Tone Cluster’s My Darling Valentino

If you’re looking to extend Valentine’s Day into the following weekend, treat your sweetheart to Tone Cluster’s My Darling Valentino.

The queer choir has been serenading Ottawans for close to two decades. President Andrew Sacret says the special Valentine’s show delivers old favourites with a new approach. “It’s a twist on some familiar songs that are done in new ways,” he says.

The concert will include a traditional madrigal, in the form of “Fair Phyllis,” contrasted with an interpretation of the Beatles’ “Can’t Buy Me Love.” Madrigals were the love songs of their day, Sacret says. “They were originally written in the renaissance period. They have a light, airy and dramatic feel.”

For a modern touch, New Zealand composer David Hamilton has written a new song, “Good Times, Bad Times, Always,” specifically for Tone Cluster that will debut this Sunday.

Local sextet Pearls of Wisdom will open the show. Sacret calls this all-female choir’s cohesiveness “impressive.”

“They combine the melody, the harmony and the rhythm section all using their voices,” he says. “They’ve got some popular music that’s been arranged for their group. It’ll be a real treat.”

Amorous prose by ee cummings and Robert Burns round out the event.

Tone Cluster’s My Darling Valentino

Sun, Feb 17, 3pm

First Baptist Church,
140 Laurier Ave W

$18 advance, $20 door, $12 for students

Tickets available at The Leading Note, Venus Envy, Books on Beechwood and Compact Music.

Algonquin College journalism grad. Podcaster @qqcpod.

Keep Reading

Collage featuring drag performers and the numbers 2025

The top 10 ‘Drag Race’ lip syncs of 2025

International seasons dominate the list of best performances of the year

Silky Nutmeg Ganache on taking a ‘Slaycation’ with Alyssa Edwards

The ‘Canada vs. The World’ star talks the value of a variety of drag TV and Miss Fiercalicious’ desire to be Galinda

2025 was about finding solace in the human-made slop

AI’s got nothing on good quality dumb entertainment—and only people can make that
Alyssa Edwards out of drag writing in a notebook

‘Canada’s Drag Race’ Season 6, Episode 4 recap: Battle it out

A fan favourite maxi-challenge from “Canada vs. The World” makes its return