Happy Holidays everyone! This will be the last Buzz of 2012 and so below we include details for a variety of holiday performances including New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day celebrations at the Halls. We’ll see you back here at Soundboard on January 8, 2013!
PERFORMANCES
Victoria Scholars Men’s Choral Ensemble & The Choirs of St. Michael’s Choir School, A Christmas Celebration (Wednesday): This festive edition of Roy Thomson Hall’s FREE Noon-hour Choir & Organ concert series promises holiday cheer in the form of both sacred and secular choral music – and sing-alongs! Join us on your lunch hour to hear these excellent choirs alongside the Hall’s marvellous Gabriel Kney pipe organ (played by organist William O’Meara). Artistic Director of the St. Michael’s Choir School and Musical Director of the Victoria Scholars Men’s Choral Ensemble, Jerzy Cichocki, conducts the concert.
Toronto Symphony Orchestra, Handel’s Messiah (Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday): The Toronto Symphony Orchestra performs Handel’s Messiah five times this week featuring the 150 voice Mendelssohn Choir and internationally renowned vocalists including Canadian luminaries Michael Schade and Russell Braun. A pre-concert chat will take place in the North Lobby prior to the Saturday performance with Rick Phillips.
Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra and Chamber Choir, Sing-Along Messiah (Sunday): For another take on this masterpiece, head down to Massey Hall this Sunday to take part in the collective efforts of 2,700 audience members and guest soloists, conducted by “Herr Handel” himself, performing this seasonal oratorio (for an example, see video embedded above). Vocalists include Allyson McHardy, mezzo-soprano, who will also be performing the concluding recital of our 2012-2013 Canadian Voices vocal recitals series on April 14 at Glenn Gould Studio.
