Category Archives: Toronto opera news and views

Cancellation update

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Here’s a summary of what’s been cancelled as I understand it at time of writing:

  • The Canadian Opera Company (including the free concert series), Tafelmusik, Opera Atelier, Soundstreams and the Toronto Symphony have all cancelled the remainder of their 2019/20 seasons.
  • The Women’s Musical Club of Toronto has cancelled through May 7th.
  • Voicebox’ Adriana Lecouvreur and Against the Grain’s Bound have been postponed until further notice.
  • Opera Pub April and May editions are off.
  • Most RCM/Koerner Hall events have been cancelled but last I heard they were still discussing some future events.
  • UoT Music cancelled through April 3rd but I imagine that will be extended.

At this point I haven’t heard anything definite about TOT’s Northern Lights or Tapestry’s Rocking Horse Winner.

tumbleweed

Another “live stream”

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CYMERA_20200322_100712Mezzo-soprano Beste Kalender and pianist Rachel Andrist are performing on line on Tuesday evening (March 24th) at 8.30pm (Toronto time).  The recital is titled A Spring Recital: From Venice to Constantinople and will feature music by F. Santoliquido, R. Hahn, G. Faure, H. Berlioz, Komitas and various Turkish composers.  Recording will be by Ryan Harper Recordings.

The stream will be posted on Beste’s channel on YouTube at 8.30pm and should be up for a week or so for people in other time zones.

Arts Anyway

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Here’s another chance to hear some “live” music by local artists.  Tongue in Cheek Productions are starting a series of webstreamed shows called Arts Anyway in support of artists impacted by the current Covid 19 situation.  The first show will go up at 7pm on Sunday evening (tomorrow) with further shows planned to be twice weekly.  The initial offering will feature performances by tenor Jaques Arsenault, soprano Jennifer Routhier and pianist Natasha Fransblow as well as interviews and news items.  The show will be uploaded to their YouTube channel.

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Signal boosting Tapestry

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Screen Shot 2020-03-18 at 3.16.31 PMThe following just in from Tapestry concerning Saturday night’s livestream of Songbook X.

Although we were heartbroken to cancel, we are thrilled to announce that our headlining artists have agreed to change tack and perform a full recital, streaming for free: Songbook X: Krisztina Szabó and Chris Foley in Livestream Concert – hosted by Michael Hidetoshi Mori, streaming live on our Youtube channel on Saturday, March 21st at 8:00PM.

Krisztina Szabó, mezzo-soprano, will be performing Tapestry selections and other select opera and art song, accompanied by Chris Foley, collaborative pianist, on our fabulous Bösendorfer Imperial Grand Piano. The performance will be free for all to watch, no matter where in the world. 

Let’s see if we can make this the biggest Tapestry gig ever!

Cancellation update

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closedYesterday I received seven assorted emails about cancellations in Toronto plus news from the Metropolitan Opera.  Essentially all the major orchestras and music theatre organisations in Toronto are shuttered until at least the end of the month.  Events are also being called off elsewhere so check your location situation.  Here’s a quick run down:

 

  • The Four Seasons Centre is closed until the end of the first week of April.  So, the ballet is off, as is the free concert series.  The COC is still planning to run its spring season but we’ll see.
  • Tafelmusik and the TSO have cancelled performances until the end of the month.
  • After tomorrow the UoT and the Conservatory are cancelling public events until the end of the month.
  • Tapestry Songbook on March 21st is sort of cancelled.  There will be no live audience but the show will be live streamed at 8pm and the performers are being paid.  Go Tapestry!
  • Amici Chamber Ensemble’s show on the 29th is off.
  • The Metropolitan Opera is closed so no Live in HD but they are doing free nightly web casts of the HD back catalogue.  Details here.

More news when I have any…. Stay safe!

 

New season announcements

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Johann-Sebastian-Bach-oil-canvas-Elias-Gottlieb-1746The 5th Annual Toronto Bach Festival will take place from May 29th to 31st.  All the details are at www.TorontoBachFestival.org. The big event is a performance of the B minor Mass on the 31st at 4pm at Eastminster United Church on the Danforth.  The line up of soloists is quite impressive; Hélène Brunet, Ellen McAteer, Daniel Taylor, Charles Daniels and Joel Allison.  They will be joined by a small choir and period instrument ensemble.  John Butt conducts.  In addition there’s a line up of recitals, concerts and lectures.

 

 

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A couple more shows in March

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440px-H_m_s_pinafore_restorationNot noticed by me when posting a week or so ago….

Toronto Operetta Theatre are doing that infernal nonsense Pinafore.  It’s at the St. Lawrence Centre on March 4th, 6th and 7th at 8pm and 8th at 2.30pm.  It’s a nice looking cast includingb Ryan Downey, Bradley Christensen and Holly Chaplin.  Derek Bates conducts.

On the 27th the Exultate Chamber Singers are doing Brahms’ German Requiem in the four hands piano version.  Pianists are Mira Jung and Elaine Choi while the soloists are baritone, Parker Clements, and soprano, Julia Frodyma,  It’s at the rather lovely St. Thomas’ Anglican Church on Huron Street at 8pm.

 

Into March

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MansfieldParkImage-e1563379878710March is looking a bit thin right now.  Both UoT Opera and the Glenn Gould School have shows though.  From the 12th to the 15th in the MacMilan Theatre (7.30pm, Sunday 2.30pm) the university is doing Jonathan Dove’s Mansfield Park in a production by Tim Albery.  I’m not familiar with this work but generally I’ve been very impressed with Dove’s vocal music.  Casting etc is here.  On the 18th and 20th the GGS is putting on Ravel’s L’heure espagnole and Puccini’s Suor Angelica which is certainly an unusual pairing.  The double bill plays at Koerner Hall at 7.30pm.  Casting and creative team details are here.  UoT also have a show on the 27th at 5pm in Walter Hall called Parlami d’Amore.  In non university gigs, Tapestry Songbook X is at the Ernest Balmer Studio on the 20th at 8pm.

In free events there are a couple of noon hour concerts in the RBA.  On the 17th the Ensemble Studio have a March Break “Opera for All Ages” concert and on the 31st transgender soprano Brianna Sinclair is appearing.  And of course there’s Opera Pub in its usual time and place on the 5th.