Guelph Welcomes Early Music Series

From Arts in Guelph - September/October, 2002

The Toronto Consort, Canada's premiere early music chamber ensemble, will present a three-concert series in Guelph's Chalmers United Church during the 2002-03 season. Thanks in part to the George Cedric Metcalf Foundation's "Strategic Initiatives" program, Toronto Consort Artistic Director David Fallis is able to expand his Toronto series to another market, and he has chosen The City of Music as the ideal location.

"Guelph is bursting with such a vibrant music scene," notes Fallis. "It seems a natural place in which to bring our array of period instruments and perform music of the Middle Ages and Renaissance." Established in 1972, the Toronto Consort is an eight-person ensemble combining exceptional voices with an enchanting collection of musical instruments such as lutes, recorders, hurdy-gurdy, flutes, rebec, vielle, early keyboards and percussion. They have performed to critical acclaim worldwide and have eight recordings on their roster. The Consort has also performed music for film scores, including the theme music for Atom Egoyan's Academy Award-nominated The Sweet Hereafter.

Guelphites can explore the magical world of early music during three Sunday 3 p.m. performances, starting October 6, 2002, with a rendition of the enchanting Arthurian legend, Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, a tale of romance and chivalry, presented through storytelling and music. February 2, 2003, brings a spirited performance featuring mediaeval pilgrim songs with excerpts from the Consort's recording, The Way of the Pilgrim, while April 6 features A Renaissance Festival when the Consort is joined by guest violinist David Greenberg, a specialist both in classical music and Cape Breton fiddling traditions. This season finale takes a musical grand tour of Renaissance Europe from the streets of Shakespeare's England to the courts of Renaissance Italian princes, with madrigals, lute songs, motets and country dances.

The 2002-03 inaugural season in Guelph offers affordable introductory subscription prices starting at $22, and a free CD with purchase. Part of the proceeds from the Guelph series will benefit the Stroke Recovery Association of Guelph/Wellington. The Consort is also planning to offer workshops for local secondary school students.

Subscriptions and single tickets for the Toronto Consort in Guelph series are on sale through the River Run Centre Box Office at (519) 763-3000.