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Tapestry Opera is a rare gem in Canada’s cultural landscape, and after four decades of boundary-breaking opera, the company enters its ruby anniversary year (40th) in a stronger position than ever before and with a red-hot lineup for 2019/20.

The season includes a world premiere, the return of two smash hits, embarks on bold explorations into augmented reality, the launch of a landmark national project and the ongoing development of four new commissions. Partnerships with Opera Philadelphia, Luminato, Opéra de Montréal, OCAD U and others are a major part of upcoming initiatives, this season and beyond.

This season’s world premiere, Jacqueline, dives into the real-life struggle between celebrity virtuosic cellist Jacqueline du Pré and the multiple sclerosis that ravaged her body, mind, and talent, robbing her of her identity, her breathtaking musical gift, and her life.

Tapestry Opera’s award-winning original cast and production of Rocking Horse Winner explores the relationship between Paul, a young man with developmental challenges, and Ava, his emotionally distant mother. An intimate, psychologically insightful look at love, luck, and greed, Rocking Horse Winner received 5 Dora Mavor Moore Awards.

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Under the leadership of artistic director Peter Mahon, The Tallis Choir is a mixed-voice chamber choir of 36 voices that has been performing together since 1977. The choir presents an annual subscription series of four concerts between October and May each year in the magnificent acoustic of St. Patrick’s Church in downtown Toronto. Known for innovative programming and polished performances of repertoire covering more than five centuries, the Tallis Choir is an extremely versatile ensemble. They specialize in performances of rarely-heard sacred masterpieces of the Italian, Spanish and English Renaissance which form the cornerstone of their concert series. While they frequently feature a capella polyphonic works, the Choir often works with guest artists performing on period string and wind instruments to add further authenticity to the experience. Additionally, the Choir can be heard in performances around the GTA and southern Ontario, having appeared in the Colours of Music Festival, Luminato Festival, and in multiple performances at the Sony Centre.

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Led by music director Elisa Citterio, Tafelmusik is one of the world’s leading period-instrument ensembles, performing on instruments and in styles appropriate for the era of the music. Renowned for dynamic, engaging, and soulful performances, Tafelmusik performs some 80 concerts each year for audiences across Toronto, and is Canada’s most toured orchestra, having performed in more than 350 cities in 32 countries. The orchestra is often joined by the critically acclaimed Tafelmusik Chamber Choir and its director, Ivars Taurins.

Tafelmusik also seeks to transport audiences to the Baroque and Classical periods through insightful multimedia programs and adventurous cross-cultural collaborations. Our musicians share their knowledge and experience through comprehensive education and artist-training initiatives such as the Tafelmusik Baroque Summer and Winter Institutes. Tafelmusik’s recordings on the Sony, CBC Records, Analekta, and Tafelmusik Media labels have garnered ten JUNOs and numerous international recording prizes.

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Syrinx Concerts Toronto annual concert series presents performances by world-renowned and local classical chamber musicians, who are preeminent professionals as well as superb emerging young performers. Each concert program highlights a work by a Canadian composer, together with the more familiar classical repertoire. 

The 2019/20 season promises to be exciting and memorable. On December 1, we welcome Jean-Luc Therrien, piano, Mai Tategami, violin, and Zlatomir Fung, cello – who has just won First Prize at the prestigious 2019 Tchaikovsky Cello Competition! On April 5, Marc Djokic, violin, Valerie Dueck, piano, and Thorwald Jorgensen, theremin, will perform. Together they bring a rare and beautiful blend of instruments to the stage. On May 3, internationally-acclaimed musicians Jeanie Chung, piano, Alexander Dobson, baritone, and Vania Chan, mezzo-soprano, will join the series. Our final concert on May 31 features Wolfgang David, violin, and Takeshi Kakehashi, piano. One of the leading Austrian violinists of his generation, David and the famous blind Japanese pianist Kakehashi teamed up many years ago and have since toured internationally, releasing many award-winning CDs. Reception follows each performance.

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St. Thomas’s Church, Toronto, is one of the oldest Anglo-Catholic congregations in Canada. Established in 1874, the parish has been, from its earliest days, at the forefront of the liturgical and musical life of the Anglican Church of Canada. Excellent choral and organ music are vital components of all Sunday services, Feast Days, and the liturgies of Advent and Holy Week. There are three choral services each Sunday, sung by a dedicated group of volunteers supported by section leads: “Sung Eucharist (Contemporary Rite)” at 9:30am; “Solemn Eucharist (Traditional Rite)” at 11am; and “Solemn Evensong and Devotions” at 7pm. The repertoire is diverse, from plainsong and Renaissance masterpieces to gems of the British cathedral tradition and contemporary Canadian compositions. Located in the historic Huron-Sussex neighbourhood, adjacent to the University of Toronto campus, the church was designed in the Arts and Crafts style by renowned architect Eden Smith (1858-1949), a parishioner.

