In a bid to take advantage of street traffic outside their home at Trinity-St. Paul’s on Bloor Street, Tafelmusik has hired a mascot — a man-sized foam-stuffed violin named Hubert the Stradivarius that will wave and will hold a sign reading “Tafelmusik is strat… strat… stratifying!”
“The idea that Tafelmusik is boring needs to change,” said Tafelmusik’s marketing manager, Goran Bologovitch. “And we think the mascot is a great way to attract attention and have a bit of fun. It works for car washes, so why not classical music?”
The idea came to Tafelmusik’s marketing team after they saw how effective fan engagement was with the Toronto Blue Jays’ mascot, BK Birdy. “It puts a friendly face on something that otherwise has no personality,” they said. “We are in a war against blandness, and for us, the violin-themed mascot is the way to go. We chose the Stradivarius because it represents the best. And that, as well as the music we play, is what we represent.”
The mascot will also build on the growing trend of having organization CEOs speak before concerts and announce corporate sponsors. Tafelmusik said they noticed a reluctance by audience members to applaud for pre-concert sponsor announcements and are betting that an appearance by Hubert the Stradivarius will soften the delivery. Starting next season, the mascot will announce all Tafelmusik concerts as well as pass a bucket around for donations. “We realize the donation bucket can make people feel uncomfortable, but coming from a giant smiling foam violin, we think it will be much easier to take.”
Musical Toronto managed to get exclusive access to video footage of an early prototype of Tafelmusik’s Hubert the Stradivarius mascot filmed at Toronto’s High Park last summer (2016). The video (shown below) shows the mascot dancing around to the first movement of Beethoven’s 6th Symphony.
Tafelmusik would not confirm who is wearing the costume in the video, but our source has said that it is Tafelmusik Choir Director Ivars Tourins who will be filling the new role.
Tourins is well-known for dressing up as Herr Handel every year for Tafelmusik Sing-Along Messiah held in Toronto during the winter holidays.
Our source said that Tourins has been working hard with a diction coach from the University of Toronto’s Department of Linguistics, to develop a perfect 17th-century south-Italian accent, making it as authentic to the period as possible. He has also been practicing speaking in a falsetto voice at approximately A415 Hz (baroque tuning) which makes his voice sound a bit like Mickey Mouse — a baroque Mickey mouse if you will. “Kids will love this, and history buffs too,” said our source.
With innovation being the buzzword for orchestras around the globe, Tafelmusik are betting Hubert the Stradivarius will be an ideal friendly face for Canada’s leading baroque orchestra and choir.
For more news, see HERE and HERE.
#LUDWIGVAN
Want more updates on Toronto-centric classical music news and reviews before anyone else finds out? Follow us on Facebook or Twitter for all the latest.
- THE SCOOP | Royal Conservatory’s Dr. Peter Simon Awarded The Order Of Ontario - January 2, 2024
- THE SCOOP | Order of Canada Appointees Announced, Including Big Names From The Arts - December 29, 2023
- Ludwig Van Is Being Acquired By ZoomerMedia - June 12, 2023
