearance
of the ghost – or the chaos of the Danish Court through a mashup
of Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture with jazz and martial music. So,
while this is not at all a traditional rock musical, music is essential
and dictated the working method. We would jam like a rock band:
someone comes up with a riff, someone starts to work with that riff,
someone starts to sing a song to that riff or we speak to that riff.
Where do the actors fit into the process?
Call it ongoing experimentation – the company is not yet officially
in rehearsal at this point. It’s things like the actors taking a different
approach to the text, looking at the words as song lyrics from different
genres such as punk, or from the points of view of singers as different
as Mick Jagger, Frank Sinatra or Peggy Lee, to see what effect this has
on the speaking or thinking of the lines.
“If we have a world full of lies it is
very hard to know who we are.”
And actual songs?
There will be at least some songs as well as the underscoring and
background music. Hamlet will have a song of his own, though
most of the soliloquies are spoken. The Gravedigger has a song as he
actually does in the play. Hamlet and Ophelia’s relationship will be
explored through music with Ophelia possibly singing snatches of
her later “mad songs” as happy innocent pop songs early in the play,
then distorted versions of those songs after the death of her father…
And we’re seeing the play within the play, when Hamlet tries to prove
Claudius' guilt, as a kind of mini-operetta, a heightened moment of
performance for the other characters to watch…. Most of it though
will be spoken against music rather than sung – [and while] there
will be some elements of staging the performers will mostly be
acting the play at microphones like a radio play, but supported by
the sound behind that evokes the world, the inner life, and works
with them.
And the musicians?
The actors themselves. Only two will not be singing or playing
instruments: Nigel Shawn Williams as Claudius, and Tantoo Cardinal
as Gertrude. All the others will be singing and playing instruments,
with no additional musicians to back them up other than
[composer and music director] Thomas Ryder Payne as live mixer
and sound man.
As Rose went on to explain, the company is comprised of actors
who are almost all musicians as well. Noah Reid, whose album Songs
from a Broken Chair is available on iTunes, stars as Hamlet. Brandon
McGibbon of the ElastoCitizens, and many musical theatre credits
including Once and The Producers, will play Laertes as a teenager so
obsessed with his guitar that he never puts it down until his world
falls apart with the death of his father and madness of his sister. Jack
Nicholsen, Greg Gale, Jesse LaVercombe, Beau Dixon, Cliff Saunders,
Rachel Cairns (the one piece of cross-gender casting as Rosencrantz)
all have strong musical backgrounds, and Tiffany Ayalik, who plays
Ophelia, has special vocal techniques from the discipline of throat
singing “to go to places other people don’t go.”
“To go to places other people don’t go” sounds like a fitting
mission statement for this latest outing by an always adventurous
theatrical team.
Hamlet runs January 2 to February 11 in the Tarragon Main Space
at 30 Bridgman Ave., Toronto.
Jennifer Parr’s regular Music Theatre column appears elsewhere
in this issue of The WholeNote.
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thewholenote.com December 2017 / January 2018 | 13

FEATURE
SEMINAL
SCHOENBERG
A Mini-Revival of the
Second Viennese School
DAVID JAEGER
Glenn Gould recording Schoenberg’s songs with Helen Vanni, 1964.
DON HUNSTEIN
Late in 1974, CBC Radio, in collaboration with writer/
host Glenn Gould (1932-1982) and with me as
producer, presented Arnold Schoenberg: The Man
Who Changed Music, ten one-hour-long broadcasts
honouring the centennial of the birth of composer
Arnold Schoenberg (1874–1951).
It was a comprehensive series of programs, and in the course of
those ten episodes a great deal of Schoenberg’s music was heard,
including the early Romantic works, the middle period, freely atonal
pieces and the serial, 12-tone works of his late period. The inclusion of
much of the Austrian/American composer’s piano music, as recorded
by Gould himself, was a unique feature of the series. Gould’s script
was written carefully and in a conversational style, for shared delivery
between the CBC Radio staff announcer (or “sidekick,” as Gould at
times called him), Ken Haslam (1930-2016) and Gould, the series host.
The writing was clear, precise, with typical Gouldian exactitude. Every
word was meant to count, even those words that appeared to express
the personal opinions of Haslam, but which had clearly been placed
in the script by Gould. And the point of all these words and music was
to share as much of the Schoenberg legacy with CBC listeners as was
possible within the allotted air time, and along the way, to demonstrate
Gould’s devotion to it.
In the tenth and final chapter of that series of broadcasts, and at
precisely the right moment for summative comments about the ten
programs, Gould says, “Even now, 23 years after his death, it’s extraordinarily
difficult to effect any really balanced judgment about
Schoenberg’s contribution. Though it’s not particularly difficult to
find an axe to grind and with which one can whack away with.” And
despite Gould’s own personal admiration for Schoenberg’s music, he
doubted that the composer would ever become, as he termed it, “a
household word.”
Notwithstanding this assessment of the prospects for a wider
acceptance of the music of Schoenberg and his students and disciples –
the so-called Second Viennese School – people like flutist/composer
Robert Aitken, the founder and artistic director of Toronto’s New
Music Concerts (NMC), value it as an essential foundation of today’s
music. And in fact, within the first eight weeks of 2018, New Music
Concerts’ programming will include Schoenberg’s Phantasy Op.47;
his String Trio Op.45; the Chamber Symphony Op.9, in a quintet
setting by Anton Webern (1883-1945); and Alban Berg’s (1885-1935)
Chamber Concerto. A newly commissioned Chamber Concerto by
Montreal composer Michael Oesterle (b. 1968), which uses the identical
chamber orchestra as Berg’s concerto, will reflect the entire
collection in the light of the present.
I asked Aitken what prompted him to create, in effect, a mini-revival
of the Second Viennese School in New Music Concerts’ programming
for 2018. He told me that the desire to include this repertoire is always
a factor in his thinking, and that it has been so ever since he studied
composition with John Weinzweig in the early 1960s. Weinzweig
taught the 12-tone, or serial, technique of composing that Schoenberg
had devised and introduced in 1921. Aitken told me that one of the
aspects of Schoenberg’s music he admires is that, even given the
Robert Aitken
© DANIEL FOLEY
14 | December 2017 / January 2018 thewholenote.com

frequent complexity of the counterpoint, the clarity of the music is
never an issue. Aitken says that clarity and attention to every minute
detail are also important values in his own compositions, musing that
such attention to detail is a Virgo trait. (He and Schoenberg are both
Virgos, as was Schoenberg’s student, John Cage (1912-1992).)
New Music Concerts’ three-concert Schoenbergian revival kicks
off at the Betty Oliphant Theatre at 8pm on Sunday, January 14,
with a program featuring the Chicago-based Duo Diorama, violinist
MingHuan Xu and Winston Choi, piano, performing the Schoenberg
Phantasy Op. 47, and as the soloists in the chamber concertos of
Alban Berg and Michael
Oesterle. In that tenth
and final centennial
broadcast in the CBC’s
1974 Gould/Schoenberg
series, Gould said of the
Phantasy, composed
in 1949, and one of
Schoenberg’s last
completed works: “I
Michael
Oesterle
still think it’s full of
uneasy mixtures of
Brahms and Wagner:
you know, expressionistic violin lines, soaring, diving, equally expressionistic
harmonics within a relatively four-squarish sentence structure.”
Gould himself recorded the Phantasy with violinist Israel Baker
in 1964 for Columbia Records.
The idea to commission the Chamber Concerto by Oesterle sprang
from the shared enthusiasm by Aitken, Oesterle and Daniel Cooper,
an enthusiastic NMC supporter, for the Berg Chamber Concerto for
piano, violin and 13 winds (1923-1925). Oesterle’s concerto has the
same instrumental forces as the Berg, and it will receive its world
premiere on the January 14 concert. The Berg Chamber Concerto will
complete the program. Aitken will conduct the NMC ensemble, with
Duo Diorama as soloists.
Three weeks later, on February 4, at Gallery 345, NMC will present
a 1923 Anton Webern arrangement of Schoenberg’s Chamber
Symphony No. 1 Op. 9 (1906). The Calgary-based Land’s End
Ensemble will be joined by Aitken on flute and clarinetist James
Campbell for this quintet version of one of Schoenberg’s more
frequently arranged works. Schoenberg himself arranged the piece
twice, for both smaller and larger forces. Berg made an arrangement
for two pianos, and Webern’s arrangement itself exists in two versions.
Land’s End Ensemble will also perform trios by Canadians Sean Clarke
(b. 1983), Hope Lee (b. 1953) and Matthew Ricketts (b. 1986).
It’s extraordinarily difficult to effect any
really balanced judgment about Schoenberg’s
contribution ... It’s not particularly difficult to
find an axe to grind. — Glenn Gould
Finally, three weeks later on February 25, at 8pm at Gallery 345,
NMC will present another late work by Schoenberg: his String Trio
Op. 45 (1946), in a performance by Trio Arkel, along with a program
of trios by Krzysztof Penderecki (b. 1933), Kaija Saariaho (b. 1952)
and James Rolfe (b. 1961). The concert will be preceded at 6:30pm
by a screening of the Larry Weinstein film, My War Years: Arnold
Schoenberg.
Perhaps by the end of this sequence of three concerts, it will be
revealed that any doubts about the value of Schoenberg’s contribution
have, by now, diminished or even vanished altogether – and that,
if not yet in Gould’s phrase “a household word,” Schoenberg is at very
least a welcome and engaging house guest.
David Jaeger is a composer, producer
and broadcaster based in Toronto.
2017.2018
SEASON HIGHLIGHTS
New Music Festival
With Canadian composer, sound artist and keyboardist Nicole Lizée.
Chamber Music
Musicians from Marlboro, Cecilia String Quartet with Patricia Parr, and
Krisztina Szabó, Christopher Enns and Steven Philcox in The Artist’s Life
Through Song.
Choirs in Concert and Early Music
Sing and Rejoice!, In High Voice, Music for a Sunday Afternoon,
Cherubini’s Requiem with the UofT Symphony Orchestra,
The Tallis Scholars, and Mozart’s Requiem.
Thursdays at Noon
Beverley Johnston, Timothy Ying, Lydia Wong and Teng Li, Music and
Poetry, Rob MacDonald, Rudin Lengo, Simona Genga, and Asher Ian
Armstrong and Emily Kruspe.
Visitors
George E. Lewis, Johannes Debus, Howard Shore, John Hess, Ineke
Vandoorn and Marc van Vugt, and Renee Rosnes.
For complete 2017-2018 listings visit music.utoronto.ca. Tickets: 416.408.0208
The Faculty of Music gratefully acknowledges the generous support of our presenting sponsors:
thewholenote.com December 2017 / January 2018 | 15

Q & A
FINDING
THE BALANCE
PIANIST
GEORGE LI
PAUL ENNIS
The 2015 International Tchaikovsky Competition
produced a motherlode of talent, sparking concert
careers by each of its top four prizewinners. This past
March, Show One Productions brought gold medallist
Dmitry Masleev to Koerner Hall; on February 4 they will
complete the Koerner circle with George Li’s recital there.
Boston-born Li – the son of Chinese immigrants – shared
second place with Lithuanian-Russian pianist Lukas
Geniušas, whom Show One presented in a memorable
2016 Koerner Hall concert with fourth-place winner
Lucas Debargue of France.
A student of English Literature at Harvard now in his fourth year,
Li explained in an email exchange with me in mid-November that
his non-musical studies have affected his approach and led to a
deeper understanding of the music he plays, echoing what he told the
Harvard Gazette in September 2016: “With music, there’s a balancing
of different qualities and you have to have control and finesse and
technique. There’s always a fine line between too much control and
technique with being overly emotional, overindulgent. With literature,
it’s not always an outpouring of emotion. It never goes overboard. It’s
on the cusp of going overboard, but it never does.”
Elsewhere in this issue in his Editor’s Corner, DISCoveries editor
David Olds calls Li a “fabulous young performer” in his review of Li’s
debut CD, Live at the Mariinsky.
WN: How important a role did music play in your home
growing up?
GL: It was definitely a big part of my life ever since I was little. I was
always surrounded by music, whether it be listening to the classical
CANZONA
THE MUSIC SPEAKS
SUN DEC 3 - ISLAND |
MON DEC 4 - CITY
A collaboration of musicians
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Mendelssohn’s miraculous
String Octet in E Flat Major
Opus 20 and Brahms’s first
string sextet, Opus 18.
SAT JAN 27 - CITY |
SUN JAN 28 - ISLAND
TRIO INK
Yosuke Kawasaki, violin;
Wolfram Koessel, cello; and
Vadim Serebryany, piano;
play works by Schumann,
Brahms, and Shostakovich.
2017-18
CHAMBER MUSIC
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UPCOMING CONCERTS:
FEB 25/26, MAR 18/19, APR 15/16, MAY 27/28
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reservations@canzona.org 416-822-0613
SIMON FOWLER
16 | December 2017 / January 18 thewholenote.com

adio station, going to concerts to hear the BSO, or recitals in Boston,
or listening to my sister practise.
How did you come to start playing the piano? How old were you?
I started when I was about four years old, and much of how and
why I started was due to the things that I mentioned above. Because
music played such a big part in my life from a young age, it almost
became inevitable that I would try it out, and I haven’t stopped since!
Who was the first composer you fell in love with as a child?
I remember becoming obsessed with the Moonlight Sonata for a
period of time, as well as Prokofiev’s Concerto No. 3, so I suppose
Beethoven and Prokofiev.
Who were your musical heroes in your formative years?
When I was in my teens, I listened quite a bit to pianists in the
Golden Age of playing, so I really idolized Cortot, Horowitz, Gilels
and Richter. I also started listening to a lot of orchestral music, so
conductors like Abbado and Kleiber gave me great inspiration as well.
“I connect especially with Horowitz,
because of his magical abilities with
the piano; the amount of colour and
character in his playing is astounding,
and he’s also unafraid of taking risks.”
Do you feel a particular kinship to any pianist (or musician)
living or dead?
I connect especially with Horowitz, because of his magical abilities
with the piano; the amount of colour and character in his playing is
astounding, and he’s also unafraid of taking risks.
When did you feel that you would devote your life to music?
I think I started realizing that I would fully immerse myself in music
when I was 12 or 13. It was actually at a concert I was playing then
when I realized how powerful music is, and what a transformative
experience it was to be able to perform onstage. Since that concert, I
decided I would fully dedicate myself to music.
Your upcoming Toronto recital mirrors your first CD, Live at the
Mariinsky. What went into choosing the repertoire for it?
There were several reasons, but the most important for me was that
I felt that there was a strong arc throughout the program. Although
each piece is of a totally different style and from a different period,
there is also a fluidity throughout; each piece flows naturally into the
next in terms of tone and character. For example, in the first half of
the CD, the Haydn sonata – which contains a nuanced tinge of darkness
and tragedy – flows quite naturally into the turbulent, dramatic
tragedy that is the Chopin Sonata No.2.
You concluded the program of your Toronto debut with Music
Toronto in December 2012 with the Liszt Consolation No.3 and
Hungarian Rhapsody No.2, both of which also conclude your first
CD and Koerner Hall concert. What is the attraction these pieces
have for you and how has your approach to them evolved over
the years?
Liszt has been a favourite composer of mine throughout the years,
and these two pieces especially have been a part of me for a long time.
I especially appreciate that Wagnerian drama and the operatic references
that he often implements, and while we don’t exactly hear
Wagner in the Rhapsody, I nonetheless try to highlight the drama and
the variety of colours that I do hear throughout the piece.
Are there any particular pieces, orchestral or chamber, that never
grow stale for you?
Beethoven’s Seventh Symphony, Mahler’s Second Symphony and
quite recently Debussy’s Prélude à l’après-midi d’un faune have been
a few of the orchestral pieces that I’ve been listening to incessantly.
Paul Ennis is the managing editor of The WholeNote.
the 2018 SeaSon
The Splendour of
noTre dame
organist DaviD Briggs
in concert with the choir of st James catheDral
Friday, January 19, 2018
8:00pm | An illustrated pre-concert talk with David Briggs begins at 7:00pm
a celebration oF French repertoire including “Messe Salve
Regina” by castagnet, “Messe Solennelle” by Vierne, and motets by Duruflé.
For tickets and further information, visit stjamescathedral.ca
65 ChurCh STreeT, ToronTo 416.364.7865 STjameSCaThedral.Ca
thewholenote.com December 2017 / January 2018 | 17

Beat by Beat | Classical & Beyond
A Winter Festival
PAUL ENNIS
The extra coverage in this double issue of The WholeNote has
prompted me to consider its entire nine-plus weeks of listings as
fodder for constructing my personal musical winter wonderland.
You are welcome to come along for the ride!
On thewholenote.com I find the LISTINGS tab and click on the
indispensable JustASK feature. It’s early in planning my journey so I
opt to see the entire listings for the first week in December. (Later in
my wanderings, to refine my search I may
choose to JustASK specifically for chamber
music or piano.) In this case, I decide on a
free RCM event, pianist Francine Kay in a
Sunday Interludes recital at Mazzoleni Hall
on December 3. Chopin’s Barcarolle has
always been a personal favourite and its
rolling rhythms will get my festive juices
running. Besides, the eminent Princeton
University faculty member (and Analekta
recording artist) will be giving two masterclasses
the following Friday in the same
space. Depending on what the students will
be playing, I may sit in.
My next stop brings me to Koerner
Hall on December 5 for a concert I wrote
about in the November WholeNote:
Messiaen’s Quartet for the End of Time, a
20th-century touchstone, played by some
of the newest stars in Europe’s musical
firmament. I have high hopes for pianist
Lucas Debargue, violinist Janine Jansen,
cellist Torleif Thedéen and clarinetist
Martin Fröst. Next stop, December 10 (and
I still haven’t budged from Bloor Street)
I’m looking forward to the return of Khatia
Buniatishvili. This time she’s opening with
Mussorgsky’s majestic and intricate Pictures at an Exhibition before
moving on to Liszt showpieces. (And while I’m waiting, there’s the
Rebanks Family Fellowship concert December 6 in Mazzoleni Hall,
where young musicians on the cusp of professional careers display
their craft.)
Sorry to say, you’ll have to JustASK for yourself for the balance of
December. That’s because my annual visit to longtime friends in the
cabin they built themselves in the middle of a hundred-acre wood
will take me through the month. A festive Christmas feast of turkey
and trimmings baked in a wood stove will serve all of us well while a
curious, sociable parrot provides live entertainment.
January 4 and 6, Ryan Wang: When Ryan Wang was five years old
he performed at Carnegie Hall in the American Protégé International
Piano and Strings Competition. A charming child with no pretentious
airs, his celebrity shone soon after, in his first appearance on The Ellen
Show. When not playing a concerto with the Shanghai Symphony,
for example, he enjoys biking, road hockey and Harry Potter in West
Vancouver. In a YouTube video made last year, he talks about being a
piano prodigy who began playing when he was four. “Kids in school
think I’m just a famous pianist,” he says unabashedly. “But I’m just an
ordinary kid.” He calls Harry Potter his hero “because he’s brave. And
if you’re brave, you can overcome anything … Sometimes life is really
challenging, but I never give up and never lose hope.”
Martha Argerich debuted at four, Claudio Arrau at five. Ryan Wang
at ten has been on the stage for half his life. The Li Delun Music
Foundation presents him on January 4 at the Fairview Library Theatre
in recital playing Bach’s French Suite No.6 – his Bach on YouTube
is refreshingly without any affect – a Haydn sonata, a Poulenc
Villageoise, Debussy’s Arabesque No.1, the two Chopin Waltzes Op.64
and a Bartók Romanian Dance. An excursion to North York may be
a New Year’s resolution worth keeping. Two days later, January 6,
Wang is the soloist in Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No.2 with the
Toronto Festival Orchestra conducted by Dongxiao Xu in the Li Delun
Music Foundation’s “New Year’s Concert 2018” at the George Weston
Recital Hall.
January 7, Rachel Barton Pine: She began learning the violin at
three; at five she “self-identified as a violinist.” At ten, she performed
with her hometown band, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra; at 17,
she won the Bach International Competition in Leipzig, Germany.
At 20, her violin case straps caught in the closing doors of a Chicago
commuter train; the accident cost her part of a leg and mangled a
foot. Her determination and discipline from her years of violin study
brought her all the way back musically.
On January 7, she performs the first
Adrian Anantawan
Sunday Interludes concert of the year in
Mazzoleni Hall.
January 10 to 21, Mozart @ 262: I’m back
on Bloor again for some of this next part
of my private winter festival. I am about to
come face to face with the TSO’s Mozart
@ 262 Festival that begins January 10; it
will be the TSO’s 14th annual celebration
of that prodigy’s genius, and the final one
with Peter Oundjian (the festival’s creator)
as TSO music director. Roy Thomson Hall
(three performances), Koerner Hall (two)
and the George Weston Recital Hall (one)
will all be involved. On January 17 and 18
concertmaster Jonathan Crow and principal
violist Teng Li will be the soloists in
Mozart’s Sinfonia Concertante for violin
and viola K364/320d in what might very
well be the single highlight of the festival.
Oundjian’s sole conducting gig, however
(January 19 to 21), is the one program I’m
most focused on, though (and the only
one that’s in all three venues). Anchored
by Mozart’s exhilarating final symphony,
No.41 in C Major “Jupiter,” the concert showcases two talented young
Canadian artists. Charles Richard-Hamelin will weave his colouristic
alchemy in the Piano Concerto No.23 in A Major K488 – the understated
grandeur of its Adagio served as the main theme of Terrence
Malick’s film The New World, underscoring the pristine beauty of
its first act. And Adrian Anantawan will be the soloist in the Rondo
for violin and orchestra K250/248b “Haffner,” and the Adagio for
violin and orchestra K261. Anantawan, who grew up in Toronto, was
born with no right hand, only a stunted appendage with tiny stubs
instead of fingers. At nine he took up the violin, which proved to be a
great equalizer for him. Needless to say, it changed his life. Now in his
early 30s, he works with cutting-edge technology to help others; he’s
also given a TED Talk. He told CNN in 2013 that “it’s never about the
technique or technology that is important, but the desire to live life
authentically and creatively. We often forget even ‘traditional’ musical
instruments are technological adaptations in their own right – they
are tools to manipulate sound in a way that we couldn’t do with our
bodies alone.”
January 11, Brentano and Dawn Upshaw: I plan on abandoning
Mozart to take advantage of a rare opportunity to hear Schoenberg’s
pivotal String Quartet No.2 when Music Toronto presents the Brentano
String Quartet and soprano Dawn Upshaw in the Jane Mallett Theatre.
Completed in 1908, the quartet’s extreme late-Romanticism loses
its harmonic bearings by its final movement, a change that can be
considered the beginning of atonal music. The third and fourth movements
are settings of poems by the symbolist poet Stefan George.
Alex Ross in The Rest Is Noise talks about the extraordinary moment
18 | December 2017 / January 2018 thewholenote.com

in the fourth movement when the soprano sings the line I feel the
wind of another planet and then the “transformation,” I dissolve in
tones, circling, weaving … The Schoenberg is preceded by Respighi’s
intimate, lyrical setting of Shelley’s Il Tramonto. Before intermission,
the Brentano (without Upshaw) will interweave Webern Bagatelles
with Schubert Minuets before performing Argentine-American Mario
Davidovsky’s String Quartet No.4 (1980), a piece I look forward to
hearing for the first time.
The next morning, January 12 at 10am, Upshaw will give a masterclass
in Mazzoleni Hall. I’ve marked my calendar. Maybe I should just
move to Bloor Street!
Sunday, January 14, David Jalbert and Wonny Song: these two toprank
Canadian pianists return to U of T’s Walter Hall and Mooredale
Concerts following their acclaimed 2014 appearance there, for “Piano
Dialogue,” a program inspired by dance, theatre and visual art.
Rachmaninoff’s Suite No.1 for two pianos and his four-hand arrangement
of Tchaikovsky’s Sleeping Beauty Waltz share the stage with
Milhaud’s Scaramouche Suite for Two Pianos and Stravinsky’s kinetic
Petrouchka, also for two pianos. Elsewhere in this issue Alex Baran
writes in his DISCoveries Keyed In column about Jalbert’s latest CD
of music connected to what Jalbert and Song are playing in their
recital: “[The CD] shows why he’s considered one of the younger
generation’s finest pianists. His performance of Dance russe from
Petrouchka explodes into being with astonishing speed and alacrity.
Jalbert possesses a sweeping technique that exudes ease and persuasive
conviction.”
Glionna Mansell Presents
A Music Series unlike any other
www.organixconcerts.ca
December Concerts for
ORGANIX 2017
Hanné Becker
December 6
17
THE ASSOCIATES
OF THE
TORONTO
SYMPHONY
ORCHESTRA
2018 SEASON
January 29, 2018, 7:30 p.m.
Evoking the Elegiac
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Jurgis Juozapaitis,
Maurice Ravel, Bedrich Smetana
February 26, 2018, 7:30 p.m.
La Malinconia – Reflections on
Solitude and Loss
Ludwig van Beethoven, Dmitri Shostakovich,
Johannes Brahms
March 26, 2018, 7:30 p.m.
The Companion’s Guide to Rome
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, François Devienne,
Andrew Norman
April 23, 2018, 7:30 p.m.
Taste of Dark Chocolate
Franz Schubert, Johannes Brahms
May 28, 2018, 7:30 p.m.
Brahms: 20/40
Johannes Brahms
TICKETS
NOW ON
SALE!
Tickets $22, Seniors and Students $20
Trinity-St. Paul’s Centre, 427 Bloor St. W.
Box Office 416-282-6636
www.associates-tso.org
Stefani Bedin
December 20
January Concerts for
ORGANIX 2018
Andrew Adair
January 17
Sarah Svendsen
January 31
All concerts are FREE at
ALL SAINTS ANGLICAN CHURCH,
2850 BLOOR STREET WEST,
TORONTO, M8X 1B2
and start at 12:30 pm. ending
approximately 1:15 pm.
For more details, please visit
www.organixconcerts.ca
ALL
SAINTS
KINGSWAY
ANGLICAN
CHURCH
thewholenote.com December 2017 / January 2018 | 19

January 23, Stephen Hough: In October 2016 the brilliant British
pianist Stephen Hough revealed on BBC Radio 4’s Desert Island DIscs that
he discovered he liked playing the piano when he went to visit his aunt’s
house and could pick out more than one hundred nursery rhymes on her
piano. After much pestering, his parents bought him a cheap second-hand
piano from an antique shop. So began the storied career of this polymath,
whose first novel, The Final Retreat, is to be published in March 2018. On
January 23, he makes his fourth appearance for Music Toronto since 1996
with a program mixing four Debussy works (two of which, Images Bk 1
and II, appear on his latest Hyperion CD, anticipating the centenary of the
composer’s death in 1918) with Schumann’s rapturous Fantasie Op.17 and
Beethoven’s colossal Sonata in F Minor, Op.67, “Appassionata.” The next
morning, Hough will make the trek north to Mazzoleni Hall for a public
masterclass. Having been to two of these, I have no doubt it will be an
insightful and inspirational experience.
January 27, the Dover Quartet: The Dovers came to wide attention in
2013 when they won the Banff International String Quartet Competition. I
wrote about their memorable Beethoven concert at Toronto Summer Music
in 2016: “Musically mature, vibrant and uncannily unified in purpose and
execution, the youthful players brought passion and grace to the first two
movements [of Op.132], took a decisive approach to the fourth and emphasized
the rhapsodic character of the finale.” Chamber Music Hamilton, a
top-flight regional series, is presenting the young Americans in a recital
of Schumann’s Second, Ullmann’s Third and Zemlinsky’s Second String
Quartets, Sunday January 27 at 2pm at the Art Gallery of Hamilton.
January 30, RCM and Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema (although
the name has changed, the address remains Bloor Street) present
Stefan Avalos’ compulsively watchable Strad Style, a film I saw at
Hot Docs 2017. The documentary chronicles the improbable but
triumphant story of a reclusive Ohio violin maker, Daniel Houck,
whose confidence that he can produce a copy of “Il Canone,” the
Guarneri violin built in 1742 that Paganini played, carries him through
an eight-month journey that threatens to be derailed more than once.
A violin aficionado who loves listening to old masters like Oistrakh
and Heifetz and idolizes violin makers Amati, Guarneri and Stradivari
– all from Cremona, Italy – Houck suffers from bipolar disorder but
functions with medication. He befriends Razvan Stoica on Facebook
when he discovers the Romanian-born violinist has won the Strad
Prize at a Salzburg festival and offers to make him the Canone replica.
There is magic stuff here.
After the screening Jonathan Crow will bring out his own Guarneri
for what promises to be a fascinating show-and-tell Q&A. And that’s
why I’ll be there.
And on into February: The astounding young pianist Daniil Trifonov
continues his homage-to-Chopin tour February 1, with a sold-out
concert at Koerner Hall. I’m lucky to have a ticket but unlucky to miss
the St. Lawrence String Quartet’s annual Music Toronto visit the same
evening. Fortunately I can attend the SLSQ’s masterclass in Mazzoleni
Hall the next day at 10am.
In 2008, clarinetist Dionysis Grammenos became the first wind
player ever to be named European Young Musician of the Year. Two
years later at 21, having been guided by Bernard Haitink, Christoph
Eschenbach and Robert Spano, he made his conducting debut with
the Vienna Chamber Orchestra. Johannes Debus hired him as assistant
conductor for the COC’s 2018 production of Mozart’s Abduction from
the Seraglio February 7 to 24. “You find in him a musician who exudes
an enthusiasm for music from every single pore and who equally has
the talent to communicate and share his enthusiasm and euphoria
with others – no matter if it’s about an audience or fellow musicians,”
Debus says. Grammenos’ appearance at noon on February 7 in
the Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre with Ensemble Made in Canada
(they will perform Brahms’ late masterpiece, the sublime Clarinet
Quintet in B Minor Op.115) is the last stop in my winter festival.
Given the abundance of live music available to all of us in the
Toronto area, there’s an ad hoc personal winter festival out there for
the making for every musical taste. How? JustASK.
Paul Ennis is the managing editor of The WholeNote.
DENIS MASTROMONACO
MUSIC DIRECTOR &
C O N D U C T O R
20 | December 2017 / January 2018 thewholenote.com

Beat by Beat | Music Theatre
Multi-Layered
Homecoming
for Tale of a Town
JENNIFER PARR
November is almost over and two shows
stood out for me recently: The Musical
Stage Company’s Uncovered: Dylan &
Springsteen with its brilliant storytelling through
song, and the wild and wacky low-budget
silliness of Christopher Bond’s Evil Dead,
the Musical – an incredibly clever tribute to
and parody of musicals, low-budget horror
movies and Sam Raimi’s Evil Dead franchise in
particular. (Good news is that the latter show’s
run has just been extended to January 7.)
Looking ahead to December there is a wealth
of music theatre on offer. With the holiday
season approaching, there are many familyoriented
shows, including at least three versions
of A Christmas Carol in which music is integral
to the story and production. Ross Petty
Productions gives us its usual anarchic take on
a classic through the prism of the traditional
English panto. At the Grand Theatre in London,
new artistic director Dennis Garnhum is introducing
himself to audiences through his own
acclaimed version of Dickens’ classic, described
as “brimming with music, dance, and ... all of
your favourite carols.” And the Shaw Festival is
joining the fray, with what I believe is their first Christmas season, in
a production adapted and directed by new artistic director Tim Carroll
with music direction by Paul Sportelli, movement and puppetry
by Alexis Milligan, and as Scrooge, Michael Therriault, star of last
season’s Me and My Girl.
The Tale of a Town
In and among Toronto’s rich smorgasbord of music theatre offerings
to choose from, many of them not tied specifically to the season,
two in particular (one in December, one in January) caught my eye
because of their unusual – in different ways – weaving of music with
text-based elements.
The second of the two, chronologically, is the Tarragon Theatre’s
rock-and-roll Hamlet commencing January 2. (You can read my interview
with director Richard Rose elsewhere in the issue.)
The other is Fixt Point’s production of The Tale of a Town, the
creation of husband-and-wife duo Charles Ketchabaw and Lisa
Marie DiLiberto which returns to its starting place at Theatre Passe
Muraille, December 14 to 17. Since the show’s beginnings, Ketchabaw
and DiLiberto have spent three years touring the country in their
Storymobile (recording studio on wheels) gathering the stories and
songs of communities from the Arctic to the East Coast and creating
Lisa Marie DiLiberto and Charles Ketchabaw, with their Storymobile on PEI, July 2013
local performance installations. They also built a national story map
that not only forms part of each local show but remains in place in
each community, as well as online and as a ten-part series on TVO – a
kind of national story archive.
I spoke with DiLiberto as well as with the show’s current music
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THE PEASANT CANTATA
by Johann Sebastian Bach
ALL THE DIAMONDS
Songs and Poems Inspired by the Night Sky
Bach’s raucous cantata followed by a
mid-winter cabaret to warm the soul.
Staring Patricia O’Callaghan and Giles Tomkins
and a stellar band of singers and players.
an Ontario government agency
un organisme du gouvernement de l’Ontario
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Tickets from torontomasquetheatre.com
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thewholenote.com December 2017 / January 2018 | 21

director, Sophia Perlman, to find out some more details of the musical
side of this project. What makes it “a musical”? was our starting point,
and here is the essence of the conversation that followed:
DiLiberto: I wouldn’t call it a musical per se, but music is an essential
part of the process and the show, which features songs and audio
and performance moments which are underscored live.
Perlman: You’re right. It’s not a musical, entirely. I am coming at
this production from an early background in opera and music theatre,
but with the last decade or so of my career being rooted mostly in jazz,
blues and improvised music. Part of what I love about this piece is the
process that has gone into preparing each show, and the insight that
each member of the team brings to the table in terms of how music
can help shape the story.
DiLiberto: For me, this is a real homecoming. We began this project
at Theatre Passe Muraille, and have since toured to every province
and territory in Canada gathering stories. To return back home to
this theatre feels like the project is coming full circle. The music is
such a huge part of the show. It reveals the essence of where we are,
how we feel throughout the journey of the show. It lifts everything
up into a heightened space – like in a musical – but in the case of this
show it lifts up the audio, the verbatim performances, and helps us
get from place to place. I’m so excited to share this epic story here in
Toronto where it all began, partly because of how far it has travelled
in the meantime. This production is a culmination of several years of
touring, story gathering and local installation performances. During
the process, we worked with these archives and adapted a lot of the
score from the ideas and music created by the musicians who collaborated
on these performances locally.
Perlman: And for me, personally, Queen West was one of the first
communities that The Tale of a Town gathered stories from, and
several places (like the coffee shop I used to go to in Parkdale and the
Cameron House) are featured in the story. I lived in Toronto’s downtown
most of my life – and only left a few years ago. … After the
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amazing adventure I’ve had on the first part of this season’s tour, it
feels especially wonderful to have the chance to bring this story so
close to home.
The WholeNote: So the version of the show we will see at Passe
Muraille is still in development?
Perlman: We created a score that was an overall shape for the piece
back in August and September. Lisa Marie [DiLiberto] is an actor,
performer and musician, and there are songs that are sung by her and
guest artists. She also plays cello and guitar! Charles Ketchabaw has
a background in radio and audio tech and sometimes in terms of live
music my role feels a bit more like leading a silent movie orchestra!
But part of what drew me to this piece, creatively, was the fact that
while the score has been “set” since August, the time we took in the
rehearsal room to understand those choices has meant that everywhere
we go the score can be adapted to fit different instrumentation,
special guests or new local content.
DiLiberto: Each place we go there will be a new band, featured
local guests and some kind of a choir ... Perlman: An amazing ad-hoc
of musical collaborators and volunteers, you might say … And that
becomes part of the story.
After the Toronto run, The Tale of a Town will hit the road again
in January for dates in St. Catharines, Burlington, Milton and
Kingston. See their website (thetaleofatown.com) for details or call
416-504-7529.
QUICK PICKS
To Dec 31: YPT’s streamlined production of Disney’s Beauty and
the Beast, which started November 6, is aimed particularly at families
and younger children and features a young, diverse cast including
Celine Tsai, one of The Musical Stage Company’s 2017 Banks Prize
winners, as Belle.
Nov 23 to Dec 2: Two productions of the operetta Candide have
popped up at the same time. Talk is Free Theatre present theirs at
the Mady Centre for the Performing Arts in Barrie. Dec 28, 30, 31
and Jan 5, 6, 7, Toronto Operetta Theatre presents their take on the
Bernstein/Sondheim classic at the Jane Mallett Theatre. Will the Barrie
version have a more “musical theatre” approach?
Nov 28 to Dec 2: Randolph Academy presents the rarely seen
musical Moll, with music and lyrics by Canadian composer Leslie
Arden and book by Arden and Cathy Elliott, at the Annex Theatre. This
is must-see for fans of Arden and Elliott.
Nov 30 to Dec 23: For fans of the comedy side of musical comedy,
Theatre Orangeville presents a new Christmas musical, The Last
Christmas Turkey, with book by Dan Needles, creator of the Wingfield
plays, and music and lyrics by Clive VanderBurgh.
Dec 9 to Jan 21: For fans of the large-scale musical and for families
over the holidays, Mirvish Productions offers a musical version of
Dr. Seuss’s The Lorax – music and lyrics by Charlie Fink, adapted for
the stage by David Greig – at the Royal Alex; while Dec 12 to Jan 7,
also from Mirvish, Million Dollar Quartet (which always seems to be
playing somewhere) moves into the Panasonic Theatre.
Jan 12 and 13: There are only two days to catch triple-threat and
Stratford star Juan Chioran, starring in Podium Concert Productions’
concert version of Nine, the Maury Yeston and Arthur Kopit musical
based on Fellini’s film 8 ½, at Trinity-St. Paul’s Centre.
Feb 4 to 25: Coal Mine Theatre, known for its riveting and darkedged
theatre productions, moves into musical territory with
Rumours By Fleetwood Mac: A Coal Mine Concert. It will be interesting
to see where this falls on the music theatre spectrum, particularly
because artistic director Ted Dykstra is also well known for his
accomplished work on musicals as both performer and director.
And more: for a more comprehensive overview of musical theatre
listings over December and January, visit our music theatre listings on
page 63 in this issue.
Toronto-based “lifelong theatre person” Jennifer (Jenny) Parr
works as a director, fight director, stage manager and coach, and is
equally crazy about movies and musicals.
22 | December 2017 / January 2018 thewholenote.com

an Ontario government agency
un organisme du gouvernement de l’Ontario
Beat by Beat | Early Music
On Bothering and
the Baroque
MATTHEW WHITFIELD
This sentence notwithstanding, I try not to use too many personal
pronouns when writing. Call it a parasympathetic reflex from my
student days writing prosaic, academically sourced theses, but
words like “I” and “my” seem too personal and isolating to use even
in a communal column and publication such as The WholeNote; and
I don’t write editorials (although I do express the occasional opinion
or two!). This month is an exception, however, for we begin our
two-month survey of the Toronto early music scene with two personal
anecdotes – disparate occurrences that, although entirely independent
in time and place, share a common, relevant and important theme.
A few weeks ago, I gave a recital at Trinity-St. Paul’s Centre. The
program for this little concert contained a blend of jazz, minimalist
and avant-garde music, including György Ligeti’s Harmonies for
organ. After the performance one audience member approached and
asked, “Why bother with such music? You could have played that
piece (Harmonies) forwards or backwards and we wouldn’t have
known the difference!” It was ultimately a worthwhile question and
one that many performers face, particularly in the realm of music
written in the 20th century and onwards: why bother playing music
that people won’t understand, music that is not necessarily tuneful,
pretty, or accessible to the masses?
Days after my recital experience, I saw the new film Loving Vincent,
an artistically oriented speculative recreation of the last days of Dutch
painter Vincent van Gogh, incorporating elements of documentary
and murder mystery. This film was screened at TIFF Bell Lightbox
and is notable because of the way it was made. Each frame – 65,000
of them altogether – was hand-painted in the style of Van Gogh by
an international team of artists, then photographed and digitized
using animation software, thereby creating a literal motion picture.
Before viewing Loving Vincent, I read a synopsis in The Guardian in
which the reviewer questioned the painstaking process of producing
the film, arguing that an equally visually satisfying production could
have been generated using purely digital means without the trouble of
hand-painting anything at all. In our digital age, the review queried,
Robert Gulaczyk as Vincent van Gogh in Loving Vincent
why bother with all the unnecessarily painstaking manual labour?
In early music circles, the question “Why bother?” is a relevant one,
too. When we look at the frequency with which certain individual
works are performed, there are inevitably moments where we question
the rationale behind established conventions that have become
normalized. For example, now that December is here, why bother
playing Handel’s Messiah again across the city – haven’t we been
up to our eyeballs in it every year for the past decade? Why bother
with another performance of Bach’s Christmas Oratorio or Corelli’s
Christmas Concerto? Reprising these works year after year seems to
be the bad end of a Faustian pact, the lure of a full auditorium paid
off with the ceaseless repetition of the same stuff, taxing our ears
with all-too familiar strains of “Hallelujah!,” “Jauchzet, frohlocket!”
or some other predictable and overdone work – a festive and wintry
Groundhog Day, if you will.
These are thought-provoking queries, many of which are difficult
to answer. The questions of “Why?” and “Why bother?” will always
be applicable to the arts, particularly when something new and
unfamiliar (in the case of Ligeti’s Harmonies) or unusual and idiosyncratic
(as we see in Loving Vincent) is put on display, but another
little anecdote recounted to me by a former teacher may help answer
why we always seem to return to the time-tested Baroque classics
in December:
Once a conductor was in a dress rehearsal of Messiah – everyone
involved had performed the work many times. One singer was
rather lackadaisical about his part and seemed lazy and lacklustre
throughout, irking the conductor enough that he confronted him
about it afterwards.
“Listen,” the conductor said, “I know you have sung this many
times, as I’ve conducted it many times, but you have a great responsibility
as a performer. Tonight’s concert may be the first time that
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someone in that audience hears Messiah. And this performance may
also be the last Messiah someone in that audience hears.”
My Grown-Up Christmas List
For many, Messiah is as much a quintessential seasonal favourite as
mulled wine and a ten-pound fruitcake. With dozens of performers
presenting various Messianic adaptations and interpretations across
Toronto and its surrounding areas, it can be a tricky task to pick only
one! Fortunately, The WholeNote is here to help: read my recent blog
post on notable performances, or search for the word “Messiah” in our
online listings to get a list of most of this year’s shows. Whether fulllength
or condensed, HIP or modern, symphonic or sing-along, we
have the Messiah for you.
Johann Sebastian Bach’s Christmas Oratorio is another classic
Christmas composition from the Baroque era, compiled and
composed between 1733 and 1734 to celebrate the Christmas season
in Leipzig. Although catalogued as BWV248
and now considered a single, freestanding
work, this “oratorio” is in actuality a series of
six individual cantatas that were performed
during the time between Christmas and
Epiphany (what we now call the Twelve
Days of Christmas) and divided between the
Thomaskirche and Nikolaikirche, Leipzig’s two
main churches.
Monumental in scope and brilliant in its
musical expression of Bach’s beliefs and
theology, the Christmas Oratorio is, along with
the Passions, the closest Bach came to writing
a narrative opera. Geoffrey Butler and the
Toronto Choral Society perform the Christmas
Oratorio at Koerner Hall on December 6, in
what promises to be a welcome respite from
the hurly-burly of the commercially overloaded
Christmas season.
Continuing their trend of melding old and
new, the Toronto Masque Theatre presents
their seasonal salon “Peace on Earth” on
December 17 and 18. Featuring the performance
of baroque Noëls and the Messe de Minuit
by Marc-Antoine Charpentier, these Francoflavoured
evenings will explore the simplicity, beauty and joy of the
French Baroque Christmas, different in many ways from the immense
and intricate forms we find in English and German oratorio.
To complement these French Baroque favourites, TMT also leaps
forward into the 20th century with excerpts from The Birth of Christ,
ILLUMINATIONS
March 2 & 3, 2018 at 8pm
Joëlle Morton
Tickets on sale at TorontoConsort.org
a cantata written in 1901 by Canadian composer Clarence Lucas (1866-
1947) as well as seasonal readings by from T.S. Eliot’s The Journey of
the Magi. With this medley of music and word on display only one
week before Christmas, these performances will surely banish the last
“Bah humbug!” from even the Scroogiest of curmudgeonly misers.
But Wait, There’s More! A Taste of 2018
Fast forward to January 2018: Belts are loosened an extra notch
(or two); turkey leftovers, eggnog and rum hangovers, and the last
few sweet treats all linger longer than expected. New Year’s resolutions
are resolutely made and broken, and we start looking ahead to
the inevitable wintry weather that is to come. If we somehow ignore
the temptation to snuggle up with a cup of cocoa and hibernate until
March, there are many exciting events taking place across Toronto in
January, including two promising projects by Tafelmusik (who might
quite reasonably go into hibernation themselves after their busy
December!).
The first is the Tafelmusik Winter
Institute, a terrific opportunity for those
with a passion for Historically Informed
Performance. A one-week intensive for
advanced students and young professionals,
this year’s TWI culminates in a
free public performance at Jeanne Lamon
Hall on January 10. Featuring music
by French composers Lully, Campra,
Marais and Rameau, and this performance
presents a rare opportunity to hear
top-notch music from the height of the
French tradition for an unbeatable price.
Over the last few years, Tafelmusik
has pushed the boundaries of the early
music concert experience with Alison
Mackay’s creative multimedia conceptions
and collaborations. This positive
trend towards HIP-infused modernism
continues with Safe Haven, a program
exploring the musical ideas of Baroque
Europe’s refugee artists, drawing parallels
between 18th-century Europe and
present-day Canada. At that time of year
when the Christmas chestnuts have come and gone, this concert looks
to provide a palate-cleansing leap forward in a genre that occasionally
seems to specialize in blasé repetition.
Scaramella: While Tafelmusik peers into the future with Safe
Haven, period performance group Scaramella looks back in time
with their “Ode to Music” on January 27. Featuring Scaramella’s
Joëlle Morton and guest virtuoso viol players Elizabeth Rumsey and
Caroline Ritchie from Basel, Switzerland, this program uses a variety
of 16th-century music for viol consort to explore the impact of the
muses on Renaissance composers. This concert provides a wonderful
opportunity for viol enthusiasts and novices alike to acquaint themselves
with the spectrum of sound these antiquated instruments can
produce, living musical relics linking our ears to past centuries.
As winter-themed advertising flashes across our smartphone screens
and store windows are redecorated with miniaturized villages and
resplendent hues of red, green and gold, it can be overwhelming and
daunting to find time to attend a concert; despite the seasonal hustle
and bustle, I encourage you to explore the vibrant musical offerings
that are on display this December and January. Whether you prefer
Handel’s Messiah, Tafelmusik’s Safe Haven, a traditional Festival of
Lessons and Carols, or any of the other listings in this double issue of
The WholeNote, the richness and depth of Toronto’s classical music
scene ensures that no concertgoer ever has to ask, “Why bother?”
Happy Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Festivus and New Year,
everyone. See you in February! Until then, keep in touch at
earlymusic@thewholenote.com.
Matthew Whitfield is a Toronto-based harpsichordist and organist.
24 | December 2017 / January 2018 thewholenote.com

Beat by Beat | On Opera
Reviving the Unrevivable
and Ringing in the New
CHRISTOPHER HOILE
It used to be that the only operatic productions that took place in
December and January were from the Canadian Opera Company
and Toronto Operetta Theatre. Now there are so many new small
companies that there is quite a wide range of offerings available to see
out the old year and see in the new.
COC: That being said, the production
on the largest scale in these
two months is the Canadian Opera
Company’s remount of Verdi’s Rigoletto
for ten performances from January 20 to
February 23. The production, directed by
Christopher Alden, was last seen in 2011.
There is some controversy attached to the
production, since Alden had previously
created it for Lyric Opera of Chicago in
2000. The action is set entirely inside
a gentlemen’s gaming club in the
early 1850s with the chorus onstage
throughout the action. The various locations
in the libretto are acted out using
furniture from the club, the danger being
that if people do not already know the
story the staging provides no clues to help them. After its unpopular
run at LOC, the production was deemed “unrevivable” and LOC now
has a popular new production directed by E. Loren Meeker. When the
COC and English National Opera approached Alden for a Rigoletto, he
simply re-created the one he had done for Chicago.
In any case, the COC has revived the unrevivable and it features
Roland Wood in the title role, Anna Christy as Rigoletto’s daughter
Gilda, Stephen Costello and Joshua Guerrero (February 11, 17, 23) as
the depraved Duke of Mantua, and Goderdzi Janelidze as the assassin
Sparafucile. Stephen Lord conducts.
On a much lighter note, the COC has invited the public to see a new
opera for children, The Magic Victrola, on December 1, 2 and 3. The
opera also has a Chicago connection in that it was premiered by the
LOC in 2015. In the opera, written by David Kersnar and Jacqueline
Russell, two children stay at their grandfather’s place for the summer
vacation. The grandfather has a Victrola and a set of opera recordings;
the children find when they play the records that the characters come
alive. The hour-long show includes well-known excerpts from The
Marriage of Figaro, The Magic Flute, The Tales of Hoffmann, The Elixir
of Love, Lakmé, Gianni Schicchi and Carmen. The opera, suitable for
ages five and over, is performed by members of the COC Ensemble
Studio and is directed by Ashlie Corcoran, with music direction by
Rachael Kerr and Stéphane Mayer.
Toronto Operetta Theatre has been helping Torontonians bridge
the old and the new years with operetta for more than 30 years. This
year it revives its production of Leonard Bernstein’s Candide (1956),
last staged here in 2007, which the composer himself designated as
an “operetta.” The work follows the adventures of the eternal optimist
Candide, whose tutor has taught him to believe that this is the best of
all possible worlds. This belief is sorely tested when Candide barely
survives one disaster after another. Tonatiuh Abrego takes on the
title role, while Vania Chan stars as his beloved Cunegonde and sings
the show-stopping coloratura aria Glitter and Be Gay. TOT favourite
Elizabeth Beeler sings the Old Lady, Nicholas Borg is Dr. Pangloss,
Cian Horrobin is the Governor and Mikhail Shemet is Cacambo.
Candide runs for six performances from December 28 to January 7.
Derek Bate conducts and Guillermo Silva-Marin directs.
Talk Is Free Theatre: This is likely the first time ever that a person
can see two different productions of Candide in Ontario in the same
month. The second takes place at a non-traditional operatic showcase,
Talk Is Free Theatre in Barrie, which is in the process of presenting
the Bernstein work in a run from November 23 to December 2.
The cast includes Thom Allison, Holly Chaplin, Gabi Epstein, Mike
Nadajewski and Michael Torontow; Richard Ouzounian directs and
Lily Ling conducts.
Tarragon Theatre, another non-traditional showcase for opera, is
presenting Mr. Shi and His Lover, a one-act work by Njo Kong Kie
that runs in Toronto until December 17. In the new year it plays at
the NAC in Ottawa from January 3 to 13. Mr. Shi is made up of seven
scenes in which two characters, Mr. Shi and Bernard Boursicot, reflect
Shi Pei Pu, the
original Mr. Shi
on the the strange but true story of their relationship.
Boursicot, a young French diplomat stationed
in China in 1964, fell in love with Shi Pei Pu, a
male performer of the Peking Opera specializing
in female roles, believing that Shi was actually a
woman. Amazingly, Boursicot and Shi’s relationship
continued for 20 years without Boursicot ever realizing
Shi was a man, much less a spy recruited to
entrap him. This story is the basis for David Henry
Hwang’s 1988 play M. Butterfly. Jordan Cheng sings
the role of Mr. Shi and Derek Kwan sings Boursicot.
Njo Kong Kie conducts the singers and percussionist
Yukie Lai from the piano in an eclectic score that
ranges from Peking opera to traditional folk song,
music hall, pop music, Western opera and the art
song. Tam Chi Chun, the artistic director of Macau
Experimental Theatre, directs.
Tryptych: Continuing its exploration of standard repertory with
Upstaged by West Side Story but never
obscured, CANDIDE has become the darling
of opera companies and Broadway through
the sheer power of its drama, music and
imaginative splendour. Voltaire’s irresistible
– and censored! – masterwork becomes great
music theatre.
Tonatiuh Abrego
Guillermo Silva-Marin
General Director
by Leonard Bernstein
Derek Bate, Conductor
Guillermo Silva-Marin, Stage Director
Vania Chan
Elizabeth Beeler
Nicholas Borg
December 28, 30 & January 5, 6 at 8 pm
December 31, January 7 at 3 pm
416-366-7723 | 1-800-708-6754 | www.stlc.com
thewholenote.com December 2017 / January 2018 | 25

what drew him to Handel instead of, say, Verdi, who also wrote
about so many dispossessed people, he responded, “There is
something in the form in which Handel wrote most of his music
which is interesting. His draw to a formula, a repetition of text
and simplicity in how he set it, is profound. Yes, Verdi is a master
composer, but his music takes on a much more propelling aspect
to the storytelling. Handel allows you to reflect, assess and
move forward.”
Some of the pieces that Bound draws upon are Acis and
Galetea, Alcina, Alexander’s Feast, Ariodante, Orlando,
Floridante, Giulio Cesare in Egitto, Jephtha, Rinaldo, Rodelinda,
Semele, Serse and Tolomeo. For the assembled score Ivany has
written a new English libretto. The cast includes soprano Danika
Lorèn, tenor Asitha Tennekoon, countertenor David Trudgen,
baritone Justin Welsh and bass Michael Uloth. Ivany will direct
and Mokrzewski will conduct.
Richard Margison and Lauren Margison
large orchestra, Tryptych Concert & Opera presents its final opera in
Toronto before its co-artistic directors, Edward Franko and Lenard
Whiting, move to Kenora to restart the company there. On December 9
and 10, Tryptych presents a fully-staged production of Engelbert
Humperdinck’s Hansel and Gretel in English at the P.C. Ho Theatre in
Scarborough, with the Cathedral Bluffs Symphony Orchestra and the
Toronto Beaches Children’s Chorus. The cast features Meghan Symon
as Hansel, Marion Samuel-Stevens as Gretel, Douglas Tranquada as
the Father, Mila Ionkova as the Mother, Kira Braun as the Dew Fairy
and Sandman and Whiting himself as the Witch. Franko directs and
Norman Reintamm conducts. Despite Franko and Whiting’s move, the
two plan to stage at least one opera with the CBSO in Toronto every
year. Donizetti’s The Elixir of Love is already planned for next year.
Tapestry: In the realm of new music is the welcome return of
Tapestry Opera’s popular Opera Briefs. This year’s “Winter Shorts”
consists of ten opera scenes developed during Tapestry’s 2016
Composer-Librettist Laboratory. Creators of the shorts have drawn
inspiration from current events and contemporary concerns including
the Syrian refugee crisis, robot warfare, the 1984 Quebec National
Assembly shooting, voyeurism, fairy tales and dysfunctional millennial
relationships. This year’s operas include three composed by
Afarin Mansouri, three from Iman Habibi, three from Norbert Palej
and one from Kit Soden. The librettists are Bobby Theodore, Marcia
Johnson, Phoebe Tsang and Jessica Murphy Moo. The performers are
Alexander Dobson, Erica Iris, Keith Klassen and Jacqueline Woodley.
“Winter Shorts” runs from November 30 to December 3.
Against the Grain: In contrast to Tapestry’s “bite-size” offerings,
from December 14 to 16 Toronto’s indomitable Against the Grain
Theatre presents a “new” full-length Handel opera in the form of
Bound – A Handel Mash-up. AtG’s artistic director Joel Ivany and
music director Topher Mokrzewski have collaborated with awardwinning
composer Kevin Lau to create a pastiche of music from
Handel’s operas and oratorios that will focus on current world events.
According to the AtG website, “In the wake of the world’s refugee
crisis, this workshop will explore the current state of those displaced,
dehumanized and mistreated, with texts and stories drawn from reallife
news articles and world events.” When I asked Ivany in November
Così fan tutte
presented by Toronto Lyric
Trinity St. Paul’s
PERA
Opera Centre
Jeanne Lamon Hall
427 Bloor Street W
Sun Feb 18, 2018
7:30 PM
Highlands Opera premiere: Meanwhile, there is an important
premiere outside Toronto. Opera lovers may know that the Highlands
Opera Studio, based in Haliburton with Richard Margison as artistic
director, presents opera in the summer. This year HOS will present a
new work December 21 and 22, Mishaabooz’s Realm (Le Royaume
de Michabous), with music and libretto by Cree composer Andrew
Balfour. The opera, a co-production with L’Atelier Lyrique of L’Opéra
de Montréal, will have its world premiere performances in Montreal
on December 15 and 16 before moving to Haliburton.
The opera’s central figure is Mishaabooz, an important character in
Anishinaabe storytelling. Mishaabooz is another name for Nanabozho,
the great trickster spirit and shape-shifter, one of whose favourite forms
is as a giant rabbit, who is often sent to earth by Gitche Manitou (the
Creator) to teach the Ojibwe peoples. (Mishaabooz, in fact, means “Great
Hare.”) In his composer’s statement, Balfour describes the opera as “a
multi-media and multi-directional work, incorporating classical styles,
unique choral and vocal perspectives, Indigenous musical and oral
traditions, with a libretto in First Nations dialect, French and English,
exploring contemporary issues concerning Canada’s relationship with
our First People and the land of Turtle Island, past, present and future.”
Singers include soprano Lauren Margison and baritone Nathan
Keoughan. Balfour and Cory Campbell will contribute vocals and play
percussion while music director Louise-Andrée Baril will conduct
from the piano. The chorus will be drawn from both Montreal and
Haliburton. Valerie Kuinka is the stage director.
We clearly no longer have to wait until spring for variety in operatic
activity in Ontario.
Christopher Hoile is a Toronto-based writer on opera and
theatre. He can be contacted at opera@thewholenote.com.
RUDDIGORE
Artistic Director - Laura Schatz
Musical Director - Brian Farrow
Choreographer - Jennie Garde
Jan 26 & 27, Feb 1 & 2, 7:30pm
Jan 27 & 28, Feb 3 & 4, 2pm
Visit tlocentre.com
for tickets and
more info!
26 | December 2017 / January 2018 thewholenote.com

Beat by Beat | Art of Song
Some Southern
Comfort
LYDIA PEROVIĆ
If anything’s desperately needed in Toronto in December, it’s
a dash of the south. The Vesuvius Ensemble to the rescue: the
trio that specializes in Southern Italian music (mostly from
Naples and Campania but also Calabria and Puglia) is preparing
a pastoral Christmas program for mid-December, just as the
Toronto winter is about to take over.
Vesuvius is a three-lad enterprise: Francesco Pellegrino is
the voice of the group, while Marco Cera and Lucas Harris play
a variety of plucked string instruments, and are most likely to
be found manning Baroque guitar and theorbo respectively.
Various other period instruments are added depending on the
songs chosen, like tammorra, a large tambourine with bells, or
ciaramella, an early oboe with an ear-trumpet-like shape. This
instrumentarium is there to accompany the songs both folk and
composed, roughly from the same period, the 1500s and 1600s.
The most interesting part of the Vesuvius mission is this mix of
the popular and the authored material. There have always been
song composers open to the influence of the folk, and among
those who have used either folk music or folk lyrics you are
likely to hear in Vesuvius concerts are Andrea Falconieri (d.
1656), Giovanni Girolamo Kapsberger (1580-1651), Athanasius
Kircher (1602-1680), Leonardo Vinci (1690-1730), and Francesco
Provenzale (1624-1704).
The study of Italian folk song got a significant boost in the 20th
century thanks to recording technology. In the mid-1950s, Alan
Lomax and Diego Carpitella travelled to villages up and down Italy
to record traditional peasant songs sung in dialect. Some of the
songs were work songs, some were dances like the tarantella (which,
myth has it, cures poisonous spider bites and bilious moods of other
kinds), and others were laments, or love songs, or wedding songs.
Commercially released recordings of some of the Carpitella-Lomax
treasures still exist – the Italian Treasury series of CDs divided into
regions is not exactly easy to buy (an Amazon search will yield
second-hand, vinyl or MP3 offers) and is best sought out in large and
university libraries. Puglia: the Salento (2002), Calabria and Folk
Music and Song of Italy: A Sampler (1999), for example, are available
at the Toronto Reference Library and each includes booklets with
lyrics and translations.
Another important figure of the Italian folk revival of the 20th
century is the musicologist, theatre artist and composer Roberto de
Simone (b. 1933). In addition to the research and archiving of the
popular chant, de Simone incorporated folk practices into his own
writing and stage directing and is probably best known internationally
for the opera La gatta Cenerentola. (Look for Secondo coro delle
lavandaie – The Second Chorus of the Washerwomen – on YouTube.)
Vesuvius Ensemble
Which of the Italian traditional and composed treasures will
Vesuvius perform in their Christmas concert? We’ll find out on
December 17 or 19 in Heliconian Hall, though a few days earlier is
also a possibility since the group will perform a similar program
at the Four Seasons Centre’s Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre on
December 12 at noon. When I spoke with Francesco Pellegrino for
this article in mid-October, the program had not yet been finalized.
What is certain is that Tommaso Sollazzo, a connoisseur of the Italian
bagpipes called zampogne, will be joining in. The trio performed
with him in Italy a few years back and now he’s making the trip to
wintry Toronto.
And since the tarantellas and the tammurriatas are so danceable,
SCARLET O'NEILL
Concertos!
Sunday Dec. 03 2017
Elliott Carter
String Trio
Robin de Raff
Percussion Concerto
Linda C. Smith
Path of Uneven Stones
Paul Frehner
Clarinet Concerto v
Ryan Scott, Eve Egoyan, Max Christie
NMC Ensemble | Robert Aitken
Oliphant Theatre | 404 Jarvis St.
Kammerkonzert
Sunday Jan. 14 2018
Alban Berg
Kammerkonzert
Arnold Schoenberg
Phantasy Op.47
Michael Oesterle
Chamber Concerto v
v World Premieres
MingHuan Xu, Winston Choi
NMC Ensemble | Robert Aitken
Oliphant Theatre | 404 Jarvis St.
Land’s End Ensemble
Sunday Feb. 04 2018
Hope Lee
Imaginary Garden VII v
Sean Clarke
New Work v
Matthew Ricketts
Graffiti Songs
Arnold Schoenberg
(arr. Anton Webern)
Kammersymphonie Op.9
Land’s End Ensemble, guest artists
Robert Aitken, James Campbell
Gallery 345 | 345 Sorauren Ave.
www.NewMusicConcerts.com
thewholenote.com December 2017 / January 2018 | 27

will Vesuvius let the audience dance
during their concerts, maybe preceded
by some dance instruction? “Not yet,”
says Pellegrino, “but we are expanding
this program and in the next couple
of years our concerts may also have
dancers from Italy who are well versed
in tarantella or tammurriata. We’re
working on it.”
Outside Toronto, you can hear
(though not yet dance to) Vesuvius’
Christmas concert on December 18 in
Hamilton and December 20 in Montreal.
January
Twenty-five years after its world
premiere, the song cycle Honey and Rue
is still regularly performed by symphony
orchestras and coloratura sopranos in
the US. Carnegie Hall commissioned
it and André Previn composed it for
Claire de Sévigné
Kathleen Battle, who was a keen reader
of Toni Morrison and wanted her as a
lyricist. We don’t hear the cycle that
often in Canada, and it’s St. Catharines, not Toronto, that got lucky
this season, with two Honey and Rue performances with the Niagara
Symphony Orchestra in January. Morrison’s poems are a rich and
intense read and should be relished without the music first (keep
those programs, concertgoers: the poems are not easy to find).
Young soprano Claire de Sévigné will sing. Last time I heard de
Sévigné was in the COC’s Arabella, where she effortlessly produced
the coloratura for the Viennese ball ingenue, Fiakermilli. There probably
isn’t another Canadian soprano whose timbre more resembles
Battle’s. I caught up with the travelling soprano via email to learn
more about her take on the piece.
When I ask her what it is that
she likes about Honey and Rue,
she starts with the orchestration.
“Singing with an orchestra
is always thrilling but singing a
piece that’s in the style of ‘classical-jazz-blues
fusion’ feels like
a real jam. The fourth song is a
huge contrast to the rest of the
cycle in that it is a cappella, and
this moment can be magic. I also
adore the lyrics. Very strong text
with stunning imagery.”
I tell her that my first impression
of it was that it was
extremely high. Her answer
doesn’t surprise me: “I don’t
notice it being all that high
actually – but that’s coming
from a coloratura soprano and
my voice lives in the clouds,
haha. I think that Previn knew
how to write for the voice, since
the performer doesn’t notice it being all that high! I actually find the
set quite lyric – the highest note is only a B flat, a whole fourth lower
than my high notes, and the set sits in quite a nice place for a light
soprano’s voice to spin and shimmer while still being able to sing the
text… It’s quite a pleasure to sing.”
The cycle was written by an African-American writer for an
African-American singer originally, and although it’s still frequently
sung by African-American singers, it’s become a cycle for any talented
soprano who can meet its challenge. I ask de Sévigné what she thinks
of the recent rise in discussions about what cultural material can
be performed by who, and in what context. “It’s true, the cycle was
28 | December 2017 / January 2018 thewholenote.com

