TMC presents Great Poets in Music online on May 30th

TMC presents Great Poets in Music online on May 30th
Stratford actors Tom McCamus and Lucy Peacock join TMC Interim Conductor David Fallis for a celebration of great poetry set to music

The Toronto Mendelssohn Choir’s 2019/20 concert-– Great Poets in Music – scheduled for May 30th was cancelled due to Covid-19 but the Toronto Mendelssohn Choir has found a way to create an online program, in the spirit of this planned concert, that brings together the spoken word and the sung word – and can be enjoyed by everyone safely from their homes.

TMC Interim Conductor David Fallis will share performances of some of the choral works that were planned for the live concert, including masterpieces by Ralph Vaughan Williams, Edward Elgar and Leonard Cohen. He will be joined by acclaimed Stratford actors Tom McCamus and Lucy Peacock, who will recite the poetry, and present short scenes from works by William Shakespeare and George Bernard Shaw, all on the theme of the power of words and music.

This event will also premiere a collaboration between the TMC, Toronto Symphony Youth Orchestra and Toronto Symphony Orchestra: a virtual recording by 126 musicians from these three Toronto performing arts organizations of Cantique de Jean Racine, a lush choral-orchestral setting by Gabriel Fauré of words by the French playwright Jean Racine.

Great Poets in Music will take place on Saturday, May 30 at 8:00 pm. It is free to attend. The program will be streamed on Livestream:  https://livestream.com/tmchoir/greatpoetsinmusic

Anna Kajtar, TMC Executive Director, talks about the development of this project: “We are so pleased to be able to present this program to our patrons  — here in Canada and around the world — who cherish evocative poetry set to music by great choral composers.  It’s exciting to take something we were working on pre-Covid-19, re-imagine it, add awe-inspiring collaborators, and present it in a new way using technology.  The TMC, along with so many others in the arts, are exploring creative options to keep the music alive. This is an exciting start to TMC’s journey into our new world.”

Great Poets in Music – TMC shares inspiring poetry and music
With special guests Tom McCamus and Lucy Peacock

Saturday, May 30 at 8:00 pm EDT (GMT -4)
Via Livestream:  https://livestream.com/tmchoir/greatpoetsinmusic
TMC Program web page: https://www.tmchoir.org/201920-season/great-poets-online/

David Fallis is TMC’s interim conductor and artistic advisor.
Tom McCamus is a Canadian actor who has worked in Theatre, Film and Television all across this country for many years. He is now isolating on a farm – forced to take a much needed break.
Lucy Peacock has worked across the country and has been a leading member of the Stratford Festival acting company for 33 seasons. She lives on a farm in Southwestern Ontario.

The TMC thanks the generous patrons who donated their tickets from our cancelled concerts back to the TMC. This support from our patrons, in addition to that from other donors, has enabled us to present this online program.

The TMC is also supported by the Canada Council for the Arts, the Ontario Arts Council, the Toronto Arts Council, foundations and individual donors. We thank them for their continuing support during this time.