Author Archives: strecker

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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AMANDA SMITH: DIRECTOR OF HAUS MUSIK (ON APRIL 26) – TAFELMUSIK’S EXPERIMENTAL, IMMERSIVE SERIES AT TORONTO’S LONGBOAT HALL (1087 QUEEN STREET WEST) – EXPLAINS “IT’S IMPORTANT TO SHOW THAT PEOPLE’S LIVES ARE NOT ALWAYS WHAT THEY SEEM TO BE.”… A REVIEWER’S INTERVIEW WITH PEOPLE IN THE ARTS

Posted on April 18, 2018 by strecker

Photo: Dahlia Katz The April 26 edition of Haus Musik, Tafelmusik’s experimental, immersive series is at Longboat Hall, The Great Hall, 1087 Queen Street West. Doors and electronic set at 8pm | Live music at 8:30pm. General admission, limited seating. … Continue reading →

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ISAIAH BELL: TENOR CURRENTLY IN MONTEVERDI’S RETURN OF ULYSSES (OPERA ATELIER), OCTOBER 2018 IN RUFUS WAINWRIGHT’S HADRIAN (COC), AND LATER IN HIS OWN CREATION THE BOOK OF MY SHAMES (TAPESTRY OPERA), DECLARES “ALTHOUGH THE INTERNET MAY HAVE SHORTENED OUR ATTENTION SPANS, I DON’T BELIEVE IT HAS DIMINISHED OUR BASIC DESIRE FOR QUALITY COMMUNICATION… THINGS THAT WERE PREVIOUSLY OBSCURED BEHIND VEILS OF HIGH CULTURE CAN (NOW) BE SEEN UP CLOSE” … A REVIEWER’S INTERVIEW WITH PEOPLE IN THE ARTS

Posted on April 16, 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? ISAIAH BELL: I’m a tenor working in the Classical tradition. Currently I sing … Continue reading →

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RISING OUT OF THE ASHES WITH MUSIC AND WORDS: CDS THAT GOT ME THROUGH TRAUMA AFTER THE HOUSE FIRE

Posted on April 15, 2018 by strecker

It was about a year ago, five months after the fire that kept us out of our home for eight months, that this happened: I was driving down King Street in Hamilton and playing, back to back, the Hungarian String … Continue reading →

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BRUCE DOW: AFTER BROADWAY, STRATFORD, AND BUDDIES IN BAD TIMES, THE AWARD-WINNING ACTOR DECLARES, “I LOVE STUDENT AUDIENCES. THEY ARE THE FIRST ONES TO PRAISE YOU FOR GOOD WORK, AND/OR TO CALL YOU OUT ON YOUR PRETENTIOUS BULLS*T” … A REVIEWER’S INTERVIEW WITH PEOPLE IN THE ARTS

Posted on April 14, 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? BRUCE DOW: Bruce Dow is an award-winning theatre artist and educator, best known … Continue reading →

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LAUREN BEATTY: ACTOR, WRITER, MUSICIAN DECLARES, “I THINK THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE FOR ME AS A CREATIVE PERSON IS BEING DUBBED A “CREATIVE PERSON.” IT MAKES ME FEEL LIKE I HAVE TO CONSTANTLY FIT SOME SORT OF MOULD OR STANDARD. I DON’T BELIEVE THERE IS A STANDARD FOR CREATIVITY”…A REVIEWER’S INTERVIEW WITH PEOPLE IN THE ARTS

Posted on April 12, 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? LAUREN BEATTY: Lauren Beatty is an actor, writer and musician, I believe my … Continue reading →

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STEPHEN FEARING: CANADIAN FOLK SINGER-SONGWRITER, FOUNDING MEMBER OF BLACKIE AND THE RODEO KINGS, MEMBER OF THE DUO FEARING & WHITE, & ON CROSS-CANADA TOUR IN APRIL, TALKS REALITY: “THERE IS NO ‘FAIR’ IN ROCK ‘N ROLL AND TO SURVIVE ONE MUST HAVE A THICK SKIN AND A STUBBORN, UNRELENTING COMPULSION TO PLAY. YOU WILL BE TESTED IN EVERY WAY. A DESIRE FOR ‘FAME AND FORTUNE’ IS WHY FOOLS PURSUE THE ARTS.” … A REVIEWER’S INTERVIEW WITH PEOPLE IN THE ARTS

Posted on March 28, 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? STEPHEN FEARING: I am a songwriter, singer, guitarist, recording artist and producer. I’ve … Continue reading →

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CHARLES DANIELS: MUCH-RECORDED TENOR – APPEARING WITH TAFELMUSIK APRIL 5-8 & 10 – AND A MAJOR SPIRIT OF CONTEMPORARY BAROQUE MUSIC PERFORMANCE EXPLAINS: “MY WORK IS INTENSELY COLLABORATIVE, AND THE SUM OF THE WHOLE SHOULD BE GREATER THAN THE SUM OF THE INDIVIDUAL TALENTS (AND EGOS)” … A REVIEWER’S INTERVIEW WITH PEOPLE IN THE ARTS

Posted on March 28, 2018 by strecker

Photo by Annelies van der Vegt Tickets are still available for the April 10, 8:00 PM performance of Bach’s Mass in B Minor at George Weston Recital Hall, Toronto Centre for the Arts from http://www.tafelmusik.org/concert-calendar JAMES STRECKER: If you were … Continue reading →

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CECILIA LIVINGSTON: COMPOSER WHO SPECIALIZES IN “MUSIC FOR VOICE” EXPLAINS, “ART IS A CONVERSATION ABOUT THE HUMAN EXPERIENCE. I DON’T THINK ART HAS A DIDACTIC PURPOSE, BUT RATHER THAT IT CAN ENGAGE THE MORAL IMAGINATION AND LET US FIGURE THINGS OUT FOR OURSELVES” … A REVIEWER’S INTERVIEW WITH PEOPLE IN THE ARTS

Posted on March 26, 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? CECILIA LIVINGSTON: “Cecilia Livingston is a composer specializing in music for voice.” I’m … Continue reading →

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JOSEPHINE VAN LIER: BAROQUE SPECIALIST, NEXT WITH SCARAMELLA ON APRIL 7 IN TORONTO, COMMENTS: “TOO OFTEN DO I SEE A KIND OF “PROTECTIONISM” IN ARTS ORGANIZATIONS AND IN MUSICIANS. I FEEL STRONGLY THAT WE ALL SHOULD BE ONE BIG COMMUNITY SUPPORTING EACH OTHER, PROMOTING EACH OTHER, ENCOURAGING EACH OTHER. INSTEAD MANY ORGANIZATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS DON’T WANT TO ENGAGE WITH AND PROMOTE OTHERS, AND WE ALL LOSE!” … A REVIEWER’S INTERVIEW WITH PEOPLE IN THE ARTS

Posted on March 24, 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? JOSEPHINE VAN LIER: Cellist, baroque cellist, viola da gambist, founder and artistic director … Continue reading →

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