Competitions
Chinese Cultural Centre of Greater Toronto. CCC Toronto Piano and Violin Competition 2019. Competition dates: Feb 21-28. Gala Concert and Award Ceremony at 2pm on Apr 14 at P.C. Ho Theatre, 5183 Sheppard Ave. E. For details, visit cccmusicfestival.com or call 416-292-9293 x229.
International Music Festival and Competition. Piano, voice, guitar, harp, strings, woodwinds, brass, conducting, and composition. Competition dates: May 23-June 2, at Cornell Recital Hall 3201 Bur Oak Ave., Markham. Application deadline: April 12. For details, visit intermusic.ca or contact 905-604-8854 or office@intermusic.ca
Yip’s Music Festival Competition. Piano, violin, musical theatre, and chamber music. Competition dates: Apr 13-14, 27-28, May 4-5. Application deadline: Feb 19. For details, visit ymf.yips.com or call 905-948-9477 x2211.
Film Screenings
Feb 07 7:30: FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre. Alicia Svigals: The Yellow Ticket. Live score for a screening of the 1918 silent film The Yellow Ticket featuring Pola Negri. Alicia Svigals, composer/violin; Marilyn Lerner, piano. 250 St. Paul St., St. Catharines. 905-688-0722. $35; $30(member); $25(st).
Feb 11 6:30: Toronto International Film Festival. Divine: A Jessye Norman Tribute. The Tales of Hoffman (1951), directed by Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger. TIFF Bell Lightbox, 350 King St. W. 1-888-599-8433. $14; $11.50(sr/st); $10(child/youth).
Feb 12 8:30: Toronto International Film Festival. Divine: A Jessye Norman Tribute. Jessye Norman Sings Carmen (1989), director Albert Maysles’ behind-the-scenes documentary of Norman’s recording of Bizet’s opera with conductor Seiji Ozawa; followed by Oedipus Rex (1993), director Julie Taymor’s theatrical adaptation of Stravinsky’s opera-oratorio featuring Jessye Norman as Jocasta. TIFF Bell Lightbox, 350 King St. W. 1-888-599-8433. $14; $11.50(sr/st); $10(child/youth).
Feb 13 6:30: Toronto International Film Festival. Divine: A Jessye Norman Tribute. Diva (1981), an exhilarating fusion of high culture and pulp thriller directed by Jean-Jacques Beineixta. TIFF Bell Lightbox, 350 King St. W. 1-888-599-8433. $14; $11.50(sr/st); $10(child/youth).
Feb 26 6:30: Royal Conservatory of Music. Good Thoughts, Good Words, Good Deeds: The Conductor Zubin Mehta. Germany, 2016, 98 min. Filled with stirring performances and interviews with friends, family, and colleagues, this is a dazzling tribute to the international career of musical maestro Zubin Mehta. On his 80th birthday, join his son Mervon Mehta, Executive Director of Performing Arts at The Royal Conservatory, for a magnificent tribute to one of the world’s greatest living conductors. Q&A hosted by well-known critic and teacher William Littler with Mervon Mehta. Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema, 506 Bloor St. W. Tickets at the Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema box office or at hotdocscinema.ca. $17 each (Members: $12/$10/Free).
Galas and Fundraisers
Feb 02 2:00: Amadeus Choir. Songs From a Celtic Heart Annual Fundraising Event. Jubilee United Church, 40 Underhill Dr. amadeuschoir.com. For tickets: 416-446-0188. $50, $40, $25, $5 off on tickets purchased before Jan 15. Also at 7pm.
Feb 16 4:00: Toronto Operetta Theatre. Doyle à la Carte Part II. Music from Gilbert & Sullivan operas. Henry Ingram, MC. Edward Jackman Centre, 947 Queen St. E., 2nd Floor. 416-366-7723. $45. Cabaret-style fundraising concert.
Feb 17 7:00: Gallery 345/New Music Concerts. New Music Concerts Special Non-subscription Event: An Evening with Moritz Ernst. Stockhausen: Klavierstück X; and works by Mike Egerton, Arthur Lourié, Miklos Maros, and Sandeep Bhagwati. Moritz Ernst, piano. Gallery 345, 345 Sorauren Ave. 416-961-9594. $100/2 for $150. Reservations required. Includes door prizes and refreshments. Proceeds to benefit New Music Concerts; charitable receipts for CRA allowable portion.
