Elizabeth Shepherd
By Elizabeth Shepherd
It’s just over a week since we got back from Japan – what a fantastic trip. It was our third time over there, and I have to say: we never actually get to see much of Tokyo given how busy the schedule is, but… we did manage to eat the freshest sashimi ever (over 7 courses in total), paired with a beautiful vintage Sake from a rice field 400 km north of Tokyo (yes, I’m a foodie). But back to the shows – we played 6 sold-out nights at the Cotton Club, joined by DJ Shacho of Soil and Pimp Sessions who spun some fantastic Soul-Jazz vinyl from the 60s and 70s to feed our ears in between sets. We did a live in-studio session and interview with the lovely and charming Andy – host of J-Wave’s International Music Show, Modaista (J-Wave is Japan’s national radio station). J-Wave has always been good to us, and this time was no exception; J-Wave listeners voted my first single, Seven Bucks, onto the “Tokyo Hot 100″ pop chart. Last time I checked it had climbed up to #38 and was in the company of some pretty big names.
The jet lag proved helpful for the first and perhaps only time in my history, as we had a 4:30 am soundcheck for CBC’s Metro Morning, 2 days after we got back from Tokyo. I had been up since 2 am that morning (my new wake up time), so 4:30 seemed a perfectly reasonable sound check hour. What an honour for us to be the special musical guests on the show for host Matt Galloway’s first day on the job, flying solo. Congrats, Matt! Here’s part of our chat and one of the songs we played at that ungodly hour.
Well, the countdown is on to the CD launch at Glenn Gould Studio , and the wheels are in full motion on my end – I’ve lined up a whole collective for the evening; guest appearances will include Coco Love Alcorn, Brian MacMillan, MC Abdominal, Hamilton poet James Strecker, contemporary dancer Elisha MacMillan, Roman Tome & Michael Davidson (of Elvis Bossa Nova) – to name a few. It only made sense, as most of these phenomenal artists/musicians were part of the album process in some way or another. Collaborations only fuel creativity, and the sharing is what it’s all about in the end. We hope to see you out on the 13th!
Best,
elizabeth
Guest Contributor Elizabeth Shepherd will celebrate the launch of her new album, ‘Heavy Falls The Night,’ with a performance at Glenn Gould Studio on Saturday, March 13
Posted by Elizabeth Shepherd in The Shows on March 11, 2010
CBC,Elizabeth Shepherd,Glenn Gould Studio,J-Wave,Matt Galloway,Tokyo
Trailer for Valery Gergiev documentary titled, You Cannot Start Without Me
By Bob Ramsay
Next Tuesday and Wednesday, Valery Gergiev is bringing his Mariinsky Orchestra to Roy Thomson Hall. Gergiev has to be the busiest conductor in all of classical music, and his orchestra is constantly on the go. But home ground for them all is the Mariinsky Theatre in St. Petersburg, Russia. Here, in an opera house built in 1860, Gergiev…..well, Gergiev rules!
He oversees the Mariinsky Orchestra, the Mariinsky Opera and the Mariinsky Ballet and their 2,000+ employees. (By the way, if the name “Mariinsky” is new to you, all of the above organizations used to be called “Kirov,” a recent name change that reflects the respective organization’s original names long before the Soviet communists decided to reward one of its leaders with this ‘naming opportunity.’
I first went to St. Petersburg in 1999 and that trip turned me into a life-long fan of Gergiev and the Orchestra. Why? Because they’re so incredibly good. You don’t have to know much about classical music to immediately hear how sharp their brass section is, or how Gergiev draws out huge emotion from his players with the flicker of his hand. At a time when it’s hard to tell the difference in the sound one Orchestra produces over another, there’s no mistaking the tumultuous, head-long and driven sound of the Mariinsky.
