Tag Archives: Ivars Taurins

Double Dixit delivers

Posted on November 29, 2025 by barczablog

This week Tafelmusik’s Chamber Choir began their season with a concert titled Double Dixit, a wonderful warm-up for the Messiah, coming in three weeks. The singers in that choir are professionals at the highest level, among the best soloists collected … Continue reading →

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The other Christmas Oratorio from Tafelmusik

Posted on November 25, 2024 by barczablog

Excuse me for this preamble, pondering Christmas oratorios. Toronto is Messiah town, as musical ensembles large (Toronto Symphony Dec 17-22 at Roy Thomson Hall or Tafelmusik Dec 20 & 21, plus the Singalong December 22nd) or small (Opera by Request … Continue reading →

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Tafelmusik and Ivars Taurins celebrate Handel

Posted on June 1, 2024 by barczablog

Tafelmusik turned their choral specialist loose for their season-concluding Handel celebration concert. If you have any way of getting to this concert do so, a love-fest centred on Handel and his alter-ego Ivars Taurins. You may know Ivars Taurins for … Continue reading →

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A Tafelmusik Tribute to Jeanne Lamon

Posted on June 3, 2022 by barczablog

Tonight I watched a Tafelmusik concert recorded in April, celebrating the life of Jeanne Lamon. I knew the curated experience from Alison Mackay and Christina Mahler would be meaningful, and they exceeded expectation. R.H. Thomson narrated a kind of documentary … Continue reading →

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A Tafelmusik Christmas

Posted on November 26, 2021 by barczablog

Do you remember how, at the end of It’s a Wonderful Life (that great film encouraging us to be grateful, to appreciate what we have): George Bailey celebrates and appreciates a return to normalcy after the end of his nightmare? … Continue reading →

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Time to Lift Up Your Heads

Posted on April 5, 2020 by barczablog

Come along with me as I muse about one of my favorite pieces of music, on a day when it seems especially apt. There are good years when we’re rolling along enjoying springtime pleasures. And there are years when it’s … Continue reading →

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Tribal Messiah

Posted on December 22, 2019 by barczablog

I’m trying to find the right word, so please bear with me. For someone who goes to see concerts & theatre more often than most people, you might never guess that I’m sometimes frustrated. My mantra is “I’m a lucky … Continue reading →

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How to Singalong

Posted on December 13, 2019 by barczablog

I don’t presume to know how one does the Singalong Messiah thing.  I am no expert. [morning after emendation… There are different sorts of experts. Singers? organists, conductors, musicians? or the textual scholars, people who really know Handel?  I avoid … Continue reading →

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St Matthew Passion: Bach at 334

Posted on March 22, 2019 by barczablog

Tonight was the first of four performances of the St Matthew Passion from Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra, Tafelmusik Chamber Choir, with members of the Toronto Children’s Chorus, all led by Masaaki Suzuki. By coincidence it was JS Bach’s 334th birthday. While … Continue reading →

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Sing-Along Messiah 2018

Posted on December 23, 2018 by barczablog

You can change the location but the song remains the same. Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra & Chamber Choir led by Herr Handel himself gave us their annual sing-along Messiah. The previous 37 have been at Massey Hall, but this time renovation … Continue reading →

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