Tag Archives: classical-music

Wonder women: Sarah Hagen talks about her celebration of female composers

Sarah Hagen describes herself as a “recovering pianist”.  As a collector with a ridiculously big library of scores maybe I need to admit I have a problem, and someone like Sarah can help people like me. Next week Sarah delves … Continue reading

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Illia Ovcharenko recital in Toronto

Tonight Illia Ovcharenko played at the Jane Mallett Theatre in Toronto. I can give you the list of items in the program, but it can’t possibly convey the experience, between the pieces you might know and the ones we’ve never … Continue reading

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Thomas Adès leads Toronto Symphony on interplanetary voyages

The program for tonight’s Toronto Symphony concert conducted by Thomas Adès was a fascinating mix. In a concert bearing the title “Holst’s The Planets”, for the well-known work that would conclude our evening, we heard two of Adès’s big recent … Continue reading

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Alexandra Delle Donne discusses their Mozart – Menotti double bill

When I heard that soprano Alexandra Delle Donne was producing a twin-bill of one act operas, I wanted to know more. The night of Saturday March 8th and the afternoon of Sunday March 9th Alexandra will be singing in Menotti’s … Continue reading

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Interviewing pianist Illia Ovcharenko

Young pianist Illia Ovcharenko, winner of the 2022 Honens International Piano Competition, made a great impression at the Toronto Summer Music Festival in 2023. I remember expressing my hope that he would return. And he’s coming back Tuesday March 4th … Continue reading

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Jan Lisiecki plays Beethoven concerti

I’m going to stop calling Jan Lisiecki a young pianist. I just looked up his birthday, saw that on March 23rd he turns 30. But it’s not about the numbers. Tonight I heard the first of two concerts from Jan … Continue reading

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Auspicious beginning to (unofficial) TSO Beethoven festival

This week the Toronto Symphony offer the first in a series of concerts featuring the music of Ludwig van Beethoven, one of the most popular and best loved of all classical composers. Wednesday night’s performances were a brilliant start. No … Continue reading

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Alceste on Bloor

After half a century at the Jane Mallett in St Lawrence Centre on Front St, Voicebox – Opera in Concert presented Gluck’s opera Alceste today at their new venue, Jeanne Lamon Hall in the Trinity-St Paul’s Centre on Bloor St … Continue reading

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Talking to Lauren Margison about Alceste

Canadian soprano Lauren Margison will sing the title role in Gluck’s Alceste on January 12th with Voicebox Opera in Concert. Lauren is a graduate of the Canadian Opera Company Ensemble studio, the Atelier Lyrique de l’Opéra de Montréal and a … Continue reading

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Year(s) of Czech Music at the piano

2024 is the year of Czech Music, a celebration that’s held every decade in the year ending in 4. Speaking of ending, this year’s instalment is swiftly coming to a close, a year that saw the Canadian Opera Company present … Continue reading

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