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 11
Tafelmusik – House of Dreams at Trinity-St. Paul’s Centre, Jeanne Lamon Hall. 7:00 p.m. $20-91
From the fertile mind of Tafelmusik’s Alison Mackay, comes a revisited House of Dreams, which can be described as a magical journey to the heart of baroque art and music. Music by Bach, Handel, Vivaldi and Marais are played entirely by memory against the scrim of paintings by Vermeer, Canaletto, and Watteau. If you haven’t seen it yet, drop everything and go; thank us later. Show continues through Sunday. More details here.
Junction Trio – Flutissimo at St. Anne’s Anglican Church. 7:30 p.m. $20
The Junction Trio have been going strong for over five seasons now, and have established themselves apart from the crowd with programming that incorporates improvisation and a wide range of guest artists. They also just welcomed some new blood with violinist, Aysel Taghi-Zada. Tonight, they join Toronto’s YueFang Ensemble in a program celebrating the Chinese New Year (the year of the Goat!) Info and more here.
Toronto Symphony Orchestra – Masterworks: Carnival of the Animals at Roy Thomson Hall. 8:00 p.m. $33-145.
As part of the ten-day festival organized by piano master, Emanuel Ax, the TSO presents a masterworks concert featuring a little bit of everything. Starting with some Mozart (Concerto for Two Pianos K316a/365), the concert also includes a premiere by outgoing RCB composer Kevin Lau (Foothills of Heaven). If that weren’t enough, audiences will also be treated to a performance of Saint-Saëns: Carnival of the Animals with pianist Jan Lisiecki. Not to be missed. You’ll find all the details here.
Thursday 12
Off Centre Music Salon – All Folked Up–Hobson’s Choice at the Music Gallery. 8:00 p.m. $15-25.
Celebrating their 20th anniversary season, the Off Centre Music Salon is all Folked up with a concert that touches upon the universality of music from love found, love lost, and love found again. The event will be hosted by ethnomusicologist and guitarist Nate Renner. Pre-concert reception at 6:30. Some more info here.
Music Toronto – Discovery Series at Jane Mallett Theatre, St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts. 8:00 p.m. $10-21.50
Italian-born, and now Ottawa based pianist, Mauro Bertoli, is a force behind the keyboard and has been gaining much attention for his razzle-dazzle style of playing. He joins cellist Paul Marleyn, an equally dynamic performer, in a concert featuring old and new. One particular highlight is a performance of Chan Ka Nin’s Soulmate for solo cello, which was originally written for his figure skating music project “Poetry On Ice” (1995). Tickets and program info here.
Friday 13
Organix Concerts – Opening performance of Organix 2015 festival at the Timothy Eaton Memorial Church. 7:30 p.m. $25-35
For all the organ music fans out there (you can count Musical Toronto among them), Organix opens its organ festival with a concert featuring saxophonist Daniel Rubinof, and organist Christopher Dawes. Repeats Feb 15, (in Oakville). Details here.
Royal Conservatory – Nathan Brock Conducts the Royal Conservatory Orchestra at Koerner Hall. 8:00 p.m. $25-55
Montreal Symphony resident conductor Nathan Brock will be in Toronto tonight to lead a program of works by John Weinzweig, Beethoven, and Bartók. The winner of The Glenn Gould School concerto competition, pianist Sijing Ye, will be on hand to perform Beethoven: Piano Concerto No.1 in C Op. 15. There will be a special pre-concert recital at 6:45 with students from the The Glenn Gould School. More info here.
Saturday 14
New Music Concerts – New Works from East and West at the Betty Oliphant Theatre. 8:00 p.m. $10-35
Heat up your Valentine’s Day with a contemporary music concert with compositions by Scime, Fuhong Shi, Radford, Yan Qiao Wang, Palej and others. Toronto-based soprano Stacie Dunlop–one of Canada’s finest contemporary music voices–will join violinist Véronique Mathieu, and the New Music Concerts Ensemble with Robert Aitken, conductor. We recommend you plan a nice dinner to go along with the show… Cupid’s arrow and all. Details here.
Sunday 15
Canadian Music Centre – Brocade at 20 St. Joseph St. 7:30 p.m. $25-30
Taking their name from the majestic Rocky Mountains of Canada, the rocKeys duo is a unique collaboration between harpsichordist Katelyn Clark and pianist Luciane Cardassi. After meeting at the Banff Centre during several artist residencies, the duo gradually took shape. They are now in Toronto to perform an eclectic program of works by Works by Ceccarelli, LeBlanc, L.S. Smith, Pidgorna and Ribeiro. Advance tickets can be found here.
Tuesday 17
Music Toronto – Dénes Várjon, pianist at the Jane Mallett Theatre, St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts. 8:00 p.m. $10-55
The Hungarian pianist Dénes Várjon, (familiar collaborator with Steven Isserlis and others), is a musician’s musician, and well worth your while to hear. This will be a good concert for those looking to hear keyboard masterworks by Beethoven, Schumann, Ravel, and Bartók, played to perfection. You’ll find all the details here.
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