For Immediate Release. Toronto Mendelssohn Choir (TMChoir) marked a year of achievements and strategic growth at its 2023/24 Annual General Meeting, held online. The meeting, led by Board Chair David Raju, reflected on the organization’s triumphs over the past year and outlined a forward-thinking vision for the future. “The past year has been...
The program notes are written by Rena Roussin, Musicologist-in-Residence. At a glance and on the surface, there might seem to be little in common between Baroque composer Antonio Vivaldi, Renaissance artist and polymath Leonardo da Vinci, and contemporary composer Jocelyn Hagen. And yet, as tonight’s concert of Vivaldi’s Gloria and Hagen’s The Notebooks of Leonardo do...
For nearly a century, the Toronto Mendelssohn Choir has joined the Toronto Symphony Orchestra in presenting Handel’s Messiah—a tradition cherished by generations of music lovers. This year marks a significant moment as TMChoir’s own Artistic Director, Jean-Sébastien Vallée, takes the podium to lead this beloved masterpiece during the choir’s 130th anniversary season. Reflecting on the...
The program notes are written by Rena Roussin, Musicologist-in-Residence. Welcome to the 25th annual Festival of Carols! A beloved holiday tradition in Toronto that is now a quarter-century old, the Festival of Carols is a chance to mark the spirit of the season by communally listening to and singing Christmas carols. Historically, this performance brings together...
The program notes are written by Rena Roussin, Musicologist-in-Residence. The central pieces of tonight’s program—Brahms’s Liebeslieder Wälzer and Palmeri’s Misatango—are both inspired by dance forms associated with romantic love. However, the broader focus of tonight’s concert is love in all its manifestations, whether that is love for a place, a person, a dance form, or a...
This season, we welcome Aaron Manswell as our composer-in-residence. Aaron brings a unique voice to choral music, drawing from his experiences in Gospel, R&B, and classical composition. In our upcoming concert The Love Affair: Waltz & Tango, we are excited to present Aaron’s Stick with Love as well as the world premiere of his new work Poverty.
If you haven’t heard Misatango yet, let us get you acquainted. This glorious blend of classical choral music and Argentine tango, composed by Martín Palmeri in 1996, is a bold genre-bending masterpiece that has been performed around the world. With its unique mix of sacred and tango rhythms, Misatango brings fresh energy to the choral repertoire.
This post highlights Jonathan Goldman's insights on performing Martín Palmeri’s Misatango with the Toronto Mendelssohn Choir. Goldman discusses the unique history of the bandoneon, its role in tango music, and how it contributes to the emotional intensity of Misatango.
As we reflect on our achievements and look forward to our 130th anniversary, we are reminded of the vital role of our supporters in our success. We need your support to continue...