Mar 01 7:30: Melos. Venetian Carnevale Fundraiser. Join Melos in Baroque Venice for a raucous evening of music, drama, food, drink and all-round revelry while helping to support Melos’ ongoing educational outreach and excellent period performances! Silent auction featuring art and music lessons, gift packages, weekend getaways in Prince Edward County, and more! Italo-Canadian Club, 1174 Italia Lane, Kingston. (Snow date March 2nd, in case of storm.) Transport available from downtown Kingston. Tickets $60, available on Snapd, at Novel Idea, St George’s Cathedral Office, Long & McQuade, and through our website:
melos-earlymusic.org. Information from the website or by email at meloskingston@gmail.com or by phone at 613-767-7245.
Lectures, Salons and Symposia
Feb 01 3:30: Don Wright Faculty of Music. Music Graduate Colloquium. Eva Saether, Lund University, Sweden. “Habitus Crises, Politics of Diversity, and Sensuous Scholarship: When Music Asks the Questions.” Talbot College, Room 101. For FAQ, parking and other useful patron information visit music.uwo.ca/events/useful-information.html. Western University, London. Admission is free, and all are welcome to attend.
Feb 01 5:00: Canadian Opera Company. Youth Opera Lab: Costumes and Wigs. For teens and young adults aged 16 to 24 offering an opportunity to dissect and explore an opera being presented on the COC’s mainstage. Led by opera educator Bryna Berezowska and special guests, participants will focus on the costumes and wigs that appear in the COC’s production of Così fan tutte. No previous experience with opera is necessary. Participants are selected based on the interest and relevance demonstrated in their online applications. Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts, 145 Queen St. W. (at University Ave.). Participate in the lab and you will receive two free tickets to the dress rehearsal of Così fan tutte on Sunday, Feb 3. To apply, complete the application available at coc.ca/YOL or e-mail education@coc.ca for more information.
Feb 12 6:30: Toronto International Film Festival. In Conversation with…Jessye Norman. This in-depth conversation between Jessye Norman and Canadian Opera Company general director Alexander Neef will focus on Ms. Norman’s tremendous career in opera, her own experience in film, and the ability of gifted filmmakers to translate the operatic art form into the medium of cinema. TIFF Bell Lightbox, 350 King St. W. 1-888-599-8433. $23.75; $19.25(sr/st).
Feb 12 7:30: Toronto Duke Ellington Society. General Meeting. Jack Chambers will make a presentation titled “The Human Voice Is Not Disdained”. An evening of vocals and special songs taken from Ellington’s vast works. Montgomery’s Inn, 4709 Dundas St. W., Etobicoke. For further information, visit torontodukeellingtonsociety.com or call 416-239-2683. Membership is $35(single) or $50(couple). First visit is free.
Feb 14 7:00: Canadian Opera Company. Opera Insights: Fashion and Fantasy - Costumes and Wigs. Costume Supervisor Sandra Corazza and Wig and Make-Up Supervisor Sharon Ryman share how they balance unbridled imagination with stage and historic requirements to bring the director’s vision to life. Education Centre, Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts, 145 Queen St. W. (at University Ave.). Reserve free tickets in advance by visiting coc.ca/operainsights or calling the COC Box Office at 416-363-8231.
Feb 16 11am-5pm: Toronto Reference Library. Black Opera: Uncovering Music History. Presented in partnership with the Glenn Gould Foundation, this symposium traces the heroic struggles of pioneering artists of African origin to enter the operatic world, their fight for acceptance and recognition, their triumphs and accomplishments. This event is part of a week of celebrations in Toronto for Jessye Norman, winner of the Twelfth Glenn Gould Prize.
11am-11:30am: Opening concert with soprano Nadine Anyan, soprano; Tristan Scott, tenor; Korin Thomas-Smith, baritone; and Angela Park, piano.
11:30-12:30: Black Voices in the Opera. A conversation between Dr. Naomi André (University of Michigan) and Dr. Gregory Hopkins (Artistic Director of the Harlem Opera Theatre), moderated by Dr. Melanie Zeck (Centre for Black Musical Research, Columbia College) Inspired by Dr. André’s book Black Opera, this conversation on the history of black opera will explore how artists and composers have used opera to reclaim black people’s place in history.
1:00-2:00: Three Scenes from Black Opera That Changed the History of Music. Gregory Hopkins will present a selection of key performances from the history of Black Opera.
