Canada Day on Choral Concert: Festival 500 - Sharing the Voices!
This Sunday Peter Togni celebrates Canada Day with a special encore presentation of one of our favourite concert broadcasts from this past year – a celebration of Festival 500 from St. John’s Newfoundland, one of Canada’s most treasured choral festivals.
Singing in Newfoundland and Labrador has been a way of celebrating, mourning, and telling their community's stories for over 500 years. That community spirit is still at the heart of Festival 500, as St John’s now reaches out beyond its shores to bring in choirs from across Canada and around the world, to celebrate the power of song.
We’ll hear a broadcast of the highlights from one year ago this July, recorded at the Arts and Culture Centre and Gower Street United Church in St. John's.
Don’t forget that CBCMUSIC.CA has lots to offer for classical music lovers, there are 10 classical streams, available 24 / 7. You can also check out the Choral Concert blog plus extensive videos and concerts in all genres.
Wednesday, June 27, 2012
Monday, June 25, 2012
Congratulations Lydia Adams, the 2012 Recipient of the Roy Thomson Hall Award of Recognition
Lydia Adams is Conductor and Artistic Director of both the Elmer Iseler Singers and the Amadeus Choir of Greater Toronto, national leaders in commissioning, premiering, performing and recording Canadian choral works. Dr. Adams believes passionately in the power of music to effect positive change in the lives of people of all ages and consistently demonstrates a true dedication to the creation and growth of Canadian choral music. Her expertise and dedication make her a vibrant and inspiring musical force and a deserving recipient of the recognition.
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
Choral Concert, with host Peter Togni Sunday, June 24, 2012 9:00 - 11:00 am, (9:30 - 11:30 NT) on CBC Radio 2
Mozart’s Mass in C Minor with the Cologne Radio Choir and Orchestra.
This Sunday on Choral Concert Peter Togni will bring you the great Mass in C Minor by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.
It was a work of thanksgiving for the recovery of his wife Constanza from a serious illness. When it looked like she wasn’t going to make it he swore he would write a piece of thanksgiving if she did.
She did recover, but from the tone of Mozart’s work it sounds like he was still reflecting on the possibility of what might have occurred. From the first notes the piece is dark, full, rich and intense and it points to Mozart’s awareness of the fragility of life and in some ways, to his own destiny. He died 8 years later in 1791.
This Sunday on Choral Concert Peter Togni will bring you the great Mass in C Minor by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.
It was a work of thanksgiving for the recovery of his wife Constanza from a serious illness. When it looked like she wasn’t going to make it he swore he would write a piece of thanksgiving if she did.
She did recover, but from the tone of Mozart’s work it sounds like he was still reflecting on the possibility of what might have occurred. From the first notes the piece is dark, full, rich and intense and it points to Mozart’s awareness of the fragility of life and in some ways, to his own destiny. He died 8 years later in 1791.
Sunday, June 17, 2012
Composers, Conductors, and Choirs
The prospect of interviewing Lydia Adams was a formidable one. In my mind, the choral heavy weights in Canada consist of the three professional choirs in our country: The Elmer Iseler Singers, Pro Coro Canada, and the Vancouver Chamber Choir. Thus, the choral influence of each of these respective organizations is due in large part to their Artistic Directors. I knew I better not mess this up. The choral shame would be too much to bear. Adams is the conductor and Artistic Director of the Elmer Iseler Singers. She met with me following her joint concert with the Elmer Iseler Singers and the MacMillian Singers at Podium 2012, which honoured the work of Canadian composer Ruth Watson Henderson.
Thursday, June 14, 2012
Choral Concert, with host Peter Togni Sunday, June 17, 2012 9:00 - 11:00 am, (9:30 - 11:30 NT) on CBC Radio 2
The Huelgas Ensemble in Concert
This Sunday Peter Togni brings you one of the world’s truly great choral ensembles, the Huelgas ensemble conducted by Paul van Nevel. Not only do they have total mastery over pitch, style and rhythm – but they also have a unique sound that is very rich in the mid range, producing a gloriously deep tone. This is the kind of "total immersion" music you could listen to forever.
Based in Switzerland, this group started off as specialists in contemporary music and over the years have become more and more focused on Renaissance and Medieval music. They take their name from a Gregorian Chant manuscript based in Burgos, Spain called the “Codex Las Huelgas”.
In this concert from Lunenburg, Germany you will hear music by Renaissance and Medieval masters Agricola, Rossi, Clemens non Pappa, Orlando de Lasso and with a jump ahead into the 1700’s, you will also hear the great baroque master J.S.Bach.
This Sunday Peter Togni brings you one of the world’s truly great choral ensembles, the Huelgas ensemble conducted by Paul van Nevel. Not only do they have total mastery over pitch, style and rhythm – but they also have a unique sound that is very rich in the mid range, producing a gloriously deep tone. This is the kind of "total immersion" music you could listen to forever.
Based in Switzerland, this group started off as specialists in contemporary music and over the years have become more and more focused on Renaissance and Medieval music. They take their name from a Gregorian Chant manuscript based in Burgos, Spain called the “Codex Las Huelgas”.
In this concert from Lunenburg, Germany you will hear music by Renaissance and Medieval masters Agricola, Rossi, Clemens non Pappa, Orlando de Lasso and with a jump ahead into the 1700’s, you will also hear the great baroque master J.S.Bach.