Back in 1999, I was at the Festival Gergiev had just started, called the White Nights, and there were so few people from the West that they printed up only 50 house programs in English — and you could smell the gestetner ink on them! Today, Gergiev has turned his Festival and the Mariinsky into one of St. Petersburg’s major industries. The White Nights Festival is a six-week gathering of some of the world’s top singers, dancers and players. Gergiev has built a sparkling new concert hall in addition to the aging Mariinsky Opera House. And those of us from Toronto can take special pride that architects Diamond + Schmitt have been chosen to design the new Mariinsky Opera House, which will open directly across the canal from the existing one.
The canal?
Well, St. Petersburg is an intriguing city on many fronts: it’s first of all a treasure trove of Russian culture (including home to the mighty Hermitage Museum, with its millions of paintings and artifacts). But it’s also a city founded by Peter the Great in 1703. Or rather “dug out of a swamp,” because that’s what St. Petersburg was. It had to be drained and then ‘canalled’, which it is today. It’s not quite Venice, but St. Petersburg has many beautiful canals running off the Neva River. Most of all, the city is what Peter the Great intended it to be those centuries ago: Russia’s window on to Europe. Located at the very western tip of Russia, it faces Finland and the west as the symbol of the new Russia’s cultural renaissance.
And there’s no bigger player in that rebirth than Valery Gergiev and his Mariinsky Orchestra. After all, who was that man conducting at the Closing Ceremonies at the Olympics a couple of weeks ago? Gergiev. Why was he there? Because Russia, and specifically the mountain-seaside town of Sochi, will host the 2014 Winter Olympics.
So if you want a taste of just how different – and excellent – the best of Russian culture can be, come to Roy Thomson Hall next week.
Guest contributor Bob Ramsay of RamsayInc.com -- is a music enthusiast, Gergiev disciple, journalist and a speechwriting, presentation training, self-proclaimed people herder who is a great friend of the halls.
Posted by Bob Ramsay in The Buzz on March 10, 2010
Mariinsky Orchestra,Olympics,Russia,St. Petersburg,Valery Gergiev
NEW SHOWS RECENTLY ANNOUNCED
We keep adding all sorts of good stuff to your calendars! Today we announced that Women Fully Clothed will perform their latest sketch show, Older & Hotter, at Massey Hall on Friday, May 7, 2010 (which happens to be the Friday before Mother’s Day). These four fantastic ladies – Kathryn Greenwood (Whose Line Is It Anyway, This Hour Has 22 Minutes), Robin Duke (Saturday Night Live), Jayne Eastwood (My Big Fat Greek Wedding, Chicago), and Teresa Pavlinek (History Bites, The Jane Show) – have been called “the funniest women in Canada” by the likes of Eugene Levy.
Jimmy Cliff
The reggae legend Jimmy Cliff, comes to Toronto’s Massey Hall on July 19. The Harder They Come star is also set to be the 2nd reggae artist (after Bob Marley) to ever be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Wyclef Jean will do the honours next week (March 15) at a ceremony in New York City. Tickets for the July 19 Massey Hall show go on sale to the public this Saturday at noon.
a-ha, whom you’ll remember for their massive single “Take On Me” come to Massey Hall on May 10. After 28 years and over 35 million albums sold worldwide, a-ha embark on their tour, called Ending on a High Note, which is the Norwegian groups final and “farewell” World tour. Last time a-ha performed in Toronto was at Massey Hall in October of 1986! Tickets for the May 10, 2010 concert go on sale this Saturday, March 6 at noon.
Also, ask and you shall receive! A second Craig Ferguson show goes on sale on Monday, March 8 – one more chance to see this funny man from the Late Late Show and another reason for us topost this video!
PERFORMANCES
Nathan Gunn (Wednesday): The second event of our International Recital Series, baritone Nathan Gunn performs at Roy Thomson Hall tomorrow night. Gunn is becoming quite well decorated with honours: he just won a Grammy Award for his work on album Britten: Billy Budd not to mention his inclusion in People Magazine’s annual Sexiest Man Alive issue. Check out this podcast by Rick Phillips about all of our Recitalists this season.