2:30-3:30: Not Your music: A Conversation on Cultural Appropriation. Robert Harris and Naomi André discuss cultural appropriation in the opera and the performing arts, and explore recent examples.
3:45-4:00: Second concert. Presented by the Glenn Gould Foundation.
4:00-4:45: 12th Glenn Gould Prize Laureate: Jessye Norman. A Conversation with Jessye Norman About Her Life in Opera.
All events are at the Toronto Reference Library, Bram & Bluma Appel Salon, 789 Yonge St. 416-393-7175. This day of events is free, but you must register to attend. Please call 416-393-7175 for further information.
Feb 24 2:00: Classical Music Club Toronto. Masaaki Suzuki’s Bach. A major recording project of the 21st century was completed in 2014: a 55-volume set of the complete church cantatas of Bach by the Bach Collegium Japan led by its founder and conductor Masaaki Suzuki. We will experience a selection of audio and video performances from his vast recorded legacy. For further information, visit classicalmusicclubtoronto.org or contact John Sharpe at 416-898-2549 or torontoshi@sympatico.ca. Annual membership: $25(regular); $10(sr/st). Free for first-time visitors. Donations accepted for refreshments.
Mar 01 7:00: Yorkminster Park Speakers Series. Rites of Passion: The St. Matthew Passion by J.S. Bach. A lecture by musicologist Rick Phillips. Yorkminster Park Church, 1585 Yonge St. Admission is $10 or PWYC. Visit ypspeakersseries.com.
Mar 04 7:30: Confluence. Walter Unger Memorial Salon. Words and music in a warm space, featuring a short lecture by Canadian composer and historian John Beckwith on his long association and friendship with the great Hungarian-Canadian composer Istvan Anhalt (1919–2012). The Shaftesbury Atrium, 21 Shaftesbury Ave. $25 at the door or pre-order at bemusednetwork.com/events/detail/611.
Masterclasses
Feb 01 10:00am: Royal Conservatory Violin Masterclass. Led by Jinjoo Cho. Mazzoleni Hall, 273 Bloor St. W. Free admission. All are welcome to attend. For further information visit rcmusic.ca. Also at 2pm.
Feb 15 3:00: University of Toronto. Jessye Norman Master Class. Jessye Norman, John R. Stratton Visitor in Music, is one of the world’s most celebrated performing artists and a passionate advocate of arts education. Ms. Norman will lead a rare public 3-hour masterclass for Voice and Opera students from University of Toronto’s Faculty of Music. The masterclass is open to the public. University of Toronto, Faculty of Music, Walter Hall, 80 Queen’s Park. 416-408-0208. Free general admission.
Readings
Feb 14 7:00: The Music Gallery, Public Recordings, A Different Booklist and Art Metropole. today with all its hopes and sorrows: a reading by IONE. Composer Pauline Oliveros’ long-time collaborator and spouse: author, director, and text-sound artist IONE. A Different Booklist, 770 Bathurst St. 416-538-0889. $7 or PWYC. No advance tickets, pay at the door only.
Sing-alongs, Jams, Circles
Feb 02 12:30: Recollectiv. Rekindling and rediscovering joy through music for people with memory challenges. Southern Cross Room, Tranzac Club, 292 Brunswick Ave. Free with advance registration at recollectiv.ca/participate. Also Feb 9, 16, 23, Mar 2.
Tours
Feb 03 10:30am: Canadian Opera Company. 90-Minute Tour of the Four Seasons Centre. Led by a trained docent. Includes information and access to the Isadore and Rosalie Sharp City Room, the Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre and R. Fraser Elliott Hall, as well as backstage areas such as the wig rooms and dressing rooms, the orchestra pit, and other spaces that only a stage door pass could unlock. Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts, 145 Queen St. W. 416-363-8231. coc.ca. $20(adults); $15(sr/st). Also Feb 10 and Mar 3. A tour is available in French on Feb 17.
Workshops
Feb 02 9:30am: Don Wright Faculty of Music. Music Education Teacher Workshop: Eva Saether. Join us for a series of music education workshops (open to teachers) presented by the Music Education Department at the Don Wright Faculty of Music. For the complete schedule and information about other music education workshops, visit the Music Education Workshops webpage. Western University, Talbot College, Room 307, London.
