Volume 24 Issue 5 - February 2019

Gesualdo in Holy Week
Carlo Gesualdo’s Tenebrae Responsories
set the sombre pre-Lenten tone for
a concert of works by this infamous
homicidal composer, along with works by
his 16th century contemporaries.
Saturday, March 2, 7:30 pm
St. Patrick’s Church
141 McCaul St.
Tales of Two Cities: The Leipzig-Damascus Coffee House
time is presumed to have been heavily influenced by the music of
the Moors.
By the early 16th century, the polyphonic vocal style that developed
in Spain was closely related to that of the Franco-Flemish composers.
Composers from the North of Europe visited Spain, and native
Spaniards travelled within the Holy Roman Empire, which extended
to the Netherlands, Germany and Italy. Tomás Luis de Victoria, for
example, spent a significant portion of his career in Rome, developing
a technique that was said to have reached a level of polyphonic perfection
and expressive intensity equal, or even superior, to Palestrina
and Lassus.
By blending Sephardic, Arabic and Spanish musics, the Toronto
Chamber Choir’s Convivencia will provide an artistic reflection of
the real-world exchanges that took place between the world’s three
great monotheistic religions in a country whose history is punctuated
by fascinating and wide-reaching influences. Featuring Lucas Harris
as conductor and lutenist, as well as guest singers, guitars, oud, ney
Director Peter Mahon
Tickets: $30, Seniors: $25, Students with ID: $10 (only at the door)
Info: 416 286-9798 Order online: boxoffice.tallischoir.com
and percussion, this concert
is ideal for those who wish to
broaden their knowledge of
classical music and get a bigpicture
look at what influenced
the music we hear and
perform today.
Tales of Two Cities
While on the topic of
big-picture performances,
Tafelmusik will remount their
successful multimedia production
“Tales of Two Cities: The
Leipzig-Damascus Coffee
House” from February 21 to
24. Conceived, scripted and
programmed by Alison Mackay,
this musical exploration of the
links between 18th-century
Saxony and Syria became
one of the most talked-about
projects in Tafelmusik’s history
when it was first seen in 2016.
Celebrating the rich musical
traditions of East and West,
and the renewed dialogue
between those traditions in
contemporary, multicultural
Toronto, Tales blurs musical boundaries and alters our perspectives on
musical history.
In terms of artistry, this concert brings an all-star roster to the
Koerner Hall stage, featuring the Tafelmusik orchestra led by Elisa
Citterio and Opera Atelier’s Marshall Pynkoski as stage director. The
Tafelmusik team will be joined on stage by Maryem Tollar, vocalist
and co-narrator, Alon Nashman, co-narrator, Naghmeh Farahmand,
percussion, and Demetri Petsalakis, oud. In case you missed it in 2016,
the musical selections are stellar, and include canonic works by Bach,
Handel, Telemann and more, as well as traditional Arabic song and
klezmer fiddle music.
If last year’s Safe Haven was your first exposure to Mackay’s multimedia
prowess, don’t miss this opportunity to see Tales which is
sure to impress, both through the superb skill of the performers and
the surprising, captivating connections drawn between the “then” of
centuries ago and our very present “now.”
While this month’s concerts might be slightly more outside the box
than usual with regards to programming and presentation, the opportunity
for cross-cultural exploration is one that shouldn’t be missed.
At a time of xenophobic mania, and as the drawing of lines between
“us and them” becomes increasingly aggressive, these performances
provide an essential and contextual reminder that “those who do not
remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”
Have questions about these or any other early music concerts in this
month’s WholeNote? Get in touch at earlymusic@thewholenote.com.
EARLY MUSIC QUICKPICKS
!!
FEB 3, 2PM: Rezonance Baroque Ensemble. “Italian Celebration.” St. Barnabas
Anglican Church, 361 Danforth Ave. Old and new come together as folk music and
compositions by Neapolitan Baroque composers are performed alongside works by
Toronto composer Romina di Gasbarro.
!!
FEB 15, 8PM: St. Basil’s Church, University of St. Michael’s College. “Litanies de la
Vièrge.” St. Basil’s Church, 50 St. Joseph St. Glorious music from the pinnacle of the
French Baroque, with choir and organ music by Charpentier, de Grigny and Couperin.
!!
FEB 16, 7:30PM: St. George’s Cathedral. “Te Deum Laudamus.” St. George’s
Cathedral, 270 King St. E, Kingston. A survey of music from England and anthems from
the 17th to 20th centuries, including Handel’s Te Deum in D and Stanford’s stunning Te
Deum in B-flat.
an Ontario government agency
un organisme du gouvernement de l’Ontario
Matthew Whitfield is a Toronto-based harpsichordist and organist.
30 | December 2018 / January 2019 thewholenote.com