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Lessons of historical performance: The future of old music should not look or sound like the past

By John Terauds On May 22, 2013 · Add Comment
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A month ahead of the annual Montreal Baroque Festival, Ensemble Caprice music director Matthias Maute has written a fascinating perspective on the period performance movement for Early Music America.
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Richard Wagner at 200: British Library puts manuscripts online and Operaplot issues Twitter challenge

By John Terauds On May 22, 2013 · Add Comment
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The world’s classical radio stations and websites have special Richard Wagner features today to mark the 200th anniversary of the German composer’s birth. More importantly, the British Library this morning posted a wealth of the composer’s manuscripts on its digital access site.
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Album review: Violinist James Ehnes aces moody Britten and Shostakovich concertos

By John Terauds On May 21, 2013 · Add Comment
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I never cease to listen in awe at the supernatural control violinist James Ehnes has over his bow. His latest album, featuring the Benjamin Britten and Dmitri Shostakovich concertos with the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra may not be easy listening, but it commands instant and total respect.
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How come classical audiences don’t get to take home a piece of what they experienced?

By John Terauds On May 21, 2013 · 9 Comments
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The Disney Concert Hall begs to be photographed, even when the performers are just setting up.
While scanning my Facebook news feed this morning, a shot of a friend taking a picture reminded me of how obsessive most of us are about capturing special little slices in time — usually with our still and/or video cameras. It’s for a mountain view (something few lenses can do justice to), a delicious appetiser (we can see it but [...]
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Critic’s picks: Toronto concerts for May 21 to 26

By John Terauds On May 20, 2013 · Add Comment
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American soprano Anna Christy (seen here as Cunegonde in an English National Opera production of Candide), steps off the Four Seasons Centre stage to perform a solo recital in the Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre on Tuesday (ENO photo).
If we had a concert presenter-of-the-week prize, it would go to the Canadian Opera Company. It’s a wonderful week for fans of vocal music in Toronto — some of which is free for the listening: TUESDAY Soprano Anna Christy at the Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre, noon. Free admission. The Canadian Opera Company’s wonderful Lucia sings bel canto arias as well as [...]
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Fine Eurocentric watching and listening for a holiday-weekend Sunday

By John Terauds On May 19, 2013 · 1 Comment
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Need a cry on Victoria Day weekend? try Jonas Kaufmann's Winterreise.
Besides the few brave musicians who have programmed concerts on a weekend when our collective attention is pastoral rather than aesthetic, there is some fine watching and listening available online — meaning this music is totally mobile.
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Interview: Organist Karen Christianson makes pre-high school grad recital visit to Toronto

By John Terauds On May 18, 2013 · Add Comment
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Karen Christianson in the organ loft at Westminster Abbey this past February (David Christianson photo).
Karen Christianson may be one of the most talented teenage organists in the United States, but that doesn’t mean she is going to become a professional musician. Depending on how things go during her first year at Harvard University this fall, the 17-year-old’s upcoming concert visit to Toronto could be her last.
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Get them while they’re young works for music as well as addictions and gangs

By John Terauds On May 17, 2013 · 1 Comment
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Three of Xiao Grabke's 20 students at George Webster primary school in Toronto show off their stuff on Thursday morning (John Terauds phone photo).
It takes determination, grit and single-mindedness to succeed in music — just as it does to effect social change. So imagine what a particularly determined musician — in this case violinist Moshe Hammer — can accomplish when he wants to change the course of a child’s life.
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Keyboard Thursday album review: Conrad Tao treats Getty miniatures with large-scale care

By John Terauds On May 16, 2013 · Add Comment
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Super-talented young Illinois native Conrad Tao has made a little recorded detour through some piano works of American composer-philanthropist Gordon Getty, with wonderful results — hopefully contributing to the liberation of art music world from some enduring prejudices in the process.
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Keyboard Thursday album review: Nothing exceeds like Christopher O’Riley’s Liszt excess