I
I
T
C H O R A L E
C
H O
R
L
A
E
originally commissioned after Battle read The Bluest Eyes by Toni
Morrison. The poems of Honey and Rue are different however – they
don’t explicitly or exclusively portray the same themes from the book,
with the exception of the sixth song, which I would say is outwardly
about slavery and abuse.” The final poem is based on the African-
American spiritual Take My Mother Home, though with added lyrics
and musical material. “The cycle as a whole,” writes de Sévigné,
“explores questions around equality, suffering, freedom and acceptance,
which are themes that humanity as a whole has experienced
and can appreciate.”
This will not be the young singer’s first encounter with the piece.
“It’s the second time I’ve been asked to sing it. I first performed it
with piano in the Aspen Music Festival concert series in 2012 and have
performed excerpts over the past years in several recitals. I find something
new every time I perform it. I have found that my best way to
interpret the songs is by switching between the first person and the
narrator.”
And what is next on her schedule? “I’m currently doing a concert
tour in China with the Hantang International Music Festival in collaboration
with the Salzburg Festival (writing to you from Beijing right
now!). I’m back to Canada in December for the Messiah with the
Edmonton Symphony and in February, I’ll be at the Canadian Opera
Company singing the role of Blonde in Mozart’s Die Entführung aus
dem Serail. There’s also a Mozart C Minor Mass this season, and a
Carmina Burana with the Grant Park Festival in Chicago.”
But as the first thing in the new year, Honey and Rue: January 20
and 21, 7:30pm, with the Niagara Symphony Orchestra. Also on the
program: Wagner’s Siegfried Idyll and Ravel’s Mother Goose (complete
ballet). Bradley Thachuck, conductor. FirstOntario Performing Arts
Centre, St. Catharines.
Lydia Perović is an arts journalist in Toronto. Send her your artof-song
news to artofsong@thewholenote.com.
P A X
•
C H R
I S T
•
C H O R A L E
I
David Bowser
Artistic Director
VOICE
B OX
OPERA IN CONCERT
Guillermo Silva-Marin
General Director
operainconcert.com
Beste Kalender
Ilana Zarankin
Holly Chaplin
I DUE FIGARO
by Saverio Mercadante
Rediscovered in 2009, this 1826 opera turns out to be
a jewel of the Bel Canto style … brilliant and graceful.
Narmina Afandiyeva,
Music Director
featuring Beste Kalender
Stuart Hamilton Memorial Award Winner,
Ilana Zarankin, Holly Chaplin,
Nicholas Borg,
The Opera in Concert Chorus
Robert Cooper, Chorus Director
Sun. February 4 at 2:30 pm
Gloria
The joie de vivre of the season
Poulenc Gloria
Duruflé Four Motets
Fauré Cantique de Jean Racine
Gounod Noël
Pax Christi Chorale with
Andrea Núñez and Daniel Norman
Saturday, December 16 2017, 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, December 17 2017, 3:00 p.m.
Grace Church on-the-Hill,
300 Lonsdale Rd. Toronto
FOR TICKETS, VISIT
PAXCHRISTICHORALE.ORG
416-366-7723 | 1-800-708-6754 | www.stlc.com
thewholenote.com December 2017 / January 2018 | 29

Beat by Beat | Choral Scene
The Dreaded
Cough
BRIAN CHANG
Welcome to this double edition of Choral Scene! By the time
you get your hands on this magazine the holiday season will
be well under way. Carols will get in your ear, festive sounds
will echo out and bells will be a-ringing throughout the region. I hope
you’ve got your concert tickets in hand. If not, hurry up and reserve
your place in these amazing concerts before you’re disappointed.
Balancing out the holiday season, I’m also going to highlight some
interesting performances you should check out in the choral world
into the new year. We’ll be back in February, just in time for Chinese
New Year on February 16, 2018 – the Year of the Dog! But I’m going
to highlight a few performances well beyond the date that you might
want to circle in one of the seasonal calendars you will doubtless be
acquiring in the coming weeks.
Stage Coughs
But first, from a chorister’s perspective, some thoughts on the
dreaded cough and wintry illness for singers!
In November’s WholeNote, Vivien Fellegi wrote about major injuries
and musicians and noted that 84 percent of musicians will have to
deal with a significant injury affecting their ability to make music.
If you ask any vocalist to name their performance terror, it usually
involves being sick around performance time. Four years ago, during
an especially illness-fraught Messiah run at the Toronto Symphony
Orchestra, the flu and cold hit our soprano and bass soloists.
Eventually, a sub for the bass needed to be called in to finish the run.
Members of the choir were hit as well. Good performers put on a good
show even when adverse conditions exist, but even then, there’s only
so much one can do when your body is under bacterial or viral attack.
This past October, I got a pretty bad viral throat infection. It cleared,
but the residual cough and throat irritation continued for a few weeks.
The result was a lot of rehearsals spent sitting in the back, humming
along as we began going through Suzanne Steele and Jeffrey Ryan’s
Afghanistan: Requiem for a Generation. My voice returned in time
for the Remembrance Day performances but there was coughing
during the performance I just couldn’t control. A persistently irritated
throat, diminished lung capacity, wonky musculature around the
vibrating air and sudden bursts of coughing made it hard to rehearse
and perform. It’s quite upsetting to find your instrument unreliable.
Something is physically making your voice not work and it is quite
distressing, because when it is your body, nothing can really make the
healing process go faster than it takes.
And Audience Echoes
Let’s be clear though, illness sucks even if you aren’t a performer. If
you’re in the audience, sometimes the tension of trying not to make a
sound makes you uncomfortable to the point where you’re no longer
enjoying the music and instead just trying to be silent. I know many
of my colleagues feel very strongly about audience noises. Some barely
notice, but some take great issue with coughs and shuffles and the
noises that crowds of hundreds of people make just by existing.
For me, any good performer can do their job, even when there is
noise; the aural presence of the audience adds an ambience to the
overall process of performing. Performing without an audience is just
glorified rehearsal. Real audiences are made of real people and they
make noises. They react to the music and they respond in kind. Think
about how the energy in the room changes when everyone stands
for the “Hallelujah Chorus” in Messiah – there is a visceral, physical
and emotional change in the room. You don’t have to be a music
aficionado to notice it, or more importantly, to feel changed by it. I
like when there’s an audience, especially a big one, and I think most
performing arts organizations would prefer you’re there, even if a
bit noisy.
So, into this season of coughs, hacks, sneezes and other wintry
ailments we go. Be healthy and get your flu shot! And be kind to the
singers in your life, especially if we Purell ourselves religiously and
take precautions to stay away from potential illness. We’re worried
sick about losing our voices!
The Governor General’s Messiah
The newly installed Governor General, Julie Payette, once sang in
the Tafelmusik Chamber Choir. She famously carried a recording of
Tafelmusik’s Messiah with her into space. Her Excellency’s love of
music will surely serve her well in her position as a grand patron of
the arts in Canada.
Tafelmusik’s annual Messiah continues to provide a period interpretation
in the inimitable Koerner Hall, December 12 to 16. Ivars
Taurins leads the ensembles. Presenting one of the smaller Messiah
performances annually, Tafelmusik also presents the largest Messiah
in town with its annual “Sing-Along Messiah” at Massey Hall, where
2,700 fans join the orchestra and choir in a grand tradition under the
baton of the great maestro himself, Herr Handel (aka. Ivars Taurins),
December 17 at 2pm.
Welcome Christmas!
December 15, 2017 7:30pm
Metropolitan United Church, 56 Queen St E, Toronto
Swing into the Merry Season
Expect high-energy chart-toppers from the Bob DeAngelis Big
Band and acclaimed jazz pianist John Sherwood, alongside Nils
Lindberg’s sparkling Christmas Cantata and festive favourites!
Robert Cooper, C.M. Artistic Director, Edward Moroney, Accompanist
Guest Artists
Bob DeAngelis Big Band
John Sherwood
www.orpheuschoirtoronto.com
416-530-4428
The Jackman Foundation
30 | December 2017 / January 2018 thewholenote.com

SIAN RICHARDS
Tafelmusik Chamber Choir
A Solid Choral Holiday at the TSO
The Toronto Symphony Orchestra (TSO) has an exceptionally choirfilled
holiday season.
Home Alone in concert is being performed live with the Etobicoke
School of the Arts Concert Choir, conducted by Constantine
Kitsopoulos, November 30 to December 2. This beloved movie is very
much a holiday favourite and one of John Williams’ most magical
scores. “Somewhere in my Memory,” nominated for an Academy Award
for Best Original Song, has become a choral classic for the season.
Then, joining the TSO for the first time, Resonance Youth
Choir from Mississauga makes its debut in Roy Thomson Hall on
December 10 at 3pm. Only in its second season, Bob Anderson’s choir
will join Tha Spot Holiday Dancers and TSYO Concerto Competition
winner, cellist Dale Yoon Ho Jeong. Singalong
classics Jingle Bells, Joy to the World,
Hark! The Herald Angels Sing and more are
part of the program, as well as an excerpt
from Saint-Saëns Cello Concerto No.1. David
Amado, music director of the Delaware
Symphony and the Atlantic Music Festival,
leads the groups. The main presentation
will be live accompaniment of Howard
Blake’s score to the holiday favourite film
The Snowman.
No holiday season is complete without the
TSO Pops Concert, featuring the Canadian
Brass and the Etobicoke School of the Arts
Holiday Chorus. Lucas Waldin conducts. The
program December 12 and 13 looks magical,
including bits from The Polar Express film,
unique Canadian Brass arrangements like
White Christmas, Go Tell it On the Mountain,
The First Noël and carols arranged by TSO
Pops conductor Stephen Reineke. (Waldin,
who works with the Edmonton Symphony
Orchestra, was most recently in Toronto conducting the hugely
popular and totally-sold-out TSO Carly Rae Jepsen performance.)
Last but not least, the TSO and Toronto Mendelssohn Choir presentation
of Messiah promises to be as grand as ever. Matthew Halls,
British early music specialist, takes the helm. This performance has an
impeccable set of soloists: Karina Gauvin, soprano; Krisztina Szabó,
mezzo-soprano; Frédéric Antoun, tenor; and Joshua Hopkins, baritone.
December 18 to 23 in Roy Thomson Hall. (Barring an uncontrollable
relapse into viral coughing, I’ll be there in my usual place in the
Mendelssohn tenor section.)
The New Year
With most musical programming seasons running to the end of
conducted by Craig Pike
THAT CHOIR CAROLS
featuring RESONANCE and our family carol sing-a-long
St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church
Works by WHITACRE | EMERY | DALEY | ALLAN
(73 Simcoe Street, Toronto ON) GJEILO | TWARDOWSKI | HANNEY | MEALOR
VISIT US
thatchoir.com
thewholenote.com December 2017 / January 2018 | 31

CAROLS BY
CANDLELIGHT
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 10, 4:30PM
A traditional candlelight choral
presentation featuring choirs and
musicians of Yorkminster Park.
NINE LESSONS
& CAROLS
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 17, 4:30PM
Following the historic tradition
of King’s College in Cambridge.
June, I’ve decided to highlight one performance from each of the next
few months. They might make great gifts if you’re thinking ahead,
and there are some you’ll surely want to secure seats to before they
sell out.
January: Annually, at the end of January, the Toronto Mendelssohn
Choir hosts one of the most important training intensives for emerging
conductors anywhere in North America. Under the supervision
of Noel Edison, five symposium participants are exposed to a rigorous
schedule of about 20 diverse songs from global choral repertoire and
tested by the chamber-sized Elora Festival Singers and the symphonic,
full Toronto Mendelssohn Choir. The week culminates with a free
concert and a chance to see these conductors in action on January 27
at 3pm, Yorkminster Park Baptist Church, Toronto.
February: The Orpheus Choir presents “Nordic Light.” The Northern
Lights, also known as the Aurora Borealis, have long captured
the imagination and spirit of peoples in the far North. Indigenous
peoples in Canada have an especially strong connection to their presence.
Ēriks Ešenvalds, Latvian composer, has written Nordic Light
Symphony. He will be in Toronto to introduce the work prior to the
performance. This is the Canadian premiere of the work and a chance
to experience Ešenvalds’ ethereal, atmospheric and deeply satisfying
work, February 24 at 7:30pm, Metropolitan United Church, Toronto.
March: Soundstreams presents Tan Dun’s Water Passion. Choir 21,
soloists and instruments are conducted by David Fallis. I’m deeply
intrigued by the program. Billed as a reimagination of the Bach
St. Matthew Passion. Dun’s East Asian musicality will weave a
blending of the words of Christ through the theme of water, guided
by Eastern musical traditions. From Mongolian overtone singing to
Peking Opera to the sound of water, this promises to be an experience,
March 9 at 8pm, Trinity-St. Pauls Centre, Toronto.
Follow Brian on Twitter @bfchang. Send info/media/
tips to choralscene@thewholenote.com.
Admission is FREE
for both events.
Doors open
at 3:30pm.
SONGS FROM A CELTIC HEART
Annual Fundraising Event
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2018 • 2:00 PM & 7:00 PM
FEATURING
Amadeus Choir of Greater Toronto | Lydia Adams, conductor | Joan Andrews, conductor
Shawn Grenke, conductor and piano | Tom Leighton, guitar and vocals
Yorkminster Park Baptist Church
1585 Yonge Street | (416) 922-1167
YorkminsterPark.com
Single tickets: $50 | $40 | $25
$5 off tickets purchased before Jan. 15, 2018!
For tickets, call (416) 446-0188
www.amadeuschoir.com
Jubilee United Church
40 Underhill Dr, Toronto
(just NE of the DVP and Lawrence Ave E)
32 | December 2017 / January 2018 thewholenote.com

Beat by Beat | World View
In Ways That Words
Alone Can Not
ANDREW TIMAR
Christmas, and the liminal juncture between old and new years
that follows, is for many of us a prime occasion for gifting
and for helping those
less fortunate. It’s also a time
when daylight hours are at
their shortest and even our
waking hours are dominated
by darkness. As such it’s a
time which amply rewards
introspection of the personal
kind, when we can profitably
reflect back on the past year and
also look forward, hopefully, to a
brighter new one.
At the heart of all this is
observance of the winter solstice.
The period around the year’s
shortest day has been marked
in the Northern Hemisphere
with rituals of rebirth, celebrated
in holidays, festivals and
community gatherings, reaching
back perhaps to the Neolithic
Ahmed Moneka
period. Ancient Romans, Persians, Chinese, Theravada Buddhists,
Northern European peoples – pagan and neo-pagan – as well as the
Zuni of the American Southwest all celebrated the winter solstice.
Some still do. Sensitivity to natural cycles seems to be hardwired in
our human DNA.
It’s no coincidence that Christians of the Western tradition chose
the winter solstice to celebrate the Longest Night (aka Blue Christmas).
Falling at the end of the Advent season, these long and cold nights
underscore believers’ own struggle with darkness and grief as
they face the end of the growing season, and loss of many kinds.
Christmas, the joyous celebration of Christ’s birth, was strategically
placed within the Roman annual calendar by the early Church to
coincide with this period.
Timar family Christmas
My own family has celebrated Christmas for many generations
but in recent decades the focus has increasingly shifted from longtime
religious to secular rituals performed by our immediate Toronto
family. In our ever-morphing clan new partners are added, names
change, babies are born, people move away and some return; they
grow up, grow old and yes, our elders ultimately enter the realm of the
ancestors.
All dressed up, each year the extended Timar clan gathers at one of
our homes to celebrate our seasonal traditions, ancient and new. We
feast extravagantly into the night with special rich food and drink that
speaks to our multiple ethnic and religious roots, identities and values.
Helping refresh family bonds is the spirit of generosity, mutual care
and the hospitality that permeates that late December evening.
65 Million Refugee Realities
Things aren’t so rosy however for everyone at this time of year. It’s
a particularly sad time for families torn apart geographically, when
some are compelled to flee their homelands. So it was too with my
family when I was six. We were refugees from post-revolution occupied
Hungary. Our first generation is forever grateful to Canada for
giving five of us sanctuary, a fertile place to put down roots, make a
home, to flourish.
Today, the plight of refugees of many kinds continues to confront
every global citizen. Many millions of our fellow humans need aid or
asylum at any given time. Celebrated Chinese multimedia artist and
activist Ai Weiwei estimates the number at “about 65 million people.”
In October 2017 he opened a vast new installation Good Fences
Make Good Neighbours at some 300 sites around New York City,
aiming ultimately to draw attention to the world’s refugee crisis. Good
Fences criticizes “the global trend of trying to separate us by colour,
race, religion, nationality ... against freedom, against humanity,” as Ai
said at his October Manhattan press conference.
Reunite the Moneka Family
The mind-boggling numbers of displaced humanity around the
world can be overwhelming in
the absence of being able to put
a human face on suffering. The
dilemma of refugees, so passionately
articulated by Ai in his art,
is reflected in many ways here
in Toronto. Not surprisingly,
within our musical communities,
it shows up particularly
keenly among world musicians
who have recently made Canada
their home.
Early in November I received
an email from Jaclyn Tam,
manager of concerts and
special projects – including
New Canadian Global Music
Orchestra (NCGMO) – at
the Royal Conservatory and
TELUS Centre. “I wanted to
tell you about a fundraiser I’m
Proudly presents our 5 th
HIGH NOTES GALA
for Mental Health with
LUBA GOY, LLOYD ROBERTSON, MICHAEL LANDSBERG
GILES TOMKINS, MICHAEL BRIDGE,
FRANK HORVAT & FRIENDS
Thursday February 1 @ 7:30 pm
Richmond Hill Centre for Performing Arts
905.787.8811 rhcentre.ca
ONE in FIVE are a ected
WE ALL HAVE A STORY
thewholenote.com December 2017 / January 2018 | 33

organizing on Monday, December 11 at Lula Lounge,” Tam’s email
began. JUNO winners and nominee musicians Quique Escamilla,
David Buchbinder, Maryem and Ernie Tollar, and many special guests
will perform. They’re coming together to support Ahmed Moneka, an
incredibly special musician and actor who now calls Toronto home, in
his bid to bring his family here. I first met him last year when he auditioned
for NCGMO.”
I was immediately gripped. Here was a story with parallels to that of
my own family of origin, as well as to ancient semi-mythic narratives
of asylum, hopes of peace, reconciliation and gift-giving generosity. I
called Tam at her Royal Conservatory office.
“Musician and actor Ahmed Moneka was forced to apply for asylum
in Canada in 2015 after his family received death threats for his lead
role as a gay Iraqi man in the [short] film The
Society,” she told me. (The film premiered at
the Cannes Film Festival and showed at TIFF.)
Moneka’s family, of African Sufi descent,
was well established in Baghdad’s artist
community. His father was a well-known
Iraqi actor and comedian, and his sister
Isra was one of the founders of the Cinema
Department at the University of Basra. His
younger sister Tara has an international
career as a singer. She has performed on Iraqi
TV and at festivals at a young age.
Having faced months of violent threats
from the increasingly powerful militias in
Iraq, however, the family was forced to flee
to Turkey in 2016. Ahmed’s family has been
torn apart and they are now “in a critical
situation.” Moneka speaks powerfully of their
present danger in his fundraising YouTube
video. Moneka hopes to reunite his family
in Canada “so that they may live together in
peace.” All proceeds from the December 11
Lula concert will support his goal.
“With Ahmed, it’s all personal,” Tam
says. “I met him a few times, heard his music, and since there was a
personal connection I felt compelled to act. It was simple really: here’s
one person I could help reconnect with his family.”
At his NCGMO audition, “Ahmed
radiated pure musical joy.” But as Tam
explains, by the time the final roster
was decided, he had already made
a commitment to tour with another
band. The NCGMO moved on without
him, but he made abiding connections
with artistic director David
Buchbinder, who has hired Ahmed for
other projects.
After hearing Ahmed’s story, Tam felt
personally compelled to help. “I don’t
have a lot of money to donate,” she
says, “but I do have a large network built up over the years and also the
producing skills to put together such an event.” So she reached out to
Tracey Jenkins at Lula Lounge and to musicians who have worked with
Ahmed. “I was touched by the response of Lula and of the musicians
and artists. They didn’t hesitate to donate their talents.”
This is our community at work big time (and it promises to be a fine
musical evening as well)! Ahmed plays cajón and sings maqam in a
wonderful trio called Moskitto Bar, which will play at the fundraiser.
(One of his bandmates, Tangi Ropars, is formerly of Lemon Bucket
Orkestra.) Additionally, a group dubbed Orchestra of Love has been
organized for the fundraiser, bringing together Toronto world music
A-listers such as trumpeter David Buchbinder, singers Maryem Tollar
and Roula Said, percussionist Naghmeh Farahmand, multi-instrumentalist
and vocalist Waleed Abdulhamid and wind player extraordinaire
Ernie Tollar.
In addition to pure music, NAMAS will recite poetry to guitar
accompaniment and Zeena Sileem, an Iraqi painter, will paint a canvas
ZOHAR RON
Ravid Kahalani of Yemen Blues
live during the evening. The completed canvas will be auctioned with
proceeds benefitting the Moneka family reunification fund.
All in all, this promises to be a terrific community event guaranteed
to put all who come out to support the Moneka family’s desire for
reunification in a proper holiday spirit.
New Canadian Global Music Orchestra (NCGMO): update
I promised in my summer 2017 column story about NCGMO that
I would follow up on the ensemble’s progress. Since I was speaking
with Jaclyn Tam about the Moneka story I asked her for an update
on the orchestra as well. As it turns out, the Orchestra had a Banff
Centre studio residency in September and October, recording its first
album (which is being edited and mixed for concert release on April 7,
2018). Shortly after the Banff residency, in November, the NCGMO
performed a showcase at “North America’s
World Music Summit,” Mundial Montréal. And
on February 24, deeper and no doubt whiter
into winter, NCGMO will appear on the Isabel
Bader Centre stage in Kingston, in what the
Isabel’s listings describe as a concert of “transcultural
music which connects and communicates
in ways that words, politicians, and
spiritual leaders cannot. Together, we all find a
common language.”
Lula Music and Arts Centre
In its own words, Lula “nourishes a thriving
Canadian world music scene … with a focus on
local artists performing music of the Americas.” It
fosters the Canadian world music scene “through
concerts, festivals, cultural exchanges, education,
outreach, audience and professional development.”
Lula’s Dundas West space appears to be in
particularly heavy rotation this December. I
counted 31 concerts and salsa classes on the site.
That averages out to an astounding one scheduled
event for each day of the month! In January
the action announced so far settles down to
eight music events, plus another six booked to date in February. It’s
entirely possible more gigs will be booked in the interim, but in any
case that is much too many to talk about here. I encourage readers to
Paolo Angeli
visit The WholeNote’s listings or Lula’s
site calendar for updates.
Aga Khan Museum: concert picks
for January and February 2018
Another premier Toronto venue for
culturally diverse music performance
is the Aga Khan Museum. It continues
its programs of concerts and more
casual pop-ups.
January 18 the AKM presents
“Yemen Blues,” a truly transcultural
band delivering “an explosive combination
of Yemeni song and poetry,
Jewish music, West African groove and funk.” With musicians from
New York City, Uruguay and Tel Aviv, leader Ravid Kahalani’s charts set
a high musical standard and have roused international audiences.
February 1 “Musical Inventions” by Paolo Angeli featuring Dr. Draw
takes the AKM’s auditorium stage.
Angeli, playing a unique 18-string hybrid of guitar, violoncello and
drums, performs music rooted in the Sardinian tradition blended with
avant-garde aesthetics. He’s joined by electric violinist Dr. Draw.
February 16 the AKM presents “Under the Indian Musical
Sky,” with Montréal group Constantinople and Grammy Awardnominated
Carnatic venu (flute) virtuoso Shashank Subramanyam.
Constantinople’s collaboration with Subramanyam “bridges not only
East and West but [also musical] traditions … from across the globe,”
much like the group’s namesake city.
Andrew Timar is a Toronto musician and music writer. He
can be contacted at worldmusic@thewholenote.com.
34 | December 2017 / January 2018 thewholenote.com

Beat by Beat | Jazz Notes
The Pitfalls of
Seasonal Gigging
STEVE WALLACE
Jazz musicians earn part of what is laughingly referred to as their
“living” by doing what they call “jobbing gigs,” on which they
provide all-purpose music for various functions. Guido Basso
calls what is generally required on these gigs “jolly jazz”: a variety of
familiar songs – standards, bossa novas, maybe even the odd jazz tune
– well-played at tempos which are danceable, or at least listenable.
Not that anyone at these dos actually listens – the music is generally
intended as background to deafening chatter – but just in case.
The time-honoured m.o. of these gigs is “faking” – that is, playing
umpteen songs without using any written music. Even when all of
the musicians involved know a lot of tunes, there is a certain amount
of repertorial Russian roulette involved. Nobody knows every song –
well, Reg Schwager maybe – but even if you know the given song, it
may not come to you until after it’s over and it’s too late. Generally
though, faking works and it cuts down on schlepping music and
music stands.
But a couple of bullets are added to the faking Russian roulette
pistol every December, when seasonal music is thrown into the
jobbing mix. Both the risks and stakes suddenly go up as musicians
are naturally expected to play Christmas standards – familiar
and dear to all – but which they haven’t played for a whole year. (By
“Christmas standards” I mean more modern seasonal songs with some
kind of jazz element such as Walking in a Winter Wonderland or
White Christmas, as opposed to traditional carols which are generally
performed by roving choirs or brass ensembles.)
On the face of it, faking seasonal standards doesn’t seem like
such a challenge, because we all know how these chestnuts (no pun
intended) go, right? But you’d be surprised. Not all Christmas standards
are as simple as they seem, some are quite complicated and after
a year in mothballs they can prove a little elusive. Even the easier ones
– such as Santa Claus Is Coming to Town or Let It Snow – present
challenges because they don’t behave like other songs. Often their
middle sections – or bridges – go into the key of the dominant, which
very few other songs do. And because the bridges often occur only a
quarter of the time, they’re harder to remember. I’ve been on many a
seasonal gig where a faked Christmas tune is going along swimmingly
until the middle is approaching and everyone gets a panicky look on
their face which says, “Where the hell does the bridge go?” It’s ironic,
but the seeming simplicity of the easier seasonal songs confound jazz
musicians who spend the rest of the year negotiating the fiendish
complexities of songs such as Lush Life or Round Midnight without
a hitch, and maybe that’s part of the problem. Being accustomed to
complex harmony, jazz musicians playing simple Christmas tunes are
a bit like cryptic crossword experts who have difficulty solving regular
crosswords.
There are two harmonically complex seasonal standards though:
The Christmas Song, and Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,
each of them a must-play. Both are ballads and their slow tempos
exacerbate the chord change clashes which lurk around every corner.
Taken in the key of E-flat, The Christmas Song has two quick and
tricky modulations in its first eight bars alone: to the key of G-Major
then immediately to G-flat Major. These key changes come as something
of a surprise if you haven’t played it in 12 months, but even if
you do remember them there are all sorts of chord-change options to
trip over before the modulations. Altogether this makes faking Mel
Torme’s classic for the first time in a year a sweaty experience.
Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas may be the best of the lot
and is somewhat easier, but still has its scary moments. It’s smooth
sailing up until the beginning of the bridge, which can start on one
of two chords fraught with conflict for a bassist and a pianist. Again
in E-flat, the first chord of the bridge could be A-flat Major 7, or the
“hipper” option – an A Minor 7 flat-five chord which has all the same
notes save for the all-important root. Notice the roots are a semitone
apart, and there’s the rub. As the bridge arrives, a bassist has to make
a split-second decision about which root to play, with a 50/50 chance
of being dead wrong and sounding like an idiot. If he or she chooses
the A and the pianist plays the A-flat chord it sounds awful and vice
versa; it’s a game of chord-change chicken. If I had a dollar for every
time I zigged when I should have zagged in this situation, I’d be a rich
man. The smart solution would be for the pianist to omit the root altogether
and leave the choice up to the bassist. But no, that would be too
easy, and not many pianists think this way. This may seem like a small
detail and it is, but the trouble with these clashes is that they leave
you frazzled and jar your concentration, which can lead to further
clunkers along the way.
The big problem is that these seasonal faking mishaps occur in a
context riddled with expectation, memory and the potential to spoil
the seasonal mood. It’s an important time of year and the people at
a seasonal gig know all these tunes intimately from years of hearing
them on records and in movies, usually in more deluxe versions with
strings, choirs, Bing Crosby, etc. Messing up a Christmas tune leaves
the band with eggnog on its face and is like messing up a national
anthem – everybody hears it right away and sometimes offence is
taken. As in, “Who hired these bums and how much are they being
paid? They can’t even play White Christmas, for crying out loud!”
But not all the disasters of seasonal gigs come from faking tunes;
some of them have to do with the merrymaking of the audience. Here
are a couple of Christmas party stories to illustrate this. About 15 years
ago guitarist Ted Quinlan hired saxophonist Mike Murley, drummer
Ted Warren and me to play a Christmas party, held on the third floor
of The Senator, for a small company. Ted is prized for his musical
versatility and his whacky sense of humour, both of which came in
WWW.OPJAZZFEST.ORG
thewholenote.com December 2017 / January 2018 | 35

SANJA ANTIC
handy on this gig. After no time at all it became clear that the people
weren’t going to pay any attention to the music, all was din. We were
playing God Rest Ye, Merry Gentleman when, thinking of the lyrics,
I glanced over at
Ted, who had a
typically maniacal
grin on his face.
Somehow I knew
this meant that he
was going to yell
out “Satan!” from
the carol’s fifth
line and when the
time came we both
bellowed “Satan!”
at the top of our
lungs. Nobody
noticed except the
other two guys
in the band, who
proceeded to join
us with “Satan!” in
the next choruses.
I still don’t know
how we managed
to get through the
tune with all the
Ted Quinlan
laughing, but we
had to take a break
afterwards from
sheer exhaustion.
A few years later, singer John Alcorn hired guitarist Reg Schwager
and me – his regular band – to play a Christmas party for a small
law firm, held in a private banquet facility in a downtown restaurant.
It was a fairly intimate party with the people close at hand,
some of them even listening to the music. All was going well until we
came back from our second break and noticed that suddenly everybody
was drunk. Particularly a large East Indian gentleman who really
had the lamp shade on, like Peter Sellers in The Party, only louder.
Alcorn called Route 66 – not a seasonal song, but a good party tune.
As he began singing it, the Indian guy bellowed out “Oh goody, it’s
Route 67!” and began dancing a ridiculous teetering boogie only he
understood. Reg and I both doubled over laughing, but still somehow
managed to keep playing. Alcorn didn’t bat an eye though; his face
was a mask of composure and he kept singing as if nothing had
happened. That, ladies and gentleman, is professionalism.
So these are a couple of examples of musicians getting their own
back amid the minefield of Christmas gigs. A few years ago some of us
found a new way of having fun with seasonal music: a mashup game
in which we combined the names of Christmas carols/songs with
jazz tunes and standards to form wacky new titles. “Hark the Herald
Angels Sing Sing Sing,” “Joy Spring to the World,” “Sippin’ at Jingle
Bells,” “Silent Night in Tunisia,” “What Child Is This Thing Called
Love?” and “O Little Rootie Tootie Town of Bethlehem” were among
the first of these; later I expanded the game to include readers and
wrote a piece about it. If you’re interested, google wallacebass.com
and look for the title “Birth of the Yule” (or use the direct link:
wallacebass.com/?p–4462).
I’d like to take this opportunity to wish everyone a joyous and
safe holiday season and a Happy New Year. The latter usually comes
with resolutions, some of which are easier to stick to than others. A
few years back I resolved to stop taking New Year’s Eve gigs, only to
discover they’d disappeared. All New Year’s resolutions should be so
easy to keep.
Toronto bassist Steve Wallace writes a blog called “Steve Wallace
jazz, baseball, life and other ephemera” which can be accessed at
wallacebass.com. Aside from the topics mentioned, he sometimes
writes about movies and food.
Beat by Beat | Bandstand
Pride of Performance and
Canadian Connections
JACK MACQUARRIE
Here we are, it’s December already, but with many community
ensembles still more focused on sesquicentennial projects as
the year draws to a close than on events that could be described
as special for the Christmas season. Let’s start with two band projects
we have recently learned of that warrant mention, both of which have
significant historical aspects.
Cobourg: The first of these is the announcement of a CD by the
Cobourg Concert Band. Although this CD, Pride of Performance, was
officially released on Canada Day at the band’s concert in the Cobourg
Victoria Park Bandshell, it did not come to our attention until a few
days ago. There are a number of ways in which this CD is special. Not
only is it a sesquicentennial project, but it marks the 175th year that
there has been a town band in Cobourg. That’s 25 years longer than
Canada has been a country. Whether that sets a record for the establishment
of a town band in Canada will be left for this Cobourg band
to dispute with the Newmarket Citizens’ Band and any others that
might claim such a title. Every track on this recording is either a new
arrangement of an established work or a completely new composition.
All are by local musicians, including some band members.
Even the cover artwork was created by contest winners from the local
St. Mary’s High School. I hope to see a review of this CD in a future
issue of The WholeNote.
(A side note: this band also bears the title The Band of Her Majesty’s
Royal Marines Association – Ontario, and is allowed, by royal assent,
to wear the uniform of the Royal Marines. How could this be, you
might ask. Some years ago a man named Roland White moved from
England and took up residence in Cobourg. He just happened to
have been an assistant bandmaster in the Royal Marines working
under the renowned conductor Sir Vivian Dunn, and had studied
conducting under Sir John Barbirolli. When the town band needed a
new conductor, there was White to take over, get that royal assent and
change the image of the town band to its present pride of Cobourg.)
London: Where else might we look for a sesquicentennial band
project? The first place that comes to mind, of course, is Henry
Meredith’s Plumbing Factory Brass Band in London. On Wednesday,
December 13, 7:30pm at Byron United Church – 420 Boler Rd.,
London, Ontario – the PFBB will celebrate Canada’s 150th birthday
with “The Golden Age of Brass,” featuring music from the 1800s on
period instruments. Since Confederation-era music will be highlighted,
von Suppé’s exuberant Jolly Robbers Overture, written
exactly 150 years ago in 1867, will open the program. Then, band
music by big name composers will include Beethoven’s Marsch des
Yorck’schen Korps and Mendelssohn’s War March of the Priests. The
centrepiece of the program will be the challenging Raymond Overture
by Ambroise Thomas.
Last month I mentioned the importance of musicianship for ensembles
to really tell their story. Well, in this program, Dr. Hank has
selected a set of four up-tempo compositions to test the skill of his
band’s musicians. One highly regarded composer of the 1800s, famed
for his toe-tapping pieces based on popular dance forms of the mid-
19th century, was Claudio Grafulla. To demonstrate their skills, the
band will play a set of four of his works: Cape May Polka, Freischutz
Quick Step, Skyrocket March, and Hurrah Storm Galop. Another
seasonal favourite, Johann Strauss Sr.’s famous Radetzky March from
1848, will bring the concert to a rousing close. I’m sure that many
instruments from Dr. Hank’s vast collection will be front and centre at
this concert.
(Another sidenote: While brass bands have many loyal followers,
36 | December 2017 / January 2018 thewholenote.com

particularly in England and much of North America, that has not
always been the case. With the origin of the brass band movement
coming largely from company “works bands” in England, there
were often considerable derisive comments about them. Sir Thomas
Beecham was famous (or infamous) for two of these comments. “The
British Brass Band has its place – outdoors, and several miles away” is
perhaps his most often quoted. But the one that drew the most ire was
when he referred to the brass band as “that superannuated, obsolete,
beastly, disgusting, horrid method of making music.” However, attitudes
gradually changed, and in 1947 Beecham even guest-conducted
a mass band concert at Belle Vue.)
Ukraine: Speaking of brass bands, recent Salvation Army news
caught my attention. The Salvation Army is represented and active in
127 countries around the world. In many of these countries, Salvation
Army groups have brass bands. Ukraine, in particular, is a country
where there is a will but not the required leadership to develop the
brass band movement. Several attempts have been made over the
last 25 years to stimulate interest. While some attempts have been
successful, with the political unrest of recent years, these have been
difficult to sustain.
Enter Bob Gray, a Toronto high school music teacher, trumpet player
and conductor with whom I play regularly, who has been active in the
Salvation Army for many years. About six years ago, at the Salvation
Army’s music camp at Jackson’s Point, he met two young men from
Kiev, a cornet player and a euphonium player. After they had returned
to Kiev, Bob decided to look into the SA band situation in Ukraine.
After the revolution of 2014, Salvation Army churches throughout
Ukraine closed, and now there are only two remaining in Kiev. Having
learned of the demise of that Salvation Army movement, Gray decided
to try to do something to rectify the situation. Item one on his agenda
was language study. For over a year he actively studied in preparation
for visits to Ukraine for Salvation Army activities. He went to
Kiev for the first time in June 2016, then in May 2017, and again in
October 2017. Gray, along with the people he met at Jackson’s Point
years ago, are trying to resurrect the brass band movement in the
Ukraine and, in particular, Kiev. A survey showed that there were 25
instruments in working order and a few players who were willing
to commit time and effort to form what would be a divisional band
base in Kiev.
The Salvation Army will be celebrating their 25th anniversary of
operations in Ukraine this coming June. It is hoped that the divisional
band in Kiev will have its debut during that weekend of activities.
The Winton Citadel Band from Bournemouth in the United
Kingdom will be the featured band for the festivities. The city of Kiev
hosted the Eastern block countries Eurovision Song Festival this
past June. During the event many groups entertained in local parks
and squares. The Salvation Army provided a musical presentation in
Victory Park. Bob Gray was a featured cornet soloist as part of these
outreach concerts.
A trip to Belgium: A couple of months ago I heard from longtime
friend Colin Rowe that he would be travelling to Belgium. I first met
Colin some time around 1984 when we were both playing in a swing
band at the Newmarket Jazz Appreciation Society. After that, he played
trombone in the Governor General’s Horse Guards Band and subsequently
became their drum major. Having moved East some years ago,
Colin now has the same duties with the Cobourg Concert Band.
To commemorate the 100th anniversary of the battle of
Passchendaele, Veterans Affairs Canada decided to mount a very
different form of memorial. Specifically they identified nine recipients
of the Victoria Cross from that era and the nine regiments in
which they served. Then they selected a living representative of each
regiment to go to Belgium, but that person could not be a currently
serving member of the regiment. One of those VC recipients was
Private Tommy Holmes VC from the 48th Canadian Mounted Rifles. At
some time after WWI that unit’s name was changed to the Governor
General’s Horse Guards. As the representative from the GGHG,
Veterans Affairs selected Colin Rowe. All of regimental representatives,
along with the band of the Royal 22nd Regiment, embarked on an
thewholenote.com December 2017 / January 2018 | 37

JACK MACQUARRIE
Drum major Colin Rowe with the Cobourg
Concert Band in Plattsburgh NY, 2013
RCAF transport for their trip to Belgium on November 5.
Another formerly local musician was Kevin Fleming, who was
originally introduced to the GGHG by Colin as a trombone player.
Later, like Colin, he continued to play trombone, but became Drum
Major of the GGHG. Some time later Fleming transferred to the
Regular Force, and a while ago to the Royal 22nd Regiment, nicknamed
the Van Doos. Their band was selected as the lead band
because Passchendaele was one of that regiment’s battle honours.
While there were many ceremonies, the highlight for Fleming was at
Passchendaele, with a torchlight parade from the WW1 monument to
the town square followed by a concert.
Those who went on that trip commented that it had been meticulously
organized by Veterans Affairs, and that on the flight over, they
were presented with a six-page detailed itinerary for their ten-day
visit to memorials and cemeteries, informing them of the time and
place of their every move.
(Aside, again: speaking of Belgium, one significant recent event
I attended was a concert by Toronto’s Wychwood Clarinet Choir on
November 19. While most of the works performed at their concerts
are special arrangements, the opening work, Claribel, was written
by Belgian composer Guido Six specifically for his Claribel Clarinet
Choir in Ostend. This was a wonderful rousing opening. The arranging
talent of choir member Roy Greaves was certainly on display as
the choir’s moods traversed from the Irish folk song The Lark in the
Clear Air and a Mozart Serenade to three tangos by Astor Piazzolla.
Harmonically the choir sounded better than I had ever heard it. Their
harmonies were so well blended that one might think that their
sounds were coming from a single source.)
Greenbank, Ontario: From the tiny Ontario hamlet of Greenbank,
conductor and composer Stuart Beaudoin brought his Orpheus
Symphonietta to the small town of Uxbridge for another memorable
recent event – a concert featuring his new composition Elegy
II: Lament and Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No.5. This was the first
performance of his composition which conveys, in musical terms,
some of the spectrum of the composer’s emotions arising from
world events during his lifetime. It’s an interesting work which bears
more listening. This same man will be back two weeks later with his
Greenbank Cantorei sine Nomine choir and the same orchestra for a
three-hour performance of Bach’s Christmas Oratorio in English.
Flute Street: That other local same-instrument-family group, Flute
Street, unfortunately had their most recent concert on the same date
as the aforementioned Wychwood Clarinet Choir. Their featured
soloist was Christine Beard playing alto flute and piccolo. Those
types of same-instrument ensembles would seem to be competing for
the same audiences, and it is unfortunate that there is not a central
registry to avoid such overlaps. Flute Street’s Nancy Nourse had hoped
to have her new contra alto flute, but it wasn’t available on time. She
says that it will be the first of its kind in Canada. She intends to unveil
it in time for their next concert, possibly in March. It’s an unusual
instrument made in Holland. She may even travel there to get it and
bring it home.
Jack MacQuarrie plays several brass instruments and has
performed in many community ensembles. He can be contacted at
bandstand@thewholenote.com.
Friday, January 26 2018
5:45 pm
Cocktail hour concert with arias
and duets to open Mozart’s
birthday weekend celebrations.
The bar opens at 5:00 pm.
Natalya Gennadi, soprano
Lyndsay Promane, mezzo soprano
Helen Becqué,piano
$25
Saturday, January 27 2018
8:00 pm
Happy birthday Wolfgang!
Celebrate with the Toronto
Mozart Players and guest artist
Adam Sherkin. Sacher Torte to
follow.
Adam Sherkin,composer & pianist
Toronto Mozart Players
$35 adults | $15 students
Sunday, January 28 2018
2:00 pm
Celebrating the master. Symphony
No. 40 in g minor, Regina Coeli
K.276, “Coronation” Mass in C
Toronto Mozart Players
Pax Christi Chamber Choir
Singers from the Toronto Mozart Vocal
Competition & Masterclass Series
$35 adults | $15 students
38 | December 2017 / January 2018 thewholenote.com

The WholeNote listings are arranged in five sections:
A.
GTA (GREATER TORONTO AREA) covers all of Toronto
plus Halton, Peel, York and Durham regions.
B.
BEYOND THE GTA covers many areas of Southern
Ontario outside Toronto and the GTA. Starts on page 58.
C.
MUSIC THEATRE covers a wide range of music types:
from opera, operetta and musicals, to non-traditional
performance types where words and music are in some
fashion equal partners in the drama. Starts on page 63.
D.
IN THE CLUBS (MOSTLY JAZZ)
is organized alphabetically by club.
Starts on page 65.
E.
THE ETCETERAS is for galas, fundraisers, competitions,
screenings, lectures, symposia, masterclasses, workshops,
singalongs and other music-related events (except
performances) which may be of interest to our readers.
Starts on page 67.
A GENERAL WORD OF CAUTION. A phone number is provided
with every listing in The WholeNote — in fact, we won’t publish
a listing without one. Concerts are sometimes cancelled or postponed;
artists or venues may change after listings are published.
Please check before you go out to a concert.
HOW TO LIST. Listings in The WholeNote in the four sections above
are a free service available, at our discretion, to eligible presenters.
If you have an event, send us your information no later than the
8th of the month prior to the issue or issues in which your listing is
eligible to appear.
LISTINGS DEADLINE. The next issue covers the period from
February 1 to March 7, 2017. All listings must be received by
Midnight Monday January 8.
LISTINGS can be sent by email to listings@thewholenote.com
or by using the online form on our website. We do not receive
listings by phone, but you can call 416-323-2232 x27 for further
information.
LISTINGS ZONE MAP. Visit our website to search for concerts
by the zones on this map: thewholenote.com.
Lake
Huron
6
Georgian
Bay
7
2 1
5
Lake Erie
3 4
8
City of Toronto
LISTINGS
Lake Ontario
Friday December 1
●●10:30am and 1:00: Canadian Opera Company.
The Magic Victrola. Libretto by David
Kersnar and Jacqueline Russell. Works by
Bizet, Mozart, Puccini and others. Members
of the COC’s Ensemble Studio; Ashlie
Corcoran, director. Richard Bradshaw
Amphitheatre, Four Seasons Centre for the
Performing Arts, 145 Queen St. W. 416-363-
8231. $30; free(children under 12), Maximum
of 2 free children’s tickets for each adult
ticket sold. Additional children’s tickets $10.
Also Dec 1(1pm), Dec 2(11am and 1:30pm),
Dec 3(10:30am and 1:30pm).
●●12:30: York University Department of
Music. Music @ Midday: Brass Ensemble.
Tribute Communities Recital Hall, Accolade
East Building, YU, 4700 Keele St. 647-459-
0701. Free.
FOUR WEDDINGS,
A FUNERAL, AND
A CORONATION
DIRECTED BY ELISA CITTERIO
& IVARS TAURINS
NOV 29 – DEC 3
TRINITY-ST. PAUL’S CENTRE
tafelmusik.org
●●3:30: Tafelmusik. Four Weddings, a Funeral,
and a Coronation. Handel: Ouverture from Il
parnasso in festa; Purcell: Symphonies from
the ode “From Hardy Climes” Z325; Blow: Coronation
Anthem “God Spake Sometimes in
Visions”; Lully: Ballet from Xerxes; Pachelbel
Canon & Gigue; and other works. Tafelmusik
Baroque Orchestra and Chamber Choir
directed by Elisa Citterio and Ivars Taurins.
Trinity-St. Paul’s Centre, 427 Bloor St. W. 416-
964-6337. $19-$97. Also Nov 29, 30, Dec 2, 3.
●●7:00: Brampton Folk Club. Friday Folk
Night. Frost and Fire: A Celtic Christmas with
Rant Maggie Rant. St. Paul’s United Church
(Brampton), 30 Main St. S., Brampton. 647-
233-3655 or 905-874-2800. $18; $15(sr/st).
●●7:30: Living Arts Centre. Alysha Brilla.
4141 Living Arts Dr., Mississauga. 905-306-
6000. $20-$35.
●●7:30: Toronto Symphony Orchestra. Home
Alone in Concert. John Williams: Home Alone
(film with live orchestra). Etobicoke School
of the Arts Concert Choir; Constantine Kitsopoulos,
conductor. Roy Thomson Hall,
60 Simcoe St. 416-593-1285. $25-$88. Also
Nov 30(7:30pm), Dec 2(2pm and 7:30pm).
●●8:00: Amadeus Choir of Greater Toronto/
Elmer Iseler Singers. J.S. Bach’s Christmas
Oratorio. Bach: Christmas Oratorio; Cantatas
I-III. Monica Whicher, soprano; Marjorie Maltais,
mezzo; Christopher Mayell, tenor; Dion
Mazerolle, baritone; Lydia Adams, conductor.
A. Concerts in the GTA
Metropolitan United Church (Toronto),
56 Queen St. E. 416-446-0188 or 416-217-
0537. $55; $50(sr); $20(under 30).
●●8:00: Flato Markham Theatre. Eddie Palmieri:
Eddie at 80. 171 Town Centre Blvd., Markham.
905-305-7469. $15-$80.
●●8:00: Let There Be Music Community
Choir. Songs of the Season Christmas Concert.
Susan Chopp, director; Dave Parsons,
director; Eric Medhurst, accompanist. Salvation
Army Temple (Rexdale), 2152 Kipling Ave.
416-745-0352. $15; free(under 12).
●●8:00: Living Arts Centre. A Swingin’
Christmas with the Toronto All Star Big Band.
4141 Living Arts Dr., Mississauga. 905-306-
6000. $20-$35.
●●8:00: Royal Conservatory. Quiet Please,
There’s a Lady on Stage: Lisa Fischer and
Grand Baton. Koerner Hall, Telus Centre,
273 Bloor St. W. 416-408-0208. $45-$100.
●●8:00: Summerhill Orchestra. In Concert.
Saint-Saëns: Carnival of the Animals;
Beethoven: Symphony No.8. Sarah John, conductor.
Church of the Messiah, 240 Avenue
Rd. summerhillorchestra@gmail.com. $10.
●●8:00: Tapestry Opera. Tapestry Briefs:
Winter Shorts. Jacqueline Woodley, soprano;
Erica Iris, mezzo; Keith Klassen,
tenor; Alex Dobson, baritone; Artists of the
2016 Composer-Librettist Laboratory. Dancemakers
Studio, Distillery Historic District,
9 Trinity St. 416-537-6066. From $25. Also
Dec 2(4pm and 8pm), 3(4pm).
●●8:00: Upper Canada Choristers/Cantemos
Latin Ensemble. Christmas Joy. Charpentier:
Messe de Minuit pour Noel; Kodály: Christmas
Dance of the Shepherds; Forrest: Carol
of Joy; carol medley (arr. Forrest), aguinaldos
and other works; audience sing-along. Laurel
Trainor, flute; Hye Won Cecilia Lee, piano; Laurie
Evan Fraser, conductor. Grace Church onthe-Hill,
300 Lonsdale Rd. 416-256-0510. $25;
free(children and teens with adult). Please
bring an item for the food bank.
Saturday December 2
●●11:00am and 1:30: Canadian Opera Company.
The Magic Victrola. See Dec 1 for
details. Also Dec 3(10:30am and 1:30pm).
●●2:00: Gallery 345. The Art of the Piano:
Shoshana Telner. Hummel: Sonata No.2 in
E-flat Op.13; Hummel: 24 Etudes Op.125; Liszt:
Sonata in b S17. 345 Sorauren Ave. 416-822-
9781. $20; $10(st). Cash only.
●●2:00: Toronto Symphony Orchestra. Home
Alone in Concert. John Williams: Home Alone
(film with live orchestra). Etobicoke School
of the Arts Concert Choir; Constantine Kitsopoulos,
conductor. Roy Thomson Hall,
60 Simcoe St. 416-593-1285. $25-$88. Also
Nov 30, Dec 1, 2(all at 7:30pm).
●●2:00: Yorkminster Park Baptist Church.
Carol Sing. Guests: Jim Codrington, Fiona
Reid, Kevin Frankish. True North Brass; Canadian
Children’s Opera Company; That Choir;
The Hedgerow Singers; Yorkminster Park
Baptist Church Choir. 1585 Yonge St. 416-241-
1298. Free. A collection will be taken. In support
of the Churches-on-the-Hill Food Bank.
●●2:30: Bel Canto Singers. Songs for a Winter’s
Night. Linda Meyer, conductor; Jacqueline
Mokrzewski, piano. Scarborough Bluffs
United Church, 3739 Kingston Rd., Scarborough.
416-286-8260. $20. Also 7:30pm.
●●3:00: Singing Out. A Sky Full of Stars!
Jane Mallett Theatre, 250 Front St. W.
thewholenote.com December 1, 2017 - February 7, 2018 | 39

416-585-4498. $30(door, cash only);
$25/$20(adv/adv before Nov 17); $20(st/
child)/$15(st/child before Nov 17). Also
7:30pm. Proceeds benefit Singing Out, a
registered charity.
●●3:00: St. Michael’s Choir School. Christmas
at Massey Hall. Handel: Messiah (Part
I); Vaughan Williams: Fantasia on Christmas
Carols; secular and sacred carols with audience
participation. Elementary, Junior, Senior,
Massed, and Alumni Choirs; Meredith
Hall, soprano; Christina Stelmacovich, alto;
Lawrence Wiliford, tenor; Stephen Hegedus,
bass; chamber orchestra; Maria Conkey, Teri
Dunn, Peter Mahon, and Vincent Cheng, conductors.
Massey Hall, 178 Victoria St. 416-872-
4255. $20-$60. Also Dec 3.
Saturday, December 2
Pax Christi Chorale
presents
The
Children’s
Messiah
Church of the Redeemer
Pay what you can
●●4:00: Pax Christi Chorale. Children’s Messiah.
Handel: Messiah (excerpts). Church of
the Redeemer, 162 Bloor St. W. boxoffice@
paxchristichorale.org. PWYC.
●●4:00: Tapestry Opera. Tapestry Briefs:
Winter Shorts. See Dec 1 for details. Also
Dec 2(8pm), 3(4pm).
●●7:00: Liona Boyd. In Concert: A Winter Fantasy.
Andrew Dolson, guitar; Ron Korb, flute.
Guests: Richmond Hill United Church Chancel
Choir. Richmond Hill United Church,
10201 Yonge St., Richmond Hill. 905-884-
1301 x5. $35.
●●7:00: University of Toronto Scarborough.
Fall Flourish Concert. UTSC Concert Band,
Concert Choir and String Orchestra. University
of Toronto Scarborough Campus,
Room AC223, 1265 Military Trail. 416-208-
4769. Free.
●●7:30: Bach Children’s Chorus and Bach
Chamber Youth Choir. Good Cheer! Charissa
Bagan, artistic director; James Pinhorn,
Bach Chamber Youth Choir conductor; Eleanor
Daley, piano. Toronto Centre for the Arts,
5040 Yonge St., North York. 1-855-985-2787.
$35-$40.
●●7:30: Bel Canto Singers. Songs for a Winter’s
Night. Linda Meyer, conductor; Jacqueline
Mokrzewski, piano. Scarborough Bluffs
United Church, 3739 Kingston Rd., Scarborough.
416-286-8260. $20. Also 2:30pm.
●●7:30: Cantores Celestes Women’s Choir.
Mystery and Wonder. Arnesen: Magnificat;
other works by Class, Halley, Gjeilo and
A. Concerts in the GTA
Vivaldi. Adanya Dunn, soprano; Stephen Tam,
flute; Kate Carver, piano; Matthew Coons,
organ; Emperor String Quartet; Kelly Galbraith,
conductor. Runnymede United Church,
432 Runnymede Rd. 416-655-7335. $25. A
$1,000 donation will be made to Stella’s Place.
●●7:30: Etobicoke Centennial Choir. Sacred
Traditions 2017. Pergolesi: Magnificat; Holst:
Christmas Day; and other seasonal works.
Caroline Corkum, soprano; Maria Stevens,
soprano; Emma Cava, alto; Devin Herbert,
tenor; Lawrence Shirkie, baritone; Henry
Renglich, conductor; Carl Steinhauser, piano
and organ. Humber Valley United Church,
76 Anglesey Blvd., Etobicoke. 416-779-2258.
$25. 6pm Christmas Marketplace.
●●7:30: MCS Chorus Mississauga. Rutter’s
Gloria and Favourite Carols. Rutter: Gloria;
What Sweeter Music; and other seasonal
works by the composer. With brass, timpani,
organ, and percussion. First United Church
(Mississauga), 151 Lakeshore Rd. W., Mississauga.
905-278-7059. $20; $10(under 19).
●●7:30: Mississauga Festival Choir. When
Angels Sing. Britten: A Ceremony of Carols;
Mark Hayes: Gloria; traditional holiday music.
Guests: Mississauga Symphony Orchestra.
Hammerson Hall, Living Arts Centre,
4141 Living Arts Dr., Mississauga. 905-306-
6000. $37.
●●7:30: Music at St. Andrew’s. Charles Dickens’
A Christmas Carol. Dramatic readings
with musical interludes. Rick Phillips
and Mary Weins, readers; Marion Newman,
mezzo; Joseph Angelo, tenor; St. Andrew’s
Gallery Choir; and others. St. Andrew’s
Church (Toronto), 73 Simcoe St. 416-593-
5600 x231. Freewill offering. Donations support
St. Andrew’s Out of the Cold program.
Gingerbread and hot apple cider reception
to follow.
●●7:30: Oakham House Choir. The Star of
Bethlehem. Rheinberger: The Star of Bethlehem;
Christmas carol sing-along; orchestral
and vocal seasonal favourites. Oakham
House Choir; Toronto Sinfonietta; Allison
Cecilia Arends, soprano; Jeremy Ludwig,
baritone; Matthew Jaskiewicz, conductor.
Calvin Presbyterian Church, 26 Delisle Ave.
416-960-5551. $30/$25(adv); $15(st); free(12
and under).
●●7:30: Singing Out. A Sky Full of Stars! Jane
Mallett Theatre, 250 Front St. W. 416-585-
4498. $30(door, cash only); $25/$20(adv/
adv before Nov 17); $20(st/child)/$15(st/child
before Nov 17). Also 3pm. Proceeds benefit
Singing Out, a registered charity.
●●7:30: T Dots Records. Sounds of the City
Holiday Food Drive Concert. CoCo Coelho;
Ai’ma Khojé; Across the Board; Signs of a
Slumbering Beast; Alabasterds; and others;
Joey Harlem, MC. Mây Cafe, 876 Dundas St.
W. 647-675-1279. $10. Donations in support of
Daily Bread Food Bank.
●●7:30: Toronto Symphony Orchestra. Home
Alone in Concert. John Williams: Home Alone
(film with live orchestra). Etobicoke School
of the Arts Concert Choir; Constantine Kitsopoulos,
conductor. Roy Thomson Hall,
60 Simcoe St. 416-593-1285. $25-$88. Also
Nov 30(7:30pm), Dec 1(7:30pm), 2(2pm).
●●7:30: University of Toronto Faculty of
Music. Wind Ensemble: Music Responding
to Crisis. Balmages: Fanfare Canzonique;
Benson: The Leaves Are Falling; Meechan:
Korn Symphony; Gillingham: Waking Angels;
Sweelinck: Mein junges Leben hat ein End;
and other works. Gillian Mackay, conductor.
MacMillan Theatre, Edward Johnson Building,
80 Queen’s Park. 416-408-0208. $30;
$20(sr); $10(st).
●●8:00: Aga Khan Museum. Nazar by Turkwaz.
Melodies inspired by Arabic, Balkan, and
Turkish folk songs. Maryem Toller, vocals; and
others. 77 Wynford Dr. 416-646-4677. $40.
Ticket incl. same day museum admission.
●●8:00: Alliance Française de Toronto. Klezmology:
Klezmer Reinvented. Jonno Lightstone,
David Mott and Nick Fraser. 24 Spadina
Rd. 416-922-2014 x37. $15; $10(sr/st/
member).
●●8:00: Arraymusic. Sarah Hennies and Kurt
Newman. Hennies: Gather & Release (for
vibraphone, sine waves, field recordings and
bilateral stimulation). Sarah Hennies, percussion;
Kurt Newman, pedal steel guitar.
Gallery 345, 345 Sorauren Ave. 416-532-7513.
PWYC, $15 suggested.
●●8:00: Healey Willan Singers. Christmas in
the Village. Fauré and Messager: Messe des
pecheurs de Villerville; Chilcott: The Midnight
of Your Birth. John Stephenson, piano; Ron Ka
Ming Cheung, conductor. St. Martin-in-the-
Fields Anglican Church, 151 Glenlake Ave. 416-
519-0528. $20; $15(sr/st).
●●8:00: Isabel Bader Theatre. Sultans of
String: A Christmas Caravan. Guests: Rebecca
Campbell and Amanda Martinez, vocals.
93 Charles St. W. 416-408-0208. $25-$30.
●●8:00: Royal Conservatory. Music Mix:
SongBird North. Temerty Theatre, 273 Bloor
St. W. 416-408-0208. $35.
●●8:00: Tafelmusik. Four Weddings, a
Funeral, and a Coronation. Handel: Ouverture
from Il parnasso in festa; Purcell: Symphonies
from the ode “From Hardy Climes” Z325;
Blow: Coronation Anthem “God Spake Sometimes
in Visions”; Lully: Ballet from Xerxes;
Pachelbel Canon & Gigue; and other works.
Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra and Chamber
Choir directed by Elisa Citterio and Ivars
Taurins. Trinity-St. Paul’s Centre, 427 Bloor
St. W. 416-964-6337. $19-$97. Also Nov 29,
30, Dec 1, 3.
●●8:00: Tapestry Opera. Tapestry Briefs:
Winter Shorts. See Dec 1 for details. Also
Dec 3(4pm).
Sunday December 3
●●10:30am and 1:00: Canadian Opera Company.
The Magic Victrola. See Dec 1 for
details.
●●2:00: Canzona Chamber Players. In Concert.
Mendelssohn: String Octet in E-flat
Op.20; Brahms: Sextet for Strings No.1 in
B-flat Op.18. Yosuke Kawasaki, violin; Jessica
Linnebach, violin; Shane Kim, violin; Ashley
Vandiver, violin; Theresa Rudolph, viola;
Ivan Ivanovich, viola; Joseph Johnson, cello;
Alastair Eng, cello. St. Andrew by-the-Lake
Anglican Church, Cibola Ave., Toronto Island.
647-248-4048. $25. Also Dec 4(7:30pm, St.
George the Martyr Anglican Church).
●●2:00: Peter Margolian and Friends. Chamber
Music Concert. Bridge: Blow, blow Thou
Winter Wind (Shakespeare) for tenor and
piano; Ireland: Sea Fever (Masefield) for
tenor and piano; Sonata for violin and piano;
Fricker: Serenade for flute, oboe and piano.
Ryan Downie, tenor; Peter Margolian, piano;
Samantha Chang, flute; Hazel Boyle, oboe;
Steve Prime, violin. Canadian Music Centre,
20 St. Joseph St. 647-980-5475 (information).
Free.
●●2:00: Royal Conservatory. Sunday Interludes:
Francine Kay. Janáček: Piano Sonata;
Schumann: Fantasiestücke Op.12; Chopin:
Barcarolle Op.60; Debussy: Ondine, L’Isle joyeuse.
Mazzoleni Concert Hall, Royal Conservatory,
273 Bloor St. W. 416-408-0208. Free.
●●2:00: Toronto Mozart Players. Brass
by Eric Wilder. Steven Woomert, trumpet;
James Gardiner; trumpet; Audrey Good,
horn; Vanessa Fralick, trombone; Mark
Tetreault, tuba; Rachael Kerr, piano. Church
of the Redeemer, 162 Bloor St. W. 647-478-
7532. $35; $15(st).
●●2:30: University of Toronto Faculty of
Music. Choirs in Concert: Sing and Rejoice!
Jocelyn Hagen: How to Survive Winter for
women’s voices and string quartet; and other
works. UofT Men’s Chorus; Women’s Chorus;
Women’s Chamber Choir; MacMillan Singers;
Hilary Apfelstadt, Elaine Choi, Mark Ramsay,
Tracy Wong, conductors. MacMillan Theatre,
Edward Johnson Building, 80 Queen’s Park.
416-408-0208. $30; $20(sr); $10(st).
●●3:00: Burlington Performing Arts Centre.
The Ennis Sisters: Christmas Originals
Music at
St. Thomas’s Church
383 Huron Street, Toronto
Matthew Larkin
Organist & Director of Music
Sunday, Dec. 3 | Advent I
Evensong &
Advent Carols at 7 pm
Sunday, Dec. 17 | Advent III
Festival of Nine Lessons
& Carols at 7 pm
Christmas Eve
Midnight Mass at 11 pm
Christmas Day
Sung Eucharist at 9:30 am
Solemn Eucharist at 11 am
Sunday, Jan. 7 | Epiphany
Evensong & Epiphany
Carols at 7 pm
Sunday, Jan. 28
Evensong Prelude 6:30 pm
Julia Morson, soprano
Evensong at 7 pm (weekly)
Friday, Feb. 2 | Candlemas
Procession & Solemn
Eucharist at 6:15 pm
www.stthomas.on.ca
40 | December 1, 2017 - February 7, 2018 thewholenote.com

and Holiday Classics. Burlington Performing
Arts Centre, Community Studio Theatre,
440 Locust St., Burlington. 905-681-6000.
$45. Series discount available.
●●3:00: Gallery 345. From Russia with Love.
Works by Arensky, Rachmaninoff and Shchedrin.
Decus Duo: Lucia Barcari, violin; Katya
Lhatsko, piano; Guest: Olga Laktionova, cello.
345 Sorauren Ave. 416-822-9781. $25; $10(st).
Cash only.
●●3:00: Harmony Singers. That’s Christmas!
Bob Rae: We’re in the Same Boat Now;
and seasonal readings and music. Guests:
The Hon. Bob Rae, reader; Martina Myskohlid,
vocalist; Bruce Harvey, accompanist; Harvey
Patterson, conductor. Humber Valley United
Church, 76 Anglesey Blvd., Etobicoke. 416-
239-5821. $20.
●●3:00: St. Michael’s Choir School. Christmas
at Massey Hall. Handel: Messiah (Part
I); Vaughan Williams: Fantasia on Christmas
Carols; secular and sacred carols with audience
participation. Elementary, Junior, Senior,
Massed, and Alumni Choirs; Meredith
Hall, soprano; Christina Stelmacovich, alto;
Lawrence Wiliford, tenor; Stephen Hegedus,
bass; chamber orchestra; Maria Conkey, Teri
Dunn, Peter Mahon, and Vincent Cheng, conductors.
Massey Hall, 178 Victoria St. 416-872-
4255. $20-$60. Also Dec 2.
●●3:00: York University Department of
Music. York University Wind Symphony.
Bill Thomas, conductor. Tribute Communities
Recital Hall, Accolade East Building, YU,
4700 Keele St. 416-736-5888. $15; $10(sr/st).
●●4:00: Cathedral Church of St. James.
Organ Recital: Ian Sadler. 65 Church St. 416-
364-7865 x234. Donations welcomed.
●●4:00: Church of St. Mary Magdalene
(Toronto). Nico Muhly’s ‘O Antiphons’.
Andrew Adair, organ. 477 Manning Ave. 416-
531-7955. Free.
●●4:00: Humbercrest United Church. Advent
Vespers. Bach: Cantata No.140 “Sleepers,
Wake!”. Jennifer Krabbe, soprano; Matthew
Dalen, tenor, Daniel Thielmann, baritone; Alex
Halliday, bass; Melvin J. Hurst, director of
music; Rev. Jessica McCrae, presider. 16 Baby
Point Rd. 416-767-6122. Freewill offering. Religious
service.
●●4:00: St. Olave’s Anglican Church. Christmas
Lights. Choral Evensong for Advent Sunday.
Christmas songs, poems, stories and
instrumental solos. St. Olave’s Arts Guild and
guests. 360 Windermere Ave. 416-769-5686.
Contributions appreciated. Christmas tea
following.
●●4:00: Tapestry Opera. Tapestry Briefs:
Winter Shorts. See Dec 1 for details. Also
Dec 2(4pm and 8pm).
●●4:30: Cathedral Church of St. James.
Advent Procession. Works by Grier, Monteverdi,
Sowerby, Cabena, McKie and others.
Choir of St. James Cathedral. 65 Church St.
416-364-7865 x234. Free.
●●7:00: Choral Bonanza Team. Messiah Singalong.
Handel: Messiah (Christmas Portion).
Dr. Richard Heinzle, conductor; Sapphire
Navaratnarajah, accompanist. Richmond Hill
Presbyterian Church, 10066 Yonge St., Richmond
Hill. 416-568-9838. $25(participation
fee); $10(suggested donation for concert).
Rehearsal 2:30-5pm.
●●7:00: Music at St. Thomas’s. Advent I:
Evensong and Advent Carols. Matthew Larkin,
organ and director of music. St. Thomas’s
Anglican Church (Toronto), 383 Huron St.
416-979-2323. By donation. Religious service.
●●7:00: Small World Music. Minha Lua:
A Fado Project Born in Alhambra. Small
World Music Centre, Artscape Youngplace,
180 Shaw St. 416-536-5439. $20.
●●7:30: Hart House Symphonic Band.
150 Years of Music. Grainger: Shepherd’s
Hey; Lincolnshire Posy; William Schuman:
Chester; Hazo:Arabesque; Whitacre: The
Seal Lullaby. Mark Saresky, conductor. Hart
House, Great Hall, 7 Hart House Circle. 613-
806-4944. Free.
●●7:30: University of Toronto Faculty of
Music. Percussion Ensembles. Walter Hall,
Edward Johnson Building, University of
Toronto, 80 Queen’s Park. 416-408-0208.
Free.
CONCERTOS!
SUN. DEC. 03 @ 404 JARVIS ST.
www.NewMusicConcerts.com
●●8:00: New Music Concerts. Concertos.
Carter: String Trio; De Raaff: Percussion Concerto;
Linda C. Smith: Path of Uneven Stones;
Frehner: Clarinet Concerto “Cloak”. Ryan
Scott, percussion; Max Christie, clarinet; Eve
Egoyan, piano; New Music Concerts Ensemble;
Robert Aitken, conductor. Betty Oliphant
Theatre, 404 Jarvis St. 416-961-9594. $35;
$25(sr/arts workers); $10(st). Pre-concert
talk 7:15pm.
●●8:00: Tafelmusik. Four Weddings, a
Funeral, and a Coronation. Handel: Ouverture
from Il parnasso in festa; Purcell: Symphonies
from the ode “From Hardy Climes” Z325;
Blow: Coronation Anthem “God Spake Sometimes
in Visions”; Lully: Ballet from Xerxes;
Pachelbel Canon & Gigue; and other works.
Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra and Chamber
Choir directed by Elisa Citterio and Ivars
Taurins. Trinity-St. Paul’s Centre, 427 Bloor
St. W. 416-964-6337. $19-$97. Also Nov 29,
30, Dec 1, 2.
●●8:00: University of Toronto Faculty of
Music. Tallis Scholars: Gaude Virgo. Rachmaninoff:
The Lord’s Prayer; Tavener: Song
for Athene; Josquin: Gaude Virgo;Pärt: The
Deer’s Cry. University of Toronto Schola
Cantorum; Choir of the Theatre of Early
Music; Peter Phillips, conductor; Daniel
Taylor, conductor. Grace Church on-the-
Hill, 300 Lonsdale Rd. 416-408-0208. $40;
$25(sr); $10(st).
Monday December 4
●●12:30: York University Department
of Music. Music @ Midday: Instrumental
Masterclass in Concert. Martin Family
Lounge, Accolade East Building, YU,
4700 Keele St. 647-459-0701. Free.
●●7:30: Canzona Chamber Players. In Concert.
Mendelssohn: String Octet in E-flat
Op.20; Brahms: Sextet for Strings No.1 in
B-flat Op.18. Yosuke Kawasaki, violin; Jessica
Linnebach, violin; Shane Kim, violin; Ashley
Vandiver, violin; Theresa Rudolph, viola;
Ivan Ivanovich, viola; Joseph Johnson, cello;
Alastair Eng, cello. St. George the Martyr
Church, 197 John St. 647-248-4048. $25. Also
Dec 3(2pm, St. Andrew by-the-Lake Church,
Toronto Island).
●●7:30: University of Toronto Faculty of
Music. Vocalis (Graduate Singers Series):
An Evening with the Parnassians. Jason
Nedecky, curator. Heliconian Hall, 35 Hazelton
Ave. 416-408-0208. Free.
●●7:30: University of Toronto Faculty of
Music. Guitar Orchestra. Jeffrey McFadden,
director. Walter Hall, Edward Johnson Building,
University of Toronto, 80 Queen’s Park.
416-408-0208. Free.
●●8:00: Soundstreams. Electric Messiah.
Music by Handel. Adanya Dunn, vocals; Elizabeth
Shepherd, vocals; Jonathan MacArthur,
vocals; Justin Welsh, vocals; Adam Scime,
music director; and others. The Drake Underground,
1150 Queen’s St. W. 416-531-5042.
$20. Also Dec 5, 6.
Tuesday December 5
●●12:00 noon: Canadian Opera Company.
Vocal Series: Wirth Vocal Prize Showcase.
Simone McIntosh, mezzo. Richard Bradshaw
Amphitheatre, Four Seasons Centre for the
Performing Arts, 145 Queen St. W. 416-363-
8231. Free. First-come, first-served. Late seating
not available.
●●12:10: Nine Sparrows Arts Foundation/
Yorkminster Park Baptist Church. Lunchtime
Chamber Music: Tristan Savella, Piano.
Yorkminster Park Baptist Church, 1585 Yonge
St. 416-241-1298. Free; donations welcomed.
●●1:00: Cathedral Church of St. James.
Organ Recital: Thomas Gonder. 65 Church St.
416-364-7865 x234. Donations welcomed.
FESTIVAL
OF CAROLS
WITH THE CANADIAN
STAFF BAND &
CANADIAN CHILDREN’S
OPERA COMPANY
Dec 5 & 6
at 7:30 pm
www.tmchoir.org
●●7:30: Toronto Mendelssohn Choir. Festival
of Carols. Guests: The Canadian Staff
Band; Canadian Children’s Opera Company
(Teri Dunn, conductor); David Briggs, organ.
Yorkminster Park Baptist Church, 1585 Yonge
St. 416-408-0208. $35-$76; $35-$70(sr);
$20(VoxTix for 30 years and under). Also
Dec 6.
●●7:30: University of Toronto Faculty of
Music. gamUT: Contemporary Music Ensemble.
Wallace Halladay, director. Walter Hall,
Edward Johnson Building, University of
Toronto, 80 Queen’s Park. 416-408-0208.
Free.
●●8:00: Gallery 345. Jazz At The Gallery.
Davis: Birth Of The Cool; Ellington/Strayhorn:
Nutcracker Suite. Young musicians from
across the GTA. 345 Sorauren Ave. 416-822-
9781. $20; $10(st). Cash only.
Janine Jansen,
Martin Fröst,
Torleif Thedéen,
and Lucas Debargue
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 5, 8PM
PRE-CONCERT TALK 7PM
KOERNER HALL
TICKETS ON SALE NOW! 416.408.0208
WWW.PERFORMANCE.RCMUSIC.CA
●●8:00: Royal Conservatory. Chamber Music.
Bartók: Contrasts; Szymanowski: Myths
Op.30; Messiaen: Quartet for the End of Time.
Janine Jansen, violin; Martin Fröst, clarinet;
Torleif Thedéen, cello, and Lucas Debargue,
piano. Koerner Hall, Telus Centre, 273 Bloor
St. W. 416-408-0208. $30-$75.
●●8:00: Soundstreams. Electric Messiah.
Music by Handel. Adanya Dunn, vocals; Elizabeth
Shepherd, vocals; Jonathan MacArthur,
vocals; Justin Welsh, vocals; Adam Scime,
music director; and others. The Drake Underground,
1150 Queen’s St. W. 416-531-5042.
$20. Also Dec 4, 6.
●●8:00: Toronto Symphony Orchestra. Best
of Tchaikovsky. Laura Pettigrew: Dòchas
(Sesquie for Canada’s 150th); Tchaikovsky:
BEST OF
TCHAIKOVSKY
DEC 5–7
Reserve today!
TSO.CA/holiday
thewholenote.com December 1, 2017 - February 7, 2018 | 41

