15 Tuesday
- Philip Chiu, piano at the Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre, Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts. Noon. Free.
The Canadian Opera Company presents “Music in the Time of War” as part of their Piano Virtuoso Series. Pianist Philip Chiu is not only a brilliant pianist, but also known for being a lot of fun to watch on stage. Works include Ravel: Le Tombeau de Couperin; Prokofiev: Sonata No.7 in B-flat (second movement); Haas (arr. Chiu): Suite for Oboe and Piano Op.1. (some) info here.
- Australian Art Orchestra, with composer Nicole Lizée at Trinity-St. Paul’s Centre. 8 p.m. $20-65
I’ve always been a big fan of Soundstreams, and I’m looking forward to hearing one of Australia’s most exciting improvising ensembles performing of their lauded interpretation of Bach’s The Passion After St. Matthew. The concert will also include a “hot off the press” work by Montreal composer Nicole Lizée. For anyone with a taste for Jazz and new music, this is one of the must see events of the season.
There will be a pre-concert talk hosted by Lawrence Cherney at 7 p.m. Tickets and more details here.
For a preview and interview with Nicole Lizée, which appeared on Musical Toronto last Saturday, and see here.
16 Wednesday
- Composer Diana McIntosh at Heliconian Hall. 8 p.m. $20
Who says classical music is always serious business? It’s OK to Laugh is a show focused on the lighter side music, with works arranged for piano, toy piano, mouth percussion, voice, live electronics and tape. The show will include a piece called Glorified Chicken Mousse, which is a recipe from “The Joy of Cooking” and it is cooked-up right in front of the audience by Maude Pilly. (Diana’s alter ego). Very curious for this one. Selected info here.
17 Thursday
- Toronto Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Andrey Boreyko with Hélène Grimaud at Roy Thomson Hall 8 p.m. $33-145
Match the charisma of one of the world’s finest pianists, with the TSO under the direction of the fine conductor Andrey Boreyko and you are in for a very special night. On the bill are Brahms Piano Concerto No. 1 and some Easter-themed works: Rimsky-Korsakov’s Russian Easter Festival Overture, and Messiaen’s L’Ascension.
The very mention of Hélène Grimaud’s name will be enough to sell-out this show very quickly, so be sure to reserve your seats early. Tickets and info here.
Concert repeats April 19th.
18 Friday
- Toronto Mendelssohn Choir with Noel Edison, conductor; Caron Daley, associate conductor; Michael Bloss, organ at the St. Paul’s Basilica. 7:30 p.m. $25-50
This being Good Friday, there are a naturally a lot concerts celebrating this important religious holiday, and to be honest it was difficult to choose between them all. But you really can never go wrong with the Toronto Mendelssohn Choir, who will pair Durufle’s nine-movement Requiem with Vierne’s Messe Solennelle at St. Paul’s Basilica. Sacred music for a sacred place. Details here.
- New Music Concerts Ensemble with Jörg Widmann, clarinet, Betty Oliphant Theatre. 8 p.m. $10-35
For new music lovers, the renowned German composer, conductor and instrumentalist Jörg Widmann is back in Toronto to present and conduct the Canadian premiere of this large ensemble work: Freie Stücke. The concert also includes some virtuosic solo works including Air for solo horn performed by Chris Gongos. Widmann will be featured in Fantasie for solo clarinet and will be joined by Toronto’s Gregory Oh in Fünf Bruchstücke for clarinet and piano. Plenty of details here.
19 Saturday
- Gordon Murray, piano at Trinity-St. Paul’s United Church. 8 p.m. $10-20
Pianist Gordon Murray presents a Soiree of solo piano music, including works arranged from Romberg, Debussy, Rachmaninoff, and more. No details online (?)
- Opera Belcanto of York: George Bizet – Carmen with Nariné Ananikyan, mezzo (Carmen); Gayané Mangassarian, soprano (Micaëla); Stanislas Vitort, tenor (Don José) and James Ciantar, tenor (Don José) at Richmond Hill Centre for the Performing Arts. 7:30 p.m. $20-50
Bizet’s Carmen really is the first musical, and why not? It is crammed with familiar tunes one can whistle in the shower. Details here.
Michael Vincent