Toronto Early Music

Canadian soprano Meredith Hall returns to Toronto for a recital with Quebec lutenist Sylvain Bergeron and harpist Robin Grenon. The concert will take place in the intimate St. George the Martyr Church, near the Grange in Toronto, on Sunday October 3, 2004 at 3 p.m. The program features superb music by Baroque greats Henry Purcell and Claudio Monteverdi, along with cherished melodies from the pen of the Scottish bard Robbie Burns. This concert is sponsored by the Toronto Early Music Centre and is being recorded for broadcast on CBC Radio Two.

Hall is renowned for her “lustrous sound and fluent legato” (San Francisco Chronicle), but it is her ability to communicate the meaning of the music that keeps audiences enthralled. In this specially crafted program, you’ll hear exactly why Ms. Hall is in demand around the world as a recitalist and opera singer. She takes the same care with the simplest of folksongs as she does with the most demanding bravura arias! Ms. Hall is accompanied by the accomplished lutenist Sylvain Bergeron. Mr. Bergeron is a founding member and artistic director of the Quebec early music ensemble La Nef and currently teaches at McGill University. He was recently featured in conversation with Michael Enright on CBC Radio One’s “The Sunday Edition”. Joining this polished duo is harpist Robin Grenon. Mr. Grenon is also a member of La Nef, and his performing career encompasses a wide range of music, from folk to jazz.

The program for the concert features the stunning song Sweeter than Roses by Henry Purcell, plus a selection of French and Italian songs from the same era. The second half of the concert features songs by the great Scottish poet Robbie Burns. Burns wrote many songs while working as an editor, collecting Scottish folksongs. It’s music that will inspire and touch you, performed by three of Canada’s finest interpreters of early music!