By John Terauds On May 16, 2013 · Add Comment
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The Spring 2013 Over-the-Top Piano Album Award goes to National Public Radio host, pianist and inveterate arranger Christopher O’Riley and his riotous pile of transcriptions released by Oxingale Records as O’Riley’s Liszt.
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    • Lessons of historical performance: The future of old music should not look or sound like the past
    • Richard Wagner at 200: British Library puts manuscripts online and Operaplot issues Twitter challenge
    • Album review: Violinist James Ehnes aces moody Britten and Shostakovich concertos
    • How come classical audiences don’t get to take home a piece of what they experienced?
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  • Lessons of historical performance: The future of old music should not look or sound like the past
  • Richard Wagner at 200: British Library puts manuscripts online and Operaplot issues Twitter challenge
  • Album review: Violinist James Ehnes aces moody Britten and Shostakovich concertos
  • How come classical audiences don't get to take home a piece of what they experienced?
  • Critic's picks: Toronto concerts for May 21 to 26
  • Fine Eurocentric watching and listening for a holiday-weekend Sunday
  • Interview: Organist Karen Christianson makes pre-high school grad recital visit to Toronto
  • Get them while they're young works for music as well as addictions and gangs
  • Keyboard Thursday album review: Conrad Tao treats Getty miniatures with large-scale care
  • Keyboard Thursday album review: Nothing exceeds like Christopher O'Riley's Liszt excess
  • Belgian Marc Bouchkov takes first prize at Montreal International Violin Competition
  • Concert review: A night of fine Russian chemistry from Toronto Symphony and Kirill Gerstein
  • Tomorrow: A sneak peek at opera Figaro daringly reimagined for 21st century Toronto
  • Concert review: A satisfying meeting of East and West in Soundstreams' Music for China
  • Opera review: Composer Andrew Ager's quicksilver take on mercenary Henry James characters
  • Preview: Toronto Mendelssohn Choir wrestles with the beast that is Beethoven's Missa Solemnis
  • Album review: Bach Cello Suites change character but lose no magic with Hopkinson Smith's theorbo
  • Interview: For Soundstreams conductor Leslie Dala, discovery is what engages him with music
  • Tonight: Toronto's newest classical orchestra part of Lulaworld 2013 festival
  • Critic’s picks: Toronto concerts and opera May 13 to 19
  • We worry too much about liking classical music
  • No Canadian among six Montreal International Violin Competition finalists
  • Careers in classical music: The crazy tightrope between encouragement and reality
  • National Youth Orchestra of Canada musicians India-bound for two-weeks of learning and collaboration
  • Opera review: Lesson of Da Ji well taught by Toronto Masque Theatre
  • Photos: Hip 21st century Toronto coffee house meets J.S. Bach
  • Markham Theatre's classical programming for 2013-14 season includes Royal Moscow Ballet and Measha Brueggergosman
  • Tonight: A real slice of 18th century salon life with the Eybler Quartet and R.H. Thomson
  • Today: Canadian violinist Nikki Chooi makes semi-finals at Montreal International Musical Competition
  • Keyboard Thursday album review: Garrick Ohlsson convincingly presents merits of composer Charles Griffes
  • Keyboard Thursday album review: 150 minutes of strong, seductive Chopin from Vassily Primakov
  • Informal Toronto memorial for ex-Tafelmusik oboist Washington McClain set for May 31
  • Opera review: The deep, dark seductions of Canadian Opera Company's Dialogues des carmélites
  • Video: Wrecking pianos to sell luxury cars. Really?
  • Preview: Toronto Masque Theatre Lessons of Love are Chinese and Roman, new and old
  • In his own words: Pianist Ryan MacEvoy McCullough on crafting concert vs flight of beer
  • Album review: Angela Hewitt prefers her Mozart like your skin -- clear and flawless
  • Judith Forst leads a female cast of can-do Canadians in COC production of Dialogues des carmélites
  • Critic's picks: Toronto concerts and opera May 6 to 12
  • Amici Chamber Ensemble four-concert 2013-14 season includes visit from Lara St. John
  • The Star's Greg Quill was an example of how practical insight is essential in a good critic
  • From parsnip oboes to a room-turned-walk-through lute, Musicworks lives on the edge
  • Concert appreciation: Childlike magic from Peter and the Dinosaurs
  • Beware the subversive power of the church organist, says new British survey
  • Opera on DVD: Benjamin Britten's art and preoccuppations distilled to their essence in Owen Wingrave
  • Francis Poulenc and Les Six were just friends, not a creative collaboration
  • Album review: Fine Common Ground under pianist Christ Donnelly and clarinettist Kornel Wolak
  • Violinist Scott St. John says goodbye to St Lawrence String Quartet
  • The Canadian Children's Opera Company opera Laura's Cow 'a victory of youth and bovine wisdom'
  • Concert review: Lack of consistency detracted from Tafelmusik Handel Celebration
  • Concert review: James Ehnes and Russell Braun made fine 115th birthday present for Women's Musical Club of Toronto
  • Keyboard Thursday album review: Christophe Rousset's flexibly expressive harpsichord makes magic of Jacques Duphly
  • Keyboard Thursday album review: The spectacular sound of Regensburg's Pope Benedict organ
  • The ultimate challenge: If the world is so predictable, how is it that some works of art fail while others succeed?
  • Concert review: Toronto Symphony simply fantastic in all-French programme
  • Banff International String Quartet Competition announces 10 finalists for its 11th edition
  • A piece of music may lose its backstory, but not its beauty
  • Piano Ecstasy revisited: Video stream from last week's Soundstreams concert reveals riches
  • Album review: Violinist Rachel Barton Pine powers down in 25 intimate lullabies
  • Album review: Molinari Quartet's Frédéric Bednarz digs deep in Szymanowski sonata
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