Organizer: Harbourfront centre
Cost: free!
Pre-event estimate: 2 out of 5
Post-event rating: 4 out of 5
Gardening is never on my "To do list." I didn't know what to expect for the guided tour. In fact, every music lovers, especially young children who just start musical training, should go to this guided tour. I learn how Yo Yo Ma and his landscape planner use variations of heights to represent different moods. I try my dance steps in the semi-circular paths in Allemande. I see and hear the tidal waves in the Prelude section. Music garden brings music appreciation to a higher level.
Monday, July 28, 2008
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Andrea Lapante (July 22, 2008)
Event: Toronto Summer Festival Opening Concert @ Carlu. Pianist: Andrea Lapante
Cost: $12 for Tsoundcheck members
Pre-event estimate: at least 3 out of 5! (great pianist + glamours venue)
Post-event rating: 4 out of 5
I got a glimpse of Carlu when it was on Doors Open event in 2007. It is even more amazing to enjoy a world class performance in the original seat in the music hall, and to sip champagne and socialize in the post-party. For a moment, I thought we have turned back time to the 60s.
Have we turned back time? Can we really turn back time and forget the rest?
Cost: $12 for Tsoundcheck members
Pre-event estimate: at least 3 out of 5! (great pianist + glamours venue)
Post-event rating: 4 out of 5
I got a glimpse of Carlu when it was on Doors Open event in 2007. It is even more amazing to enjoy a world class performance in the original seat in the music hall, and to sip champagne and socialize in the post-party. For a moment, I thought we have turned back time to the 60s.
Have we turned back time? Can we really turn back time and forget the rest?
Jazz Dance (July 21, 2008)
Event: Jazz Dance for adults workshop
Organizer: Beaches International Jazz Festival
Cost: Free!
Pre-event estimate: 3 out of 5
Post-event rating: 4 out of 5
Karen Andrew from Aurora Live Inc. is an accomplished dancer and an excellent teacher. Her passion for dance also fuels her sense of responsibility to introduce dance to young kids... and big kids!
In the two-hour workshop, Karen stresses the importance of stretching and core stability in dance and teaches basic steps in jazz dance. She even manages to get all 17 of us learn a short number with turns and hip movements!!
Without any mirrors and friends around, I concentrate on counting the beats out loud (1,2,3...7,8), memorizing the steps, and following Karen's advice to "feel the music" and "dance like no one is watching." It is so much fun! I highly recommend this workshop to everyone! I can't wait till next year to do this workshop with....
I am sore all over the next day after a hard crash to reality.
Organizer: Beaches International Jazz Festival
Cost: Free!
Pre-event estimate: 3 out of 5
Post-event rating: 4 out of 5
Karen Andrew from Aurora Live Inc. is an accomplished dancer and an excellent teacher. Her passion for dance also fuels her sense of responsibility to introduce dance to young kids... and big kids!
In the two-hour workshop, Karen stresses the importance of stretching and core stability in dance and teaches basic steps in jazz dance. She even manages to get all 17 of us learn a short number with turns and hip movements!!
Without any mirrors and friends around, I concentrate on counting the beats out loud (1,2,3...7,8), memorizing the steps, and following Karen's advice to "feel the music" and "dance like no one is watching." It is so much fun! I highly recommend this workshop to everyone! I can't wait till next year to do this workshop with....
I am sore all over the next day after a hard crash to reality.
Sunday, July 20, 2008
Object Factory: The Art of Industrial Design (Exhibition on display from May 15-Sept 7, 2008)
Organizer: Gardiner Museum
Cost: Free admission on Fridays after 4pm
Pre-event estimate: 3 out of 5
Post-event rating: 3 out of 5
All of us, with or without artistic talents, can enjoy this exhibition! The exhibits are everyday objects like tea sets, clocks, and vases. The artists give these objects a new twist on the appearance. It is definitely eye-opening to find plates with a tea set with designs printed upside down, or flasks with imperfections. The artists' message behind these new designs is explained in the display. We learn new ideas and appreciate the artwork so much more (as compared to OCAD's graduation show in May).
I especially like the mugs with velvets cutouts of interesting design. The velvet cutouts cover areas so you can hold the mug with hot contents. They also serve to challenge your sense of touch, while you satisfy your taste buds. What a harmonious marriage of functionality and design! Who say we have to accept the status quo and give up on our ideals?!
Cost: Free admission on Fridays after 4pm
Pre-event estimate: 3 out of 5
Post-event rating: 3 out of 5
All of us, with or without artistic talents, can enjoy this exhibition! The exhibits are everyday objects like tea sets, clocks, and vases. The artists give these objects a new twist on the appearance. It is definitely eye-opening to find plates with a tea set with designs printed upside down, or flasks with imperfections. The artists' message behind these new designs is explained in the display. We learn new ideas and appreciate the artwork so much more (as compared to OCAD's graduation show in May).
I especially like the mugs with velvets cutouts of interesting design. The velvet cutouts cover areas so you can hold the mug with hot contents. They also serve to challenge your sense of touch, while you satisfy your taste buds. What a harmonious marriage of functionality and design! Who say we have to accept the status quo and give up on our ideals?!
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Singing accompanied by guitar music (July 13, 2008)
Event: Soprano Meredith Hall and Guitarist Bernard Farley performed works by Rorem, Schubert, Ovalle, Burns, Nakada, Hirai and Farley
Venue: Music Garden
Cost: Free!
