The Toronto Mendelssohn Choir celebrates Artistic Director Noel Edison’s 20th anniversary season with the Choir with a performance of Felix Mendelssohn’s great oratorio, Elijah at Koerner Hall on November 5th. When asked why he chose Elijah for this milestone season, Noel commented:
“How could I not choose a work by Felix Mendelssohn, the namesake of the Choir? And Elijah is one of my all-time favourite orchestral-choral works. Orchestral works are in the Choir’s DNA and this work is chock-full of big chorus effects. I love the drama and the way the story plays out — it’s religious opera bursting with the hellfire and brimstone of the Old Testament. And it’s tuneful and fulfilling, full of one beautiful piece after another.”
The 135-voice TMC and Festival Orchestra will be joined by four critically-acclaimed soloists. American bass-baritone David Pittsinger, praised for his roles in opera and as Emile de Becque in South Pacific, will make his debut performance of Elijah. David says of taking on this role for the first time:
“To be a vulnerable and honest storyteller is what every artist ultimately strives for and this piece abounds with opportunities for just that. It resides in an ecclesiastical lexicon with Bach’s Matthew Passion, and Handel’s Messiah, but uses Mendelssohn’s own Romantic style to great emotional effect.”
Joining Pittsinger is Toronto’s own internationally celebrated tenor Michael Schade, whose parents sang for many years with the TMC, and emerging Canadian soloists soprano Lesley Emma Bouza and mezzo-soprano Christina Stelmacovich.
Under Noel Edison’s baton, the TMC’s signature grand symphonic sound will highlight the intensity of the story and heighten the emotional experience for the audience – TMC’s goal for all concerts of the great masterworks.
TMC performs Elijah
Saturday, November 5 at 7:30 pm
Koerner Hall, 273 Bloor St. West
Noel Edison, conductor
David Pittsinger, bass-baritone
Lesley Emma Bouza, soprano
Christina Stelmacovich, mezzo-soprano
Michael Schade, tenor
Festival Orchestra
Tickets: $35-$87 with $20 VoxTix for patrons 30 and under.
Tickets available through RCM Tickets online or by calling the Box Office at 416-408-0208.