Barrie Concerts & Georgian Music


Toronto Concert Orchestra

March 18, 2023, 7:30pm - Hiway Church

Toronto Concert Orchestra

A Night at the Opera was a night to remember

They’re back! On Saturday night, March 18, people streamed into Hiway Pentecostal Church to take in Barrie Concert Association’s first concert since covid wrecked havoc with live music. Originally planned to take place in March of 2020, ticket-holders were pleased to finally have their “Night at the Opera”, featuring the Toronto Concert Orchestra with Soprano Sara Papini, and Tenor Romula Delgado.

The opening of the concert was bitter-sweet, as BCA board member, Daryl Yaeger, acknowledged the absence of Bruce Owen, who passed away just over a year ago and whose leadership, passion for music and presence at every concert will be missed. But the moment taken, before the performance started, to recognized young musicians in our community who have recently won prestigious awards with the Royal Conservatory of Music, seemed just the thing he would have liked to see, that, and the fact that the Barrie and Georgian Concert Series are back.

“A Night at the Opera” began with the “Overture to The Marriage of Figaro” by Mozart, the bustling energy of the piece reflecting the excited anticipation of the audience. Conductor, Marcus Scholtes, reflected briefly on how good it was to be back performing live, although the TCO has also suffered the loss of their founder and previous conductor, Kerry Stratton, who was well-known and well-loved. However his legacy lives on in skilled and evocative music-that TCO continues to make.

The program continued with Sara Papini and Romula Delgado, both internationally recognized artists, singing arias and duets from well-known operas, interspersed with short orchestral works featuring the orchestra alone.

Highlights of the concert include “Caro Nome” from Verdi’s “Rigoletto”, in which Papini captivated the audience with her seemingly effortless enactment of this challenging coloratura aria, sung with stunning agility and accuracy. The “Italian in Algiers Overture” by Rossini, with its kaleidoscope of textures, colours and dynamics was met with audible gasps of delight, so interesting were its many details, so skillfully played. Delgado’s fluid, expansive rendition of the sweeping “Nessun Dorma” from “Turandot” by Puccini lifted the audience to their feet. The evening ended with the waltz-like duet, “Libiano” from “La Traviata” by Verdi, a finale that most certainly sent the audience home with hearts and spirits dancing. “A Night at the Opera” was a night to remember, reminisce, and roll out a new concert season!

By Sandra Ruttan

Musician and Music Teacher

Barrie Concerts Logo
VENUE: Hiway Church,
50 Anne Street North (MAP)
TIME: Saturdays 7:30pm

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Spirit ’20: Entertaining Sextet featuring Trumpeter Guy Few, Violinist Mark Fewer, Clarinetist James Campbell, Cellist Chloé Dominguez, Pianist John Novacek, and Bassoonist Christian Sharpe performing Duke Ellington, Gershwin and Ravel


COLLECTIF9

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Collectif9

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Pianist Sheng Cai

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PENDERECKI STRING QUARTET

February 24, 2024, 7:30pm

Penderecki String Quartet

Canada’s own Penderecki String Quartet with pianist Ben Smith


Quartetto Gelato

March 23, 2024, 7:30pm

Quartetto Gelato

Kirk Starkey, Violinist Tina Popovic, Accordionist Matti Pulkki, and Oboist Colin Maier perform Gypsy Fantasia, Tiger Rag, Under Paris Skies, and other favourites


SINFONIA TORONTO

April 13, 2024, 7:30pm

SINFONIA TORONTO

Fabulous Nurhan Arman conducting Sinfonia Toronto featuring Ukrainian Canadian Pianist Dmitri Levkovich and Mario Carbotta (Tchaikovsky’s First Piano Concerto, Dvorak. Rachmaninoff)


Pianofest

May 18, 2024

Pianofest

Showcasing the skills of young Canadian pianists on the cusp of fame. Featuring Evelyn Liang, Jonathan Alter, and Elijah Orlenko.

Georgian Music Logo
VENUE: Bethel Community Church,
128 St. Vincent Street (MAPS TO VENUES )
TIME: Sundays 2:30pm

piano trio

September 17, 2023, 2:30pm

PIANO TRIO

Trio with violinist Andrew Sords, cellist Joe Johnson, and pianist Cheryl Duvall playing Clara Schumann’s G Minor PianoTrio and Shostakovich


SINFONIA TORONTO

October 22, 2023, 2:30pm

SINFONIA TORONTO

Nurhan Arman and Sinfonia Toronto with Austrian violinist Elisso Gogibedaschwili perform Kulesha + Sarasate


BRETT POLEGATO and ROBERT KORTGAARD

December 3, 2023, 2:30pm

And So It Goes … a Music Theatre Song Cabaret

World famous baritone Brett Polegato and pianist Robert Kortgaard present Sigmund Romberg, Cole Porter


LADOM ENSEMBLE

February 4, 2024, 2:30pm

LADOM ENSEMBLE

Rocking Ladom Ensemble showcase an assortment of Classical Folk Music


VC2

April 28, 2024, 2:30pm

Beethoven Rebooted

Canadian cello duo VC2 playing a variety of amazing classical and contemporary pieces


Sponsors

Sunlife Kristian Robillard Classical 102.9 Life 100.3 Ian Graham Piano Tuning Butter and Basil Canadian Tire

Contact Info

Barrie Concerts & Georgian Music
P.O. Box 452 Barrie, ON L4M 4T7
Phone: (705)-436-1232. or (705)-726-1181 Email: info@barrieconcerts.org
Official Website: www.barrieconcerts.org