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 our concert listings in the Musical Toronto Datebook.
December is that time of year when Holiday programming dominates the concert calendar. There are plenty to choose from, whether you fancy large scale shows the likes of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra or the more intimate venues like your local church just around the corner. As usual, my choices are not meant to be comprehensive but they represent my own personal, “voice-centric” and perhaps idiosyncratic tastes.
Monday/Tuesday 7-8
SOUNDSTREAMS | Electric Messiah at the Drank Hotel. 8 p.m. $15-25 (Repeats: Dec. 8)
If you are musically adventurous, check out Electric Messiah presented by Soundstreams, the premiere New Music organization in Toronto. This show is part of Soundstreams’ Ear Candy series, billed as a “stripped down, surround sound electro-improv Messiah for today’s Toronto.” I confess I’m more of the old guard, used to having my Messiahs performed in a symphony hall or a church. The venue for this show is at the Drake Hotel, in the trendy Queen Street West district between Ossington and Dufferin, west of downtown Toronto. The four soloists are not listed in their typical voice categories of soprano, tenor, etc., but as providing the “vocals.” They are accompanied by guitar and electronics, and the show aims “to explore a selection of the work’s most popular movements through the lens of their own unique styles and cultural backgrounds.” I imagine this is semi-staged – the curator is Kyle Brenders, dramaturg Ashlie Corcoran and lighting designer Patrick Lavender. For more information, see here.
Wednesday/Thursday 9/10
TSO | Cirque de la Symphonie at Roy Thomson Hall. 8 p.m. $18-29 (Repeats: Dec. 9 & 10 2 p.m. and 8 p.m.)
The TSO is presenting a kids-friendly show this week. The big draw is the appearance of Cirque de la Symphonie with their acrobatic feats. TSO’s pops conductor Steven Reineke is at the helm. The choral forces are supplied by theEtobicoke School of the Arts Holiday Chorus. Event Details here.
More information about Cirque de la Symphonie can be found on their website.
Note: The Cirque de la Symphonie is presenting a second event, A Christmas Circus, on Sunday, Dec. 13 at Roy Thomson Hall. But this is listed as Sold Out.
MUSIC TORONTO | Gryphon Trio at Jame Mallet Theatre St. Lawrence Centre. 8 p.m. $10-55
Since its founding in 1993, the Gryphon Trio has been a Toronto fixture and a vital force in chamber music scene in our city. The three members are violinist Annalee Patipatanakoon, cellist Roman Borys, and pianist James Parker. On the programme are works by Beethoven, Vincent Ho and Arno Babajanian. Details here.
Friday 11
THE TORONTO CONSORT | Christmas at the Monastery of Santa Cruz at Trinity St. Paul’s Centre. 8 p.m. $27-41
For a multicultural Christmas concert offering, here’s Toronto Consort‘s Christmas at the Monastery of Santa Cruz, under the direction of guest maestro/early music specialist/lutenist Zak Ozmo. It’s a program of beautiful villancicos and Brazilian-influences dances, found in the Monastery’s archives. Info here.
Sunday 13
MOOREDALE CONCERTS | Calmus Ensemble at Walter Hall, U of T. 1:15 p.m. $13
Another multicultural Christmas event is the Leipzig-based Calmus Ensemble‘s appearance at Walter Hall, on the campus of the University of Toronto, on Sunday, Dec. 13 at 1:15 pm. This is part of Mooredale Concerts‘ Music and Truffles series. The Ensemble will be singing Christmas Carols from around the world. Details here.
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