Romeo and Juliet Fantasy-Overture; Variations
on a Rococo Theme Op.33 (original version),
Symphony No.5 in e Op.64. Joseph
Johnson, cello; Keri-Lynn Wilson, conductor.
Roy Thomson Hall, 60 Simcoe St. 416-593-
1285. $34.75-$148. Also Dec 6, 7.
Wednesday December 6
●●12:00 noon: Canadian Opera Company.
Jazz Series: Jazz@McGill. McGill Jazz Quintet;
Kevin Dean, trumpet. Richard Bradshaw
Amphitheatre, Four Seasons Centre for the
Performing Arts, 145 Queen St. W. 416-363-
8231. Free. First-come, first-served. Late seating
not available.
●●12:00 noon: Yorkminster Park Baptist
Church. Noonday Organ Recitals: Imre Olah.
1585 Yonge St. 416-922-1167. Free.
●●12:30: Organix Concerts/All Saints Kingsway.
Kingsway Organ Concert Series.
Hanné Becker, organ. All Saints Kingsway
Anglican Church, 2850 Bloor St. W. 416-571-
3680. Freewill offering. 45-minute concert.
●●7:00: Royal Conservatory. Taylor Academy
Orchestra. Mazzoleni Concert Hall, Royal
Conservatory, 273 Bloor St. W. 416-408-
0208. Free.
●●7:30: Living Arts Centre. Tartan Terrors
Christmas. 4141 Living Arts Dr., Mississauga.
905-306-6000. $30-$50. Also Dec 7.
●●7:30: Royal Conservatory. Rebanks Family
Fellowship Concert. Mazzoleni Concert Hall,
Telus Centre, 273 Bloor St. W. 416-408-0208.
Free.
●●7:30: Toronto Choral Society. Bach’s Christmas
Oratorio. Talisker Players; Geoffery Butler,
conductor. Koerner Hall, Telus Centre,
273 Bloor St. W. torontochoralsociety.org.
From $45.
●●7:30: Toronto Mendelssohn Choir. Festival
of Carols. Guests: The Canadian Staff
Band; Canadian Children’s Opera Company
(Teri Dunn, conductor); David Briggs, organ.
Yorkminster Park Baptist Church, 1585 Yonge
St. 416-408-0208. $35-$76; $35-$70(sr);
$20(VoxTix for 30 years and under). Also
Dec 5.
●●7:30: University of Toronto Faculty of
Music. PianoFest. Walter Hall, Edward
Johnson Building, University of Toronto,
A. Concerts in the GTA
80 Queen’s Park. 416-408-0208. Free. Also
Dec 7, 9(2:30pm).
●●8:00: Soundstreams. Electric Messiah.
Music by Handel. Adanya Dunn, vocals; Elizabeth
Shepherd, vocals; Jonathan MacArthur,
vocals; Justin Welsh, vocals; Adam Scime,
music director; and others. The Drake Underground,
1150 Queen’s St. W. 416-531-5042.
$20. Also Dec 4, 5.
●●8:00: Toronto Symphony Orchestra. Best
of Tchaikovsky. Andrew Ager: The Talk of the
Town (Sesquie for Canada’s 150th); Tchaikovsky:
Romeo and Juliet Fantasy-Overture; Variations
on a Rococo Theme Op.33 (original
version), Symphony No.5 in e Op.64. Joseph
Johnson, cello; Keri-Lynn Wilson, conductor.
Roy Thomson Hall, 60 Simcoe St. 416-593-
1285. $34.75-$148. Also Dec 5, 7.
Thursday December 7
●●12:00 noon: Canadian Opera Company.
Chamber Music Series: The Golden Hour.
Joshua Morris, cello. Richard Bradshaw
Amphitheatre, Four Seasons Centre for the
Performing Arts, 145 Queen St. W. 416-363-
8231. Free. First-come, first-served. Late seating
not available.
●●12:00 noon: Encore Symphonic Concert
Band. Monthly Concert. Big band, swing,
jazz and film scores. Wilmar Heights Centre,
963 Pharmacy Ave., Scarborough. 416-346-
3910 or 647-287-5390. $10. First Thursday of
each month. Refreshments available or bring
your lunch.
●●1:00: Miles Nadal JCC. Jump & Jive @ the
J. Classic songs from the 1950s and early
1960s. Rev-Tones rock & roll band. Al Green
Theatre, 750 Spadina Ave. 416-924-6211 x0.
$18.
●●7:00: Living Arts Centre. Tartan Terrors
Christmas. 4141 Living Arts Dr., Mississauga.
905-306-6000. $30-$50. Also Dec 6.
●●7:30: Nuné Melik. Hidden Treasures: Rediscovered
Music from Armenia. Works by Khachaturian,
Vardapet and other Armenian
composers. Nuné Melik, violin; Michel-Alexandre
Broekaert, piano. Atelier Rosemarie
Umetsu, 310 Davenport Rd. 416-420-6853.
$10. CONCERT MOVED FROM NOV 16.
●●7:30: University of Toronto Faculty of
Music. PianoFest. Walter Hall, Edward
Johnson Building, University of Toronto,
80 Queen’s Park. 416-408-0208. Free. Also
Dec 6, 9(2:30pm).
Sultans
of String
presents
A Christmas
Caravan
Thurs. December 7,
8pm
auroraculturalcentre.ca
905 713-1818
●●8:00: Aurora Cultural Centre. Sultans of
String: A Christmas Caravan. Guest: Rebecca
Campbell, vocals. 22 Church St., Aurora. 905-
713-1818. $30-$35.
●●8:00: Burlington Performing Arts Centre.
Canadian Brass: Christmas Concert. Burlington
Performing Arts Centre, Main Theatre,
440 Locust St., Burlington. 905-681-6000.
$69.50. Series discount available.
●●8:00: Music Gallery. Emergents I: Sounds
of Silence Initiative. Four contemporary song
cycles. 918 Bathurst Centre for Culture, Arts,
Media and Education, 918 Bathurst St. 416-
204-1080. $12; $8(members).
Rococo Theme Op.33 (original version), Symphony
No.5 in e Op.64. Joseph Johnson, cello;
Keri-Lynn Wilson, conductor. Roy Thomson
Hall, 60 Simcoe St. 416-593-1285. $34.75-
$148. Also Dec 5, 6.
Friday December 8
●●1:00: Spadina Road Library. Odin String
Quartet. Alex Toskov and others. 10 Spadina
Rd. 416-393-7666. Free.
80 th
YEAR AT THE CHURCH
OF THE HOLY TRINITY
●●7:30: Church of the Holy Trinity. The
Christmas Story. Nativity pageant. Professional
musicians and volunteer cast. 19 Trinity
Sq. 416-598-4521 x301. $20; $(17 and under).
A collection will be taken. Also Dec 15, 16, 21,
22, 23(all at 7:30pm); Dec 9, 10, 16, 17, 23, 24(all
at 4:30pm).
●●7:30: University of Toronto Faculty of
Music. UofT Symphony Orchestra. Zemlinsky:
Sinfonietta Op.23; Mendelssohn: Piano
Concerto No.1 in g Op.25; Dvořák: Symphony
No.9 in e Op.95 “From the New World”. Aisa
Sayama, piano; Uri Mayer and Chad Heltzel,
T H E T O R O N T O C H O R A L S O C I E T Y P R E S E N T S
Bach’s Christmas Oratorio
at Koerner Hall
Conductor:
Geoffrey Butler
TELUS Centre
Featuring:
The Talisker Players
December 6, 2017, 7:30 PM
Tickets from $45 TorontoChoralSociety.org
December 7 at 8pm
GRYPHON
TRIO
●●8:00: Music Toronto. Gryphon Trio.
Haydn: Piano Trio in E-flat HobXV:29; Marjan
Mozetich: Scales of Joy and Sorrow; Brahms:
Piano Quartet in A Op.26. Guest: Jethro
Marks, viola. St. Lawrence Centre for the
Arts, 27 Front St. E. 416-366-7723. $50-$55;
$10(st, full time).
●●8:00: Toronto Symphony Orchestra.
Best of Tchaikovsky. Tchaikovsky: Romeo
and Juliet Fantasy-Overture; Variations on a
We Sing
and
Rejoice!
Friday, December
8th, 2017, 8pm
Songs and Stories
of the Season
Featuring Canadian
Composers from
Coast-to-Coast
383 Huron Street, Toronto
416-971-9229 www.exultate.net
an Ontario government agency
un organisme du gouvernement de l’Ontario
42 | December 1, 2017 - February 7, 2018 thewholenote.com

conductors. MacMillan Theatre, Edward
Johnson Building, 80 Queen’s Park. 416-408-
0208. $30; $20(sr); $10(st). Pre-performance
chat.
●●8:00: Continuum Contemporary Music.
Urgent Voices. Hostman: The Invisible Forest;
Rolfe: Clinical Notes of the Bipolar Therapist;
Southam: Glass Houses; Wilson: From
the Diaries of William Lyon Mackenzie King.
Guests: Alex Dobson, baritone; Pascal Charbonneau,
tenor; Laurent Philippe, piano. Aki
Studio, Daniels Spectrum, 585 Dundas St.
E. 416-531-1402. $35; $25(sr/arts workers);
$15(st). Also Dec 9.
●●8:00: Coro San Marco. Jesus Born On
This Day: Christmas and Marian Celebration.
Guest soloists. St. Dominic Catholic Church,
625 Atwater Ave., Mississauga. 905-278-
7762. $25.
●●8:00: Exultate Chamber Singers. We Sing
and Rejoice! Songs and stories of the season
featuring Canadian composers from coast to
coast. Hilary Apfelstadt, conductor. St. Thomas’s
Anglican Church (Toronto), 383 Huron St.
416-971-9229. $25; $20(sr); $10(st).
●●8:00: Flato Markham Theatre. Men of the
Deeps: Christmas in the Mine. 171 Town Centre
Blvd., Markham. 905-305-7469. $15-$80.
●●8:00: Small World Music. Ivan Mazuze
Quartet Presents Ubuntu. Small World Music
Centre, Artscape Youngplace, 180 Shaw St.
416-536-5439. $20.
●●8:00: Toronto Consort. Navidad: A Spanish
Christmas. Trinity-St. Paul’s Centre, Jeanne
Lamon Hall, 427 Bloor St. W. 416-964-6337.
From $29. Also Dec 9, 10(3:30pm).
Saturday December 9
●●1:30: Oakville Children’s Choir. Community
Carol Concerts. Guest: Lianne Tan, organ. St.
John’s United Church (Oakville), 262 Randall
St., Oakville. 905-337-7104. $25; $20(sr);
$15(under 13). Also 4pm.
●●2:00: National Ballet of Canada. The Nutcracker.
Music by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky,
with libretto by James Kudelka. James
Kudelka, choreographer/librettist. Four
Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts,
145 Queen St. W. 416-345-9595. $39-$190.
Opens Dec 9, 2pm. Runs to Dec 30. Days and
times vary. See national.ballet.ca for details.
●●2:30: University of Toronto Faculty of
Music. PianoFest. Walter Hall, Edward
Johnson Building, University of Toronto,
80 Queen’s Park. 416-408-0208. Free. Also
Dec 6, 7(both at 7:30pm).
●●2:30: Village Voices. Christmas Joy. Hayes:
Christmas Suite; Hoelscher: Still, Still, Still;
Hagenberg: Sweetest Music, Softly Stealing;
Forrest: He is Born; and other works. Oksana
Vignan, conductor; Robert Graham, accompaniment;
Prometheus Male Choir (Pablo
Fondera, conductor); Zajvir Childrens’ Choir
(Olesia Konyk, conductor). Markham Missionary
Church, 5438 Major Mackenzie Dr.
E., Markham. 905-763-4172. $25; $20(sr);
$10(st); free(under 12). Also 7:30pm.
●●3:00: Mississauga Children’s Choir. Peace
On Earth. RBC Theatre, Living Arts Centre,
4141 Living Arts Dr., Mississauga. 905-306-
6000. $25; $15(under 13).
●●4:00: Oakville Children’s Choir. Community
Carol Concerts. Guest: Lianne Tan, organ. St.
John’s United Church (Oakville), 262 Randall
St., Oakville. 905-337-7104. $25; $20(sr);
$15(under 13). Also 1:30pm.
●●4:00: Timothy Eaton Memorial Church.
Yule Sing! Festive Christmas music and carol
sing. Timothy Eaton Memorial Church Choir
School and Sanctuary Choir, Weston Silver
Band. 230 St. Clair Ave. W. 416-925-5977. $15;
$45(family); free(under 5).
●●4:30: Church of the Holy Trinity. The
Christmas Story. See Dec 8 for details.
●●7:00: National Ballet of Canada. The Nutcracker.
Opens Dec 9. Runs to Dec 30. Days
and times vary. See national.ballet.ca for
details.
●●7:00: Toronto Gilbert and Sullivan Society.
Joy to the World! Gilbert and Sullivan
selections and Christmas carols. St. Andrew’s
United Church (Bloor St.), 117 Bloor St E. 416-
763-0832. Free(members); $5(non-members).
Refreshments included.
●●7:30: Annex Singers. December Diaries:
A Choral Drama. Roger Honeywell, tenor;
Cheryl MacInnis, actor; Anne Lindsay, violin;
Alejandro Céspedes, percussion. Jane Mallett
Theatre, St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts,
27 Front St. E. 416-968-7747. $35; $25(sr/st).
Also Dec 10(3pm).
●●7:30: Chris Tsujiuchi. A Very Chris-terical
Christmas Cabaret 2017. Colin Asuncion,
Kevin Wong, Leah Canali, Steve John Dale
and others. Buddies in Bad Times Theatre,
12 Alexander St. 416-975-8555. $30. Also
Dec 10. Limited tickets at the door.
●●7:30: Espressivo Singers. Benjamin Britten’s
A Ceremony of Carols and More. Daley:
What Sweeter Music; J.O. Edwards: Wassail;
What Child Is This? (arr. James Helme
Sutcliffe); Rutter (arr.): Tomorrow Shall
Be My Dancing Day. Guest: Liane James,
harp. Westminster United Church (Whitby),
1850 Rossland Rd. E., Whitby. 905-686-6299.
$25; $15(12 and under).
●●7:30: Living Arts Centre. Oscar Peterson
and Oliver Jones: A Celebration. 4141 Living
Arts Dr., Mississauga. 905-306-6000.
$75-$150.
●●7:30: Scarborough Philharmonic Orchestra.
Around the World at Holiday Time. Tchaikovsky:
Act 2 from The Nutcracker; The
Huron Carol; An Impression of Beautiful
Southern China; Holiday Music for Choir and
Orchestra; Carol Sing-along. Sistema Toronto
Youth Choir; St. Paul’s Youth and Adult Choirs;
Woburn Collegiate Choir; Scarborough
presents
DECEMBER DIARIES
A Choral Drama
Shackleton at the South Pole, Champlain in New France, the
Christmas Truce of 1914... A journey in words and music to
three remarkable Christmases past.
featuring:
Roger Honeywell, tenor
Cheryl MacInnis, actor
Anne Lindsay, violin
Alejandro Céspedes, percussion
Maria Case, Artistic Director
December 9 at 7:30 PM & December 10 at 3 PM
Jane Mallett Theatre, St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts
www.annexsingers.com
thewholenote.com December 1, 2017 - February 7, 2018 | 43

Philharmonic Women’s Choir. Salvation Army
Scarborough Citadel, 2021 Lawrence Ave.
E., Scarborough. www.spo.ca. $30; $25(sr);
$15(st); $10(child).
●●7:30: University of Toronto Faculty of
Music. Wind Symphony. Irvine: Hannaford
Overture; Forsyth: Songs from the Qu’Appelle
Valley; Arnold: Prelude, Siciliano and Rondo;
Meechan: Letters for Home; Milhaud: Suite
française. Jeffrey Reynolds, conductor. Mac-
Millan Theatre, Edward Johnson Building,
80 Queen’s Park. 416-408-0208. $30;
$20(sr); $10(st).
●●7:30: Village Voices. Christmas Joy. Hayes:
Christmas Suite; Hoelscher: Still, Still, Still;
Hagenberg: Sweetest Music, Softly Stealing;
Forrest: He is Born; and other works. Oksana
Vignan, conductor; Robert Graham, accompaniment;
Prometheus Male Choir (Pablo
Fondera, conductor); Zajvir Childrens’ Choir
(Olesia Konyk, conductor). Markham Missionary
Church, 5438 Major Mackenzie Dr.
E., Markham. 905-763-4172. $25; $20(sr);
$10(st); free(under 12). Also 2:30pm.
●●7:30: VOCA Chorus of Toronto. The Great
Canadian Choirbook. All-Canadian choral
music (including two world premieres and
songs of the season) by celebrated composers
and singer-songwriters. Cheri Maracle,
vocalist; Michael Occhipinti, guitar; James
Gordon, guitar and vocalist; Rob Clutton, bass;
Jamie Drake, percussion; Jenny Crober, conductor;
Elizabeth Acker, accompanist. Eastminster
United Church, 310 Danforth Ave.
416-947-8487. $25; $20(sr); $10(st).
●●7:30: York Chamber Ensemble. Christmas
Masterpieces: Sing-Along! Boyce: Symphony
No.1 in B-flat – Ode for the New Year;
Handel: Messiah (selections); Bach: Christmas
Oratorio Part 3; carol sing-along. Trevor
Dearham, guest conductor. Trinity Anglican
Church (Aurora), 79 Victoria St., Aurora.
905-727-6101. $20; $15(sr/st).
●●8:00: Cathedral Bluffs Symphony Orchestra.
Subscription Concert #2. Humperdinck:
Hansel and Gretel. Tryptych Concert & Opera;
Norman Reintamm, conductor. P.C. Ho Theatre,
Chinese Cultural Centre of Greater
Toronto, 5183 Sheppard Ave. E., Scarborough.
416-879-5566. $35 and up; $30(sr/st);
A. Concerts in the GTA folk music; improvisation. Rebekah Wolkstein,
Cathedral Bluffs
SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
Norman Reintamm
Artistic Director/Principal Conductor
free(under 12). 7:15pm: Pre-concert talk. Also
Dec 10(2pm).
●●8:00: Continuum Contemporary Music.
Urgent Voices. Hostman: The Invisible Forest;
Rolfe: Clinical Notes of the Bipolar Therapist;
Southam: Glass Houses; Wilson: From
the Diaries of William Lyon Mackenzie King.
Guests: Alex Dobson, baritone; Pascal Charbonneau,
tenor; Laurent Philippe, piano. Aki
Studio, Daniels Spectrum, 585 Dundas St.
E. 416-531-1402. $35; $25(sr/arts workers);
$15(st). Also Dec 8.
●●8:00: Flato Markham Theatre. Lynn
Harrell: J.S. Bach - Six Suites for Solo Cello.
171 Town Centre Blvd., Markham. 905-305-
7469. $15-$85.
●●8:00: North York Concert Orchestra. In
Concert. Seasonal holiday favourites; Royer:
Fantasia on Canadian Christmas Carols; Goldstein:
Hannukah Medley. Youth Concerto
Competition Winners; Rafael Luz, conductor.
Yorkminster Citadel, 1 Lord Seaton Rd., North
York. 416-628-9195. $25; $20(sr); $10(st).
●●8:00: Payadora Tango Ensemble. Album
Release Concert. Original tangos; arrangements
of traditional tangos and Argentinian
Album Release
Concert
Saturday Dec 9, 8pm
Gallery 345, Toronto
payadora.com
Saturday December 9, 2017 8 pm
HANSEL & GRETEL
by Humperdinck
with TrypTych Concert & Opera
Special Encore Matinée: 2 pm Sunday
SUBSCRIPTION CONCERT 2 | TICKETS: from $35 adult $30 senior/student
children under age 12 are free ORDER ONLINE OR BY PHONE
P.C. HoTheatre 5183 Sheppard Ave E (1 block east of Markham Rd), Scarborough
cathedralbluffs.com | 416.879.5566
violin; Branko Džinović, accordion and bandoneon;
Robert Horvath, piano; Joe Phillips,
double bass. Guest: Elbio Fernandez, vocals.
Gallery 345, 345 Sorauren Ave. 416-822-9781.
$25; $15(st). Reserve on the phone and tickets
available at the door.
●●8:00: Royal Conservatory. TD Jazz: Dianne
Reeves Quintet. Great American Songbook.
Koerner Hall, Telus Centre, 273 Bloor St. W.
416-408-0208. $50-$100.
●●8:00: Toronto Consort. Navidad: A Spanish
Christmas. Trinity-St. Paul’s Centre, Jeanne
Lamon Hall, 427 Bloor St. W. 416-964-6337.
From $29. Also Dec 8, 10(3:30pm).
●●9:00: Ava Productions. Rastak Music
Group. Persian folk music from every corner
of Iran with different dialects. Performers on
tar, dulcimer, ney, tombak, daf, fiddle, quishak.
John Basset Theatre, 255 Front St. W. 647-
960-0282. $55-$120.
Sunday December 10
●●1:00: National Ballet of Canada. The Nutcracker.
Opens Dec 9. Runs to Dec 30. Days
and times vary. See national.ballet.ca for
details.
●●1:30: Music at Metropolitan. Deck the
Halls: Downtown Carol Sing. Sing carols with
the Metropolitan Silver Band and organ.
Metropolitan Silver Band. Metropolitan
United Church (Toronto), 56 Queen St. E. 416-
363-0331 x26. Donations welcome.
●●1:30: Oakville Symphony Orchestra. Family
Christmas. Guests: Oakville Children’s Choir.
Oakville Centre for the Performing Arts,
130 Navy St., Oakville. 905-815-2021. $13-$25.
Also 4pm.
●●2:00: Cathedral Bluffs Symphony Orchestra.
Subscription Concert #2. Humperdinck:
Hansel and Gretel. Tryptych Concert & Opera;
Norman Reintamm, conductor. P.C. Ho Theatre,
Chinese Cultural Centre of Greater
Toronto, 5183 Sheppard Ave. E., Scarborough.
416-879-5566. $35 and up; $30(sr/st);
free(under 12). Also Dec 9(8pm).
●●2:00: Festival Wind Orchestra. Holiday
Soliloquy. Hannaford Overture; Rikudim;
Bond…James Bond; Copacabana; Autumn
Soliloquy; Christmas carol sing-along. Justin
Bartlett, oboe; Keith Reid, conductor. Isabel
Bader Theatre, 93 Charles St. W. 416-302-
1875. $20; $15(sr/st); free(under 13). Gift Basket
Raffle.
●●2:00: Living Arts Centre. The Nutcracker.
4141 Living Arts Dr., Mississauga. 905-306-
6000. $50-$85. Also 7:30pm.
●●3:00: Annex Singers. December Diaries:
A Choral Drama. Roger Honeywell, tenor;
Cheryl MacInnis, actor; Anne Lindsay, violin;
Alejandro Cespedes, percussion. Jane Mallett
Theatre, St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts,
27 Front St. E. 416-968-7747. $35; $25(sr/st).
Also Dec 9(7:30pm).
●●3:00: Durham Chamber Orchestra. It’s
Christmas. Symphonic works by Schubert
and Rossini; Ave Verum Corpus; O Holy Night;
Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas; The
Nutcracker. Guests: Martina Ortiz-Luis and
The Durham Girls’ Choir. Forest Brook Community
Church, 60 Kearney Dr., Ajax. 905-
852-1141. $20; free(under 12).
●●3:00: Hart House. True North: 100 Years
of Canadian Classical Music. New Canadian
classical works. Stephanie Chua, piano; Veronique
Mathieu, violin. Hart House, Great Hall,
7 Hart House Circle. 416-978-2452. Free.
●●3:00: Orchestra Toronto. Holiday Music
Magic. How the Grinch Stole Christmas;
music from Frozen; seasonal sing-along.
Trevor Rines, narration. George Weston
Recital Hall, 5040 Yonge St. 1-855-985-2787.
$45; $39(sr); $19(under 29). 2:45pm: preconcert
chat. During intermission: Long &
McQuade instrument petting zoo.
●●3:00: Royal Conservatory. Invesco Piano
Concerts: Khatia Buniatishvili. Mussorgsky:
Pictures at an Exhibition; works by Liszt.
Koerner Hall, Telus Centre, 273 Bloor St. W.
416-408-0208. $35-$80. Pre-concert talk
2pm.
●●3:00: St. Paul’s Bloor Street. Michael Bloss,
Organ. 227 Bloor St. E. 416-961-8116. Free.
●●3:00: Stouffville United Church. Sing Along
Messiah. Handel: Messiah. Anna Bateman,
soprano; Susan Black-McAuliffe, alto; Bruce
Nasmith, conductor, and others. 34 Church
St. S., Stouffville. 905-640-7107. $20; $10 (sr/
st). Scores provided or bring your own.
●●3:00: Symphony on the Bay. A Double-
Reed Christmas. Vivaldi: Christmas Concerto;
Vaughan Williams: Fantasia on Christmas
Carols; and other works. Fraser Jackson,
bassoon; Claudio Vena, conductor. Burlington
Performing Arts Centre, 440 Locust St.,
Burlington. 905-681-6000. $43; $36.50(sr);
$24.50(16-24); $12(under 16).
●●3:00: Syrinx Concerts Toronto. Sofya Gulyak,
Piano. Coulthard: Sonata No.2; Clementi:
Sonata in C Op.33; Brahms: Handel Variations
Op.24; Tchaikovsky: Nutcracker Suite
(arr. Pletnev); Shostakovich: Prelude and
Fugue in D-flat. Heliconian Hall, 35 Hazelton
Ave. 416-654-0877. $30; $20(st). Post-concert
reception.
●●3:00: Toronto Symphony Orchestra. The
Snowman. Traditional: Jingle Bells Fantasie
(arr. C. Dragon); Smith-Bernard: Winter Wonderland;
Blake: The Snowman; Korngold:
The Snowman Overture; J. Strauss II: Pizzicato
Polka; and other works; traditional carol
sing-along. David Amado, conductor. Guests:
Tha Spot Holiday Dancers; Resonance Youth
Choir. Roy Thomson Hall, 60 Simcoe St. 416-
593-1285. $25-$69. 20-minute intermission.
●●3:30: St. Anne’s Anglican Church. St.
Anne’s Community Cantate. St. Anne’s Choir;
Young Voices Toronto; Junction Trio; St.
Anne’s Festival Brass Quintet. 270 Gladstone
Ave. 416-536-3160. $15; $10(sr/st);
44 | December 1, 2017 - February 7, 2018 thewholenote.com

free(under 12). Proceeds to Oasis Food Bank
and CPDL Youth Scholarship Program.
●●3:30: Toronto Consort. Navidad: A Spanish
Christmas. Trinity-St. Paul’s Centre, Jeanne
Lamon Hall, 427 Bloor St. W. 416-964-6337.
From $29. Also Dec 8, 9(both at 8pm).
●●4:00: Cathedral Church of St. James.
Organ Recital: Ian Sadler. 65 Church St. 416-
364-7865 x234. Donations welcomed.
●●4:00: Eglinton St George’s United Church.
All Bells in Paradise. An ESG Christmas with
brass, carols, choir and organ. ESG Choir;
Trillium Brass; Andrew Adair, organ; Shawn
Grenke, conductor. Eglinton St. George’s
United Church, 35 Lytton Blvd. 416-481-1141.
$35; $25(st).
●●4:00: Oakville Symphony Orchestra.
Family Christmas. Guests: Oakville Children’s
Choir. Oakville Centre for the Performing
Arts, 130 Navy St., Oakville. 905-815-2021.
$13-$25. Also 1:30pm.
●●4:00: Toronto Classical Singers. Noël Noël:
A French Christmas. Contrasting the elegance
of the court at Versailles with the passion
of 19th-century Paris. Charpentier:
Messe de minuit pour noël; Saint-Saëns: Oratorio
de Noël. Whitney Mather, soprano; Kendra
Dyck, soprano; Lillian Brooks, mezzo;
Stephen McClare, tenor; Bruce Kelly, baritone;
Talisker Players Orchestra; Jurgen
Petrenko, conductor. Christ Church Deer
Park, 1570 Yonge St. 416-444-7863. $30.
●●4:30: Church of the Holy Trinity. The
Christmas Story. See Dec 8 for details.
CAROLS BY
CANDLELIGHT
SUN., DEC. 10, 4:30pm
NINE LESSONS
& CAROLS
SUN., DEC. 17, 4:30pm
Yorkminster Park
Baptist Church
yorkminsterpark.com
●●4:30: Yorkminster Park Baptist Church.
Carols by Candlelight. Choirs and musicians
of Yorkminster Park. 1585 Yonge St. 416-922-
1167. Free.
●●5:30: National Ballet of Canada. The Nutcracker.
Opens Dec 9. Runs to Dec 30. Days
and times vary. See national.ballet.ca for
details.
●●7:30: Chris Tsujiuchi. A Very Chris-terical
Christmas Cabaret 2017. Colin Asuncion,
Kevin Wong, Leah Canali, Steve John Dale
and others. Buddies in Bad Times Theatre,
12 Alexander St. 416-975-8555. $30. Also
Dec 9. Limited tickets at the door.
●●7:30: Echo Women’s Choir. We Must Be the
Light: Celebrating Canada at 150. Craig: We
Must Be the Light; Valverde: Suave Brisa (Soft
Breeze); Alcorn: That Old Feeling; and other
songs reflecting many aspects of Canadian
life. Becca Whitla, conductor and piano; Alan
Gasser, conductor. Guest: Coco Love Alcorn.
Church of the Holy Trinity, 19 Trinity Sq. 416-
779-5554. $20/$15(adv); $10(sr/child/underwaged).
Wheelchair accessible.
●●7:30: Leaside United Church. Lessons and
Carols. Willan: Let All Mortal Silence; Sirett:
If Ye would Hear the Angels Sing; Britten: A
Boy was Born; Eisele: Joyful Message; Rutter:
Jesus Child; Albright: An African Celebration;
What Child is This? (arr. Cynda Fleming).
Chancel Choir of Leaside United (dir. Sharon
L. Beckstead); Junior Choir (dir. Nancy Stewart);
C Flats Jazz Band (dir. Cynda Fleming).
822 Millwood Rd. 416-425-1253. Freewill
offering. In support of the Out of the Cold
Program.
●●7:30: University of Toronto Faculty of
Music. Percussion Ensembles. Walter Hall,
Edward Johnson Building, University of
Toronto, 80 Queen’s Park. 416-408-0208.
Free.
2017–2018
ConCErt SEriES
All Bells
in Paradise
SUNDAY, Dec 10 th
At 4 p.m.
eSG chOIR AND
tRILLIUm BRASS
An ESG Christmas with
Brass, Carols, Choir
and organ
ShAwn GrEnkE,
ConduCtor
AndrEw AdAir, orGAn
35 Lytton BLvd.
toronto
416.481.1141
www.esgunited.org
Monday December 11
●●7:00: Lula Music and Arts Centre. Reunite
the Moneka Family. In support of Ahmed
Moneka’s dream of reuniting his family. Lula
Lounge, 1585 Dundas St. W. 416-588-0307. $15.
Tuesday December 12
●●12:00 noon: Canadian Opera Company.
World Music Series: Christmas in Southern
Italy. Traditional Christmas folk music. Vesuvius
Ensemble. Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre,
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 10 - 1:30pm
Deck the Halls: Downtown Carol
Sing with the Metropolitan Silver
Band and Organ
Sing favourite carols
~ Freewill donation helps Metropolitan’s
community work in the downtown core
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 17 - 7:00pm
Annual Candlelight Service of
Lessons and Carols with the
Metropolitan Choirs
~ Freewill offering
www.metunited.org • 416-363-0331, ext. 26
56 Queen Street East, Toronto
TORONTO
CLASSICAL
SINGERS
FRENCH
CHRISTMAS
CONCERT
CHARPENTIER
MESSE DE MINUIT
SAINT-SAËNS
ORATORIO DE NOËL
Jurgen Petrenko,
Artistic Director and Conductor
The Talisker Players Orchestra
Whitney Mather , soprano
Kendra Dyck , soprano
Lillian Brooks , mezzo-soprano
Stephen McClare, tenor
Bruce Kelly , baritone
4pm
Sunday , December 10, 2017
Christ Church Deer Park
1570 Yonge Street at Heath
Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts,
145 Queen St. W. 416-363-8231. Free. Firstcome,
first-served. Late seating not available.
●●12:10: Nine Sparrows Arts Foundation/
Yorkminster Park Baptist Church. Lunchtime
Chamber Music: Rising Stars Recital.
Students from the Glenn Gould School. Yorkminster
Park Baptist Church, 1585 Yonge St.
416-241-1298. Free; donations welcomed.
●●1:00: Cathedral Church of St. James.
Organ Recital: Matthew Whitfield. 65 Church
St. 416-364-7865 x234. Donations welcomed.
MetUnited Music
MetUnitedMusic
NOËL NOËL
TORONTO CLASSICAL SINGERS
thewholenote.com December 1, 2017 - February 7, 2018 | 45

●●7:30: Hannaford Street Silver Band.
Christmas Cheer. Ben Heppner, tenor and
host; Elmer Iseler Singers. Metropolitan
United Church (Toronto), 56 Queen St. E. 416-
366-7723 or 1-800-708-6754. $45; $35(sr);
$15(st).
Toronto Youth Choir &
Incontra Vocal Ensemble
present
O Nata Lux
A. Concerts in the GTA
Arts Senior Chorus; Lucas Waldin, conductor.
Roy Thomson Hall, 60 Simcoe St. 416-593-
1285. $34.75-$107. Also Dec 13(2pm and 8pm).
Wednesday December 13
●●12:00 noon: Canadian Opera Company.
Vocal Series: Bound. Works by Handel.
Against the Grain Theatre. Richard Bradshaw
Amphitheatre, Four Seasons Centre for the
Performing Arts, 145 Queen St. W. 416-363-
8231. Free. First-come, first-served. Late seating
not available.
●●12:00 noon: Yorkminster Park Baptist
Church. Noonday Organ Recitals: Rashaan
Allwood. 1585 Yonge St. 416-922-1167. Free.
●●2:00: Toronto Symphony Orchestra. Canadian
Brass Christmas. Tyzik: Christmas
Overture; Silvestri (arr. Pope): The Spirit of
Christmas from The Polar Express; Traditional:
Ar Hyd y Nos (All through the Night)
(arr. C. Dragon); Williams: Merry Christmas
from Home Alone 2; and other works. Canadian
Brass, brass quintet; Etobicoke School
of the Arts Senior Chorus; Lucas Waldin, conductor.
Roy Thomson Hall, 60 Simcoe St.
416-593-1285. $34.75-$107. Also Dec 12 and
13(both 8pm).
●●7:00: National Ballet of Canada. The Nutcracker.
Opens Dec 9. Runs to Dec 30. Days
and times vary. See national.ballet.ca for
details.
●●7:30: Incontra Vocal Ensemble. Hodie
Christus Natus Est. Works by Palestrina,
Lauridsen, Sixten, Gjeilo, Rutter and others.
Matthew Otto, artistic director and conductor;
Sarah Leung, assistant conductor.
St. Joseph’s Chapel, Regis College, University
of Toronto, 100 Wellesley St. W. 416-922-
5474 x266. $35.
●●8:00: Toronto Symphony Orchestra. Canadian
Brass Christmas. Tyzik: Christmas
Overture; Silvestri (arr. Pope): The Spirit of
Christmas from The Polar Express; Traditional:
Ar Hyd y Nos (All through the Night)
(arr. C. Dragon); Williams: Merry Christmas
from Home Alone 2; and other works. Canadian
Brass, brass quintet; Etobicoke School
of the Arts Senior Chorus; Lucas Waldin, conductor.
Roy Thomson Hall, 60 Simcoe St. 416-
593-1285. $34.75-$107. Also Dec 12(8pm) and
13(2pm).
Thursday December 14
●●12:00 noon: Canadian Opera Company.
Vocal Series: A Cappella Christmas. Original
music and classic Christmas songs.
Cadence. Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre,
Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts,
145 Queen St. W. 416-363-8231. Free. Firstcome,
first-served. Late seating not available.
●●5:30: Canadian Music Centre. CMC Presents:
KUYUM. Francisco Barradas, violin;
Cesar Aguilar, countertenor; Yolanda
Tapia, piano. 20 St. Joseph St. 416-961-6601
x202. $20; $15(CMC members/arts workers);
$10(st).
●●7:00: National Ballet of Canada. The Nutcracker.
Opens Dec 9. Runs to Dec 30. Days
and times vary. See national.ballet.ca for
details.
●●7:30: Gallery 345. Mid Winter’s Eve. Works
by Schubert, Debussy, Brahms and Sarasate.
Carmen Lasceski Custers, violin; Emily Rho,
piano. 345 Sorauren Ave. 416-822-9781. $25;
$10(st). Cash only.
●●8:00: Art of Time Ensemble. To All A Good
Night 3: The Different Holiday Concert.
Harbourfront Centre Theatre, 235 Queens
Quay W. 416-973-4000. $25-$64; $15(rush
tickets, 30 and under). Also Dec 15, 16.
●●8:00: Blythwood Winds. Blythwood Strikes
Back: A Darth Vader Holiday. Star Wars Episode
V: The Empire Strikes Back (arr. Vander
Hyden); holiday favourites. Tim Crouch, flute;
Elizabeth Eccleston, oboe; Anthony Thompson,
clarinet; Curtis Vander Hyden, french
horn; Kevin Harris, bassoon. Free Times Cafe,
320 College St. 416-999-6097. PWYC. Come
early for dinner! Shows sell out.
●●8:00: Flato Markham Theatre. Wonderful
World of Christmas: Graceland Edition.
171 Town Centre Blvd., Markham. 905-305-
7469. $15-$65.
●●8:00: Polyphonic Ground. Slim Flex and
Success K/Evolution/Los Poetas. Revival Bar,
783 College St. 416-536-5439. $35.
Friday December 15
●●7:00: Bell Tower Coffee and Community.
Jason Wilson. Reggae. Church of the Messiah,
240 Avenue Rd. 647-828-1176. Free.
●●7:00: National Ballet of Canada. The Nutcracker.
Opens Dec 9. Runs to Dec 30. Days
and times vary. See national.ballet.ca for
details.
●●7:00: Raffi Altounian. Imagine: Christmas.
Ellington: The Nutcracker Suite; Guaraldi: A
Charlie Brown Christmas. Rebekah Wolkstein,
violin; Tom Skublics, clarinet; Burke
Carroll, pedal steel; Raffi Altounian, guitar;
Ben Heard, double bass; Andrew Rasmus,
percussion. St. Barnabas Anglican Church,
361 Danforth Ave. 416-528-5349. $30.
●●7:30: Church of the Holy Trinity. The
Christmas Story. See Dec 8 for details.
●●7:30: Orpheus Choir of Toronto. Welcome
Christmas! Lindberg: Christmas Cantata;
and festive sing-along carols. The Bob
DeAngelis Big Band; John Sherwood, jazz
pianist; Orpheus Choir of Toronto; Edward
Maroney, accompanist; Robert Cooper, artistic
director. Metropolitan United Church
Tickets: $10 - $25
Christ Church Deer Park
Tues. Dec. 12 | 7:30PM
torontochildrenschorus.com
●●7:30: Toronto Youth Choir/Incontra Vocal
Ensemble. O Nata Lux: 5th Anniversary Concert.
Seasonal music. Christ Church Deer
Park, 1570 Yonge St. 416-920-5211. $25;
$20(st/sr); $10(child). Proceeds will help
support Toronto Youth Choir’s tour to New
York City.
●●8:00: Sony Centre for the Performing
Arts. The Tenors: Christmas Together.
1 Front St. E. 1-855-872-7669 or 416-916-7878.
$50-$125.
●●8:00: Toronto Symphony Orchestra. Canadian
Brass Christmas. McPherson: In Excelsis
Gloria (After the Huron Carol) - Sesquie
for Canada’s 150th; Tyzik: Christmas Overture;
Silvestri (arr. Pope): The Spirit of Christmas
from The Polar Express; Traditional:
Ar Hyd y Nos (All through the Night) (arr. C.
Dragon); Williams: Merry Christmas from
Home Alone 2; and other works. Canadian
Brass, brass quintet; Etobicoke School of the
HANDEL
MESSIAH
DEC 13–16, KOERNER HALL,
TELUS CENTRE
tafelmusik.org
●●7:30: Tafelmusik. Messiah. Music by Handel.
Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra and
Chamber Choir; Joanne Lunn, soprano;
James Laing, countertenor; Rufus Müller,
tenor; Brett Polegato, baritone; Ivars Taurins,
conductor. Koerner Hall, Telus Centre,
273 Bloor St. W. 416-408-0208. From $30.
Also Dec 14, 15, 16.
●●8:00: Nathaniel Dett Chorale. An Indigo
Christmas...Parranda. Guest: Maestre &
Friends. All Saints Kingsway Anglican Church,
2850 Bloor St. W. 416-736-2100 x33068. $30.
The Glenn Gould School
New Music Ensemble
THURS., DEC. 14, 7:30PM
TEMERTY THEATRE
FREE (TICKET REQUIRED)! 416.408.0208
WWW.PERFORMANCE.RCMUSIC.CA
●●7:30: Royal Conservatory. Discovery Series:
Glenn Gould School New Music Ensemble.
Curated by Brian Current. Temerty Theatre,
273 Bloor St. W. 416-408-0208. Free.
●●7:30: Tafelmusik. Messiah. Music by Handel.
Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra and
Chamber Choir; Joanne Lunn, soprano;
James Laing, countertenor; Rufus Müller,
tenor; Brett Polegato, baritone; Ivars Taurins,
conductor. Koerner Hall, Telus Centre,
273 Bloor St. W. 416-408-0208. From $30.
Also Dec 13, 15, 16.
●●8:00: Against the Grain Theatre. Bound.
Music by George Frideric Handel, libretto by
Joel Ivany. COC Jackman Studio, 227 Front
Street East. 647-367-8943. $35. Also
Dec 15(8pm), 16(6pm and 9pm).
sine nomine
Ensemble for Medieval Music
A Medieval Nunnery
Christmas
Friday, December 15, 8 pm
Trinity College Chapel
6 Hoskin Avenue
Tickets $20 / $15
416-978-8849
tickets.harthouse.ca
Information 416-638-9445
sinenominetoronto@gmail.com
46 | December 1, 2017 - February 7, 2018 thewholenote.com

(Toronto), 56 Queen St. E. 416-530-4428. $45;
$40(sr); $20(st).
●●7:30: Tafelmusik. Messiah. Music by Handel.
Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra and
Chamber Choir; Joanne Lunn, soprano;
James Laing, countertenor; Rufus Müller,
tenor; Brett Polegato, baritone; Ivars Taurins,
conductor. Koerner Hall, Telus Centre,
273 Bloor St. W. 416-408-0208. From $30.
Also Dec 13, 14, 16.
●●8:00: Against the Grain Theatre. Bound.
See Dec 14 for details. Also Dec 16(6pm and
9pm).
●●8:00: Art of Time Ensemble. To All A Good
Night 3: The Different Holiday Concert.
Harbourfront Centre Theatre, 235 Queens
Quay W. 416-973-4000. $25-$64; $15(rush
tickets, 30 and under). Also Dec 14, 16.
●●8:00: Etobicoke Community Concert Band.
Christmas Memories. Favourite seasonal carols;
reading of “Twas the Night Before Christmas,”
backed by the band. Guest: Councillor
Stephen Holyday. Etobicoke Collegiate Auditorium,
86 Montgomery Rd., Etobicoke. 416-
410-1570. $15; free(under 12).
●●8:00: Etobicoke Philharmonic Orchestra.
Holiday Magic. Tchaikovsky: Waltz of
the Flowers (Nutcracker Suite); L. Anderson:
Sleigh Ride; seasonal favourites; Christmas
sing-along. Jessica Lane, soprano.
Humber Valley United Church, 76 Anglesey
Blvd., Etobicoke. 416-239-5665. $30;
$25(sr)/$22(adv); $15(st). Silent Auction.
●●8:00: Sine Nomine Ensemble for Medieval
Music. A Medieval Nunnery Christmas.
Trinity College Chapel, University of Toronto,
6 Hoskin Ave. 416-978-8849 (reservations),
416-638-9445 (information). $20; $15(sr/st/
unwaged).
●●8:00: Sony Centre for the Performing
Arts. Dance Me: Music of Leonard Cohen. Les
Ballet Jazz de Montréal. 1 Front St. E. 1-855-
872-7669 or 416-916-7878. $55-$145.
Saturday December 16
●●2:00: National Ballet of Canada. The Nutcracker.
Opens Dec 9. Runs to Dec 30. Days
and times vary. See national.ballet.ca for
details.
●●2:00: Roy Thomson Hall. Toronto Children’s
Chorus: The Fire Within. Vivaldi: Gloria. Lesia
Mackowycz, soprano; Krisztina Szabó, mezzo;
TORONTO
CHILDREN’S
CHORUS
The Fire Within
SAT DEC 16 ◆ 2 PM
ROYTHOMSONHALL.COM
416-872-4255
TCC Alumni Choir, Toronto Youth Choir,
friends from the Toronto Symphony Orchestra;
Michael Bloss, organ. 60 Simcoe St. 416-
872-4255. $35.50-$45.50.
●●3:00: Neapolitan Connection. Musical
Matinées at Montgomery’s Inn: Rome
& Romance. Alicja Wysocka soprano;
Ronée Boyce, piano. Montgomery’s Inn,
4709 Dundas St. W. 416-231-0006. $30;
$15(child). 2:15pm: historical tour; tea and
cookies included.
●●3:30: York Symphony Orchestra. YSO
Holiday Spectacular. Seasonal favourites
and audience sing-along. Trinity Anglican
Church (Aurora), 79 Victoria St., Aurora. 416-
410-0860. $28; $23(sr); $15(st). Also 8pm,
Dec 17(7:30pm, Richmond Hill).
●●3:30: Young Voices Toronto. This Christmastide.
Fraser: This Christmastide; Engelhardt:
Gaudete!; Gjeilo: Tundra; Brymer:
Happy Xmas (War Is Over); Fjelheim: Winter’s
Night. Maria Conkey, conductor; Brenda
O”Connor, conductor; Sheldon Rose, pianist.
Trinity-St. Paul’s United Church, 427 Bloor St.
W. 416-762-0657. $25; $15(sr/st); free(under
5).
●●4:30: Church of the Holy Trinity. The
Christmas Story. See Dec 8 for details.
●●6:00: Against the Grain Theatre. Bound.
See Dec 15. Also Dec 16(9pm).
●●7:00: National Ballet of Canada. The Nutcracker.
Opens Dec 9. Runs to Dec 30. Days and
times vary. See national.ballet.ca for details.
●●7:00: St. Elizabeth of Hungary Roman
Catholic Church. Christmas Concert.
Saturday December 16 at 8 p.m.
(Pre-concert chat at 7:15 p.m.)
Christmas in
San Marco:
Monteverdi at 450
With the Toronto Continuo
Collective
Calvin Presbyterian Church
26 Delisle Avenue
(416) 763-1695
torontochamberchoir.ca
DENIS MASTROMONACO
MUSIC DIRECTOR &
C O N D U C T O R
Poulenc: Gloria; Christmas songs. Brigitte
Emery, soprano; Ian Sadler, organ, St. Elizabeth
Scola Cantorum Adult and Children’s
Choirs; Imre Olah and Christa Lazar, conductors.
432 Sheppard Ave. E. 416-225-3300. $20;
$10(st). Post-concert reception.
●●7:30: Church of the Holy Trinity. The
Christmas Story. See Dec 8 for details.
●●7:30: Cirque Musica Holiday. Believe. Incredible
feats of strength, skill and grace to great
holiday music favourites performed by a live symphony.
Tribute Communities Centre, 99 Athol St.
E., Oshawa. ev12.evenue.net. $49.99-$75.
●●7:30: Pax Christi Chorale. Gloria. Poulenc:
Gloria; Duruflé: Four Motets; Fauré: Cantique
de Jean Racine; Gounod: Noël; classic french
Pax Christi Chorale
December 16 & 17
Gloria
thewholenote.com December 1, 2017 - February 7, 2018 | 47

carols. Andrea Núñez, soprano; Daniel Norman,
organ; David Bowser, conductor. Grace
Church on-the-Hill, 300 Lonsdale Rd. n/a.
$45; $40(sr); $25(st). Also Dec 17(3pm).
●●7:30: Royal Conservatory. Taylor Academy
Showcase Concert. Taylor Academy
Chamber Orchestra. Mazzoleni Concert Hall,
Royal Conservatory, 273 Bloor St. W. 416-408-
0208. Free.
●●7:30: Tafelmusik. Messiah. Music by Handel.
Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra and
Chamber Choir; Joanne Lunn, soprano;
James Laing, countertenor; Rufus Müller,
tenor; Brett Polegato, baritone; Ivars Taurins,
conductor. Koerner Hall, Telus Centre,
273 Bloor St. W. 416-408-0208. From $30.
Also Dec 13, 14, 15.
●●7:30: The Salvation Army. Christmas Spectacular.
God Bless us Everyone, Of Great
Wonder, Joy to the World, Hark the Herald
and other songs. Amadeus Choir; North York
Temple Band; Organ; Brass Band; Choir. Tyndale
Chapel, 3377 Bayview Ave. 416-225-7968.
$20. Call for tickets. Limited general admission
space.
●●7:30: Voices Chamber Choir. Handel: Messiah.
Antonina Ermolenko, soprano; Monica
Zerbe, alto; Michael Taylor, tenor; Steven
Henriksen, bass; John Stephenson, organ;
chamber orchestra; Ron Ka Ming Cheung,
conductor. Church of St. Martin-in-the-
Fields, 151 Glenlake Ave. 416-519-0528. $35;
$25(sr/st).
●●8:00: Art of Time Ensemble. To All A Good
Night 3: The Different Holiday Concert.
Harbourfront Centre Theatre, 235 Queens
Quay W. 416-973-4000. $25-$64; $15(rush
tickets, 30 and under). Also Dec 14, 15.
●●8:00: Kindred Spirits Orchestra. Russian
Romance. Shostakovich: Festive Overture;
Violin Concerto No.1; Rachmaninoff: Symphony
No.2 Op.27. Kristian Alexander, conductor;
Marc Djokic, violin. Flato Markham
Theatre, 171 Town Centre Blvd., Markham.
905-604-8339. $30-$40; $25(sr); $15(youth).
7:15pm pre-concert recital; 7:30pm pre-concert
talk; intermission discussion with Marc
Djokic.
●●8:00: Mississauga Symphony Orchestra.
Highlights from Messiah. Handel: Messiah
(excerpts). Sara Schabas, soprano; Beste Kalender,
mezzo; Zachary Rioux, tenor; Christopher
Dunham, baritone; Mississauga Festival
Chamber Choir; David Ambrose, guest conductor.
Hammerson Hall, Living Arts Centre,
4141 Living Arts Dr., Mississauga. 905-306-
6000. $40-$65; $36-$58(sr); $30(youth);
A. Concerts in the GTA
$25(15 and under); $100(family).
●●8:00: Toronto Chamber Choir. Christmas
in San Marco. Celebrating the 450th
anniversary of Claudio Monterverdi. Monteverdi:
Magnificat, Psalm settings and hymns.
Guests: Toronto Continuo Collective. Calvin
Presbyterian Church, 26 Delisle Ave. 416-763-
1695. $30; $25(sr); $12.50(under 30). Preconcert
chat at 7:15pm.
●●8:00: York Symphony Orchestra. YSO Holiday
Spectacular. Seasonal favourites and
audience sing-along. Trinity Anglican Church
(Aurora), 79 Victoria St., Aurora. 416-410-
0860. $28; $23(sr); $15(st). Also 3:30pm,
Dec 17(7:30pm, Richmond Hill).
●●9:00: Against the Grain Theatre. Bound.
See Dec 14 for details.
Sunday December 17
●●1:00: National Ballet of Canada. The Nutcracker.
Opens Dec 9. Runs to Dec 30. Days
and times vary. See national.ballet.ca for
details.
●●2:00: Gallery 345. Christmas Concert Beau
Noel. Bosco/Humphrey: Noëls de Lourmarin;
D’où viens-tu bergère (arr. Murphy); Entre le
boeuf et l’âne gris (arr. Murphy); Büsser: Le
sommeil de L’Enfant Jésus; Widor: Ave Maria;
traditional carols; and other works. Julie Nesrallah,
mezzo; Caroline Léonardelli, harp;
Matthew Larkin, piano. 345 Sorauren Ave.
416-822-9781. $25; $10(st). Cash only.
SING-ALONG
MESSIAH
DEC 17, MASSEY HALL
tafelmusik.org
●●2:00: Tafelmusik. Sing-Along Messiah.
Music by Handel. Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra
and Chamber Choir; Joanne Lunn, soprano;
James Laing, countertenor; Rufus
Müller, tenor; Brett Polegato, baritone; Ivars
Taurins, conductor. Massey Hall, 178 Victoria
St. 416-872-4255. From $30.
●●3:00: Greater Toronto Philharmonic
Orchestra. Christmas at Columbus Centre.
Tchaikovsky: The Nutcracker Suite;
MacMillan: Christmas Carols; Verdi: Va pensiero
from Nabucco; Donizetti: Overture and
arias from L’Elisir d’amore; Handel: Messiah
(excerpts). Elisabeth Polese, soprano; Columbus
Belle Voci Choir; Paolo Busato, conductor.
Columbus Centre, 901 Lawrence Ave. W. 647-
238-0015. $25; $20(sr); $15(st).
●●3:00: Mississauga Symphony Orchestra. A
Merry Little Christmas. Bob Anderson, music
director; Resonance Youth Choir. Hammerson
Hall, Living Arts Centre, 4141 Living Arts
Dr., Mississauga. 905-306-6000. $40-$65;
$36-$58(sr); $30(youth); $25(15 and under);
$100(family).
●●3:00: Pax Christi Chorale. Gloria. Poulenc:
Gloria; Duruflé: Four Motets; Fauré: Cantique
de Jean Racine; Gounod: Noël; classic french
carols. Andrea Núñez, soprano; Daniel Norman,
organ; David Bowser, conductor. Grace
Church on-the-Hill, 300 Lonsdale Rd. n/a.
$45; $40(sr); $25(st). Also Dec 16(7:30pm).
●●4:00: Cathedral Church of St. James.
Organ Recital: Manuel Piazza. 65 Church St.
416-364-7865 x234. Donations welcomed.
●●4:30: Christ Church Deer Park. Jazz Vespers.
Ellington’s Nutcracker. The Brian Barlow
Big Band. 1570 Yonge St. 416-920-5211.
Freewill offering. Religious service.
●●4:30: Church of the Holy Trinity. The
Christmas Story. See Dec 8 for details.
●●4:30: Yorkminster Park Baptist Church.
Nine Lessons and Carols. 1585 Yonge St. 416-
922-1167. Free. Religious service.
●●5:30: National Ballet of Canada. The Nutcracker.
Opens Dec 9. Runs to Dec 30. Days
and times vary. See national.ballet.ca for
details.
●●7:00: Music at Metropolitan. Candlelight
Service of Lessons and Carols. The Metropolitan
Choirs. Metropolitan United Church
(Toronto), 56 Queen St. E. 416-363-0331 x26.
Freewill offering.
●●7:00: Royal Conservatory. Emilie-Claire
Barlow: Lumières d’hiver Album Release Concert.
Koerner Hall, Telus Centre, 273 Bloor St.
W. 416-408-0208. From $40.
●●7:00: St. Thomas’s Anglican Church. Festival
of Nine Lessons and Carols. St. Thomas’s
Church Choir; Elizabeth Anderson,
assistant organist; Matthew Larkin, organ
and conductor. St. Thomas’s Anglican Church
(Toronto), 383 Huron St. 416-979-2323. Freewill
offering. Religious service.
●●7:00: The Choir of Trinity-St. Paul’s United
Church & VIVA! Youth Singers of Toronto.
Carols by Candlelight. A seasonal service of
music and candlelight. Trinity-St. Paul’s Centre,
427 Bloor St. W. 416-922-8435. Free.
Peace on Earth
Carols, stories and seasonal
music, served up with
holiday food and TMT’s
famous Renaissance Punch.
17 & 18 December 2017
●●7:30: Toronto Masque Theatre Salon Series.
Peace on Earth: A Christmas Salon. Carols,
songs and instrumental works; Lucas:
The Birth of Christ (excerpts). Atrium,
21 Shaftesbury Ave. 416-410-4561. $25. Food,
drink and silent auction. Also Dec 18.
●●7:30: Victoria Scholars. Yuletide on the
Canadian Side. Our Lady of Sorrows Church,
3055 Bloor St. W., Etobicoke. 416-761-7776.
$30; $25(sr/st). Also Dec 18(Blessed Sacrament
Church).
●●7:30: York Symphony Orchestra. YSO
Holiday Spectacular. Seasonal favourites
and audience sing-along. St. Mary’s Anglican
Church, 10030 Yonge St., Richmond Hill.
416-410-0860. $28; $23(sr); $15(st). Also
Dec 16(3:30pm and 8pm, Aurora).
●●8:00: Istituto Italiano di Cultura di
Toronto. Vesuvius Ensemble: Christmas Concert.
Traditional Christmas folk songs from
the Italian countryside. Heliconian Hall,
35 Hazelton Ave. 416-356-5016. $25; $10(sr/
st); free(children under 12). Also Dec 19.
●●8:00: Music Gallery/Kith & Kin. Kith &
Kin Holiday Wassail. 918 Bathurst Centre
48 | December 1, 2017 - February 7, 2018 thewholenote.com

for Culture, Arts, Media and Education,
918 Bathurst St. 416-204-1080. $18; $16(adv);
$12(st/member/arts worker); free(ages 12
and under).
THAT CHOIR
CAROLS
featuring Resonance & our
family carol sing-a-long
Dec 17, 2017 | 8PM
thatc ho ir. c o m
●●8:00: That Choir. That Choir Carols.
Whitacre: Lux Nova; Gjeilo: Serenity; Twardowski:
Alleluia; K. Allan: Angels’ Daley: Huron
Carol; M. Emery: new work. Guests: Resonance
Youth Choir. St. Andrew’s Church
(Toronto), 73 Simcoe St. 416-419-1756. $30;
$20(sr/arts worker); $10(st); free(under 18).
Monday December 18
●●7:00: St. Cuthbert’s Anglican Church
(Toronto). Carols with Friends. Carol singalong.
1399 Bayview Ave. 416-485-0329. Free
with donation to Flemingdon Park Community
Food Bank. Mulled cider and cookies to follow.
●●7:30: Toronto Masque Theatre Salon Series.
Peace on Earth: A Christmas Salon. Carols,
songs and instrumental works; Lucas:
The Birth of Christ (excerpts). Atrium,
21 Shaftesbury Ave. 416-410-4561. $25. Food,
drink and silent auction. Also Dec 17.
●●7:30: Victoria Scholars. Yuletide on the
Canadian Side. Blessed Sacrament Church,
24 Cheritan Ave. 416-761-7776. $30; $25(sr/
st). Also Dec 17(Our Lady of Sorrows Church).
●●8:00: Toronto Symphony Orchestra. Messiah.
Karina Gauvin, soprano; Kriztina Szabó,
mezzo; Frédéric Antoun, tenor; Joshua Hopkins,
baritone; Toronto Mendelssohn Choir;
Matthew Halls, conductor. Roy Thomson Hall,
60 Simcoe St. 416-593-1285. $38.75-$111.25.
Also Dec 19, 20, 22(all at 8pm), 23(3pm).
Tuesday December 19
21 ST ANNUAL NOON HOUR
CHOIR & ORGAN CONCERTS
ELMER ISELER
SINGERS
Season of Joy
Lydia Adams, conductor
Shawn Grenke, organ
TUE DEC 19 ◆ 12 PM
FREE
ROYTHOMSONHALL.COM
416-872-4255
●●12:00 noon: Roy Thomson Hall. Elmer Iseler
Singers. Season of Joy. Shawn Grenke, organ;
Lydia Adams, conductor. 60 Simcoe St. 416-
872-1255. Free.
●●1:00: Cathedral Church of St. James.
Organ Recital: Manuel Piazza. 65 Church St.
416-364-7865 x234. Donations welcomed.
●●7:00: Mississauga Festival Youth Choir.
Joy and Wishes. Folk songs and carols
from around the world. Youth Choristers;
piano; percussion. Eden United Church,
3051 Battleford Rd., Mississauga. 905-267-
1101. $15; $10(sr/child under 10).
●●7:00: National Ballet of Canada. The Nutcracker.
Opens Dec 9. Runs to Dec 30. Days
and times vary. See national.ballet.ca for
details.
●●8:00: Istituto Italiano di Cultura di
Toronto. Vesuvius Ensemble: Christmas Concert.
Traditional Christmas folk songs from
the Italian countryside. Heliconian Hall,
35 Hazelton Ave. 416-356-5016. $25; $10(sr/
st); free(children under 12). Also Dec 17.
●●8:00: Toronto Symphony Orchestra. Messiah.
See Dec 18 for details. Also Dec 20, 22(all
at 8pm), 23(3pm).
FAITH
AMOUR
& Friends
JAZZ FOR CHRISTMAS
Wednesday
Dec 20, 7pm
faithamourjazz.com
●●7:30: Cardinal Carter Academy for the
Arts Vocal Program. A Festival of Nine Lessons
and Carols. 165 singers from school
vocal ensembles. St. Justin Martyr Church,
3898 Hwy. 7, Unionville. 416-393-5556. $20.
●●8:00: Toronto Symphony Orchestra. Messiah.
See Dec 18 for details. Also Dec 19,
22(both at 8pm), 23(3pm).
Thursday December 21
●●7:00: National Ballet of Canada. The Nutcracker.
Opens Dec 9. Runs to Dec 30. Days
and times vary. See national.ballet.ca for
details.
●●7:00: Yorkminster Park Baptist Church.
John McDermott: Family Christmas. Guests:
Dala. 1585 Yonge St. 416-241-1298 or eventbrite.com.
$30/$25(adv).
●●7:30: Church of the Holy Trinity. The
Christmas Story. See Dec 8 for details.
●●8:00: Quartetto Gelato. The Magic of
Christmas. Christmas carols, gypsy tunes,
original compositions and other works. Trinity-St.
Paul’s Centre, 427 Bloor St. W. 416-738-
6390. $25-$60.
●●8:00: Roy Thomson Hall. The Barra Mac-
Neils: An East Coast Christmas. 60 Simcoe St.
416-872-4255. $29.50-$199.50.
THE BARRA
MACNEILS
An East Coast Christmas
THU DEC 21 ◆ 8 PM
ROYTHOMSONHALL.COM
416-872-4255
Wednesday December 20
MESSIAH
DEC 18–23
Tickets are limited—book now!
TSO.CA/holiday
●●12:30: Organix Concerts/All Saints Kingsway.
Kingsway Organ Concert Series Listings.
Stefani Bedin, organ. All Saints Kingsway
Anglican Church, 2850 Bloor St. W. 416-571-
3680. Freewill offering. 45-minute concert.
●●7:00: National Ballet of Canada. The Nutcracker.
Opens Dec 9. Runs to Dec 30. Days
and times vary. See national.ballet.ca for
details.
●●7:00: In Tribute Jazz Productions. Jazz
for Christmas. The Christmas Song; Baby, It’s
Cold Outside; Coventry Caroll; Let It Snow; Little
Drummer Boy; and other seasonal works.
Faith Amour, alto; Taylor Evans, tenor; Jeremy
Ledbetter, piano; Mark Godfrey, bass; Morgan
Childs, drums. Jazz Bistro, 251 Victoria St.
416-363-5299. $20.
thewholenote.com December 1, 2017 - February 7, 2018 | 49

