Monthly Archives: April 2013

Soundstream’s Piano Ecstasy: Hit and Myth, reviewed by Stanley Fefferman with photos by Eric Fefferman

April 26, 2013. Koerner Hall, Toronto. Piano Ecstasy is an exciting title. Soundstream’s Artistic Director, Lawrence Cherney, put together a program of compositions with back-stories that promise to match the title’s excitement. Sometimes they did. On the glittering stage of … Continue reading

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Heavens:Amadeus & the Duke, a Raphael Imbert CD project reviewed by Stanley Fefferman

Raphael Imbert. Amadeus and the Duke. Jazz Village Heavens:Amadeus & the Duke, a Raphael Imbert project is like Forest Gump’s momma’s box  of chocolate— you never know what you’re gonna get, but it’s always pretty good. Call this a crossover … Continue reading

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Stephen Fearing BETWEEN HURRICANES CD release with photos by Eric Fefferman

April, 25. Hugh’s Room, Toronto. In this photograph, taken while he performed a second set for the packed house at Hugh’s Room, Stephen Fearing is playing the fabled Six String Nation guitar known as Voyageur. As the song goes Fearing “can … Continue reading

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Alisa Weilerstein and Inon Barnatan rule the realm of sonatas for cello and piano:A review by Stanley Fefferman

In 1968, Jacqueline du Pré and Daniel Barenboim reigned as  power-couple of Sonatas for Cello and Piano. Alisa Weilerstein and pianist Inon Barnatan, to judge by the power of their performance this afternoon in Koerner Hall, deserve to inherit the … Continue reading

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David Alden’s Edgy Lucia Triumphs in Toronto

I must admit resisting some of David Alden’s more barking ideas like Enrico playing with his sister Lucia’s doll, then groping her, then dressing her like a doll for her wedding. But resistance proved futile.Donizetti’s glorious bel canto score, attentively … Continue reading

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LUMINATO FESTIVAL 2013 June 14 – 23, 2013

From  June 14 – 23, 2013 there will be Luminato festivities day and night at venues all over Toronto, many of them free. Everything you need to know you can find right HERE. Here are some highlights. —The Life and … Continue reading

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Conductor James Gafigan and Soprano Measha Brueggergosman bring the TSO Audience to its Feet. A review by Stanley Fefferman

As the poets of old have said, art is alchemy: it takes the events of our life which are brass and transmutes them to gold. It is rare when this transformation happens in every item on a concert program, but … Continue reading

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Heather Schmidt. ICICLES OF FIRE. CD review by Stanley Fefferman.

Heather Schmidt. ICICLES OF FIRE. Centrediscs. 2013. This CD has Heather Schmidt’s playing piano on three of the compositions she composed for cellist Shauna Rolston between 2003-07. Ms. Schmidt’s music has programmatic intent. To give you an idea of how … Continue reading

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