Trailer Park Boys (Wednesday): And now for something completely different: enjoy an evening with your favourite charming no-good-nicks at the Ricky, Julian and Bubbles, Drunk High and Unemployed tour over at Massey Hall.
Elizabeth Shepherd (Saturday): This jazz songstress just wowed listeners all over the city with her appearance on CBC Radio’s Metro Morning (and if you missed it, you can listen to it here, now’s your chance to see the real deal at the Glenn Gould Studio in concert while she launches her new album Heavy Falls The Night.
YOU SHOULD KNOW
If you were one of the gazillions watching the Olympic Closing Ceremonies, you were witness to a fantastic feat of technology – Maestro Valery Gergiev conducted the orchestra who were live in Red Square in Moscow. while he was on a podium in BC Place in Vancouver. The Washington Post says Gergiev was a member of the Russian Olympic Committee “that successfully lobbied to bring the 2014 games to Sochi, Russia.” Gergiev conducts the Mariinsky Orchestra (formerly Kirov) on both March 16 and 17 here live at Roy Thomson Hall
as part of our Virtuoso series.
It’s also worth mentioning that this week is Canadian Music Week here in the T-dot and that means it’s also Canadian Music Fest. Check out the CMF happenings at Massey Hall: Jamie Cullum with special guest Imelda May tonight, Tuesday March 9- Marianas Trench, with special guest Carly Rae Jepson on Wednesday, March 10- and then Our Lady Peace presents two of their albums “from top to bottom” (plus a set of other favourite Our Lady Peace hits) – Clumsy on Friday, March 12 and Spiritual Machines on Saturday March 13.
ACCOLADES
Many congratulations go out to the amazing Canadian talent who recently received Juno Award nominations, including: Emilie-Claire Barlow who performs April 15 & 16 at Glenn Gould Studio as well as a lengthy list of artists who have graced our halls recently: Michael Kaeshammer, Jann Arden, Blue Rodeo, Joel Plaskett, Cuff The Duke, Tegan & Sara, Yannick Nézet-Séguin and Karina Gauvin among many others. Here is the entire list of nominees.
Stefania Paterak is the Programming Coordinator for Massey Hall and Roy Thomson Hall.
Posted by Stefania Paterak in The Buzz on March 9, 2010
a-ha,elizabeth Shepperd,Jamie Cullum,jimmy Cliff,Massey Hall,Nathan Gunn,Roy Thomson Hall,trailer Park Boys,Valery Gergiev,women Fully Clothed
In the lower level of Massey Hall you’ll find ‘Centuries,’ a fully-stocked bar you can visit pre-show and at intermission of most performances. The room is filled with artefacts illustrating the admirable history of Massey Hall, perhaps most notably the “Decade Panels” that line the entrance corridor to ‘Centuries.’ Starting with 1894-1904, a panel is present for each decade since Massey Hall opened. The panels feature news articles, photographs, programmes and other paraphernalia that aim to give a slice of life at Massey Hall from that period in history. In this column, we look at each decade and highlight some of the items included in these panels. Of course, for a more in-depth look, next time you’re at Massey for a show, head on over to ‘Centuries’ and check them out. This week, we take a look at 1954 – 1963, the seventh in a series of eleven tributes to Massey Halls glorious history.
Massey Hall 1954 – 1963
It would appear, from this decade panel, that there was quite a variety of musical genres to choose from at Massey Hall during the late 50s and early 60s. Classical music still had its home at Massey Hall: The Toronto Mendelssohn Choir continued to perform here as did the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, for whom a free Sunday concert is advertised with guests The Buffalo Bills Barbershop Quartet.
Glenn Gould returned to Massey Hall for a sold out performance, and visiting orchestras the Berlin Philharmonic, The Orchestra of Amsterdam, and the Vienna Philharmonic each making appearances on our stage.
