This is the beginning of a particularly exciting season for Jeanne Lamon. Under her music directorship for one final year — her 33rd in the position — the Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra is presenting a rich and diverse Toronto concert series, touring to Japan, South Korea, France (with Opera Atelier), New York City and Leipzig, and running its second annual Winter Institute for advanced students and young professionals.
When reached by phone on a busy late-August afternoon, however, Lamon is most occupied by and enthusiastic about the renovations to Tafelmusik’s home venue, Trinity-St. Paul’s United Church.
“Making this project a reality has been a lot of work and represents a huge accomplishment for us,” Lamon says.
Tafelmusik is spearheading the Revitalization Project, as it is called, in close consultation and partnership with Trinity-St. Paul’s United Church and its other permanent tenant, the Toronto Consort. The renovations commenced in late May, 2013, and the first phase is scheduled to be completed by the end of September.
“I’m particularly thrilled and surprised at how spiffy it’s all going to look. I think it’s going to make even more of a splash than we thought.”
Lamon explains that the plan always involved taking up the old carpeting in the church and putting in a new floor. Before they did that, they erected scaffolding and brought in ladders to re-paint the walls and ceiling.
“The painting is making an enormous difference,” Lamon says. “It’s going to give everyone the sense that they’re in a brand new hall. I’m so pleased with how it’s going.”
Another small but delightful detail of the new plan means a more direct route from Lamon’s “dressing room” (the church’s Memorial Room) to the stage.
“It’s very exciting. They’ve moved the door stage right so that everything’s on the same level. For years we’ve walked down the hallway, down six or seven stairs, out into the church and then up six or seven stairs to the stage. We won’t have to do that anymore.”
Cosmetic details aside, Lamon emphasizes that the priorities of the renovation have always been enhanced acoustics and audience comfort.
“Many people have commented over the years that here we are, a world-class orchestra playing in a slightly dowdy church with less-than-ideal acoustics. The last few strategic plans that we’ve drawn up, over many years, have always included venue improvement as a priority, but for various reasons it’s taken until now to get it done.”
She credits managing director Trisha Baldwin for leading the charge and keeping it on time.
“She’s remarkable. We know we have an early-bird concert for our subscribers at the end of September and that’s driving the timing of the various aspects of the project.”
While all this is happening, the organization is searching for a replacement for Lamon, who steps down from the music director position at the end of June, 2014. She is philosophical at the start of her last season at the helm.
“I feel in 33 years, I’ve done everything I know how to do. The process will probably not be very quick, but wouldn’t it be great if they found someone super dynamic to inspire and lead the orchestra to the next level?”
When asked to reflect on some the other major accomplishments of the organization under her leadership, concertizing, touring and recording vie for the top of the list.
“Well, securing the Sony recording contract was a huge one for us” — a relationship that began in the early 1990s and resulted in dozens of fine recordings of Baroque and Classical repertoire — “and TBSI was another major one.” The annual Tafelmusik Baroque Summer Institute was founded in 2000.
“And there have been so many wonderful concerts and tours that have been fun and memorable for a whole variety of reasons.”
Additionally, Lamon is particularly proud of the new Tafelmusik media label that was launched in 2012 and has given them the ability to release new digital, CD and DVD recordings and re-release discontinued recordings from their rich discography.
Getting back to the present excitement, however, she emphasizes how important the Trinity-St. Paul’s hall renovations are to the search for her successor.
“Sure, the music director search is tied in. We hope that a renovated hall we can call our own will be part of the attraction for a world-class, great director.”
As our conversation comes to a close, we agree to talk again this season to give her the chance to do some more expansive reflection on her leadership tenure and give The WholeNote readers a window into her immediate journey in 2013/14 and her plans for the next stage of her significant career.
A few days after our chat, news breaks of the extraordinary $1 million gift from the Hal Jackman Foundation to the renovation project, in honour of Jeanne Lamon.
“As I have long respected Jeanne Lamon and admired her tremendous contribution to the arts in Canada and abroad, it is an immense pleasure for me to make a gift in honour of this great musician,” said the Hon. Henry N.R. Jackman.
Tafelmusik will refer to the venue as Trinity-St. Paul’s Centre, Jeanne Lamon Hall.
Not a bad way to start the season.
Larry Beckwith is a former long-time member of the Tafelmusik Chamber Choir and is the founder and artistic director of Toronto Masque Theatre.