QUARTETTO
GELATO
presents
THE MAGIC OF CHRISTMAS
December 21, 8pm
An exciting holiday show of well-known
Christmas songs and carols, virtuosic showpieces,
gypsy tunes and original compositions
Trinity-St. Paul United Church, Jeanne Lamon Hall,
427 Bloor St West, Toronto
Tickets start at $25 • eventbrite.ca
quartettogelato.ca • 416-738-6390
WITH SPECIAL GUESTS DALA
Friday December 22
●●7:00: National Ballet of Canada. The Nutcracker.
Opens Dec 9. Runs to Dec 30. Days
and times vary. See national.ballet.ca for
details.
●●7:30: Burlington Performing Arts Centre/Orillia
Opera House. Charles Dickens’
A Christmas Carol. Burlington Performing
Arts Centre, Main Theatre, 440 Locust St.,
Burlington. 905-681-6000. $47; $25(child);
$124(family 4-pack). Also Dec 23(2pm and
7:30pm).
●●7:30: Church of the Holy Trinity. The
Christmas Story. See Dec 8 for details.
●●7:30: Euterpe Corporation/Reaching Out
Through Music. Holiday Concert. Ensemble
Vivant; St. James Town Children’s Choir; Anne
Massicotte, director. Rose Avenue Jr. Public
A. Concerts in the GTA
School, 675 Ontario St. 416-465-8856. Free.
●●8:00: Dr. Draw and the Strange
Parade. Holiday Extravaganza. Royal Cinema,
608 College St. www.drdraw.ca.
$35/$25(adv).
●●8:00: Living Arts Centre. My Home Land.
Sarzamin Man; Dawood Sarkhosh Ensemble.
4141 Living Arts Dr., Mississauga. 905-306-
6000. $60-$75.
●●8:00: Toronto Symphony Orchestra. Messiah.
See Dec 18 for details. Also Dec 19,
20(both at 8pm), 23(3pm).
Saturday December 23
●●2:00: Burlington Performing Arts Centre/Orillia
Opera House. Charles Dickens’
A Christmas Carol. Burlington Performing
Arts Centre, Main Theatre, 440 Locust St.,
Burlington. 905-681-6000. $47; $25(child);
$124(family 4-pack). Also Dec 22, 23(7:30pm).
●●2:00: National Ballet of Canada. The Nutcracker.
Opens Dec 9. Runs to Dec 30. Days
and times vary. See national.ballet.ca for
details.
●●3:00: Toronto Symphony Orchestra. Messiah.
See Dec 18 for details. Also Dec 19, 20,
22(all at 8pm).
●●4:30: Church of the Holy Trinity. The
Christmas Story. See Dec 8 for details.
●●7:00: National Ballet of Canada. The Nutcracker.
Opens Dec 9. Runs to Dec 30. Days and
times vary. See national.ballet.ca for details.
●●7:30: Burlington Performing Arts Centre/Orillia
Opera House. Charles Dickens’
A Christmas Carol. Burlington Performing
Arts Centre, Main Theatre, 440 Locust St.,
Burlington. 905-681-6000. $47; $25(child);
$124(family 4-pack). Also Dec 22(7:30pm),
23(2pm).
●●7:30: Church of the Holy Trinity. The
Christmas Story. See Dec 8 for details.
Sunday December 24
●●10:30am: Music at St. Andrew’s. 4th Sunday
of Advent: Candle of Love. St. Andrew’s
Gallery Choir; Dan Bickle, organ. St. Andrew’s
Church (Toronto), 73 Simcoe St. 416-593-
5600 x220. Freewill offering. Religious
service.
●●1:00: National Ballet of Canada. The Nutcracker.
Opens Dec 9. Runs to Dec 30. Days
December 21st
7:00 pm
YORKMINSTER PARK
BAPTIST CHURCH
1585 Yonge Street
www.yorkminsterpark.com
TICKETS:
General Admission: $25
Online: $26.74
at www.eventbrite.com
At the door: $30.00
Euterpe & Reaching Out Through Music present a
free community outreach concert celebrating the
spirit of the holiday season.
Ensemble Vivant
joined by the St. James Town Children’s Choir,
directed by Anne Massicotte
December 22, 2017 • 7:30
Rose Avenue Jr. Public School
Come One and All!
Concert is free of charge.
50 | December 1, 2017 - February 7, 2018 thewholenote.com

and times vary. See national.ballet.ca for
details.
●●4:00: Church of St. Mary Magdalene
(Toronto). Sung Mass with Pageant and Carols.
477 Manning Ave. 416-531-7955. Free.
Religious service.
●●4:30: Cathedral Church of St. James. Nine
Lessons and Carols. TBA. Choir of St. James
Cathedral. 65 Church St. 416-364-7865 x234.
Free.
●●4:30: Church of the Holy Trinity. The
Christmas Story. See Dec 8 for details.
●●5:30: St. Anne’s Anglican Church. Christmas
Eve Service. Christmas carol sing-along;
Choral eucharist. Organ and brass quartet.
270 Gladstone Ave. 416-536-3160. Freewill
offering. Religious service. Also 10:30pm.
●●7:00: Music at St. Andrew’s. Candlelight
Service of Lessons and Carols. St. Andrew’s
Gallery Choir; Aldbury Garden Brass Quintet;
Dan Bickle, organ. St. Andrew’s Church
(Toronto), 73 Simcoe St. 416-593-5600 x220.
Freewill offering. Religious service.
●●10:30: St. Anne’s Anglican Church. Christmas
Eve Service. Christmas carol sing-along;
Choral eucharist. Organ and brass quartet.
270 Gladstone Ave. 416-536-3160. Freewill
offering. Religious service. Also 5:30pm.
●●11:00: Church of St. Mary Magdalene
(Toronto). Solumn Midnight Mass and Procession.
477 Manning Ave. 416-531-7955. Free.
Religious service.
●●11:00: Music at St. Andrew’s. Christmas
Eve Candlelight Service of Worship and
Carols. St. Andrew’s Gallery Choir; Daniel
Bickle, organ. St. Andrew’s Church (Toronto),
73 Simcoe St. 416-593-5600 x220. Freewill
offering. Religious service.
●●11:00: St. Thomas’s Anglican Church.
Christmas Eve Midnight Mass. St. Thomas’s
Church Choir; Elizabeth Anderson, assistant
organist; Matthew Larkin, organ and
conductor. St. Thomas’s Anglican Church
(Toronto), 383 Huron St. 416-979-2323. Freewill
offering. Religious service.
Monday December 25
●●9:30am: Music at St. Thomas’s. Christmas
Day: Sung Eucharist. Matthew Larkin, organ
and director of music. St. Thomas’s Anglican
Church (Toronto), 383 Huron St. 613-962-
3636. By donation. Religious service.
●●10:00am: Church of St. Mary Magdalene
(Toronto). Sung Mass with Carols.
477 Manning Ave. 416-531-7955. Free. Religious
service.
●●11:00am: Music at St. Thomas’s. Christmas
Day: Solemn Eucharist. Matthew Larkin,
organ and director of music. St. Thomas’s
Anglican Church (Toronto), 383 Huron St.
613-962-3636. By donation. Religious service.
Wednesday December 27
●●1:00: National Ballet of Canada. The Nutcracker.
Opens Dec 9. Runs to Dec 30. Days and
times vary. See national.ballet.ca for details.
●●5:30: National Ballet of Canada. The Nutcracker.
Opens Dec 9. Runs to Dec 30. Days and
times vary. See national.ballet.ca for details.
Thursday December 28
●●7:00: National Ballet of Canada. The Nutcracker.
Opens Dec 9. Runs to Dec 30. Days and
times vary. See national.ballet.ca for details.
In Concert
Watch on the big screen while a full
symphony orchestra plays the entire
score in sync with the film!
December
28 & 29
●●7:30: Sony Centre for the Performing
Arts. Jurassic Park in Concert. Motion Picture
Symphony Orchestra. 1 Front St. E.
1-855-872-7669 or 416-916-7878. $49-$99.
Also Dec 29.
●●8:00: Toronto Operetta Theatre. Candide.
Music by Leonard Bernstein. Tonatiuh
Abrego, tenor (Candide); Elizabeth Beeler,
soprano (Old Lady); Vania Lizbeth Chan, soprano
(Cunégonde); Nicholas Borg, baritone
(Voltaire/Pangloss/Martin); Cian Horrobin,
tenor (Governor); and others; Derek
Bate, conductor. St. Lawrence Centre for
the Arts, 27 Front St. E. 416-366-7723. $49-
$95. Also Dec 30, Jan 5, 6(all at 8pm), Dec 31,
Jan 7(both at 3pm).
St_Andrews_Church_Dec2016.pdf 1 2016-11-15 8:05 AM
cANDLELIGHT
Friday December 29
●●1:00: National Ballet of Canada. The Nutcracker.
Opens Dec 9. Runs to Dec 30. Days and
times vary. See national.ballet.ca for details.
●●5:30: National Ballet of Canada. The Nutcracker.
Opens Dec 9. Runs to Dec 30. Days and
times vary. See national.ballet.ca for details.
●●7:30: Sony Centre for the Performing
Arts. Jurassic Park in Concert. Motion Picture
Symphony Orchestra. 1 Front St. E.
1-855-872-7669 or 416-916-7878. $49-$99.
Also Dec 28.
Saturday December 30
●●2:00: Flato Markham Theatre. Canada’s
Ballet Jorgen: The Nutcracker, A Canadian
Tradition. 171 Town Centre Blvd., Markham.
905-305-7469. $15-$55. Also 7pm.
●●2:00: National Ballet of Canada. The Nutcracker.
Opens Dec 9. Runs to Dec 30. Days and
times vary. See national.ballet.ca for details.
●●7:00: National Ballet of Canada. The Nutcracker.
Opens Dec 9. Runs to Dec 30. Days and
times vary. See national.ballet.ca for details.
●●8:00: Toronto Operetta Theatre. Candide.
See Dec 28 for details.
Sunday December 31
●●3:00: Toronto Operetta Theatre. Candide.
See Dec 28 for details.
●●7:00: Attila Glatz Concert Productions/
Roy Thomson Hall. Bravissimo! Opera’s
Greatest Hits. Selections from Carmen, La
bohème, Turandot. Barbara Bargnesi and
Francesca Sassu, sopranos; Carolyn Sproule,
Christmas Eve
Services
7 PM
Lessons & Carols
Organ, brass band &
our renowned choir
TM & © Universal Studios
Tonatiuh Abrego
11 PM
Worship & Carols
Organ & our choir
Vania Chan
by Leonard Bernstein
Derek Bate
Conductor
Guillermo Silva-Marin
Stage Director
Dec. 28
to Jan.7
torontooperetta.com
New Year’s Eve • 7:00 pm
Tickets: 416.872.4255
roythomsonhall.com
Opera Stars,
Chorus & Orchestra
Roy Thomson Hall
mezzo; David Pomeroy, tenor; Massimo Cavalletti,
baritone. Roy Thomson Hall, 60 Simcoe
St. 416-872-4255. From $55.
Monday January 1
416.872.4255
roythomsonhall.com
January 1 • 2:30 pm
Roy Thomson Hall
● ● 2:30: Attila Glatz Concert Productions/Roy
Thomson Hall. Salute to Vienna New Year’s
Concert. Lilla Galambos, soprano; Thomas
Weinhappel, baritone; Strauss Symphony
of Canada; Kiev-Aniko Ballet of Ukraine and
International Champion Ballroom Dancers;
thewholenote.com December 1, 2017 - February 7, 2018 | 51

Niels Muus, conductor. Roy Thomson Hall,
60 Simcoe St. 416-872-4255. From $65.
Thursday January 4
●●12:00 noon: Encore Symphonic Concert
Band. In Concert. Big Band swing, jazz, film
scores and marches. Wilmar Heights Centre,
963 Pharmacy Ave., Scarborough. 416-
346-3910. $10.
●●5:30: Adam Sherkin. Rachmaninoff: Let
Hands Speak. Rachmaninoff: Morceaux
de fantaisie, op. 3 (transcribed for saxophone
and piano), Lullaby (After Tchaikovsky),
Scherzo (from a Midsummer Night’s
Dream); Sherkin: Elegiac Variants (2017),
Northern Frames (2013), Sunderance (2008).
Adam Sherkin, piano; David Zucchi, saxophones.
Glenn Gould Studio, lobby, 250 Front
St. W. 416-205-5000. $30; $26 (sr); $22 (35
and under). The Write Off the Keyboard Series
is presented in partnership with Steinway
Piano Gallery.
A. Concerts in the GTA
Friday January 5
●●8:00: Toronto Operetta Theatre. Candide.
See Dec 28 for details.
Saturday January 6
●●7:30: Li Delun Music Foundation. New
Year’s Concert 2018. Bernstein: Magnificent
Seven Theme; Beethoven: Piano Concerto
No.2; Verdi: Ah, forse e lui from La traviata
and a Chinese song; Anlun Huang: Chinese
Rhapsody No.9; and other works. Ryan Wang,
piano; Yuanyuan Huo, soprano; Toronto Festival
Orchestra; Dongxiao Xu, conductor. Host:
Kemin Zhang. George Weston Recital Hall,
5040 Yonge St. 416-490-7962. $30-$88.
●●8:00: Toronto Operetta Theatre. Candide.
See Dec 28. Also Jan 7(3pm).
Sunday January 7
●●2:00: Royal Conservatory. Sunday Interludes:
Rachel Barton Pine. Mazzoleni Concert
Hall, Royal Conservatory, 273 Bloor St. W. 416-
408-0208. Free.
●●2:00: St. Barnabas Anglican Church. Charlotte
Abbott, Soprano and Michael Pare,
Guitar. Scarlatti; Argento: Letters from Composers;
Celtic and Canadian Folksongs.
361 Danforth Ave. 416-463-1344. $20; $10(sr/
st).
●●3:00: Toronto Operetta Theatre. Candide.
See Dec 28 for details.
●●4:00: Church of St. Mary Magdalene
(Toronto). Organ music for Epiphany.
Andrew Adair, organ. 477 Manning Ave. 416-
531-7955. Free.
●●4:00: St. Olave’s Anglican Church. Epiphany
Choral Evensong. 360 Windermere Ave.
416-769-5686. Contributions appreciated.
Religious service with Epiphany tea following.
5pm: Lecture by Dr. Giles Bryant on Cathedral
and Parish Music.
●●4:30: Christ Church Deer Park. Jazz Vespers.
TBA. 1570 Yonge St. 416-920-5211. Freewill
offering. Religious service.
●●7:00: St. Thomas’s Anglican Church. Evensong
with Epiphany Carols. St. Thomas’s
Church Choir; Elizabeth Anderson, assistant
organist; Matthew Larkin, organ and
conductor. St. Thomas’s Anglican Church
(Toronto), 383 Huron St. 416-979-2323. Freewill
offering. Religious service.
Tuesday January 9
●●12:00 noon: Canadian Opera Company.
Chamber Music Series: Martinů and Korngold.
Martinů: Three Madrigals for violin and
viola; Korngold: String Sextet in D Op.10. Artists
of the COC Orchestra. Richard Bradshaw
Amphitheatre, Four Seasons Centre for the
Performing Arts, 145 Queen St. W. 416-363-
8231. Free. First-come, first-served. Late seating
not available.
●●12:10: Nine Sparrows Arts Foundation/
Yorkminster Park Baptist Church. Lunchtime
Chamber Music: Rising Stars Recital.
Sophia Szokolay, violin. Yorkminster Park
Baptist Church, 1585 Yonge St. 416-241-1298.
Free; donations welcomed.
Wednesday January 10
●●12:00 noon: Yorkminster Park Baptist
Church. Noonday Organ Recitals: Alex
Straus-Fausto. 1585 Yonge St. 416-922-1167.
Free.
●●12:10: TO.U Collective/Music at St.
Andrew’s. Noontime Recital. Aperghis: À
Tombeau ouvert. Jana Luksts, piano. St.
Andrew’s Church (Toronto), 73 Simcoe St.
416-593-5600 x231. Free.
●●5:30: Canadian Opera Company. World
Music and Jazz Series: Golpes y Flores. Eliana
Cuevas, singer and songwriter. Richard Bradshaw
Amphitheatre, Four Seasons Centre for
the Performing Arts, 145 Queen St. W. 416-
363-8231. Free. First-come, first-served. Late
seating not available.
●●7:30: Tafelmusik. Tafelmusik Winter Institute
Concert. Works by Lully, Campra, Marais
and Rameau. Participants of the annual
Tafelmusik Winter Institute. Trinity-St. Paul’s
Centre, 427 Bloor St. W. 416-964-6337. Free.
Arrive early to get the best seats.
●●8:00: Toronto Symphony Orchestra. Mozart@262
Festival: Majestic Mozart. Mozart:
Serenade No.10 in B-flat K3701A/361 “Gran
Partita”; Symphony No.39 in E-flat K543. Bernard
Labadie, conductor. Roy Thomson Hall,
60 Simcoe St. 416-593-1285. $34.75-$148.
Also Jan 13.
Thursday January 11
●●12:00 noon: Canadian Opera Company.
Dance Series: Dance Ontario’s Dance Weekend
Preview. Kaha:wi Dance Theatre. Richard
Bradshaw Amphitheatre, Four Seasons Centre
for the Performing Arts, 145 Queen St. W.
416-363-8231. Free. First-come, first-served.
Late seating not available.
●●12:10: University of Toronto Faculty of
Music. Thursdays at Noon: Bev @ 60! Works
by Kontogiorgos, Hatzis, Wijeratne and Ho.
Beverley Johnston, percussion. Walter Hall,
Edward Johnson Building, University of
Toronto, 80 Queen’s Park. 416-408-0208.
Free.
●●12:30: York University Department of
Music. Jazz at Noon: Turboprop. Martin
Family Lounge, Accolade East Building, YU,
4700 Keele St. 647-459-0701. Free.
●●8:00: Music Toronto. Brentano Quartet
with Soprano Dawn Upshaw. Webern: Bagatelles
interwoven with Schubert Minuets
(D89); Mario Davidovsky: Quartet No.4; Respighi:
Il tramonto; Schoenberg: Quartet No.2.
St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts, 27 Front St.
E. 416-366-7723. $50-$55; $10(st, full time).
RYAN WANG
JAN 4 THU, 7:30 PM
Piano Recital
Tickets:
canadaticketbox.com
●●7:30: Li Delun Music Foundation. Ryan
Wang Piano Recital. Works by Bach,
Beethoven, Chopin, Debussy, Poulenc and
Bartók. Fairview Library Theatre, 35 Fairview
Mall Dr. 416-490-7962. $25/$33(VIP).
Sunday 7 Jan. at 4 p.m.
Choral Evensong
for Epiphany Sunday
plus Epiphany Tea and at 5:
GILES BRYANT:
CATHEDRAL AND
PARISH MUSIC
Giles traces Anglican church
music from just before the
Prayer Book up to now.
His illustrated talk at the piano
will focus on Tallis, Purcell,
Maurice Greene, Stanford,
S.S. Wesley, Howells and
their parish contemporaries.
St. Olave’s Church
Bloor and Windermere
416-769-5686 stolaves.ca
52 | December 1, 2017 - February 7, 2018 thewholenote.com

January 11 at 8pm
BRENTANO
QUARTET
with soprano
DAWN UPSHAW
Friday January 12
●●7:30: Toronto Symphony Orchestra. Mozart@262
Festival: What Makes It Great?®
Mozart Clarinet Concerto. Q&A with audience.
Mozart: Clarinet Concerto in A K622
(Various musical examples and commentary)
followed by the complete Clarinet Concerto.
Joaquin Valdepeñas, clarinet; Rob Kapilow,
conductor. Roy Thomson Hall, 60 Simcoe St.
416-593-1285. $35.75-$83.75.
Saturday January 13
●●7:00: Toronto Gilbert and Sullivan Society.
Songfest. A glorious evening of G&S with four
companies performing excerptsfrom their
upcoming productions. St. Andrew’s United
Church (Bloor St.), 117 Bloor St E. 416-763-
0832. Free(members); $5(non-members).
Refreshments included.
●●7:30: Southern Ontario Lyric Opera.
Encore: Favourite Opera Arias. Jean Stilwell,
mezzo; Joni Henson, soprano; David Pomeroy,
tenor. Burlington Performing Arts Centre,
440 Locust St., Burlington. 905-681-6000.
$20-$65.
●●8:00: Toronto Symphony Orchestra. Mozart@262
Festival: Majestic Mozart. Mozart:
Serenade No.10 in B-flat K3701A/361 “Gran
Partita”; Symphony No.39 in E-flat K543. Bernard
Labadie, conductor. Roy Thomson Hall,
60 Simcoe St. 416-593-1285. $34.75-$148.
Also Jan 10.
Sunday January 14
●●1:15: Mooredale Concerts. Music and Truffles:
Piano Dialogue: David Jalbert and Wonny
Song. Host Joanna leads an interactive concert
for young people with a Lindt truffle
at the end. Walter Hall, Edward Johnson
Building, University of Toronto, 80 Queen’s
Park. 416-922-3714 x103. $20. 3:15pm: main
performance.
●●3:00: St. Paul’s Bloor Street. Stephen
Frketic, Organ. 227 Bloor St. E. 416-961-8116.
Free.
●●3:00: Vesnivka. Vesnivka’s Christmas Concert.
Guests: Natalya Matyusheva, soprano;
Pavlo Fondera, baritone; Dudaryk Men’s
Chamber Choir from Lviv. Islington United
Church, 25 Burnhamthorpe Rd. 416-763-2197
or 416-246-9880. $30; $25(sr/st). Reception
with coffee and home-baked treats after
the concert.
●●3:15: Mooredale Concerts. Piano Dialogue:
David Jalbert and Wonny Song. Rachmaninoff:
Suite No.1 “Fantasie-tableaux” in g
Op.5; Sleeping Beauty Waltz; Milhaud: Scaramouche
Op.165b; Stravinsky: Petrushka Suite
for two pianos. Walter Hall, Edward Johnson
Building, University of Toronto, 80 Queen’s
Park. 416-922-3714 x103. $40; $20(under 30).
1:15pm: Music and Truffles.
KammerKonzert
SUN. JAN. 14 @ 404 JARVIS ST.
www.NewMusicConcerts.com
●●8:00: New Music Concerts. Kammerkonzert.
Berg: Kammerkonzert; Schoenberg:
Phantasy Op.47; Oesterle: Chamber
Concerto. Duo Diorama (MingHuan Xu, violin;
Winston Choi, piano); New Music Concerts
Ensemble; Robert Aitken, conductor.
Betty Oliphant Theatre, 404 Jarvis St. 416-
961-9594. $35; $25(sr/arts workers); $10(st).
7:15pm: pre-concert talk.
Monday January 15
●●7:00: Royal Conservatory. Music Mix:
Maple Blues Awards. Koerner Hall, Telus Centre,
273 Bloor St. W. 416-408-0208. $35-$80.
Tuesday January 16
● ● 12:00 noon: Canadian Opera Company.
Chamber Music Series: The English Violin.
Elgar: Violin Sonata in e Op. 82; Britten: Suite
for violin and piano Op.6. Benjamin Baker,
violin; Daniel Lebhardt, piano. Richard Bradshaw
Amphitheatre, Four Seasons Centre for
the Performing Arts, 145 Queen St. W. 416-
363-8231. Free. First-come, first-served. Late
seating not available.
●●12:00 noon: York University Department
of Music Student Association. Music Media
Showcase. Martin Family Lounge, Accolade
East Building, YU, 4700 Keele St. 647-459-
0701. Free.
●●12:10: Nine Sparrows Arts Foundation/
Yorkminster Park Baptist Church. Lunchtime
Chamber Music: Rising Stars Recital.
Students from the Glenn Gould School. Yorkminster
Park Baptist Church, 1585 Yonge St.
416-241-1298. Free; donations welcomed.
●●7:00: University of Toronto Faculty of
Music. Student Composers Concert. Walter
Hall, Edward Johnson Building, University
of Toronto, 80 Queen’s Park. 416-408-0208.
Free.
Wednesday January 17
●●12:00 noon: Organix Concerts/All Saints
Kingsway. Kingsway Organ Concert Series
Listings. Andrew Adair, organ. All Saints
Kingsway Anglican Church, 2850 Bloor St. W.
416-571-3680. Freewill offering. 45-minute
concert.
●●12:00 noon: York University Department
of Music. Music @ Midday: New Music
Ensemble. Matt Brubeck, conductor. Martin
Family Lounge, Accolade East Building, YU,
4700 Keele St. 647-459-0701. Free.
●●12:00 noon: Yorkminster Park Baptist
Church. Noonday Organ Recitals. Performer
TBA. 1585 Yonge St. 416-922-1167. Free.
●●8:00: Toronto Symphony Orchestra.
JAN
18
8 PM
Mozart@262 Festival: Essential Mozart. Mozart:
Overture to The Magic Flute K620; Sinfonia
concertante in E-flat for Violin, Viola,
and Orchestra K364/320d; Overture to
Der Schauspieldirektor (The Impresario)
K486; Symphony No.36 in C K425 “Linz”.
Jonathan Crow, violin; Teng Li, viola; Bernard
Labadie, conductor. Roy Thomson Hall,
60 Simcoe St. 416-593-1285. $34.75-$148.
Also Jan 18(Koerner Hall).
Thursday January 18
●●12:10: University of Toronto Faculty of
Music. Thursdays at Noon: Timothy Ying,
Violin and Lydia Wong, Piano. Walter Hall,
Edward Johnson Building, University of
Toronto, 80 Queen’s Park. 416-408-0208.
Free.
●●7:30: York University Department of
Music Students Association. Music Media
Music Concert. Tribute Communities Recital
Hall, Accolade East Building, YU, 4700 Keele
St. 416-736-5888. $15; $10(sr/st).
●●8:00: Aga Khan Museum. Yemen Blues.
Yemeni song and poetry, Jewish music, West
African groove and funk. 77 Wynford Dr. 416-
646-677. $50. Tickets include same day entry
to the Aga Khan Museum.
●●8:00: Living Arts Centre. Nikki Yanofsky.
4141 Living Arts Dr., Mississauga. 905-306-
6000. $40-$60.
●●8:00: Tafelmusik. Safe Haven. Program
created by Alison Mackay. Works by Corelli,
Lully, Bach and Vivaldi. Elisa Citterio, director.
Trinity-St. Paul’s Centre, 427 Bloor St. W.
416-964-6337. From $19. Also Jan 19, 20(both
at 8pm), 21(3:30pm), 23(8pm, George Weston
Recital Hall).
NIKKI
YANOFSKY
“arguably one of the most talented acts in the
tradition of Amy Winehouse since Amy herself.”
– DuJour.com
thewholenote.com December 1, 2017 - February 7, 2018 | 53

SAFE HAVEN
JAN 18–21,
JEANNE LAMON HALL,
TRINITY-ST. PAUL’S CENTRE
tafelmusik.org
●●8:00: Toronto Symphony Orchestra. Mozart@262
Festival: Essential Mozart. Mozart:
Overture to The Magic Flute K620; Sinfonia
concertante in E-flat for Violin, Viola,
and Orchestra K364/320d; Overture to Der
Schauspieldirektor (The Impresario) K486;
Symphony No.36 in C K425 “Linz”. Jonathan
Crow, violin; Teng Li, viola; Bernard Labadie,
conductor. Koerner Hall, Telus Centre,
273 Bloor St. W. 416-593-1285. $34.75-$148.
Also Jan 17(Roy Thomson Hall).
Friday January 19
●●7:30: Living Arts Centre. Shen Yun.
4141 Living Arts Dr., Mississauga. 905-306-
6000. $100-$150. Also Jan 20(2pm and
7:30pm), 21(2pm), 23(7:30pm).
●●7:30: Toronto Symphony Orchestra. Mozart@262
Festival: Mozart Jupiter Symphony.
Mozart: Rondo for Violin and Orchestra from
Serenade No.7 “Haffner” K248b; Adagio in E
for Violin and Orchestra K261; Piano Concerto
No. 23 in A K488; Symphony No.41 in C K551
“Jupiter”. Charles Richard-Hamelin, piano;
Adrian Anantawan, violin; Peter Oundjian,
conductor. Roy Thomson Hall, 60 Simcoe St.
A. Concerts in the GTA
416-593-1285. $30.75-$148. Also Jan 20(2pm
and 8pm, Koerner Hall), 21(3pm, Toronto Centre
for the Arts).
The Splendour of
noTre
dame
The Choir of
ST JameS CaThedral
& organiST david BriggS
in ConCerT
friday, January 19, 2018
8:00pm
STJameScaThedral.ca
●●8:00: Cathedral Church of St. James.
The Splendour of Notre Dame. Castagnet:
Messe salve regina; Vierne: Messe solennelle;
Duruflé: motets; and other works. David
Briggs, organ; Choir of St. James Cathedral.
65 Church St. 416-364-7865 x234. From $20.
●●8:00: Tafelmusik. Safe Haven. Program
created by Alison Mackay. Works by Corelli,
Lully, Bach and Vivaldi. Elisa Citterio, director.
Trinity-St. Paul’s Centre, 427 Bloor St. W.
416-964-6337. From $19. Also Jan 18, 20(both
at 8pm), 21(3:30pm), 21(8pm, George Weston
Recital Hall).
Saturday January 20
●●2:00: Home Music Club. An Afternoon of
Chamber Music. Selections for piano, strings,
winds and voice. Northern District Public
Library, Room 224, 40 Orchard View Blvd.
416-393-7610. Free.
●●2:00: Living Arts Centre. Shen Yun.
4141 Living Arts Dr., Mississauga.
905-306-6000. $100-$150. Also Jan 19,
20(7:30pm), 21(2pm), 23(7:30pm).
●●2:00: Toronto Symphony Orchestra. Mozart@262
Festival: Mozart Jupiter Symphony.
Mozart: Rondo for Violin and Orchestra
from Serenade No.7 “Haffner” K248b; Adagio
in E for Violin and Orchestra K261; Piano
Concerto No. 23 in A K488; Symphony No.41
in C K551 “Jupiter”. Charles Richard-Hamelin,
piano; Adrian Anantawan, violin; Peter
Oundjian, conductor. Roy Thomson Hall,
60 Simcoe St. 416-593-1285. $30.75-$148.
Also Jan 19(7:30pm, Roy Thomson Hall),
20(8pm, Koerner Hall), 21(3pm, Toronto Centre
for the Arts).
●●3:00: York Region Chamber Music. The
Story of Babar the Elephant. Gershwin: Rhapsody
in Blue (arr. Joachim Linckelmann); Poulenc:
The Story of Babar the Elephant (arr.
Frédéric Lacroix). Quintroversy Woodwind
Quintet (Shaelyn Archibald, flute; Danielle
Johannes, oboe; Jessica Tse, clarinet; Megan
Morris, bassoon; Jay Austin, french horn).
Richmond Hill Centre for the Performing
Arts, 10268 Yonge St., Richmond Hill. 905-
787-8811. $25, $20(st/children).
●●7:30: Academy Concert Series. Dvořák
on the Low. Dvořák: String Quartet No.2 in
G Op.77; Onslow: String Quintet No.26 in g
Op.67. Mark Fewer, violin; Elizabeth Loewen
Andrews, violin; Emily Eng, viola; Kerri
McGonigle, cello; Joseph Phillips, bass. Eastminster
United Church, 310 Danforth Ave.
416-629-3716. $20; $14(sr/st); $5(under 18).
●●7:30: Canadian Opera Company. Rigoletto.
Music by Giuseppe Verdi. Roland Wood,
baritone (Rigoletto); Anna Christy, soprano
(Gilda); Stephen Costello, tenor (Duke of
Mantua); Joshua Guerrero, tenor (Duke of
Manuta); Christopher Alden, director; Stephen
Lord, conductor. Four Seasons Centre
for the Performing Arts, 145 Queen St. W. 416-
363-8231. $35-$225. Also Jan 27(4:30pm),
Feb 1, 4(2pm), 6, 9, 11(2pm), 17, 21, 23.
●●7:30: Living Arts Centre. Shen Yun. See
Jan 19 for details. Also Jan 20(2pm), 21(2pm),
23(7:30pm).
●●7:30: Opera by Request. Salome. Music by
R. Strauss. Naomi Eberhard, soprano (Salome);
Michael Robert-Broder, baritone
(Jochanaan); Jason Lamont, tenor (Herod);
Leah Giselle Field, mezzo (Herodias); Ryan
Harper, tenor (Narraboth); and others; William
Shookhoff, piano and conductor. College
Street United Church, 452 College St. 416-
455-2365. $20.
●●7:30: SoundCrowd. Movie Night. Songs and
themes from Back to the Future, Harry Potter
and Pitch Perfect performed a cappella.
Bloor Street United Church, 300 Bloor St. W.
soundcrowd.ca. Free.
●●8:00: Guitar Society of Toronto. Thibaut
Garcia. Works by Albéniz, Rodrigo, Tarrega
and others. St. Simon-the-Apostle Anglican
Church, 525 Bloor St. E. 416-964-8298.
$35/$30(adv); $30(sr/st)/$25(adv).
●●8:00: Tafelmusik. Safe Haven. Program
created by Alison Mackay. Works by Corelli,
Lully, Bach and Vivaldi. Elisa Citterio, director.
Trinity-St. Paul’s Centre, 427 Bloor St. W.
416-964-6337. From $19. Also Jan 18, 19(both
at 8pm), 21(3:30pm), 23(8pm, George Weston
Recital Hall).
●●8:00: Toronto Symphony Orchestra.
Mozart@262 Festival: Mozart Jupiter Symphony.
Mozart: Rondo for Violin and Orchestra
from Serenade No.7 “Haffner” K248b;
Adagio in E for Violin and Orchestra K261;
Piano Concerto No. 23 in A K488; Symphony
No.41 in C K551 “Jupiter”. Charles
VERDI
RIGOLETTO
JAN 20 –
FEB 23
coc.ca
54 | December 1, 2017 - February 7, 2018 thewholenote.com

Richard-Hamelin, piano; Adrian Anantawan,
violin; Peter Oundjian, conductor. Roy Thomson
Hall, 60 Simcoe St. 416-593-1285. $30.75-
$148. Also Jan 19(7:30pm, Roy Thomson Hall),
20(2pm, Koerner Hall), 21(3pm, Toronto Centre
for the Arts).
Sunday January 21
●●1:00: University of Toronto Faculty of
Music. UofT Symphony Orchestra Concerto
Competition Finals. Walter Hall, Edward
Johnson Building, University of Toronto,
80 Queen’s Park. 416-408-0208. Free.
●●2:00: Living Arts Centre. Shen Yun. See
Jan 19 for details. Also Jan 20(2pm and 7:30),
23(7:30pm).
●●2:00: Royal Conservatory. Russell Braun
Sings Schumann’s Dichterliebe. Mazzoleni
Concert Hall, Royal Conservatory, 273 Bloor
St. W. 416-408-0208. SOLD OUT.
●●2:30: University of Toronto Faculty of
Music. Opera Student Composer Collective:
Vengeance. Performed with Surtitles.
Michael Patrick Albano, director; Sandra
Horst, conductor. MacMillan Theatre, Edward
Johnson Building, 80 Queen’s Park. 416-408-
0208. Free.
●●3:00: Toronto Symphony Orchestra. Mozart@262
Festival: Mozart Jupiter Symphony.
Mozart: Rondo for Violin and Orchestra from
Serenade No.7 “Haffner” K248b; Adagio in
E for Violin and Orchestra K261; Piano Concerto
No. 23 in A K488; Symphony No.41 in
C K551 “Jupiter”. Charles Richard-Hamelin,
piano; Adrian Anantawan, violin; Peter Oundjian,
conductor. Roy Thomson Hall, 60 Simcoe
St. 416-593-1285. $30.75-$148. Also
Jan 19(7:30pm, Roy Thomson Hall), 20(2pm
and 8pm, Koerner Hall).
●●3:30: Tafelmusik. Safe Haven. Program created
by Alison Mackay. Works by Corelli, Lully,
Bach and Vivaldi. Elisa Citterio, director. Trinity-St.
Paul’s Centre, 427 Bloor St. W. 416-964-
6337. From $19. Also Jan 18, 19, 20(all at 8pm),
23(8pm, George Weston Recital Hall).
●●4:30: Christ Church Deer Park. Jazz Vespers.
TBA. 1570 Yonge St. 416-920-5211. Freewill
offering. Religious service.
●●5:00: Nocturnes in the City. Highlights
from Czech and World Operas. John Holland,
baritone; Danielle Dudycha, soprano;
William Shookhoff, piano. St. Wenceslaus
Church, 496 Gladstone Ave. 416-481-7294.
$25; $15(st).
●●8:00: Continuum Contemporary Music.
Time Travels Light. Oesterle: California; Staniland:
Time Travels Light; Orion Constellation
Theory v.1 & 2; Evans: new work. Rob Power
and Ryan Scott, percussion. Guests: TorQ Percussion
Quartet. 918 Bathurst Centre for Culture,
Arts, Media and Education, 918 Bathurst
St. 416-924-4945. $30; $20(sr/arts workers);
$10(st).
Monday January 22
●●7:30: University of Toronto Faculty of
Music. Musicians from Marlboro. Beethoven:
String Trio in c Op.9 No.3; Penderecki: Quartet;
Brahms: Clarinet Quintet in b Op.115.
Anthony McGill, clarinet; Emilie-Anne Gendron,
violin; David McCarroll, violin; Daniel
Kim, viola; Marcy Rosen, cello. Walter
Hall, Edward Johnson Building, University
of Toronto, 80 Queen’s Park. 416-408-0208.
$40; $25(sr); $10(st).
JANUARY 22
7:30 PM
music.utoronto.ca
Tuesday January 23
●●12:00 noon: Canadian Opera Company.
Vocal Series: Interpretations of Love. Joshua
Guerrero, tenor. Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre,
Four Seasons Centre for the Performing
Arts, 145 Queen St. W. 416-363-8231.
Free. First-come, first-served. Late seating
not available.
●●12:10: Nine Sparrows Arts Foundation/
Yorkminster Park Baptist Church. Lunchtime
Chamber Music. Angus Sinclair, ragtime
piano. Yorkminster Park Baptist Church,
1585 Yonge St. 416-241-1298. Free; donations
welcomed.
●●7:30: Living Arts Centre. Shen Yun. See
Jan 19 for details. Also Jan 20(2pm and
7:30pm), 21(2pm).
January 23 at 8pm
STEPHEN
HOUGH
●●8:00: Music Toronto. Stephen Hough,
Piano. Debussy: Clair de lune (Suite bergamasque);
Images Bk II; Schumann: Fantasie
Op.17; Debussy: La terrasse des audiences
au clair de lune (Préludes Bk II); Images Bk I;
Beethoven: Sonata in F Minor Op.57 “Appassionata”.
St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts,
27 Front St. E. 416-366-7723. $50-$55; $10(st,
full time).
●●8:00: Tafelmusik. Safe Haven. Program
created by Alison Mackay. Works by Corelli,
Lully, Bach and Vivaldi. Elisa Citterio, director.
SAFE HAVEN
JAN 23,
GEORGE WESTON RECITAL HALL,
TORONTO CENTRE FOR THE ARTS
tafelmusik.org
George Weston Recital Hall, 5040 Yonge St.
416-964-6337. From $15. Also Jan 18, 19, 20(all
at 8pm, Trinity-St. Paul’s Centre), 21(3:30pm,
Trinity-St. Paul’s Centre).
Wednesday January 24
●●12:00 noon: Yorkminster Park Baptist
Church. Noonday Organ Recitals: Angus Sinclair.
1585 Yonge St. 416-922-1167. Free.
●●5:30: Canadian Opera Company. World
Music and Jazz Series: Jazz Cubano. Humber
College Latin Jazz Ensemble; Hilario Durán,
conductor. Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre,
Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts,
145 Queen St. W. 416-363-8231. Free. Firstcome,
first-served. Late seating not available.
●●7:30: University of Toronto Faculty of
Music. New Music Festival: Karen Kieser
Prize Concert. Tyler Versluis: Three
Unuttered Miracles for accordion and percussion;
Riho Maimets: Three Movements
for Marimba; Nicole Lizée: Isabella Blow at
Somerset House; and other works. Michael
Bridge, accordion; Michael Murphy, percussion;
Jonny Smith, marimba; Cecilia String
Quartet. Walter Hall, Edward Johnson Building,
University of Toronto, 80 Queen’s Park.
416-408-0208. Free.
Thursday January 25
●●12:00 noon: Canadian Opera Company.
Vocal and Chamber Music Series: Meet the
Orchestra Academy. COC Orchestra Academy;
Members of the COC Orchestra; Artists
from the COC Ensemble Studio. Richard
Bradshaw Amphitheatre, Four Seasons Centre
for the Performing Arts, 145 Queen St. W.
416-363-8231. Free. First-come, first-served.
Late seating not available.
●●12:10: University of Toronto Faculty of
Music. Electroacoustic Music Concert. Lizée:
Malfunctionlieder; Martynec: Improvisation;
and other works. Maeve Palmer, soprano; Joy
Lee. Walter Hall, Edward Johnson Building,
University of Toronto, 80 Queen’s Park. 416-
408-0208. Free. Also 5pm.
●●1:00: Miles Nadal JCC. Hollywood’s Oscar-
Winning Songs. Historical lecture with live
piano music. Popular songs written for
Oscar-winning films by Jewish songwriters.
Jordan Klapman, piano. 750 Spadina Ave. 416-
924-6211 x155. $5.
●●7:30: University of Toronto Faculty
of Music. New Music Festival: Architek
Percussion. Works by Nicole Lizée and Eliot
Britton. Walter Hall, Edward Johnson Building,
University of Toronto, 80 Queen’s Park.
416-408-0208. Free.
●●7:30: York Masonic Temple. Mozart’s
Masonic Journey: The Mysteries of The Magic
Flute. Dillon Parmer, tenor (Tamino); Sara
Schabas, soprano (Pamina); Gregory Finney,
baritone (Papageno); Nicole Dubinsky, soprano
(Queen of the Night); John Forster, bass
(Sarastro); Christina Faye, piano; Brainerd
Blyden-Taylor, narrator. 1100 Millwood Rd.
mozart.valleyoftoronto.com. $60. Also Jan 27.
Reception to follow.
●●8:00: Toronto Symphony Orchestra.
Holst The Planets. Stravinsky: Funeral Song;
Estacio: Trumpet Concerto; Holst: The Planets.
Andrew McCandless, trumpet; Women
of the Elmer Iseler Singers; John Storgårds,
conductor. Roy Thomson Hall, 60 Simcoe
St. 416-593-1285. $34.75-$148. Also Jan 26,
27(both at 7:30pm).
Friday January 26
●●1:30: York University Department of
Music. Music @ Midday: Aria with Me. Young
singers from the studios of Stephanie Bogle,
Norma Burrowes, Karen Rymal and Lawrence
Wiliford. Tribute Communities Recital
Hall, Accolade East Building, YU, 4700 Keele
St. 647-459-0701. Free.
●●5:45: Toronto Mozart Players. Toronto
Mozart Festival: Cocktail Hour Concert.
Mozart: Arias and duets. Natalya Gennadi,
soprano; Lyndsay Promane, mezzo; Helen
Becqué, piano. Church of the Redeemer,
162 Bloor St. W. 647-478-7532. $25.
●●7:00: Brampton Folk Club. Friday Folk
Night. Swing Night. Moo’d Swing and Hot
Swing Caravan. St. Paul’s United Church
(Brampton), 30 Main St. S., Brampton. 647-
233-3655 or 905-874-2800. $18; $15(sr/st).
●●7:30: Burlington Performing Arts Centre.
The Slocan Ramblers. Bluegrass. Burlington
Performing Arts Centre, Community Studio
Theatre, 440 Locust St., Burlington. 905-681-
6000. $40. Series discount available.
●●7:30: Toronto Symphony Orchestra.
Holst The Planets. Stravinsky: Funeral Song;
Estacio: Trumpet Concerto; Holst: The Planets.
Andrew McCandless, trumpet; Women
of the Elmer Iseler Singers; John Storgårds,
conductor. Roy Thomson Hall, 60 Simcoe St.
416-593-1285. $34.75-$148. Also Jan 25(8pm),
27(7:30pm).
●●7:30: University of Toronto Faculty of
Music. New Music Festival: In Memory of
Steven Stucky. Xak Bjerken, piano. Walter
Hall, Edward Johnson Building, University
of Toronto, 80 Queen’s Park. 416-408-0208.
Free.
●●8:00: Arraymusic. Four New Works. Works
by Bruton, Groven, Parkinson and Schoorl (all
world premieres). Array Space, 155 Walnut
Ave. 416-532-3019. PWYC. 7pm: pre-concert
talk.
●●8:00: Royal Conservatory. Quiet Please,
There’s a Lady On Stage: Calypso Rose with
Kobo Town. Koerner Hall, Telus Centre,
273 Bloor St. W. 416-408-0208. $35-$80.
Saturday January 27
●●3:00: Toronto Mendelssohn Choir. Choral
Conductors Symposium Concert. Classical
and contemporary choral music. Toronto
Mendelssohn Choir; Elora Singers. Yorkminster
Park Baptist Church, 1585 Yonge St. 416-
408-0208. Free (donations accepted).
thewholenote.com December 1, 2017 - February 7, 2018 | 55

●●4:00: Toronto Singing Studio Celebration
Choir. Joyful, Joyful! Works by Haydn, Vivaldi,
Mozart and others. Linda Eyman, conductor.
Bloor Street United Church, 300 Bloor St. W.
416-455-9238. $20; $15(sr/st). Cash only at
the door.
●●4:30: Canadian Opera Company. Rigoletto.
See Jan 20 for details.
●●6:30: VIVA! Youth Singers of Toronto. The
Time of Snow. VIVA!’s five choirs, ages 4 ​to
adults. Trinity-St. Paul’s Centre, 427 Bloor St.
W. 416-788-8482. $2​5; $​20​(sr/st).
●●7:00: York Masonic Temple. Mozart’s
Masonic Journey: The Mysteries of The Magic
Flute. Dillon Parmer, tenor (Tamino); Sara
Schabas, soprano (Pamina); Gregory Finney,
baritone (Papageno); Nicole Dubinsky, soprano
(Queen of the Night); John Forster, bass
(Sarastro); Christina Faye, piano; Brainerd
Blyden-Taylor, narrator. 1100 Millwood Rd.
mozart.valleyoftoronto.com. $60. Also
Jan 25. Reception to follow.
●●7:30: Canzona Chamber Players. In Concert.
Works by Clara Schumann, Brahms and
Shostakovich. Trio Ink (Yosuke Kawasaki, violin;
Wolfram Koessel, cello; Vadim Serebryany,
piano). St. George the Martyr Church, 197 John
St. 647-248-4048. $25. Also Jan 28(2pm, St.
Andrew by-the-Lake Church, Toronto Island).
●●7:30: Toronto Symphony Orchestra. Holst
The Planets. Estacio: Trumpet Concerto;
Holst: The Planets. Andrew McCandless,
trumpet; Women of the Elmer Iseler Singers;
John Storgårds, conductor. Roy Thomson
Hall, 60 Simcoe St. 416-593-1285. $34.75-
$148. Also Jan 25(8pm), 26(7:30pm).
●●7:30: University of Toronto Faculty of
Music. University of Toronto Symphony
Orchestra at the New Music Festival. Mozart:
Symphony No.38 in D K504 “Prague”; R.
Strauss: Four Last Songs Op.10 Nos.1 & 8 and
Op.48 Nos.2 & 3; Korngold: Themes and Variations
Op.42; Hindemith: Symphony - Mathis
der Maler. Brittany Cann, soprano; Uri Meyer
and Samuel Tan, conductors. MacMillan Theatre,
Edward Johnson Building, 80 Queen’s
Park. 416-408-0208. $30; $20(sr); $10(st).
Pre-performance chat.
●●8:00: Arraymusic. Rat Drifting 3: Four New
Improvisations. Rebecca Bruton, Marielle
Groven, Stephen Parkinson and Holger Schoorl,
composer-performers. Array Space, 155 Walnut
Ave. 416-532-3019. PWYC, $15 suggested.
HAPPY Chamber Music at
BIRTHDAY
St. George on Yonge
MOZART
Sunday April 24, 7:30 pm
featuring
Scott St. John, violin
& Sharon Wei, viola
SAT. JAN. 27
8PM
Chris Gongos, horn
Vanessa May-Lok Lee, piano,
Joyce Lai, violin
canadiansinfonietta.com
A. Concerts in the GTA
●●8:00: Canadian Sinfonietta. Happy Birthday
Mozart. Overture to Apollo and Hyacinthus
Overture K38; Sinfonia Concertante for
violin, viola and orchestra; Symphony No.29
in A K201. Scott St. John, violin; Sharon Wei,
viola. Glenn Gould Studio, 250 Front St. W.
647-812-0839. $35; $30(sr); $20(st).
●●8:00: Royal Conservatory. Music Mix: DJ
Jazzy Jeff and the Playlist with Skratch Bastid.
Koerner Hall, Telus Centre, 273 Bloor St.
W. 416-408-0208. $40-$55.
●●8:00: Scaramella. Ode to Music. Works
by Michael East and Christopher Simpson.
Elizabeth Rumsey, viol; Caroline Ritchie,
viol; Esteban La Rotta, theorbo. Victoria College
Chapel, 91 Charles St. W. 416-760-8610.
$20-$30.
●●8:00: Toronto Mozart Players. Toronto
Mozart Festival: Happy Birthday, Wolfgang!
Mozart: Quintet in E-flat for Piano and Winds;
Sherkin: New Work. Adam Sherkin, composer
and piano. Church of the Redeemer,
162 Bloor St. W. 647-478-7532. $35; $15(st).
Concert will end with the cutting of a sacher
torte.
Sunday January 28
●●2:00: Canzona Chamber Players. In Concert.
Works by Clara Schumann, Brahms and
Shostakovich. Trio Ink (Yosuke Kawasaki, violin;
Wolfram Koessel, cello; Vadim Serebryany,
piano). St. Andrew by-the-Lake Anglican
Church, Cibola Ave., Toronto Island. 647-248-
4048. $25. Also Jan 27(7:30pm, St. George
the Martyr Anglican Church).
●●2:00: Toronto Mozart Players. Toronto
Mozart Festival: Celebrating the Master. Mozart:
Symphony No.40 in g; Regina Coeli K276;
Coronation Mass in C. Pax Christi Chamber
Choir; Singers selected from the Toronto
Mozart Vocal Competition and Masterclass
Series; David Bowser, composer. Church of
the Redeemer, 162 Bloor St. W. 647-478-7532.
$35; $15(st).
I N S P I R E D B Y
JANUARY 28, 2018
3PM
●●3:00: Amici Chamber Ensemble. Inspired
by Strauss. Duett Concertino; Piano Quartet
in c Op.13; Lieder: Die Nacht, Morgen,
Traum durch die Dämmerung, Zueignung.
Guests: Sasha Djihanian, soprano; Soovin
Kim, violin; Joaquin Valdepeñas, clarinet;
David Hetherington, cello; Serouj Kradjian,
piano. Mazzoleni Concert Hall, Telus Centre,
273 Bloor St. W. 416-408-0208. $45; $40(sr);
$15(under 31); $10(st).
●●6:30: Music at St. Thomas’s. Evensong Prelude.
Julia Morson, soprano; Matthew Larkin,
organ and director of music. St. Thomas’s
Anglican Church (Toronto), 383 Huron St.
613-962-3636. By donation.
●●7:00: Music at St. Thomas’s. Evensong.
Matthew Larkin, organ and director of music.
St. Thomas’s Anglican Church (Toronto),
383 Huron St. 613-962-3636. By donation.
Religious service.
●●7:30: University of Toronto Faculty of
Music. New Music Festival: Jazz Faculty with
Special Guests. Walter Hall, Edward Johnson
Building, University of Toronto, 80 Queen’s
Park. 416-408-0208. Free.
Monday January 29
●●12:30: York University Department of
Music. Music @ Midday: Classical Instrumental
Recital. Student soloists. Tribute Communities
Recital Hall, Accolade East Building, YU,
4700 Keele St. 647-459-0701. Free.
EVOKING THE ELEGIAC
January 29
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart,
Jurgis Juozapaitis, Maurice
Ravel, Bedrich Smetana
www.associates-tso.org
●●7:30: Associates of the Toronto Symphony
Orchestra. The Small Concerts: Evoking the
Elegaic. Mozart: Piano Trio in B-flat K502;
Juozapaitis: Light of the Moon; Ravel: Minuet
and Rigaudon from Le tombeau de Couperin;
Smetana: Piano Trio in g Op.15. Zephyr Piano
Trio: Terry Holowach, violin; Edward Hayes,
cello; Ilona Damasiute-Beres, piano. Trinity-
St. Paul’s Centre, 427 Bloor St. W. 416-282-
6636. $22; $20(sr/st).
Tuesday January 30
●●12:00 noon: Canadian Opera Company.
Piano Virtuoso Series: Bravura Piano. Works
by Debussy and Liszt. Leon Bernsdorf, piano.
Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre, Four
Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts,
145 Queen St. W. 416-363-8231. Free. Firstcome,
first-served. Late seating not available.
●●12:10: Nine Sparrows Arts Foundation/
Yorkminster Park Baptist Church. Lunchtime
Chamber Music. Gina Lee, piano. Yorkminster
Park Baptist Church, 1585 Yonge St.
416-241-1298. Free; donations welcomed.
Wednesday January 31
●●10:00am: Royal Conservatory. Discovery
Series: Glenn Gould School Concerto
Competition Finals. Koerner Hall, Telus Centre,
273 Bloor St. W. 416-408-0208. Free.
CLOSE ENCOUNTERS
… IN SALZBURG
WED JAN 31 | 11AM
HELICONIAN HALL
SAT FEB 3 | 2PM
TEMERTY THEATRE,
TELUS Centre
tafelmusik.org
●●11:00am: Tafelmusik. Close Encounters …
in Salzburg. Works by Biber. Thomas Georgi,
viola d’amore. Heliconian Hall, 35 Hazelton
Ave. 416-964-6337. $45(adv). Also Feb 3(Temerty
Theatre, 2pm).
●●12:00 noon: Yorkminster Park Baptist
Church. Noonday Organ Recitals: Andrew
Adair. 1585 Yonge St. 416-922-1167. Free.
●●12:30: Organix Concerts/All Saints Kingsway.
Kingsway Organ Concert Series Listings.
Sarah Svendsen, organ. All Saints
Kingsway Anglican Church, 2850 Bloor St. W.
416-571-3680. Freewill offering. 45-minute
concert.
●●8:00: Toronto Symphony Orchestra. A
European Romance. Liadov: The Enchanted
Lake Op.62; Falla: Nights in the Garden of
Spain for Piano and Orchestra; R. Strauss:
Don Juan Op.20; R. Strauss: Suite from Der
Rosenkavalier Op.59. Ingrid Fliter, piano;
Juraj Valcuha, conductor. Roy Thomson Hall,
60 Simcoe St. 416-593-1285. $34.75-$148.
Also Feb 2(7:30pm).
●●8:00: Westwood Concerts. Five for Five.
Penderecki: Quartet for Clarinet and Strings;
Brahms: Piano Trio No.1; Bruch: 8 Pieces; and
other works. Rebekah Wolkstein, violin; Yosef
Tamir, viola; Amy Laing, cello; Michael Westwood,
clarinet; Megumi Okamoto, piano.
Gallery 345, 345 Sorauren Ave. 416-822-9781.
$20; $15(sr/st).
Thursday February 1
●●12:00 noon: Canadian Opera Company.
Vocal and Chamber Music Series: Mr. Tambourine
Man. Corigliano: Mr. Tambourine
Man – Seven Poems of Bob Dylan. Artists
from The Glenn Gould School; Topher
Mokrzewski, conductor. Richard Bradshaw
Amphitheatre, Four Seasons Centre for the
Performing Arts, 145 Queen St. W. 416-363-
8231. Free. First-come, first-served. Late seating
not available.
●●12:00 noon: Encore Symphonic Concert
Band. In Concert. Big Band swing, jazz, film
scores and marches. Wilmar Heights Centre,
963 Pharmacy Ave., Scarborough. 416-
346-3910. $10.
●●12:10: University of Toronto Faculty of
Music. Thursdays at Noon: Rob Macdonald,
Guitar. Helmut Oehring: K.A.L.T. Walter
56 | December 1, 2017 - February 7, 2018 thewholenote.com

Hall, Edward Johnson Building, University
of Toronto, 80 Queen’s Park. 416-408-0208.
Free.
Dr. Draw, 18-stringed hybrid guitar/violoncello/drums.
77 Wynford Dr. 416-646-4677.
$40. Ticket price includes same day Museum
admission.
●●8:00: Burlington Performing Arts Centre.
Gord Bamford. Country music. Burlington
Performing Arts Centre, Main Theatre,
440 Locust St., Burlington. 905-681-6000.
$69. Series discount available.
●●8:00: Burlington Performing Arts Centre/Orillia
Opera House. Compagnie Marie
Chouinard. Dance. 24 Preludes by Chopin;
The Rite of Spring. Burlington Performing
Arts Centre, Main Theatre, 440 Locust St.,
Burlington. 905-681-6000. $49; $19(youth).
Series discount available.
Lake Op.62; Falla: Nights in the Garden of
Spain for Piano and Orchestra; R. Strauss:
Don Juan Op.20; R. Strauss: Suite from Der
Rosenkavalier Op.59. Ingrid Fliter, piano;
Juraj Valcuha, conductor. Roy Thomson Hall,
60 Simcoe St. 416-593-1285. $34.75-$148.
Also Jan 31(8pm).
●●7:30: University of Toronto Faculty of
Music. Instrumentalis: Trios and Quartets.
Graduate student instrumentalists collaborate
on trio and quartet repertoire. Walter
Hall, Edward Johnson Building, University
of Toronto, 80 Queen’s Park. 416-408-0208.
Free.
Saturday February 3
MFC’s Festival
of Friends
SAT. FEBRUARY 3,
7:30PM
Join us
mfchoir.com
●●5:30: Adam Sherkin. Chopin: Poetic
Jest. Write Off the Keyboard Series. Chopin:
Scherzo No.3 Op.39 and No.4 Op.54,
Impromptu No.2 Op.36; Sherkin: Punch,
Revisited (2015). Verse and prose by David
James Brock. Adam Sherkin, piano; Andrea
Runge, actor. Glenn Gould Studio, lobby,
250 Front St. W. 416-205-5000. $30; $26(sr);
$22(35 and under).
●●7:30: Canadian Opera Company. Rigoletto.
See Jan 20 for details.
GALA for
MENTAL HEALTH
LLOYD ROBERTSON,
LUBA GOY & FRIENDS
Feb 1, 2018
WE ALL HAVE A STORY
905.787.8811
●●7:30: High Notes Avante Productions. Gala
for Mental Health. Luba Goy, Lloyd Robertson,
Michael Landsberg, Orlando Da Silva,
Giles Tomkins, and others. Richmond Hill Centre
for the Performing Arts, 10268 Yonge St.,
Richmond Hill. 905-787-8811. $10-$65.
●●7:30: University of Toronto Faculty of
Music. Jazz Composers Concert. Walter
Hall, Edward Johnson Building, University
of Toronto, 80 Queen’s Park. 416-408-0208.
Free.
●●8:00: Aga Khan Museum. Musical Inventions
by Paolo Angeli featuring Dr Draw.
Avant-garde tunes rooted in Sardinian music.
February 1 at 8pm
ST. LAWRENCE
QUARTET
●●8:00: Music Toronto. St. Lawrence Quartet.
Haydn: Quartet in C Op.33 No.3 “The Bird”;
Janáček: Quartet No.2 “Intimate Letters”;
Tchaikovsky: Quartet No.3 in e-flat Op.30. St.
Lawrence Centre for the Arts, 27 Front St. E.
416-366-7723. $50-$55; $10(st, full time).
●●8:00: Royal Conservatory. Daniil Trifonov.
Koerner Hall, Telus Centre, 273 Bloor St. W.
416-408-0208. SOLD OUT.
●●8:00: Soundstreams. Almost Unplugged.
Andréa Tyniec, violin; Jesse Zubot, violin. Buddies
in Bad Times Theatre, 12 Alexander St.
416-975-8555. $20.
Friday February 2
●●12:10: Music at St. Andrew’s. Noontime
Recital. Bach: Prelude and Fugue in D;
Debussy: Poissons d’or; Beethoven: Piano
Sonata No.32 in c Op.111. David Potvin, piano.
St. Andrew’s Church (Toronto), 73 Simcoe St.
416-593-5600 x231. Free.
●●6:15: Music at St. Thomas’s. Candlemas:
Procession and Solemn Eucharist. Matthew
Larkin, organ and director of music.
St. Thomas’s Anglican Church (Toronto),
383 Huron St. 613-962-3636. By donation.
Religious service.
●●7:30: Burlington Performing Arts Centre.
The Fugitives. Indie Folk Collective. Burlington
Performing Arts Centre, Community Studio
Theatre, 440 Locust St., Burlington. 905-681-
6000. $45. Series discount available.
●●7:30: Living Arts Centre. Amanda
Rheaume. 4141 Living Arts Dr., Mississauga.
905-306-6000. $20-$35.
●●7:30: Toronto Symphony Orchestra. A
European Romance. Liadov: The Enchanted
SONGS FROM A
CELTIC HEART
Annual Fundraising Event
FEBRUARY 3
amadeuschoir.com
●●2:00: Amadeus Choir of Greater Toronto.
Songs From a Celtic Heart. Tom Leighton,
guitar and vocals; Lydia Adams and Joan
Andrews, conductors; Shawn Grenke, conductor
and piano. Jubilee United Church,
40 Underhill Dr. 416-446-0188. $50; $40(sr);
$25(under 30). Also 7pm. Annual fundraising
event. Complimentary snacks, cash bar,
games and silent auction.
●●2:00: Tafelmusik. Close Encounters ... in
Salzburg. Works by Biber. Thomas Georgi,
violist. Temerty Theatre, 273 Bloor St. W. 416-
964-6337. $45(adv). Also Jan 31(Heliconian
Hall, 11am).
●●7:00: Amadeus Choir of Greater Toronto.
Songs From a Celtic Heart. Tom Leighton,
guitar and vocals; Lydia Adams and Joan
Andrews, conductors; Shawn Grenke, conductor
and piano. Jubilee United Church,
40 Underhill Dr. 416-446-0188. $50; $40(sr);
$25(under 30). Also 2pm. Annual fundraising
event. Complimentary snacks, cash bar,
games and silent auction.
●●7:30: Opus 8. After Dark. From the rude,
joking songs of Mozart and Morley, to fresh
pop arrangements dealing with love, lust,
and licentiousness. Works by Mozart, Purcell,
Warlock, Palestrina and others. Heliconian
Hall, 35 Hazelton Ave. 647-233-5803. PWYC.
Licensed bar.
●●7:30: Royal Conservatory. Discovery
Series: Glenn Gould School Vocal Showcase.
Mazzoleni Concert Hall, Telus Centre,
273 Bloor St. W. 416-408-0208. $15.
●●7:30: Mississauga Festival Choir. Festival
of Friends Annual Massed Choral Festival.
Resonance Youth Choir and others in solo
and massed repertoire. Eden United Church,
3051 Battleford Rd., Mississauga. 416-986-
5537. $25; $15(12 and under). All proceeds will
go to Alzheimer Society, Peel.
●●7:30: University of Toronto Faculty of
Music. Wind Ensemble: Disparate Places.
Giroux: Just Flyin’; Nishimura: Lake Superior
Suite; McPhee: Concert for Wind Orchestra;
Sigur Rós: Ára Bátur; Kodály: Háry János
Suite. Strings of the UofT Symphony Orchestra;
Gillian Mackay, conductor. MacMillan Theatre,
Edward Johnson Building, 80 Queen’s
Park. 416-408-0208. $30; $20(sr); $10(st).
●●8:00: Burlington Performing Arts Centre.
A Night At The Opera. Act II music from
Bizet’s Carmen. Julie Nesrallah, mezzo-soprano;
Lauren Margison, soprano; Richard
Margison, tenor; Gary Relyea, bass-baritone;
Robert Kortgaard, piano. Burlington
Performing Arts Centre, Main Theatre,
440 Locust St., Burlington. 905-681-6000.
$69.50. Series discount available.
●●8:00: Oakville Symphony Orchestra.
Vienna: City of Music. Guest: Mehdi Ghazi,
piano. Oakville Centre for the Performing
Arts, 130 Navy St., Oakville. 905-815-2021.
$27-$56. Also Feb 4(2pm).
●●8:00: Royal Conservatory. TD Jazz: Gerald
Clayton and Friends - The Blues. Koerner
Hall, Telus Centre, 273 Bloor St. W. 416-408-
0208. $40-$90.
●●8:00: Scarborough Philharmonic Orchestra/Infiniti
Music and Arts Centre. Serenades
and Stories. Mozart: Serenade in c;
Serenata Transformata; Austria and the US
from International Suite; Compositions from
SPO’s 2017 New Composer Workshop; Grand
Gallop Through Mysterious Lands. Scarborough
Philharmonic Chamber Orchestra; The
Winds of the Scarborough Philharmonic;
Ronald Royer, conductor. Infinti Strings,
351 Ferrer St., Unit 1, Markham. www.spo.ca.
$30; $25(sr); $15(st); $10(child).
●●8:00: Sony Centre for the Performing
Arts. Tao: Drum Heart. 1 Front St. E. 1-855-
872-7669 or 416-916-7878. $55-$95.
Sunday February 4
●●2:00: Canadian Opera Company. Rigoletto.
See Jan 20 for details.
●●2:00: Oakville Symphony Orchestra.
Vienna: City of Music. Guest: Mehdi Ghazi,
piano. Oakville Centre for the Performing
Arts, 130 Navy St., Oakville. 905-815-2021.
thewholenote.com December 1, 2017 - February 7, 2018 | 57