Feb 02 10:30am: Toronto Mendelssohn Choir. Singsation Saturday Choral Workshop. Toronto Mendelssohn Choir Associate Conductor Ezra Burke presents Songs of Milk and Honey, a sing through of music drawn from the Hebraic tradition, including excerpts from Mendelssohn’s Elijah, Handel’s Israel in Egypt and contemporary works. Bring your voice, we provide the music. Cameron Hall, Yorkminster Park Baptist Church. 1585 Yonge St. More info at tmchoir.org/singsation-saturdays/. $10 fee includes refreshments.
Feb 03 1:30: Toronto Early Music Players Organization. Workshop coached by viol player Elin Søderstrom. St. Leonard’s Church, Canon Dykes Memorial Room, 25 Wanless Ave. Bring your early instruments and a music stand. 416-779-5750. tempotoronto.net. $20.
Feb 07 9:00: Moodset. Live Writing Project. Combining elements of both a workshop and showcase, the Live Writing Project brings the creative process to the forefront for an interactive evening. Moodset, a jazz and R&B collaborative quintet comprised of students and alumni from the University of Toronto’s jazz performance program, will create new arrangements based on suggestions provided by the audience. Moodset is Alexa Belgrave, keyboards; Jacqueline The, vocals; Madeleine Ertel, trumpet; Caleb Klager, bass; and Mackenzie Read, drums. Yauca’s Lounge, 755 Dovercourt Rd. Tickets: $10. For more information, visit torontojazz.com.
Feb 08 7:30: Toronto Recorder Players Society. Renaissance and Baroque Workshop for Recorders and Other Early Instruments. Mount Pleasant Road Baptist Church, 527 Mount Pleasant Rd. (entrance off Belsize). 416-480-1853. rpstoronto.ca. Guests: $15. Refreshments included.
Feb 09 9:30am: St. Paul’s Anglican Church. Hymn Writing Workshop. Led by Dr. Lydia Pedersen, BA, Mus.Bac., M.Ed., D.Min. St. Paul’s Anglican Church, 59 Toronto St. S., Uxbridge. For information call 905-852-7016. $20.
Feb 09 2:00: Dr. Penny Johnson. Piano Listening for Kids. Comparative listening, guided discussion and other activities designed to develop a sense of independent investigation and personal curiosity at the piano. This program is for piano students and those interested in the piano. Recommended for ages 11-17. Log Cabin at the Bradley Museum, 1620 Orr Rd., Mississauga. For information call 647-457-0208. $25 registration fee per student.
Feb 15 12:30: Canadian Opera Company. Exploring Opera. For families with children of all ages. Explore an opera in the COC’s 2018/19 season through accessible music and drama activities. This one-hour workshop focuses on Così fan tutte by Mozart. No previous experience with opera or the performing arts is required. Education Centre, Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts, 145 Queen St. W. (at University Ave.). Reserve free tickets in advance by visiting coc.ca/EO.
Feb 16 1:00: The Music Gallery and 918 Bathurst. Sounding Difference: Anne Bourne + special guest IONE. This event is a continuation of The Music Gallery’s celebration of Pauline Oliveros’ Deep Listening practices. As part of the weekend’s programming, Anne Bourne will impart Oliveros’ Text Scores, and with plain words, invite participants to an experience of shared creative expression. This event features IONE as special guest. The Music Gallery, 918 Bathurst St. The event is free, but requires registration at eventbrite.com/e/sounding-difference-
listening-and-sounding-the-text-scores-of-pauline-oliveros-tickets-53877074781. The event is currently at capacity but we will reopen the registration process a week before the event.
Feb 17 2:00: CAMMAC Toronto Region. Mendelssohn: Magnificat in D and Vaughan Williams: Toward the Unknown Region. Reading for singers and instrumentalists. Jennifer Lee, conductor. Christ Church Deer Park,1570 Yonge St. 647-458-0213. $10; $6(members).
Mar 01 7:30: Toronto Recorder Players Society. Renaissance and Baroque Workshop for Recorders and Other Early Instruments. Mount Pleasant Road Baptist Church, 527 Mount Pleasant Rd. (entrance off Belsize). 416-480-1853. rpstoronto.ca. Guests: $15. Refreshments included.
Mar 03 1:30: Toronto Early Music Players Organization. Workshop coached by recorder player Femke Bergsma. Armour Heights Community Centre, 2140 Avenue Rd. Bring your early instruments and a music stand. 416-779-5750. tempotoronto.net. $20.
