Author Archives: strecker

NATASHA PAREMSKI: PIANIST FEATURED IN MESSIAEN (JULY 19) AND SCHUBERT (JULY 20) AT TORONTO SUMMER MUSIC FESTIVAL REMEMBERS “…I STILL REMEMBER MY VERY FIRST PIANO LESSON SO VIVIDLY – THE WONDER AND THE MYSTERY AND THAT UNBRIDLED JOY” … A REVIEWER’S INTERVIEW WITH PEOPLE IN THE ARTS

Posted on July 16, 2018 by strecker

JAMES STRECKER: Name two people, living or dead, whom you admire a great deal and tell us why for each one. NATASHA PAREMSKI: 1. Charles Hamlen, because he is a god amongst men. A truly generous person who shows kindness … Continue reading →

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THANK YOU, PETER OUNDJIAN: CONDUCTOR’S VERY HUMAN BEETHOVEN’S 9TH AND 14 DISTINGUISHED YEARS WITH THE TSO

Posted on June 29, 2018 by strecker

Photos by Nick Wons The cellist we met on the tube warned us that her fingers would be a blur during Beethoven’s 9th Symphony that night at Roy Thomson Hall. And so it was, during the first of Peter Oundjian’s … Continue reading →

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KINAN AZMEH: SYRIAN-BORN CLARINET PLAYER, FEATURED AT TORONTO SUMMER MUSIC FESTIVAL ON JULY 18, DECLARES “BEING OPEN AND FREE IS THE MOST IMPORTANT, MUSIC FOR ME IS AN ACT OF FREEDOM.” – A REVIEWER’S INTERVIEW WITH PEOPLE IN THE ARTS

Posted on June 29, 2018 by strecker

Photo by Martina Novak JAMES STRECKER: If you were asked for 50 words for an encyclopedia to summarize what you do, or have done, in the arts, what would you say? KINAN AZMEH: I would like to be described as … Continue reading →

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ALEX PANGMAN: HIGHLY RESPECTED JAZZ SINGER WITH TREASURED CHOPS – AND ALSO A DOUBLE LUNG TRANSPLANT RECIPIENT – EXCLAIMS “FOR A JAZZ SINGER, I SURE LOVE SINGING COUNTRY MUSIC WITH MY HUSBAND! I REALLY LOVED IT WHEN ONE REVIEWER CALLED ME A SINGER, AND NOT JUST A JAZZ SINGER” …. A REVIEWER’S INTERVIEW WITH PEOPLE IN THE ARTS

Posted on May 31, 2018 by strecker

JAMES STRECKER: If you were asked for 50 words for an encyclopedia to summarize what you do, or have done, in the arts, what would you say? ALEX PANGMAN: Oh man, this question is the hardest!!! I always find summing … Continue reading →

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DAVID FALLIS: WITH MONTEVERDI’S MASTERPIECE ORFEO, UPCOMING IN CONCERT FROM MAY 25-27, TORONTO CONSORT’S ARTISTIC DIRECTOR DAVID FALLIS STATES “FOR MY MONEY, MONTEVERDI IS ONE OF THE MOST EXTRAORDINARY COMPOSERS, AS DARING TODAY AS HE MUST HAVE SOUNDED IN THE 17TH CENTURY. I GET GREAT PLEASURE OUT OF WORKING ON HIS MUSIC” …A REVIEWER’S INTERVIEW WITH PEOPLE IN THE ARTS

Posted on May 22, 2018 by strecker

Photo by Paul Orenstein, digital work by Ross Duffin, background by Gerrit Dou (17th century, Dutch) The Toronto Consort presents Monteverdi’s masterpiece Orfeo, in concert, as David Fallis’ final production in his role of Artistic Director. Running for three shows: … Continue reading →

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DANIELA NARDI: SINGER & ARTISTIC DIRECTOR, WHO TACKLES MYTHS SURROUNDING ITALIAN-CANADIAN WOMEN WITH BEYOND BELLA, EXPLAINS “THE MANDATE OF SALONE DI CULTURA IS TO SHINE A LIGHT ON ITALIAN CONTEMPORARY CULTURE IN CANADA WHILE LOOKING BEYOND AND/OR SHATTERING STEREOTYPES. ITS GOAL IS TO EXPLORE AND EXPRESS ITALIAN CULTURE, BRING TRADITIONS FORWARD INTO THE PRESENT, AND ALLOW THEM TO MINGLE AND EVOLVE, WHILE NURTURING CROSS-CULTURAL DIALOGUE.” … A REVIEWER’S INTERVIEW WITH PEOPLE IN THE ARTS