$27-$56. Also Feb 3(8pm).
VOICE
B OX
OPERA IN CONCERT
I DUE FIGARO
by Saverio Mercadante
Narmina Afandiyeva,
Music Director
February 4 at 2:30 pm
www.operainconcert.com
A. Concerts in the GTA
Beste
Kalender
●●2:00: Royal Conservatory. Sunday Interludes:
Derek Gripper. Mazzoleni Concert
Hall, Telus Centre, 273 Bloor St. W. 416-408-
0208. Free.
●●2:30: University of Toronto Faculty of
Music. Choirs in Concert: Music for a Sunday
Afternoon. Works by Nancy Telfer and others.
Women’s Chamber Choir; Men’s Chorus;
Women’s Chorus; Tracy Wong, conductor.
MacMillan Theatre, Edward Johnson Building,
80 Queen’s Park. 416-408-0208. $30;
$20(sr); $10(st).
●●2:30: Voicebox/Opera in Concert. I due
Figaro. Music by Saverio Mercadante. Beste
Kalender, mezzo-soprano; Ilana Zarankin,
soprano; Holly Chaplin, soprano; Nicholas
Borg, baritone; Opera in Concert Chorus;
Narmina Afandiyeva, music director and
piano. St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts,
27 Front St. E. 416-366-7723. $22-$52.
●●3:00: Toronto Symphony Orchestra.
Toronto Symphony Youth Orchestra Winter
Concert. Dukas: The Sorcerer’s Apprentice;
Mozart: Flute Concerto No.1 K313/285c;
Dvořák: Symphony No.8. Sarah Pollard, flute;
Earl Lee, conductor. Toronto Centre for the
Arts, 5040 Yonge St., North York. 416-593-
1285. $44.25-$100.50.
●●3:00: Vesnivka Choir. Tribute to Zenoby
Lawryshyn. Music written and arranged by
Zenoby Lawryshyn. Humber Valley United
Church, 76 Anglesey Blvd., Etobicoke. Free.
Donations accepted towards publication of Z.
Lawryshyn’s works.
●●3:00: Windermere String Quartet. Young
Blood, Part II. Mozart: Quartet in B-flat K172;
Arriaga: Quartet No.1 in d; Schubert: Quartet
in g D173. St. Olave’s Anglican Church,
360 Windermere Ave. 416-769-0952. $25;
$20(sr); $10(st). On period instruments.
●●4:00: Church of St. Mary Magdalene
(Toronto). Organ music for Candlemas.
Andrew Adair, organ. 477 Manning Ave. 416-
531-7955. Free.
●●4:00: Georgetown Bach Chorale. The
Power of the Piano, the Passion of Strings!
Taneyev: Piano Quintet in g Op.30. Piano Hall,
157 Main St. S., Georgetown. 905-873-9909.
$45. Reception to follow.
●●4:30: Christ Church Deer Park. Jazz Vespers.
TBA. 1570 Yonge St. 416-920-5211. Freewill
offering. Religious service.
LAND’S END ENSEMBLE
Schoenberg by Webern
SUN. FEB. 04 @ GALLERY 345
www.NewMusicConcerts.com
●●7:00: Show One Productions. George
Li, Piano. Silver medalist in the 15th International
Tchaikovsky Competition. Haydn:
B. Concerts Beyond the GTA
IN THIS ISSUE: Barrie, Belleville, Burlington, Cambridge, Dundas,
Guelph, Haliburton, Hamilton, Innisfil, Kingston, Kitchener, London,
Midland, Niagara Falls, North Bay, Norwood, Orangeville, Orillia, Owen
Sound, Peterborough, Picton, Port Dover, Port Hope, Sault Ste. Marie,
St. Catharines, Wasaga Beach, Waterdown, Waterloo, Welland.
Friday December 1
●●12:00 noon: First-St. Andrew’s United
Church. Friday Advent Noon Recital. Ken
Baldwin, trumpet; Terry Mead, piano and
organ. First-St. Andrew’s United Church,
350 Queens Ave, London. 519-679-8182. Free
will offering. Lunch following $7.
●●7:30: Melos Choir and Period Instruments.
A Star in the East III. Advent and Marian
chant, Renaissance dances, carols and
motets. Works by Lassus, Scheidt and Praetorius.
Guests: Sine Nomine; Holly Gwynne-
Timothy, artistic director. St. George’s
Cathedral (Kingston), 270 King St. E., Kingston.
613-767-7245. $25; $10(st). Pre-concert
lecture at 7pm. CD launch reception to follow
concert.
●●7:30: University of Waterloo Department
of Music. Rejoice in the Lamb: Chamber
Choir. Britten: Rejoice in the Lamb; works
by Sandström, Ešenvalds, Corlis, Biebl and
others. Jan Overduin, organ; Mark Vuorinen,
conductor. Knox Presbyterian Church (Waterloo),
50 Erb St. W., Waterloo. 519-885-
8220 x24226. $10; $5(sr/st).
●●8:00: Folk Under the Clock. The Once: An
East Coast Christmas. Modern indie folk trio
from Newfoundland. Geraldine Hollett; Phil
Churchill; Andrew Dale. Market Hall Performing
Arts Centre, 140 Charlotte St., Peterborough.
705-749-1146. $37.50; $25(st).
●●8:00: Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony.
Jonathan Crow Plays Beethoven. Jörg Widmann:
Con brio Concert Overture; Mendelssohn:
Symphony No.3 in a “Scottish”;
Beethoven: Violin Concerto in D. Jonathan
Crow, violin, Pablo Rus Broseta, conductor.
Centre in the Square, 101 Queen St.
N., Kitchener. 519-745-4711 or 1-888-745-4717.
$19-$82. Also Dec 2.
●●8:00: Registry Theatre. Sultans of String:
A Christmas Caravan. Guest: Rebecca Campbell,
vocals. 122 Frederick St., Kitchener. 519-
578-1570. $30.
●●8:00: Wilfrid Laurier University Faculty of
Music. Laurier Percussion Ensemble. Maureen
Forrester Recital Hall, 75 University Ave.,
Waterloo. 519-884-1970 x2432. Free.
Saturday December 2
●●2:00: Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony.
Youth Orchestra: Concert 1. Centre in the
Square, 101 Queen St. N., Kitchener. 519-745-
4711 or 1-888-745-4717. $13; $11(child).
●●3:00: Westben Concerts at The Barn.
Upper Canada Christmas. Narrated concert.
Susanna Moodie and Catharine Parr Traill,
vocalists; Westben Choruses; Donna Bennett
and Brian Finley, directors. Norwood
United Church, 4264 Hwy 7, Norwood. 705-
653-5508 or 1-877-883-5777. $25; $15(st);
$5(youth). Also Nov 25(Campbellford, 1pm),
Nov 26(Campbellford, 3pm), Dec 3 (Peterborough,
3pm).
●●4:00: Hamilton Children’s Choir. Annual
Holiday Concert: Welcome Christmas (Fah
Who Foraze). Guest: Ian Thomas, narrator.
Ryerson United Church (Hamilton), 842 Main
St. E., Hamilton. 905-527-1618. $10-$30.
●●7:00: Kawartha Youth Orchestra. Gloria!
St. Cecilia Singers; St. Paul’s Singers. Market
Hall Performing Arts Centre, 140 Charlotte
St., Peterborough. 705-868-5050. $20;
$5(youth). Silent auction. Reception. Bake
sale.
●●7:00: Skyway Connection Chorus. Christmas
Cabaret. Skyway Connection; Supertoniic
Quartet; Nuance Quartet. Royal
Canadian Legion (Waterdown), 9 Hamilton St.
N., Waterdown. 905-630-7464. $25.
●●7:30: Arcady. Handel’s Messiah. Ronald
Beckett, conductor. Lighthouse Festival Theatre,
247 Main Street, Port Dover. 519-583-
2221. $30.
●●7:30: Choralis Camerata. Handel’s Messiah.
Jocelyn Fralick, soprano; Jillian Yemen,
mezzo; Bud Roach, tenor; Michael York, baritone;
David Braun, conductor; Lynne Honsberger,
accompaniment. Knox Presbyterian
Church (St. Catharines), 53 Church St., St.
Catharines. 905-646-9225. $28; $25(sr);
$12(st). Also Dec 3(2:30pm, Welland).
●●7:30: Marilyn I. Walker School of Fine and
Performing Arts, Brock University. Viva
Voce Choral Series. Brock University Choirs,
conductor Rachel Rensink-Hoff. Cairns Hall,
FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre, 250 St.
Paul St., St. Catharines. 905-688-0722. $15;
$10 (sr/st); $5 eyeGo program.
●●7:30: Musicata - Hamilton’s Voices. Christmas
Concert. Church of St. John the Evangelist,
320 Charlton Ave. W., Hamilton.
905-628-5238. $25; $20(sr); $5(st).
●●8:00: Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony.
Jonathan Crow Plays Beethoven. Jörg Widmann:
Con brio Concert Overture; Mendelssohn:
Symphony No.3 in a “Scottish”;
Beethoven: Violin Concerto in D. Jonathan
Crow, violin, Pablo Rus Broseta, conductor.
Centre in the Square, 101 Queen St. N., Kitchener.
519-745-4711 or 1-888-745-4717. $19-
$82. Also Dec 1.
Sunday December 3
●●2:00: University of Waterloo Department
of Music. UW Jazz Ensemble. Featuring
jazz classics. Michael Wood, conductor.
Great Hall, Conrad Grebel University College,
140 Westmount Rd. N., Waterloo. 519-
885-8220 x24226. $10; $5(sr/st). Reception
following.
●●2:30: Choralis Camerata. Handel’s Messiah.
Jocelyn Fralick, soprano; Jillian Yemen,
mezzo; Bud Roach, tenor; Michael York,
baritone; David Braun, conductor; Lynne
Honsberger, accompaniment. Welland Centennial
Secondary School, 240 Thorold Rd.,
Welland. 905 646 9225. $28; $25(sr); $12(st).
Also Dec 2(7:30pm, St. Catharines).
●●2:30: Guelph Chamber Choir. Carols For
Christmas (plus Christmas CD Release!). Canadian
and other repertoire for choir and/or
hand bells; seasonal readings. Guelph Chamber
Choir, Gerald Neufeld, conductor; Alison
MacNeill, accompanist; guests: Bells Ablaze,
Susan Carscadden-Mifsud, conductor.
St. George’s Anglican Church (Guelph),
99 Woolwich St., Guelph. 519-763-3000. $25;
$20(group of 4 or more); $10(30 and under/
st); $5(14 and under).
●●2:30: Kingston Symphony. Masterworks
Series: Ryan and Tchaikovsky. Mascall:
Grunge; Ryan: Equilateral; Tchaikovsky: Symphony
No.5. Gryphon Trio. Isabel Bader Centre
for the Performing Arts, 390 King St. W.,
Kingston. 613-530-2050. From $50.
●●2:30: Scottish Rite Tuscan #551 A.F. &
A.M. Christmas in Silver. Holiday favourites
and sing-along carols. Weston Silver Band.
Scottish Rite Club of Hamilton, 4 Queen St. S.,
Hamilton. 1-888-655-9090. $25; $20(sr/st);
$5(under 15).
●●3:00: La Jeunesse Youth Orchestra. Home
for the Holidays! Michael Lyons, music director;
Guests: Voices of Victory Choir (Lindsay).
Port Hope United Church, 34 South St., Port
Hope. 1-866-460-5596. $20; free(under 12).
●●3:00: Westben Concerts at The Barn.
Upper Canada Christmas. Narrated concert.
Susanna Moodie and Catharine Parr Traill,
vocalists; Westben Choruses; Donna Bennett
and Brian Finley, directors. Northminster
United Church, 300 Sunset Blvd, Peterborough.
705-653-5508 or 1-877-883-5777. $25;
$15(st); $5(youth). Also Nov 25(Campbellford,
1pm), Nov 26(Campbellford, 3pm), Dec 2(Norwood,
3pm).
●●7:00: Barrie Concert Band. Christmas at
the Beach. Lighthouse Community Church,
800 Sunnidale Rd., Wasaga Beach. 705-481-
1607. Donations to the food bank welcomed.
58 | December 1, 2017 - February 7, 2018 thewholenote.com

Piano Sonata in b HobXVI:32; Chopin: Piano
Sonata No.2 in b-flat Op.35; Rachmaninoff:
Variations on a Theme of Corelli; Liszt:
Consolation No.3 in E; Hungarian Rhapsody
No.2 in C-sharp. Koerner Hall, Telus Centre,
273 Bloor St. W. 416-408-0208. $35 and up.
●●8:00: New Music Concerts. Land’s End
Ensemble. H. Lee: Imaginary Garden VII;
Clarke: Delirium Nocturnum; Ricketts: Graffiti
Songs; Schoenberg (arr. Webern): Kammersymphonie
Op.9 (Quintet version). Land’s
End Ensemble (John Lowry, violin; Beth Root
Sandvoss, cello; Suzanne Ruberg-Gordon,
piano); James Campbell, clarinet, Robert Aitken,
flute. Gallery 345, 345 Sorauren Ave. 416-
961-9594. $35; $25(sr/arts workers); $10(st).
7:15pm: pre-concert talk.
Tuesday February 6
●●12:10: Nine Sparrows Arts Foundation/
Yorkminster Park Baptist Church. Lunchtime
Chamber Music: Rising Stars Recital.
Students from the Glenn Gould School. Yorkminster
Park Baptist Church, 1585 Yonge St.
416-241-1298. Free; donations welcomed.
●●7:30: Canadian Opera Company. Rigoletto.
See Jan 20 for details.
February 6 at 8pm
ALEXEI
LUBIMOV
●●8:00: Music Toronto. Alexei Lubimov,
Piano. Mozart: Sonata in D K311; Adagio in b
K540; Beethoven: Sonata No.7 in D Op.10 No.3;
Stravinsky: Sonata (1924); Debussy: Nine
Preludes, Book 1: nine selections. St. Lawrence
Centre for the Arts, 27 Front St. E. 416-
366-7723. $50-$55; $10(st, full time).
Wednesday February 7
●●12:00 noon: Canadian Opera Company.
Chamber Music Series: Brahms Clarinet
Quintet. Brahms: Clarinet Quintet in b Op.115.
Dionysis Grammenos, clarinet; Ensemble
Made In Canada. Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre,
Four Seasons Centre for the Performing
Arts, 145 Queen St. W. 416-363-8231.
Free. First-come, first-served. Late seating
not available.
●●7:30: Canadian Opera Company. The
Abduction from the Seraglio. Music by W.
A. Mozart. Jane Archibald, soprano (Konstanze);
Mauro Peter, tenor (Belmonte);
Claire de Sévigné (Blonde); Owen McCausland,
tenor (Pedrillo), Goran Jurić, bass
(Osmin); Wajdi Mouawad, director; Johannes
Debus, conductor. Four Seasons Centre
for the Performing Arts, 145 Queen St. W.
416-363-8231. $35-$225. Also Feb 10, 13, 16,
18(2pm), 22, 24(4:30pm).
●●7:30: University of Toronto Faculty of
Music. Vocalis (Graduate Singers Series):
Winternächte - Lieder über Träume und
MOZART THE
ABDUCTION
FROM THE
SERAGLIO
FEB 2 – 25
coc.ca
Sehnsucht (Winter Nights - Songs of Dreams
and Longing). Mia Bach and Marje Zschiesche
Stock, curators. Victoria College Chapel,
91 Charles St. W. 416-408-0208. Free.
... Concerts Beyond the GTA
●●7:30: Attila Glatz Concert Productions.
Festival of Stars. Doo-wop, Motown, country,
pop, and rock-and-roll hits. Featuring Neil
Sedaka; Under the Streetlamp; Mickey Gilley.
Club Italia, 2525 Montrose Rd., Niagara Falls.
416-323-1403. $42 and up. Also Dec 4(2pm
and 8pm).
●●8:00: Aeolian Hall. Sultans of String: A
Christmas Caravan. Guest: Rebecca Campbell,
vocals. 795 Dundas St. E., London. 519-
672-7950. $30-$35.
●●8:00: Kitchener-Waterloo Chamber Music
Society. Raffi Besalyan, Piano. KWCMS Music
Room, 57 Young St. W., Waterloo. 519-886-
1673. $35; $20(st). MOVED TO MAR 14, 2018.
Monday December 4
●●2:00: Attila Glatz Concert Productions.
Festival of Stars. Doo-wop, Motown, country,
pop, and rock-and-roll hits. Featuring Neil
Sedaka; Under the Streetlamp; and Mickey
Gilley. Club Italia, 2525 Montrose Rd., Niagara
Falls. 416-323-1403. $42 and up. Also 8pm;
Dec 3(7:30pm).
●●7:30: University of Waterloo Department
of Music. Instrumental Chamber Ensembles.
Six different chamber ensembles will
play classical music ranging from Brahms
to Koechlin. Chapel, Conrad Grebel University
College, 140 Westmount Rd. N., Waterloo.
519-885-8220 x24226. Free. Reception
following.
●●8:00: Attila Glatz Concert Productions.
Festival of Stars. Doo-wop, Motown, country,
pop, and rock-and-roll hits. Featuring Neil
Sedaka; Under the Streetlamp; and Mickey
Gilley. Club Italia, 2525 Montrose Rd., Niagara
Falls. 416-323-1403. $42 and up. Also 2pm;
Dec 3(7:30pm).
Tuesday December 5
●●12:00 noon: Marilyn I. Walker School of
Fine and Performing Arts, Brock University.
RBC Foundation Music@Noon. Piano
and guitar students. Cairns Hall, FirstOntario
Performing Arts Centre, 250 St. Paul St., St.
Catharines. 905-688-0722. Free.
●●7:30: Marilyn I. Walker School of Fine
and Performing Arts, Brock University.
The University Wind Ensemble. Zoltan Kalman,
conductor. Partridge Hall, FirstOntario
Performing Arts Centre, 250 St. Paul St., St.
Catharines. 905-688-0722. $12; $5(child);
$5(eyeGo); free(Brock students).
Wednesday December 6
●●12:15: St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church
(Kitchener). Wednesday Noon-Hour Concerts.
Renaissance School of the Arts Flute
Choir; Wendy Wagler, conductor. 54 Queen
St. N., Kitchener. Free. 11:30am: Optional lowcost
lunch available in the foyer.
●●7:30: St. George’s Cathedral (Kingston).
Advent Concert. Gershwin: Rhapsody in
Blue; and other works. Valery Lloyd-Watts
and Clare Gordon, piano duo. 270 King St. E.,
Kingston. 613-548-4617. $15.
●●8:00: Kitchener-Waterloo Chamber Music
Society. Alex DaCosta, Violin and Beth Ann De
Souza, Piano. Program TBA. KWCMS Music
Room, 57 Young St. W., Waterloo. 519-886-
1673. $30; $20(st).
Thursday December 7
●●12:15: St. George’s Cathedral (Kingston).
Advent Concert. Mulberry School Choir;
Margaret Moncrieff, director. 270 King St.
E., Kingston. 613-548-4617. Free. Voluntary
offering.
●●7:00: Magisterra Soloists. Baroque Christmas.
Bach: Brandenburg Concerto No.3;
Corelli: Christmas Concerto Grosso; Vivaldi:
Double Concerto in d; Bach: Double Concerto
in d; Telemann: Viola Concerto. St. Luke’s
Anglican Church (London), 1204 Richmond
St., London. 416-930-4842. $25; $20(sr);
$15(st); $10(under 10). Also Dec 10(3pm, Windermere
on the Mount).
Friday December 8
●●12:00 noon: First-St. Andrew’s United
Church. Friday Advent Noon Recital. Catholic
Central Chamber Choir; Don Sills, director.
First-St. Andrew’s United Church,
350 Queens Ave, London. 519-679-8182. Free
will offering. Lunch following $7.
●●7:00: Liona Boyd. In Concert: A Winter Fantasy.
Andrew Dolson, guitar. Guests: Midland
Children’s Community Choir. St. Paul’s United
Church (Midland), 308 King St., Midland.
www.ticketfly.com/event/1566380-lionaboyd-winter-fantasy-midland/.
$30.
●●8:00: First-St. Andrew’s United Church
(London). The Gift of the Magi. Sonja Gustafson;
Francesca Ranalli; Todd Wieczorek; Chad
Louwerse; Terry Head; George Jolin, director.
350 Queens Ave., London. 519-679-8182.
$45(6:30pm dinner & show); $20(8pm show
only). Also Dec 9(3pm and 8pm).
●●8:00: Kitchener-Waterloo Chamber
Music Society. Toronto Serenade Quartet
with Elena Kalabeev, Piano. Rare Quintets by
Sibelius and Berger. KWCMS Music Room,
57 Young St. W., Waterloo. 519-886-1673.
$35; $20(st).
Saturday December 9
●●2:00: Lyrica Chamber Choir of Barrie.
Magnificat. Arnesen: Magnificat; works by
Ola Gjeilo. Chamber strings; organ; Steve
Winfield, conductor; Brent Mayhew, piano.
Burton Avenue United Church, 37 Burton
Ave., Barrie. 705-722-0271. $17; $14(sr/st).
Also 7:30pm.
●●2:00: Peterborough Symphony Orchestra.
Hollywood for the Holidays. Music from
Home Alone, The Polar Express, It’s a Wonderful
Life, and other films. Guests: Kawartha
Youth Orchestra; Peterborough Pop Ensemble;
Michael Newnham, conductor. Showplace Performance
Centre, 290 George St. N., Peterborough.
705-742-7469. $30; $10(st). Also 7:30pm.
thewholenote.com December 1, 2017 - February 7, 2018 | 59

●●2:30: Niagara Symphony Orchestra. All
Through the House: A Holiday Wassail! Colin
Anthes, director; Laura Secord Secondary
School Concert Choir; Bradley Thachuk, conductor.
FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre,
250 St. Paul St., St. Catharines. 905-688-
0722 or 1-855-515-0722. $32; $32(sr/30 and
under); $12(st/arts/child); $5(eyeGO). Also
Dec 9(7:30pm), Dec 10(2:30pm).
●●3:00: First-St. Andrew’s United Church
(London). The Gift of the Magi. Sonja Gustafson;
Francesca Ranalli; Todd Wieczorek; Chad
Louwerse; Terry Head; George Jolin, director.
350 Queens Ave., London. 519-679-8182. $20.
Also Dec 8, 9(both at 8pm).
●●7:00: Huronia Symphony Orchestra. HSO
Christmas List. Corelli: Concerto Grosso in g
“Christmas Concerto”; Anderson: A Christmas
Festival, Sleigh Ride; Tormé: Chestnuts
Roasting on an Open Fire; Prokofiev: Troika;
Strauss: Pizzicato Polka; Waldteufel: The
Skaters’ Waltz; traditional Christmas favourites
and carol sing. Guests: Youth Songsters
of Innisfil featuring the choirs of Alcona Glen
Elementary and Lake Simcoe Public Schools.
Oliver Balaburski, conductor. Innisfil Community
Church, 1571 Innisfil Beach Road,
Innisfil. 705-721-4752. $25; $10(st); $5(child).
●●7:30: Barrie Concert Band. Christmas
Goes “Pop”. Collier Street United Church,
112 Collier St., Barrie. 705-481-1607. $20;
$15(sr/st); free(under 5).
●●7:30: Georgian Bay Symphony. Christmas
Cheer. Mozart: Clarinet Concerto in A;
and other seasonal works. Rob Tite, clarinet;
François Koh, conductor. East Ridge Community
School, 1550 8th St. E., Owen Sound.
519-372-0212. $35; $33(sr); $5(st).
●●7:30: Grand Philharmonic Choir. Handel’s
Messiah. With projected images from the St.
John’s Bible. Jacqueline Woodley, soprano;
Marjorie Maltais, mezzo; Andrew Haji, tenor;
Russell Braun, baritone; Kitchener-Waterloo
Symphony; Mark Vuorinen, conductor. Centre
in the Square, 101 Queen St. N., Kitchener.
519-578-1570. From $30.
●●7:30: Isabel Bader Centre for the Performing
Arts. Charlie Brown Christmas.
Taurey Butler Trio; Éléonore Lagacé, vocalist.
390 King St. W., Kingston. 613-533-2424. $29-
$55; $15-$27(st).
B. Concerts Beyond the GTA
●●7:30: Kokoro Singers. Prelude to Winter.
Works by Rutter and Martin; arrs. by Bolden,
Hatfield and Weir. Brenda Uchimaru,
conductor. Guests: Cambridge Girls’ Choir
(Peter West, conductor). Rockway Mennonite
Church, 47 Onward Ave., Kitchener. 289-
439-9447. $20; $15(sr/st); free(under 13). Also
Dec 17(3:30pm, Hamilton).
●●7:30: Lyrica Chamber Choir of Barrie.
Magnificat. Arnesen: Magnificat; works by
Ola Gjeilo. Chamber strings; organ; Steve
Winfield, conductor; Brent Mayhew, piano.
Burton Avenue United Church, 37 Burton
Ave., Barrie. 705-722-0271. $17; $14(sr/st).
Also 2:00.
●●7:30: Niagara Symphony Orchestra. All
Through the House: A Holiday Wassail! Colin
Anthes, director; Laura Secord Secondary
School Concert Choir; Bradley Thachuk, conductor.
FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre,
250 St. Paul St., St. Catharines. 905-688-
0722 or 1-855-515-0722. $67; $62(sr); $32(30
and under); $12(st/arts/child); $5(eyeGO).
Also Dec 9(2:30pm), Dec 10(2:30pm).
●●7:30: Peterborough Symphony Orchestra.
Hollywood for the Holidays. Music from
Home Alone, The Polar Express, It’s a Wonderful
Life, and other films. Guests: Kawartha
Youth Orchestra; Peterborough Pop Ensemble;
Michael Newnham, conductor. Showplace
Performance Centre, 290 George St. N.,
Peterborough. 705-742-7469. $30; $10(st).
Also 2pm.
●●8:00: First-St. Andrew’s United Church
(London). The Gift of the Magi. Sonja Gustafson;
Francesca Ranalli; Todd Wieczorek; Chad
Louwerse; Terry Head; George Jolin, director.
350 Queens Ave., London. 519-679-8182.
$45(6:30pm dinner & show); $20(8pm show
only). Also Dec 8(8pm), 9(3pm).
●●8:00: North Bay Symphony. Sultans of
String: A Christmas Caravan. Capitol Centre,
150 Main St. E., North Bay. 705-474-4747. $45,
$15(st); free(child - under 13 - with Adult or
Student ticket).
Sunday December 10
●●2:30: Georgian Music. Christmas Memories.
Monica Whicher, soprano; Judy Loman,
harp; Marty Smyth, organ;. St. Andrew’s
Presbyterian Church (Barrie), 47 Owen St.,
Barrie. 705-726-1181. $65.
●●2:30: Kingston Symphony. Messiah. Handel:
Messiah. Kingston Chamber Society;
Bethany Hörst, soprano; Erin Lawson, mezzo;
Christopher Mayell, tenor; David Pike, baritone.
Isabel Bader Centre for the Performing
Arts, 390 King St. W., Kingston. 613-530-
2050. From $40; $25(30 and under).
●●2:30: Niagara Symphony Orchestra. All
Through the House: A Holiday Wassail! Colin
Anthes, director; Laura Secord Secondary
School Concert Choir; Bradley Thachuk, conductor.
FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre,
250 St. Paul St., St. Catharines. 905-688-
0722 or 1-855-515-0722. $67; $62(sr); $32(30
and under); $12(st/arts/child); $5(eyeGO).
Also Dec 9(2:30pm and 7:30pm).
●●2:30: Peterborough Community Carol
Sing. Christmas Carol Concert. Salvation
Army Temple (Peterborough), 219 Simcoe St.,
Peterborough. communitycarolsing.com.
Freewill offering in support of the Christmas
Hamper Fund.
●●3:00: Magisterra Soloists. Baroque Christmas.
Bach: Brandenburg Concerto No.3;
Corelli: Christmas Concerto Grosso; Vivaldi:
Double Concerto in d; Bach: Double Concerto
in d; Telemann: Viola Concerto. Windermere
on the Mount Chapel, 1486 Richmond St.,
London. 416-930-4842. $25; $20(sr); $15(st);
$10(under 10). Also Dec 7(7:30pm, St. Luke
the Evangelist Anglican Church).
●●3:00: Orillia Brassworks Christmas. In
Concert. Albert Greer, director; St. James
Concert Choir; Andrea Donais, soprano. St.
James’ Anglican Church (Orillia), 58 Peter St.
N., Orillia. 705-726-4168. Freewill donation.
●●3:00: Rosewood Consort. Bethlehem.
Praetorius: Joseph Lieber; Byrd: Lulla, Lullaby;
Balbastre (arr. Potvin): Variations on Où
s’en vont des gais bergers. Stephane Potvin,
conductor. Grace Lutheran Church (Hamilton),
1107 Main St. W., Hamilton. 905-648-
5607. PWYC, $20 suggested. Reception to
follow.
●●3:00: Symphony on the Bay. A Double-
Reed Christmas. Vivaldi: Christmas Concerto;
Vaughan Williams: Fantasia on Christmas
Carols; and other works. Fraser Jackson,
bassoon; Claudio Vena, conductor. Burlington
Performing Arts Centre, 440 Locust St.,
Burlington. 905-681-6000. $43; $36.50(sr);
$24.50(16-24); $12(under 16).
●●7:30: Serenata Choir. Carols by Candlelight.
Gary Heard, conductor. St. Mark’s Anglican
Lutheran Church (Midland), 303 Third
St., Midland. 705-526-6800. Freewill offering.
All proceeds to the Guesthouse emergency
shelter.
Tuesday December 12
27 th annUaL
CiviC Christmas
Carol ConCert
Presented by the
City of st. Catharines
Tues Dec.12th
Noon
Doors Open
11:30 a.m.
●●12:00 noon: City of St. Catharines. 27th
Annual Civic Carol Concert. Carols and singalong.
Laura Secord Secondary and Holy
Cross Secondary School Choirs; Civic Brass
Ensemble; Peter M. Partridge, conductor;
Ross R. Stretton, organist-producer. St.
Thomas’ Church, 99 Ontario St., St. Catharines.
905-688-5601 x2160. Freewill offering.
Proceeds to Christmas Community Care.
●●7:30: Isabel Bader Centre for the Performing
Arts. National Arts Centre Orchestra.
Copland: Fanfare for the Common
Man; Mozart: Violin Concerto No.3; Sibelius:
Symphony No.1. Alexander Shelley, conductor;
Jessica Linnebach, violin. 390 King
St. W., Kingston. 613-533-2424. $29-$55;
$15-$27(st).
Wednesday December 13
●●12:15: St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church
(Kitchener). Wednesday Noon-Hour Concerts.
Cambridge Girls’ Choir; Peter West,
conductor. 54 Queen St. N., Kitchener. Free.
11:30am: Optional low-cost lunch available in
the foyer.
●●2:30: Seniors Serenade. Innisdale Christmas.
Karen Parnell and Innisdale Secondary
School Students. Grace United Church (Barrie),
350 Grove St. E., Barrie. 705-726-1181.
Free. 3:30pm: tea and cookies $5.
●●7:30: Plumbing Factory Brass Band. The
Golden Age of Brass. Von Suppé: Jolly Robbers
Overture; Beethoven: Marsch des
York’schen Korps; Mendelssohn: War March
of the Priests; Thomas: Raymond Overture;
works by Grafulla; and other works. Byron
United Church, 420 Boler Rd., London. 519-
471-1250 or 519-659-3600. $15/$13(adv);
$10(st)/$8(adv).
Thursday December 14
● ● 12:15: St. George’s Cathedral (Kingston).
Advent Concert. Allan Pulker, flute. 270 King
St. E., Kingston. 613-548-4617. Free. Voluntary
offering.
60 | December 1, 2017 - February 7, 2018 thewholenote.com

●●7:00: Cirque Musica Holiday. Believe.
Incredible feats of strength, skill, and grace
to great holiday music favourites performed
by a live symphony. RBC Theatre, Budweiser
Gardens, 99 Dundas St., London. www.budweisergardens.com/events/detail/cirquemusica-holiday-spectacular.
$40-$115.
●●8:00: Regent Theatre. Sultans of String:
A Christmas Caravan. Guest: Rebecca
Campbell, vocals. Regent Theatre (Picton),
224 Main St., Picton. 613-476-8416. $30.
Friday December 15
●●12:00 noon: First-St. Andrew’s United
Church. Friday Advent Noon Recital. Laudamus
Bells; Terry Head, director. First-St.
Andrew’s United Church, 350 Queens Ave,
London. 519-679-8182. Freewill offering.
Lunch following for $7.
●●7:30: Cirque Musica Holiday. Believe.
Incredible feats of strength, skill, and grace
to great holiday music favourites performed
by a live symphony. Peterborough Memorial
Centre, 151 Lansdowne St,, Peterborough.
tickets.memorialcentre.ca. $24-$79.99.
●●7:30: Orchestra Kingston/Frontenac
Women’s Chorus. A Christmas Story. Christmas
music for orchestra and choir, with
guest Darrel Bryan, tenor. Sydenham Street
United Church, 82 Sydenham St., Kingston.
613-766-4345. $25; $20(sr/st), free(under 12).
●●8:00: Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony.
Yuletide Spectacular. Joni NehRita, vocalist;
Mike Nadjewski, narrator; Grand Philharmonic
Choir; Grand Philharmonic
Children’s Choir; Carousel Dance Company;
Daniel Bartholomew-Poyser, conductor. Centre
in the Square, 101 Queen St. N., Kitchener.
519-745-4711 or 1-888-745-4717. $19-$86. Also
Dec 16(2:30pm and 8pm), 17(2:30pm).
Saturday December 16
●●2:30: Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony.
Yuletide Spectacular. See Dec 15. Also
Dec 16(8pm), 17(2:30pm).
●●7:00: Orangeville Community Band. Music
of Christmas. Vocal music, concert band,
sing-along. Majestic Concert Band; children’s
choir; Joy Spencer, music director.
Westminster United Church (Orangeville),
247 Broadway Ave., Orangeville. 519-942-
9673. $20/$15(adv); $15(sr)/$10(adv);
$10(child)/$5(adv). Registered charity.
●●7:30: Chorus Niagara. Big Band Christmas.
Lindberg: Christmas Cantata; festive
carols, audience sing-alongs and seasonal
music. Chorus Niagara; 20-piece Big Band;
John Sherwood, jazz piano. FirstOntario Performing
Arts Centre, 250 St. Paul St., St.
Catharines. 1-855-515-0722 or 905-688-
0722. $43; $41(sr); $28(under 30); $18(st);
$15(child); $5(eyeGo).
●●8:00: Kitchener-Waterloo Chamber
Music Society. Penderecki String Quartet.
Beethoven’s Birthday Concert. Beethoven:
Quartets No.5, Op.18 No.5; No.7, Op.59 No.1;
No.16 Op.135. KWCMS Music Room, 57 Young
St. W., Waterloo. 519-886-1673. $40; $25(st).
●●8:00: Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony.
Yuletide Spectacular. See Dec 15 for details.
Also Dec 17(2:30pm).
●●8:00: Sault Symphony. Sultans of String:
A Christmas Caravan. Sault Community Theatre
Centre, 1007 Trunk Rd., Sault Ste. Marie.
705-945-7299. $31; $23(sr); $8(child/st). Also
Dec 17(Elliot Lake).
Sunday December 17
●●2:30: Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony.
Yuletide Spectacular. See Dec 15 for details.
●●3:30: Kokoro Singers. Prelude to Winter.
Works by Rutter and Martin; arrs. by Bolden,
Hatfield and Weir. Brenda Uchimaru, conductor.
Guests: Cambridge Girls’ Choir (Peter
West, conductor). Grace Lutheran Church
(Hamilton), 1107 Main St. W., Hamilton. 289-
439-9447. $20; $15(sr/st); free(under 13). Also
Dec 9(7:30pm, Kitchener).
●●4:00: Hamilton Children’s Choir. The Simple
Joys. Ilumini Choir Special Concert. Hamilton
Philharmonic Orchestra String Quartet.
Christ Church Cathedral, 252 James St.
N., Hamilton. hamiltonchildrenschoir.com.
$20-$30.
●●4:00: St. George’s Cathedral (Kingston).
Christmas Lessons and Carols. Cathedral
Christmas Choir and Children’s Choir.
270 King St. E., Kingston. 613-548-4617. Free.
Religious service.
●●4:30: Music At St. Thomas’. Carols by
Candlelight: A Festival of Nine Lessons
and Carols. St. Thomas’ Choral Academy.
St. Thomas’ Anglican Church (Belleville),
201 Church St., Belleville. 613-962-3636.
Freewill offering. Religious service.
●●7:00: Huronia Symphony Orchestra. HSO
Christmas List. Corelli: Concerto Grosso in g
“Christmas Concerto”; Anderson: A Christmas
Festival, Sleigh Ride; Tormé: Chestnuts
Roasting on an Open Fire; Prokofiev:
Troika; Strauss: Pizzicato Polka; Waldteufel:
The Skaters’ Waltz; traditional Christmas
favourites and carol sing. Guests: Maestro
Music Centre Children’s/Youth Choir and Collier
Street Choir School. Oliver Balaburski,
conductor. Collier Street United Church,
112 Collier St., Barrie. 705-721-4752. $25; $10
(st); $5 (child).
●●7:30: Arcady. There’s a Song in the Air: A
Timeless Holiday Classic. Beckett. Ronald
Beckett, director; Tammy Whetham, staging.
Cambridge Arts Theatre, 47 Water St. S.,
Cambridge. 1-800-838-3006. $25; $10(st).
Monday December 18
●●7:30: Peterborough Singers. Handel’s Messiah.
Suzie LeBlanc, soprano; Erin Fisher,
mezzo-soprano; Colin Ainsworth, tenor;
Andrew Tees, bass; Ian Sadler, organ; Paul
Otway, trumpet; Stan Ewing, timpani; Sydney
Birrell, conductor. Emmanuel (George
St.) United Church, 534 George St. N., Peterborough.
705-745-1820. $30; $20(under 30);
$10(st).
Tuesday December 19
●●7:30: Kingston Symphony. Candlelight
Christmas. Kingston Choral Society. Isabel
Bader Centre for the Performing Arts,
390 King St. W., Kingston. 613-530-2050.
From $10. Also Dec 20.
Wednesday December 20
●●12:00 noon: Music at St. Andrews. Sarah
Svendsen, Organ and Rita Arendz, Horn.
St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church (Barrie),
47 Owen St., Barrie. 705-726-1181. $5;
free(st).
●●7:30: Kingston Symphony. Candlelight
Christmas. Kingston Choral Society. Isabel
Bader Centre for the Performing Arts,
390 King St. W., Kingston. 613-530-2050.
From $10. Also Dec 19.
Thursday December 21
●●12:15: St. George’s Cathedral (Kingston).
Advent Concert. Jeff Hanlon, guitar. 270 King
St. E., Kingston. 613-548-4617. Free. Voluntary
offering.
MISHAABOOZ’S
REALM
DEC 21 & 22 @ 7:30pm
NLPAP | Haliburton
BOX OFFICE 1-855-455-5533
HighlandsOperaStudio.com
●●7:30: Highlands Opera Studio. Mishaabooz’s
Realm. Music by Andrew Balfour.
Northern Lights Performing Arts Pavilion,
5358 County Rd. 21, Haliburton. 1-855-455-
5533. $25. Also Dec 22.
Friday December 22
●●7:00: Highlands Opera Studio. Mishaabooz’s
Realm. Music by Andrew Balfour.
Northern Lights Performing Arts Pavilion,
5358 County Rd. 21, Haliburton. 1-855-455-
5533. $25. Also Dec 21.
Saturday December 23
● ● 7:30: Guelph Chamber Choir. Handel’s
Messiah. Guelph Chamber Choir, Gerald
Neufeld, conductor, Alison MacNeill, accompanist;
Meredith Hall, soprano; Daniel Taylor,
countertenor; Neal Banerjee, tenor;
Alex Dobson, baritone; Musica Viva Orchestra
on period instruments. River Run Centre,
35 Woolwich St., Guelph. 519-763-3000. $40;
$35(group of 4 or more); $10(30 and under/
st); $5(14 and under).
Saturday December 30
●●2:30: Attila Glatz Concert Productions.
Salute to Vienna New Year’s Concert. Lilla
Galambos, soprano; Thomas Weinhappel,
baritone; Kiev-Aniko Ballet of Ukraine
and International Champion Ballroom Dancers;
Strauss Symphony of Canada; Niels
Muus, conductor. FirstOntario Concert Hall,
1 Summers Ln., Hamilton. 855-872-5000.
$39-$95.
Wednesday January 3
●●12:00 noon: Midday Music with Shigeru.
Michael Adamson, violin and Philip Adamson,
piano. Works by Beethoven, Martucci, Morris
and Elgar. Hi-Way Pentecostal Church,
50 Anne St. N., Barrie. 705-726-1181. $5;
free(st).
Thursday January 4
●●12:00 noon: Wilfrid Laurier University Faculty
of Music. Music at Noon. Katie Schlaikjer,
cello. Maureen Forrester Recital Hall,
75 University Ave., Waterloo. 519-884-1970
x2432. Free.
Wednesday January 10
●●2:30: Seniors Serenade. Mike Lewis Plays
His “F” List. Songs beginning with F. Mike
Lewis, piano. Grace United Church (Barrie),
350 Grove St. E., Barrie. 705-726-1181. Free.
3:30pm: tea and cookies $5.
Thursday January 11
●●12:00 noon: Wilfrid Laurier University
Faculty of Music. Music at Noon. Guy Few,
trumpet; Stephanie Mara, piano. Maureen
Forrester Recital Hall, 75 University Ave.,
Waterloo. 519-884-1970 x2432. Free.
●●8:00: Kitchener-Waterloo Chamber Music
Society. Scott St. John, Violin and Catherine
Chi, Piano. Violin works by Willan, Grattan,
Champagne and L. Smith. KWCMS Music
Room, 57 Young St. W., Waterloo. 519-886-
1673. $30; $20(st).
Friday January 12
●●8:00: Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony.
Elgar’s Cello Concerto and Mozart’s Jupiter.
Hindemith: Overture to Cupid and Psyche;
Elgar: Cello Concerto in e; Mozart: Prelude
to Apollo and Hyacinthus; Mozart: Symphony
No.41 in C “Jupiter”. Denise Djokic, cello; Tung-
Chieh Chuang, conductor. Centre in the
Square, 101 Queen St. N., Kitchener. 519-745-
4711 or 1-888-745-4717. $19-$86. Also Jan 13.
Saturday January 13
●●3:00: 5 at the First Chamber Music Series.
Piano Trio Masters: AYR Trio. Beethoven:
Piano Trio in D major Op.70 No.1 “Ghost;”
Staniland: Solstice Songs; Brahms: Trio in C
major No.2 Op.87. AYR Trio: Yehonatan Berick,
violin; Rachel Mercer, cello; Angela Park,
piano. First Unitarian Church of Hamilton,
170 Dundurn St. S., Hamilton. 905-399-5125.
$20; $15(sr); $5(st/unwaged); free(under 12).
●●7:30: Southern Ontario Lyric Opera.
Encore: Favourite Opera Arias. Jean Stilwell,
mezzo; Joni Henson, soprano; David Pomeroy,
tenor. Burlington Performing Arts Centre,
440 Locust St., Burlington. 905-681-6000.
$20-$65.
thewholenote.com December 1, 2017 - February 7, 2018 | 61

The magic of live opera with
Jean Stilwell,
Joni Henson &
David Pomeroy
Saturday Jan 13, 7:30pm
Burlington
southernontariolyricopera.com
●●8:00: Jeffery Concerts. Love Triangle.
Haydn: Piano Trio No.45 in E-flat HobXV:29;
Wijeratne: Love Triangle; Beethoven: Piano
Trio No.7 in B-flat Op.97 “Archduke”. Gryphon
Trio. Wolf Performance Hall, 251 Dundas St.,
London. 519-672-8800. $40.
●●8:00: Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony.
Elgar’s Cello Concerto and Mozart’s Jupiter.
Hindemith: Overture to Cupid and Psyche;
Elgar: Cello Concerto in e; Mozart: Prelude
to Apollo and Hyacinthus; Mozart: Symphony
No.41 in C “Jupiter”. Denise Djokic, cello; Tung-
Chieh Chuang, conductor. Centre in the
Square, 101 Queen St. N., Kitchener. 519-745-
4711 or 1-888-745-4717. $19-$82. Also Jan 12.
Sunday January 14
●●2:30: Kingston Symphony. Korngold and
Shostakovich. Beethoven: Overture to Leonore
No.3; Korngold: Violin Concerto; Shostakovich:
Symphony No.5. Jonathan Crow,
violin. Isabel Bader Centre for the Performing
Arts, 390 King St. W., Kingston. 613-530-
2050. From $10.
●●8:00: Kitchener-Waterloo Chamber
Music Society. AYR Trio. Beethoven: Op.70/1
B. Concerts Beyond the GTA General admission.
“Ghost”; Brahms: No.2 Op.87; Staniland: Solstice
Songs. Angela Park piano; Yehonatan
Berick, violin; Rachel Mercer, cello. KWCMS
Music Room, 57 Young St. W., Waterloo. 519-
886-1673. $35; $20(st).
Tuesday January 16
●●12:15: Wilfrid Laurier University Faculty
of Music. Maureen Forrester Singers. First
United Church (Waterloo), 16 William St. W.,
Waterloo. 519-884-1970 x2432. Free.
Thursday January 18
●●12:00 noon: Music at St. Andrews. Christopher
Dawes, Organ. St. Andrew’s Presbyterian
Church (Barrie), 47 Owen St., Barrie.
705-726-1181. $5; free(st).
●●12:00 noon: Wilfrid Laurier University Faculty
of Music. Music at Noon. Kimberly Barber,
mezzo; Anna Ronai, piano; Christine
Vlajk, viola. Maureen Forrester Recital Hall,
75 University Ave., Waterloo. 519-884-1970
x2432. Free.
●●7:00: Magisterra Soloists. Magisterra at
the Museum: “Entartete Musik” - Music of the
Holocaust. Works by Krása, Weiner, Morawetz,
Klein and Schulhoff. Museum London
Theatre, 421 Ridout St. N., London. 519-661-
0333. $30; $25(sr); $15(st); $10(child).
●●8:00: Kitchener-Waterloo Chamber Music
Society. Andre LaPlante, Piano. Schubert:
Sonata in A D664; Liszt: Funerailles; Sposalizio;
Chopin: Two Nocturnes; Sonata No.
2 “Funeral March”. KWCMS Music Room,
57 Young St. W., Waterloo. 519-886-1673.
$40; $25(st).
Friday January 19
●●8:00: Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony.
Casablanca: The Film with Live Orchestra.
Evan Mitchell, conductor. Centre in the
Square, 101 Queen St. N., Kitchener. 519-745-
4711 or 1-888-745-4717. $19-$86. Also Jan 20.
Saturday January 20
●●2:30: Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony.
Spectacular Strings. Margaret Wise Brown:
The Runaway Bunny; and other works.
Bénédicte Lauzière, concertmaster; Ann
Baggley, narrator; Evan Mitchell, conductor.
Centre in the Square, 101 Queen St. N., Kitchener.
519-745-4711 or 1-888-745-4717. $18;
$11(child).
●●7:30: Barrie Concerts. Liszt’s Twelve Colossal
Transcendental Études. Sheng Cai, piano.
Hi-Way Pentecostal Church, 50 Anne St. N.,
Barrie. 705-726-1181. $85.
●●7:30: Niagara Symphony Orchestra.
Honey and Rue. Wagner: Siegfried Idyll; Previn:
Honey and Rue; Ravel: Mother Goose
(complete ballet). Claire de Sévigné, soprano;
Bradley Thahuck, conductor. FirstOntario
Performing Arts Centre, 250 St. Paul St.,
St. Catharines. 905-688-0722 or 1-855-515-
0722. $67; $62(sr); $32(30 and under); $12(st/
arts/child); $5(eyeGO). Also Jan 21(2:30pm).
●●8:00: Kitchener-Waterloo Chamber Music
Society. Capella Intima. Program TBA. Sheila
Dietrich, soprano; Jennifer Enns Modolo,
mezzo; Bud Roach, tenor; David Roth, baritone.
KWCMS Music Room, 57 Young St. W.,
Waterloo. 519-886-1673. $35; $20(st).
●●8:00: Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony.
Casablanca: The Film with Live Orchestra.
Evan Mitchell, conductor. Centre in the
Square, 101 Queen St. N., Kitchener. 519-745-
4711 or 1-888-745-4717. $19-$86. Also Jan 19.
Sunday January 21
●●2:30: Isabel Bader Centre for the Performing
Arts. Faculty Artist Series: Marjan
Mozetich Retirement Concert. Mozetich: Bassoon
Concerto; and other works. Katie Leger,
bassoon. 390 King St. W., Kingston. 613-533-
2424. $10-$28.
●●2:30: Niagara Symphony Orchestra.
Honey and Rue. Wagner: Siegfried Idyll; Previn:
Honey and Rue; Ravel: Mother Goose
(complete ballet). Claire de Sévigné, soprano;
Bradley Thahuck, conductor. FirstOntario
Performing Arts Centre, 250 St. Paul St.,
St. Catharines. 905-688-0722 or 1-855-515-
0722. $67; $62(sr); $32(30 and under); $12(st/
arts/child); $5(eyeGO). Also Jan 20(7:30pm).
●●4:30: Music At St. Thomas’. A Clarinet
and Bassoon Duo Concert. Works by Bach,
Beethoven, Poulenc and Koechlin. François
Laurin-Burgess, clarinet; Antoine Saint-Onge,
bassoon. St. Thomas’ Anglican Church (Belleville),
201 Church St., Belleville. 613-962-
3636. Admission by donation.
Tuesday January 23
●●12:00 noon: Marilyn I. Walker School of
Fine and Performing Arts, Brock University.
RBC Foundation Music@Noon. Timothy White,
trumpet; Lesley Kingham, piano. Cairns Hall,
FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre, 250 St.
Paul St., St. Catharines. 905-688-0722. Free.
Wednesday January 24
●●8:00: Kitchener-Waterloo Chamber
Music Society. Mauro Bertoli, Piano and
Lucia Luque, Violin. Beethoven: Romance in F;
Franck: Sonata; Schumann: Sonata No.1; Piazzolla:
Gran Tango; Sarasate: Carmen Fantasy.
KWCMS Music Room, 57 Young St. W., Waterloo.
519-886-1673. $30; $20(st).
Friday January 26
●●7:30: Marilyn I. Walker School of Fine and
Performing Arts, Brock University. Encore!
Professional Concert Series: Jump. Guy Few,
trumpet and piano; Stephanie Mara, piano.
Partridge Hall, FirstOntario Performing Arts
Centre, 250 St. Paul St., St. Catharines.
905-688-0722 or 1-855-515-0722. $28.50;
$22.50(sr/st); $12.50(child); $5(eyeGo).
●●8:00: Don Wright Faculty of Music. Pirates
of Penzance. Music by Sir Arthur Sullivan.
Libretto by W.S. Gilbert. Tyrone Paterson,
music director; Theodore Baerg, stage director.
First-St. Andrew’s United Church,
350 Queens Ave, London. 519-672-8800. $30;
$20(sr/st). Also Jan 27, Feb 2, 3(all at 8pm),
4(2pm).
Saturday January 27
DOVER
QUARTET
SATURDAY, JANUARY 27
2:00 p.m.
CHAMBER
MUSIC
HAMILTON.CA
●●2:00: Chamber Music Hamilton. Dover
String Quartet. Schumann: String Quartet
No.2 in F major Op.41 No.2; Ullmann: String
Quartet No.3; Zemlinsky: String Quartet No.2.
Art Gallery of Hamilton, 123 King St. W., Hamilton.
905-525-7429. $35; $30(sr); $15(st).
●●2:30: Kingston Symphony. Rachmaninoff
and Beethoven. Wagner: Prelude to
Act 1 of Lohengrin; Rachmaninoff: Piano Concerto
No.3; Beethoven: Symphony No.5. Avan
Yu, piano. Isabel Bader Centre for the Performing
Arts, 390 King St. W., Kingston. 613-
530-2050. From $10. Also Jan 28.
●●7:00: Wilfrid Laurier University Faculty of
Music. Laurier Choirs. First United Church
(Waterloo), 16 William St. W., Waterloo. 519-
884-1970 x2432. $15; $8(sr/st).
●●8:00: Don Wright Faculty of Music. Pirates
of Penzance. See Jan 26 for details.
Sunday January 28
●●2:30: Kingston Symphony. Rachmaninoff
and Beethoven. Wagner: Prelude to
Act 1 of Lohengrin; Rachmaninoff: Piano Concerto
No.3; Beethoven: Symphony No.5. Avan
Yu, piano. Isabel Bader Centre for the Performing
Arts, 390 King St. W., Kingston. 613-
530-2050. From $10. Also Jan 27.
●●3:00: Dundas Valley Orchestra. Afternoon
at the Opera. Rossini: Overture to La
gazza ladra; Handel (arr. A. Luck): Largo from
Xerxes; Gounod: Que fais-tu blanche tourterelle
from Roméo et Juliette; Puccini: Quando
m’en vo from La bohème; Weber: Overture
to Oberon; and other works. Tessa Victoria
Laengert, soprano; Rebecca Cuddy, mezzo;
Dundas Celebration Singers; Laura Thomas,
music director. St. Paul’s United Church (Dundas),
29 Park St. W., Dundas. 905-387-4773.
Free; donations welcome.
●●7:00: Wilfrid Laurier University Faculty
of Music. Laurier Jazz Ensemble. Maureen
62 | December 1, 2017 - February 7, 2018 thewholenote.com

Forrester Recital Hall, 75 University Ave.,
Waterloo. 519-884-1970 x2432. $15; $8(sr/st).
Tuesday January 30
●●12:00 noon: Marilyn I. Walker School of
Fine and Performing Arts, Brock University.
RBC Foundation Music@Noon. Zoltan Kalman,
clarinet; Erika Reiman, piano. Cairns Hall,
FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre, 250 St.
Paul St., St. Catharines. 905-688-0722. Free.
Thursday February 1
●●12:00 noon: Wilfrid Laurier University
Faculty of Music. Music at Noon. Faculty
Woodwinds. Maureen Forrester Recital Hall,
75 University Ave., Waterloo. 519-884-1970
x2432. Free.
●●8:00: Kitchener-Waterloo Chamber Music
Society. Composers & Improvisers Association,
WLU Faculty of Music. Student composers
and performers (woodwind quintet
and flute/piano duo). KWCMS Music Room,
57 Young St. W., Waterloo. 519-886-1673.
$15; $10(st).
Friday February 2
●●8:00: Don Wright Faculty of Music. Pirates
of Penzance. See Jan 26 for details.
●●8:00: Jeffery Concerts. Stories from Russia.
Mendelssohn: Quartet in D Op.44, No.1;
Janáček: String Quartet No.1 “Kreutzer
Sonata”; Beethoven: Quartet in F Op.59 No.1
“Razumovsky”. Calidore String Quartet. Wolf
Performance Hall, 251 Dundas St., London.
519-672-8800. $40.
Saturday February 3
●●2:30: Niagara Symphony Orchestra. Fun
with Fables. Maltz: Aesop’s Fables; Dorff: Goldilocks
and the Three Bears; Woods: The Ugly
Duckling. Bradley Thachuk, conductor. Cairns
Hall, FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre,
250 St. Paul St., St. Catharines. 905-688-
0722 or 1-855-515-0722. $67; $62(sr); $32(30
and under); $12(st/arts/child); $5(eyeGO).
Also Feb 4.
●●7:30: Peterborough Symphony Orchestra.
Paris Bustle and Blues. Ravel: Ma mère
l’oye and Bolero; Gershwin: An American in
Paris and Rhapsody in Blue. Anastasia Rizikov,
piano; Michael Newnham, conductor. Showplace
Performance Centre, 290 George St.
N., Peterborough. 705-742-7469. $20-$48.50;
$10(st).
●●8:00: Don Wright Faculty of Music. Pirates
of Penzance. See Jan 26 for details.
●●8:00: Wilfrid Laurier University Faculty
of Music. Laurier Wind Orchestra. Wilfrid
Laurier University, Theatre Auditorium,
75 University Ave. W., Waterloo. 519-884-1970
x2432. $15; $8(sr/st).
Sunday February 4
●●2:00: Don Wright Faculty of Music. Pirates
of Penzance. See Jan 26 for details.
●●2:30: Niagara Symphony Orchestra. Fun
with Fables. Maltz: Aesop’s Fables; Dorff: Goldilocks
and the Three Bears; Woods: The Ugly
Duckling. Bradley Thachuk, conductor. Cairns
Hall, FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre,
250 St. Paul St., St. Catharines. 905-688-
0722 or 1-855-515-0722. $67; $62(sr); $32(30
and under); $12(st/arts/child); $5(eyeGO).
Also Feb 3.
Monday February 5
●●8:00: Kitchener-Waterloo Chamber Music
Society. Ensemble Made in Canada. Brahms:
Clarinet Quintet; and other works. Elissa Lee,
violin; Sharon Wei, viola; Rachel Mercer,cello;
Angela Park, piano; Dionysis Grammenos,
clarinet. KWCMS Music Room, 57 Young St.
W., Waterloo. 519-886-1673. $40; $25(st).
Tuesday February 6
●●12:00 noon: Marilyn I. Walker School of
Fine and Performing Arts, Brock University.
RBC Foundation Music@Noon. Voice students.
Cairns Hall, FirstOntario Performing
Arts Centre, 250 St. Paul St., St. Catharines.
905-688-0722. Free.
Wednesday February 7
●●8:00: Kitchener-Waterloo Chamber Music
Society. Katie Schlajker, Cello and Heather
Taves, Piano. Schumann: Fantasiestücke
Op.73; Adagio and Allegro Op.70; Gesänge der
Frühe, Op.133 (piano solo); 5 Stücke im Volkston,
Op.102; and other works. KWCMS Music
Room, 57 Young St. W., Waterloo. 519-886-
1673. $30; $20(st).
●●8:00: Wilfrid Laurier University Faculty
of Music. Student Composer Series. Maureen
Forrester Recital Hall, 75 University Ave.,
Waterloo. 519-884-1970 x2432. Free.
C. Music Theatre
These music theatre listings contain a wide range of music theatre types including
opera, operetta, musicals and other performance genres where music and drama
combine. Listings in this section are sorted alphabetically by presenter.
●●Against the Grain Theatre. Bound. Music
by George Frideric Handel, libretto by Joel
Ivany. COC Jackman Studio, 227 Front St. E.
647-367-8943. $35. Opens Dec 14, 8pm. Runs
to Dec 16. Thurs/Fri(8pm), Sat(6pm/9pm).
●●Alexander Showcase Theatre. A Musical
Celebration! A 30th anniversary cabaret. Alumnae
Theatre, 70 Berkeley St. 416-324-1259. $30-
$50. Opens Dec 9, 8pm. Also Dec 10(2pm).
●●Annex Singers. December Diaries: A
Choral Drama. Jane Mallett Theatre, St Lawrence
Centre for the Arts, 27 Front St E.
416-968-7747. $35; $25(sr/st). Opens Dec 9,
7:30pm. Also Dec 10(3pm).
New Year’s Eve • 7:00 pm
Tickets: 416.872.4255
roythomsonhall.com
Opera Stars,
Chorus & Orchestra
Roy Thomson Hall
●●Attila Glatz Concert Productions/Roy
Thomson Hall. Bravissimo! Opera’s Greatest
Hits. Selections from Così fan tutte, Madama
Butterfly, Rigoletto, Don Giovanni, Tosca and
others. Barbara Bargnesi and Francesca
Sassu, sopranos; Carolyn Sproule, mezzo;
David Pomeroy, tenor; Massimo Cavalletti,
baritone. Roy Thomson Hall, 60 Simcoe St.
416-872-4255. from $55. Dec 31, 7pm.
●●Burlington Performing Arts Centre. A
Night at The Opera. Act II music from Bizet’s
Carmen. Julie Nesrallah, mezzo; Lauren Margison,
soprano; Richard Margison, tenor;
Gary Relyea, bass-baritone; Robert Kortgaard,
piano. Burlington Performing Arts
Centre, Main Theatre, 440 Locust St., Burlington.
905-681-6000. $69.50. Feb 3, 8pm.
●●Canadian Opera Company. The Magic Victrola.
Libretto by David Kersnar and Jacqueline
Russell. Works by Bizet, Mozart, Puccini
and others. Members of the COC’s Ensemble
Studio; Ashlie Corcoran, director. Richard
Bradshaw Amphitheatre, Four Seasons Centre
for the Performing Arts, 145 Queen St.
W. 416-363-8231. $30; free(children under
12), Maximum of 2 free children’s tickets for
each adult ticket sold. Additional children’s
tickets $10. Dec 2, 11am. Also Dec 2(1:30pm);
Dec 3(10:30am and 1:30pm).
●●Canadian Opera Company. Vocal Series:
Wirth Vocal Prize Showcase. Simone
McIntosh, mezzo. Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre,
Four Seasons Centre for the Performing
Arts, 145 Queen St. W. 416-363-8231.
Free. First-come, first-served. Late seating
not available. Dec 5, 12pm.
RIGOLETTO
VERDI
JAN 20 –
FEB 23
coc.ca
●●Canadian Opera Company. Rigoletto.
Music by Giuseppe Verdi, libretto by Francesco
Maria Piave. Four Seasons Centre for
the Performing Arts, 145 Queen St. W. 416-
363-8231. $35-$225. Opens Jan 20, 7:30pm.
Runs to Feb 23. Days and times vary, visit coc.
ca for details.
●●Canadian Opera Company. The Abduction
from the Seraglio. Music by Wolfgang Amadeus
Mozart, libretto by Christoph Friedrich
Bretzner with adaptations by Gottlieb Stephanie.
Four Seasons Centre for the Performing
Arts, 145 Queen St. W. 416-363-8231. $35-
$225. Opens Feb 7, 7:30pm. Runs to Feb 24.
Days and times vary, visit coc.ca for details.
MOZART THE
ABDUCTION
FROM THE
SERAGLIO
FEB 2 – 25
coc.ca
●●Cathedral Bluffs Symphony Orchestra.
Subscription Concert #2. Humperdinck: Hansel
and Gretel. Tryptych Concert & Opera.
P.C. Ho Theatre, Chinese Cultural Centre
of Greater Toronto, 5183 Sheppard Ave. E.,
Scarborough. 416-879-5566. $35 and up;
$30(sr/st); free(under 12). 7:15pm: Pre-concert
talk. Dec 9, 8pm. Also Dec 10(2pm).
●●Civic Light Opera Company. The Wizard
of Oz. Music, lyrics and book by Joe Cascone
and James P. Doyle, based on the film. Zion
Cultural Centre, 1650 Finch Ave. E. 416-755-
1717. $28. Opens Nov 29, 7pm. Runs to Dec 10.
Wed (7pm), Thurs-Sat(8pm), Sun(2pm). Note:
extra show Dec 9, 2pm.
thewholenote.com December 1, 2017 - February 7, 2018 | 63