Jazz and blues continued to bring people to Massey Hall as is evidenced in an article with the title “‘Cats Dig’ Basie’s Blues Jazz Packs Massey Hall.” Meanwhile an article reviewing a performance by the “Queen of the Gospel Singers,” Mahalia Jackson declares, “Jackson, who steadfastly refused to become a jazz-singer, could give a few lessons to the rock-and-roll set and the sweet swing crowd. A number of those who attended the recital were jazz devotees and they didn’t come away disappointed.”
Although many of us immediately think of Julie Andrews as the original Maria from the Sound of Music, it was Mary Martin who originated the role and she visited Massey Hall for “One Night Only! IN PERSON.” Gracie Fields and Dave Brubeck also performed here during this decade.
The Weavers graced the stage to “air-condition [the] hall with folk songs.” If you think you don’t know The Weavers, you’re probably wrong: their first big hit in 1950 with the now classic “Goodnight Irene” changed the landscape of popular music forever. According to the Vocal Group Hall of Fame Foundation, they “managed to alter popular culture in about as profound a manner as any artist this side of Bob Dylan… [B]ridging the gap between folk and pop music, and the topical song, they helped set the stage for Dylan’s eventual emergence.” Other hits they recorded include “Kisses Sweeter Than Wine,” “Wimoweh,” and “On Top of Old Smoky.” In 2006 The Weavers won a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.
Stefania Paterak is the Programming Coordinator for Massey Hall and Roy Thomson Hall.
Posted by Soundboard in The Scene on March 8, 2010
Count Basie,Glenn Gould,Mary Martin,Massey Hall,The Weavers,TSO
Julie Gunn & Nathan Gunn
By Julie Gunn
Nathan and I were raised on art song recitals by our teacher John Wustman, who was of a generation that sang many of them and who taught us about Schubert and Wolf and other songwriting giants. So it’s something we’ve always done since we met in college. Now, 20 years later, we love them for other reasons, too. We love the chance to be together away from all the loving craziness that happens in a house with 5 kids, 2 grandparents, a dog and a bird; we love the relationships that we make with the audience members who love songs like we do and we love the freedom and independence that comes with the small scale of the recital, where we can just be us. This is our first Canadian recital, and first time to Toronto! Our one connection is our student, Melissa Davis, from Toronto, who is a wonderful song singer. If everyone in Toronto is like Melissa, this should be an electric experience 
The recital we’re offering at Roy Thomson Hall on March 10 is one of our favorites. It starts with a surprisingly diverse selection of songs by Franz Schubert, the master, and then offers American songs, which, in our opinion, build on that foundation: Charles Ives, a visionary who we don’t even now fully understand; Ben Moore, with his beautiful, lyrical settings of famous Irishmen; Tom Waits, who with his wife creates such a vivid union of words and music; and some of my arrangements of traditional folk songs which we’ve all known and loved since childhood. We hope to see you there and to leave feeling that we can say we’ve learned a lot about Toronto.
Julie Gunn is a renowned pianist and spouse to Grammy award winning baritone, Nathan Gunn. They perform together at Roy Thomson Hall, Wednesday, March 10, 2010.
Posted by Julie Gunn in The Shows on March 8, 2010
We are thrilled to pass along this free download (just right-click on this link and save) of “2nd Bounce“ from Brooklyn Rider’s latest album, Dominant Curve. The acclaimed Brooklyn-based string quartet perform live at Toronto’s Glenn Gould Studio this coming Tuesday, March 2 at 8 PM. Tickets are available at Roy Thomson Hall box office, online or at Glenn Gould Studio on March 2.
