Selected Highlights from the First Decades of CELA's Work

This report is organized mostly by chronology, exploring the links over time for the Environmental Bill of Rights, Legal-Aid funding, and dozens of dangerous landfill cases are just a few examples of the important work that CELA has done. Proper respect is given on my part for exceptional cases in CELA history. But there are equally important small cases, such as protecting a maple tree; fighting against unsafe radioactive materials storage at the University of Toronto; cultivating environmental law centres all across the country; and proffering the official CELA submissions which keep the government accountable, not to mention demonstrating the wherewithal to keep fighting these battles day in and out. This is a story of those battles and the ways CELA volunteers and staff have worked over forty years to implement a magnificent world of imagination which we continue to dream every day. …

CHORAL SCENE
Musical Lamps to Light the Way

Canadian composer Matthew Emery’s musical setting “Peace, my heart” uses a poem by legendary Bengali poet and musician, Rabindranath Tagore. Emery’s composition is spartan and focused, somehow enabling deep mourning and peaceful contemplation to coexist within a single shape. Reflecting on the tumultuous state of current affairs, it’s going to be good to be able to get back to making collective music...

SCRUTINY
The Hogwarts Express Stops By The Toronto Stage

Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone stops by the Sony Centre on its North American live film concert tour. Brian Chang reviews the show, with insight from conductor Justin Freer...

FEATURE
Why A Group Of Classical Musicians Decided It Was Time To Sing

Acquired Taste is a choral community of musicians built around the idea that music ought to be about the joy and not the judgement...

CHORAL SCENE
Of Many Voices: Choirs and Festivals

Alot of musical organizations go on break over the summer, but that doesn’t mean the end to opportunities for amazing music. Southern Ontario is lucky to have within a few hours’ drive several world-class music festivals, where there are lots of opportunities to see local and international artists at play...

CONCERT REPORT
High-level history lessons from the Toronto Bach Festival

Toronto has a thing for early music. Audiences in this city can’t seem to get enough of baroque-era music, including chamber, orchestra, choral and opera works. Into this community, there’s a new festival in town: the Toronto Bach Festival, running this year from May 26 to 28...

SCRUTINY
Oksana G. Opera An Emotionally Devastating Ride Into Darkness

Propelled by the strength of the score and cast, Tapestry Opera's Oksana G confirms the ugly truth behind human sex-trafficking...

CONCERT REPORT
Worlds Meet, with the COC Orchestra at 21C

Johannes Debus, music director of the Canadian Opera Company Orchestra, speaks about his orchestra with love at a May 24 post-concert chat. “This great orchestra deserves to be onstage,” he says. The orchestra is one of the finest in the country, but is almost always in the pit of the Four Seasons Centre, barely visible to audiences...

CONCERT REPORT
The NSO Roars to a Powerful Season Finish

Sometimes, there is nothing better I can say about a performance than thank you. For the inspired interpretation, the energetic musicianship, the blended mustering of forces, and a musical alignment that allows a performance to be exceptional – thank you to the NSO, soloists, and Chorus Niagara...

CONCERT REPORT
Tafelmusik’s Haydn and Mozart strike a balance

Audiences in Toronto expect that a Tafelmusik performance will be pleasing, well-executed, and committed to artistry. Their performances of Haydn’s Symphony No. 98 and Mozart’s Mass in C Minor, at Koerner Hall May 4 to 7, were no exception...

CONCERT REPORT
Echo Women’s Choir, Making Noise

The Church of the Holy Trinity is a gem of the Anglican tradition in Toronto, steeped in history and activism. There are few barriers in the open space, and art and displays clearly stating “this is a place of social justice and a place of God” – open and welcoming at the same time...