February has passed and we’re now getting into the middle of the new month… Let me tell you, the fact February is a short month made it seem like I had next to no time to get my thoughts organised. Not to mention that for three weeks out of the month I had no laptop! Losing all my files and buying a new hard drive was reality slapping me in the face saying, “back up your data or else…!” Nonetheless, I managed to attend some very cool events the past month… I’ll keep this brief and share some of the highlights.
I had the pleasure of attending the CD release for Chakavak Ensemble’s The Journey of Love. I have heard Persian Classical music before through film but not live; this was my first experience. A big thank you to Reza and Amir Manbachi for graciously welcoming me. I really enjoyed myself. The CD is actually a really nice listen…of course, it cannot be compared to the live experience in an intimate setting but I think it is still a nice addition to any eclectic, diverse music collection. If you’re interested in checking them out or buy their CD, visit their website for more details. For those of you on Facebook, you can find even more information here!
Some weekends in February and a couple of days in March was spent attending several Cinematheque Ontario screenings. My highlights include some Carl Dreyer films like Ordet, Day of Wrath,The Parson’s Widow and Vampyr (a personal favourite). Dreyer’s films are definitely a treat for several reasons, which I hope to explain in more depth in a subsequent piece. However, I like his commentary on religion and family dynamics in most of the films I got to see. His work with shadows, lighting and “special effects” of the time are really impressive… But like I said, I’ll devote another entry to his work in the very near future. As well, Cinematheque Ontatrio has a Classic Sundays series where you can sample some really interesting, entertaining films from American and European cinema. If ever you’re in the mood, I’d recommend the following: The Girl in the Red Velvet Swing, The Revolt of Mamie Stover and Lola Montès. These older films are a nice change from the regular movie-watching experience at the local cineplex.
Lastly, I just want to highlight the Toronto Symphony Orchestra‘s by Hector Berlioz. This is based on Goethe’s Faust; the story of a doctor who sells his soul to the devil in exchange for happiness and great knowledge. Maestro Charles Dutoit conducted the performance, which I had the chance to attend on Feb. 26th. It was a really, really enjoyable concert. The cast included mezzo-soprano Susanne Mentzer (as Marguerite), tenor Gregory Kunde in the title role, bass-baritone Sir Willard White (Mephistopheles), bass Jonathan Lemalu (Brander) accompanied by the Toronto Mendelssohn Choir and Toronto Children’s Chorus. Sir Willard White’s rendition of the conniving Mephisto was the crowd’s favourite. Not only did he project his voice to great lengths but he was also animated, playful and really embodied the character’s tempting nature quite nicely. Standing ovation well deserved.
Minus my technical difficulties over the past month, I’d say I managed to have a really great time. Lesson of the month: back up your data but don’t let that stop you from enjoying some amazing events Toronto has to offer. Allow yourself to enjoy each day.
