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Photo: Jerry Toth – Alto Saxophone; Roy Smith – Tenor Saxophone; Eddie Karam – Baritone Saxophone; Murray Lauder – Bass; Phil Nimmons -- Clarinet; Ed Bickert – Guitar; Erich Traugott – Trumpet (information courtesy Mike Cado) Broadcast Date: January 23, 1963 Photography Date: November 14, 1962.

Phil Nimmons – 100 Years in the Making

By Marc Chénard on 26 May 2023 Canadian Music, Mainstream Jazz, Toronto

This page also available in / Cette page également disponible en français The field of jazz has its share of stories about musicians who died young, but there are also those who lead long and productive lives, some fortunate enough to reach a ripe old age and receive due praise for their accomplishments. In this era of smoke-free clubs, more jazz figures than ever are pushing well into their 90s, a handful of them even shattering the centenary mark. In case you wondered, the oldest living jazzman today is Ray Anthony, the last of the swing era big-band leaders, now…

Jim and Owen Adams, an Indigenous father/son duo, keep exploring teachings from the Medicine Wheel in Real People Dancing, soon to be enjoyed again in Toronto's Seaton Village neighbourhood. Picture credit: Porch View Dances

Toronto’s Kaeja d’Dance: real life dances

By Nathalie de Han on 25 May 2023 Arts Industry, Dance, Indigenous, La Scena Online, La Scena Spotlight, Scena Arts, Theatre, Toronto

Toronto’s Kaeja d’Dance returns for its 12th year in Toronto’s historic Seaton Village with the award-winning Porch View Dances: Real People Dancing In Real Spaces. The idea behind the Porch View Dances project is to pair non-professional dancers with professional choreographers. After spending some time rehearsing, the new cast eventually invites neighbors to watch the result, paying what they can. People interested to perform have to answer a short questionnaire about themselves and why they want to be involved but no dance background is required: it’s about creating movement and pleasure. Porch View Dances mingle ordinary lives and artistic expression through dance and…

Photo: Shelagh Howard

Newswire | Glenn Hodgins Appointed Executive Director of Tafelmusik

By Newswire on 10 May 2023 Newswire, Toronto

Toronto, May 9, 2023 … Dr. Christopher Paige, Chair of Tafelmusik’s Board of Directors, is delighted to announce that Glenn Hodgins has been appointed Executive Director. Currently President and CEO of the Canadian Music Centre (CMC), Hodgins will join Tafelmusik starting June 21, 2023. He succeeds Daniela Nardi, who has served as Interim Executive Director since July 2022. “I am delighted that Glenn Hodgins will be joining Tafelmusik’s leadership team and would like to extend a warm welcome on behalf of the Board of Directors and search committee,” says Dr. Paige. “Glenn’s experience, wisdom, and passion for Tafelmusik will serve…

Photo: Michael Cooper

Review | COC’s Tosca

By Denise Lai on 8 May 2023 City, Concert Reviews, Toronto, Vocal

Tosca is a riveting drama of love, lust and betrayal. Add in Puccini’s impossibly lush score and a few show-stopper arias, this opera is the whole package. Directed by Paul Curran, this COC revival of the 2017 production features brand new leads in their COC debuts: Irish soprano Sinéad Campbell-Wallace as Tosca and Italian tenor Stefano La Colla as Cavaradossi, and expectations are high. What you missed La Colla is a fine, smitten Cavaradossi. His warm, creamy sound carried the high notes beautifully. Tosca is a temperamental character – loving and charming one moment, jealous and angry the next. Campbell-Wallace,…

Photo: Michael Cooper

Review | Canadian Opera Company’s Macbeth a Hit with some Misses

By Denise Lai on 8 May 2023 City, Classical Music, Concert Reviews, Opera, Toronto, Vocal

Emboldened by witches’ prophesies and with strong encouragement from his wife, Macbeth turns into a power-thirsty man who uses violence to annihilate everything in his way to seize Scotland’s throne. Verdi’s ominous score is enhanced by dramatic stage effects: dark sets punctuated by thunder and lightning; ghostly appearances of witches and three demonic children; bloodied bodies rising from the dead. Although the murders are all swiftly carried out, David McVicar‘s COC/Chicago co-production delivers a longing sense of foreboding and some genuinely frightening moments. What you missed There was all-round good singing from the male leads. American baritone Quinn Kelsey’s debut…