●●Coal Mine Theatre. Rumours, by Fleetwood
Mac: A Coal Mine Concert. Coal Mine Theatre,
1454 Danforth Ave. coalminetheatre.com.
$45. Opens Feb 4, 7:30pm. Runs to Feb 25.
Tues-Sat(7:30pm), Sun(2pm).
●●Crow’s Theatre. A&R Angels. Created
by Kevin Drew. Streetcar Crowsnest,
345 Carlaw Ave. 647-341-7390. $20-$50.
Opens Nov 20, 8pm. Runs to Dec 9. Mon-
Sat(8pm), Wed/Sat(2pm). Note: no matinee
Nov 22.
●●Dancyn Productions. Aladdin: A Panto in
One Arabian Night. Regent Theatre, 50 King
St. E., Oshawa. 905-721-3399. $29. Opens
Dec 28, 7pm. Runs to Dec 31. Thurs-Sat(7pm),
Sat/Sun(1pm).
●●Drayton Entertainment. Kings and
Queens of Country. Featuring hits of early
country music. St. Jacob’s Schoolhouse
Theatre, 11 Albert St. W., St. Jacob’s. 1-855-
372-9866. $27-$46. Opens Sep 19, 2pm.
Runs to Dec 24. Tues-Thurs/Sat/Sun(2pm),
Thurs-Sat(7:30pm).
●●Drayton Entertainment. Beauty and the
Beast. Music by Alan Menken, lyrics by Howard
Ashman and Tim Rice, book by Linda
Woolverton. Dunfield Theatre Cambridge,
46 Grand Ave. S., Cambridge. 1-855-372-
9866. $27-$46. Opens Nov 22, 2pm. Runs
to Dec 31. Wed/Thurs/Sat(2pm), Thurs-
Sat(7:30pm), Sun(1pm/7pm). Note: extra
shows Dec 19&27, 7:30pm. Note: no mat
Dec 20, no eve Dec 24&31.
●●Drayton Entertainment. Honk. Music by
George Stiles, lyrics and book by Anthony
Drewe. St. Jacobs Country Playhouse,
40 Benjamin Rd. E., Waterloo. 1-855-372-
9866. $27-$46. Opens Nov 29, 10:30am. Runs
to Dec 24. Wed(10:30am), Thurs/Sat(2pm),
Thurs-Sat(7:30pm), Sun(11:30am/4pm). Note:
extra shows Dec 12, 19(10:30am). Note: no
eve show Dec 14. Note: Dec 24 show is at 1pm.
●●Dreamtheatre Productions. My Fair
Lady. Music by Frederick Loewe, lyrics and
book by Alan Jay Lerner. Michael Power/St.
Joseph Secondary School, 105 Eringate Dr.
dreamtheatreproudctions.com. $30. Opens
Jan 18, 7:30pm. Runs to Jan 20.
●●Dundas Valley Orchestra. Afternoon at
the Opera. St. Paul’s United Church (Dundas),
29 Park St. W., Dundas. 905-387-4773. Free;
donations welcome. Jan 28, 3pm.
●●Factory Theatre/b current performing
arts. Trace. Written, composed and performed
by Jeff Ho. Nina Lee Aquino, director.
Factory Studio Theatre, 125 Bathurst St. 416-
504-9971. $20-$50. Opens Nov 11, 8pm. Runs
to Dec 3. Tues-Sat(8pm), Sun(2pm).
●●First-St. Andrew’s United Church. The Gift
of the Magi. Music by David Conte, libretto
by Nicholas Giardini. First-St. Andrew’s
United Church, 350 Queens Ave, Waterloo.
519-679-8182. $20. Opens Dec 8, 8pm. Also
Dec 9(3pm).
●●Grand Theatre. A Christmas Carol.
Adapted for the stage by Dennis Garnhum.
Music by Jeremy Spencer. Grand Theatre,
471 Richmond St, London. 519-672-8800.
$29.95-$88. Opens Nov 28, 7:30pm. Runs to
Dec 30. Tues-Sat(7:30pm), Sat/Sun(1pm).
Note: extra shows Dec 6, 27(1pm). Note: no
show Dec 21.
●●Irregular Entertainment. Grease -- The
Musical. Music, lyrics and book by Jim Jacobs
and Warren Casey. Winter Garden Theatre,
189 Yonge St. 1-855-985-5000. $29-$159.
C. Music Theatre
Opens Nov 1, 1:30pm. Runs to Dec 10. Tues-
Sat(7:30pm), Wed/Sat/Sun(1:30pm).
●●Jaybird Productions. Cabaret. Music by
John Kander, lyrics by Fred Ebb, book by Joe
Masteroff. Al Green Theatre, 640 Spadina
Rd. jaybirdproductions.ca. $30-$50. Opens
Nov 30, 8pm. Runs to Dec 2. Thurs/Fri(8pm),
Sat(2pm).
●●Lower Ossington Theatre. Buddy Holly
Winter Concert. Featuring Zachary Stevenson
performing Buddy Holly hits. Randolph
Theatre, 736 Bathurst St. 1-888-324-6282.
$39.99. Opens Dec 12, 7:30pm. Also Dec 13, 14.
●●Lower Ossington Theatre. Annie. Music
by Charles Strouse, lyrics by Martin Charnin,
book by Thomas Meehan. Randolph Theatre,
736 Bathurst St. 1-888-324-6282.
$49.99-$64.99. Opens Dec 8, 7:30pm. Runs
to Jan 14. Fri/Sat(7:30pm), Sat(3:30pm),
Sun(12pm/4pm). Note: no 4pm show on
Dec 31. Note: extra show Jan 4(2pm).
●●Mainstage Theatre Company. The Addams
Family. Music and lyrics by Andrew Lippa,
book by Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice,
based on characters created by Charles
Addams. Papermill Theatre, Todmorden Mills,
67 Pottery Rd. 416-396-2819. $35; $20(st).
Opens Dec 15, 7:30pm. Runs to Dec 17. Fri/
Sat(7:30pm), Sat/Sun(2pm).
●●Marigon Productions/Next Stage Theatre
Festival. Rumspringa Break. Music by
Colleen Dauncy, lyrics by Akiva Romer-Segal,
book by Matt Murray. Factory Theatre Mainspace,
125 Bathurst Ave. info@colleenandakiva.com.
$15. Opens Jan 4, 9:15pm. Runs
to Jan 14. Days and times vary. Visit fringetoronto.com
for details.
●●Mirvish. Bat Out of Hell: The Musical.
Music, lyrics and book by Jim Steinman. Ed
Mirvish Theatre, 244 Victoria St. 416-872-1212.
$29-$139. Opens Oct 14, 8pm. Runs to Jan 7.
Tues-Sat(8pm), Wed(1:30pm), Sat/Sun(2pm).
Note: no show Dec 26. Note: Extra show
Dec 28(1:30pm).
●●Mirvish. Dr Seuss’s The Lorax. Music
and lyrics by Charlie Fink, adapted for the
stage by David Greig. Royal Alexandra Theatre,
260 King St. W. 416-872-1212. $59-$165.
Opens Dec 9, 7:30pm. Runs to Jan 21. Tues-
Sat(7:30pm), Wed/Sat/Sun(1:30pm). Note:
also Dec 14&28(1:30pm).
●●Mirvish. Million Dollar Quartet. Features
music of Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl
Perkins, and Elvis Presley. Panasonic Theatre,
651 Yonge St. 416-872-1212. $59-$89. Opens
Dec 12, 8pm. Runs to Jan 7. Tues-Sat(8pm),
Wed(1:30pm), Sat/Sun(2pm).
●●National Ballet of Canada. The Nutcracker.
Music by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, with
libretto by James Kudelka. James Kudelka,
choreographer. Four Seasons Centre for the
Performing Arts, 145 Queen St. W. 416-345-
9595. $39-$190. Opens Dec 9, 2pm. Runs to
Dec 30. Days and times vary. Visit national.
ballet.ca for details.
●●Nocturnes in the City. Highlights from
Czech and World Operas. John Holland, baritone;
Danielle Dudycha, soprano; William
Shookhoff, piano. St. Wenceslaus Church,
496 Gladstone Ave. 416-481-7294. $25;
$15(st). Jan 21, 5pm.
●●Onstage Uxbridge. Oklahoma! Music by
Richard Rodgers, lyrics and book by Oscar
Hammerstein II. Uxbridge Music Hall, 16 Main
St. S., Uxbridge. onstageuxbridge.com.
$24. Opens Jan 18, 7:30pm. Runs to Jan 27.
Thurs-Sat(7:30pm), Sat/Sun(2pm).
●●Opera by Request. Salome. Music and
libretto by Richard Strauss. William Shookhoff,
piano and conductor. College Street
United Church, 452 College St. 416-455-2365.
$20. Jan 20, 7:30pm.
●●Podium Concert Productions. Nine (in
concert). Music and lyrics by Maury Yeston,
book by Arthur Kopit. Trinity St. Paul’s Centre
for the Arts, 427 Bloor St. W. 647-800-
4745. $39-$89. Opens Jan 12(7:30pm). Also
Jan 13(2pm/7:30pm).
●●Port Hope Festival Theatre. Robin Hood:
The Panto. Written, directed and visual
effects by Antonio Sarmiento. Cameco Capitol
Arts Centre, 20 Queen St., Port Hope. 1-800-
434-5092. $27-$35. Opens Nov 16, 7pm. Runs
to Dec 23. Days and times vary. Visit
capitoltheatre.com for details.
●●Randolph Academy. Moll. Music and lyrics
by Leslie Arden, book by Leslie Arden and
Cathy Eliot with Anna T. Cascio. Annex Theatre,
736 Bathurst St. 416-924-2243. $22.
Opens Nov 28, 8pm. Runs to Dec 2. Tues-
Sat(8pm), Sat(2pm).
●●Ross Petty Productions. A Christmas
Carol. Tracey Flye, director/choreographer.
Elgin Theatre, 189 Yonge St. 1-855-599-9090.
$27-$99. Opens Nov 24, 7pm. Runs to Dec 31.
Days and times vary. Visit rosspetty.com for
details.
●●Shaw Festival. A Christmas Carol. Adapted
for the stage by Tim Carroll. Paul Sportelli,
music director. Royal George Theatre,
85 Queen St, Niagara on the Lake. 1-800-511-
7429. $30-$50. Opens Nov 15, 1pm. Runs to
Dec 23. Days and times vary. Visit shawfest.
com for details.
●●Soulpepper Concert Series. A Very Soulpepper
Christmas. A family concert celebrating
the sounds of the season from around
the globe. Mike Ross, music director. St.
Lawrence Centre for the Arts: Jane Mallett
Theatre. 27 Front St E. 416-866-8666. $25-
$70. Opens Dec 15, 8pm. Runs to Dec 17. Fri/
Sat(8pm), Sat/Sun(2pm).
ON STAGE JANUARY 10, 2018
PETER SHAFFER
AMADEUS
TICKETS START AT $35
● ● Soulpepper. Amadeus. By Peter Shaffer.
Directed by Albert Schultz. Baillie Theatre,
Young Centre for the Performing Arts,
50 Tank House Lane, Distillery Historic District.
416-866-8666. Tickets from $35. Jan 10,
7:30pm to Feb 10, 7:30pm.
●●Scarborough Music Theatre. The Addams
Family. Music and lyrics by Andrew Lippa,
book by Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice,
based on characters created by Charles
Addams. Scarborough Village Community
Centre, 3600 Kingston Rd. 416-267-9292. $30;
$27(sr/st); $25(ch). Opens Feb 1, 8pm. Runs
to Feb 17. Thurs-Sat(8pm), Sun(2pm). Note:
Feb 17 show at 2pm.
●●Southern Ontario Lyric Opera. Encore.
Favourite opera arias. Burlington Performing
Arts Centre, 440 Locust St., Burlington. 905-
681-6000. $20-$65. Jan 13, 7:30pm.
RUDDIGORE
January 26-28
February 1-4
●●St. Anne’s Music & Drama Society. Ruddigore,
or The Witch’s Curse. Music by Arthur
Sullivan, lyrics by W. S. Gilbert. St. Anne’s Parish
Hall, 651 Dufferin St. 416-922-4415. $27;
$22(sr/st). Opens Jan 26, 7:30pm. Runs to
Feb 4. Thurs/Fri(7:30pm), Sat/Sun(2pm). Also
Jan 27 at 7:30pm.
●●Talk is Free Theatre. Candide (A Satirical
Musical). Music by Leonard Bernstein, lyrics
by Richard Wilbur, John Latouche and Stephen
Sondheim, book by Hugh Wheeler. Mady
Centre for the Performing Arts, 1 Dunlop St.
W., Barrie. 705-792-1949. $37.50-$40.80.
Opens Nov 23, 7:30pm. Runs to Dec 2. Wed/
Thurs(7:30pm), Fri/Sat(8pm), Sat(2pm).
●●Tapestry Opera. Tapestry Briefs: Winter
Shorts. Jacqueline Woodley, soprano; Erica
Iris, mezzo; Keith Klassen, tenor; Alex Dobson,
baritone; Artists of the 2016 Composer-
Librettist Laboratory. Dancemakers Studio,
Distillery Historic District, 9 Trinity St. 416-
537-6066. From $25. Opens Dec 1(8pm). Runs
to Dec 3. Fri/Sat(8pm), Sun(4pm).
●●Tarragon Theatre. Mr. Shi and His Lover.
Music by Njo Kong Kie, libretto by Kjo Kong Kie
and Wong Teng Chi. Tarragon Theatre Mainspace,
30 Bridgman Ave. 416-531-1827. $55;
$49(sr); $29(st). Opens Nov 15, 8pm. Runs
to Dec 17. Tues-Sat(8pm), Wed(1:30pm), Sat/
Sun(2:30pm).
●●Tarragon Theatre. Hamlet. Written by William
Shakespeare, music by Thomas Ryder
Payne. Richard Rose, stage director. Tarragon
Theatre Mainspace, 30 Bridgman Ave.
416-531-1827. $55; $49(sr); $29(st). Previews
begin Jan 2, 8pm. Runs to Feb 11. Tues-
Sat(8pm), Wed(1:30pm), Sat/Sun(2:30pm).
●●Theatre Ancaster. Annie. Music by Charles
Strouse, lyrics by Martin Charnin, book by
Thomas Meehan. Ancaster High School,
64 | December 1, 2017 - February 7, 2018 thewholenote.com

374 Jerseyville Rd, Ancaster. 905-304-7469.
$32; $27(sr); $17(st). Opens Nov 17, 7:30pm.
Runs to Dec 2. Fri-Sat(7:30pm), Sun(1:30pm).
Note: Extra show Nov 25 at 1:30pm.
●●Theatre Aquarius. Joseph and the Amazing
Technicolour Dreamcoat. Music by Andrew
Lloyd Webber, lyrics by Tim Rice. Theatre
Aquarius, 190 King William St, Hamilton. 905-
522-7529. $40 and up. Opens Nov 29, 7pm.
Runs to Dec 24. Tues-Sat(7pm), Sat/Sun(1pm).
●●Theatre Aurora. If/Then. Music by Tom
Kitt, lyrics by Brian Yorkey. Theatre Aurora,
150 Henderson Dr, Aurora. 905-727-3669.
$25; $23(sr at box office); $10(st at box
office). Opens Jan 25, 8pm. Runs to Feb 3.
Thurs-Sat(8pm), Sun(2pm).
●●Theatre Orangeville. The Last Christmas
Turkey, The Musical. Music and lyrics by Clive
VanderBurgh, book by Dan Needles. Orangeville
Town Hall Opera House, 87 Broadway,
Orangeville. 519-942-3423. $36. Opens
Nov 30, 8pm. Runs to Dec 23. Days and times
vary. Visit theatreorangeville.ca for details.
●●Theatre Passe Muraille. The Tale of a Town
- Canada. Created, directed, and performed
by Lisa Marie DiLiberto and Charles Ketchabaw.
Theatre Passe Muraille Mainspace,
16 Ryerson Ave. 416-504-7529. $17-$38.
Opens Dec 13, 7:30pm. Runs to Dec 17. Wed-
Sat(7:30pm), Sat/Sun(2pm).
●●Theatre Sheridan. Trap Door. Music and
lyrics by Anika Johnson and Britta Johnson,
book and additional lyrics by Morris Panych.
Macdonald-Heaslip Hall, 1430 Trafalgar Rd,
Oakville. 905-815-4049. $25. Opens Nov 28,
7:30pm. Runs to Dec 10. Tues-Thur(7:30pm), Fri-
Sat(8pm), Sat/Sun(2pm). Note: no show Dec 3.
●●Theatre Sheridan. Into the Woods. Music
and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, book by
James Lapine. Studio Theatre, 1430 Trafalgar
Rd, Oakville. 905-815-4049. $25. Opens
Nov 30, 7:30pm. Runs to Dec 9. Tues-
Sat(7:30pm), Sat(2pm).
●●Theatre Unlimited Performing Arts.
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour
Dreamcoat. Music by Andrew Lloyd Webber,
lyrics by Tim Rice. Meadowvale Theatre,
6315 Montevideo Rd, Mississauga. 905-615-
4720. $30; $28(sr/st). Opens Jan 19, 8pm.
Runs to Jan 28. Thurs-Sat(8pm), Sun(2pm).
Note: extra performance Jan 27 at 2pm.
●●Toronto Masque Theatre Salon Series.
Peace on Earth: A Christmas Salon. The
Atrium, 21 Shaftesbury Ave. 416-410-4561.
$25. Opens Dec 17(7:30pm). Also Dec 18.
Tonatiuh Abrego
Vania Chan
by Leonard Bernstein
Derek Bate
Conductor
Guillermo Silva-Marin
Stage Director
Dec. 28
to Jan.7
torontooperetta.com
●●Toronto Operetta Theatre. Candide. Music
by Leonard Bernstein. Tonatiuh Abrego,
tenor; Vania Chan, soprano; Elizabeth Beeler,
soprano; Cian Horrobin, tenor; Derek Bate,
conductor. St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts,
27 Front St. E. 416-366-7723. $49-$95. Opens
Dec 28, 8pm. Runs to Jan 7. Days and times
vary. Visit torontooperetta.com
●●Torrent Productions. Pinocchio: A Merry
Magical Pantomime. Royal Canadian Legion
#001, 243 Coxwell Ave. 1-800-838-3006.
$35; $25(ch). Opens Dec 22, 7pm. Runs to
Dec 31. Tues/Wed/Thurs/Sat/Sun(2pm),
Thurs-Sat(7pm).
●●University of Toronto Faculty of Music.
Opera Student Composer Collective: Vengeance.
Performed with Surtitles. Michael
Patrick Albano, director; Sandra Horst, conductor.
MacMillan Theatre, Edward Johnson
Building, 80 Queen’s Park. 416-408-0208.
Free. Jan 21, 2:30pm.
●●Unsung Heroes Productions. Sing for
Tomorrow 5. Vaughan City Playhouse Theatre,
1000 New Westminster Dr, Thornhill.
unsungheroesproductions.com. $40-$90.
Opens Feb 6, 7:30pm. Also Feb 7, 8.
●●Victoria College Drama Society. The
Drowsy Chaperone. Music and lyrics by Lisa
Lambert and Greg Morrison, book by Bob Martin
and Don McKellar. Isabel Bader Theatre,
93 Charles St. W. 416-978-8849. $15; $10(sr/
st). Opens Nov 29, 8pm. Also Nov 30, Dec 1.
VOICE
B OX
OPERA IN CONCERT
I DUE FIGARO
by Saverio Mercadante
Narmina Afandiyeva,
Music Director
February 4 at 2:30 pm
www.operainconcert.com
Beste
Kalender
●●Voicebox/Opera in Concert. I due Figaro.
Music by Saverio Mercadante. Beste Kalender,
mezzo-soprano; Ilana Zarankin, soprano; Holly
Chaplin, soprano; Nicholas Borg, baritone. St.
Lawrence Centre for the Arts, 27 Front St. E.
416-366-7723. $22-$52. Feb 4, 2:30pm.
●●Wavestage Theatre. Big Fish. Music and
lyrics by Andrew Lippa, book by John August,
based on the novel. Newmarket Theatre,
505 Pickering Cres, Newmarket. wavestagetheatre.com.
$28; $24(sr/st). Opens
Jan 25, 7:30pm. Runs to Jan 28. Thurs-
Sat(7:30pm), Sun(1pm).
●●Young People’s Theatre. Beauty and the
Beast. Music by Alan Menken, lyrics by Howard
Ashman and Tim Rice, book by Linda
Woolverton. Young People’s Theatre, 165 Front
St. E. 416-862-2222. $10-$49. Opens Nov 6,
10:15am. Runs to Dec 31. Days and times vary.
Visit youngpeoplestheatre.ca for details.
D. In the Clubs (Mostly Jazz)
As we approach the goal of realizing our intention of listing club events in a searchable format,
we take a step back before taking two steps forward. In this issue, while we do list
regular recurring events at some clubs, we do not have detailed listings. Please visit the
clubs’ websites or use the phone number provided for further information. We apologize
for this temporary inconvenience.
120 Diner
120 Church St. 416-792-7725
120diner.com (full schedule)
All shows: PWYC ($10-$20 suggested)
Every Tue 6pm Leslie Huyler Group; Every
Wed 6pm Madoka Murata: Discovery
Through the Arts; 8pm Lisa Particelli’s Girls
Night Out Jazz Jam; Dec 1 6pm Andrew Merrigan
Presents His Very Talented Friends:
Volume 4 PWYC/$10-$20 suggested. Dec 2
6pm The Hampton Avenue 4 PWYC/$10-$20
suggested; 9pm Chris Birkett and Friends
PWYC/$10-$20 suggested. Dec 3 6pm Kent
Sheridan: White Boy Lost in the Blues $20
cover; 8:30 All Sondheim!: Charlotte Moore
with John Hughes $20 cover. Dec 21 6pm L J
Folk: Celebrate Me Home PWYC.
Alleycatz
2409 Yonge St. 416-481-6865
alleycatz.ca
All shows: 9pm unless otherwise indicated.
Call for cover charge info.
Every Mon 8:30pm Salsa Night. Every Tue
Bachata Night. Every Wed Midtown Blues
Jam. Every Thurs 7:30pm Claudia Lopez
Duo Jazz.
Dec 1, 15, Jan 19, 27 Lady Kane; Dec 2, 22,
30, Feb 2 Gyles Band; Dec 8 & Jan 27 Lady
Kane; Dec 9 3:30 Jazz Matinee, 9:30 Red Velvet;
Dec 16, Jan 13, Feb 3 Soular; Dec 23, 29,
Jan 5 Parkside Drive; Dec 31 New Year’s Party
with Gyles Band; Jan 6 Von; Jan 11 Comedy
Night; Jan 12 Urban Jive; Jan 20 Sound
Parade; Jan 26 Red Velvet
Artword Artbar
15 Colbourne St., Hamilton. 905-543-8512
artword.net (full schedule)
Dec 1 8pm Mark McNeil with Tales from Hamilton
tip jar. Dec 2 8pm The New Cumberland
Bluegrass Band $15. Dec 7-16 Tue-Sat 8pm,
Sun Dec 10 matinee at 3pm (no show Monday)
Charly’s Piano $20.
The Black Swan Tavern
154 Danforth Ave., 416-469-0537
winterfolk.com
Dec 8 8pm Winterfolk XVI Preview & Benefit
+ Birthday Bash The Achromatics, David
Storey, Tony Quarrington, Brian Gladstone,
Piper Hayes and others $10 minimum
donation
Sun, Dec 17 at 4:30pm
Ellington’s Nutcracker with
The Brian Barlow Big Band.
Christ Church Deer Park, 1570 Yonge St.
(north of St. Clair at Heath St.)
Admission is free; donations are welcome.
The Blue Goose Tavern
1 Blue Goose St. 416-255-2442
thebluegoosetavern.com (full schedule)
Every Sun 4pm Blues at The Goose. Big
Groove featuring Downchild`s Mike Fitzpatrick
& Gary Kendall with Special Guests
Dec 3 Steve Marriner & Curtis Chaffey;
Dec 10 Kevin McQuade & Martin Alex Aucoin;
Dec 17 Raoul Bhaneja & Darren Gallen
Bloom
2315 Bloor St. W. 416-767-1315
bloomrestaurant.com
All shows: 19+. Call for reservations.
Burdock
1184 Bloor St. W. 416-546-4033
burdockto.com (full schedule)
Dec 1 6:30pm Kalyna Rakel feat. Kevin
Breit, Jacob Gorzhaltsan & George Chenery
$15/$10(adv); 9pm François Klark
$15/$12(adv). Dec 2 6:30pm The O’Pears
w/ Danielle Knibbe $20/15(adv); 9pm Winona
Wilde w/ Campbell Woods $12/$10(adv).
Dec 3 6:30pm Son of Town Hall w/ Abigail
Lapell $15/$10(adv). Dec 4 Century Thief w/
Creature Speak $10/$8(adv). Dec 5 9pm Bad
History Month, Chris, Low Sun & Dinosaur
Island $10/$8(adv). Dec 6 9pm Confabulation
Presents: Family Stories $10/$8(adv);
9:30 Naked Wild, Pleasure Craft & Sly
Why: Kid $10/$8(adv). Dec 7 9pm Chelsea
McBride’s Socialist Night School: The
Christmas $15/$10(adv). Dec 8 6:30 Catalyst
Ensemble $15/$10(adv); 9pm Oh Geronimo
‘The Sled’ Sneak Preview w/ Little Coyote
& Peter van Helvoort $15/$10(adv). Dec 9
6:30pm Deon Blyan & The Myth of Fingerprints
Band $12/$10(adv); 9pm A Tribute
to BUH - Guelph County Line & The Mandevilles
$10/$8(adv). Dec 10 6:30pm SOA
$15/$12(adv); 9pm Lindsay Foote w/ Aimée
Butcher & Brandon Wall $15/$10(adv). Dec 11
9pm Honesty, Manshun & Rogue Tenant
$10/$8(adv). Dec 12 9pm Unbridled Futurism
$10/$8(adv). Dec 13 6:30pm The Band Named
Crow & The Anthology Project $12/$10(adv);
9pm The Cluttertones w/ John Millard & Germaine
Liu $15/$10(adv). Dec 14 9pm Bousada
w/ Sly Why: Kid $10/$8(adv). Dec 15 9pm Session
Americana $15/$10(adv). Dec 17 8pm
Community Celebration of the Vocal Arts
$10/$8(adv). Dec 18 9pm Nick Donneff / Rob
Featuring some of Toronto’s best
jazz musicians with a brief reflection
by Jazz Vespers Clergy
Save these dates for 2018,
musicians TBA:
Sun, Jan 7 | Sun, Jan 21 |
Sun, Feb 4 | at 4:30pm.
416-920-5211
www.thereslifehere.org
thewholenote.com December 1, 2017 - February 7, 2018 | 65

McLaren $10/$8(adv). Dec 20 9pm Marie
Goudy 12tet feat. Jocelyn Barth $12/$10(adv).
Dec 21 9pm Origins $20/$15(adv). Dec 29
9pm The Hollowbodies $15/$12(adv). Dec 30
9pm Shirwan w/ Katelin Albert & Jordan
Randall $15/$10(adv). Jan 7 9pm The Last
Revel & The Slocan Ramblers $20/$15(adv).
Jan 31 9pm Daniel Champagne $15/$10(adv).
Feb 4 9pm Heavy Bell $15/$12(adv).
Castro’s Lounge
2116 Queen St. E. 416-699-8272
castroslounge.com (full schedule)
All shows: No cover/PWYC
Every Tue Every Fri 5:30pm The Straight
Eights; 10pm I Hate You Rob. Every Sat 6pm
Thelonious Hank. Every Sun 9pm Watch This
Sound - Vintage Jamaican Music.
C’est What
67 Front St. E. (416) 867-9499
cestwhat.com (full schedule)
Dec 1 10pm Metronome Chomsky. Dec 2
3pm The Boxcar Boys PWYC; 10pm Collective
Arts Brewing Presents: Old.Soul.Rebel Suggested
contribution $10. Dec 3 7pm Bob Wegner
CD Release PWYC. Dec 7 10pm Garage
Baby PWYC. Dec 8 10pm Felix’s Belt. Dec 9,
23, Jan 6, 20, Feb 3 3pm The Hot Five Jazzmakers
PWYC. Dec 9 9pm Bring Your Own
Vinyl Party Free. Dec 10 7pm Song Studio
Open Mic Free. Dec 14 10pm Jessica Speziale
with Emily Mac and Leaving Esmeralda
PWYC. Dec 15 10pm The Responsables Suggested
contribution $10. Dec 16 3pm Thelonious
Hank PWYC; 9pm Bring Your Own Vinyl
Party Free. Dec 17 7pm Women in Music Vol. 3
$10-$15. Dec 21 10 pm Jack Walker’s Festivus
Miracle PWYC. Jan 4 10pm Blind Cats PWYC.
Emmet Ray, The
924 College St. 416-792-4497
theemmetray.com (full schedule)
All shows: No cover/PWYC
Gate 403
403 Roncesvalles Ave. 416-588-2930
gate403.com (full schedule)
All shows: PWYC.
Every Mon 7pm Jazz Mondays with the
Jim Hamel Trio and featured guests. Every
Wed 7pm Julian Fauth Blues Night. Every
Sat 5pm Bill Heffernan’s Saturday Sessions.
Grossman’s Tavern
379 Spadina Ave. 416-977-7000
grossmanstavern.com (full schedule)
All shows: No cover (unless otherwise noted).
Every Sat 4.30 The Happy Pals Dixieland jazz
jam. Every Sun 4pm New Orleans Connection
All Star Band; 10pm Sunday Jam with
Bill Hedefine. Every Wed 10pm Action Sound
Band w/ Leo Valvassori.
Hirut Cafe and Restaurant
2050 Danforth Ave. 416-551-7560
Every Sun 3pm Hirut Sundays Open Mic.
Dec 1 & Jan 5 8pm In the Round Master
Singer/Songwriter Series PWYC. Dec 7 &
Jan 4 8pm Franklin Ave Swingtet PWYC.
Dec 5, 19, Jan 2, 16 8pm Finger Style Guitar
Association PWYC. Dec 15 & Jan 12 8:30pm
E=Jazz and Latin Jazz w/ Don Naduriak
PWYC/by donation. Dec 28 & Jan 25 8pm
The Daniel Barnes Low Stress Trio PWYC/
suggested $10. Dec 18 & Jan 29 8pm The
D. In the Clubs (Mostly Jazz)
Tequila Mockingbirds Community Singalong
Free. Dec 29 & Jan 26 9pm Hirut Hoot Cabaret
$5. Dec 31 9pm Hirut New Year’s Eve
Extravaganza.
Home Smith Bar – See Old Mill, The
Hugh’s Room
2261 Dundas St. W 416 533 5483
hughsroom.com
All shows: 8:30pm unless otherwise noted
Dec 1 John Sheard Vinyl Café Tribute
$30/$25(adv). Dec 2 Tribute to Muddy
Waters & Howlin’ Wolf $38/$35(adv).
Dec 3 Còig $30/$25(adv). Dec 4 7:30pm
Soulville: An R&B Cabaret $20/$15(adv).
Dec 6 Minor Empire - CD Launch $30/
($25(adv). Dec 7 The Bills 20th Anniversary
Show $30/$25(adv. Dec 8 The Hogtown
All-Stars $30/$25(adv). Dec 9 Carlos
del Junco $35/$30(adv). Dec 13 A Quartette
Christmas $55/$50(adv). Dec 15 Craig
Cardiff $30/$25(adv). Dec 16 Anthony
Gomes $38/$35(adv). Dec 17 matinee Ault
Sisters $30/$25(adv); $15(12 & under).
Dec 19 A Bluesy Christmas $38/$35(adv).
Dec 20 Lazer Lloyd $25/$20 adv). Dec 28 Don
Ross $50/$45(adv). Dec 29 Suzie Vinnick
$30/$25(adv). Dec 30 Wintergarten
Orchestra $30/$25(adv). Dec 31 New Year’s
Eve with Chris Whiteley & Diana Braithwaite
$55/$50(adv). Jan 5 James Taylor
Tribute $30/$25(adv). Jan 13 The Jitters
$30/$25(adv). Jan 18 Tété $30/$25(adv).
Jan 19 Garnet Rogers $35/$30(adv).
Jan 20 Paul Reddick $25/$20(adv).
Jan 17 Jazz FM91 - President’s Choice Concert
Series: Molly Johnson $55. Jan 27 Lori
Cullen $30/$25(adv). Jan 31 The Fugitives
$30/$25(adv). Feb 3 The Flying Bulgar
Klezmer Band: 30th Anniversary Concert
$35/$30(adv)
Jazz Bistro, The
251 Victoria St. 416-363-5299
jazzbistro.ca
Dec 1 9pm The Maureen Kennedy Quartet
$15. Dec 2 9 pm Scott Hamilton and the
Mark Eisenman Trio $20. Dec 8 9pm The
Willows $20. Dec 9 7:30pm and 10pm Matt
Dusk CD release event for “Old School Yule”
$39, recording included with ticket purchase
(**ticket required, purchase ticket
online). Dec 10 7pm CD launch event for Adi
Braun’s “Moderne Frau” $20. Dec 15 9pm Stu
Mac $20. Dec 16 9pm Robert Scott’s “Charlie
Brown’s Christmas” $20. Dec 17 7pm Sam
Broverman “A Jewish Boy’s Christmas” $15.
Dec 18 8:30pm Christopher Wilson’s “Cocktails
and Candy Canes Cabaret” $15. Dec 20
6pm Faith Amour “Jazz for Christmas” $20.
Dec 23 9pm Robi Botos and Hilario Duran
$25. Dec 29 & 30 9pm Galen Weston “The
Space Between” $20. Dec 31 5pm “Soul Stu” -
Dinner and Show Package.
Jazz Room, The
Located in the Huether Hotel, 59 King St. N.,
Waterloo. 226-476-1565
kwjazzroom.com (full schedule)
All shows: 8:30pm-11:30pm unless otherwise
indicated. Attendees must be 19+. Cover
charge varies (generally $12-$25)
Dec 1 New Vibes $18. Dec 2 Louis Simao
Ensemble $25. Dec 8 8:30pm Elaine Riddock
$16. Dec 9 8:30pm Yvette Tollar Group $18.
FAITH
AMOUR
& Friends
JAZZ FOR CHRISTMAS
Wednesday
Dec 20, 7pm
faithamourjazz.com
Dec 15 8:30pm The Woodhouse with Barbra
Lica $25. Dec 16 8:30pm Bob Brough Quartet
$18. Dec 20 7pm Faith Amour & Friends.
Dec 22 8:30pm Tom Nagy’s Christmas $20.
Dec 23 8:30pm Lorne Lofsky Trio $16. Dec 29
8:30pm Rebecca Binnendyk $20. Dec 30
8:30pm Phoenix Jazz Group $16. Dec 31
8:30pm New Years Eve with Rufus & Guests.
Lula Lounge
1585 Dundas St. W. 416-588-0307
lula.ca (full schedule)
Every Fri 7:30pm Early Jazz & World Sessions
free before 8pm; Every Fri 10:30pm
Havana Club Cuba Libre Fridays $15; Every
Sat 10:30pm Salsa Saturdays $15. Dec 3
6:30pm Gregg Stafford - New Orleans Stomp.
Dec 8 7:30pm Zim Zum $15. Dec 11 7pm
Reunite the Moneka Family $20. Dec 13 8pm
An Evening of Native Jazz: Songbirds & Nightingales
of Turtle Island $30/$25(adv). Dec 17
7pm The Woodhouse featuring Barbra Lica
$22/$18(adv). Dec 26 8pm Rebel Vibez Presents
Stages $10. Dec 27 7pm Gary Morgan
& PanAmericana $20. Dec 31 10:30pm New
Year’s Eve Salsa Party with Cafe Cubano & DG
Santiago Valazsquez $50(show); $140(dinner
& show)
Manhattans Pizza Bistro & Music Club
951 Gordon St., Guelph 519-767-2440
manhattans.ca (full schedule)
All shows: PWYC.
Every Tue Open Stage hosted by Paul, Pete
& Ron.
Mây Cafe
876 Dundas St. W. 647-607-2032
maytoronto.com (full schedule)
Dec 2 7:30pm Sounds of the City Holiday Food
Drive hosted by T Dots Records at May Cafe!
A night of live music, comedy, great food and
drinks. $10 Dec 15 Brownman Akoustic Quartet’s
Xmas Jazz Concert $15 Jan 13 & 26 8pm
Sounds of the City.
Mezzetta Restaurant
681 St. Clair Ave. W. 416-658-5687
mezzettarestaurant.com (full schedule)
All shows: 9pm, $8 (unless otherwise noted).
Every Wed 9 & 10:15pm Wednesday Concert
Series. Cover $10.
Monarch Tavern
12 Clinton St. 416-531-5833
themonarchtavern.com (full schedule)
Every Tues 9pm Vinyl Night $5; Every
Thu 10pm Monarch Karaoke $5. Dec 11 and
Jan 8 7:30pm Martin Loomer & His Orange
Devils Orchestra $10.
N’awlins Jazz Bar & Dining
299 King St. W. 416-595-1958
nawlins.ca
All shows: No cover/PWYC.
Every Tue 6:30pm Stacie McGregor. Every
Wed 7pm The Jim Heineman Trio. Every Thur
8pm Nothin’ But the Blues with Joe Bowden.
Every Fri & Sat 8:30pm N’awlins All Star
Band; Every Sun 7pm Brooke Blackburn.
Nice Bistro, The
117 Brock St. N., Whitby. 905-668-8839
nicebistro.com (full schedule)
Old Mill, The
21 Old Mill Rd. 416-236-2641
oldmilltoronto.com
The Home Smith Bar: No reservations. No
cover. $20 food/drink minimum. All shows:
7:30pm-10:30pm
Every Tues, Thu, Fri, and Sat.
Nov 30 Robin Banks with Ted Quinlan,
Richard Whiteman. Dec 1 Canadian Jazz
Quartet & Friends Celebrate First Fridays.
Dec 2 Mike Downes with David Restivo, Larnell
Lewis. Dec 5 In Concert and Conversation
with Gene DiNovi. Dec 7 Genevieve
Marentette Trio with Robert Scott,
George Koller. Dec 8 Sean Bray’s Peach
trio. Dec 9 Brian Blain’s Blues Campfire.
Dec 14 John Sherwood Trio. Dec 15 Jordana
Talsky. Dec 16 Barry Elmes Quartet.
Dec 21 Alex Samaras Trio. Dec 22 Alison
Young Quartet. Dec 23 Adrean Farrugia Trio.
Dec 31 New Year’s Eve Jazz Party hosted
by Alex Pangman and her Alleycates. $150
ticket (advance tickets only) includes buffet
from 7:30pm music from 8pm and sparkling
wine at 11:45. ALSO Dining Room - Dec 11
8pm JAZZFM.91 Sound of Jazz Concert Series:
Matt Dusk’s Old School Yule $45 reservations
recommended.
Only Café, The
972 Danforth Ave. 416-463-7843
theonlycafe.com (full schedule)
All shows: 8pm unless otherwise indicated.
Paintbox Bistro
555 Dundas St. E. 647-748-0555
paintboxbistro.ca (full schedule)
Pilot Tavern, The
22 Cumberland Ave. 416-923-5716
thepilot.ca
All shows: 3:30pm. No cover.
Every Sat 3pm Saturday Jazz.
Dec 2 Alex Dean Quartet. Dec 9 Jake Koffman
Quartet. Dec 16 Sugar Daddies Sextet.
Dec 23 Norman Marshall Villeneuve Quintet.
Dec 30 Adrean Farrugia Quartet.
Poetry Jazz Café
224 Augusta Ave. 416-599-5299
poetryjazzcafe.com (full schedule)
Reposado Bar & Lounge
136 Ossington Ave. 416-532-6474
reposadobar.com (full schedule)
66 | December 1, 2017 - February 7, 2018 thewholenote.com

Reservoir Lounge, The
52 Wellington St. E. 416-955-0887
reservoirlounge.com (full schedule). Every
Tue, 8:45pm Tyler Yarema and his Rhythm.
Every Wed 9pm The Digs. Every Thursday
9:45pm Mary McKay. Every Fri 9:45pm Dee
Dee and the Dirty Martinis. Every Sat 9:45pm
Tyler Yarema and his Rhythm. Dec 7 pm Alex
Pangman.
Rex Hotel Jazz & Blues Bar, The
194 Queen St. W. 416-598-2475
therex.ca (full schedule)
Call for cover charge info.
Every Wed 6:30pm Alex Coleman’s A/C
Unit. Every Thu 6:30pm Worst Pop Band
Ever. Every Fri 4pm Hogtown Syncopators;
6:30pm Bugaloo Squad. Every Sat 12noon
The Sinners Choir.
Dec 1 9:45pm Chuck Jackson. Dec 2 3:30pm
Neon Eagle;7pm Brecker Brothers; 9:45pm
Alex & Her Alleycats. Dec 3 Club Django; 7pm
Kelzkonnection; 9:30pm Ethiojazz. Dec 4
& 11 6:30pm University of Toronto Student
Jazz Ensembles; Dec 4 9:30pm Off the Road
Big Band. Dec 5 6:30pm Chris Gale Quartet;
9:30pm Edmar Colon. Dec 6 9:30 Uncertainty
Principle. Dec 7 9:30pm Lauren Falls Five.
Dec 8 9:45pm Bernie Senensky. Dec 9
7pm Brecker Brothers; 9:45pm Anti-Gravity
Machine. Dec 10 & 17 12noon Excelsior
Dixieland Jazz; 7pm Teri Parker Trio. Dec 10
9:30pm Barry Romberg. Dec 11 9:30pm Jake
Wilkinson’s Be-Bop Christmas. Dec 12 & 19
6:30pm Brian de Lima Trio. Dec 12 9:30pm
Classic Rex Jam. Dec 13 & 14 9:30pm Alec
Dean Jazz Orchestra. Dec 15 9:45pm Walter
Kemp 3oh Plus. Dec 16 3:30pm Chris
Hunt Tentet + 2; 7pm Alec Trent’s Triple Bari;
9:45pm Dave Young Quintet. Dec 17 9:30pm
Zimzum. Dec 18 6:30pm Peter Hill Quintet.
Dec 18 & 19 9:30pm Jabfung. Dec 20
9:30pm Mike Field Quintet. Dec 21 9:30pm
Freeman Dre. Dec 22 9:45pm Bob Brough
Quartet. Dec 23 3:30pm Jerome Godboo;
7pm Alec Trent’s Triple Bari; 9:45pm Russ
Nolan. Dec 26 8pm The Sinners Choir. Dec 27
9:30pm Mr. Marbelsz. Dec 28 9:30pm Frank
Botos. Dec 29 9:45pm Kiki Misumi Sextet.
Dec 30 3:30pm Laura Hubert Band; 7pm
Alec Trent’s Triple Bari; 9:45pm Justin Bacchus
Xmas. Dec 31 9:30pm New Year’s
Grooveyard.
Salty Dog Bar & Grill, The
1980 Queen St. E. 416-849-5064
thesaltydog.ca (full schedule)
Every Tue 7-10pm Jazz Night. Every
Thu 8:30pm Karaoke. Every Fri 9:30pm
Blues Jam - house band with weekly featured
guest.
Sauce on Danforth
1376 Danforth Ave. 647-748-1376
sauceondanforth.com
All shows: No cover.
Every Mon 9pm Funky Mondays. Every
Tue 6pm Julian Fauth Plays Barrel-House
Jazz. Every Thursday 8pm An Evening of
Music with Steven Koven and Artie Roth.
Every Sat 4pm Saturday Matinees.
Tranzac
292 Brunswick Ave. 416-923-8137
tranzac.org
3-4 shows daily, various styles, in four different
performance spaces. Mostly PWYC.
Every Mon 10pm Open Mic Mondays. Every
Tuesday 8pm Annex Ukelele Jam Every
Thursday 7:30pm Bluegrass Thursdays
Every Fri 5pm The Friends of Hugh Oliver
(folk). Every Sunday 7pm The Rhythmicaturgically
Syncopated Social Hour Jazz Jam.
Dec 10 10pm The Lina Allemano Four. Dec 12
10 pm Michael Davidson and guests. Dec 19
10pm The Ken McDonald Quartet. Dec 26
10pm Nick Fraser presents. Dec 27 10pm
Galas and Fundraisers
●●Dec 15 7:30: Church of St. Peter and St.
Simon-the-Apostle. A fundraiser presenting
good music and a reading of A Child’s Christmas
in Wales by Dylan Thomas featuring radio
personality Tom Allen and Canadian actress
Jayne Lewis. Save room for dessert. Refreshments
included at intermission. All proceeds
will benefit the refugee projects of the
church. 525 Bloor St. E. 416-923- 8714. $20.
GALA for
MENTAL HEALTH
LLOYD ROBERTSON,
LUBA GOY & FRIENDS
Feb 1, 2018
WE ALL HAVE A STORY
905.787.8811
●●Feb 1 7:30: High Notes Avante. High Notes
Gala for Mental Health. Join Luba Goy, Lloyd
Robertson, Michael Landsberg, Orlando Da
Silva, Giles Tomkins and others for this exciting
evening in support of mental health initiatives.
Richmond Hill Centre for the Performing
Arts, 102868 Yonge St., Richmond Hill. Tickets
at 905-787-8811 or rhcentre.ca. $10-$65.
Lectures, Salons and Symposia
●●Dec 3 2:00: Toronto Opera Club. Love at
First Sight! Guest Speaker: Iain Scott. Room
330, Faculty of Music, Edward Johnson Bldg.,
80 Queen’s Park Cr. W. 416-924-3940. $10.
●●Dec 7 7:30: Darchei Noam Synagogue. Four
Jewish Musical Titans (Part 4: George Szell).
Rick Phillips examines four master musicians
and their music. A mix of lecture, music, and
discussion. 864 Sheppard Ave. W. 416-638-
4783. $20 per lecture.
●●Dec 10 2:00-5:00: Classical Music Club
Toronto. Beethoven 9. In some cultures,
December is a month where Beethoven’s
Ninth Symphony is performed as often as Handel’s
Messiah is in the English-speaking world.
To celebrate this occasion, we will be examining
recent recordings of this epic work. 416-
898-2549. Annual membership: $25(regular);
Bellweather 4. Dec 29 10pm The Ryan Driver
Sextet. Dec 30 8pm The Special Interest
Group. Jan 2 10pm Peripheral Vision. Jan 6
10om Heavy Ethics Jan 7 7:30pm Harrington.
Jan 9 10pm Michael Davidson and guests.
Jan 12 7:30pm Tanya Gill Quartet; 10pm Harley
Card. Jan 14 10pm The Lina Allemano
Four. Jan 16 10pm The Ken McDonald Quartet.
Jan 18 10pm The Special Interest Group.
Jan 21 7:30pm Diane Roblin with guests.
E. The ETCeteras
$10(sr/st). Free for first-time visitors. Donations
accepted for refreshments.
●●Jan. 7 5:00: St. Olave’s Church. Giles
Bryant: Cathedral and Parish Music. Epiphany
Choral Evensong at 4pm followed by Epiphany
Tea. Dr. Giles Bryant traces Anglican church
music from just before the Prayer Book to the
main forms now used in cathedrals and parish
churches. His illustrated talk at the piano
will focus on Tallis, Purcell, Maurice Greene,
S.S. Wesley, Stanford, Howells and their parish
contemporaries. St. Olave’s Church, Bloor
and Windermere. Contributions appreciated.
Information at 416-769-5686 or stolaves.ca.
●●Jan 14 2:00-5:00: Classical Music Club
Toronto. Romantic Cello Concertos. The lush
tone of the cello has provided the inspiration
for a number of 19th-century masterworks for
this instrument combined with the growing
virtuosity of the symphony orchestra. To commemorate
this musical partnership, we will be
examining recent audio and video recordings.
416-898-2549. Annual membership: $25(regular);
$10(sr/st). Free for first-time visitors.
Donations accepted for refreshments.
10pm Makeshift Island (Rebecca Hennesey).
Jan 23 7:30pm Fergus Hambleton and guests.
Jan 24 10pm Bellweather 4. Jan 26 10pm
The Ryan Driver Sextet. Jan 28 3pm Michael
Laderoute; 5pm Steve Paul Simms and
guests; 10pm Chris Adriaanse. Jan 30 10pm
Nick Fraser Presents. Feb 2 10pm Heavy Ethics.
Feb 4 7:30pm Harrington. Feb 6 10pm
Peripheral Vision.
●●Jan 23 7:00: University of Toronto Faculty of
Music. Composers’ Forum with Nicole Lizée. Walter
Hall, 80 Queen’s Park Cr. 416-408-0208. Free.
●●Jan 24 7:00: Canadian Opera Company.
Opera Insights: Baritone Bravado. Join Head
of the COC Ensemble Studio Liz Upchurch and
singers Samuel Chan, Bruno Roy and Neil Craighead
as they explore the baritone voice in all its
fascinating facets. Education Centre, Four Seasons
Centre for the Performing Arts, 145 Queen
St. W. Tickets at coc.ca/OperaInsights or 416-
363-8231. Registration opens Jan 9. Free.
●●Jan 25 7:00: Tafelmusik. The Listening Club:
The Battle for Good Taste. The desire to possess
good taste in music was an occupation
of the 18th century, highlighted by an ongoing
battle between the French and the Italians.
Join BBC Radio host Dr. Hannah French and
Tafelmusik violinist Christopher Verrette
who examine both sides of this debate. Trinity-St.
Paul’s Centre, 427 Bloor St. W. 416-964-
6337. $25.
●●Jan 31 7:00: Canadian Opera Company.
Opera Talks: The Trials of Teen Love – Rigoletto.
Join Wayne Gooding in a multi-media
YIP’S
MUSIC
FESTIVAL
COMPETITION
Celebrating Today’s Talent
Nurturing Tomorrow’s Stars
$10,000 in trophies and prizes!
Piano Violin
Voice Musical Theatre
Erhu Guzheng
Traditional Chinese Music Ensemble
Chamber Music
Crystal Award Competition
2018 Competition Dates (Saturdays & Sundays):
Apr 21/22, 28/29, May 5/6
Application Deadline:
Tues, Feb 20, 2018
ymf.yips.com (905) 948-YIPS (9477) x2211
thewholenote.com December 1, 2017 - February 7, 2018 | 67

exploration of Rigoletto and explore the way
a timeless tale plays out through Verdi’s brilliant
bel canto music. Toronto Public Library,
Don Mills, 888 Lawrence Ave. E. Register by
calling the Don Mills branch of the Toronto
Public Library at 416-395-5710. Free.
Master Classes
●●Jan 7 2:30: Li Delun Music Foundation &
Steinway Piano Gallery. Piano Master Class
and Conversation by Kum Sing Lee, jury of
International Competitions Chopin (Warsaw).
2651 John St., Markham. canadaticketbox.
com, 905-946-8040. $20, $15.
●●Jan 24 10am-12pm. University of Toronto
Faculty of Music. Composition Master Classes
with Nicole Lizée. Walter Hall, 80 Queen’s Park
Cr. 416-408-0208. Free. Also Jan 26.
Screenings
●●Dec 10 4:00: Toronto Jewish Film Society/Royal
Conservatory of Music. The Concert.
Film about Bolshoi conductor Andrei
Simoniovich Filipov’s journey from disaster
to triumph. Guest speaker: Jordan Klapman,
musicologist. Al Green Theatre, 750 Spadina
Ave. 416-924-6211 x606. $15; $10(18-35). In
French and Russian with English subtitles.
Also 7:30.
●●Jan 30 6:30: Royal Conservatory. Strad
Style. Self-described “nobody” Danny Houck
pours all his time and energy into his obsession:
violins. When Danny befriends violin virtuoso
Razvan Stoica on Facebook, he makes a
rash fanboy promise to create a perfect replica
E. The ETCeteras
of a world-famous violin – Guarneri’s Il Cannone
– for Stoica’s next concert. Jonathan
Crow, concertmaster of the Toronto Symphony
Orchestra, will bring along his own Guarneri
and participate in a post-show Q&A. Hot Docs
Ted Rogers Cinema, 506 Bloor St. W. Tickets at
the door or at hotdocscinema.ca. $17.
Singalongs, Jams, Circles
●●Dec 3 2:30-5:00 Choral Bonanza Team.
Messiah Sing-along. Handel: Messiah (Christmas
Portion). Dr. Richard Heinzle, conductor;
Sapphire Navaratnarajah, accompanist. Richmond
Hill Presbyterian Church, 10066 Yonge
St., Richmond Hill. 416-568-9838. Choral
singers participation fee: $25. Suggested
donation for concert: $10. Concert is at
7:00. Choral singers are asked to pre-register
at ChoralBonanza@gmail.com if possible
(required if you need a score: Watkins Shaw
ed.). Soloists and orchestra musicians: no fee,
please email a short resume to ChoralBonanza@gmail.com.
●●Dec 20 7:30: Toronto Shape Note Singing
Community. Monthly Sacred Harp Singing.
Everyone is welcome, no experience necessary.
There are songbooks to borrow. Music
room, Bloor Street United Church, 300 Bloor
St. W. 647-838-8764. PWYC donation. 7:00:
Short introductory workshop.
●●Jan 19 7:30-10:00: Toronto Recorder Players
Society. Mount Pleasant Road Baptist
Church, 527 Mt. Pleasant Rd. Bring your
recorders and music stand. 416-779-5750.
Non-members $15.
●●Jan 21 2:00-4:30: CAMMAC Toronto Region.
Reading for Singers and Instrumentalists.
Kodály’s Budávari Te Deum. Eszter Horvath,
conductor. Christ Church Deer Park, 1570 Yonge
St. 416-781-4745. $10; $6(members).
Spoken Word, Performance Art
●●Dec 3 7:00: Runnymede United Church.
Annual Reading of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas
Carol. Performed by Ben Heppner, Gill Deacon,
Susan Ormiston, RH Thomson, Nancy Palk,
Lisa Horner, and Jeff Douglas. 432 Runnymede
Rd. runnymedeunited.org. $25.
Tours
●●Jan 14 10:30am: Canadian Opera Company.
90-Minute Tour of the Four Seasons
Centre. Led by a trained docent. Includes
information and access to the Isadore and
Rosalie Sharp City Room, the Richard Bradshaw
Amphitheatre and R. Fraser Elliott Hall,
as well as backstage areas such as the wig
rooms and dressing rooms, the orchestra
pit, and other spaces that only a stage door
pass could unlock. Four Seasons Centre for
the Performing Arts, 145 Queen St. W. 416-
363-8231. coc.ca. $20(adults); $15(sr/st). Also
Jan 21 & 28.
Workshops
●●Dec 2 10am-5pm: International Resource
Centre for Performing Artists. From Rags
to Reasonable! Financial Management /
Planning for Artists with Chris Enns. Operatic
tenor and certified financial planner
Chris Enns discusses the basics of financial
management, with such topics as budgeting
with variable incomes (morning); and speaks
about financial planning (afternoon). Canadian
Music Centre, 20 St. Joseph St. 416-
362-1422. $75.
●●Dec 3 1:30-4:00: Toronto Early Music Players
Organization. Workshop coached by
recorder player Vincent Lauzer. Armour
Heights Community Centre, 2140 Avenue Rd.
Bring your early instruments and a music
stand. $20. 416-779-5750. tempotoronto.net.
●●Dec 3 2:30-5:00: International Resource
Centre for Performing Artists. Artists New
to Canada. Performer/composer Shahriyar
Jamshidi, a recent newcomer to Canada;
and musician, writer and teacher Marcelo
Puente, who came to Toronto from Chile in
1974, share their experiences of establishing
music careers in this country, providing guidance
and suggestions for newcomer artists
facing the same challenges. 918 Bathurst St.
416-362-1422. Free.
●●Jan 14 1:30-4:00: Toronto Early Music Players
Organization. Workshop coached by viol
player Joelle Morton. Armour Heights Community
Centre, 2140 Avenue Rd. Bring your
early instruments and a music stand. 416-779-
5750. tempotoronto.net. $20.
●●Feb 4 1:30-4:00: Toronto Early Music
Players Organization. Workshop coached
by recorder player Colin Savage. Armour
Heights Community Centre, 2140 Avenue Rd.
Bring your early instruments and a music
stand. 416-779-5750. tempotoronto.net. $20.
TORONTO SUMMER MUSIC
COMMUNITY
ACADEMY
July 30-August 4
Attention adult amateur musicians! Join
the artists of the Toronto Summer Music
Festival for a week of music making and fun.
Choose from three programs:
Chamber Music
Piano Masterclass with Angela Cheng
Chamber Choir
For application information, visit
torontosummermusic.com
68 | December 1, 2017 - February 7, 2018 thewholenote.com

WholeNote CLASSIFIEDS can help
you recruit new members for your
choir or band/ orchestra or find a new
music director! Advertise your help
wanted needs or promote your services
starting at only $24/issue. INQUIRE
BY JAN 26 for the FEB 2018 issue.
classad@thewholenote.com
AUDITIONS & EMPLOYMENT
OPPORTUNITIES
AUDITION for VIVA! Youth Singers of
Toronto. Five choirs from age 4 through
adults. Inclusion program for special
needs. Also, NON-AUDITIONED - VIVA!
Community Choir. For info: Kathryn at
info@vivayouthsingers.com or www.
vivayouthsingers.com. Audition Date:
Saturday, January 6. Audition Fee $25.
Available pro bono positions with
the KINDRED SPIRITS ORCHESTRA: Oboe,
Horn, Trumpet, Bass Trombone, sectional
Violins, Violas, Violoncellos and Contrabasses.
The KSO is an auditioned-based civic orchestra
in residence at Flato Markham Theatre.
For information, visit KSOchestra.ca or
e-mail GM@KSOrchestra.ca.
COUNTERPOINT COMMUNITY ORCHESTRA
– now in our 33 rd season. We invite volunteer
musicians in all sections to play with us at Monday
evening rehearsals. Our next concerts are on
December 9, March 24, and June 9. Contact
info@ccorchestra.org. www.ccorchestra.org.
PIANO ACCOMPANIST REQUIRED: The
Grace Notes is an established 13 member SSA
singing group that performs in retirement
homes and long-term care facilities. We all
donate our time and gifts to the group. The
group plays a wide variety of music - gospel,
jazz, fiddling, show tunes, folk, etc. The piano
parts are interesting and challenging. We
practice twice a month on Friday mornings
and perform once a month on Wednesday
afternoons. We carry two accompanists; the
duties are split. It’s fun! Contact Steve Prime
at primestephen@gmail.com or 647-524-7331
PLAYERS NEEDED for children’s concert
band program at St. Albans Boys and
Girls Club. Age 9+. All levels welcome.
Wednesdays from 6-7:30. $180 for 12 week
session. Please contact Michelle Clarke for
more info 416-534-8461. stalbansclub.ca/
st-albans-band
THE EAST YORK CONCERT BAND has
openings for trumpets, flutes, clarinets,
french horns, euphoniums and tubas. No
auditions necessary. For more information,
contact president@eastyorkconcertband.ca.
or check out www.eastyorkconcertband.ca
Classified Advertising | classad@thewholenote.com
BUY & SELL
ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS IS …
an affordable used instrument in good
condition? Maybe a WholeNote reader
has one, gathering dust in a closet or
attic! Advertise for instruments to buy or
sell right here. Ads start at $24. classad@
thewholenote.com.
CLASSICAL RECORD AND CD COLLECTIONS
WANTED. Minimum 350 units. Call, text or
e-mail Aaron 416-471-8169 or A@A31.CA.
DIGITAL ORGAN FOR SALE Superb
two-manual, 37 stop Allen Quantum Q265D
drawknob organ (2012) seven channel
audio, seven tonal suites, occasionally used
by dealer as concert rental instrument,
available immediately. Organ may be played
and inspected by appointment. $47K, price
negotiable, financing available, includes
delivery in Ontario. Call/Text: 416-571-3680 or
email: gdmansell@sympatico.ca.
TRUMPET Bach Stradivarius model 37 (never
used); SAXOPHONE Bundy Selmer alto;
BASSOON Linton; TUBA Besson ¾ size, in
hard case with wheels. Phone 416-964-3642.
WOMEN’S WRINKLE-RESISTANT CONCERT
BLACK OUTFITS consisting of one button
jacket/cardigan, short sleeved shirt and floor
length skirt with back slit. Several outfits in
all sizes. Text message 705 321 6924 for more
details. Price negotiable.
INSTRUCTION & COURSES
ART OF SINGING – He, who knows how to
breathe and pronounce well, knows how
to sing well! Voice teacher 416-894-0809,
yourvoiceteacher@gmail.com.
FLUTE, PIANO, THEORY LESSONS. RCM
exam preparation. RCM certified advanced
specialist. Samantha Chang, FTCL,
FLCM, Royal Academy of Music PGDip, LRAM,
ARCT. Toronto, Scarborough 416-801-9196,
samantha.studio@gmail.com.
www.samanthaflute.com.
JAMMING WITH A COACH - a 10 week Adult
Band Workshop seeks singers, piano, guitar,
bass, drums and horns etc for a weekly
workshop. For those who want to reconnect
with music, play in a band, make friends and
most of all have fun. Like School of Rock but
for adults. Marc Enkin Music 647 522-4213.
marcenkin@gmail.com.
LESSONS FOR ALL! Friendly and firm - I’m
an experienced musician and mom teaching
piano and singing to children (and the young at
heart) in my Toronto home (East Leslieville). To
discuss your child’s need for music-making
please contact kskwhite@gmail.com.
PIANO, VOCAL, THEORY LESSONS in
Etobicoke and East Mississauga with RCM
piano advanced certified specialist. MUSIC
THERAPY SERVICES and ADAPTED LESSONS.
www.lmmtstudio.com larissa@lmmtstudio.
com 416-574-0018.
VOICE LESSONS - Develop a technique
to reach your optimal vocal potential! All
ages, all genres welcome. Convenient
Rosedale location. www.TamaraRusque.com
RusqueVoiceStudio@gmail.com.
www.MosePianoForAll.com - Friendly
Cabbagetown teaching studio welcomes
nervous adult hobby pianists, moody
teenagers, and normal upbeat kids.
Uncommonly encouraging piano teacher
with loyal following and buckets of patience.
RCM washouts a specialty. Peter Kristian
Mose, 416/923-3060. “Sure beats studying
with those Quebec nuns!” S.A., age 65+. “Now
there’s a teacher!” R.D., age 13.
SERVICES
ACCOUNTING AND INCOME TAX SERVICE
for small business and individuals, to save you
time and money, customized to meet your
needs. Norm Pulker, B. Math. CMA. 905-251-
0309 or 905-830-2985
AUDIOLOGY SERVICES FOR MUSICIANS.
Treatment for tinnitus, hyperacusis,
BASS
misophonia. Custom musician ear plugs,
hearing testing, clinical hypnosis for peak
performance. All services by Doctor of
Audiology. Telemedicine option available.
Short walk from Stouffville GO train/
bus station. www.auditorypathways.ca
647-527-7107.
CD LINER NOTES, PROMO MATERIAL,
CONCERT PROGRAMS, LIBRETTI, WEB SITE
CONTENT AND MEMOIRS need proofreading
and editing for correct spelling and grammar,
clarity and consistency. Contact Vanessa
Wells, wellsread@editors.ca, for a copy editor
with a music background. Quick turnaround
and reasonable rates! wellsreadediting.ca.
HOLIDAY PARTY FUN - KARAOKE! We offer
on-site karaoke services for your private
party, team-building event, or fund-raiser. All
equipment provided plus a skilled and friendly
karaoke host to run things smoothly and
make your guests feel like stars. Sing musical
theatre favourites, Frank Sinatra and Billie
Holiday, Beatles, Queens of the Stone Age,
and everything in between. Contact jason@
jasonrolland.com or call 416-809-4311.
RESTORE PRECIOUS MEMORIES lost on
old records, tapes, photos etc.? Recitals,
gigs, auditions, air checks, family stuff. on
78’s, cassettes, reels, 35mm slides etc?.
ArtsMediaProjects will lovingly restore them
to CD’s or DVD’s. Call George @ 416-910-1091.
VENUES AVAILABLE / WANTED
ARE YOU PLANNING A CONCERT OR
RECITAL? Looking for a venue? Consider
Bloor Street United Church. Phone: 416-924-
7439 x22. Email: tina@bloorstreetunited.org.
PERFORMANCE / REHEARSAL / STUDIO
SPACE AVAILABLE: great acoustics,
reasonable rates, close to Green P Parking,
cafés & restaurants. Historic church at
College & Bellevue, near Spadina. Phone
416-921-6350. E-mail ststepheninthefields@
gmail.com.
DO YOU DRIVE?
Do you love
The WholeNote?
Share the love and earn a little
money! Join The WholeNote’s
circulation team: 9 times a year,
GTA and well beyond. Interested?
Contact:
circulation@thewholenote.com
BUSINESS
CLASSIFIEDS
Economical and visible!
Promote your services
& products to our
musically engaged readers,
in print and on-line.
FEBRUARY EDITION DEADLINE: January 18
classad@thewholenote.com
NEED HELP WITH
YOUR TAXES?
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RESTORE & PRESERVE
YOUR MEMORIES
Recital and gig tapes | 78’s
& LPs | VHS and Hi8 | 35mm
Slides |News clippings | Photos
& more, transferred to
digital files: CD’s, DVD’s,
or Video slideshow
ArtsMediaProjects
416.910.1091
The Best Music
Teachers Are Here!
Ontario Registered
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thewholenote.com December 1, 2017 - February 7, 2018 | 69

