Lotti Revealed
November 14 to 17
Old meets new: Lotti’s Missa Sapientiae is paired with
the world premiere of Kadosh/Sanctus/Holy by James Rolfe
Toronto, October 10, 2019… Ivars Taurins directs Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra and Chamber Choir in Lotti Revealed, the inaugural choral concert of Tafelmusik’s 2019/20 season, November 14 to 17, 2019 at Jeanne Lamon Hall, Trinity-St. Paul’s Centre. The program marks Tafelmusik’s first venture into the music of Italian baroque composer Antonio Lotti. The transcendent Missa Sapientiae (Mass of Wisdom) is paired with choral music by his admirers Bach, Handel, and Zelenka. In keeping with this season’s theme of “Old meets New,” musicby European baroque composers is coupled with the world premiere of Kadosh/Sanctus/Holy by Canadian composer James Rolfe. For full program details, visit tafelmusik.org.
Antonio Lotti was an important baroque composer whose name has been all but lost in the march of musical history. The Venetian rose through the ranks at San Marco as a singer and organist before becoming maestro di cappella (Music Director). In addition to writing music for operas for the Venetian theatres, he composed sacred music for both San Marco and for the famous Venetian Ospedale della Pietà.
Taurins stumbled upon a recording of Lotti’s Missa Sapientiae by chance. “I was immediately intrigued. I discovered that although little known today, this particular Mass was very influential in its time. It was not published, and yet among the numerous musicians who had written out copies of the score for their own use were Bach, Handel, and Zelenka — an impressive testament to Lotti’s inventiveness,” said Taurins.
The second half the program explores the idea of musical inspiration and influence and includes settings of other Latin texts by Zelenka, Bach, and Handel — disciples of Lotti’s work who borrowed or adapted musical ideas, and in some cases, entire passages from their influential predecessor.
For his Tafelmusik commission, Kadosh/Sanctus/Holy, composer James Rolfe began with Lotti’s Mass as a point of departure. “I was attracted to Lotti’s Sanctus, which begins ‘Holy, holy, holy.’ Its text is taken from the Jewish Shabbat service, beginning “Kadosh, kadosh, kadosh”—a magical incantation. In my piece, the word is sung in Hebrew first (kadosh); then the Latin text is added next to it (sanctus), and finally the English (holy). Distinct languages and religions are placed next to each other, in harmony, united in praising the divine,” said Rolfe.
LISTING INFORMATION
Lotti Revealed
Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra and Chamber Choir directed by Ivars Taurins
featuring soloists from Tafelmusik Chamber Choir
Dates & Times:
Thu Nov 14, Fri Nov 15, Sat Nov 16 at 8pm
Sun Nov 17 at 3:30pm
Ticket prices:
Regular: starting from $42
Discounts available for seniors (65+), 35 and under, and youth (18 and under).
Venues:
Jeanne Lamon Hall, Trinity-St. Paul’s Centre
427 Bloor Street West, Toronto
Box Office:
Tafelmusik Box Office: (416) 964-6337
ABOUT JAMES ROLFE
Toronto composer James Rolfe has been commissioned and performed in Canada, the US, Europe, Asia, Australia, and New Zealand by soloists, ensembles, orchestras, choirs, theatres, and opera companies. He has received a Guggenheim Fellowship, the K. M. Hunter Music Award, a Chalmers Arts Fellowship, Choral Canada's Outstanding Choral Work Award, and the Jules Léger Prize for New Chamber Music. His operas have been performed in Toronto, Halifax, Vancouver, Banff, Edmonton, and New York. His opera The Overcoat was premiered by Tapestry Opera with Canadian Stage and Vancouver Opera in 2018 and was nominated for 10 Dora Awards. Two solo CDs (raW, 2011, and the JUNO-nominated Breathe, 2018) are available on Centrediscs. This is Rolfe’s second commission for Tafelmusik.
ABOUT TAFELMUSIK
Led by Music Director Elisa Citterio, Tafelmusik is one of the world’s leading period-instrument ensembles, performing on instruments and in styles appropriate for the era of the music. Renowned for dynamic, engaging, and soulful performances, Tafelmusik performs some 80 concerts each year for audiences across Toronto, and is Canada’s most toured orchestra, having performed in more than 350 cities in 32 countries. The orchestra is often joined by the critically acclaimed Tafelmusik Chamber Choir and its director, Ivars Taurins.
Tafelmusik also seeks to transport audiences to the baroque and classical periods through insightful multimedia programs and adventurous cross-cultural collaborations. Our musicians share their knowledge and experience through comprehensive education and artist-training initiatives such as the Tafelmusik Baroque Summer and Winter Institutes. Tafelmusik’s recordings on the Sony, CBC Records, Analekta, and Tafelmusik Media labels have garnered ten JUNOs and numerous international recording prizes.
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2019/20 SEASON PARTNERS
Tafelmusik wishes to thank the following for their generous support: BMO Financial Group, TD Bank Group, RBC Foundation, KPMG, Catherine and Maxwell Meighen Foundation, Whitmer Trudel Charitable Foundation, The Pluralism Fund, Canada Council for the Arts, Ontario Arts Council, Toronto Arts Council, Classical 96.3 FM, NOW Magazine, and Wholenote Magazine. Tafelmusik is a proud partner of the Bloor St. Culture Corridor.
Media contact: Luisa Trisi, Big Picture Communications, (416) 456-0499
luisa@luisatrisi.com | 427 Bloor Street West, Toronto, ON M5S 1X7