Volume 24 Issue 4 - December 2018 / January 2019

palazzo for the Roman intellectual and artistic elite. (His most wellknown
portrait is the famous caricature of Antonio Vivaldi, with long,
curly hair and a protruding, crooked nose.)
Cera, who plays the role of Ghezzi in The Harlequin Salon, is an
artist as well; he studied figurative art at Liceo Artistico Citta’ di
Valdagno in Italy before joining Tafelmusik in 2000. The Harlequin
Salon’s recreation of one of Ghezzi’s famous salon evenings will
undoubtedly be entertaining, giving audiences a chance to travel back
in time and imagine what happens (and what music results) when
these famous characters from the past cross paths. Famous guests at
this salon include composer Antonio Vivaldi, 24-year-old opera diva
Faustina Bordoni, and cello virtuoso Giovanni Bononcini. These guests
and their music will be performed by Tafelmusik’s music director
Elisa Citterio, guest soprano Roberta Invernizzi and Tafelmusik
cellist Christina Mahler, making this new concert a don’t-miss event,
January 16 to 20.
Two Melting Pots
Now in their third full season, Cor Unum Ensemble is one of
Toronto’s newest early music ensembles, an orchestra and chorus
comprised of emerging professionals interested in vocal and
instrumental collaboration within the early music repertoire. On
December 8 and 9, Cor Unum presents “Merry & Bright,” a collection
of seasonal music from across Europe, followed by “Sub Rosa”
on January 26 and 27. Sub Rosa, a collaboration between Cor Unum
and the Sub Rosa Ensemble, explores 16th- and 17th-century repertoire
written for and by cloistered nuns who, although often highly
trained, are rarely considered in the context of music history. These
nuns used singing and composition to communicate their identity and
their devotion beyond the convent walls, developing their social and
financial independence, and their music will be used to explore the
important role played by women in the early Baroque musical scene.
“Centuries of Souls,” presented by Confluence on January 26, promises
to be one of January’s most interesting concerts. Featuring Opus8
singing Ockeghem’s famous Requiem mass, Matthew Larkin playing
Messiaen organ works, and Schola Magdalena singing Hildegard,
this performance stretches across five centuries of musical history.
Messiaen and Hildegard are, although separated by a great temporal
distance, closely connected through their mysticism. Hildegard
experienced visions and expressed them through tune and text, while
Messiaen expressed the mysteries of his devoutly held Catholic beliefs
through strikingly original works for the organ. With this eclectic
mixture of medieval and modern, Centuries of Souls will undoubtedly
be an extraordinary experience for all in attendance.
Amidst all the 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 The
Harlequin Salon, 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 everyone has
something to look forward to this holiday season. Happy Christmas,
Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Festivus and New Year – see you in 2019. Until
then, keep in touch at earlymusic@thewholenote.com.
EARLY MUSIC QUICK PICKS
THE MESSIAH EDITION
!!
DEC 8, 7:30PM: Grand Philharmonic Choir. “Handel Messiah.” Centre in the
Square, 101 Queen St. N., Kitchener. A large-scale, symphonic Messiah with choir and
symphony orchestra for maximum impact!
!!
DEC 15, 7:30PM: Chorus Niagara. Handel Messiah. FirstOntario Performing Arts
Centre, 250 St. Paul St., St. Catharines. For those further down the QEW, this Messiah
features an excellent choir and the superb Talisker Players.
!!
DEC 18 to 21, 7:30PM: Tafelmusik. Handel Messiah. Koerner Hall, Telus Centre, 273
Bloor St. W. The quintessential Messiah experience for early music aficionados – sit
and enjoy the show or participate in the Sing-Along Messiah at 2pm in Roy Thomson
Hall on December 22!
Matthew Whitfield is a Toronto-based harpsichordist and organist.
CAROLS BY
CANDLELIGHT
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 16, 4:30PM
A traditional candlelight choral
presentation featuring choirs and
musicians of Yorkminster Park.
NINE LESSONS
& CAROLS
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 23, 4:30PM
Following the historic tradition
of King’s College in Cambridge.
Admission is FREE
for both events.
Doors open
at 3:30pm.
Yorkminster Park Baptist Church
1585 Yonge Street | (416) 922-1167
YorkminsterPark.com
thewholenote.com December 2018 / January 2019 | 41