REMEMBERING
Celebrating
Cathy
Elliott
Composer, Writer, Director, Performer, Teacher
June 5, 1957 to October 15, 2017
I
first met Cathy Elliott back in the early summer of
2004 when I stage managed her in an experimental
musical production at the Toronto Fringe Festival.
The days were long and intense, yet Cathy’s spirit shone
through all of the stress with her laughter-infused
genuine warmth and caring for everyone in the company.
More recently, when I started to adapt and direct Shakespeare plays
for the DAREArts Foundation’s summer camps our paths crossed
again, as Cathy wore many hats for DA in marketing and publicity as
well as her now almost legendary work with the foundation in First
Nations communities in Northern Ontario. One memorable summer
she came to our rescue when the artist in charge of teaching our
campers about set design was called away at the last minute. Cathy
was there, ideas and plans ready to implement, energy to burn and to
spare, to make everything work out well.
In mid-October of this year I heard with delight that she had
just completed a very successful first workshop of the new musical
Starlight Tours at Sheridan College, and Facebook was full of glowing
posts from the participants about the inspiration of working with
her. Created by Cathy with Leslie Arden, this musical, like a lot of her
most recent work, combined two central themes in her life – her brilliant
talent as a musical theatre creator and her desire to honour and
share her heritage as an Indigenous artist and proud member of the
Mi’kmaq nation.
The next day, October 16, I was shocked to hear that she was gone,
killed the night before by a car while walking near her home in
Alliston, Ontario. This was even more of a shock since her career was
just beginning to soar, with her acclaimed performance this year in
Corey Payette’s new musical about the residential schools, Children
of God, at Urban Ink in Vancouver and at the National Arts Centre
in Ottawa. There was also the successful workshopping of Starlight
Tours, her recent one-woman musical Moving Day, and another
new musical very close to her heart, Lonecloud, about to begin its
public journey at Native Earth Performing Arts’ Weesageechak Festival
this week.
This past Sunday, November 19, there was a beautiful celebration
of Cathy organized by her partner, Leslie Arden, and Native Earth,
at their performance space at Daniel’s Spectrum in Regent Park. It
was an amazing evening, not only moving but joyous, full of love and
laughter, many stories from her friends and family, and performances
from her musicals.
It was also a showcase of her work over the years: several songs from
The Talking Stick commissioned by the Charlottetown Festival in 2011,
the first all-Indigenous musical performed there; a sweet and moving
solo from Silas Marner sung by the ageless Glynis Ranney; scenes from
Lonecloud featuring Herbie Barnes in the title role of the Mi’kmaq
medicine man who performed in Wild West shows; and excerpts from
Fireweeds: Women of the Yukon from 1993, the musical she researched
while performing as Diamond Tooth Gertie in the Yukon. The songs
from this musical were feminist and galvanizing – why isn’t this a
more widely known classic of Canadian musical theatre? The evening
wrapped up with a magical rendition of “Stories Have Souls” from
the in-progress Lonecloud sung by Arden, and then Cathy herself in a
recorded version of From the Heart from The Talking Stick, to a final
video photo montage (created by Michael Morey).
These last two songs can be seen as theme songs for Cathy,
combining as they do the use of music to tell stories, the content of
those stories being rooted in her Indigenous heritage and her desire
to explore and share that heritage with the world – and, even if those
stories begin in darkness like Starlight Tours, always looking for
messages of love and hope.
These goals seem to have really begun when Cathy was the first
Indigenous artist invited to join the charitable foundation DAREarts,
as they headed up north to Webequie for their first time working with
Indigenous youth, using arts, story and song to give confidence and
inspire leadership. This was a partnership with Cathy that continued
for ten years, only stopped by her passing, and would include her
directing a documentary film about the experience, Fill My Hollow
Bones, narrated by Graham Greene.
Marilyn Field, founder and director of DAREArts, has spoken about
how that first trip for Cathy “was the beginning of her embracing
and finding her Indigenous self,” that she seemed to find “her voice
coming from deep inside herself.” Laura Mackinnon, lead teacher for
DAREArts, who worked with Cathy for five years travelling all over
the remote areas of the North (even to Tuktoyaktuk in the Arctic),
put into words what many are feeling: “She taught me so much about
Indigenous culture, about artistic generosity, storytelling and the
power of a limitless imagination.”
Cathy leaves an immense legacy that we are lucky to have.
Sheridan College has established a Cathy Elliott Memorial
Scholarship for Indigenous students: Sheridancollege.ca/giving-tosheridan/ways-to-give/memorial-or-tribute-giving/cathy-elliottmemorial-scholarship.aspx;
and DAREArts has created the Cathy
Elliott Fund to Empower Indigenous Youth – darearts.com.
–Jennifer Parr
70 | December 2017 / January 2018 thewholenote.com

December's Child
Jane Archibald
MJ BUELL
WE ARE ALL MUSIC’S CHILDREN
Born in Truro, Nova Scotia, soprano Jane Archibald’s 2017/18 season
includes three productions with the Canadian Opera Company, as
well as Carmina Burana with the Joven Orquesta Nacional d’Espana
in Madrid and Rinaldo with the English Concert. Recent engagements
have taken her to major opera houses in Zurich, Paris, Milan, Berlin,
London and the Metropolitan Opera.
What’s your earliest memory of music? I imagine it must have been
hearing singing, as all parents sing to their babies, but I don’t recall
a specific moment. My father played the piano daily, and I imagine I
heard that even in utero!
What did your parents do? My father was a physician (GP). My
mother worked for the government before and after we were born,
and was a homemaker for 15 years during our childhood.
Musicians in your family? My father probably should have been
a musician – he was a talented amateur jazz pianist and it gave him
great joy to play. My younger brother and sister both played in the
school band. My mother doesn’t consider herself musical, but she is
very artistic and creative.
Your first recollection of yourself making music? Singing to myself!
I took piano lessons and group cello lessons for a few years and played
trumpet in the school band. I never progressed beyond a beginner
level of playing in any of those instruments. My favourite of the three
was trumpet!
Jane Archibald lives in Halifax, Nova Scotia, with her husband
(tenor Kurt Streit), her children and multiple dust-bunnies.
Beyond music, some of her other hobbies include reading,
bargain hunting, baking, sleeping-in and DIY projects.
A first music teacher? My first music teacher was my school music
teacher, Mary Shephard. She was intense and I adored her classes.
Every spring, when the local music festival took place, all other classes
took a decidedly second seat to preparing to compete in the local
festival – it was a point of pride to win first place.
Early experiences of making music with other people? I started
taking solo voice lessons at age 11 and I loved that (obviously!!). But
most of my time was actually spent making music in groups, which
was very fulfilling. I played in the school band in elementary school
and junior high (trumpet) and I sang in every choir around; I was in
a nationally recognized girls’ choir called the First Baptist Girls’ Choir
which exposed me to lots of choral works, Bach being a particular
favourite. I also performed in school musicals in junior high and
high school. All that kept me very busy and mostly very happy and
engaged. It taught me so many life lessons and prepared me extremely
well for my future career.
What would you say to parents hoping their young children will
grow up to love and make music? Encourage it, however it comes!
First off, turn on the radio and sing around the house. Buy tickets to
live events instead of – or in addition to – another toy. Then help them
find an outlet to make music, especially in a group (choir/orchestra/
band.) It’s such a thrilling experience and truly teaches so many
important life skills, in addition to the sheer joy they will feel when
they play/sing. If they continue to want to pursue it on a serious level
as a soloist, they will let you know. You can use those community
contacts you’ve made to help you navigate finding teachers and
opportunities.
Don’t miss our full-length interview
with Jane Archibald at thewholenote.com
Jane Archibald at Diane’s Clams
in Five Islands, Nova Scotia.
the gift
of music
We grow up with an appetite for
music when it’s a natural part of childhood.
And while a music career is not
for everyone, we all need music to enrich
our lives.
This season please give the gift of music to a young person:
maybe tickets for a live performance; music classes; a good
recording or a music store gift certificate. But you don’t have to
spend money: play music and share the listening, make music
and invite participation.
Maybe most importantly, get them singing, or singing along
– even if you think you cannot. Smile, take a deep breath, and
sing together like there’s no tomorrow. And then, probably,
there will be one.
“My mother would sing to me after each bath (I still love
baths); my eldest brother had a blues band and my father
attempted to sing in church. It wasn’t amazing. But music was
always playing in the house!” — Ambur Braid
“There was never a time when I did not hear music. Hearing my
parents sing every week in church, it was just a part of our life …”
— Peter Mahon
“ … playing in a rhythm band in our living room, organized
as a neighbourhood project by my mother; singing and dancing
with my young sister to the accompaniment of a wind-up Edison
phonograph …” — John Beckwith
“ … my dad playing some tunes on his violin – he would take out
his violin and play from a book with old folk songs like Amazing
Grace and Jeannie with the Light Brown Hair.” — Julia Wedman
A new contest will appear in our February edition.
CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR WINNERS!
Jane Archibald will sing the role of Konstanze in The Abduction from the Seraglio
(Die Entführung aus dem Serail) in the Canadian Opera Company’s brand new
production (February 7 to 24, 2018). Violence on the high seas, and human trafficking?
Death threats? Xenophobia? No, not the news of the day: it’s Mozart.
Konstanze and her maid Blonde are kidnapped by pirates and sold into slavery in
Turkey, and the rest of this singspiel’s twists and turns might just be about how
much we stand to learn when our cultural assumptions, and the things we think
we know about ourselves and others, get shaken or stirred. Directed by Wajdi
Mouawad and conducted by Johannes Debus, the cast includes Mauro Peter,
Claire de Sévigné, Owen McCausland, Goran Jurić and Peter Lohmeyer.
A pair of tickets each has been won by:
RAHILA FAZILUDDIN, DORIS GRANT,
DEBRA CHANDLER, JOAN MCGORMAN
thewholenote.com December 2017 / January 2018 | 71

DISCOVERIES | RECORDINGS REVIEWED
DAVID OLDS
Last month a CD of late works by Elliott
Carter gave me occasion to muse about the
brushes with greatness I have been privileged
with, thanks to my relationship with
New Music Concerts. A new CD – Complete
George Crumb Edition Volume 18 (BRIDGE
9476 bridgerecords.com) – gives me that
opportunity once again. Although it seems
more recent, I realize it has been more than
a dozen years since George Crumb was
last in Toronto as the guest of NMC. For several decades after NMC’s
founding in 1971, a tradition developed that Crumb’s new works
would receive their second performances in Toronto; in the case of
the celebrated Idyll for the Misbegotten for amplified flute and three
percussionists, dedicated to Robert Aitken, this city was the location
of its world premiere. That tradition continued in 2003 when the
composer’s daughter Ann Crumb sang the Canadian premiere of the
recently composed …Unto the Hills, Songs of Sadness, Yearning and
Innocence, with the New Music Concerts ensemble.
On that occasion it was my great pleasure to spend several days
in the company of the 74-year-old composer and his family. In the
intervening years Crumb has not slowed down much, as this disc
attests, with a new work from 2012 – The Yellow Moon of Andalusia,
Spanish Songbook III for Mezzo-Soprano and Amplified Piano –
and recently revised versions of 1979’s Celestial Mechanics, Cosmic
Dances for Amplified Piano, Four Hands and Yesteryear, A Vocalise
for Mezzo-Soprano, Amplified Piano and Percussion originally
written in 2005. Central to the disc is a 2001 composition, Eine Kleine
Mitternachtmusik, A Little Midnight Music, Ruminations on ‘Round
Midnight by Thelonious Monk for Amplified Piano, a nine-movement
tribute to both Monk and Mozart performed by Marcantonio Barone.
Amplification is one of the key elements of Crumb’s music, not to
make it louder per se, but to make audible some of the subtle effects
that the performers are called upon to execute, be it whistle tones on
a flute or plucked notes or pedalled washes of harmonics inside the
piano. This is very much a part of the Mitternachtmusik, along with
other Crumb signature sounds and techniques, from dramatic knocks
on the piano’s frame to shimmering glissandi on the strings, gentle
melodies juxtaposed with brash interjections – veritable explosions
of sound – and vocalizations from the pianist. Crumb’s characteristically
descriptive movement titles include Cobweb and Peaseblossom;
Incantation; Golliwog Revisited (with a nod to Debussy) and Cadenza
with Tolling Bells.
There is another personal connection for me on this recording. The
soprano in the two vocal works is Tony Arnold, who performed a
stunning rendition of György Kurtág’s Kafka Fragments with violinist
Movses Pogossian for New Music Concerts at Gallery 345 last season.
Arnold is no stranger to Crumb’s music – she received a Grammy
nomination for her performance of Ancient Voices of Children – and
is in fact the dedicatee of Yesteryear. That title was inspired by a line
from François Villon, “Mais où sont les neiges d’antan,” rendered most
famously into English by Dante Gabriel Rosetti as “But where are the
snows of yesteryear?,” a line declaimed and later whispered in the
original archaic French toward the end of the 11-minute work. As the
composer’s preface tells us, “the singer is vainly searching for her lost
youth and beauty and laments their inevitable erosion by the relentless
passage of time.” There is some ritual involved in the performance,
as is often the case in Crumb’s music. In this instance, over the
duration of the piece the singer moves between nine stations – spread
around the concert hall in the original version but restricted to the
stage in the 2013 revision.
Both Yesteryear and The Yellow Moon of Andalusia are first recordings.
In the latter, Crumb returns to the poetry of Federico García
Lorca, which has been the inspiration for many of his works since the
1960s, including the above-mentioned Ancient Voices of Children.
While the earlier works used the original Spanish, here Crumb
sets English translations of the poems. The comprehensive booklet
includes both the originals and the translations. We have to thank
Bridge Records for their thoroughness, not only in the preparation of
this recording, which also includes the piano duo Quattro Mani and
percussionists David Nelson and William Kerrigan, but for undertaking
such an exhaustive catalogue of works by one of the unique
voices of our time.
I am pleased to note that this month we
have reviews of four Analekta discs, and that
they all feature contemporary (or at least
20th-century in the case of André Mathieu)
composers. I point this out because although
this Quebec label is highly respected for its
releases, for the most part they stick to more
conventionally classical repertoire, even
though some of their artists are renowned
for their commitment to contemporary
music. The Gryphon Trio has been a major “exception to this rule.”
The Gryphon’s 19-title discography includes half a dozen Analekta
releases of contemporary music, so kudos to them. The most recent
of these is Into the Wonder (AN 2 9521 analekta.com), on which
they join the Thunder Bay Symphony Orchestra under the direction
of Arthur Post to perform the music of Jordan Pal. Described by
Ludwig van Toronto as “the country’s current it-boy composer,” at 34,
Pal is currently the RBC affiliate composer of the Toronto Symphony
and his music has been performed by every significant orchestra
across Canada.
Starling – Triple concerto for violin, cello, piano and orchestra was
commissioned by the Gryphon Trio and the Thunder Bay Symphony
in 2013. It is a scintillating work in three movements, opening with an
orchestral flourish that develops into a 15-minute flight, a “murmuration”
with only brief moments of respite, mostly in the form of lyrical
cadenzas from the solo trio. It is exhilarating how Pal sustains the
momentum throughout. The Largo second movement begins in dark
brass timbres that once again give way to gorgeously lyrical passages
from the soloists, especially in the cello lines. But one word of caution,
or at least a cautionary tale for me. Many years ago I discovered how
close the sound of a cello can be to that of a saxophone when I first
heard Kabalevsky’s Cello Concerto No.2. About midway through, the
solo cello gives way to an alto saxophone cadenza so seamlessly that
it takes several seconds for the ear to recognize what has just gone on.
I had a similar experience when I first listened to Starling, which I
did on small computer speakers. I was convinced I was hearing saxophone
at several points in the recording and emailed Pal to ask if this
was the case because I did not see any saxophonists credited in the list
of orchestra members. He assured me that he had not included saxophone
in the instrumentation and subsequent listening on proper
speakers has confirmed this. That’s why I make a point of listening on
my stereo system before passing judgement on discs – basic computer
72 | December 2017 / January 2018 thewholenote.com

systems simply don’t provide accurate sound. The finale, Presto –
Electric and Wild is simply that, a moto perpetuo once again reminiscent
of a thousand starlings soaring and swirling together in the sky.
I think I will let the composer speak for himself about the title
piece, also commissioned by the TBSO, which at half an hour
comprises just under half of the disc. “Into the Wonder celebrates the
creative will of our universe. Evoking birth and death, creation and
destruction, universal interconnectedness and the rapture of love, this
piece seeks to capture the mystery, awe and wonder of life. Nature’s
own great works of art are reminders that we are a part of this
magnificent range of possibilities, that we are part of something much
greater. This symphony celebrates all that is beautiful.” Is this simply
the naïve vision of a young man couched in slick orchestral finery?
This is certainly not “new music” in the sense of Carter or Crumb, but
it is genuinely attractive, well-crafted and brilliantly executed. Does it
succeed in its aspirations? I welcome you to judge for yourselves.
Concert note: The Gryphon Trio joins the Kingston Symphony in
a performance of Jeffrey Ryan’s triple concerto Equilateral (which
they recorded with the Vancouver Symphony, Naxos 8.572765) on
December 3 at the Isabel Bader Centre for Performing Arts, Kingston.
On December 7 they return to Music Toronto to perform works by
Haydn, Brahms and Marjan Mozetich. In the new year the trio heads
to Western Canada for a number of concerts around British Columbia
(January 19 through February 3), with a side trip to the Edmonton
Chamber Music Society on January 26.
I’m not normally drawn to so-called new
age music, and I think that’s the category
cellist Margaret Maria’s Carried by an Angel
would most naturally fall into, yet I find
myself drawn to it. In 2011 Margaret Maria
Tobolowska left the position she held with
the National Arts Centre Orchestra for a
dozen years to pursue a solo career as cellist
and chamber musician, composer and
producer. I must confess that I was a little
off-put by the statement on the cover of the promotional copy of the
disc I received: “The beauty of the Archangel Raffaele, the bringer of
healing, comfort and compassion has been brought to me. The music
is full of energy that heals, sings, dances on the edge of winged spirits
and brings such indescribable beauty in colours that shimmer and
are full of love.” I am not a believer in angels, nor spiritual healing
and at first did not think I should be the one to comment on the
disc. But as a cellist, and lover of many diverse sorts of music, I gave
it a try, and then another. It is ostensibly a solo cello disc, but more
accurately, a solo cellist disc. There are many layerings of lines that
together produce dense and lush melodic textures, a lovely wash of
sound that is warm and immersive. The overall effect is orchestral,
but in a unique way since all of the sounds are made by cello, with
some computer processing, so there is a welcoming homophony. To
me it is reminiscent of the music of Arvo Pärt if you imagine a piece
like Spiegel im Spiegel on an orchestral scale. If you are curious, you
can check our Margaret Maria’s website (enchanten.com) and her
Enchanten channel on YouTube.
Liszt’s Consolation No.3 and Hungarian Rhapsody No.2. I am a little
surprised that the CD booklet, which includes an extended article
about the repertoire by Jed Distler in three languages, contains not a
word about this fabulous young performer. There is lots of information
available on his own website however – georgelipianist.com –
including such tidbits as he made his first public performance at the
age of ten (2005) at Boston’s Steinway Hall, and in 2011 performed
for president Obama at the White House in an evening honouring
Chancellor Angela Merkel. If the disc is any indication, the concert
will be a barnburner not to be missed by the cognoscenti. Now, if he
could just find time to learn some new repertoire!
Concert note: George Li’s recital takes place at Koerner Hall on
February 4.
We welcome your feedback and invite submissions. CDs and
comments should be sent to: DISCoveries, WholeNote Media
Inc., The Centre for Social Innovation, 503 – 720 Bathurst St.
Toronto ON M5S 2R4. We also encourage you to visit our website
thewholenote.com where you can find enhanced reviews in the
Listening Room with audio samples, upcoming performance details
and direct links to performers, composers and record labels.
David Olds, DISCoveries Editor
discoveries@thewholenote.com
TAFELMUSIK MEDIA NEW RELEASE
NOW AVAILABLE!
TALES OF TWO CITIES:
THE LEIPZIG-DAMASCUS
COFFEE HOUSE
CD & DVD
tafelmusik.org
“A phenomenon that was
unexpected and powerful”
– The Globe and Mail
And a quick final note. 2015 Silver
Medalist in the International Tchaikovsky
Competition George Li has just released his
inaugural CD, Live at the Mariinsky (Warner
Classics 0190295812942). It was recorded in
St. Petersburg one year ago and it features
exactly the same repertoire the young superstar
performed in Vancouver in October and
will perform again in Toronto in February:
piano sonatas by Haydn (Hob.XVI:32) and
Chopin (Op.35), Rachmaninov’s Variations on a theme of Corelli, and
thewholenote.com December 2017 / January 2018 | 73

STRINGS
ATTACHED
TERRY ROBBINS
Les Tendres Plaintes: Works by Jean-
Philippe Rameau (Centaur CRC 3603) is
the second solo CD from Canadian guitarist
Sylvie Proulx; it’s a collection of transcriptions,
mostly of dance movements, from
harpsichord suites by the leading French
Baroque composer.
Three of the transcriptions, including the
title track, are by Proulx, with the remaining
12 being by other guitarists including John Duarte and Andrés Segovia.
Given the inherent difficulties in transcribing harpsichord music for
guitar – the reduced range, the unavoidability of playing fewer notes,
and in particular the handling of ornamentation – everything here
works extremely well, helped no doubt by the guitar’s greater capabilities
for expressive playing.
Proulx’s performances are clean and clearly defined, with a
complete absence of extraneous noise and a lovely range of colour,
tone and contrast. It’s terrific playing.
There’s more excellent – and fascinating
– guitar playing on François Campion
Music for Baroque Guitar (Brilliant
Classics 95276), with Bernhard Hofstötter
playing a Baroque guitar attributed to
Matteo Sellas of Venice, from about 1640.
The colour booklet photos show an astonishingly
beautiful instrument. It’s a fivecourse
guitar, tuned the same as the top
five strings of the modern guitar, with the top E a single string and
the other four doubled, either in unison (A, G and B strings) or at the
lower octave (D string).
In 1705 Campion published one of the last five-course guitar
books, and continued to add handwritten pieces to his own personal
copy throughout his life. These manuscript pieces often exceeded
the published works in size and difficulty, and form the basis of
this recital.
In the excellent booklet Hofstötter remarks on the instrument’s
“…full-bodied and velvety dark sound which radically differs from
comparable modern instruments” and is “round, fully resonating and
at the same time subtle and fragile.” It’s exactly that. Hofstötter is a
lutenist, and it shows; the sound here seems like a bridge between
the lute and the classical guitar. It’s meticulously clean playing of
some very intricate and technically demanding music – the Bach-like
fugues and dance forms in particular – and a simply fascinating CD.
Whenever you see a 2CD box set from the
wonderful cello and piano duo of Matt
Haimovitz and Christopher O’Riley you
know you’re in for something special, and
so it proves with Troika, their latest release
of Russian music by Shostakovich, Prokofiev
and Rachmaninoff on the Pentatone
Oxingale Series label (PTC 5186 608).
CD1 is devoted to Shostakovich and
Prokofiev, with the former’s Waltz No.2 and Cello Sonata in D Minor
Op.40 and the latter’s Troika from Lieutenant Kijé and Cello Sonata
in C Major Op.119.
CD2 has Rachmaninoff’s Cello Sonata in G Minor Op.19 and
his famous Vocalise before the duo takes a customary left turn
into contemporary Russian music with two of their own arrangements:
Kukushka, by the singer-songwriter Victor Tsoi; and Pussy
Riot’s Punk Prayer – Virgin Mary, Put Putin Away, complete with
Haimovitz’s use of a glass slide on the strings and a crushed Styrofoam
cup behind the bridge to achieve some grunge punk bass distortion!
The duo’s arrangement of Lennon & McCartney’s Back in the
U.S.S.R. completes a terrific set.
Angèle Dubeau and La Pietà are back with
another CD in their Portrait series, this time
featuring music by Max Richter, who has
been particularly active in film, theatre and
television (Analekta AN 2 8745).
Previous Portrait CDs featured Philip
Glass, Arvo Pärt, John Adams and Ludovico
Einaudi, and Dubeau says that the more she
listens to composers gravitating around the
minimalist movement the more she wants to interpret their music: “I
enjoy the moments of introspection that these works bring.”
Those moments are possibly the result of the lack of any real
development: each of the 16 short pieces here (15 are less than five
minutes) essentially sets a mood and keeps it, with little opportunity
for anything other than “Here’s an idea…”
Apart from the really lovely Mercy for solo violin and piano, and
Winter II, recomposed by Richter from Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons, all
tracks are arrangements by François Vallières and Dubeau of pieces
from Richter’s solo albums Memoryhouse, The Blue Notebooks –
Disconnect, Songs From Before and From Sleep, the films Waltz with
Bashir and Perfect Sense, and the television scores for The Leftovers
and Black Mirror-Nosedive.
As always, playing and recording standards are absolutely topnotch.
It’s essentially easy, pleasant – and, yes, introspective – listening
that will be warmly welcomed by Dubeau’s many regular admirers.
Violinist Nuné Melik makes an impressive
recording debut with the CD Hidden
Treasure: Rediscovered Music from
Armenia with pianist Michel-Alexandres
Broekaert (DOM Forlane FOR 16886
domdisques.com).
Born in Siberia of Armenian/Georgian/
Jewish heritage, Melik moved to Montreal
in 2009 and began to explore the music of
composers from her upbringing; this recital
program grew out of the resulting Hidden Treasure project. Judging by
her playing here, it’s clearly been an emotional and rewarding journey.
The central work on the disc is the Violin Sonata in B-flat Minor
by Arno Babadjanian, written in Russia in 1959 and criticized as
“formalist” by the Soviet authorities. Babadjanian’s close friend Dmitri
Shostakovich thought highly of it, and his influence is clearly felt;
there are hints of Prokofiev in the slow movement, too.
Lovely short pieces by Komitas Vardapet, Aram Khachaturian and
Alexander Spendiarian complete the disc. There’s passionate, rhapsodic
playing from Melik and sympathetic support from Broekaert,
who also has a short solo.
Concert note: Nuné Melik and Michel-Alexandres Broekaert perform
in Toronto on December 7 at the Yamaha Recital Space at Atelier
Rosemarie Umetsu.
J.S. Bach: Sonatas for Violin and
Harpsichord BWV 1014-1019 with violinist
Mark Fewer and Hank Knox (Leaf Music
LM 216) is the third set of these works I’ve
received in recent years, following the
outstanding releases from Catherine Manson
and Ton Koopman (harpsichord) and the
Duo Concertante pairing of Nancy Dahn and
Timothy Steeves (piano).
74 | December 2017 / January 2018 thewholenote.com

Although there is accomplished playing here the harpsichord is
prominent and rather heavy, and its lack of dynamic range tends
to give the performances a somewhat mechanical feel, with the
violin sounding more like a separate voice than an integrated
partner. Koopman’s sound is much softer and much more attuned to
Manson’s playing.
There are occasional significant differences in interpretation too,
notably in the Adagio of the F minor sonata, where Fewer – unlike
Manson and Dahn – opts to separate and shorten the eighth note
double-stops.
As always, it comes down to personal taste. If you prefer these works
strong and bright and with harpsichord there is much here you will
enjoy, although Manson and Koopman and Duo Concertante both
offer more sensitive readings.
Concert notes (out of province): Hank Knox performs solo recitals
at Salle Georges-Codling in Sorel-Tracy, QC on December 3 and at
Redpath Hall in Montreal, QC on January 31.
Fantasia is the 35th studio album from
violin superstar Anne Akiko Meyers, this
time with the Philharmonia Orchestra
conducted by Kristjan Järvi (Avie Records
AV2385). The title track is by the Finnish
composer Einojuhani Rautavaara, written in
2015 at the request of Meyers, who worked
on it with the composer in Helsinki only
months before his death in July 2016. Meyers
describes it as “transcendent” and having “the feeling of an elegy with
a very personal reflective mood.” It’s a lovely work that clearly has
great emotional significance for her.
The Violin Concerto No.1 Op.35 by Karol Szymanowski dates from
1916, and was one of the first works to reflect the life-changing influence
of his 1914 trips to North Africa and to Paris, where he met
Debussy and Ravel. It’s a simply glorious single-movement work full
of sensuous and exotic melody and lush orchestration, and with an
extremely demanding solo part that rarely leaves the stratosphere.
Ravel’s dazzling Tzigane, in the orchestral version, completes a
simply outstanding CD.
In the old LP days the Bruch and
Mendelssohn Violin Concertos were
frequent companions, and the tradition
continues on a new CD from the Polishborn
violinist Kinga Augustyn, with the
Janáček Philharmonia Orchestra under
Jakub Klecker (Centaur CRC 3585).
The Bruch Concerto No.1 in G Minor has
a lovely opening, with Augustyn displaying a big, bright tone. Tempos
are never rushed, and there is beautiful orchestral support.
The performance of the Mendelssohn Concerto in E Minor follows
the same pattern, with unhurried tempos, accuracy in the details and
some lovely orchestral moments. There’s sweetness and warmth in
the playing, but never a hint of superficiality: these are thoughtful
performances that bring delightful playing from all concerned.
Massenet’s Meditation from Thaïs is the final track, and again it’s a
performance that leans toward the understated – a sensitive, simple
reading with great depth that makes for a very effective ending to an
impressive CD.
The outstanding German cellist Gabriel
Schwabe is the soloist in the complete Saint-
Saëns Works for Cello and Orchestra with
the Malmö Symphony Orchestra under
Marc Soustrot (Naxos 8.573737).
The two Cello Concertos – No.1 in A Minor,
Op.33 and No.2 in D Minor, Op.119 – are
the major works here, although the lesserknown
five-movement Suite in D Minor,
Op.16bis from 1919 has much to recommend it. It was written for
cello and piano and later orchestrated by the composer, as were the
two other short works here: the Romance in F Major, Op.36 and the
Allegro appassionato in B Minor, Op.43. Paul Vidal’s orchestration of
The Swan from Carnival of the Animals completes the CD.
With his great tone and terrific technique Schwabe easily negotiates
the difficult challenges of the second concerto, with some particularly
lovely playing in the simply beautiful central Andante sostenuto.
There is fine orchestral support from Soustrot and the Malmö
orchestra. All in all, an outstanding disc.
There’s cello playing at the complete
opposite end of the spectrum on Sweet
Anxiety, the first solo CD from the
American cellist Ashley Walters featuring
new works for cello from 2002-2013 (populist
records PR014 populistrecords.com).
Walters says that she seeks “to challenge
your perception of what the cello… is capable
of,” and she certainly succeeds.
Nicholas Deyoe provides two tracks: For Stephanie (on our wedding
day) and the title track another anxiety, the latter drawing some
astonishing playing from Walters. Luciano Berio’s Sequenza XIV is
predominantly percussive; it’s heard here in a performing edition
created by Walters.
Wolfgang von Schweinitz’s Plainsound-Litany is a hypnotic
L/R
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André Mathieu: Concerto No. 3
Alain Lefèvre, JoAnn Falletta,
Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra
An inspired restoration of André
Mathieu’s famous Concerto No. 3.
with JoAnn Falletta and the Buffalo
Philharmonic Orchestra. Spectacular!
Crazy
T. Patrick Carrabré
T. Patrick Carrabré explores
the edges of beauty - that place
where darkness meets light and
inspiration can lead to obsession.
thewholenote.com December 2017 / January 2018 | 75

sequence of precisely tuned double stops; Wadada Leo Smith’s
Sweet Bay Magnolia with Berry Clusters includes improvisational
sequences. Andrew McIntosh’s Another Secular Calvinist Creed
provides a serene, contemplative end to the recital.
Walters is simply brilliant throughout the disc, and the short
printed examples of the scores (other than the Berio) give some idea of
the challenges she faced.
On Violin Muse the British violinist Madeleine Mitchell presents a
program of world premiere recordings of works by British composers
(Divine Art dda 25160).
The major work here is the two-movement Violin Concerto “Soft
Stillness” by Welsh composer Guto Pryderi Puw, commissioned by
Mitchell and heard in a live BBC Radio recording from 2016. It’s an
effective piece, with Mitchell accompanied by the BBC National
Orchestra of Wales under Edwin Outwater.
Mitchell is joined by Cerys Jones in Judith
Weir’s delightful Atlantic Drift – Three
pieces for two violins, based on Gaelic
folk tunes.
Pianist Nigel Clayton is the accompanist
in the remaining works: Geoffrey Poole’s
Rhapsody; David Matthews’ Romanza
Op.119a; Sadie Harrison’s lovely Aurea Luce;
Michael Berkeley’s Veilleuse; and Michael
Nyman’s Taking it as Read.
There’s excellent playing throughout by all concerned.
Concert notes (out of province): Madeleine Mitchell performs
Schoenberg's Phantasie with pianist Ian Pace in a free concert at the
Performance Space, College Building, City University of London (UK)
on December 8 and is featured in live performance and talk on BBC
Essex on December 13.
Keyed In
ALEX BARAN
David Jalbert already has five recordings
in the ATMA catalogue. His newest is
Stravinski – Prokofiev Pétrouchka, L’oiseau
de feu, Roméo et Juliette – Transcriptions
pour piano (ATMA Classique ACD2
2684). It shows why he’s considered one
of the younger generation’s finest pianists.
His performance of Danse russe from
Pétrouchka explodes into being with astonishing
speed and alacrity. Jalbert possesses a
sweeping technique that exudes ease and persuasive conviction.
The three extracts from L’Oiseau de feu require, and Jalbert
obviously has it, complete command of the keyboard for the Danse
that begins the set. Equally demanding is the introspection necessary
for the following Berceuse. The Finale builds to a colossal orchestral
finish that loses nothing in this transcription for piano.
According to the disc’s informative liner notes, the ten pieces
from Prokofiev’s ballet Romeo and Juliet Op.75 are from Prokofiev’s
original piano score, and owing to the composer’s facility with the
instrument, are highly idiomatic. One of the set’s most engaging
pieces is The Montagues and the Capulets, driven rhythmically by
its relentless bassline. Jalbert has a complete understanding of these
three stage works and the contemporary language their composers
used to tell their stories.
Concert note: Pianists David Jalbert and Wonny Song perform music
inspired by dance, theatre and visual art on January 14 for Mooredale
Concerts and Music & Truffles at Walter Hall.
Alain Lefèvre has recorded an intriguing
work with the Buffalo Philharmonic
Orchestra under Joann Falletta: André
Mathieu – Concerto No.3 (Analekta AN 2
9299). Written at age 13 while marooned
with his family in North America by the
outbreak of WWII, unable to return to
France where he had been studying on a
scholarship from the Quebec government,
the work was intended to launch Mathieu’s
career with the influential decision makers of the New York music
scene. Unfortunately, not much came of it until 1946, when a newly
created Quebec production company approached Mathieu for the
rights to use his Concerto No.3 in a film (La Forteresse/Whispering
City) to be shot entirely in Quebec. As things turned out, only major
portions of the second movement were used in the film score.
Until recently, this had been the only record of the work. Mathieu
himself recorded it in 1947, and this same version, revised by Marc
Bélanger, was recorded by Philippe Entremont in 1977 and made
famous by Alain Lefèvre in 2003. Eventually renamed the Concerto de
Québec, the recording by Jean-Philippe Sylvestre with the Orchestre
Métropolitain and conductor Alain Trudel was reviewed here
in October.
In 2008 the original autograph score for two pianos was discovered
in Ottawa. Since then, composer and conductor Jacques Marchand
has prepared a critical edition that is faithful to the original manuscript.
This is its first full recording. It has all the sweeping gestures of
its period and a devilishly difficult piano part. Lefèvre’s performance
at the keyboard is masterful. He and the BPO perform the work with
astonishing authenticity, restoring a fascinating chapter to Canadian
music history of that period.
American pianist David Glen Hatch exploits
his pianistic link to Brahms in Brahms
& Rubinstein (Centaur CRC 3565/3566).
Brahms’ student Carl Friedberg taught at
Juilliard in the late 1940s; Hatch’s own
teacher Joanne Baker won an audition to
study there with Friedberg. Hatch recalls
numerous instructions from Baker, handed
down by Friedberg from Brahms, about
his intentions for various passages in the Piano Concerto No.1 in D
Minor Op.15. It’s fascinating to consider the extent to which Hatch’s
performance is connected to the composer in this way. Hatch’s
approach overall is quite deliberate in his slightly slower tempi. The
second movement in particular reveals numerous opportunities to
dwell on phrases and Brahms’ characteristic harmonic shifts.
As substantial as the Brahms concerto is, the Rubinstein Concerto
for Piano and Orchestra No.4 in D Minor Op.70 seems an even
grander conception. It may have to do with Rubenstein’s orchestrations,
but somehow Hatch seems truly in his element with the
composer’s great pianistic gestures. The concertos are an excellent
pairing for this two-disc recording.
Robert and Linda Ang Stoodley style themselves
as Piano à Deux. Their new disc,
France Revisited – Music by Onslow,
Debussy and Poulenc (Divine Art dda
25132) is an example of piano four hands
performance at its very best. One of the
disc’s many treats is the appearance of
music by George Onslow. Because his
oeuvre is largely for chamber strings, his
76 | December 2017 / January 2018 thewholenote.com

very few piano works tend to be overlooked. The unique voice of this
19th-century composer is deeply intriguing as heard in the Sonata
for Piano Four Hands No.1 in E Minor Op.7. It’s surprisingly forward
looking despite its early catalogue entry.
Petite Suite delivers all the rich impressionistic orchestrations with
which we associate Claude Debussy, and Piano à Deux are consistently
excellent in how they portray the composer’s lightly programmatic
intent.
The duo has also transcribed the Poulenc Chansons de l’amour et
de la guerre, and done so with a gifted ear that preserves the wistful
nostalgia that Poulenc infused into each song.
Concert notes (out of province): Details of upcoming performances
can be found at pianoadeux.com/events.
José Menor is an extraordinary pianist with
a fearsome technique and unrivalled fluidity
of touch. His new recording Goyescas –
Enrique Granados (IBS Classical IBS-82017)
demonstrates how he brings these gifts
to his exploration of this major composition
of Spanish piano music. Menor goes
to considerable effort in his liner notes to
explain how this music captured his imagination
and compelled him to study it from a composer’s perspective
rather than just a pianist’s. His study of the original manuscripts
recommended by the Granados family helped him profoundly in
discerning the composer’s intent in writing the suite, which deals
with the course of love and death.
Menor admits being attracted by the work’s many, deep contrasts
and its expressive intensity. This is most powerfully evident in El amor
y la muerte. It’s astonishing to imagine that this century-old work
contains such modern tone clusters and rhythmic freedom. Under
the hands of Menor it becomes a revealing expression, ahead of its
time, and potently magical. The suite is slightly abridged for lack of
recording space but the disc does include a rare performance of a
single short manuscript, Crepúsculo, that may have been Granados’
first draft of some of the suite.
Harpsichordist Gilbert Rowland has
completed a substantial project with his
recording Johann Mattheson 12 Suites for
Harpsichord (Athene ath 23301.1 divineartrecords.com).
The three-disc set is a valuable
document shedding some light on
the music of a hitherto obscure composer.
Mattheson was a contemporary of Handel
and came to know him well as a friend
and colleague. He is said to have written numerous operas, oratorios,
What we're listening to this month:
sacred works and music for organ. Most of these manuscripts were
kept in Hamburg, where Mattheson lived and worked for much of
his life. Allied bombing of the city during WWII destroyed most of
the Mattheson documents, leaving little for modern scholars to study.
Fortunately, the 12 Suites for Harpsichord, dating from 1714, have
survived. They are well-conceived mature works written in the French
dance suite style. Rowland plays a 2005 copy of a French instrument
from 1750 by Goermans.
Andrew Wright has recorded a second disc
in his series of operatic transcriptions, The
Operatic Pianist II (Divine Art dda 25153
divineartrecords.com). Opera transcriptions
were, in their day, the equivalent of
pop song covers. They also provided travelling
pianists with ample popular repertoire
for performance. Liszt may be the bestknown
contributor to the form, although a
great many composers dabbled in the genre.
Wright clearly has a wonderful working grasp of this repertoire and
knows how to bring forward the vocal line as well as how to portray
the orchestral colour that any given emotional moment requires. His
playing is consistently fabulous, whether he’s pounding out Liszt’s
Rienzi Fantasy or Saint-Saëns’ Concert Paraphrase on Thaïs. It’s easy
to understand how these transcriptions achieved “hit” status in the
time before the gramophone and digital access to opera performances.
Misuzu Tanaka has, at first blush, twinned
a pair of unlikely composers in her
new release, Janáček, Bach - In concert
(Concertant Classics CD PR201601 concertantclassics.com).
She admits, however, that
in the process of the recording she discovered
that both were having the same effect
on her. Tanaka’s performance of the Bach
Partita No.6 in E Minor BWV 830 reveals her
strict adherence to the perfection of Bach’s structure. It also uncovers
the emotional richness of the minor key. This last consideration is
where she makes the link to Janáček. His Moravian heritage and his
links to Czech folk music are reflected in the emotional content of
On an Overgrown Path, Books 1 and 2. Minor keys are prevalent.
Melancholy is pervasive. In its own way, this shared feature is, for
Tanaka, the point of connection.
Tanaka approaches Janáček with an intent to uncover the inspired
simplicity of his music. She moves through the numerous parts of
Books 1 and 2 with thoughtful deliberation, capturing the essence
of the composer’s evocative titles: Words Fail, Unutterable Anguish,
In Tears, for example. Her playing is as perfect for Janáček as it is for
thewholenote.com/listening
Dog's Breakfast
Barry Elmes Quintet
Cornerstone Records Inc. presents
Dog's Breakfast, the long-awaited
6th CD by the award-winning Barry
Elmes Quintet showcasing new
compositions and jazz standards.
Encount3rs
Canada's National Arts Centre
Orchestra, Alexander Shelley
The National Arts Centre Orchestra
conducted by Alexander Shelley
perform original orchestral scores
for new ballets by three of Canada's
most exciting composers.
Entangled Pathways
Gilliam, Milmine, Pottie
Entangled Pathways by Gilliam,
Milmine & Pottie is a unique
combination of free floating melodies,
jazz idioms, modal-chromatic
tonalities and improvised creations.
France Revisited
Piano-à-Deux
Robert Stoodley and Linda Ang
Stoodley present a suitably Gallic
program of Debussy, Poulenc and
George Onslow – music both very
familiar and refreshingly new.
thewholenote.com December 2017 / January 2018 | 77

Bach. What a wonderfully unlikely pair.
Concert notes (out of province): Misuzu Tanaka performs a duo
concert with Maksim Shtrykov, clarinet at the Fairmont Chamber
Music Society in Fairmont, WV on December 10, at the Highlands
Chapel Concert Series in Seattle, WA on January 14 and the Third
Sunday Concert Series in Albany, CA on January 21. Tanaka also
gives a solo recital for Sunset Music and Arts in San Francisco, CA on
January 20.
Martin Perry’s third recording Martin Perry
Piano – Hugo Weisgall, Piano Sonata & Paul
Hindemith, Ludus Tonalis (Bridge 9467)
continues his artistic focus on contemporary
piano music, and specifically on substantial
forms. The disc opens with a three-movement
Sonata for Piano by Hugo Weisgall,
a Moravian immigrant to the US in 1920
whose serious pursuit of music study at
Peabody and Curtis, and privately with composers like Roger Sessions,
helped form the rigorous approach he developed in his own writing.
His language tends towards a 12-tone, relaxed serialism where the
musical ideas are rather long. There’s a good deal of highly contrasted
emotional content that Perry handles beautifully, giving the sonata
what the liner notes call an “operatic” quality.
In the same vein, the Hindemith Ludus Tonalis has an illuminating
subtitle: Studies in Counterpoint, Tonal Organization and Piano
Playing. Hindemith writes a fugue in each of the 12 major keys, joined
by interludes that help establish the new key. The opening Praeludium
is played inverted and in reverse as the Postludium. It’s all rather cerebral,
but Perry uses the distinct character of each fugue and interlude
to colour the work in the most creative way. It’s a very engaging
performance.
Andree-Ann Deschenes describes herself
as a “French-Canadian pianist specializing
in the passionate music of Latin and
South America.” Currently doing doctoral
work at California State University in
LA, her latest recording Villa-Lobos /
Castro (191061746096 aadpiano.com)
is a rich program revealing the skill and
artistic mastery of this very gifted pianist.
Opening with the Villa-Lobos four-part Ciclo Brasileiro W374,
Deschenes establishes her credentials as a serious student of these
Latin composers. With an unerring sense of rhythm for every turn of
phrase and ornament, she navigates through the Villa-Lobos and the
five Tangos para Piano by Juan José Castro, finishing with a brilliant
performance of Festiva by José Maria Vitler. It’s a terrific recording
with a tremendous amount of energy, humour and astonishing talent.
Norman Krieger puts two wonderful standard
repertoire items on his newest CD:
Beethoven Piano Concertos No.3 Op.37 &
No.5 Op.73 (Decca DD41154 / 4815583).
The Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra under
Joann Falletta performs beautifully with
Krieger. They appear to have an agreement
that the Concerto No.3 will not be
overly furious and that the “Emperor”
will similarly not be too imperiously grand. The outer movements
of the concertos are sufficiently strong and emphatic where they
need be, and the middle, slow movements are given ample space
to breathe. The Concerto No.5 is especially effective in this way. The
playing throughout is excellent. To top things off, the recordings are
live concert performances that bring their own unique energy to the
music. It’s a successful collaboration that shows promise.
VOCAL
Luigi Boccherini - Arie da Concerto
Amaryllis Dieltiens; Capriola di Gioia; Bart
Naessens
Evil Penguin Records Classic EPRC 0023
(eprclassic.eu)
!!
This is an
ensemble on a
mission – what
it calls rehabilitating
Boccherini.
Overshadowed by
Mozart and Haydn
and receiving
mixed comments
in Grove’s Dictionary, Boccherini’s few vocal
compositions – few because Boccherini’s
patrons overwhelmingly demanded instrumental
music – convey, according to Capriola
di Gioia, a rare insight into the potential of
the human voice. And so to the seven pieces
selected by the Capriola di Gioia. Caro padre,
a me non dei is a worthy introductory piece
with an almost jaunty interpretation by
Dieltiens – an approach repeated in Se non ti
moro allato.
And yet, the heart of this CD is its intense
concentration on classical themes. As perhaps
might be expected from a piece with an
inspiration of this nature, Caro luci, che
regnate begins with a more stately character,
a tone taken up by Dieltiens as she sings of
Jason’s predicament in Issipile. Misera, dove
soni is a worthy combination of a classical
theme with a text and instrumental scoring
for strings which could have been written
by any of the great Baroque composers who
preceded Boccherini.
Capriola di Gioia’s varied choice of
Boccherini’s Arie da concerto allows the
listener to make up his or her mind as to
whether the composer has actually been
rehabilitated. This CD from Dieltiens and
Naessens means Boccherini does deserve to
be listened to. Indeed, the final track Se d’un
amor tiranno with its sprightly string playing,
deep continuo and pleading voice encapsulates
all the reasons for doing just that.
Michael Schwartz
Lux
Choeur de l’eglise St. Andrew and St. Paul;
Jean-Sébastian Vallée
ATMA ACD2 2771
!!
While this CD
obviously represents
a Christmas disc, it
is rather more than
that. The program
is anchored by
modern arrangements
of traditional
carols such
as Once in Royal David’s City and O Come
All Ye Faithful. But much of the material is
more adventurous and many pieces were
composed only recently. Of particular interest
is In the Bleak Midwinter, a setting of a poem
by Christina Rossetti. Singers and their audiences
will be familiar with this piece either in
the setting of Harold Darke or in the much
finer one by Gustav Holst. But this CD gives
us a contemporary alternative by the Welsh
composer Paul Mealor. That anthem is very
fine, as are a number of others. An older kind
of music is represented in the songs of
Mendelssohn and Herbert Howells.
The Choir of the Church of St. Andrew and
St. Paul, a Montreal church, is an impressive
body of 45 singers, in part professional, in
part amateur. I recognized two names: that of
the lead baritone Nathaniel Watson, whom
we have often heard in Toronto, and that of
the alto Duncan Campbell, who is the son of
the soprano Kathryn Domoney and the baritone
David Campbell. The choice of material
is adventurous. It achieves the rare feat of
presenting traditional Christmas music but
also so much more than that.
Hans de Groot
’Twas But Pure Love
Ottawa Bach Choir; Lisette Canton
Canto 2016 (ottawabachchoir.ca)
!!
The splendid choral offerings on this
recording range from Renaissance to
78 | December 2017 / January 2018 thewholenote.com

contemporary
works and it was
recorded just in
time for the holiday
season last year in
celebration of the
Ottawa Bach Choir’s
15th anniversary. It
includes recording
premieres for two
Canadian works. The first, Sailor’s Carol by
Matthew Larkin (director of music, Christ
Church Cathedral, Ottawa), is based on a
text by Cornish poet Charles Causley. With a
lovely harp intro and simple chordal accompaniment,
three descriptive verses lead to the
chant Ave maris stella, creating a sense of
great awe at the everlasting guidance of a star.
The Darkest Midnight in December by Kelly-
Marie Murphy again features lovely passages
by harpist Caroline Léonardelli, while the
women of the choir present a gentle, yet
sublimely shimmering interpretation of a
1728 text by Irish priest, Fr. William Devereux.
Early works performed beautifully by the
full choir include Tomás Luis de Victoria’s
O magnum mysterium, an unaccompanied
motet realized in all its haunting splendour.
Bach’s Lobet den Herrn, alle Heiden, BWV
230 provides a lively contrast with its doublefugue
passages, showcasing each of the
choirs’ sections and their superb tonal and
rhythmic agility, as well as deftness of hand
(and foot) by organist Jonathan Oldengarm.
Dianne Wells
Wagner – Siegfried
O’Neill; Goerne; Cangelosi; van Mechelen;
Melton; Hong Kong Philharmonic
Orchestra; Jaap van Zweden
Naxos 8.660413-16
!!
Siegfried is the real McCoy of the Ring
Cycle, the epicentre packed with scenes of
high drama, superhuman achievement and
much of the Ring’s
most beautiful
music. And it’s also
the most optimistic
part of the Cycle;
each act ends on a
high note, reserving
the best to the
end with the most
unusual love duet ever written. There is a
fairy-tale atmosphere, a happy ending as well
as unforgettable musical and dramatic highlights
that usually translate into a glorious
night at the opera.
This dramatic new Ring is the brainchild
of Dutch conductor Jaap van Zweden, former
concertmaster of the Royal Concertgebouw
Orchestra. Discovered by Leonard Bernstein,
he is now music director of four major
orchestras, fulfilling a dream to record his
own Ring Cycle with an orchestra he would
whip into a Wagnerian superpower and pick
the best possible singers available today. Each
opera was recorded as a live concert performance,
one per year beginning in 2015, so this
is the third installment.
The title role, Siegfried, is the biggest
casting problem of any Ring attempt, but
fortunately New Zealand heldentenor Simon
O’Neill, a young, athletic fellow who could
look good even on a rugby field, solves this
problem wonderfully. He is a natural, not
only powerful, enthusiastic and tireless, but
also sensitive and tender. Wotan, here called
the Wanderer (as he is no longer in charge of
things), is Matthias Goerne, another excellent
choice, one of the greatest baritones in
the world today. David Cangelosi became
the audience favourite with his characterful,
incisive singing as Mime, the evil dwarf. In
closing, it’s worth buying this set for the
famous Forging Song alone. There were
sounds coming out of the Hong Kong Cultural
Centre never heard before!
Janos Gardonyi
James MacMillan - Stabat Mater
The Sixteen; Britten Sinfonia; Harry
Christophers
CORO COR16150
!!
James MacMillan
gained his early
prominence with
the orchestral piece
The Confession of
Isobel Gowdy. Since
then he has generally
been recognized
as the leading
Scottish composer
of his generation. He is a Roman Catholic in
a largely Protestant country. Sacred music
has always been central to his creative work.
In the last half decade he has developed
a close relationship with the outstanding
chamber choir The Sixteen (conducted by
Harry Christophers). This CD gives us a sense
of that collaboration. The Stabat Mater is
an anonymous 13th-century Latin poem
that depicts the Virgin Mary at the foot of
the Cross and proceeds to meditate on her
sorrow and appeals to her as an intercessor
with her son.
There have been a number of previous
attempts to give musical shape to the text. The
versions by Josquin and Pergolesi are especially
notable. On this CD the hymn is given
in the form of the Medieval plainsong. The
following four tracks give us MacMillan’s
elaboration. It is a brilliant work, dazzlingly
performed by the full choir, the soloists
(all of them members of the choir) and
the accompanying chamber orchestra, the
Britten Sinfonia. In a prefatory note in the
CD booklet, Christophers ranks MacMillan as
one of the three great composers of religious
music, along with Victoria and Poulenc. If one
is only looking at the Catholic world, it is hard
to disagree with that.
Hans de Groot
What we're listening to this month:
thewholenote.com/listening
George Crumb Edition, Vol. 18
George Crumb
Grammy Award-winning composer
George Crumb, now in his 88th
year, continues to compose highly
expressive, colorful and dramatic
music.
The Greatest Invention
Harley Card
Captivating instrumental compositions
performed by; Harley Card on guitar,
David French on saxophone, Matt
Newton on piano, Jon Maharaj on
bass, and Ethan Ardelli on drums.
Hidden Treasure - Rediscovered
Music from Armenia
Violinist Nuné Melik presents
Hidden Treasure, a Personal
Exploration of Music from Armenia
With Michel-Alexandre Broekaert,
piano
Into the Wonder
Jordan Pal, Gryphon Trio, Thunder Bay
Symphony Orchestra, Arthur Post
Into the Wonder features wonderful
recordings of works by composer
Jordan Pal and performed by the
Gryphon Trio and the Thunder Bay
Symphony Orchestra.
thewholenote.com December 2017 / January 2018 | 79

James Rolfe – Breathe
Suzie LeBlanc; Alexander Dobson; Monica
Whicher; Toronto Consort; David Fallis;
Toronto Masque Theatre; Larry Beckwith
Centrediscs CMCCD 24517
(musiccentre.ca)
!!
The title track,
Breathe, in its
performance here,
is by far one of the
most extraordinarily
beautiful recordings
experienced in
recent memory. The
blending of texts,
ancient (Hildegard
von Bingen, Antonio Scandello) and modern
(Anna Chatterton), is mirrored by the
use of period instruments for new music.
Composer James Rolfe infuses the work with
connections between human emotion and
the natural world represented by the four
elements – water, earth, air and fire – so
exquisitely. For example, we enjoy the sensation
of love overflowing (as water does) with
undulating chordal textures and an abundance
of cascading note sequences as Suzie
LeBlanc, Katherine Hill and Laura Pudwell
magically intertwine their voices.
The two masques on the recording further
demonstrate this Toronto composer’s exceptional
gift for intermingling qualities of early
music with contemporary techniques whilst
coaxing subconscious elements to seep
through in performance. In Europa, the roles
of the title character (Suzie LeBlanc) and
her long-searching fiancé Hiram (Alexander
Dobson) are both composed and sung with
an extraordinary measure of pathos as they
submit themselves to the will of the gods.
And a refreshing new interpretation of the
mythical Aeneas and Dido provides a much
more intimate view of the doomed romance.
As Dido, Monica Whicher is both stately and
vulnerable, Alexander Dobson both bold and
conflicted as Aeneas, while characters such as
the spritely Mercury (Teri Dunn) and the Goat
(Vicki St. Pierre) provide comic relief, if somewhat
malevolent. Kudos to Larry Beckwith
and David Fallis for their direction of these
performances.
Dianne Wells
Sing Me at Midnight - Songs by John Greer
Tracy Dahl; Kevin McMillan; Delores
Ziegler; John Greer
Centrediscs CMCCD 24717 (musiccentre.ca)
!!
This Canadian
Art Song Project
CD features works
for voice and
piano by noted
Canadian accompanist,
conductor
and pedagogue John
Greer. Spanning the
past 30 years, the four song cycles comprise
20 songs with a variety of genres, voice types
and moods. I am particularly partial to the
cycle Sing Me at Midnight (1993) sung by lyric
baritone Kevin McMillan, whose rich sound
and ringing top suits these dramatic settings
of sonnets by Wilfred Owen. Adept chromatic
harmony conveys the pain of How Do I Love
Thee, while percussive clusters accentuate
the Anthem for Doomed Youth’s white-hot
anger. Greer offers effective settings of evocative,
religiously based poetry by Marianne
Bindig in the cycle The Red Red Heart (1995).
Tracy Dahl’s agile soprano handles the high
tessitura well and is also attractive at the
lower end in the opening, dancing song The
Beginning.
The late Romantic style of The House of
Tomorrow (1986) raised my eyebrows, till
I tuned in to the evocation of childhood
in these songs. The centrepiece, Midnight
Prayer, a setting of the pensive poem by
Aleksey Khomyakov in translation, is given
a rich, expressive performance by American
mezzo-soprano Dolores Zeigler. Finally, A
Sarah Binks Songbook (1988) brings us
mock-serious ditties wittily set by Greer, with
allusions to various vocal genres. Tracy Dahl
becomes the Canadian “prairie songstress,”
her operatic persona elevating the work with
perfect diction and much humour. John
Greer’s collaborative pianism is exemplary
throughout.
Roger Knox
Crazy - Songs by T. Patrick Carrabré
Naomi Forman; Mary Jo Carrabré
Winter Wind Records WWR 2017-01
(tpatrickcarrabre.com)
!!
In his song
cycle Crazy, T.
Patrick Carrabré,
dean of music at
Brandon University,
explores “border
territory… mental
illness or other
demons” afflicting
“composers who have lost their grounding in
the ecstasy and anguish that is creativity.”
The first three songs – Death, Murder and
Lust – reveal Carrabré having something
powerful to say and not at all timid about
saying it. His wife, pianist Mary Jo Carrabré,
inhabits the keyboard’s left half, reinforcing
the songs’ darkness while supporting
the passionate vocalism of soprano Naomi
Forman. Composer Carrabré adds what I
consider unnecessarily intrusive electronics
and percussion; the bass-heavy piano alone
would have been more appropriate for the
songs’ stark beauty.
The sombre mood changes with the fourth
song, Burnt, evoking Spanish guitar music.
Things go much further afield in the final
song, Pain, a wailing rock song over the
relentless loud thump of electronic dance
music. An additional, speakers-bursting
EDM “Audiation Remix” of Pain ends the CD,
which also includes a stand-alone song, The
Garden, for soprano and piano, thankfully
sans electronics.
I’m mystified by Carrabré’s jolting venture
into rock; the other songs display a genuine
expressive talent that belongs in the concert
hall, not the rock-concert arena.
At only 32 minutes, this CD left me wanting
to hear more of Carrabré’s “classical” works
(I’d previously heard only one), but glad to
have heard the five non-rock songs. The texts,
by Rilke, Tasso, Goethe, García Lorca and
Marvell, are available, with translations, on
the composer’s website.
Michael Schulman
CLASSICAL AND BEYOND
Altri canti d’amor - 17th Century
Instrumental Works
L’Estro d’Orfeo; Leonor de Lera
Challenge Classics CC72760
(lestrodorfeo.com)
! ! This is a CD
with two pleasant
surprises. One is a
track from undervalued
Renaissance
composer, Barbara
Strozzi. The other
is a contemporary
set of divisions on a
Renaissance theme composed by the presentday
artistic director of the CD, Leonor de
Lera. Instrumental this collection may be, but
the traditional description of the cornetto as
being the closest instrument to the human
voice is borne out by Josué Meléndez’s playing
of Monteverdi’s Sinfonia; it is as if an ethereal
choir is in attendance. Meléndez’s cornetto
returns in L’Eraclito Amoroso by Strozzi, here
as an example of diminuzioni, or extemporixed
ornamentations.
The contribution from de Lera is her own
diminuzioni on Apollo’s Lament, originally
by Francesco Cavalli. De Lera’s playing probes
the qualities of her Taningard violin built
in Rome in 1739. She is admirably complemented
by the plucked instrument playing of
Josep Maria Martí.
The selection on this CD is enhanced by
the inclusion of variations on popular tunes
from the Renaissance. Fuggi dolente core is
one such set, again played on Baroque violin;
while this piece is often scored for voice,
listeners to this particular variation will not
miss that human aspect.
L’Estro d’Orfeo’s choices are centred on
Venice’s prolific output and yet there is
still room for pieces by Marco Uccellini of
Modena. Listen once again to the brilliance
in every sense of the word of the Baroque
violin and basso continuo in Uccellini’s Ninth
Sonata. And in his Aria Quarta sopra la
“Ciaccona.”
Michael Schwartz
80 | December 2017 / January 2018 thewholenote.com

Tales of Two Cities
Trio Arabica; Alon Nashman; Jeanne
Lamon; Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra
Tafelmusik Media TMK 1035 DVDCD
(tafelmusik.org)
!!
Tales of Two
Cities is an
enchanting musical
journey through
the palatial worlds
of two prominent
18th-century
cities – Leipzig
and Damascus.
Although separated
by 3,000 kilometres,
these
cities shared a
surprising number of common threads;
both were located at the intersections of
major trade and travelling routes, both were
known as cultural and learning centres, and
both nurtured a tradition of coffee houses
in which music performances were flowing.
Cleverly conceived, programmed and scripted
by the creative mind of Tafelmusik’s own
Alison Mackay, and narrated by the charming
Alon Nashman, Tales of Two Cities comes
as a DVD/CD combo, featuring the music
portion of the concert on CD. The DVD
includes a filmed live performance at the
Aga Khan Museum, a video on restoration of
the Dresden Damascus Room, behind-thescenes
footage from rehearsals and a splitscreen
video of the orchestra performing
Bach’s Sinfonia.
I absolutely loved Tales of Two Cities. The
inventive combination of music and literary
selections coupled with stunning images and
historically informed narration was only transcended
by the excellence of all the musicians
involved. Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra
presents a fresh, vibrant, theatrical interpretation
of music by Telemann, Handel
and Bach (all onetime residents of the city
of Leipzig). The virtuosity of Dominic Teresi
(bassoon), Patrick Jordan (viola) and Aisslinn
Nosky (violin) is just as entertaining as it is
admirable. Trio Arabica, featuring Maryem
Tollar (voice, quanun), Naghmeh Farahmand
(percussion) and Demetri Petsalakis (oud),
evokes the longing, beauty and delicacy
of Damascus of the past with gorgeous
performances of the traditional melodies.
The final number, an intriguing combination
of Telemann and traditional Arabic
music, unites all the performers and brings
the narrative to a conclusion by telling the
story of young, present-day Syrian scholars
working alongside German mentors on
restoring the Damascus Room in Dresden.
Highly recommended.
Ivana Popovic
Concert note: A free screening of Tales of
Two Cities will be presented at the Aga Khan
Museum on December 10 at 2pm.
Brahms - The Piano Trios
Emanuel Ax; Leonidas Kavakos; Yo-Yo Ma
Sony Classical 88985 40729 2
!!
The Piano Trios
form a critical, if
less well-known
feature of Brahms’
creativity within the
world of chamber
music. To an extent,
Brahms picked up
the torch at the
point at which Beethoven had laid it down,
but although he used Beethoven’s music,
along with that of Schubert, as a point of
departure, these trios are highly singular
creations, with a sound world that is altogether
unique. Each of the three instruments
is stretched to its limits as if Brahms wanted
to create orchestral depth and colour using
just three players.
Another fascinating aspect of The Piano
Trios – particularly in Piano Trio No. 3 in
C Minor Op.101 – is Brahms’ treatment of
the string players as soloists, giving both
the violin and cello some sonorous passages
that are ideally suited to their respective
characteristics. Also noteworthy is the fact
that Brahms’ wealth of powerfully sculpted
ideas amply rewards attentive listening.
These performances of The Piano Trios by
Emanuel Ax, Leonidas Kavakos and Yo-Yo
Ma are without question the most authoritative
and distinguished accounts of the
works. Ax, Kavakos and Ma play with unique
breadth of insight and a feeling of spontaneous
inspiration, a quality that comes all too
infrequently to studio recordings like these.
The Sony recorded sound is at once brilliant
and truthful, but it also has exceptional
spaciousness.
Raul da Gama
Vaughan Williams – Fantasia on Sussex Folk
Tunes and other works
Martin Rummel; Deutsche
Staatsphilharmonie Rheinland-Pfalz;
Karl-Heinz Steffens
Capriccio CD C5314
!!
This collection
of shorter delights,
lollipops so to say,
opens with the
jaunty overture to
the comic opera,
The Poisoned Kiss, a
“romantic extravaganza.”
The most
interesting work is the Fantasia on Sussex
Folk Tunes for cello and orchestra. Vaughan
Williams was a collector of folk music and as
Bartók did with Hungarian tunes, he incorporated
them into his compositions. Vaughan
Williams was quite familiar with Sussex
County and had been collecting material
there since his school days in the village of
Rottingdean in East Sussex. His Fantasia, a
work new to me, was premiered in 1930 with
Pablo Casals as soloist. Instantly recognizable
as Vaughan Williams, there are five folk
tunes incorporated in a conversation between
soloist and orchestra, making this a compelling
and interesting workout for cellist and
orchestra. It deserves to be popular.
What we're listening to this month:
thewholenote.com/listening
J.S. Bach: Sonatas for Violin and
Harpsichord
Mark Fewer & Hank Knox
Internationally acclaimed violinist
Mark Fewer and harpsichordist
Hank Knox perform six treasured
violin Sonatas by J.S. Bach
Johann Mattheson - 12 Suites for
Harpsichord (1714)
Gilbert Rowland
Following the successful three-volume
series of Handel’s harpsichord suites,
Rowland turns to the lesser known but
very skilled German composer.
Katana of Choice: Music for
Drumset Soloist
Ben Reimer
Called a “virtuosic, genre-bending
wiz”, Reimer plays composed works
for drumset, ranging in influence
from electronica, jazz fusion, film
noir and martial arts.
Lux
The Choir of the Church of St.
Andrew and St. Paul
The Choir of the Church of St.
Andrew and St. Paul presents
Lux, a collection of sacred songs
associated with the Nativity.
thewholenote.com December 2017 / January 2018 | 81

