n this 36th Season of the Toronto Consort, we take you on a series of exotic and exquisite journeys through the fabulous world of early music. The season starts with The Marco Polo Project, the first chapter in a new series of concerts in which the Toronto Consort invites friends from a variety of world traditions to explore the musical excitement when we juxtapose and combine European medieval music with music from the many lands visited by the famous 13th-century Venetian traveler. In this first year we follow Marco Polo on his route through Georgia as he crossed Asia to China. We are proud to join forces with Wen Zhao, virtuoso pipa-player, YuCheng Zhang, xun and xiao (traditional Chinese flutes), Yongli Xue, zheng (Chinese zither), and Kavkasia, the Georgian vocal trio led by Toronto singer Alan Gasser.

At Christmas we present a new version of The Praetorius Christmas Vespers, the Toronto Consort’s beloved Yuletide tradition which makes the rafters of Trinity-St. Paul’s ring with beloved carols accompanied by a huge renaissance orchestra. In January we take an inward journey, with Earth, Air, Fire, Water, a musical exploration of the four elements and alchemy in the great music of Renaissance England, France and Germany. Our guest ensemble this year is the incredible Flanders Recorder Quartet in a program which ranges from medieval to contemporary. And topping off all this excitement are the ineffable Monteverdi Vespers of 1610 with superstar early music tenor Charles Daniels.

Come and share in the excitement of this rich and wonderful season!

D A V I D   F A L L I S
Artistic Director

© 2008, Toronto Consort