Conversations at The WholeNote

Is Toronto Summer Music (TSM) going to be an excuse for you to hang out with friends? It was a question that came up early in this late April 2017 conversation with TSO concertmaster, New Orford String Quartet violinist and U of T associate professor Jonathan Crow, who was in our studio to speak with us mostly about his new role as the third artistic director of TSM. (WholeNote publisher David Perlman and managing editor Paul are asking the questions.)

In the well-known Edward Lear nonsense poem from which Ruth Howard’s unorthodox Toronto community arts organization derives its name, the Jumblies set off to sea in a Sieve, less than than adequately provisioned, and thirsty for adventure. On their return some twenty years later, everyone remarks on how they’ve grown. In this conversation Howard traces Jumblies’ journey from its early roots in the Community Play movement, to their May-June 2017 Touching Ground Festival which, while true to the company’s twenty year tradition of professional caliber neighbourhood-based art-making, breaks new ground both for Jumblies and offers new perspectives, and hope, for traditional arts organizations seeking fundamentally new ways of engaging with the communities in which they are based.

Countertenor Daniel Taylor on the Junos, Bach in Bethlehem and beyond, Handel's Imeneo, juggling three musical hats and more.

Baritone Russell Braun visits The WholeNote office to talk about where his upcoming Canadian Opera Company role as Louis Riel fits into a busy musical life.

Jenny Parr in conversation with David Perlman about her work as fight director in Opera Atelier's April 2017 production of Charpentier's Medea, and how it connects with other aspects of her theatrical and musical life.

Stewart Goodyear returns to discuss upcoming programs, performing and more.

Edwin Huizinga, violinist in conversation at The WholeNote.

Ivars Taurins in conversation with David Perlman.

Choral conductors discuss duelling Nov 5 Elijahs

Douglas McNabney returns to discuss his final summer as artistic director of Toronto Summer Music.