Posted on May 11, 2018 by strecker

Beyond Bella, the seventh edition of the Salone di Cultura. Celebrating Italian-Canadian women artists and creators, takes place at 7 PM on Friday June 8 at Toronto’s 918 Bathurst Centre for Culture, Arts, Media & Education. Tickets, at https://salonedicultura.eventbrite.ca include … Continue reading →

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NJO KONG KIE: COMPOSER OF PICNIC IN THE CEMETERY AT CANADIAN STAGE BERKELEY STREET THEATRE UNTIL MAY 6TH EXPLAINS “WITH PICNIC IN THE CEMETERY, WHERE THE PREMISE IS ABSTRACT EXPRESSIONISM, THE PIECE IS BUILT LIKE WE WERE CHILDREN PLAYING IN OUR TENTS, WITH INSTINCTS AND IMAGINATION MORE SO THAN LOGIC AND REASONING, SO IT IS EVEN MORE IMPORTANT TO NOT OVERTHINK THE WORK DURING THE PERFORMANCE. YOU CAN ANALYZE WHAT YOU EXPERIENCE AFTERWARDS IF YOU WANT.” … A REVIEWER’S INTERVIEW WITH PEOPLE IN THE ARTS

Posted on May 3, 2018 by strecker

JAMES STRECKER: If you were asked for 50 words for an encyclopedia to summarize what you do, or have done, in the arts, what would you say? NJO KONG KIE: A picnic and ping-pong enthusiast, Njo Kong Kie is also … Continue reading →

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KATARZYNA SĄDEJ: POLISH-CANADIAN MEZZO-SOPRANO HAS PRESENTED OPERA IN LIMOUSINES THROUGHOUT LOS ANGELES, SUNG FOR GABRIEL GARCIA MARQUEZ, SUNG FOR BONOBOS, AND MADE IMPORTANT DEBUTS AT LA OPERA AND CARNEGIE HALL, NOW DECLARES “EACH MAJOR DEBUT IS LIKE A GIANT, GIANT, GIANT GLASS OF WINE CELEBRATING ALL THOSE HOURS IN THE PRACTICE ROOM, AND COACHING, AND STUDYING YOUR WORDS, AND MEMORIZING, AND THEN MEMORIZING SOME MORE…. AND THEN RE-MEMORIZING!” … A REVIEWER’S INTERVIEW WITH PEOPLE IN THE ARTS

Posted on May 1, 2018 by strecker

Photo portrait by Carlos Botero, Colombia JAMES STRECKER: If you were asked for 50 words for an encyclopedia to summarize what you do, or have done, in the arts, what would you say? KATARZYNA SĄDEJ: Polish-Canadian Mezzo-soprano Katarzyna Sadej has … Continue reading →

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JEANNE LAMON: BAROQUE VIOLINIST, CONCERTMASTER, CHAMBER MUSICIAN, TEACHER, AND MUSIC DIRECTOR EMERITA WHOSE LEADERSHIP TOOK TAFELMUSIK TO INTERNATIONAL STATURE AS ONE OF THE BEST ENSEMBLES IN ITS FIELD, EXPLAINS “CREATIVE WORK IS EXTREMELY PERSONAL AND EVERYONE HAS THEIR OWN WAY OF DOING IT. SO, YOU CAN’T REALLY POLICE MUSIC MAKING. EVERY MUSICIAN WORTH HIS OR HER SALT HAS A LOT INVESTED IN THEIR CREATIVE WORK. OTHERWISE WE’D ALL BE BANKERS!” A REVIEWER’S INTERVIEW WITH PEOPLE IN THE ARTS

Posted on April 26, 2018 by strecker

Photo credit Sian Richards. Music Director Emerita Jeanne Lamon joins Tafelmusik as concertmaster for the final all-Beethoven program of the 2017/18 season featuring Bruno Weil as conductor, and Music Director Elisa Citterio as violin soloist. May 3 to 6, 2018 … Continue reading →

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CATHERINE THOMPSON: CANADIAN LONG RIDER, INSTRUMENT MAKER, MUSICIAN, COMPOSER, PERFORMER, VISUAL AND MATERIAL ARTIST, NOW IN THE MOUNTAINS OF NORTHERN THAILAND, DECLARES “IT’S IMPORTANT TO NOT GET TOO TOO COMFORTABLE AND, IN THAT, WHENEVER POSSIBLE, IT IS VALUABLE TO REMEMBER WHAT IT FEELS LIKE TO BE DIMINISHED, TO BE UNCOMFORTABLE, TO BE IN DANGER.” … A REVIEWER’S INTERVIEW WITH PEOPLE IN THE ARTS

Posted on April 22, 2018 by strecker

JAMES STRECKER: If you were asked for 50 words for an encyclopedia to summarize what you do, or have done, in the arts, what would you say? CATHERINE THOMPSON: Catherine Thompson was a Canadian long rider, instrument maker, musician, composer, … Continue reading →

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