Photos: Allan Cabral

Review | Epic Interpretation of Messiaen’s Turangalila-Symphonie

By Andrea Rush on 5 May 2023 Concert Reviews, La Scena Online, Toronto

Since assuming the podium as TSO conductor, Gustavo Gimeno’s leadership of the TSO to its rightful place on the world stage has been self-evident. His commitment to twentieth century music on a grand scale and to showcasing Canadian talent is unquestionable. Thursday night’s concert, the colossal Turangalila-Symphonie (10 movements, 4 themes, no break) was the piece de resistance. The Turangalila is a rare treat to perform and to experience. Flanked by the star soloists, piano virtuoso superpower, Marc-André Hamelin on one side, facing off with ondes Martenot expert Nathalie Forget, Maestro Gimeno explained the Sanskrit title-creation, time and joy which…

Photo: JAG Photography

Review | TSO, Fabien Gabel, Jean-Guihen Queyras & Camille Pepin Celebrate French Music

By Andrea Rush on 28 April 2023 Classical Music, Concert Reviews, Orchestral, Toronto

The TSO’s prominence on the global concert stage continues to surge. The April 26 concert featured French conductor Fabien Gabel, French/Canadian-born cellist Jean-Guihen Queyras, and the North American premiere of contemporary French composer Camille Pepin’s latest work, Laniakea. Judging from the lack of empty seats at Roy Thompson Hall, the message has gained momentum: classical music is alive and well when the programming and performers are stellar. Fresh from his debut in Chicago barely a few days ago, Fabien Gabel’s TSO debut opened with the fanfare of Camille Pepin’s Laniakea. Tonal orchestration is accessible. It paints images, through harmony and…

Photo: Paul Robinson

Review | Mandolin Magic: The Artistry of Avi Avital

By Paul E. Robinson on 26 April 2023 Concert Reviews, Toronto

The mandolin is not widely recognized as a regular component of classical music concerts, but in a recent concert in Toronto the Israeli mandolin virtuoso Avi Avital made the best possible case for his instrument. Avital was joined by about 20 string players from the Toronto Symphony for a richly rewarding program of Vivaldi and Bach concertos, along with a recent concerto written for him by Avner Dorman, at the George Weston Recital Hall in North York. A near-capacity audience seemed thrilled with what they heard. The mandolin is historically a very old instrument but its role was mostly confined…

Newswire | Six Emerging Conductors Take the Podium with Jean-Sébastien Vallée and the Toronto Mendelssohn Choir

By Newswire on 24 April 2023 Newswire, Toronto

Toronto, April 24th, 2023—The Toronto Mendelssohn Choir and Artistic Director Jean-Sébastien Vallée welcome six emerging choral conductors to Toronto for Take the Podium, the TMChoir’s 2023 Conducting Symposium. This annual gathering offers an invaluable opportunity for emerging conductors from across North America to work with artistic director and conductor Jean-Sébastien Vallée and the full TMChoir for a five-day series of workshops and masterclasses. Participants will have the rare opportunity to conduct the 130 voices of the Toronto Mendelssohn Choir, including the 24-voice professional ensemble, the TMSingers, in rehearsals throughout the week and in the concluding public performance, which will also…

Photo: Allan Cabral

Review | TSO’s Visions of Spain: A Spanish Influenced Program

By Paul E. Robinson on 3 April 2023 Classical Music, Toronto

It was not the first time that Spanish-born TSO music director Gustavo Gimeno conducted Spanish music in Toronto, and more is scheduled for next season. And why not? It is mostly music worth hearing and Gimeno has shown that he has a real flair for conducting it. Add to the mix the Spanish-born flamenco guitarist Juan Manuel Cañizares, and the Toronto Symphony Youth Orchestra, and you have the ingredients for an afternoon of musical enjoyment. In the event, we heard virtuoso guitar playing, first-rate playing from old and young musicians alike, superb conducting, and even some surprise drumming from the…

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