Culture Days is the dominant presence on this week’s calendar, running Sept. 27 to 29. Most classical music presenters are concentrating their efforts on Saturday and Sunday, which has turned into a groaning overabundance of possibilities.
For all Culture Days info, head over here.
Critic’s picks for this week are a bit slim:
WEDNESDAY & THURSDAY
- Toronto Symphony Orchestra at Roy Thomson Hall, 8 p.m.
Our city’s flagship orchestra is advertising guest violinist Itzhak Perlman and Tchaikovsky’s warhorse Violin Concerto, but the real reason to go is William Walton’s Symphony No. 1, a fantastically dark, 45-minute work premiered in 1935 by the BBC Symphony. It’s the sort of music that music director Peter Oundjian leads particularly well. Also notable on the programme is British composer Colin Matthews’ reconstruction of an unfinished clarinet concerto Benjamin Britten was writing for Benny Goodman in the early years of World War II. You’ll find all the details here.
THURSDAY
- Canadian Opera Company Ensemble Studio at the Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre, noon.
Our city’s big opera company kicks off its season of free concerts by introducing its young artists in a programme dedicated to late general director Lotfi Mansouri, who founded the Ensemble Studio three decades ago. There are 10 solo opera arias on the bill, which ends with a soppy Edwardian song, a bygone fireside favourite, “When I have Sung My Songs,” by Ernest Charles.
Warning: If you’re note lined up outside at Queen and University by at least 11:30 a.m., you’re not likely to get in.
FRIDAY TO SATURDAY
- Pianist Frank Horvat at Lakeshore Arts (2422 Lake Shore Blvd W.), starting at 1 p.m.
Local pianist-composer Frank Horvat has vowed to play solo for a minimum of 20 hours to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Lakeshore Arts, a valuable community arts space in southern Etobicoke. His marathon is a fundraiser, which is not something I normally write about, but this really is an unusual effort by an generous artist.
The marathon will be set up for online viewing, as well. You’ll find all the details here.
SUNDAY
- ARC Ensemble at Koerner Hall, 3 p.m. Free.
This remarkable chamber music ensemble, joined by opera baritone Peter Barrett, promises a full concert programme of Italian or Italian-inspired treats in honour of Culture Days. This is the musical outing of the weekend, and I’ll have more about it later in the week.
Even though admission is free, you have to reserve a ticket in advance here.
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You can check out the rest of the week’s concert options in WholeNote magazine’s concert listings here.
John Terauds