The Tallis Choir is a chamber ensemble of 36 voices that has earned a reputation for innovative programming and polished performances. Works from Gregorian Chant to contemporary choral music are represented, but the Choir is best known as one of the few Canadian ensembles specialising in the music of the Renaissance, particularly 16th century Italy and England.

Founded in 1977, the Tallis Choir has presented annual four-concert seasons including a cappella programmes, small chamber ensembles, organ, and on several occasions, one large scale production with works by Haydn and Mozart featuring choir, hired soloists and chamber orchestra.

The choir has made three recordings: Splendours of The High Renaissance, (1983), A Tudor Pageant, (1985), both LPs, and Music of Palestrina & Victoria, available on Cassette and Compact Disc. All have been well received and have aired on the CBC national radio network as well as local stations. In addition, the choir has also been the guest performer on CBC programmes, including “Music Around Us” (1993 and 1994), and was the test choir for “tuning” the Glenn Gould Studio at the CBC Building. Recently, the choir’s first two recordings were re-released as a two-CD album.

The Tallis Choir also has a long history of collaborating with other arts organizations in the area, including: the York Winds, Hannaford Street Silver Band, Tafelmusik, the Chamber Players of Toronto, Talisker Players, Scarborough Choral Society, and guest artists of Hart House and St. Michael’s College, University of Toronto, the Mozart Society, Music West, and has performed outside Toronto in Peterborough, Port Hope, Hamilton, St. Catharines, Grimsby and Burlington.

Over the last ten years, in addition to its regular concerts, the choir has appeared at the Mondial Choral Festival in Laval, Quebec, St. James Cathedral, at Trinity College, the HMV Megastore in downtown Toronto, as part of Doors Open Toronto at the new CNIB building, Wild in The City Benefit, and the Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre at the Four Seasons Centre.

The Tallis Choir continues to perform music new to Toronto audiences as part of its mandate, ranging from lesser known Renaissance works to contemporary Canadian works.

 

Giovanni Gabrieli’s ‘O Magnum Mysterium’ performed by the Tallis Choir of Toronto.
From The Tallis Choir Presents: Gabrieli – Midnight Mass of 1605, performed at St. Patrick’s Church, Toronto, on December 4, 2010