Monthly Archives: November 2013

The Glamour and Glow of Miro Quartet’s Schubert at Music Toronto reviewed by Stanley Fefferman

Posted on November 22, 2013 by Stanley Fefferman

November 21, 2013.  Jane Mallett Theatre, Toronto. The Miro Quartet played an all-Schubert program at Music Toronto last night to promote their newest recording for Longhorn Music, Schubert Interrupted. The program consisted of works Schubert wrote during transitional times in his … Continue reading →

Posted in Reviews | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Ramsey Lewis Quintet and Cecile McLoren Salvant honour Dinah Washington and Sarah Vaughn reviewed by Stanley Fefferman

Posted on November 17, 2013 by Stanley Fefferman

November 16, 2013. Koerner Hall, Toronto. Composer-pianist Ramsey Lewis is a jazz legend, but I came out hear Cecile McLorin Salvant sing. Lewis and the Quintet opened with the funky beat of his 1976 Earth, Wind and Fire hit, “Brazilica.” … Continue reading →

Posted in Reviews | Leave a comment

Margie Gillis Dance of Bodies THE LIGHT BETWEEN reviewed by Stanley Fefferman

Posted on November 13, 2013 by Stanley Fefferman

November 13, 2013. Fleck Dance Theatre, Harbourfront Centre, Toronto. I am writing this in the pre-dawn darkness of the morning after witnessing The Light Between. Margie Gillis’ collaboration with Marc Daigle and Paola Styron gave me a good sleep lit … Continue reading →

Posted in Reviews | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Isabel Bayrakdarian’s Luminous CD—Troubadour & the Nightingale—reviewed by Stanley Fefferman

Posted on November 12, 2013 by Stanley Fefferman

Isabel Bayrakdarian. Troubadour & the Nightingale. Ravel, Sayat-Nova, Kradjian. MCO records. Harmonia Mundi, Dist. 16 tracks. I puzzle over how to express the qualities that make Isabel Bayrakdarian’s voice like no other. After following her through many albums, live in operas … Continue reading →

Posted in CD Review | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Midori and Ozgur Aydin Unravel a Flow of Elegance in Koerner Hall

Posted on November 9, 2013 by Stanley Fefferman

November 8, 2013. Koerner Hall, Toronto. Master violinist Midori played a program of sonatas that brought her piano partner into the limelight. Özgür Aydin’s solo opening of Mozart’s Violin Sonata No. 25 in F major, K. 377  flowed delightfully in … Continue reading →

Posted in Reviews | Leave a comment

The Ontario Philharmonic and Cellist Matt Haimovitz Make Must-hear Music in Koerner Hall

Posted on November 6, 2013 by Stanley Fefferman

November 5, 2013. Koerner Hall, Toronto. The Ontario Philharmonic led by Marco Parisotto is developing into a must-hear orchestra. Maestro Parisotto has shaped his players into a fine music-making instrument, fully capable of supporting the outstanding soloists they invite. Last … Continue reading →

Posted in Reviews | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Andras Schiff’s Heroic Oddysey with Bach and Beethoven reviewed by Stanley Fefferman

Posted on November 3, 2013 by Stanley Fefferman

November 3, 2013. Koerner Hall, Toronto. My benchmark performance for Bach’s Goldberg Variations is the 1981 recording in which Glenn Gould presents his “discovery of slowness.” Gould put it this way: “ With really contrapuntal textures, one does need a certain … Continue reading →

Posted in Reviews | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Chamber Music Downtown to the Power of Eight: a review by Stanley Fefferman

Posted on November 1, 2013 by Stanley Fefferman

October 31, 2013. Jane Mallett Theatre, Toronto. What an awesome octet is the Academy Chamber Ensemble. Packing the punch of two quartets, their sound is vivid: bright and highly saturated, it brought new life to Joachim Raff’s all-but-forgotten Octet in … Continue reading →

Posted in Reviews | Leave a comment