Pre-event estimate: 3 out of 5
Post-event rating: 4 out of 5
A perfect example that simple things are just as wonderful! Meredith is very expressive--She transforms herself from a blissful lover in Paris to a sad Japanese princess to a flirty Scottish girl to a dejected Irish teenage girl in one hour.
Venue: Music Garden
Cost: Free!
Pre-event estimate: 3 out of 5
Post-event rating: 4 out of 5
A perfect example that simple things are just as wonderful! Meredith is very expressive--She transforms herself from a blissful lover in Paris to a sad Japanese princess to a flirty Scottish girl to a dejected Irish teenage girl in one hour.
The Chacoon's Dance to Fame (July 10, 2008)
Event: The Secret of the Good Life: The Chaconne's Dance to Fame (Cello, violin, and lute, baroque guitar and theorbo)
Venue: Music Garden (Queen's Quay just west of Spadina)
Cost: Free!
Pre-event estimate: 3 out of 5 for music lovers!
Post-event rating: 3 out of 5 (+ 0.5 from Chris for the carefree twirls by a little girl in light blue dress at the end)
From Jade:
I am becoming a big fans of the free concerts @ Music Garden. It's a great way to expose yourself to different music forms and instruments.
Despite my classical music training, I didn't know what Chacoone is until this performance. Chaconne is actually a music form. Its main feature is a repeating melody in different variations. (Is it like the theme in Bach's Prelude and Fugue??)
To be honest, I didn't attempt to identify the chaconne and track the variations. Music is an accessible art form: You don't need to know what chaconne (or other musical terms) to appreciate good music.
From CHRIS:
Aside from the technical/scholastic aspect of the music form, I enjoy the unique sound quality of a baroque and lute. I am looking forward to Lucas Harris' next performance--A tale of two lutes (Chinese pipa) on Sun Aug 24.
p.s. Jade, did you fall asleep in one of the harmony classes at Royal Conservatory Music?!
Venue: Music Garden (Queen's Quay just west of Spadina)
Cost: Free!
Pre-event estimate: 3 out of 5 for music lovers!
Post-event rating: 3 out of 5 (+ 0.5 from Chris for the carefree twirls by a little girl in light blue dress at the end)
From Jade:
I am becoming a big fans of the free concerts @ Music Garden. It's a great way to expose yourself to different music forms and instruments.
Despite my classical music training, I didn't know what Chacoone is until this performance. Chaconne is actually a music form. Its main feature is a repeating melody in different variations. (Is it like the theme in Bach's Prelude and Fugue??)
To be honest, I didn't attempt to identify the chaconne and track the variations. Music is an accessible art form: You don't need to know what chaconne (or other musical terms) to appreciate good music.
From CHRIS:
Aside from the technical/scholastic aspect of the music form, I enjoy the unique sound quality of a baroque and lute. I am looking forward to Lucas Harris' next performance--A tale of two lutes (Chinese pipa) on Sun Aug 24.
p.s. Jade, did you fall asleep in one of the harmony classes at Royal Conservatory Music?!
Monday, July 7, 2008
Fringe Festival
Event: Death to Dating @ Fringe Festival
Cost: $10
Pre-event estimate: 2-3 out of 5
Post-event estimate: 4 out of 5
It's a short musical filled with scenes that made you laugh wholeheartedly. It's a perfect event for girls' night out! It would be even better if there's a happy ending.... but the plot cleverly written the way it is, I have to admit.
I would love to hear what you think about the one(s) you have seen! Email me at afterfiveinToronto@hotmail.com
Cost: $10
Pre-event estimate: 2-3 out of 5
Post-event estimate: 4 out of 5
It's a short musical filled with scenes that made you laugh wholeheartedly. It's a perfect event for girls' night out! It would be even better if there's a happy ending.... but the plot cleverly written the way it is, I have to admit.
I would love to hear what you think about the one(s) you have seen! Email me at afterfiveinToronto@hotmail.com
Corso Italia Toronto Fiesta, Taste of Lawrence (July 5-6, 2008)
Event: Corso Italia Toronto Fiesta and Taste of Lawrence
Cost: Free admission
Pre-event estimate: for Corso Italia: 2 out of 5 as assessed last year--I went on a Sun, but 3 out of 5 for Dr. Draw's performance!
Post-event estimate: 3 out of 5 for both festivals
I had lots of fun at both festivals! The highlight of both festivals are not the food (though there were lots of different kinds to choose!): At Taste of Lawrence, I enjoyed a tour of the Wexdale Church and a wonderful organ performance. As for the Corso Italia, the highlight was definitely Dr. Draw's performance! I also caught a little of Toronto All Star Big Band there.
Cost: Free admission
Pre-event estimate: for Corso Italia: 2 out of 5 as assessed last year--I went on a Sun, but 3 out of 5 for Dr. Draw's performance!
Post-event estimate: 3 out of 5 for both festivals
I had lots of fun at both festivals! The highlight of both festivals are not the food (though there were lots of different kinds to choose!): At Taste of Lawrence, I enjoyed a tour of the Wexdale Church and a wonderful organ performance. As for the Corso Italia, the highlight was definitely Dr. Draw's performance! I also caught a little of Toronto All Star Big Band there.
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