It is with great pride that we announce our newly revamped and expanded Musical Toronto.
We have gone from a single-writer blog under John Terauds and (successfully, thanks to you, our readers) transitioned to a similar format with yours truly at the helm. Today, we move to a fully comprehensive classical music magazine, with the same mandate we’ve always had: to write about and explore Toronto’s thriving classical music and opera scene.
Musical Toronto started as a response to our major national newspapers’ decision to abandon serious classical music coverage across the city. We took it upon ourselves to take up that mantle, and provide a strong and independent voice to one of the world’s leading creative cities.
As you can see, we have a new look. Gone are the high contrast white-on-black pages that made it difficult to read for some. We’ve implemented a special premium typeface designed to help remove the strain of reading online. We think it looks pretty sharp with the overall aesthetic, and hope you do too!
So… What’s new?
We have a number of interactive website features that will help serve our readers better. The first is our new Datebook, which is populated with our top ten weekly Critic’s Picks events and Who’s Who member concerts. Users can use it to keep up-to-date with what’s happening week-to-week, and even import events into their own calendars at home.
In a city as large as Toronto, we understand that it can be overwhelming to keep up with the many concerts going on every day. In an age when the traditional gatekeepers are long gone, anyone at all can voice their events. The problem is not everyone can be heard, and this is where we come in.
Another new feature is our interactive Map, which will be unveiled shortly after our launch. It will include details about Toronto’s amazing neighbourhoods, as well as links into all of our city’s venues and arts groups spread across town.
Finally, we are delighted to present our new curated Who’s Who members, intended to give local arts companies, artists and venues an economical way to let our readers know of all the extraordinary things they’ve been up to. Each WHO’S WHO member receives a public profile that includes press releases, season listings, special events, and promotional activities. These are published on our front page, and posted to our many Facebook and Twitter followers. We will also include member events on our interactive datebook feature. As this was launched just today, we have yet to include anyone, but we are offering a limited time trial membership. If you would like to participate, please contact us at fullycomposed@gmail.com.
And who are these “writers” you speak of?
Some of them you may have heard of, others not yet – but you will!
Meet Neil Crory and Jenna Douglas – two well-known writers heading our editorial opera and vocal music content. Both are experts and carry just as much love as knowledge for the craft of opera and art song. They have different approaches to writing, and will offer distinctive perspectives on our large scale and indie opera scenes.
Then there’s Lev Bratishenko, classical music critic for the Montréal Gazette and MacLean’s Magazine who has joined us. Lev turned some heads a few years ago, when his writing caught the eye of Alex Ross, (classical music writer for the New Yorker). His often-humorous take on writing for the arts is a fresh mix of gonzo and traditional classical music journalism. He is as outrageous as he is smart, and we are very excited to have him on board.
Of course our traditional mainstays will continue, starting with John Terauds, our emeritus columnist. Musical Toronto is the house that John built, and it just wouldn’t be the same without him. We will hear from him every full moon, or so, from his vantage in Vermont.
As for myself, I will be contributing on Fits & Bursts, a new column featuring various reviews, interviews, profiles, and editorials. It will also include a new interview series, which will present high profile composers and performers with a set of 50 questions, from which they will select and answer 20. It should be a lot of fun.
After searching long and wide for someone to focus on our contemporary music community in Ontario, Curtis Perry became an obvious choice. He has written for the popular contemporary music Magazine I care If You Listen, and brings with him an inquisitive nature to tackle issues that are current and timely. Judging from his controversial first post, he will fit right in here.
Paul E. Robinson, will also be joining our editorial team with a column titled “The Classical Traveler”. Paul was born in Toronto and has a long history as a broadcaster, author, conductor, and teacher. He has communicated his joy of music to more than a generation of musicians and music lovers across Canada and the US. Paul will be writing about his travels around the world, and also contributing CD reviews from time to time.
Readers will be happy to know we will be keeping everyone up to date with news and events as they come in to The Scoop feature found in the top menu.
Everyone needs a break from time to time, so our new Coffee Break posts will be just that – a chance to take a break and lose yourself in a funny cartoon, video or multimedia item found at the bottom of the internet.
As you can see, we will also have a new spot for reviews, features, profiles and our longtime Classical 101 posts.
Have a look around and let us know what you think in our comments below.
I hope you enjoy what we have to offer, and consider subscribing to our email blasts/newsletter found in the right hand column.
Of course we love hearing from you, so don’t hesitate to reach out with thoughts, impressions and story ideas to: editor@musicaltoronto.org
Sincerely,
Michael Vincent
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