Music at Mount Pleasant Vol. 6: Arparla feat. Elixir Baroque Ensemble

Every Sunday from June 28 to August 23, we welcome you to join us for an afternoon of live open-air music in the green space behind the cemetery office. Each week, we will present talented musicians from across the city. This event is family-friendly and admission is free. Please register to receive updates and reminders for the event. Registration is not required, but appreciated.

This Sunday:
Arparla featuring Elixir Baroque Ensemble
"It's a Gut Feeling"
A brilliant program illuminating music from Northern Italy during the Baroque, from Marco Uccellini, through Legrenzi and Venice's most famous composer Vivaldi. Arparla, a violin and harp duo hailing from Italy and Ireland, are proud owners of a Canadian canoe which they have rowed on the canals of Venice! Davide Monti, noted improviser and his sparring partner on harp, Maria Christina Clearly, joins up with Canadian Elixir Ensemble(and Music at Mount Pleasant long-time favourites) for a match of musical wit. Maria is dedicated to increasing the harp repetoire by playing organ concertos on the harp. Come and hear music never heard in North America and enjoy a Venetian breeze during the peak of summer.
Quick tips for an enjoyable event:

Outdoor events can be hot and sunny. Stay hydrated by bringing a refillable water bottle and drink plenty of water throughout the day. Remember to use sunscreen to protect your skin.

This event will be on the grass. While seating will not be provided, we welcome you to bring picnic blankets and/or outdoor folding chairs for your enjoyment of the event. Sunglasses, hats, sunscreen, refillable water bottles and parasols will also come in handy.

July and August can get hot in Toronto. Please make sure to wear comfortable shoes and light clothing. Don't forget to check the weather forecast and dress accordingly.

Please note that this year, the start time has been revised to 10:30 AM to allow for a cooler time of day and improve comfort for both audience members and performers.

About Mount Pleasant Cemetery

Mount Pleasant Cemetery opened in 1876, and was one of the few non-sectarian cemeteries where all citizens, regardless of faith, could lay their loved ones to rest. Today, we are honoured to be a place that continues to welcome all people, serving a diverse and growing Greater Toronto Area. The cemetery is located between Yonge Street and Bayview Avenue, just north of Moore Park, and connected to the popular Beltline rail trail.

Designed by the German-born architect Henry Engelhardt, Mount Pleasant took its inspiration from European and American “landscape style” cemeteries of the time. As the transformation took shape with trees, shrubs, and winding paths, the cemetery soon became a local attraction.

Engelhardt envisioned a park and lush green space and included an arborteum in the original design of the cemetery for the public to enjoy. A testament to this grand vision, Mount Pleasant Cemetery is now home to hundreds of varieties of trees and is renowned as one of the finest tree collections in North America today.

In the year 2000, Mount Pleasant Cemetery was designated a national historic site of Canada. It is celebrated as an outstanding surviving example of 19th century rural American cemetery design—notably its gradual development from west to east. Like a living museum, this linearity allows visitors to observe the cultural shifts and evolving architectural styles through variations in its landscape elements, markers, and monuments.