Tag Archives: JS Bach

JS Bach’s St Matthew Passion with Toronto Mendelssohn Choir and JS Vallée

Wednesday March 25th I attended the concluding performance of Johann Sebastian Bach’s St Matthew Passion at Koerner Hall by the Toronto Mendelssohn Choir and the TMC Baroque Orchestra led by Jean-Sébastien Vallée. This massive work is the perfect celebration of … Continue reading

Posted in Music and musicology, Reviews, Spirituality & Religion | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

A Bach Celebration with Tafelmusik Chamber Choir & Ivars Taurins

Thursday night was the first performance by Tafelmusik of A Bach Celebration at Jeanne Lamon Hall. The explanation was that this is an attempt to present a curated series of works that less well-known, instead of the usual canonical pieces, … Continue reading

Posted in Music and musicology, Spirituality & Religion | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

BELTing Over the Rainbow

BELT Monday night March 9th invited us to “another unforgettable night of communal singing at Crow’s Theatre” to “learn and perform the beloved classic “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” from The Wizard of Oz.” After spending Saturday morning March 7th studying … Continue reading

Posted in Dance, theatre & musicals, Popular music & culture | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Singsational Bach workshop with Jean-Sébastien Vallée

I know Jean-Sébastien Vallée as the artistic director of Toronto Mendelssohn Choir, which sometimes means he’s preparing the TMC for their work with another conductor, sometimes he’s the one leading the big ensemble, as he did for the Brahms German … Continue reading

Posted in Music and musicology, Reviews | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Tafelmusik Brandenburgs

I saw & heard an astonishing concert last night at Jeanne Lamon Hall from Tafelmusik playing a program of well-known music by Johann Sebastian Bach. I heard four of the six Brandenburg concertos and a version of his majestic E-flat … Continue reading

Posted in Music and musicology, Reviews | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Discovering the brilliant virtuoso Tony Siqi Yun

“I am a lucky guy.” That’s my mantra as a person seeking to live a life of gratitude: and sometimes it has proven to be true. My friends Gary & Bill left town for a family bris, giving me tickets … Continue reading

Posted in Dance, theatre & musicals, Music and musicology, Reviews | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

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

Posted in Music and musicology, Reviews | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

TSO, Angela Hewitt & Marta Gardolińska

I went home satisfied from tonight’s Toronto Symphony concert, a program including some items exactly as expected plus a few surprises. For an evening titled “Angela Hewitt Plays Mozart” it was a very solid collaboration between the famous pianist and … Continue reading

Posted in Music and musicology, Reviews | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Mass in B minor from Toronto Mendelssohn Choir

Last night’s performance of the Bach B minor Mass by the Toronto Mendelssohn Choir at Koerner Hall with a baroque orchestra led by their new artistic director Jean-Sébastien Vallée has put us on notice, that maybe Toronto Mendelssohn Choir are … Continue reading

Posted in Music and musicology, Reviews | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Questions for Colin Eatock at 65

The invitation from Colin Eatock caught my eye: “I’m organizing a concert in Toronto on February 20 (my 65th birthday).The programme will include a new piece by me.Admission is by donation — I hope you can make it!” We’ve seen … Continue reading

Posted in Books & Literature, Interviews, Music and musicology, Press Releases and Announcements | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment