Volume 26 Issue 2 - October 2020
Following the Goldberg trail from Gould to Lang Lang; Measha Brueggergosman and Edwin Huizinga on face to face collaboration in strange times; diggings into dance as FFDN keeps live alive; "Classical unicorn?" - Luke Welch reflects on life as a Black classical pianist; Debashis Sinha's adventures in sound art; choral lessons from Skagit Valley; and the 21st annual WholeNote Blue Pages (part 1 of 3) in print and online. Here now. And, yes, still in print, with distribution starting Thursday October 1.
Following the Goldberg trail from Gould to Lang Lang; Measha Brueggergosman and Edwin Huizinga on face to face collaboration in strange times; diggings into dance as FFDN keeps live alive; "Classical unicorn?" - Luke Welch reflects on life as a Black classical pianist; Debashis Sinha's adventures in sound art; choral lessons from Skagit Valley; and the 21st annual WholeNote Blue Pages (part 1 of 3) in print and online. Here now. And, yes, still in print, with distribution starting Thursday October 1.
You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles
YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.
BLUE PAGES <strong>2020</strong>/21<br />
SECTION I: PRESENTERS & PERFORMERS<br />
do some singing outside! While safe distancing<br />
is necessary, we will continue to sing together<br />
by using Zoom. Our conductor, Isabel Bernaus,<br />
has designed a repertoire that we can receive<br />
by email. We have tried the remote singing, and<br />
found it easy to do with a desktop or tablet. Technical<br />
help is available to those of us who need<br />
some coaching in launching the online system. As<br />
we progress, we hope to offer some optional live<br />
rehearsals to small groups. Our long term goal is<br />
to be ready when the world gets back to normal!<br />
Pauline McKenzie<br />
416-223-7690<br />
pkenzie3@gmail.com<br />
jubilatesingers.ca<br />
● Kindred Spirits Orchestra<br />
The Kindred Spirits Orchestra has been performing<br />
to great acclaim, sold-out audiences,<br />
and standing ovations at the Flato Markham Theatre<br />
and at the Richmond Hill Centre for the Performing<br />
Arts, as well as at the CBC Glenn Gould<br />
Studio in Toronto. Highlights of the <strong>2020</strong>/21 concert<br />
season include Bruckner’s First, Shostakovich’s<br />
Fourteenth, Prokofiev’s Fifth and Scriabin’s<br />
Second symphonies as well as Tchaikovsky’s Manfred<br />
Symphony and Wagner’s Symphony in C<br />
Major. We are thrilled to welcome back Michael<br />
Berkovsky in Prokofiev’s Piano Concerto No. 2,<br />
Andrew Ascenzo in Shostakovich’s Cello Concerto<br />
No. 1, and Christina Petrowska-Quilico<br />
in Tan Dun’s Piano Concerto “The Fire”. Ludmil<br />
Angelov will make his début with the KSO in Chopin’s<br />
Piano Concerto No. 1, and Gregory Vandikas<br />
in Scriabin’s Piano Concerto. In June 2021, the<br />
KSO and Markham Contemporary Music Festival<br />
will return to Cornell Recital Hall for a series of<br />
concerts presenting pieces by Pärt and Górecki<br />
as well as Symphony No. 14 by Shostakovich, featuring<br />
soprano Stephanie de Ciantis and bassbaritone<br />
John Holland. The concert season will<br />
conclude with a performance at the CBC Glenn<br />
Gould Theatre and a Canada Day celebration at<br />
Unionville Millennium Theatre.<br />
Jobert Sevilleno<br />
905-604-8339<br />
gm@ksorchestra.ca<br />
ksorchestra.ca<br />
www.facebook.com/pages/Kindred-<br />
Spirits-Orchestra/250778850797<br />
twitter.com/KSOrchestra<br />
● Music Gallery, The<br />
The Music Gallery is Toronto’s Centre for Creative<br />
Music. We present and promote experimentation<br />
and innovation in all forms of music, and encourage<br />
cross-pollination between genres, disciplines<br />
and audiences. Since 1976, we have occupied a<br />
valued position within Toronto’s musical ecology,<br />
presenting both internationally-renowned contemporary<br />
music and a wide spectrum of local<br />
artists and projects.<br />
We are now located in the beautiful 918<br />
Bathurst St. Centre for Culture, Arts, Media and<br />
Education, though this season most of our programming<br />
will be delivered online. We present<br />
the “X Avant Festival” during <strong>October</strong>, and “Emergents”<br />
(emerging artists) and “Departures” (offsite)<br />
series as well as unique main stage concert<br />
experiences throughout our season. We also<br />
partner with artists and arts organizations to<br />
co-present their work in our space, assisted by<br />
our highly experienced technical crew. Our season<br />
runs September through June with off-season<br />
events.<br />
David Dacks<br />
416-204-1080<br />
david@musicgallery.org<br />
www.musicgallery.org<br />
www.facebook.com/themusicgalleryTO<br />
twitter.com/musicgalleryTO<br />
