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Toronto classical concert and opera picks for March 31 to April 6, 2014

By Michael Vincent on March 31, 2014

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Around this time of year we start to see a number of arts presenters make the transition between the 2013/14 and the 2014/15 seasons. No doubt we will be seeing more of these as the spring thaw progresses, but this week we find events for The Toronto Consort, and Music Toronto, and The Larkin Singers, U of T, Glenn Gould School, Gaudeamus Muzieweek, Canadian Opera Company and Khatia Buniatishvili.

31 Monday

  • Woodwind Chamber Ensembles at University of Toronto Faculty of Music, Walter Hall. 7:30 p.m. Free

Mondays are usually a quiet night for concerts, but you can still stroll down Philosopher’s walk to Water Hall and hear a few woodwind ensembles blow your socks off. Unfortunately there is no info worth sharing online (really wish U of T would start supporting their student concerts better).

1 Tuesday

  • Artists of the Glenn Gould School with Brian Current conducting. Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre, Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts. Noon. Free.

This looks to be an exciting program of contemporary solo and chamber works (duets mainly) featuring the music of acclaimed American composer John Corigliano, as well as works by Osvaldo Golijov and Aaron Jay Kernis. Golijov’s Mariel (for marimba and cello) is especially recommended. Info here.

2 Wednesday

  • Glenn Gould School Chamber Competition Finals at Mazzoleni Concert Hall 7:30 p.m. Free.

Come watch ensembles duke it out for a $9,000 purse and the chance to perform a Prelude in Koerner Hall. (some) Details here.

3 Thursday

gaudeamus

  • Gaudeamus Muzieweek at the Music Gallery. 8 p.m. $10-30

Gaudeamus Muzieweek serves as a Dutch centre point for young composers seeking to strut their stuff. Continuum, Arraymusic and the Music Gallery will unite for two nights under the flag of The Netherlands’ famed festival/competition, to present the latest in improvisation and new music. Concerts will include works by Dutch composer Louis Andriessen and Yannis Kyriakides, as well as Canadian Michael Osterle. Musical Toronto’s guest contributor Tyler Versluis will be covering the event. More details here.

NB: The Thursday Night focus seems to be on avant-garde jazz, while Friday’s focus will be on contemporary music, so pick your poison. There will also be a FREE workshop with Trio 7090 (Bas Wiegers, Koen Kaptijn and Nora Mulder) on Saturday April 5th at 10 a.m.

 

Alexandre Da Costa, Photo by Bo Huang
Alexandre Da Costa, Photo by Bo Huang
  • Alexandre Da Costa, violinist with Hélène Mercier, pianist at the Jane Mallett Theatre, St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts. 8 p.m. $10-21.50

For a more traditional affair, come celebrate Music Toronto’s second last season event with a promising performance by duo Alexandre Da Costa, and Hélène Mercier. They will be presenting masterworks by Manuel de Falla, Beethoven and Brahms. Info here. 

Update: “Due to circumstances beyond our control, Music TORONTO announces that pianist Hélène Mercier is unable to appear in recital on Thursday April 4 with violinist Alexandre Da Costa. Music TORONTO and Mr. Da Costa are grateful that at very short notice another pf his regular collaborators, Wonny Song, has graciously agreed to appear.”

4 Friday

  • Toronto Consort and artistic director David Fallis present Francesco Cavalli’s Giasone with Laura Pudwell, contralto (Giasone); Kevin Skelton, tenor; (Aegus); Michelle DeBoer, soprano (Medea) and others at Trinity-St. Paul’s. 8 p.m. $21-61

It’s not every day that we get to hear an opera from 1649, composed almost 100 years before Handel’s Hercules (which opens at the COC the following evening). This event will mark the close of the Toronto Consort’s 2013-14 season. This was once the most popular opera of the 17th century, and it has been described as a true comic masterpiece. It’s being performed in-concert.

It will open Friday evening, but also runs April 5th at 8 p.m. and April 6th at 3:30 p.m.

More details here.

BTW – After looking at some previous Giasone video teasers (see below) I can help but to wonder why there are so many bare-chested fellas in bathtubs and beds with mysterious hands feeling about. The Consort has assured me that there will be no beds, bathtubs or bare chests in their version.

 

Vlaamse Opera’s production (Antwerp/Ghent):

Pinchgut Opera’s production (Sydney):

 

5 Saturday

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  • Canadian Opera Company, Handel’s Hercules, Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts. 4:30 p.m. $22 +

Probably one of the most talked about events of the season, Peter Sellars’ version of Handel’s 1744 masterpiece, first imagined by Sophocles in his Women of Trachis is one not to miss. The original, 2011 production of Sellars’ Hercules was widely adored, and opera fans can expect a sure-fire evening of provocative staging, power, intensity, and depth.

Hercules will be played by Eric Owens, and Dejanira by Alice Coote. Also features singers David Daniels, Richard Croft, and Lucy Crowe. It is an English language opera, but will also include surtitles. Much more info here.

 

Also playing:

Fri. Apr. 11, 2014 at 7:30 p.m.

Tues. Apr. 15, 2014 at 7:30 p.m.

Sat. Apr. 19, 2014 at 7:30 p.m.

Thurs. Apr. 24, 2014 at 7:30 p.m.

Sun. Apr. 27, 2014 at 2 p.m.

Wed. Apr. 30, 2014 at 7:30 p.m.

 

See here for a short preview:

 

  • The Larkin Singers, with David Briggs, organ at Holy Trinity Church 4 p.m. $15-30

Tonight marks the close of the Larkin Singers’ 2013-14 season with an interesting program of modern choral composers. “Modern Mystics” will include works by David Briggs, Leonard Cohen, Jonathan Dove, Malin Gavelin, Laura Hawley, Gabriel Jackson, Matthew Larkin, Morten Lauridsen, James MacMillan, Paul Mealor, C.V. Standford, John Tavener, and Eric Whitacre. After the concert, all are welcome to join the singers at the Duke of Richmond for “Duke’s Dialogue” – an informal question/answer period for the audience and musicians with snacks on the house. Grab a drink and have a good time! Tickets here.

6 Sunday

Khatia Buniatishvili, pianist
Khatia Buniatishvili, pianist
  • Khatia Buniatishvili, at Koerner Hall 3:00 p.m. $25+

I have a soft spot for Sunday Matinees, and if you haven’t heard this amazing pianist, you really should. Her Chopin is absolutely divine. The program includes Liszt, Ravel, Chopin, and closes with some Stravinsky for good measure. Details here.

 

Michael Vincent

Michael Vincent
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