Quodlibet
by Allan Pulker
Bernard Labide and
Les Violons du Roy
Bernard Labadie
is no stranger to Toronto audiences. The performances by Les Violons du Roy
and La Chapelle de Québec of Messiah, the St. Matthew Passion and the
St. John Passion received rave reviews from audiences and critics alike, as did
the performance by the Bach Consort under his direction of Bach’s Christmas
Oratorio almost two years ago.
The response to
Labadie’s work around the world has been so universally enthusiastic that there
can be little doubt that he is a musical superstar, particularly in early
music.
The Violons du
Roy and La Chapelle de Québec performance on October 26 of Mozart’s Requiem
promises to be a memorable one, a chance to get to know this Quebec-based
ensemble, in most respects the equal or superior of any of the world’s chamber
orchestras.
Darker days,
brighter lights
Many other
musicians of stature will be visiting Toronto in October and early November:
the TSO will bring us Yo-Yo Ma on October 1, Renée Fleming on October 2
and two supernova Canadian violinists, James Ehnes on October 6 and Jasper Wood
on October 16. American pianist, Richard Goode, a regular on Music Toronto’s
roster, will perform Beethoven’s Emperor Concerto on November 3, conducted by
Peter Oundjian. And the incomparable Emerson Quartet kicks off Music Toronto's
impressive month October 7.
Equally
noteworthy, Long and McQuade and Miyazawa Flutes are presenting a recital and master
class on October 3 by Brazilian flutist, Tadeu Coelho. Now a professor of flute
at North Carolina School of the arts, Tadeu Coelho has commissioned, performed
and recorded works by notable composers, and has published the complete works
of Pattápio Silva and other pieces for solo flute as well as collections of
daily exercises.
On October 30
the Moscow Virtuosi Chamber Orchestra will make its first Toronto
appearance since its sold-out performance in 1996 at the Weston Recital Hall at
the Toronto Centre for the Arts. Founded in 1979 by violinist Vladimir
Spivakov, after his debut as conductor with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra at
the Ravinia Festival, it is truly an orchestra of string virtuosi, which is
recognized as one of the world’s great chamber orchestras. For this appearance
we can thank Svetlana Dvoretskaia of Show One Productions Inc. in Thornhill,
one of a number of independent
entrepreneurial impresarios stepping into what is still the Livent void.
We still hear some of the world’s greatest artists
and ensembles every month here. While it is essential that we get out to hear
our local artists, it is equally important to hear the greats. How else do we
nurture the capacity to recognize greatness born in our own backyard?
Symphonic
Music
In addition to
the Toronto Symphony, some of whose concerts I have mentioned, there are a
number of other symphonic concerts in October and early November. The Scarborough Philharmonic Orchestra, for example, has two concerts listed. The first, on
October 2, called Northern Exposure, features music by Sibelius, Grieg
and Toronto composer, Ron Royer, under the direction of guest conductor,
Michael Newnham. The second, on November 6, will feature music of Spain and the
Caribbean conducted by the amazing Howard Cable.
Another
orchestra that I always enjoy is the University of Toronto Symphony Orchestra, which is conducted these days by former Kitchener-Waterloo
Symphony Orchestra conductor, Raffi Armenian. On October 15 the U. of T. S.O.
will perform Schumann’s Cello Concerto and Dvorak’s Symphony #7. Other upcoming performances are the Cathedral Bluffs Symphony Orchestra on October 3, the Royal Conservatory
Orchestra conducted by Simon Streatfeild, on October 7, the Mississauga Symphony Orchestra on October 16, the Toronto Philharmonia on
October 21, Orchestra Toronto and the Celebrity Symphony Orchestra
on October 23, and the Etobicoke Philharmonic Orchestra on October 29.
Chamber
Orchestras
The Moscow
Virtuosi and Les Violons du Roy are not the only chamber orchestras performing
this month. On October 16 we have the choice of the York Chamber Ensemble
and Sinfonia Toronto, on October 24 the Trinity Chamber Players
perform and the Toronto Sinfonietta has a concert on October 29.
Chamber Music
There is more
chamber music than I can possibly write about, so read the listings and read
the advertising to find out who is doing what when. I will just single out the
performances by the exciting new
Canadian string quartet, the Kirby Quartet, which will perform at one of
Christ Church Deer Park’s noon hour concerts on October 14 and with the Les
Amis concert series on October 15 and 17. The violinists in this quartet are
Aisslinn Nosky and Julia Wedman, who are also members of the very successful I
Furiosi chamber music ensemble.
Vocal Recitals
Soprano Shannon
Mercer and mezzo Krisztina Szabo will be busy this month: they perform on
October 7 with tenor Colin Ainsworth and baritone Jason Nedecky, in the CBC’s Music
Around Us Young Artists Series noon-hour concert and in the October 17 Off
Centre French Salon. Ms. Mercer will also solo in the Toronto Welsh Male Voice Choir’s concert on October 13. A graduate of the COCs
Ensemble Studio, she performed in several COC productions, including as the
young page Oscar in Un Ballo in Maschera, for which she received
enthusiastic reviews. She made her Aldeburgh Connection recital debut last May,
toured the prairie provinces with the Montreal period instrument ensemble Les
Voix Baroques (who perform here on October 12)
and recently performed the role of Oberto in Handel’s Alcina with
Les Violons du Roy under the baton of Bernard Labadie. In the summer she
recorded her first CD for Analekta with the Montreal period instrument group,
Masques. Definitely a singer worth seeing early in her career.
Beyond Categorization!
There will be a memorial concert for the late
Lothar Klein at Walter Hall on October 3. WholeNote will present
intriguingly eclectic programs in the first two of our “Nine Mondays” salons
(October 4 and November 1) at the Music Gallery.
October 18, the Koffler
Centre’s Salon Series will present The Travellers performing their own
music and that of the legendary folk music quartet, The Weavers, who were
described in The New York Times as “a key force in transforming folk
music from a coterie cult to a popular pastime.”
On October 23
the Maximilian Kolbe Foundation of Mississauga will present winners of
the Second Canadian Chopin Competition at Glenn Gould Studio.
Everyone with
children will want to take them to the Royal Canadian College of Organists’ Hallowe’en
Concert with the Phantom of the Organ at Metropolitan United Church on
October 29.
Last but not
least, the Colours of Music Festival continues in Barrie until October 3
and the Great Romantics Festival in Hamilton from October 7 to 9.
For more Concert Notes see
Bandstand,
Choral
Scene,
Early Music,
Hear
and Now (New Music), Jazz
Notes, and Music
Theatre
