Toronto Classical Singers open their season with new Inventive Director Dr. John Holland, and a efficiency of three choral masterworks — the Magnificats in D. The live performance on December 7 will current three settings of the Magnificat in D main by Jan Dismas Zelenka, C.P.E. Bach, and J.S. Bach.
Inventive Director Dr. John Holland succeeds Director Emeritus Jurgen Petrenko.
“It’s a nice honour to be the caretaker of this essential and vibrant choral group. Choral music is important to our group, and the Toronto Classical Singers have been enriching the music scene for over 30 years,” says John Holland in a press release.
“Our live performance options a superb group of soloists; sopranos Allison Arends and Grace Quinsey, mezzo-soprano Alexandra Beley, tenor David Walsh, and baritone Christopher Dunham. They aren’t solely positive singers, however great associates, and it’s a pleasure to make music with them. My brother Todd Holland is within the trumpet part. This live performance brings collectively household and associates on stage, making the event much more significant. It’s a joyful starting for me.”
The choir is joined by the Toronto Classical Gamers orchestra, and soloists Allison Arends, Grace Quinsey, Alexandra Beley, David Walsh, and Christopher Dunham.
Three Magnificats
The Magnificat is predicated on Mary’s joyful music as depicted within the Gospel of Luke. It has impressed composers all through the centuries, and this system consists of three musical interpretations of the textual content.
Jan Dismas Zelenka (1679 – 1745)
Zelenka’s model of the Magnificat is characterised by the excessive spirited method of the Bohemian Baroque. The daring and rhythmic work is stuffed with drama. Zelenka is commonly dubbed the forgotten grasp of the Dresden courtroom.
C.P.E. Bach (1714 – 1788)
Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach’s Magnificat in D was written in 1749, and was one thing of a declaration of independence from the lengthy shadow of his father’s fame. The work is emotional and intimate, and shows stylistic innovation for its time, in a way bridging each the Baroque and Classical eras.
J.S. Bach (1685 – 1750)
J.S. Bach’s Magnificat in D, BWV 243 completes this system. The work started its musical life as a setting of the Biblical textual content in E-flat main. In 1733, the composer revised it, including timpani and trumpets, and adjusted the important thing to D main. Over the centuries, it has grow to be a beloved staple of the Introduction and Christmas season.
Soloists
Allison Arends, soprano
Canadian soprano Allison Cecilia Arends incorporates opera, new music, and live performance music in her repertoire. She is a graduate of the College of Victoria, the place she carried out Madame Herz (Der Schauspieldirektor), and the College of Toronto, the place she carried out Adina (L’elisir d’amore), Ginevra (Ariodante), Lucia (The Rape of Lucretia), Ida (Die Fledermaus), and the Queen of the Evening (Die Zauberflöte). She can be an alumna of Calgary Opera’s Rising Artist Program, the place she carried out Despina (Cosi fan tutte), Mary (cowl in The Inventor), and the Rich Lady (The Inventor). She has carried out with Soundstreams, Opera York, Tapestry Opera, and Southern Ontario Lyric Opera, in addition to with the Milton Symphony, and the Cambridge Symphony, and Cathedral Bluffs Symphony Orchestra.
Grace Quinsey, soprano
A local of Windsor, Ontario, Grace Quinsey works as an operatic soprano, in addition to a dancer, actor, and musician. Latest roles embody Josephine in HMS Pinafore and Giannetta in L’elisir d’amore with Opera York, together with Mařenka in Smetana’s Prodaná nevěsta and Terinka in Dvořák’s Jakobín as a part of the 12 months of Czech Music Opera Pageant. Different current highlights embody a last-minute look as First Girl in Die Zauberflöte with OperOttawa in December 2023. When she’s not on stage, Grace works as a software program developer, and is a online game aficionado.
Alexandra Beley, mezzo-soprano
Ukrainian-Canadian Alexandra Beley just lately accomplished two years at L’Atelier Lyrique with Opéra de Montréal, the place she made her debut with the corporate singing Berta (Il barbiere di Siviglia). Different current credit embody singing the function of the Second Maid in Strauss’s Elektra underneath the baton of Yannick Nézet-Séguin. Beforehand, as a part of Calgary Opera’s Rising Artist Program, she made her debut singing the title function in The Rape of Lucretia. Since 2013, Alexandra has often labored with the Bicycle Opera Undertaking, together with collaborating of their tour of and film version of Sweat.
David Walsh, tenor
A local of Toronto, David Walsh accomplished his Diploma of Opera Efficiency on the College of Toronto with Honours in 2022. Latest performances embody singing the function of Martin in Toronto Metropolis Opera’s Manufacturing of The Tender Land, and performing because the Tenor Soloist for Refrain Niagara’s Messiah. He debuted the function of Nemorino in North York Live performance Orchestra’s manufacturing of Donizetti’s The Elixir of Love, in addition to Conception in a brand new manufacturing with new libretto of Ravel’s A Spanish Hour in Vancouver in 2024. He just lately made his debut with the Kingston Choral Society because the tenor soloist in a novel manufacturing of Mozart’s Requiem in November 2025.
Christopher Dunham, baritone
Primarily based in Niagara Falls, Ontario, Christopher Dunham performs a large ranging repertoire that features live performance, opera, recital, circus and burlesque music. He’s a graduate from L’Atelier Lyrique de L’Opéra de Montréal and Atlanta Opera’s Younger Artist Residency. He was the winner of the Desmarais Improvement Bursary three years in a row and the Jeunesses Musicals Canada’s Younger Mentorship place. His operatic repertoire consists of performances in The Brother in Seven Lethal Sins (Atlanta Opera), Figaro in The Barber of Seville (Brott Opera), Mercutio in Roméo et Juliette (Jeunesses Musical Canada), Argante in Rinaldo (Pacific Opera Victoria), Dandini in La Cenerentola (La Musica Lyrica), Schaunard in La Bohème and Escamillo in Carmen (L’Opéra de Montréal).
Live performance
The Toronto Classical Singers carry out Magnificats in D on December 7 at Christ Church Deer Park in Toronto.
- Discover live performance particulars and tickets [HERE].
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Anya Wassenberg is the Toronto Metropolis Editor at Ludwig Van. Beforehand, she was a contract author with a specialty in tradition and journey for 3 many years, and a inventive writing teacher for Ontariolearn.