True boundary pushers, the members (also members of Yo-Yo Ma’s Silk Road Ensemble), perform a mix of classical, contemporary and original works that are at times aggressive, experimental and inspired. In addition to their collaborations with Yo-Yo Ma, they have worked with Philip Glass, Dimitry Yanov-Yanovsky among numerous others. True boundary pushers, they are quickly engaging a young (indie) audience to the classical genre. Here is how Jack Rabid from The Big Takeover recently described their music – “It’s grabbing, cunningly confrontational chamber music like a horror movie tragedy score. Its tones evoke danger, pity, fear, and empathy, the violins, viola, and cello sharp as knives twisting and slithering like snakes, or plucking furtively like burglars sneaking past a sleeping dog.”
They also performed a Tiny Desk Concert at NPR, check it out here to get a glimpse into what their live performance is like.
Tell us what you think!
Posted by Soundboard in The Shows on February 27, 2010
Brooklyn Rider,Download,NPR
In the lower level of Massey Hall you’ll find ‘Centuries,’ a fully-stocked bar you can visit pre-show and at intermission of most performances. The room is filled with artefacts illustrating the admirable history of Massey Hall, perhaps most notably the “Decade Panels” that line the entrance corridor to ‘Centuries.’ Starting with 1894-1904, a panel is present for each decade since Massey Hall opened. The panels feature news articles, photographs, programmes and other paraphernalia that aim to give a slice of life at Massey Hall from that period in history. In this column, we look at each decade and highlight some of the items included in these panels. Of course, for a more in-depth look, next time you’re at Massey for a show, head on over to ‘Centuries’ and check them out. This week, we take a look at 1934 – 1943, the fifth in a series of eleven tributes to Massey Halls glorious history.
Massey Hall 1934-1943
This decade sees the continued rebuild after the Great Depression and leads into World War II. The performances and events at Massey Hall continue to span politics, high art, and philosophy.
A “Grand Patriotic Concert” occurred “In Aid of The Evening Telegram British War Victims’ Fund and the Wool Fund of Earnest Workers Unit of the Navy League of Canada” on Friday, January 23, 1942. The advertisement for the event features a rather charming looking bulldog draped in the Union Jack and other flags. In other news items of the decade, the Toronto Star played host at Massey Hall to a “Cooking and Home-makers’ School” which, reportedly, incited a line four hours long to gain admission.
Other more traditional performances included visits from the Philadelphia Orchestra, San Carlo Opera Company, and the Ballets Russes as well as the celebration of Centennial Music Week. George Gershwin appeared as a soloist in his Rhapsody in Blue and Concerto in F. One performance by the Toronto Symphony Orchestra (with Sir Ernest MacMillan conducting) featured Valdine Conde, the 9 year old pianist. Tickets for this concert ranged in price from only 50c to a more substantial $2.50.
Grey Owl paid a visit to the Grand Old Lady of Shuter Street during this time showcasing his “wonderful films” on the lecture topic “Back to My Beaver People.” Of course, it would not be until years later that Grey Owl’s actual lineage would be revealed to indicate he was not an heir of the “Beaver People” whatsoever. Remember this Historica Minute?
Stefania Paterak is the Programming Coordinator for Massey Hall and Roy Thomson Hall.
Posted by Stefania Paterak in The Scene on February 26, 2010
Centuries,George Gershwin,Grey Owl,Massey Hall
Yannick Nézet-Séguin
PERFORMANCES THIS WEEK
Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra (Wednesday): Last weekend, on Valentine’s Day, Robert Everett-Green wrote an article in the Globe and Mail entitled “Love at first downbeat” about one Yannick Nézet-Séguin of Montreal, the now celebrity conductor of the Rotterdam Philharmonic. Nézet-Séguin recently made headlines for his debut at the Met conducting Carmen. Here’s your chance to see him, his new orchestra, and pianist Jean-Yves Thibaudet at home in Canada on the stage of Roy Thomson Hall. The Toronto Star says it “is likely to be one of the most exciting symphony concerts of the season,” and with good reason.
