Following are extracts from reviews of TCC concerts over the past several years. Please note that the Toronto Chamber Choir was named the Toronto Chamber Society prior to 1998.
The Globe and Mail
March 13, 2006
Reviewed by Ken Winters
“The choir did some lucent work in the many chorales, but its most telling achievements came in the big opening chorus and in the ravishing fantasia on the Passion chorale that ends Part One.” (St. Mark Passion, J.S. Bach)
The Toronto Star
March 28, 2005
Reviewed by William Littler
“Charpentier music a sonic revelation
Fallis’s characterization of Charpentier as “a magnificent composer” was proven by this mass. Full of musical variety and clever word painting, not to mention unexpected dissonances, it sounded much more animated, certainly more Italiante than the typically formal, rather austere French church music of its period. … In the hospitable acoustic of Christ Church Deer Park, the 40 voices of the Toronto Chamber Choir produced a disciplined, well-blended sound.” (Grand Office des Morts, Marc-Antoine Charpentier)
The Toronto Star
November 12, 2001
Reviewed by Geoff Chapman
“Chamber choir soothed
… the Toronto Chamber Choir’s season-opening concert yesterday at a packed Church of the Redeemer concentrated on elements that might calm our world’s sea of troubles – by presenting music with deep-felt but not obscure sentiment to soother savage breasts. Remembrance Day was well-served by the choir and its 18-year musical director David Fallis, who dipped into two Haydns, Mozart, Byrd, Britten and a requiem mass by Toronto composer and choir member David Barber. It helped, too, that Fallis provided informative and moving commentary.”
The Toronto Star
December 7, 1998
Reviewed by Geoff Chapman
“Magnificat lives up to its name
After 30 years of well-targeted endeavour, the Toronto Chamber Choir has amassed an enviable repertoire of great Renaissance and Baroque period works. Now David Fallis … is taking the choir on more innovative journeys. On Saturday, you could add magician to his formidable record, as he turned the stern 1998 atmosphere of Calvin Presbyterian Church … into a German Lutheran church of the 17th century. … The choir displayed a unanimity of purpose and balance, offering a refined reading of the Lord’s Prayer, and in general were well-schooled and responsive to Fallis dictates, always suggesting the solidity and complexity of German musical forms.” (A 17th Century Christmas Vespers, M. Praetorius)
The Toronto Star
March 31, 1997
Reviewed by William Littler
“How nice to hear the other Haydn
The concert was most impressive in its big choral statements. Fallis drew spirited performances from his full ensemble …. .” (C Minor Requiem, M. Haydn; three Communion Motets, M. Haydn; and two Church Sonatas by W. A. Mozart)
The Globe and Mail
Dec. 20, 1997
Reviewed by Deirdre Kelly
“Sometimes played on period instruments, the music was both authoritative and sensitive. The singing verged on the divine.” (The Song of Songs, a collaboration with Dancemakers)
The Toronto Star
May 8, 1995
Reviewed by William Littler
“ … the Toronto Chamber Society unveiled its welcome contribution to the 300th anniversary of Henry Purcell’s death Saturday night, a semi-staged version of the most enduringly popular of the English master’s semi-operas, The Fairy Queen. … David Fallis …. conducted the score with obvious affection, urging his forces to a particularly grand climax in the chorus “Hail! Great Parent Of Us All.” (The Fairy Queen, H. Purcell)
The Globe and Mail
May 9, 1995
Reviewed by Tamara Bernstein
“Purcell production a special treat
… the Toronto Chamber Society gave an overflow audience a special treat on Saturday, when it teamed up with artists of Opera Atelier and vocal soloists to present a semi-staged performance of Purcell’s The Fairy Queen. ……. The TCS choir – a community group – did a fine job in an evening that reminded one of the richness of this city’s amateur, as well as professional, musical life.” (The Fairy Queen, H. Purcell)
The Globe and Mail
December 11, 1995
Reviewed by Tamara Bernstein
“Choir in top form with Christmas Fare
The Toronto Chamber society can always be relied on at this time of year to take the road less traveled. No Handel’s Messiah or tired Christmas carols for this group, which specializes in early choral music. ….. The TCS choir was in top form, the balance between its sections excellent, the technique secure and the tone lovely.”
The Toronto Star
May 9, 1994
Reviewed by William Littler
“The Chamber Society prevails
... Fallis has encouraged them [the choir] to respond as a true choir, with a choral sound rather than the sound of 30-odd temporarily assembled individuals. … Bach himself once called music “an agreeable harmony for the honor of God and the permissible delights of the soul”. For the Toronto Chamber Society, that definition obviously still rings true.”
(Silver Anniversary concert of the Toronto Chamber Society)
The Globe and Mail
April 13, 1992
Reviewed by Tamara Bernstein
“Chamber Society unfaltering – Easter program pleases large audience
… it’s reassuring to see that The Toronto Chamber Society, directed by David Fallis, has not faltered in its commitment to early choral works from off the beaten track. … its [the choir’s] enthusiastic explorations of early choral repertoire play an important role in Toronto’s music scene, giving context to more familiar works while bringing to life worthy pieces that otherwise languish on library shelves.” (St. Matthew Passion, H. Schütz; and Cantata No. 182, J.S. Bach)
The Toronto Star
April 13, 1992
Reviewed by Ronald Hambleton
“Passion play wears well
... though Schütz wrote in the old Dorian mode and continuous unaccompanied recitative does not always wear well, his idiom sounded surprisingly fresh, especially when the choir gave good voice to the brief but complex settings … .” (St. Matthew Passion, H. Schütz)
The Globe and Mail
April 29, 1991
Reviewed by Tamara Bernstein
“Semele score served up with style – The Toronto Chamber Society presents a spirited rendition of Handel’s opera based on the Greek myth of lust, jealousy and ambition. ….
The performance, conducted by the Chamber society’s director David Fallis, had much to commend it: lively choruses, vocal agility on the part of all four soloists and stylish playing from the SMAM [Studio de Musique Ancienne de Montréal].” (Semele, G.F. Handel)
The Toronto Star
April 29, 1991
Reviewed by Ronald Hambleton
By Jupiter! This opera deserves a Juno
(Semele, G.F. Handel)
The Globe and Mail
Nov. 28, 1988
Reviewed by Tamara Bernstein
“Chamber Society gala concert shows the choir at its best
It was an evening of well-chosen repertoire performed with technical assurance and secure musical judgment.” (TCC’s Twentieth Anniversary Gala Concert)