operaramblings March 20, 2023 On Saturday evening the Toronto Mendelssohn Singers gave a very beautiful, carefully constructed and thought provoking concert. To start with it was at the Church of the Holy Trinity which, as most Torontonians will know, is a sort of social hub servicing the spiritual and material needs of Toronto’s homeless...
The program notes are written by Rena Roussin, Musicologist-in-Residence. Described by TMChoir leadership as a “musical vigil drawing awareness to the problems of hunger and homelessness in our city,” the repertoire of tonight’s concert spans numerous time periods and musical styles, but is unified by shared themes. All of tonight’s musical pieces inspire reflection or...
February 27, 2023—Toronto Mendelssohn Choir presents Little Match Girl Passion—a musical vigil drawing awareness to the problems of hunger and homelessness in our city. The TMChoir partners with Toronto’s Church of the Holy Trinity and Unity Kitchen, leaders for this important cause in our community, for this presentation. The TMSingers, the Choir’s professional chamber ensemble,...
Leslie Barcza barczablog January 12, 2023 The headline is only partly in jest. Yes it was the best concert so far in 2023, as of January 11th. Many are still saying “Happy New Year” and writing the wrong date on cheques (if they even write cheques anymore). But it was truly brilliant. The Toronto...
Joseph So La Scena Musicale January 12, 2023 January is Mozart Month at the Toronto Symphony Orchestra. To mark the 267th anniversary of the birthday of the great Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (Jan 27, 1756 – Dec. 5, 1791), the TSO is giving four performances of his incomparable Requiem Mass. The story behind its genesis is very...
Joseph So Ludwig Van Toronto December 19, 2022 Is there a more popular classical vocal work for the Christmas Season in the English-speaking world than Handel’s Messiah (1742)? It’s a rhetorical question, and the answer is a resounding NO. There are other beloved works in celebration of the birth of Christ, such as Bach’s Weihnachtsoratorium (1734), or Berlioz’s L’enfant...
Joseph So Ludwig Van December 7, 2022 It’s a well-established scientific fact: music makes us feel good. Our brain reacts to a favourite song by releasing the hormone dopamine, which has an immediate and positive effect on our mood. At this time of year, among the melodies we hear when we’re out and about doing...
$35,000 OTF Grant helps Toronto Mendelssohn Choir revenue generation efforts Toronto, Ontario – November 14, 2022 OTF Grant helps Toronto Mendelssohn Choir navigate through pandemic Toronto – 2022, Toronto Mendelssohn choir received a $35,000 grant from the OTF to help Improve and increase ability to access financial resources and develop new and/or...
The program notes are written by Rena Roussin, Musicologist-in-Residence. Welcome – for many of you, welcome back – to the Toronto Mendelssohn Choir’s Festival of Carols! A beloved holiday tradition in Toronto, the Festival of Carols offers a chance to hear, sing, and reflect on Christmas carols. This year’s program features a combination of well-known...