Thursday, June 7, 2012
Choral Concert, with host Peter Togni Sunday, June 10, 2012 9:00 - 11:00 am, (9:30 - 11:30 NT) on CBC Radio 2
Seventeen Voyces perform a Journey of Ireland
This week on Choral Concert Peter Togni will feature the group Seventeen Voyces. This Ottawa based group is small, eccentric and sings repertoire that is off the beaten track.
Seventeen voices is the brainchild of their director Kevin Reeves who puts together musical programs that are truly unique. They regularly feature 17th century rarities from the likes of John Blow and Antonio Bononcini and they just finished presenting an unusual celebration of the 200th anniversary of the birth of Charles Dickens - with the songs of the roving vendors on the streets of London.
What makes this choir noteworthy is how Reeves uses its small size to great advantage. In concert they are tight, flexible and can serve up a wonderfully supple sound. He has honed this group into a fine chamber choir, one that can turn on a dime and deliver a big, full sound that will make you stand up and listen.
This Sunday you will hear them do a program called the Journey of Ireland, where they dig into choral music written by Irish composers. You will hear more of Reeve’s off the beaten track discoveries with songs like "My Love is an Arbutis" by Charles Standford and "Oculi Ominum" by Charles Wood.
You’ll also hear the choral magic of Edmonton’s “Kokopelli”, and the beautiful Mass in F by the 17 year old Franz Schubert – a bright, lovely and sunny work perfect for a Sunday in late spring.
Don’t forget that CBCMUSIC.CA has lots to offer for classical music lovers, there are 10 classical streams, available 24 / 7. You can also check out the Choral Concert blog plus extensive videos and concerts in all genres.
This week on Choral Concert Peter Togni will feature the group Seventeen Voyces. This Ottawa based group is small, eccentric and sings repertoire that is off the beaten track.
Seventeen voices is the brainchild of their director Kevin Reeves who puts together musical programs that are truly unique. They regularly feature 17th century rarities from the likes of John Blow and Antonio Bononcini and they just finished presenting an unusual celebration of the 200th anniversary of the birth of Charles Dickens - with the songs of the roving vendors on the streets of London.
What makes this choir noteworthy is how Reeves uses its small size to great advantage. In concert they are tight, flexible and can serve up a wonderfully supple sound. He has honed this group into a fine chamber choir, one that can turn on a dime and deliver a big, full sound that will make you stand up and listen.
This Sunday you will hear them do a program called the Journey of Ireland, where they dig into choral music written by Irish composers. You will hear more of Reeve’s off the beaten track discoveries with songs like "My Love is an Arbutis" by Charles Standford and "Oculi Ominum" by Charles Wood.
You’ll also hear the choral magic of Edmonton’s “Kokopelli”, and the beautiful Mass in F by the 17 year old Franz Schubert – a bright, lovely and sunny work perfect for a Sunday in late spring.
Don’t forget that CBCMUSIC.CA has lots to offer for classical music lovers, there are 10 classical streams, available 24 / 7. You can also check out the Choral Concert blog plus extensive videos and concerts in all genres.
Wednesday, June 6, 2012
Hear to be Moved is DaCapo Season Theme
In November, we will explore movement across time. In March, we'll take a pilgrimage and travel on the ground. And then, in May, we'll stretch away from time and the earth, and reach through water and air...to the light. Throughout the season,we'll be joined by organist Marlin Nagtegaal, the University of Waterloo Chamber Choir, the Factory Arts Quartet, and many others.
Subscriptions are now available - order a 3-concert season subscription before September 4, 2012 and save! Simply download an order form and send along with your payment to the choir before the deadline. Individual tickets will go on sale in the fall.
VCC Stellar Choral Concerts for Next Season!
For more information, visit www.vancouverchamberchoir.com
Victoria Choral Society Appoints New Music Director
The Victoria Choral Society is pleased to welcome Brian Wismath as Music Director for the 2012-13 season. Mr. Wismath holds a Bachelor of Music degree from Queen’s University, and a Master's in Choral Conducting from the University of Arizona. He has served as director of a number of choirs, including the University of Victoria Chamber Choir and Tucson Masterworks Chorale. Brian began his education in choral music as a chorister in the Toronto Mendelssohn Youth Choir, under the direction of Robert Cooper. He is currently Director of the Vox Humana Chamber Choir and the Victoria Conservatory of Music Chorale.
Web Site Link: http://www.victoriachoralsociety.ca/press-release.html
Web Site Link: http://www.victoriachoralsociety.ca/press-release.html
Sunday, June 3, 2012
The Estonian Singing Revolution
The Estonian choral community has a rich cultural heritage. Since 1869, Estonia hosts a song festival, “Laulupidu” every five years where over 25 000 singers join together in song. Raudsepp emphasized that this song festival was a formative event in Estonian history because “it established the identity of Estonian choral music… the song festival became an expression of the mentality and desire of Estonia,” and created a “singing revolution.” The reflection of Tartu’s Estonian heritage is also reflected in their repertoire choice at Podium, which was mainly Estonian folklore. Raudsepp remarks this is the case because “the tradition of women as messengers of Estonian's consciousness through folksong over countless centuries is reflected in the current devotion of their country's women singers to their art.” Therefore, the female voices of the group have become a cultural conduit for Estonian sentiments.
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