The earliest work, the Bucolic Suite of 1900,
also known as the Pastoral Suite, is just that,
euphoric thoughts of countryside life. In the
Fen Country is no stranger to the catalogues
and paints a picture of the lonely and desolate
Fen country in the east of England. There
are three movements – Explorer, Poet and
Queen – arranged from the 1957 inspiring
film, The England of Elizabeth. The five works
add up to a novel and interesting collection,
brilliantly played and recorded. The Elizabeth
of Three Portraits from “The England of
Elizabeth” refers to the Elizabeth of the 16th
century. The Armada and all that.
Bruce Surtees
MODERN AND CONTEMPORARY
ConNotations
Mei Yi Foo; Philipp Hutter; Bartosz Woroch;
Ashley Wass; Britten Sinfonia
Orchid Classics ORCH100065
(orchidclassics.com)
!!
ConNotations
is a very impressive
disc. It features
pianist Mei Yi
Foo with a trumpeter
(Philipp
Hutter), a violinist
(Bartosz Woroch)
and another pianist
(Ashley Wass) together with the Britten
Sinfonia conducted by Clement Power. The
superlative recording owes much, first, to the
choice of repertoire. The Shostakovich Piano
Concerto in C Minor Op. 35 for strings, piano
and solo trumpet is a combination as unusual
as the concerto’s form, which consists of four
through-flowing movements which sound
like just one. Foo’s playing makes the music
rise up like a ferocious beast and both Foo
and Hutter are brilliant throughout.
On Alban Berg’s Chamber Concerto for
piano and violin with 13 wind instruments
there’s a fruitful tension between the soloist’s
expansive Romanticism and the no-nonsense
rigour of Power, a tension that matches
the composer’s ideals. Berg restricts the
concerto’s accompaniment to 13 wind instruments,
yet he ingeniously produced some
marvellously unusual colourings. Foo’s piano
is given the solo duties in the first movement,
Woroch’s violin in the second and then they
finally combine together in a show of rousing,
immediate expressiveness in the finale.
While Camille Saint-Saëns may have
written The Carnival of the Animals mainly
for the amusement of his friends in 1886, its
serious beauty should never be underestimated.
In the hands of Foo and Wass there
are moments of great magic, with the most
beautiful and spectacular of all heard during
the rippling arpeggios of the mysterious
Aquarium (VII).
Raul da Gama
Concert note: New Music Concerts presents
Berg’s Chamber Concerto and a new work
by Michael Oesterle inspired by it, with
soloists MingHuan Xu, violin and Winston
Choi, piano (Duo Diorama) at Betty Oliphant
Theatre on January 14.
Encount3rs
National Arts Centre Orchestra; Alexander
Shelley
Analekta AN 2 8871-2 (analekta.com)
!!
This past April,
three new abstract
ballets (lacking
storylines), each
lasting about half
an hour, premiered
at Ottawa’s
National Arts
Centre. This 2CD
set presents their scores, created by three
Canadian composers already-prominent in
their 30s and 40s.
According to Phi, Caelestis choreographer
Jean Grand-Maître, “Ten seemingly
nude dancers” perform “a whirlwind of raw,
emotional, primal and often erotic gestures
before a backdrop of contrasting aesthetics.”
The first movement of Andrew Staniland’s
atmospheric score is steadily motoric; the
next two are slow and solemn, creating
the intended striking contrast between the
dancing and the music.
Nicole Lizée’s colourful orchestral score for
Keep Driving, I’m Dreaming utilizes “archaic”
electronic devices, including turntables and
reel-to-reel machines. It’s a collage of many
stylistically unrelated episodes, with bits of
pop music and science-fiction sound effects.
The audience members, if not the dancers,
were probably kept on their toes, wondering
what they would hear next.
Dark Angels, writes choreographer
Guillaume Coté, reflects “the resistance and
struggle that one can experience living in new
territory.” Kevin Lau says his score “resembles
a symphony in scope and form,” beginning
and ending with a “hammer” of six
repeated notes. It’s surely more symphonic
than balletic, in three connected sections – a
powerful Allegro, a slow middle highlighting
a heartfelt cello solo and a propulsive, percussion-heavy
finale.
Alexander Shelley and the NAC Orchestra
give these disparate, attention-grabbing-andholding
scores the committed, high-energy
performances they richly deserve.
Michael Schulman
Katana of Choice
Ben Reimer
Redshift Records TK456
(redshiftrecords.org)
!!
Virtuoso Montreal percussionist Ben
Reimer has made a name for himself as a
leading drum soloist, shredding works by
elder statesmen of the jazz drumset (Baby
Dodds, Tony
Williams), as well as
works by leading art
music composers
such as Nicole Lizée
and Lukas Ligeti.
Reimer reinforces
that reputation in
Katana of Choice
his inaugural album
(available on vinyl and digital download).
Reimer puts his cards on the table in Drum
Dances by New Zealand composer John
Psathas (b. 1966), the first four tracks on
the album. Arranged by Ben Duinker, these
sleekly crafted pieces, framed by the brilliant
keyboard percussionism of Montreal’s
Architek Percussion Quartet, are an apt
frame for Reimer’s abundant technique and
musicality.
The intense Ringer by Nicole Lizée – found
only on the digital version of the album – is a
tour de force for drumset soloist. Vernacular
drum references are handled with sensitivity
by both composer and performer, notwithstanding
the aggressive pairing of high-octave
glockenspiel melodies and high-frequency,
high-hat rhythms.
The lengthy Katana of Choice, also by
Lizée and featuring the accomplished TorQ
Percussion Quartet, is perhaps the most
ambitious work on the recording. Reimer’s
drumming here is fully incorporated into
the ensemble texture. The work is inspired
by duel-based narrative video games and
wuxia martial arts films, as the composer’s
notes state. The music moves unrelentingly
from one imaginary scene to another “with
unexpected twists in which [musicians] trade
off, pushing one another technically and
sonically.” Katana of Choice is an exhilarating
musical ride – as is the entire album.
Andrew Timar
Concert note: Ben Reimer and Architek
Percussion perform the music of Nicole Lizée
and Eliot Britton at Walter Hall on January 25
as part of the University of Toronto New
Music Festival. (out of province) Ben Reimer
and Vicky Chow perform music of Nicole
Lizée including Katana of Choice with video
accompaniment at Roulette in Brooklyn, NY
on December 16.
Poems and Dreams
Rebecca Jeffreys; Alexander Timofeev
Independent (rebeccajeffreys.com)
! ! Flutist Rebecca
Jeffreys, though
not well known
in this part of the
world, has accomplished
a great deal
as a performer,
teacher and music
director. She was a
founding director and member of Virginia’s
Woodbridge Flute Choir, teaches privately in
Peperell, Massachusetts near Boston and at
82 | December 2017 / January 2018 thewholenote.com

St. Anselm College in New Hampshire, and
performs with guitarist, Mike Loce. On this
CD she premieres the work of five contemporary
composers, ably accompanied by
pianist, Alexander Timofeev. The notes make
it clear that Jeffreys has a personal connection
with most if not all of the composers.
For example, composer Kevin Walker is the
owner of the recording studio where the
recording was made, and was co-executive
producer of the CD with Jeffreys. The CD also
makes it apparent that Jeffreys is part of a
lively and creative musical circle, from which,
I hope, there will be more to come.
Of the five, the works which stood out for
me were the second movement of Jeffrey
Hoover’s Romantic Sonata – Poems of Light,
with its lyrical writing for both instruments,
and Walker’s Flute Suite in D Major,
a very accomplished piece of work. Adrienne
Albert’s Acadian Dreams utilized Cajun
music and was a tribute to Jeffreys’ father’s
Acadian ancestry. It is encouraging to see
evidence like this of a vibrant music culture
hidden from view in the United States. May it
continue to prosper.
Allan Pulker
JAZZ AND IMPROVISED
Dog’s Breakfast
Barry Elmes Quintet
Cornerstone Records CRST CD 147
(cornerstonerecords.com)
!!
Drummer
Barry Elmes first
formed his quintet
in 1991, and
through the years
it’s been a showcase
for Canada’s
finest proponents
of mainstream
modern jazz as well as the leader’s engaging
compositions. Through the years, the group
has had few personnel changes, adding to its
sense of a collective personality.
The latest incarnation establishes its
authority immediately with a performance of
Freddie Hubbard’s Little Sunflower, a modal
anthem of the 60s imbued here with new
vigour, from bassist Steve Wallace’s pulsing
ostinato through a string of sharply focused
solos from trumpeter Brian O’Kane, guitarist
Lorne Lofsky and tenor saxophonist Mike
Murley, all of it carried along by Elmes’ secure
and lively drumming which comes to the fore
at the conclusion.
The material is divided between Elmes’
recent compositions and jazz standards. The
former includes the witty title track, a subtle
cool jazz episode that could readily substitute
for a Mancini movie theme, while the floating
Terminal 2 and the funky Pierre Berton’s
Pig bring distinctly Toronto inspirations to
the proceedings. The absolute highlights,
though, are two standards. Murley brings a
fine balance of silk, grit and lyricism to Spring
Can Really Hang You Up the Most, while
Lofsky’s touch is unerring, compounding a
glassy electric guitar sound with a striking
melodic conception on Beautiful Love, a
sustained trio performance with Wallace and
Elmes that makes one hope for a CD devoted
to the three.
Stuart Broomer
Conert note: The Barry Elmes Quintet
performs at the Home Smith Bar in The Old
Mill on December 16.
solstice/equinox
Diana Panton
Independent (dianapanton.com)
!!
solstice/equinox
by Diana Panton is
another gorgeously
perfect recording
that the Hamilton
jazz singer makes
a nearly annual
habit of releasing
with ease. Multiple
albums into her discographic career at this
point – and in the exceptional company of
multi-instrumentalist Don Thompson and
guitarist Reg Schwager – the trio (fleshed
out here with Guido Basso and Phil Dwyer)
sounds not like a collection of hired musicians,
but rather like a working jazz group
that exhibits simpatico and a shared investment
in the music heard here. Panton sings
effortlessly throughout and swings with a
bubbly buoyancy that reminds this listener
of not only Blossom Dearie, but trumpeter
Art Farmer, who also prefigured a relaxed
and swinging time feel. Further, Thompson’s
always beautiful musical arrangements and
the thoughtful repertoire choice create the
perfect casting for Panton’s voice and delivery
to shine. With the theme of seasonal change
threading through the recording and tying
the repertoire together, Panton and band offer
up a true jazz vocal recording that captures all
involved at their musical finest. The recording
quality is also of note, and helps to create a
sonic space that is intimate and revealing.
Nearly a decade into this group’s affiliation,
here’s hoping that theirs is a musical relationship
that continues for many more.
Andrew Scott
REV
Ernesto Cervini’s Turboprop
Anzic Records ANZ-0089-2
(ernestocervini.com)
!!
In 2015, entrepreneur,
composer
and drummer
Ernesto Cervini
introduced his
North American
Sextet, Turboprop,
featuring a crosssection
of noted
contemporary jazz musicians, including Tara
Davidson on alto and soprano sax, Joel Frahm
on tenor, William Carn on trombone, Adrean
Farrugia on piano and Dan Loomis on bass.
Their debut self-titled CD was a huge success.
What we're listening to this month:
thewholenote.com/listening
Meter
Autorickshaw
Autorickshaw's 5th studio album 'Meter'
is a journey through cultural cuttingedge
Indo-fusion: mixing traditional
south and north Indian music with other
contemporary art forms.
Misuzu Tanaka in Concert. Music
of Janácek and Bach
Misuzu Tanaka
Debut live album. Structural
perfection and the display of raw
uninhibited emotions from the two
masters create an unexpected yet
perfect pairing.
Moderne Frau
Adi Braun
Adi Braun - Moderne Frau!
Women of Weimar Berlin were the
first pantsuit nation. Experience
the music of Weill, Spoliansky,
Grothe and Braun!
Nathaniel: A Tribute to Nat King Cole
Ori Dagan
Visit Ori Dagan's YouTube channel
to see "Nathaniel: A Tribute to Nat
King Cole," the first visual album in
the jazz genre!
thewholenote.com December 2017 / January 2018 | 83

Cervini and company’s brand-new offering
includes five original pieces (two composed
by Cervini – who also acts as producer here),
two pop covers and one vintage Tin-Pan-
Alley-era jazz standard. The project is also
masterfully recorded by John “Beetle” Bailey,
capturing all of the dynamism and excitement
of a live performance, and mixed on the hot
side, with a definite New York City sensibility.
Farrugia is without question one of the
most extraordinarily talented young jazz
pianist/composers on the scene today, and his
composition The Libertine is a perfect opener
for REV. The tune kicks things off with a tasty
drum intro from Cervini, followed by seamless
section work and non-Euclidean penetrating
lines, rife with dynamics and sonic
colours, as well as a complex and percussive
piano solo by Farrugia and burning
tenor work from Frahm. Another standout
is Cervini’s Granada Bus, which strives to
capture the essence of Spain, and shines with
a stirring solo on soprano from Davidson.
Other strong contributions include the fullthrottle,
post-bop title track, Radiohead’s The
Daily Mail, featuring a stellar bass solo from
Loomis, and the swinging and soulful Med
Flory-ish Pennies From Heaven. Truly something
for everyone!
Lesley Mitchell-Clarke
Concert note: Turboprop celebrates the
release of REV with two performance at The
Rex, January 11 and 12.
The Greatest Invention
Harley Card
Independent DYM003 (harleycard.ca)
Hypnagogia Polis
Simon Legault; Jules Payette; Andrew
Boudreau; Adrian Vedady; Louis-Vincent
Hamel
Effendi Records FND146
(effendirecords.com)
!!
Two new and
strikingly different
albums by Canadian
jazz guitarists
demonstrate the
health and diversity
of that instrument
in this country.
Harley Card has
been active in the Toronto music scene since
2003 as a sideman, composer, teacher and
bandleader. The Greatest Invention is the
third album under his own name and features
Card on guitar with Jon Maharaj (bass), Matt
Newton (piano), David French (saxophone)
and Ethan Ardelli (drums). The “invention” is
the bicycle and the album opens with the title
tune, containing a repeating riff reminiscent
of spinning gears or wheels. The orchestration
is sophisticated, with Card’s guitar and
French’s resonant tenor saxophone weaving
throughout most of the piece, sometimes in
harmony, other times with alternating melodies
while the drums and piano punctuate
the piece with
their own counterpoint.
This initial
song sets the tone
for the album,
which highlights
Card’s compositional
skills. The
song is four and
a half minutes but the only solo (guitar)
lasts 90 seconds; the rest is intricate
ensemble playing.
Card’s liner notes add insight to our
listening and he mentions studying with
Phil Nimmons, an influence that is heard
throughout. It is a treat to listen to a jazz
album that develops compositional and
ensemble ideas at length rather than the
more typical head/solo(s)/head structure.
The most ambitious piece is The Shadows of
Shea Pines, which is almost nine minutes
with three movements. It begins with a slow
saxophone and acoustic guitar ballad (with a
touch of Epistrophy) then moves into smooth
jazz and finishes with a melodic bossa novainspired
section.
Hypnagogia Polis is Montreal guitarist
Simon Legault’s third album and the first
with a quintet. Hypnogogia is the transitional
state from wakefulness to sleep and
many of the songs have a hypnotic, luminescent
quality. The opening Aethereal Spheres
begins with a wickedly tight ostinato pattern
set up by the piano (Andrew Boudreau)
and bass (Adrian Vedady). Then the saxophone
(Jules Payette) and guitar enter with
a contrapuntal unison melody while Louis-
Vincent Hamel’s drums underpin the action.
This sophisticated playfulness permeates the
album. Euphemized Blues has a groovy lilting
melody which loops around several times
before Legault takes off on one of his lyrical
and swirling solos.
Legault’s album benefits from the virtuosity
of the soloists. The tunes are inventive
and reminiscent of Metheny or Scofield, but
the highlights are the freewheeling improvisations,
particularly with Legault’s fleet
lines and Payette’s wailing and lyrical sax.
Boudreau adds some fine piano work as well
and it all makes for a clever and sophisticated
disc.
Ted Parkinson
Concert note: The Alex Samaras Trio (with
Harley Card and Jon Maharaj) performs at
The Old Mill on December 21.
Alleviation
Mikkel Ploug
Songlines SGL 1623-2 (songlines.com)
!!
Mikkel Ploug is
a Danish guitarist
who works regularly
with his own
jazz groups as well
as Equilibrium, a
trio with singer
Sissel Vera Pettersen
and clarinetist Joachim Badenhorst, a fascinating
improvising chamber group that has
found a home with Vancouver’s Songlines
label. This solo acoustic guitar disc continues
Ploug’s association with the label.
Both the solo and acoustic aspects are
departures for Ploug, who recounts his
discovery and acquisition of a particularly
apt mid-40s Gibson Bannerhead guitar, a
steel-string, mahogany-bodied, flat top more
apt to supply chorded accompaniments to a
folk singer. Instead it’s inspired some of the
most beautiful and unexpected solo guitar
music one might wish to hear. On one level
it’s distinguished by Ploug’s investment in
its special sound store, its fret clatter and
squeaks, the kind of string noise some seek to
surmount and that others love. Its resonance
is even more appealing, with Ploug using
finger picking on most pieces, exploring the
instrument’s warm account of triads and
seventh chords then extending the spectrum
to create dense weaves of contrasting
harmonic languages, sometimes beginning a
phrase in one world and ending in another.
One of the most lustrous is Couleurs
d’Olivier, a Messiaen inspiration in which
diatonic scales ascend into dense chromaticism;
another is Circle Wind, a cycling
piece inspired by Steve Reich that creates an
added dimension with metallic fret noise.
This is consistently engaging music, bridging
many genres.
Stuart Broomer
Inroads
Gordon Grdina Quartet
Songlines SGL 1623-2 (songlines.com)
! ! Since his 2006
debut, Think Like
the Waves with jazz
greats Gary Peacock
and Paul Motian,
Vancouver guitarist
Gordon Grdina has
pursued multiple
musical paths, setting his guitar amidst his
jazz-based ensembles, the classically influenced
third stream music of the East Van
Strings or Dan Mangan’s rock band, while
concurrently exploring the oud, a Middle
Eastern lute, in both traditional and contemporary
applications. Inroads summarizes and
synthesizes that decade of exploration, while
presenting Grdina in a stellar group of New
York-based musicians: Oscar Noriega on alto
saxophone, clarinet and bass clarinet; Russ
Lossing on piano and electric piano; and
Satoshi Takeishi on drums.
Grdina’s disparate influences here
range through Béla Bartók, the rock band
Soundgarden and free jazz, while his compositions
pass through divergent moods, densities
and methodologies. The opening Giggles
is limpidly beautiful unaccompanied piano,
while Not Sure is chameleon-like, moving
from rapid-fire guitar aggression through
lyrical piano and alto saxophone passages
84 | December 2017 / January 2018 thewholenote.com

and then on to thrashing drums and howling
saxophone, presenting many of Grdina’s
elements in a single piece.
Some of the most affecting pieces are also
models of brevity. Kite Flight is a tantalizing
explosion of lower register guitar, raucous
bass clarinet and elemental percussion, while
Semantics, a guitar/clarinet duet, is subtly
evanescent. That same delicacy informs
the longer Fragments in its blend of piano
and oud, while contrasting Middle Eastern
elements energize Apocalympics. It’s a fascinating
program in which Grdina takes his
materials in very different directions.
Stuart Broomer
Intersections
Emie R Roussel Trio
Effendi Records FND148
(effendirecords.com)
!!
It is quite impossible
not to be
seduced by the
cultivated and
masterful pianism
of Emie R Roussel,
whose music on
Intersections is
patently expansive
and at times a veritable masterclass in how to
build assiduous climaxes, how to intelligently
scale one’s dynamics and how to balance the
music’s massive textures in sonorously judicious
proportions. Her music is vivid. Each
piece is a unique narrative. Musical character
is well rounded and each piece is always
fully developed before its natural denouement
announces a natural demise.
On three occasions the trio is expanded
into a quartet and on each resulting work
the addition of another musician – whether
the vocalist on Away, the trumpeter on De
Tadoussac à Auckland or the bassist on
Tout le monde ensemble – is timely and
perfectly placed. It’s surely an indication that
the ideas and the material dictate the direction
that the music should take. Rhythm is
also an essential tool throughout and Roussel
depends greatly on her left hand bass lines,
together with the flights of fancy by her
drummer, Dominic Cloutier and bassist,
Nicolas Bédard, as a means of communicating
ideas as well as shaping the structure
of each piece.
Each piece also has its own unique charisma,
and flowing from this each gathers
momentum, swinging to its climax with
the wind of melody and harmony under its
proverbial wings. All of this yields a magical
and quite unforgettable album from a pianist
of whom much is expected in the future.
Raul da Gama
The Vancouver Concert
John Stetch & Vulneraville
Independent (johnstetch.com)
!!
Splitting his
time between
New York and
British Columbia,
Edmonton-born
pianist John Stetch’s
recent Vancouver
concert was a rare
opportunity to
display locally the contiguous rapport he’s
developed with his Big Apple cohort of tenor
saxophonist Steve Kortyka, bassist Ben Tiberio
and drummer Philippe Lemm, collectively
called Vulneraville. Four-fifths of the disc
is made up of Stetch’s compositions, which
mix the rigour of notated pieces with jazz’s
dramatic timbral fluctuations.
This is particularly apparent on Rondeau,
related to a two-part Renaissance form with
one part of the structure set to one musical
line and the second to another. Stetch’s
extravagant keyboard technique easily adapts
the mode, especially in the second section
when his emphasis on the piano’s higherpitched
dynamics is furthered by Kortyka’s
thickened obbligatos and increasingly
powerful crunches from Lemm. It’s these
sorts of high-quality themes and variations
that inform the pianist’s other tunes, with
Oscar’s Blue-Green Algebra, another
example. Mixing church-like processional
motifs with chunks of pure keyboard swing,
he suggests Oscar Peterson’s hefty approach
to the piano.
Oddly enough though, Stetch ends the
concert with a straight-ahead version of the
standard Things Ain’t What They Used to
Be. While the performance exudes romping
excitement, with ample space for scorching
breaks from each quartet member – even
Tiberio, who is buried in the mix elsewhere
– the choice is unfortunate. Things
have changed as Stretch’s compositions and
Vulneraville’s playing demonstrate. A less
straight-ahead treatment would have been a
better choice to affirm the title of the track.
Ken Waxman
Contumbao
Hilario Durán
Alma Records ACD92272
(almarecords.com)
!!
Passionate,
innovative, expressive,
dynamic, evocative,
sophisticated,
genius – superlatives
consistently
used to describe the
towering musicality
and virtuosity that
is pianist, composer, arranger and bandleader,
Hilario Durán. Born in Havana, Cuba and
based in Toronto for the past 20 years, Durán
has been wowing the world with his creative
approach to Afro-Cuban and Latin jazz, one
breathtaking concert after another.
Contumbao is a project that literally has
brought Durán back to his Cuban roots.
Recorded at Havana’s legendary EGREM
studios (whose storied roster includes
Orquesta Aragón, Arturo Sandoval, Chucho
Valdés and the Buena Vista Social Club, and
where Durán had recorded hundreds of
sessions), it was Durán’s dream to get back
What we're listening to this month:
thewholenote.com/listening
The Operatic Pianist, volume II
Andrew Wright
A rich collection of transcriptions
of themes and fantasies from the
opera, following the highly praised
first album.
Poems and Dreams
Rebecca Jeffreys
Rebecca Jeffreys and Alexander
Timofeev present a collection of
original works for flute and piano,
exploring the new sounds of living
composers.
Portrait: Max Richter
Angèle Dubeau & La Pietà
One of Canada's greatest violinists
performs works by influential
post-minimalist composer Max
Richter with her wonderful string
orchestra La Pietà. Sublime!
Rev
Ernesto Cervini's Turboprop
Featuring Tara Davidson, Joel Frahm,
William Carn, Adrean Farrugia, Dan
Loomis and Ernesto Cervini
"A shoot-the-lights-out blast of a
listen" Downbeat Magazine
thewholenote.com December 2017 / January 2018 | 85

there and play with some of his favourite
musical collaborators, including two original
bandmates from his 1990s band, Perspectiva:
guitarist Jorge Luis Valdés (“Chicoy”) and
bassist Jorge Reyes.
Contumbao is a heartfelt homage to Cuba’s
rich, musical history. Indeed, Durán dedicates
his album of new compositions to
Cuban music and its many musical styles
“whose music and rhythms run through my
veins.” This is apparent from the pulsating
rhythms of the title track, and the spirited
rumbas, El Tahonero and Rumba de Cajón,
to the poignant Parque 527 – Durán’s former
Havana address – and the exhilarating Duo
Influenciado, performed with his friend and
champion, the aforementioned Cuban piano
great, Chucho Valdés.
All the superlatives in the world can’t do
justice to the experience of listening to Durán
and his stellar cast of musical compatriots. In
fact, Contumbao may leave you speechless!
Sharna Searle
Jondo
Joshua Rager Nonet
Bent River Records BRR-201702
(joshrager.com)
!!
With his highly
alluring nonet
recording entitled
Jondo, pianist Josh
Rager enters a
field crowded with
stellar performances
by pianists.
However, his
multi-layered idiomatic compositions and
their memorable execution set him somewhat
apart from the rest of the tribe. The repertoire
may be named after the rhythmically rich and
mysterious Jondo, but the album derives most
of its richness from the opening, extended
work, the Prodigal Son Suite. It is a work that
is by turns poised, polished, intimate and
exuberant. Rager – with his lustrous pianism
– leads an ensemble that works like a welloiled
machine, playing his compositions with
authority and élan and doing a remarkable
job of getting under Rager’s sonic skin.
For his part the pianist swings with palpable
enjoyment and as in the way he makes
his trills into mischievous flourishes – especially
on songs such as Child’s Play and 3
Legged Dog – as well as in the rich variety
of articulation and dynamic gradation
throughout the rest of the recording. The
pacing of his Zen-like piece, The Master
Waits, and the tricky movements of The
Inside Track, reveal Rager to be both a writer
and pianist of distinct personality, ever sensitive
and careful never to become overbearing.
In the end, how one will react to this
recording will largely depend on one’s taste
for music that emerges from a large tonal
palette. To that end, everything that the Joshua
Rager Nonet serves up on Jondo is brimful
with infectious delight and enjoyment.
Raul da Gama
Thank You for Listening
The Joe Bowden Project
Independent (joebowden.bandcamp.com)
!!
As a young
teenager, I was
taught to repeat
the phrase “thank
you for listening”
when taking a
post-performance
bow. Joe
Bowden should feel
free to repeat this phrase over and over as
he deserves endless praise and respect for
his brilliant work as composer, drummer,
arranger and bandleader in his latest release.
Originally from Halifax, Bowden moved to
Toronto in the early 1980s where he studied at
Humber College and was musically inspired
by listening to and working with many jazz
musicians. His music here is driven by a
mature understanding of jazz style, rhythms,
and awe-inspiring musicianship.
Bowden’s ten musicians play with a deep
respect for his music and artistry. Mingus is
an upbeat toe-tapping tradition-flavoured
tune with a locked-in groove between the
drums and Rich Brown’s bass. I’m Here Again
is a slower quasi-ballad, featuring Michael
Occhipinti’s modernistic guitar solos and
Manuel Valera’s chromatic runs and intervals
on piano. Devil Five lives up to its title,
featuring a wide interval, almost minimalistic
repeating bass line, zippy piano runs and
Bowden’s virtuosic drum solos. Nice change
of pace with FSC (Funky Soul Calypso), a fun
get-up-and-dance tune featuring Joy Lapps-
Lewis’ steel pan artistry.
Bowden writes on the CD jacket “Pursuit of
Happiness, is it reality or a dream?” Like the
track of the same name, the reflection, improvisations
and grooves make this a dreamy
musical reality!
Tiina Kiik
You’re Gonna Hear From Me
Mary-Catherine Pazzano
Glorious Feeling Records
!!
On her debut
release, elegant
chanteuse Mary-
Catherine Pazzano
has not only
shown exceptional
good taste in
presenting 12 fine
compositions from
musical theatre, film and the Great American
Songbook, but she has also conscripted
a superb lineup of musical collaborators,
including Don Buchanan on piano (also
co-producer), Jason Hunter on saxophones,
Pat Collins on bass and Steve James on drums.
Arranged and produced by Pazzano, she
has selectively dipped into the catalogues of
venerable composers such as Jerome Kern,
Oscar Hammerstein, Harry Warren, Cole
Porter, Henry Mancini and Johnny Mercer as
well as contemporary artists, Joni Mitchell
and Billy Joel.
First up is the stirring (and rarely
performed) title track, written for the cult
film Inside Daisy Clover starring Natalie
Wood. Pazzano shines throughout with
energy and luscious tone, as she soars with
her quartet. Buchanan and Pazzano have
included one well-written original composition,
A Simple Conversation – which has
the potential to become a contemporary
jazz standard. Another standout is Mancini
and Mercer’s Charade, from the hit movie
of the same name starring Audrey Hepburn.
Haunting and languid, this tune is set as
perfectly as a Tiffany solitaire – with a manyfaceted
voice/bass section in front, followed
by an up-tempo sequence and fine bass solo
from Collins.
Pazzano possesses a gorgeous, classically
trained contralto voice capable of projecting
the full gamut of emotions, as well as an
uncanny skill with rendering the lyrics of
current music, jazz standards and show tunes.
A fine opening salvo!
Lesley Mitchell-Clarke
Concert notes: Mary-Catherine Pazzano
has a number of upcoming performances
in the GTA: December 1 at the Jazz Room in
Waterloo with the Penderecki String Quartet,
Joni NehRita and the New Vibes Quintet;
January 25 at Jazz Bistro in Toronto with Don
Buchanan, piano, Pat Collins, bass, and Steve
James, drums; and March 9 as part of Women
Music Revolutionaries at the Registry Theatre,
Kitchener.
Nathaniel: A Tribute to Nat King Cole
Ori Dagan
Independent ODCD03 (oridagan.com)
Nat “King” Cole & Me
Gregory Porter
Blue Note 5791468
! ! Nat King Cole
had an incredibly
prolific recording
career, producing
an astounding 30
albums, despite his
early death at age
45. He was a pop
artist as much as
a jazz singer and piano player, and he was
much loved for his velvety voice and gentlemanly
demeanour. So it’s no surprise that
this month we have not one, but two tribute
albums to the legendary musician.
Toronto singer Ori Dagan, known for his
scat-singing talents, inventiveness and lighthearted
tune choices (check out his Super
Mario medley on YouTube!), is true to form
on Nathaniel: A Tribute to Nat King Cole.
With Mark Kieswetter, Nathan Hiltz, Ross
McIntyre and Mark Kelso accompanying,
we’re treated to familiar Cole songs (Nature
Boy) and a few lesser known (Lillette), as well
86 | December 2017 / January 2018 thewholenote.com

as some original
compositions
inspired by Cole’s
music and life.
American souljazz
singer Gregory
Porter has come
out with a tender
tribute to his
boyhood musical
hero. With the 80-piece London Studio
Orchestra – masterfully arranged by Vince
Mendoza – featured on most of the tracks,
Nat “King” Cole & Me is big, string-laden and
lush. Porter’s warm voice is similar in tone to
Cole’s but he doesn’t attempt to imitate. His
straight, heartfelt delivery allows the lyrics to
speak for themselves. Many of the big hits are
covered including Mona Lisa and L-O-V-E,
and all the emotional stops are pulled
out on Smile.
These two albums are so different in style
that a Cole fan could do well by adding both
to their collection.
Cathy Riches
Swinging on a Star
Tardo Hammer Trio
Cellar Live CL110717 (cellarlive.com)
!!
To play bebop,
one needs to deal
with two competing
impulses: master
the instrument –
amass the fluency
required to float at
heightened tempi,
navigate harmonic complexities and execute
ornamented lines that are part of this music’s
tradition – and utilize a relaxed phraseology
that is anything but frenetic and that comes
across as “not trying too hard.” No doubt, to
play with the sort of authenticity that stellar
musicians Tardo Hammer, Lee Hudson and
Steve Williams bring to Hammer’s Swinging
On A Star is difficult. But to listeners, the
effort is hidden, the inventive spirit of musical
collaboration and taste displayed.
In the spirit of disclosure, I, as guitarist
and occasional liner-note writer, am affiliated
with Cellar Live, the label on which
Hammer’s disc is released. Nonetheless, as an
objective jazz fan, I am routinely impressed
by their expanding catalogue of great releases
of which Swinging On A Star is no exception.
Drinking from the well of Bud Powell,
Barry Harris and Thelonious Monk, Hammer
and company offer an auditory snapshot of
a blue-chip jazz trio on any given night. Yes,
there are arrangements and unique repertoire;
however, this recording fits comfortably
within the tradition of blowing sessions,
wherein beauty is revealed through improvisatory
extrapolations that spin forward
when three masters come together in
a comfortable listening environment.
Overall, a swinging recording that marries
beautiful songs, improvisatory excellence
and, as a bonus, insightful liner notes by
Morgan Childs.
Andrew Scott
Metamorphosis
LAMA + Joachim Badenhorst
Clean Feed CF433 CD
(cleanfeed-records.com)
!!
Metamorphosis
is true to its title
only if the term
includes transmogrifying
one way
and subsequently
taking a completely
opposite form, as
this Canadian/
Belgian foursome does on this CD. Initially on
Metamorphosis I, it appears that the brassy
emphasis from Portuguese trumpeter Susana
Santos Silva and pressurized flutters from
Belgian bass clarinetist Joachim Badenhorst
are going to be mere bagatelles to the polyrhythmic
undulations from Portuguese
keyboardist Gonçalo Almeida, which seem
to subsume all other timbres into a crackling
electronic wash. But not only is there soon
space for brass and reed counterpoint, once
the sounds flow into Metamorphosis II, the
pulsating tick-tock of Canadian drummer
Greg Smith kicks into gear and is joined
by string plucks from Almeida, who has
switched to double bass, an expansion
creating a powerful acoustic jazz trope.
This movement from electronic to acoustic
continues throughout the CD, through faultless
changes of pitch and tempo. Especially
striking is how Badenhorst and Silva appear
to be going their separate ways, examining
extended techniques, involving, for instance,
contralto hollow tones from the clarinetist
and billowing plunger excursions from the
trumpeter, only to interlock onto a series of
connective riffs in the nick of time.
Officially Badenhorst is still a guest of
the LAMA trio, but it’s evident that the four
have evolved a strategy that gives everyone
a chance at textural exploration as a notable
group sound is produced.
Ken Waxman
Somewhere Sacred
Chris Wallace’s Many Names
GB Records (chriswallacedrums.com)
!!
Jazz musician/
drummer/composer
Chris Wallace hails
from Regina, but his
varied career has
seen him working
in Europe, the
United States and
Canada, residing/
working in Edinburgh, Scotland from 2002
to 2013 when he moved to Toronto. So many
locales and musical experiences, along with
his compositional process he describes as
“allowing myself to be open to something I
don’t fully understand and that is where the
music comes from – somewhere sacred,”
must have influenced his smart contemporary
jazz compositions here, featuring his
outstanding band Many Names – Jeff King
What we're listening to this month:
thewholenote.com/listening
Sideralis
Roberto Ottaviano QuarkTet
Roberto Ottaviano, saxophones;
Alexander Hawkins, piano; Michael
Formanek, bass; Gerry Hemingway,
drums
A sound exploration, a manifesto of
gratitude to John Coltrane (1967-2017)
Stravinski - Prokofiev
David Jalbert
Canadian pianist David Jalbert is
featured on this recording of piano
transcriptions of Russian ballet
repertoire. He brilliantly performs
music from Stravinsky and Prokofiev.
Verdi's Guitar
Alan Rinehart
Guitarist Alan Rinehart presents
solo guitar by 19th-century
composer Josef Kaspar Mertz on
his debut Ravello release.
Violin Muse
Madeleine Mitchell
A fabulous collection of
contemporary works by leading
British composers – all world
premieres. Works for violin/piano,
two violins and violin/orchestra.
thewholenote.com December 2017 / January 2018 | 87

(tenor sax), Adrean Farrugia (piano) and
Daniel Fortin (double bass).
Wallace the composer and Wallace the
drummer both listen astutely, have complex
technical prowess and unique musical storytelling
capabilities. Wallace’s drumming is
dense and colourful yet never overwhelming,
and fully supportive of his colleagues – as best
heard in Chapter Zero where his backdrop
supports King’s sax stylings, Farrugia’s florid
piano, Fortin’s driving bass and the occasional
band quasi-unison sections. More reflective is
the opening of the title track, with a luscious
sax melody, laid-back groove, superb bass
solo and wide-pitch piano explorations.
New-music sounds appear in the pitch leaps
in the sax and the chromatic florid piano
runs of Visitation. Nice musical conversations
between the players flavour the more traditional
jazz sounding A Memory of 10.
With touches of many styles throughout
performed by great multi-faceted musicians/improvisers,
Wallace’s challenging jazz
welcomes repeated listening.
Tiina Kiik
Entangled Pathways
Gilliam, Milmine & Pottie
Melos Productions MPCD 005
(bill-gilliam.com)
!!
This challenging
and enervating
recording
is a collection
of original
music created
by the acoustic
trio of pianist Bill
Gilliam, soprano
saxophonist Kayla Milmine and drummer
Ambrose Pottie. The creative group originally
met through the noted Toronto Improvisers
Orchestra (TIO) and soon began writing
and performing impressive free music
together. According to Gilliam (the producer
and primary composer), “Some pieces are
composed using free-floating melodies, jazz
idioms and modal-chromatic tonalities, while
other pieces are freely improvised creations.”
Although perhaps gestated by different
processes, the 12 impressive tracks all seem
to lead to a central concept of connectedness,
alternate realities and divergent pathways
that may yet resonate together like strands
in a web; in other words, musical quantum
entanglement.
The Singularity is well-placed in the
program, as it seems to portend the sonic
and emotional musical journey ahead.
Gilliam’s lush, powerful and insistent piano
lines are both appealing and unnerving,
and Milmine’s commitment to this extraordinary
and technically challenging music is
evident with every note that she plays – she
bends that piece of cold metal to her will, and
makes it sing.
Mountain Dance is a standout. One of the
most visual and rhythmically complex pieces
on the CD, the action is propelled by Pottie,
who remains completely musical while deftly
driving the trio into the nether regions. Also,
the groovy and exotic Porous Borders utilizes
unison and descending lines as well as
modal dissonance and stark piano statements
to create a feeling of nervous isolation
– all rendered with a sense of irony, as true
isolation may be nothing more than a selfimposed
construct.
Lesley Mitchell-Clarke
Concert Note: Gilliam, Milmine & Pottie
perform at the Burdock on February 6.
Aladdin’s Dream - The Firebirds Play Carl
Nielsen
The Firebirds
ILK 269 CD (ilkmusic.com)
!!
Tweaking the
compositions
of Denmark’s
most prominent
composer to new
ends, The Firebirds
– tenor saxophonist/clarinetist
Anders Banke, keyboardist Anders Filipsen
and percussionist Stefan Pasborg – discover
hitherto hidden grooves in Carl August
Nielsen’s (1865-1931) work.
Concentrating on extracts from Aladdin,
the Helios Overture and Little Suite for
Strings, the trio emphasizes eastern Eurasian
dance-like motifs with pliable keyboard
shakes and ney-like reed outbursts, while
adding a pronounced, almost rock-like beat
to the tunes. If a combination of tenor sax
blasts and drum backbeats suggest heavy
metal tropes on The Market Place in Ispahan,
remember that rock style is now as prominent
in Scandinavia as the buoyancy of Nielsen’s
tunes, exemplified by Filipsen’s animated
key chiming. The Helios Overture provides
the most varied instance of the trio’s sound
reconstitution. Evolving from sophisticated
saxophone and ruffled keyboard timbres at
the beginning, to a snaking, stop-time melody
examination in the middle, to an intense
display of agitated snare pops and splashing
cymbal from Pasborg, the convivial theme
returns as light swing by the finale, helped by
the keyboardist’s walking bass line.
The band’s name came about after the
trio recorded a CD which transformed some
Stravinsky compositions into semi-improvised
theme and variations. The three
have now proven they can perform similar
alchemy on another composer’s work with
this CD. There are plenty of other modern
composers whose work could provide
material for equal transformations.
Ken Waxman
POT POURRI
Meter
Autorickshaw
Tala-Wallah Records TW006
(autorickshaw.ca)
!!
Autorickshaw,
the critically
acclaimed, worldtouring
Toronto
group is reconnecting
with its
early band roots in
its 15th anniversary
season. Its previous
album The Humours of Autorickshaw was
enriched by more than a dozen musicians
appearing in complex studio mixes. On
Meter, Autorickshaw returns to its core: Suba
Sankaran (voice, percussion), Ed Hanley
(tabla, vocal and other percussion) and Dylan
Bell (bass, voice, vocal drums, keyboards).
Meter serves up new compositions by each
member as well as works by other Toronto
musicians. Covers are again a feature here:
Peter Gabriel’s Mercy Street, Paul Simon’s
Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard and
perhaps most surprisingly, the traditional
Francophone J’entends le Moulin, all get
the Autorickshaw treatment. The short but
delightful Thom Petti by Suba Sankaran begins
with the phrase “ta-thom, thom-ta,” derived
from Carnatic (South India) solkattu (onomatopoetic
drum syllables) as vocalized by all three
musicians. These phrases echo the percussive
clickety-clack of a long train ride though India
with its track gaps, curves and straightaways,
heard as superimpositions of several rhythmic
feels. The addition of a harmonically rich vocalized
chord – imitating a passing train horn –
adds sparkle to the onomatopoeic fun.
Another musically outstanding moment
comes halfway through the song The Trouble
with Hari, composed by Toronto jazz veteran
Gordon Sheard. Bell’s electric bass joins
Sankaran’s jazz-inflected scatting, Carnatic
solkattus and sargams (solfège recitation) in
exact melodic coupling, call-response and
harmonic comping. It’s a sterling example
of the kind of inspired border-crisscrossing
musical experience the album offers listeners
up for adventure.
Andrew Timar
Moderne Frau
Adi Braun
Independent (adibraun.com)
! ! Perhaps Adi
Braun is playing to
her strengths on
Moderne Frau. But
rarely is the seduction
of Weimar
Berlin cabaret been
performed with a
sassier va-va-voom
88 | December 2017 / January 2018 thewholenote.com

and oomph than on the 13 songs of this
recording. Now that could well be due in part
to the outstanding musicians on the album,
but there is nothing whatsoever that can
outshine Braun’s luminously sung performance.
Clearly Braun’s redemptive gods are
Bertolt Brecht and Kurt Weill and she makes
every gesture count meaningfully on this disc,
where biting satire and burlesque meet outrageously
colourful art song.
Certainly the music speaks in a special way
to Braun. She reveals their secrets in seductive
whispers; there is a burning lust for life
played out in these lyrics, especially in the
music of Brecht and Weill, but Moderne Frau,
the title track (her own compositon), is also
an outstanding example of her creativity,
as is Speak Low from the pen of Weill and
Ogden Nash.
Braun clearly revels in the intensity of the
songs’ drama and it is this aspect of the disc
that spotlights her vocals throughout. The
vocalist’s larger-than-life persona is also a
perfect fit for this repertoire and she isn’t
afraid to push it to its limits either. The results
are often more beautiful and nuanced than
expected. The edgiest moments come in
Mackie Messer, perhaps the defining moment
on the entire disc, closely followed by the
bittersweet tenderness of It Never Was You.
Raul da Gama
Concert Note: Adi Braun celebrates the
launch of Moderne Frau at the Jazz Bistro on
December 10.
Brass Fabulous
Jason Rosenblatt & Orkestra Severni
Independent (rachellemisch.com)
!!
Founded in 2009 by trombonist Rachel
Lemisch, the Montreal-based Orkestra
Severni (Northern Orchestra) performs brass
band repertoire of Klezmer, Moldavian and
Serbian traditions. Besides their great energetic
performances here, what makes their
debut release even more exciting is that all 11
tracks are original
works rooted in
the new Eastern
European music
genre by composer/
pianist/harmonica
player Jason
Rosenblatt.
Rosenblatt’s
compositions embody many styles. The
opening Sirba from the three-movement Sirba
a la Oscar is driven by fast upbeat rhythms
that are always in control. A great effect is
having its final cadence resolve into the introduction
of the next movement, Hora, a work
comprised of more traditional-sounding
melodies, rhythms and exquisite dynamic
shifts. The striking rhythmic bounces of the
silences between the resounding brass shots
in the third movement, Freylach, showcase
the musicians’ tight ensemble technique.
Rosenblatt Kid’s Contra features a descending
chromatic line that makes for happy walking
music with a carnival feel. Nice style contrast
is Chassidic Love Tango, with its traditional
tango groove interspersed with brief threequarter
waltz sections. The closing Anshei
Brzezan Nign has a lullaby-feel ending with
sublime held-piano sounds.
All the accomplished band musicians,
along with special guest Ben Holmes
(trumpet) play brilliantly. Sound quality is
great too. Brass Fabulous lives up to its name.
This a spectacular addition to the brass band
repertoire, well deserving of lots of fans and
of lots of listening hours.
Tiina Kiik
The Book of Transfigurations
Dálava
Songlines SGL 2408-2 (songlines.com)
!!
About the group Dálava, reviewer Mark
Tucker wrote, “… I was both chilled and
thrilled by the fusion of avant-garde, ancient,
and progressive musics…” After listening
to their second
album The Book of
Transfigurations,
released on
the Vancouver
boundary-crashing
Songlines label,
I’d have to agree.
Dálava’s project
crosses and combines several genres, disciplines,
generations and continents. At its
core is the duo of American vocalist Julia
Ulehla and guitarist Aram Bajakian (known
for his work with John Zorn and with Lou
Reed). Musical and life partners, they perform
Moravian folk songs of the 19th and early-20th
century transcribed over 100 years ago by
Ulehla’s Czech musicologist great-grandfather.
The songs are then transfigured through their
21st-century sensibilities, informed by world
music, creative jazz and post-rock.
Ulehla is currently working on her PhD
researching Moravian song with UBC ethnomusicologist
Michael Tenzer. Her scholarship
is amply illustrated in the lavish
36-page booklet (including original lyrics
with English translations and commentary)
and it richly informs Dálava’s interpretations.
As for Bajakian, he keeps busy
gigging on guitar with other bands, including
the American-Hungarian folk/art-rock band
Glass House Ensemble.
The duo’s music, while a profoundly
personal statement, is also emotionally
supported and amplified on the album by
leading musicians on the Vancouver creative
music scene: cellist Peggy Lee, Tyson Naylor
on multi-keys, bassist Colin Cowan and Dylan
van der Schyff on drums.
Ulehla and Bajakian have reportedly
already made a splash in the Czech Republic
with their live interpretations of this material.
I predict Dálava’s affective music will gain
many more global fans with this release.
Andrew Timar
Something in the Air: Seven Musical Voices for the Future
KEN WAXMAN
The year just ending marked one important milestone in
musical history. The first so-called jazz record was issued in
1917 by the Original Dixieland Jass Band (ODJB). Obviously
that musical designation, which in its century of existence has gone
through as many permutations and retrenchments as so-called
classical music has in many centuries, is far different then the
ODJB’s primitive efforts. But jazz/improvised music continues
to evolve, buttressed by new voices. Here is a group of youngish
improvisers who will likely still be contributing to the shape of jazz
during its 125th anniversary – and probably for years afterwards.
First is Vancouver-born, Brooklyn-based pianist Kris Davis, 37,
whose presence on advanced jazz sessions over the past half-decade
or so has become almost as ubiquitous as Lennon-McCartney
tunes at retro-60s parties. Sing Me Some Cry (Clean Feed CF 428
CD cleanfeed-records.com) finds the Canadian pianist in a combo
led by bassist Eric Revis, featuring tenor
saxophonist/clarinetist Ken Vandermark
and drummer Chad Taylor. Although each
of the other players has extensive experience,
there are points at which Davis
dominates. Good Company, for instance,
which begins with a J. Arthur Rank-like
gong resonation from Taylor’s cymbals
and reed asides in brief Morse Code-like
dashes, retains its tension from the pianist’s kinetic pressure, with
the saxophonist’s peek-a-boo contributions hardening into pressurized
honks that unroll in tandem with keyboard tinkling. Obliogo
features a middle section where high-frequency piano notes slice
kinetically through saxophone snorts and string elaboration from
Revis, but maintain the composition’s careful shape. Instructively
Rye Eclipse, the one Davis composition, is multi-sequenced and
thewholenote.com December 2017 / January 2018 | 89

more complex. Mixing Revis’ sliding bass notes with stopped piano
keys, Vandermark’s sheets of sounds become staccato just as the piano
playing becomes more percussive. The result shapes reed overblowing,
string reverberations and complex drum beats into a groove of storytelling
and solid forward motion.
Another pianist who is equally valuable
in international collaborations as leader
and sideperson is the United Kingdom’s
Alexander Hawkins, 36. On Sideralis
(Dodicilune Dischi Ed 354 dodicilune.it),
he joins veteran American heavy hitters,
bassist Michael Formanek and drummer
Gerry Hemingway as part of Italian saxophonist
Roberto Ottaviano’s QuarkTet, to
interpret ten of Ottaviano’s compositions that range from rhythm
numbers to ballads. Checking off the saxophonist’s influences, Planet
Nichols, Ottaviano’s stop-time salute to pianist Herbie Nichols, gets
much of its rollicking shape from Hawkins’ high-frequency key splatters
and crescendos, with a walking bass line and cymbal breaks also
contributing. At the same time the power of Formanek’s accompaniment
on Planet John Lee Hooker, coupled with singular soprano
saxophone breaths, makes the tune appear more a salute to Charles
Mingus than the Mississippi bluesman. Replete with shadowing of
the composer’s every breath on Berenice’s Code, Hawkins’ keyboard
caressing preserves the balladic mood while moving the piece linearly.
Centaurus’ lilt is cemented by inner piano string plucks that confirm
the composition’s jocular theme, with Hemingway’s bell pealing and
the pianist’s key slaps and crunches deconstructing and extending
the melody until the saxophonist’s tiny reed bites reel it into straightahead
swing. This same freedom that never exceeds its parameters is
displayed on the title tune. Stopped keys and scrubbing slides from
the pianist plus the drummer’s rubs provide the perfect contrast to
Ottaviano’s intense note puffing. Subsequent return to a rumbling
pulse confirms the tune’s gentle motion and the collaborative skill of
this ad-hoc quartet.
Minimalist and experimental, Timeless
(JACC Records 034 jacc-records.com) is a
duet between Portuguese guitarist Marcelo
dos Reis and French pianist Eve Risser,
35, who made her reputation working in
ensembles as different as France’s Orchestra
National de Jazz and in a rock-oriented
duo. With both instruments prepared with
numerous objects, as well as played straight,
the selections are compressed and cramped, inhabiting a narrow
spectrum, but never abandoning rhythm or feelings. A piece such
as Balance Spring, for instance, suggests computer-generated wave
forms even though there is no electronic processing. Instead, as the
guitarist creates a strummed continuum, the pianist emphasizes carefully
thought out patterns, culminating in chiselled movements. In
the same way, clanks and crunches from internal piano strings plus
external ones on the guitar neck, produce timbres on Hourglass that
could have come from a vibraphone. This sound, jolted along with
bottleneck-guitar slashes, reaches a thematic crescendo that’s almost
lyrical as Riser’s splayed and sharp tones amalgamate into melodic
interface. With the tracks reflecting ambience as well as aggression, a
piece like the extended Water Clock reflects this strategy in miniature.
While dos Reis’ metallic string sawing and percussive strums narrow
the interface to a single, almost static line, Risser’s sharp strokes
move from aping the guitarist’s heft and power to become chromatic.
Eventually, sweeping acoustic piano lines reveal an underlying melody
that sets up an unconventional groove.
Of course it’s not just pianists who will determine the future of
21st-century improvised music. Horn players and drummers will make
their own noises. Take for example two of the players in the Amok
Amor (AA) quartet, American trumpeter Peter Evans, 36, and German
drummer Christian Lillinger, 33. Their work
with alto saxophonist Wanja Slavin and
bassist Petter Eldh on We Know Not What
We Do (Intakt CD 279intaktrec.ch), shows
their interactive skills in one of the many
bands in which they participate. It’s the same
story with Chicago-based tenor saxophonist
Dave Rempis, 42, and drummer Tim Daisy,
41, featured on The Halfway There Suite
(Relay Recordings 016 timdaisy.com) by the
drummer`s Celebration Sextet. Different discs could find Rempis in the
leadership role or both as sidefolk.
Composers as well as players – Evans wrote two tunes on We Know
Not What We Do and Lillinger three – the key to their talents is how
carefully they work in an organized setting, as on Pulsar, the Evanspenned
first track. It’s lavish and lovely, notched with contrapuntal
slurs and staccato tremors from the horns as the drummer’s percussive
bumps and focused rim shots keep the tune bouncy and relaxed.
These ambulatory dynamics are also present on Trio Amok, a Lillinger
composition, pushed along with percussion bumps and rumbles and
resonating pumps from bassist Petter Eldh. While Evans’ spectacular
brassiness adds to the tune’s tautness, a respite after he intertwines
open-horn brays with staccato tongue flutters from Slavin dissipates
the tension. A more striking instance of the drummer’s dexterity is on
A Run through the Neoliberalism, another of his compositions, during
which altissimo reed squalls and trumpet tattoos set up as a staccatissimo,
near-bebop romp. The drummer’s accompaniment may crackle
and churn, but as the horns’ work explodes the theme into atoms, his
cymbal cascades and rim shots glue it back into a swinging whole.
With some of the other tracks utilizing palindromes, balladic melancholy,
fiery stomps and rhythmic stop-time sequences, AA keeps the
session engaging and moving. The saxophonist and bassist get solo
space as well, with the combination of power and bluster from the
rhythm section and inventive flutters and echoes from the horns
ensuring that while predicting what sounds will appear next is nearly
impossible, the knowledge that they will be first-class is confirmed.
Daisy and Rempis are other first-class
sound explorers featured on The Halfway
There Suite along with Chicago associates,
clarinetist James Falzone, trumpeter
Russ Johnson, cellist Fred Lonberg-Holm
and visiting New Yorker, trombonist Steve
Swell. Composed as a birthday present
for himself and the featured musicians, it
isn’t clear whether Daisy’s CD title refers
to mortality or the length of the four-part
suite that lasts only 33 minutes. But like brevity being the soul of wit,
the arrangements and solo work are exceptional enough to not need
more length. Rempis’ showcase is on Part 2, where his skyscraperhigh
multiphonics and glossolalia bring energetic freedom to the
piece which otherwise flows along with orchestral calm and a steady
jazz groove. Falzone’s solo tone is closest to so-called legitimate as
he negotiates linkages between the two genres. Swell, and to a lesser
extend Johnson, are the disrupters. The trombonist sprays many of
the arrangements with gutbucket-styled slurs and tailgate-like elaborations.
With the cellist scratching out notes and Daisy replicating
kettle-drum-like pressure, Part 3 rolls from crescendos to diminuendos
without breaking the melodic continuum. These disparate
currents climax in the concluding Part 4, with stop-time polyphony
shattered by a clean trumpet blast that joins with cello pumps to herd
the sequence into a finale that swings, and neatly refers back to the
introduction on Part 1. Throughout, Daisy’s solos, whether involving
press rolls and bass drum stomps or freer jumping and double time
rhythms, don’t draw attention, but advance the suite.
On the evidence here, the Celebration Sextet is a lot more than
halfway along to reaching musical goals. It’s another confirmation of
how from their ideas and those of the players on the other CDs, jazz
innovation will thrive in the years to come.
90 | December 2017 / January 2018 thewholenote.com

Old Wine, New Bottles
Fine Old Recordings Re-Released
Bernstein Remastered
BRUCE SURTEES
Leonard Bernstein - The Remastered Edition (100 CDs)
Sony 541714
In her 1998 DVD Reaching for the Note, Susan Lacey
recalls the way the moment felt. “It is very rare that
someone dies and the whole community seems to
be part of that event. It’s as if everything else stopped
and for that moment the world turned around
that event.”
Such was the case in New York City following
the death of Leonard Bernstein on October 14,
1990. When the funeral cortege left from the
Dakota, his apartment on the Upper West
Side, there was already a large gathering
across 72nd Street to pay homage and see
him off. “There was this phalanx of
motorcycle cops and police cars
leading this enormous cortege
out to Brooklyn’s Greenwood
cemetery… When we came
out on the Brooklyn side of
the East River there was a big
construction project and in
spite of all the cops and motorcycles
and police cars and everything,
we came to a dead halt.
And on the side were all these hard
hats and mothers of various sorts with
baby carriages and Orthodox Jews who just
happened to be passing by. A perfect crosssection
of New York City. And finally the sirens began again as this
slowly started to move out, all these people! I especially remember the
hard hats all waved and took off their hats and said. ‘Goodbye Lenny,
goodbye.’ I can’t think of anything, anything, in the world that would
have pleased Lenny more than that.”
Leonard Bernstein – The Remastered Edition does not pretend to
be in any way encyclopedic, but it gives profound insight into every
facet of his musical life. New York City claimed him but Bernstein,
conductor, composer, pianist, educator, author and music lecturer
was born in Lawrence, Massachusetts on August 25, 1918, the eldest
of three children of Ukrainian-Jewish parents. Soon after, they moved
to Boston where father Samuel built up a prosperous business in
hairdressing supplies. Samuel expected, naturally, that his elder son
would go to college, return and take over the business. However, when
Leonard was only ten, cousin Lillian’s unwanted upright piano was
moved into their parlour and the die was cast. From the first note he
knew that music was his calling. He could play by ear the tunes he
had heard and improvise freely. At 13, he composed a piano concerto
with a program, “a war between the Russians and the Gypsies.” At 14,
after a disastrous year with two really incompetent teachers, he went
to Heinrich Gebhard, one of Boston’s most respected teachers who
entrusted him to his assistant, Helen Coates. She completely understood
her earnest pupil’s impatience with practise and studies but
instilled in him self-discipline. Bernstein credited her with being
a decisive influence in his training. When he became known and
successful he sent for her to be his personal secretary. She became his
close friend and lifelong personal assistant and representative. Their
letters are part of the Bernstein Collection in the Library of Congress.
At 16, he heard his first live concert when he went with his
father to hear the Boston Symphony under Serge Koussevitzky who
later became his teacher and close friend. He attended
the Boston Latin School. In the summers at Sharon,
Massachusetts, he produced and directed shows with the
Boston Public School Orchestra with entertainments like
Gilbert & Sullivan and Carmen. He graduated in 1935
and thence to Harvard, where he met many of those
who would become his lifelong friends. He studied
with Walter Piston, Edward Burlingame Hill
and Arthur Tillman Merritt. He met Aaron
Copland who became a major influence.
Also, Dimitri Mitropoulos
asked him to play and was
so exceedingly impressed
that he invited Bernstein
to rehearsals with the
Boston Symphony.
For Bernstein’s part,
he was taken by the
older conductor’s
intellect, his unique
conducting style
and his personal
dynamism. He graduated
from Harvard in
1939 and enrolled at the Curtis
Institute of Music in Philadelphia
where he studied conducting with
Fritz Reiner, orchestration with Randall
Thompson, counterpoint with Richard Stöhr
and score reading with Renée Longy Miquelle. Reiner said later that
Bernstein received the only “A Grade” he ever awarded. After Curtis he
spent some time in NYC, then in Boston where Koussevitzky, who was
sort of a father figure, was a major influence on Bernstein’s emotional
interpretations.
Shortly after he had been appointed (under Artur Rodziński)
assistant conductor of the New York Philharmonic, Bernstein made
his life-changing major conducting debut. Guest conductor Bruno
Walter was unable to conduct the afternoon concert of November 14,
1943. Bernstein was told early that morning that he was to conduct
the concert. He had not rehearsed but stood before the orchestra and
conducted the concert that was heard coast to coast on the CBS Radio
Network. A star was born and Leonard Bernstein was well on his way.
In 1958, after he guest conducted major orchestras around
the world, he was appointed music director of the New York
Philharmonic, a post he held until 1969. After that he was seen and
heard around the world conducting and teaching, making recordings
and videos and, when he could make time, composing. In truth
he most solemnly desired to be remembered as a composer. Consider
his works for the theatre that include Peter Pan (1950), On the Town
(1944), Trouble in Tahiti (1952), West Side Story (1957) and Candide
(1956 rev.1973 rev.1989); also all the ballets, Fancy Free (1944),
Facsimile (1946) and Dybbuk (1974), all of which are included in this
unique edition of the remastered original recordings. His own works
for the concert hall chosen for inclusion are the three symphonies,
Jeremiah (Symphony No.1, 1942), The Age of Anxiety (Symphony
No.2, 1949 rev.1965) and Kaddish (Symphony No.3 1963 rev. 1977).
Prelude, Fugue and Riffs (commissioned by Woody Herman in 1949)
is here with Benny Goodman. Torontonians heard this work with
thewholenote.com December 2017 / January 2018 | 91

DON HUNTSTEIN
Leonard Bernstein at the dressing room, Lincoln Center, February 1970
Bernstein conducting the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra in Roy
Thomson Hall in the late 1980s.
Mahler figured prominently in Bernstein’s programs, recording
all the symphonies except the Eighth with the Philharmonic during
his tenure there. His Mahler was something to hear and see, as his
demeanour suggested an enraptured identification with the composer.
Mahler’s symphonies Two, Three, Six and Nine are here together with
Kindertotenlieder and excerpts from Rückert Lieder both with Jennie
Tourel, and Des Knaben Wunderhorn and Lieder eines fahrenden
Gesellen with Christa Ludwig, Walter Berry and Dietrich Fischer-
Dieskau. In this unique collection are the works of 70 composers
from A to Z in compositions ranging from marches, incidental music,
ballets, encore-type pieces, chamber music, concertos, symphonies,
operas, ballet music, lieder, film music, overtures, etc. Assisting
artists include Isaac Stern, Lucas Foss, Adele Addison, Glenn Gould,
Eileen Farrell, Andre Watts, Charles Bressler, Felicia Montealegre,
Benny Goodman, Zino Francescatti, Regina Resnik, Erich Kunz,
Yehudi Menuhin, Julius Baker, Judith Raskin, Judith Blegen, Robert
Casadesus, Barbara Cook and others. Also heard are the Juilliard
String Quartet, the Westminster Choir, the Vienna Philharmonic
Orchestra, the Vienna State Opera Chorus and the Camerata
Singers, among others.
In summary: this edition is a collection of some significant
recordings from 1945 to c.1976 issued by Columbia/Sony,
either recently or newly remastered for the occasion. The opulent
boxed set of 100 CDs in original covers includes a lavishly illustrated,
196-page hardcover book of presentation quality outlining
the often complex remastering of the process. Compared to the
previous releases of all the recordings that I have sampled these
new incarnations are a revelation. For instance, I was disappointed
in the perfunctory performance on the original release of Liszt’s
Faust Symphony, also with the version on The Royal Edition.
However, in this new presentation the sound is immediate and
dynamic, revealing playing that is most certainly alert.
I wonder, out of the many hundreds of Bernstein performances of
so many different works in the Sony archives, how particular recordings
were chosen. It certainly wasn’t the choice of someone or other
with little or no knowledge, nor was it a computer’s choice based on
sales. For example, the performance of The Age of Anxiety decided
upon is the original mono version recorded on February 27, 1950
with soloist Lucas Foss, a recording that required a lot of time and
dedication to restore the less-than-mint original elements. How
much easier it would have been to utilize the 1965 performance with
Philippe Entremont. Regardless, it is the earlier performance that we
hear on this well-chosen collection. Well-chosen indeed; there are
works one would never think of including, but there is not one that I
would remove.
There are complete details of every disc at arkivmusic.com and an
interesting YouTube video about the project, titled Leonard Bernstein
– The Art of Remastering.
H A N N A F O R D S T R E E T S I L V E R B A N D P R E S E N T S
Christmas Cheer
Tuesday, December 12th, 2017
7:30 PM
Metropolitan United Church
Ben Heppner,
Host and Tenor Soloist
Elmer Iseler Singers
Lydia Adams, Artistic Director
Tickets available online at www.hssb.ca By Phone: 416.366.7723 or 1.800.708.6754
92 | December 2017 / January 2018 thewholenote.com

TORONTO
CHILDREN’S
CHORUS
The Fire Within
Featuring opera stars Krisztina Szabó
and Lesia Mackowycz
SAT DEC 16 ◆ 2 PM
Made possible by the generous support of Edwards Charitable Foundation
21 ST ANNUAL FREE NOON HOUR
CHOIR & ORGAN CONCERTS
ELMER ISELER
SINGERS
Season of Joy
Lydia Adams, conductor
Shawn Grenke, organ
TUE DEC 19 ◆ 12 PM
THE BARRA
MACNEILS
An East Coast Christmas
THU DEC 21 ◆ 8 PM
TICKETS MAKE GREAT GIFTS! Gift certificates available.
FOR TICKETS VISIT
ROYTHOMSONHALL.COM
OR CALL
416-872-4255

KOERNER HALL IS:
“
A beautiful space for music “
THE GLOBE AND MAIL
Francine Kay
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2PM
MAZZOLENI CONCERT HALL
Free tickets can be reserved
starting Monday, November 27.
New York-based Canadian pianist
Francine Kay plays “with such
richness of sonority, [and] such
refinement.” (Repertoire, France)
She will perform Janácek’s Piano
Sonata, Schumann’s Fantasiestücke,
op.12, Chopin’s Barcarolle, op. 60,
and Debussy’s Ondine and
L’isle joyeuse.
Generously supported by
Dorothy Cohen Shoichet
Janine Jansen, Martin Fröst,
Torleif Thedéen, and Lucas Debargue
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 5, 8PM / PRE-CONCERT TALK 7PM
KOERNER HALL Tickets start at $30
Violinist Janine Jansen, clarinetist Martin Fröst, Swedish cellist Torleif Thedéen,
and French pianist Lucas Debargue will perform Béla Bartók: Contrasts, Karol
Szymanowski: Myths, op. 30 and Olivier Messiaen: Quartet for the End of Time.
Generously supported by David G. Broadhurst.
Presented in association with Alliance Francaise de Toronto
Taylor Academy Orchestra
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 7:30PM / MAZZOLENI CONCERT HALL
Free tickets can be reserved starting Wednesday, November 29.
Hear artists on the cusp of major careers. Solo and chamber works are
performed by artists enrolled in the one-year Rebanks Family Fellowship and
International Performance Residency Program at The Glenn Gould School.
Generously supported by the Rebanks Family
Khatia Buniatishvili
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2017 3PM
PRE-CONCERT TALK 2PM
MAZZOLENI CONCERT HALL
Tickets start at only $35
Recognized by London’s Evening
Standard
for her “jaw-dropping
virtuoso technique,” The Financial
Times of London has described her
Liszt as “magisterial.” In this solo
piano recital she will perform
three works by Liszt alongside
Mussorgsky’s Pictures at
an Exhibition.
The Glenn Gould
School New Music
Ensemble
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 14, 7:30PM
TEMERTY THEATRE
Free tickets can be reserved starting
Wednesday, December 6.
The Glenn Gould School New Music
Ensemble performs a program of
cutting-edge contemporary music
curated by Brian Current.
TICKETS & GIFT CERTIFICATES ARE GREAT GIFTS!
TICKETS & SUBSCRIPTIONS ON SALE NOW! 416.408.0208 RCMUSIC.COM/PERFORMANCE
273 BLOOR STREET WEST
237 (BLOOR BLOOR ST. STREET & AVENUE WEST RD.)
(BLOOR TORONTO ST. & AVENUE RD.) TORONTO
Taylor Academy
Showcase Concert
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 16, 7:30PM
MAZZOLENI CONCERT HALL
Free tickets can be reserved starting
Friday, December 8.
String students from The Phil and
Eli Taylor Performance Academy
for Young Artists come together as
the Academy Chamber Orchestra
to perform this special concert.

TICKETS
FROM $ 35
ALSO PLAYING
THE
ABDUCTION
FROM THE
SERAGLIO
MOZART
FEB 7 – 24
A FATHER’S CURSE.
A DAUGHTER’S SACRIFICE.
RIGOLETTO
GIUSEPPE VERDI JAN 20 – FEB 23, 2018
PRODUCTION ORIGINALLY MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY
TIM & FRANCES PRICE, JUDY & WILMOT MATTHEWS, AND
GAIL & BOB FARQUHARSON
coc.ca
416-363-8231
Ekaterina Sadovnikova and Quinn Kelsey (COC, 2011), photo: Michael Cooper

MOZART FESTIVAL SPONSOR
@262 FESTIVAL
Mozart is timeless. Experience some
of the most beloved masterworks ever
written, with nine sublime performances
co-curated by Bernard Labadie and
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Performances take place at Roy Thomson Hall,
Koerner Hall, and George Weston Recital Hall.
Reserve superb seats today!
TSO.CA/MOZART 416.593.1285