Volume 25 Issue 4 - December 2019 / January 2020

all-the-more appealing with the addition of Mozart’s
most melodious and heartfelt symphony, No.40, K550.
On January 31 and February 1, TSO principal cellist,
Joseph Johnson, brings his consummate skill set to
Dvořák’s Cello Concerto, with its contagious passion
trumped only by its lyricism. Rising star – the TSO calls
him “electrifying” – 31-year-old Uzbekistani conductor
Aziz Shokhakimov leads the orchestra in Smetana’s
indelible The Moldau from Ma Vlast and Mendelssohn’s
Symphony No.3 “Scottish,” written 13 years after
the composer’s extensive tour of Scotland when he
was 20, and the last of his five symphonies despite its
designation.The remarkable Shokhakimov, making
his second appearance with the TSO, is currently
the Kapellmeister at Deutsche Oper am Rhein, principal
guest conductor at La Verdi Orchestra, Milan and
artistic director of Tekfen Philharmonic Orchestra.
Music Toronto’s appealing lineup
Now in its 26th year, the much-loved Gryphon Trio has
had a continuous relationship with Music Toronto since
1995, including ten years as their ensemble-in-residence
from 1998. In what has become a regular lateautumn
visit, the Gryphons this time (December 5)
will be joined by Toronto-born international operatic bass, Robert
Pomakov for a performance of Mussorgsky’s Songs and Dances of
Death (arranged by Gary Kulesha). Beethoven’s delightful Kakadu
Variations Op.121 opens the program which ends with Dvořák’s
opulent Piano Trio No.3 in F Minor, Op.65.
With a long list of critically acclaimed, award-winning performances
and recordings to his name, yet another distinguished Hyperion
Records artist, 60-year-old Brit, Jonathan Plowright, has been
described as “one of the finest living pianists” by Gramophone magazine.
For his Toronto recital debut on December 17, Plowright has
chosen an appealing program comprised of Brahms’ early Ballades,
Op.10, Schumann’s ever-popular Kinderszenen, Op.15, Mozart’s
delightful Variations on “Ah! VOus dirai-je, Maman,” K265 and
Paderewski’s rarely heard excerpts from Humoresques de Concert,
Book I Op.14. Once upon a time, the first-movement Menuet was
world famous; it’s still instantly recognizable today. Plowright will
also give a masterclass (free and open to the public) on December 18 at
11am in Walter Hall.
For their fourth concert with Music Toronto since 2001, on
January 9, the Miró Quartet (winners of the Banff International String
Quartet Competition in 1998) will perform a replica of the program
the Kneisel Quartet performed on January 28, 1910 at the Schubert
The Miró Quartet at Weill Hall performing their Kneisal Quartet program
Club in St. Paul, MN. It’s part of the Miró’s Archive Project to evoke the
flavour of a bygone time – the Kneisel Quartet was active from 1885
to 1917; Dvořák was a friend. Unlike concerts today, in which multimovement
works are typically performed in full, the Kneisel Quartet
often programmed individual movements of new and recent works.
This is reflected in the 1910 program, which features selections from
string quartets by their contemporaries César Franck and Reinhold
Glière. Also unlike today, the quartet often devoted a portion of their
programs to the cello repertoire, as evident here in Adrien-François
Servais’ Fantaisie sur deux Airs Russe for cello and piano. When
touring works that required additional players, the quartet was joined
by local musicians. In keeping with this spirit, the Miró collaborates
with a local pianist wherever they perform this program, in this case
with Lydia Wong, head of U of T’s piano department. Two pillars of
the repertoire fill out the bill: Mozart’s Quartet in B-flat Major, K458
“The Hunt” opens the program; Schubert’s Quartet in D Minor, D810
“Death and the Maiden” brings it to a close.
To celebrate their 30th anniversary season, the scintillating
St. Lawrence Quartet (founded in Toronto in 1989) has planned a
special program on January 30 with each piece signifying an aspect
of their musical life. For their love of Haydn, his Quartet Op.20 No.4
in D Major; for their fierce commitment to living composers, R.
SPIRIT IN
THE CITY
Sunday Dec. 8, 1:30pm
DECK THE HALLS! CAROL SING
with The Metropolitan Silver Band
Sunday Dec. 15, 11:00am
THE CHRISTMAS PAGEANT
Sunday Dec. 22, 7:00pm
CANDELIGHT LESSONS & CAROLS
a Toronto favourite
Dec. 24, Christmas Eve
5:00PM - A COMMUNITY CHRISTMAS
11:00PM - CANDELIGHT CHRISTMAS EVE
with The Metropolitan Choir
The downtown church
for a diverse city
56 Queen St. E. (at Church) | www.metunited.ca
thewholenote.com December 2019 – January 2020 | 37