● Music Toronto<br />
“…serious, discerning presenters like Music<br />
Toronto have everything to celebrate.” (Musicaltoronto.org)<br />
A legacy organization in classical music, Music<br />
Toronto continues to represent the world’s best<br />
chamber ensembles and pianists, though we cannot<br />
present live concerts during the pandemic.<br />
We specialize in string quartets, long recognized<br />
as the highest form of western classical<br />
music. Throughout our history we have invited<br />
to Toronto only the finest, from established masters<br />
like the Amadeus, the Tokyo and the Hagen to<br />
exciting new quartets like the vision and the Schumann.<br />
Of course we always welcome back our<br />
home-grown favourites, the St. Lawrence Quartet<br />
and the Gryphon Trio.<br />
Our reputation for pianists is equally eclectic<br />
- and compelling. From world-renowned interpreters<br />
like Stephen Hough, Marc-André Hamelin<br />
and Janina Fialkowska to brilliant rising stars<br />
like Benjamin Grosvenor, our piano is always in<br />
good hands.<br />
Great music of five centuries, from Haydn to<br />
new works written in this 21st century, and always<br />
including Canadian music; artists new and familiar,<br />
extraordinary music-making: only the best,<br />
only at Music Toronto. Join the best audience in<br />
the city for these great concerts.<br />
Heather Lacey<br />
416-214-1660<br />
heather@music-toronto.com<br />
music-toronto.com<br />
www.facebook.com/MusicToronto<br />
twitter.com/Music_Toronto<br />
● New Music Concerts<br />
Now entering its 50th season, New Music Concerts<br />
is a vital and central part of Toronto’s new<br />
music scene and has been providing a leadership<br />
role in the community throughout its history.<br />
Founded by internationally-acclaimed Canadian<br />
musicians Robert Aitken and Norma Beecroft,<br />
NMC presented its first concert in January 1972<br />
with guest composer/conductor Luciano Berio.<br />
Since that time NMC has commissioned hundreds<br />
of new works, and has brought countless historically<br />
important compositions to thousands of listeners<br />
through meticulous performances by Toronto’s<br />
top musicians, most often with the participation<br />
of the composers. NMC is known throughout the<br />
world as the pre-eminent new music organization<br />
of our country. Composers from around the world<br />
know that if their work is performed in Canada by<br />
NMC, then the performance will not only be outstanding,<br />
but probably definitive.<br />
NMC is internationally renowned and unique in<br />
Toronto as the foremost champion of contemporary<br />
works for large chamber ensembles. After 50<br />
years under the artistic direction of Robert Aitken,<br />
we are embarking on a transition to our new,<br />
innovative artistic director, composer, and conductor,<br />
Brian Current.<br />
Adam Scime<br />
416-961-9594<br />
nmc@interlog.com<br />
www.newmusicconcerts.com<br />
www.facebook.com/New-Music-<br />
Concerts-295010083855752<br />
twitter.com/newmusicconcert?lang=en<br />
● Off Centre Music Salon<br />
Off Centre Music Salon re-creates the magical,<br />
inclusive atmosphere of the Viennese and Parisian<br />
Salons of the 19th century. Music is intimately<br />
shared, with each concert telling a story and creating<br />
personal connections for the audience and<br />
performers alike. Dedicated to the discovery and<br />
development of young, professional musical talent,<br />
Off Centre concerts include voice and instrumental<br />
performances. Repertoire is rarely, if ever,<br />
repeated.<br />
During these otherworldly times, while our live<br />
concerts are on hold, we are planning a number<br />
of online events. We look forward to sharing<br />
some short performances, personal reflections<br />
and musical insights. Please continue to check<br />
the listings section of The WholeNote or our website<br />
to stay up-to-date with our planned activities.<br />
Until we can meet again at our normal venue in<br />
Toronto, at Trinity-St. Paul’s Centre, please keep<br />
safe and be well.<br />
Inna Perkis<br />
416-466-6323<br />
tickets@offcentremusic.com<br />
www.offcentremusic.com<br />
● Opera Atelier<br />
Opera Atelier is a world leader in the rediscovery<br />
and revitalization of period opera and ballet, particularly<br />
works from the Baroque era. Through<br />
their historically-informed productions, founding<br />
co-artistic directors Marshall Pynkoski and<br />
Jeannette Lajeunesse Zingg seek to provide a<br />
thrilling theatrical experience for modern audiences.<br />
Opera Atelier presents a two-opera season<br />
in Toronto, and tours internationally. The<br />
38 | theWholeNote <strong>2020</strong>/21 PRESENTER PROFILES
Change language