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CRITIC’S PICKS | 11 Things You Absolutely Must Do This Week

By Michael Vincent on December 3, 2014

CRITIC_PICKS

Musical Toronto’s weekly Critic’s Picks are a fully curated list of some of the best concerts happening now through the end of the week. Of course this is not to say we are the provocateurs of taste, but simply seek to provide a good weekly summary. For a look at the full breadth of what’s available in and around Toronto, check out the comprehensive concert listings from our friends at Wholenote Magazine.

Wednesday 3

Toronto Symphony Orchestra at Roy Thomson Hall. 8:00 p.m. $38.75-169.

Tonight the TSO introduce the Best of Tchaikovsky with German-Japanese pianist Alice Sara Ott. Features the Jurisprudence March, Piano Concerto No.1 and Act II from the The Nutcracker (it’s Christmas after all). Show repeats December 6. Details here.

Thursday 4

Adam Sherkin at Bluma Appel Lobby, St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts. Noon. Free!

For those downtown around noon, check out one of MT’s favourite pianists, Adam Sherkin at St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts. He’ll be playing a program of all Mozart tunes: Rondo in D K485, Sonata in B-flat K333. More info here.

Sultans and Divas at Koerner Hall. 7:00 p.m. $35-$80

Toronto always has some fascinating concerts every season, and Sultans and Divas is definitely one of them. The RCM, Small World Music, and the Canadian Arab Institute have all teamed up for a night of music by leading Canadian-Arab performers. Features mezzo-soprano and CBC radio host Julie Nesrallah, soprano Miriam Khalil, master oud player Bassam Bishara, OktoEcho, Juno nominees and Canadian Folk Music Award winners, Sultans of String, led by violinist Chris McKhool, and dancer Roula Said. Full house! More details here.

Emergents I at the Music Gallery. 8:00 p.m. $8-12

The Music Gallery’s annual Emergents series has to be one of Toronto’s most exciting new music concert programs going. As per the custom, they choose a different curator for each of the four events spread over the season. This month, musician and media artist Melody McKiver, has chosen the chamber music quartet Clarinet Panic Deluxx and Cris Derksen. Info here.

Tafelmusik at Trinity-St. Paul’s Centre, Jeanne Lamon Hall. 8:00 p.m. $15-89

There is something very special about the vitality of French baroque music. And when you combine this with the incredible violinist Amandine Beyer, and Tafelmusik, then you have the recipe for an amazing show. Includes the Rebel’s Suite from Les Éléments, and music by Campra, Corrette, Leclair, and Rameau. Repeats Dec 5, 6, 7 (mat). Details here.

Friday 5

Toronto Symphony OrchestraWilliam Tell Opera-in-Concert – Turin Royal Theatre at Roy Thomson Hall. 7:00 p.m. $33-145.

If you can only see one concert this week, then the TSO’s concert production of William Tell with guest conductor Gianandrea Noseda should be it. MT’s Neil Crory just did an amazing and candid interview with Noseda this week. Also includes the Orchestra and Chorus Teatro Regio Torino, with Luca Salsi singing the title role. Italian with English surtitles. More details here.

Elmer Iseler Singers at the Metropolitan United Church. 8:00 p.m. $20-50

Holiday programming picks-up with the Elmer Iseler Singers’ Messiah featuring a number of great soloists, including Virginia Hatfield, Marion Newman, David Pomeroy, and Giles Tomkins. The Amadeus Choir conducted by Lydia Adams will also be there. Info here.

Saturday 6

Stewart Goodyear at Koerner Hall. 2:00 p.m. $25-35

For those with kids, we highly recommend checking out Stewart Goodyear performing a family friendly piano solo version Nutcracker Suite, with dancers from Canada’s National Ballet School and Ballet Creole, and singers from Toronto Children’s Chorus. The concert is 75-minutes long, so make sure all little ones are well rested to see them through. Info here.

Toronto Mendelssohn Choir at the Richmond Hill Centre for the Performing Arts. 8:00 p.m. $35-40

Get into the festive spirit with Toronto Mendelssohn Choir. There will be plenty of opportunities to sing-along! Info here.

Pax Christi Chorale at Grace Church on-the-Hill. 7:30 p.m. $25-35

Toronto’s Pax Christi Chorale will present a program of music sure to warm you up, inside and out. Features J.S.Bach’s Christmas Oratorio Part II, Nun komm der Heiden Heiland and Martin’s Winter Nights. Show repeats December 6 and 7 (mat). More details here.

Sunday 7

Toronto Symphony Orchestra at Roy Thomson Hall. 3:00 p.m. $25-39

The TSO get festive with a family concert (no kids under 2 though), featuring Delius’s Sleigh Ride, Blake’s The Bear, Rimsky-Korsakov’s The Snow Maiden (Dance of the Tumblers), Tchaikovsky’s Suite from The Nutcracker Op.71a and others. Includes Alex Hetherington (soprano), Owen McCausland (tenor), Mark S. Doss (bass), Tom Allen (narrator), Cawthra Park Chamber Choir, The Holiday Dancers and David Amado (conductor). Recommended for children aged 5-12. Info here.

Michael Vincent
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