Toronto Symphony Orchestra Wins JUNO Award for Massenet: Thaïs

Toronto, Ontario—June 4, 2021: The Toronto Symphony Orchestra (TSO) is thrilled to be the recipient of the 2021 JUNO Award for Best Classical Album: Vocal or Choral for its album, Massenet: Thaïs, as announced earlier tonight.

 

The award for Best Classical Album: Vocal or Choral, along with 14 other categories, were presented during the 50th JUNO Opening Night Awards on June 4, 2021, live online on CBC Music.

 

The TSO recording of Massenet’s emotionally riveting opera Thaïs was released in May 2020 on the prestigious Chandos label. Conducted by TSO Conductor Laureate Sir Andrew Davis, and featuring a cast of renowned Canadian and international singers, with the Toronto Mendelssohn Choir, Massenet: Thaïs was recorded live by Soundmirror, Inc. at Roy Thomson Hall in Toronto in November 2019.

 

Photo: Thaïs Grand Opera in Concert, Toronto Symphony Orchestra, cond. Sir Andrew Davis ©Jag Gundu, November 2019

 

The recording received high praise from critics worldwide, who singled out the cast and the Orchestra under Sir Andrew Davis, calling it “thrilling concert performance” (CBC Music). Massenet: Thaïs also marks the final recording of Canadian soprano Erin Wall, who lost her life to cancer in October 2020. Erin worked with the TSO several times over the course of her career, and the TSO is the fortunate recipient of her vibrant and emotionally charged portrayal in the title role.

 

“On behalf of the TSO, I am delighted to thank the JUNO Awards for this honour, and offer a big congratulations to the exceptional TSO musicians and extraordinary soloists—the late Erin Wall, Joshua Hopkins, Andrew Staples and Nathan Berg, the wonderful Toronto Mendelssohn Choir, and to conductor Sir Andrew Davis for Massenet: Thaïs,” says Gustavo Gimeno, TSO Music Director. “The recognition is especially meaningful because this opera-in-concert was recorded only a few months before the world’s concert stages were silenced. I am grateful to the entire company as well as our recording partner, Chandos Records, and sound engineers, Soundmirror, Inc. for capturing this concert so beautifully.”

 

The TSO’s Massenet: Thaïs is available for streaming on Spotify and Apple Music, and for purchase on iTunes and directly from the TSO.

 

Massenet: Thaïs

Toronto Symphony Orchestra

Sir Andrew Davis, conductor

Jonathan Crow, concertmaster

Toronto Mendelssohn Choir

Erin Wall | Soprano

Joshua Hopkins | Baritone

Andrew Staples | Tenor

Nathan Berg | Bass-baritone

Liv Redpath | Soprano

Andrea Ludwig | Mezzo-soprano

Emilia Boteva | Mezzo-soprano

Stacey Tappan | Soprano

Neil Aronoff | Baritone

 

The TSO dedicated this recording to the late Hans Brenninkmeyer. Together, he and his wife, Susan, generously supported the appearances of Sir Andrew Davis as Interim Artistic Director.

The TSO is grateful for the support of all levels of government, including the Canada Council for the Arts, the Ontario Arts Council, the Toronto Arts Council, the Government of Canada, and the Government of Ontario. 

The TSO Season Presenting Sponsor is BMO Financial Group.

The TSO acknowledges Mary Beck as the Musicians’ Patron in perpetuity for her generous and longstanding support.