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St. Olave’s, Swansea, is an Anglican church in the west end of Toronto. Traditional services of Holy Communion or Morning Prayer (sung Sundays at 10:30am) use the Book of Common Prayer. There are also Choral Evensongs throughout the year, our very popular “Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols” before Christmas and a special Good Friday service with readings and choral music. Its excellent acoustics, organ and grand piano make it a desirable venue for performing groups and recitals.

Choral Evensongs often featuring a visiting choir (about one Sunday per month at 4pm) are followed by afternoon tea and a music event (as listed in The WholeNote), such as illustrated music talks or recitals by guest musicians, or performances from our Arts Guild. Evening Prayer (various weekdays at 6pm) are followed by supper and talks on travel, history, applied religion, etc.

Our choir, under the direction of John Stephenson, leads the congregation in hymns and canticles, and also sings anthems and motets. Rehearsals are Thursdays, 7:30pm to 9pm, with a warm-up Sundays at 9:30am. Call to ask about paid positions, or come to a rehearsal to see what it’s all about. Singers are also welcome to join the choir at Choral Evensongs.

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St. Michael’s Choir School was founded in 1937, with the purpose of providing sacred music for services at St. Michael’s Cathedral Basilica. St. Michael’s Choir School is an all-boys school from grades 3 through 12 located in downtown Toronto. Comprised of between 250 to 300 students, St. Michael’s Choir School is a centre for musical and academic excellence. It is one of only six choir schools in the world affiliated with the Pontifical Institute of Sacred Music in Rome. Each student attending SMCS is accepted on the basis of a vocal audition and sings in at least one of the school’s choirs. Each St. Michael’s Choir School student is trained in music theory, vocal and instrumental music. In addition to weekly Masses and numerous annual concerts, SMCS choirs tour regularly and perform at local events.

At SMCS, balancing the sacred and the secular is a longstanding tradition. St. Michael’s Choir School is not only famous for its music program, but also for its academic achievement, consistently ranking at the top of Fraser Institute surveys. For 75 years, graduates of the Choir School have pursued studies in science, education, medicine, law, business, and, of course, music. For more information visit our website.

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St. Bart’s, Regent Park preserves a timeless liturgy that includes all that is best in the Western Catholic tradition. The St. Bart’s Choir, under the direction of early music specialist Katherine Hill, sings at the Sunday Parish Mass (10:30am) and on other Feast Days throughout the year. The choir’s repertoire includes Gregorian chant and polyphony of the 14th to 16th centuries, as well as a wide variety of later English Cathedral music, sacred harp, Eastern Orthodox hymns, Baroque motets, new compositions, and motets and mass settings by Healey Willan. 

Organist Sebastian Moreno is likewise passionate about Anglo-Catholic music and ancient liturgy, focusing on medieval music’s influence in 19th-20th century composition. Music for liturgy is regularly enhanced by instrumentalists playing recorder, violin, viola da gamba, trumpet and medieval fiddle. Comprised of nine dedicated volunteers and choral scholars, the choir is always happy to welcome new members. Rehearsals are held on Thursdays, 7:15pm to 9:15pm.

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Continuing its long tradition of musical excellence, St. Anne’s presents a season of innovative performances, enhanced by our stunning sacred space which boasts religious artwork by the Group of Seven. Throughout the 2019/20 season, St. Anne’s will present a variety of concerts, including several recitals for solo instruments, as well as the popular “Community Cantate” in December. On April 19, St. Anne’s Choir will perform a concert celebrating the Earth and all Creation with music, including Britten’s Rejoice in the Lamb and Winter’s Missa Gaia. Since its founding in 1964, the St. Anne’s Music and Drama Society (MADS) has presented one of Gilbert and Sullivan’s beloved operettas. This season, MADS presents seven performances of Patience, running from January 24 to February 2. For more information or to participate in our music programs, please contact us. Mervin W. Fick, Director of Music.

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Soundstreams is one of the world’s leading contemporary music companies, and the largest global presenter of new Canadian music. Artistic director Lawrence Cherney and executive director Ben Dietschi are committed to showcasing the work of living Canadian and international composers with a focus on innovative thematic and experiential programming. Soundstreams also serves a broad community of music lovers through free outreach and education programs including Encounters, Bridges, SoundWave, and SoundMakers. Encounters is a free monthly discovery series featuring performances, discussions, and audience participation; Bridges helps talented contemporary composers from around the world launch their careers; SoundWave provides accessible tickets; and SoundMakers provides interactive learning experiences online and in the classroom.