CR Avery (Thursday): You recently read Corin Raymond’s take on the innovative artistry of this hip-hop, beatbox, harmonica playing, spoken word, musical artist. If that wasn’t enough to make you drop everything and check it out, witness exhibit B – the video above from CBC’s Zed TV. Exhibit C – persuasive Corin Raymond and the Sundowners are also playing the gig; you can check out his music here.
JUST ANNOUNCED
We are thrilled to pass on news of the latest show announcing this week -- Levon Helm’s Ramble and John Hiatt and his Combo will perform at Massey Hall on June 29, 2010. Tickets go on sale to the general public on Monday March 1 at 10 AM.
AUDIO-FILE
As you know by now, we “heart” the feature over on the CBC website called “Concerts on Demand.” This time we’re here to tell you that Amanda Martinez’s autumnal concert at Koerner Hall is available for your listening pleasure. Enjoy!
YOU SHOULD KNOW
Last week, CBC reported that Hot Docs has announced the release of their latest initiative- i.e. a huge library of documentary films available online, yours to screen for free! Last September we told you about the City Sonic series of short films about musical artists and places that are special to them; Geddy Lee, of RUSH fame, was featured at Massey Hall in one of these films which is now available through the Hot Docs library. Gravy: Cool features of the library include the ability to save and manage your own playlist.
Stefania Paterak is the Programming Coordinator for Massey Hall and Roy Thomson Hall.
Posted by Stefania Paterak in The Buzz on February 23, 2010
C. R. Avery,John Hiatt,Levon Helm,Massey Hall,Rotterdam Philarmonic Orchestra
Backstage at The Today Show with Jo Lawry, Lisa Fischer and Liali BIali, Sting Promo Tour in 2009
After two years of intermittently touring with New York based artists Paula Cole and Suzanne Vega, I figured an official move to NYC was imminent. In 2008, I was issued a study grant by the Canada Council for the Arts that finally brought me here, leading to what I now like to call my own “Tale of Two Cities” – Toronto and NYC.
After about a year of toughing it out in the Big City, I figured it might be time to resume full-time life and work back in Toronto. Then Sting called. Well, okay, it wasn’t actually Sting who called, it was one of his singers, Lisa Fischer, and later his producer, Robert Sadin. With a day’s notice, I was asked to show up at the famous midtown Clinton Studios, (where Ol’ Blue Eyes (Sinatra) once recorded many moons ago), to audition for a spot on Sting’s next DVD release, “A Winter’s Night: Live from Durham Cathedral.” After a few sessions with various other hopeful crooners, I got the email:
The first line read, “Sting would like to invite you to participate…” I didn’t even finish reading the first line before literally leaping off my stool and dancing around my tiny Brooklyn apartment, screaming with delight and near hysteria. Clichés aside, this was a dream come true.
The following months were a whirlwind, consisting of rehearsals in New York and Il Palagio (Sting’s Italian estate), a private jet ride to Newcastle, more rehearsals at the Durham Cathedral, the DVD taping itself, a NYC promotional tour with stops at Letterman, The View, The Today Show and Live with Regis & Kelly, and finally a swing of concerts in New York City, Paris and Baden-Baden. It was the experience of a lifetime.
In between the DVD taping in Durham and the NYC promotional tour at the end of October, my now-hubby and I conceived our first child. (Cue pregnant pause by the reader. Pun intended.) My first trimester wasn’t an easy one, and so touring and performing in November and December had its share of challenges, but no one suspected anything throughout this time. (Thank God for professional make up artists. They were able to turn my sickly green pallor into a dewy glow!)
In January of this year, the Sting stardust finally settled and with hardly a moment’s pause, I decided to jump into the studio and record a new album. Before the month was finished, and following several gruelling but rewarding days at Toronto’s Phase One Studios, a full-length album was in the can. This month, we will master the tracks and then set a release date. I’m pleased to tell you that our February 26th performance at Glenn Gould Studio, in Toronto, will include various new arrangements and songs that will be featured on the upcoming new release. This special show will also be my first solo concert performance with the Laila Biali Trio as a mother-to-be! Upon recapping, I think it’s fair to say 2009 was a productive year… or at the very least, a reproductive one.
