The Magic of the Natural World: Seasonal Concert Announcement
Come and rediscover the magic of the natural world with Cantala during our winter seasonal concert, Saturday December 7th at 7pm. It will feature parts from a larger work called Lost words: A Spell book, which features one poet (Robert Macfarlane), ten composers (many of our Canadian favorites!) and twenty choral compositions.
Saturday December 17th 2pm
Here at Cantala our favorite Winter themed concert includes A Ceremony of Carols by Benjamin Britten. However, we have now presented that work recently and made an outstanding recording of the work with Canadian legend Harpist Erica Goodman, so what could be next to rival that work? Read on to find out.
New Beginnings
Cantala Choir and I had our first in person rehearsal in two years in February 2022 and for so many reasons, it feels like a new beginning. For one, as I re enter the world of choral music and choral programming I feel I have many new ideas and perspectives. So consider this: what about changing “hundred of years-old sacred text” to a sacred text that is relevant to our human society today? Radical idea? Read on.
My music calendar is empty, how about yours?
This is the first time in 20+ years that I haven’t had a jam packed, stressful, busy, over the top musical calendar. I usually find myself running to watching a performance of the Nutcracker, then running downtown to take in the kids’ symphony Christmas concert, then singing a Messiah performance here or there, and of course keeping up with my own performance schedule: Church services and choral concerts.
The Events; Necessary Angel Theatre
For the first two weeks of March, Cantala was immersed in the world of theater and it was a fantastic experience. The play we were performing in was called “The Events” by David Grieg, music by John Browne and directed by Alan Dillworth, the artistic director of Necessary Angel Theatre Company.
The Beginning of our 12th Season
The beginning of our 12th Season at Cantala has begun! If you haven’t auditioned yet for Cantala please do be in touch. We are always interested in meeting new and talented singers and musicians. Between a Fall weekend retreat to Haliburton to Banff in February and Roy Thompson Hall in May-it will be an exhilarating year in Cantala. Come and sing with us!
Petites Voix: 5 reasons its a Choral Gem
This past January I took out my score of Francis Poulenc’s Petite Voix,: 5 Choeurs faciles pour 3 voix d’enfants to prep for rehearsal. I quickly started feeling regret for picking such a dissonant, difficult piece. Would we survive? Surprise! This is the story of how the piece entered our hearts and dug a bore for life.
In the Bleak Midwinter
I've recently discovered a lesser-known work by Britten, A Boy is Born; a very demanding unaccompanied choral work for mixed choir. But lucky for us, the 5th movement In The Bleak Midwinter, is only for treble voices and Cantala is set to perform it in concert on December 8, 2018.