Monthly Archives: June 2025

A Real Pain’s Chopin

I have just seen Jesse Eisenberg’s film A Real Pain (2024). I call it his, in the sense that Eisenberg wrote & directed and also stars as David opposite Kieran Culkin who is David’s cousin Benji. They are on a … Continue reading

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Reflections from Stephen Bell, former COC chorister, Founder of Coffeeshop Film & Creative

Stephen Bell is an award winning filmmaker and visual designer based in Toronto. Videographer by day and opera singer by night, Stephen is the Founder of Coffeeshop Film & Creative. And on May 25th Stephen posted on Facebook that after … Continue reading

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Gimeno Conducts the Best of Brahms

I would not dispute the title of tonight’s Toronto Symphony concert: “Gimeno Conducts the Best of Brahms”. Among the many wonderful pieces Johannes Brahms composed, his first piano concerto and fourth symphony are not just popular but arguably among his … Continue reading

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Embedded at Apocryphonia Cabinet of Curiosities2

The invitation sought uncommon music to be performed. I proposed to play a piano transcription of an orchestral piece. Alex Cappellazzo, Artistic Director of Apocryphonia encouraged me to participate for their Cabinet of Curiosities2 in the Heliconian Hall Sunday June … Continue reading

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Interviewing soprano Lynn Isnar

Lynn Isnar is a soprano with a wonderful voice and stage presence who appears regularly in the Toronto, area. Lynn will be singing with the Toronto Concert Orchestra in July in a program titled “Romeo & Juliet” both as Gounod’s … Continue reading

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St John Passion variant for Bach Festival Finale

Sometimes I’m a little compulsive about dates and details. Sunday I attended the 3:00 pm performance of the St John Passion, to close the 2025 Bach Festival at Eastminster United Church. Maybe it doesn’t matter which version they present when … Continue reading

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