TUESDAY

• Bass Franz-Josef Selig at the Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre, noon. Free.

This wonderful German bass, who is with the Canadian Opera Company singing the role of King Mark in Tristan und Isolde, presents a series of love-themed Lieder by Franz Schubert and Richard Strauss with pianist Rachel Andrist. Details here.

• Pianist Gabriela Montero at the Jane Mallett Theatre, 8 p.m.

The Venezuelan-born sensation offers her Music Toronto audience a mixed programme, starting with a 19th century dip into the Three Intermezzi, Op. 117 by Johannes Brahms and Robert Schumann’s Op. 17 Phantasie, followed by her own improvisations. This sensitive, intelligent pianist rarely fails to surprise and delight. You’ll find concert and ticket details here.

In case you need an introduction to Montero’s improvisational skills, here she is playing Rachmaninov in the style of Bach (you can fast-forward to the 1:40 mark):

WEDNESDAY, FRIDAY & SATURDAY

• Toronto Symphony Orchestra presents Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 at Roy Thomson Hall, 8 p.m.

There are three performances of Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 on offer this week, featuring four great, younger soloists — Canadians soprano Erin Wall, mezzo Allyson McHardy and tenor Joseph Kaiser and Chinese bass-baritone Shenyang. The concerts mark the Toronto début for much-praised young British conductor Matthew Halls who, like Sir Andrew Davis, started musical life as an organist. Also on the programme is Edward Elgar’s Serenade for Strings and Beethoven’s Coriolan Overture. Details here.

THURSDAY

• Young Canadian opera artists at the Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre, noon. Free.

Once a year, the members of the Canadian Opera Company Ensemble Studio and the Atelier lyrique de l’Opéra de Montréal join forces in the COC’s free lunchtime concert series. In honour of the day, this year’s theme is love. Details of the programme should eventually be posted here.

• Duke Piano Trio performs at Walter Hall, 1:30 p.m.

The Women’s Musical Club of Toronto welcomes the wonderful local Duke Trio to the 115th anniversary season of its afternoon concert series. Violinist Mark Fewer, cellist Thomas Wiebe and pianist Peter Longworth present a mix of serious and fun, old and new in their programme, which includes music by Joseph Haydn and Felix Mendelssohn. You’ll find the details here.

Also on the programme is Café Music by American composer Paul Schoenfield, a rollicking little excursion played here by Trio Oriens:

FRIDAY & SATURDAY

• Toronto Consort presents Francesco Cavalli’s Loves of Apollo and Daphne at Trinity-St Paul’s Centre, 8 p.m.

David Fallis and his gang of historically informed musicians have unearthed an operatic treat from mid-17th century Venice, from the great master of the day. The concert performance of this tragicommedia includes tenor Charles Daniels and mezzo Laura Pudwell. Details here.

SATURDAY

• Soprano Carla Huhtanen sings the Tapestry Songbook at the Distillery District, 7:30 p.m.

Huhtanen is one of the most versatile singers in town, and she’s always a pleasure to watch and listen to. She delves into music she knows well: highlights from the songbook compiled by Toronto opera incubator Tapestry New Opera Works. Pianist Chris Foley accompanies Huhtanen as well as emerging singers at the Ernest Balmer Studio, Tapestry’s intimate home performance space. Details here.

John Terauds

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John Terauds

John Terauds, Editor-Emeritus of Ludwig van Toronto, is currently a Divinity student at the University of Toronto and a church music director. He joined the Toronto Star in 1988, was the classical music critic from 2005 to 2012, and continues as a freelance critic for the paper. He is the co-author of Roy Thomson Hall: A Portrait, a book written with Toronto Star Colleague, William Littler.

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