Volume 24 Issue 3 - November 2018

An agency of the Government of Ontario
Un organisme du gouvernement de l’Ontario
Brian Solomon
a uniquely mixed North American context, coupled with one of history’s
greatest musical minds, Bach on Turtle’s Back combines the
universality of Bach’s music with the equally universal concepts of
death and the afterlife in what looks to be a fascinating synthesis of
music, movement, and mysticism.
Sacred and Secular at Tafelmusik: Back in Toronto, Tafelmusik
plays two separate concerts in November, moving from vocal drama
to instrumental concerti with a Christmas theme. Their first presentation
(November 8 to 11) features mezzo-soprano Krisztina Szabó and
conductor Ivars Taurins in a survey of Agostino Steffani’s secular and
sacred vocal music. Beginning with two sacred choral works, the early
Beatus vir a 8 and the late Stabat Mater, and proceeding through a
pastiche of arias, duets, choruses and instrumental movements from
Steffani’s operas, this concert will display Steffani’s dual role as sacred
and secular dramatist.
Steffani lived an extraordinary life. In addition to being a renowned
Agostino Steffani
composer and a mentor to Handel, he was also a diplomat, politician,
spy and priest. Steffani’s ecclesiastical status did not prevent him from
turning his attention to the stage, for which, at different periods of
his life, he composed a large number of works which undoubtedly
exercised a potent influence upon the dramatic music of the period.
Premiering his early operas in Munich, Steffani developed his skill and
social connections before achieving great renown in Hanover through
eight operas composed and performed at the new opera house,
opened in 1689. As a rapidly rising cleric given increasingly great
honours in the Catholic Church, Steffani was ultimately consecrated
as a bishop; because of his high standing, Steffani published three
late operas under the name Gregorio Piva, who was his secretary and
assistant, to avoid breaching the etiquette required by his high rank.
Approached from a chronological perspective, the Tafelmusik
Chamber Choir bookends Steffani’s career in the works chosen for
this concert. He wrote the Beatus vir in 1676 at the age of 22, one year
after he was appointed court organist in Munich; 51 years later, after
2018-2019: The Colours of Early Music
PRAETORIUS
CHRISTMAS VESPERS
DEC 14 & 15 AT 8PM | DEC 16 AT 3:30PM
Artistic Direction by David Fallis
One of Toronto’s beloved Christmas traditions returns! Singers,
violins, cornetti, sackbuts, theorbos and keyboards grace the
balconies and stage, as we recreate the joy of Christmas Vespers
as it might have been heard under the direction of Michael
Praetorius in 17th-century Germany. In the spirit of the season,
the audience and Consort join musical forces in singing favourite
early Christmas carols. A sell-out in previous seasons, this is a
yuletide celebration not to be missed!
Great seats starting at $ 29! | Call 416-964-6337 or visit TorontoConsort.org
thewholenote.com November 2018 | 25