Episode 9: Tim Shantz | Bach, Handel & Eye Surgery

Culture Monster

Episode 9: Tim Shantz | Bach, Handel & Eye Surgery I tell the story teased from the beginning of Culture Monster—what is the connection between Bach, Handel and eye surgery? I also speak with notable choral conductor Tim Shantz on the power of ensemble singing, and recommend a British novel from the 1990s. LINKS News story on the Toronto Gallery heist: https://cp24.com/four-pieces-of-art-worth-combined-265-900-stolen-from-gallery-in-toronto-1.5395704… Medical Journal article on Bach’s eye problems: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamaophthalmology/fullarticle/417322 University of Wisconsin Medical School’s version of the story: https://www.med.wisc.edu/news-and-events/2009/december/handel-bach-blinded-18th-century-quackery/ Tim Shantz is a faculty member at the University of Alberta Department of Music: https://www.ualberta.ca/music/index.html Tim Shantz is founder and artistic director of the Luminous Voices: https://luminousvoices.com/artistic-director https://luminousvoices.com He was also the former director of the Spiritus Chamber Choir and Calgary Philharmonic Chorus: http://www.spirituschamberchoir.ca https://calgaryphil.com/orchestra/chorus/ The most recent Luminous Voices recording is “Sea Dreams” Apple: https://music.apple.com/ca/album/sea-dreams/1522347176 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/1gmIVzH2KgF8vPJyQh6DEZ?si=h68Hh305SxiPKBj5vbkoYg Tim Shantz and the Luminous Voices have recorded “The Far West” by Zachary Wadsworth Apple: https://music.apple.com/ca/album/zachary-wadsworth-the-far-west/1525796302 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/0pPYLosqkFmokl5C5lOzIu?si=ZCyNRaniT7mahlzpPhVQGg Tim also mentioned Frank Martin “Mass for Double Choir”: Apple: https://music.apple.com/ca/album/frank-martin-choral-works/69170555 Monteverdi “Vespers 1610” Apple: https://music.apple.com/ca/album/monteverdi-vespers/418622377 J.S. Bach “St John Passion” Apple: https://music.apple.com/ca/album/bach-st-john-passion-bwv-245-johannes-passion-deluxe/1087775578 The excerpt of Handel’s “Total Eclipse” is provided by the Internet Archive, and was performed by Richard Lewis. HIs 1963 Calgary recital is available here: https://music.apple.com/ca/album/in-recital-calgary-1963-live/1386196451 Episode First published April 2021 https://www.culturemonster.ca