The Symphony: Listening to History
A seminar series on the evolution of the symphony parallels a study of European history from the start of the […]
Guest Blog
Ulysses Can Change Your Life
[Editor’s note: Classical Pursuits was extraordinarily fortunate to have the late Mike Groden (1947–2021) lead Ulysses seminars at Toronto Pursuits
The Odyssey of a Sentence: Nine Ways Homer Changes in Translation
New English translations of Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey appear with notable regularity. For the general reader, it’s natural to ask: are they really all that different? And more importantly, do those differences matter?
The answer is: yes—and no.
From Motif to Masterpiece: Themes & Variations
The Theme & Variations form is one of the simplest in music: a given melody, idea or theme is put through a series of melodic, harmonic, rhythmic, tempo and other changes, revealing different aspects and traits of the original.
A Dilemma a Day Keeps Nihilism Away!
Toronto Pursuits’ “Nixing Nihilism: A Survey of Contemporary Philosophy” will serve up a “moral dilemma of the day” for seminar participants to consider.
In Cold Blood and the Potential of Nonfiction
Truman Capote declared that his choice of material in choosing to write a true account of “an actual murder case was altogether literary.” He wanted to create a “serious new art form: the nonfiction novel.”
Five Québec City Places I Love
Québec City is a place unlike any other in North America. Its cobblestone streets, and centuries-old architecture give it a
Civility, manners, and hospitality in the Odyssey
[Editor’s note: Alexandra Hudson is passionate about the way ideas and storytelling change people’s lives. She is the author of
Yarns and Fiddle Strings in Woody Point, Newfoundland
I was on a mission to meet Louise Penny. But first, some background. I just returned from a thoroughly live-in-the-moment
The Devil Went Down to Moscow: Interview with Rosemary Gould
Today Classical Pursuits talks with Rosemary Gould, who is leading our upcoming seminar The Devil Went Down to Moscow. Rosemary