Guest contributor Laila Biali performs at Glenn Gould Studio February 26
Posted by Soundboard in The Shows on February 22, 2010
Glenn Gould Studio,Laila Biali,Sting
In the lower level of Massey Hall you’ll find Centuries, a fully-stocked bar you can visit pre-show and at intermission of most performances. The room is filled with artefacts illustrating the admirable history of Massey Hall, perhaps most notably the “Decade Panels” that line the entrance corridor to Centuries. Starting with 1894-1904, a panel is present for each decade since Massey Hall opened. The panels feature news articles, photographs, programmes and other paraphernalia that aim to give a slice of life at Massey Hall from that period in history. In this column, we look at each decade and highlight some of the items included in these panels. Of course, for a more in-depth look, next time you’re at Massey for a show, head on over to Centuries and check them out. This week, we take a look at 1924 – 1933, the fourth in a series of eleven tributes to Massey Halls glorious history.
MASSEY HALL 1924 – 1933
This decade panel includes artefacts from both Massey Hall’s history specifically as well as from the highs and lows of the goings on in Toronto and the world. At the top of the panel, a Toronto Daily Star headline proclaims “Stock Prices Crash” and explains further, “millions of shares valued in billions sold in stock break.”
By December 1931, it would seem that people were keen for philosophical guidance. There was, evidently, a great deal of press coverage surrounding Bertrand Russell’s speaking engagement at Massey Hall. In advance of the event, the presentation was included in the local listings with tickets available for 50c, 75c, $1.00, and $1.50 (the notice was alongside a listing for a “Musicomedy” at Shea’s and the Jack Holt and Ralph Graves film “A Dangerous Affair” at the Uptown Theatre.) Advance coverage noted that the “famous mathematician, scientist, and author” would be lecturing on “The Sins of Civilization.” Reviews declared that the “Progress of Human Wisdom Lags, Says Bertrand Russell[.] Happiness Submerged Under Will Power, Philosopher Tells Packed House.”
Once again, in addition to lectures by prominent thinkers of the day, Massey Hall also saw on its stage performances such as The Freiburg Passion Play, The Royal Belgian Guards Band, and Operatic Soprano, Rosa Ponselle.
Massey Hall was also a venue for a typing contest during this time in which “Miss Louise Marchese Writing 104 Words Per Minute” won the title of “Amateur Champion.” The article regarding the contest also notes that none other than “H. Northrop Frye” won second place in novice typewriting with 63 words per minute (losing first place to Miss Agnes MacClennan who typed “69 words per minute for 15 minutes.”)
We know that it was in 1933 that a major Massey Hall renovation occurred: seating was reduced from 3,500 to 2,765 creating new spaces for a lounge behind the first gallery and an enlarged ground floor entrance area. A new Art Deco look and colour scheme adorned the Hall.To this end, the Simpson’s advertisement that directs readers to “Look Your Loveliest At Massey Hall Tonight…” is delightfully appropriate. The ad reads:
“Gone are the days when you could slip into Massey Hall in your last season’s evening dress and wrap. In the grand new foyer you are going to see and be seen. The new setting has something of the atmosphere of a Continental opera house where fashionables promenade wearing supremely smart frocks and wraps. The re-opening to-night will be one of the dazzling affairs of the Winter season. It will call forth elegant, glamorous clothes—brilliant as the memorable occasion itself.”
Stefania Paterak is the Programming Coordinator for Massey Hall and Roy Thomson Hall.
Posted by Stefania Paterak in The Buzz on February 18, 2010
Bertrand Russell,Centuries,Massey Hall,Simpson's,Typewriting
