For the week of May 16 to 22

Critic’s Picks for classical music and opera events in Toronto for the Week of May 16 – 22, 2016. [Tafekmusik Baroque Orchestra; Photo: Sian Richards]

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.

While it’s sad that the opera season is over, there’re plenty of other shows well worth attending. The Toronto Symphony Orchestra is presenting the Music of John Williams under Pops Maestro Steven Reineke. If you are more classically inclined, there’s Dvorak’s beautiful Symphony No. 8 with Rob Kapilow at the helm. Associates of the TSO is also giving a chamber recital of Schumann, Prokofiev and Dohnányi. For something a bit different, Tafelmusik has an unusual East-Meets-West program, Tales of Two Cities: The Leipzig-Damascus Coffee House. Also on my radar is a preview of the 2016 Toronto Summer Music Festival at the Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre.

Monday 16

ASSOCIATES OF THE TORONTO SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA | at Trinity St. Paul’s Centre. 7:30 p.m. $17-20

I’ve often heard that many symphony orchestra musicians love to play chamber for its intimacy and economy, perhaps also its “democracy” where collaborations among equals are key, in a repertoire that complements the rep for a large orchestra. Associates of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, in its last concert of the 44^th season, is giving a recital of works by Schumann, Prokofiev, and Ernst von Dohnányi. This performance features violinists Jonathan Crow and Shane Kim, violist Theresa Rudolph, cellist Joseph Johnson and pianist Angela Park. Full details, here.

Tuesday 17

COC | Vocal Series: Reviens, reviens at The Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre, Four Seasons Centre. 12 Noon. Free!

Two members of the COC Ensemble, Karine Boucher and Charles Sy, are singing two famous song cycles, Ravel’s Shéherazade, and Benjamin Britten’s Les Illuminations respectively. The tenor replaces the originally scheduled Andrew Haji, who is currently rehearsing Rodolfo in La boheme for the Opera Theatre of Saint Louis. No details as to whether it’s with piano accompaniment or chamber ensemble on the COC website. Info, here.

TSO | Music of John Williams at Roy Thomson Hall. 8 p.m. $33.75 -107 (Repeats May 18)

After the heavy Shostakovich last week, the TSO is presenting a fun show, Music of John Williams. Pieces include his best-known pieces — Star Wars, ET, Indiana Jones, and Schindler’s List among them. Repeated on Wednesday, May 18^th 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. More info, here.

AGAINST THE GRAIN THEATRE | A Little Too Cozy at Studio 42 CBC, 25 John Street. 8 p.m. $35-95 (Repeats through May 21)

May 17, 8 p.m. CBC Studio 42. A Little Too Cozy, Against the Grain Theatre’s “Cosi in 2016” continues this week. I attended opening night, and I can honestly say it’s nothing you’ve ever experienced before. It’s Mozart with more than a twist, way more…. Also on May 18, 20, and 21. Details found, here.

Wednesday 18

COC | Vocal Series: Toronto Summer Music Festival: 2016 Festival Preview at The Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre, Four Seasons Centre. 12 Noon. Free!

The Toronto Summer Music Festival is offering a sneak preview of their 2016 lineup. This is the 11^th season of TSMF, and the last one with Artistic Director Douglas McNabney at the helm. An article of my interviewing him where he reflects on his tenure at TSMF will be posted shortly. No details of the noon hour preview is available on the COC website at press time. See here, for details.

TORONTO CHORAL SOCIETY | In the City: A Celebration of Toronto at Eastminster United Church. 7:30 p.m. $21

Toronto Choral Society is celebrating good old TO with In the City: A Celebration of Toronto. The program includes In the City, a piece commissioned from Toronto composer Brian Finley, In Remembrance by Eleanor Daley, and music by R. Murray Schafer. Alo included are works by Jón Leifs, Heyr Himna Smiour and Brian Hetherington. Geoffrey Butler conducts. Details, here.

Thursday 19

TSO | What Makes It Great? Dvořák: Symphony #8 at Roy Thomson Hall. 7:30 p.m. $34.75-83.75.

May 19, 7:30 p.m. If film music isn’t your cup of tea, don’t miss the Toronto Symphony Orchestra playing the lovely and evocative Dvorak Symphony No. 8 under guest conductor Rob Kapilow. He’s a wonderful speaker and a perfect host of the What Makes It Great? Series. Here’s an audio clip of Maestro Kapilow talking about this work. More info, found here.

TAFELMUSIK | Tales of Two Cities: The Leipzig-Damascus Coffee House at Koerner Hall. 8 p.m. $26-109 (Repeats through May 22, start times and venues vary)

Tafelmusik is presenting Tales of Two Cities: The Leipzig-Damascus Coffee House, an interesting exploration of the musical traditions of two culturally disparate cities in 1740, Leipzig and Damascus. Jeanne Lamon leads the Tafelmusik forces, joined by Demetri Petsalakis (oud), Naghmeh Farahmand (percussion), as well as “two of Toronto’s most engaging stage personalities” Maryem Tollar and Alon Nashman. Additional performances on May 20, 21, and 22. Start times vary. See here, for more.

Sunday 22

BERKOVSKY AND CHOW | Tango + Jazz Nuevo at George Weston Recital Hall. 2:30 p.m. $31-65

For something a little different, try Tango + Jazz Nuevo, an afternoon of Astor Piazzolla: The Four Seasons of Buenos Aires, Oblivion, and ‘Por Una Cabeza’ from the movie Scent of a Woman. Also on the program are pieces by Claude Bolling and Carlos Gardel. Pianist Michael Berkovsky and violinist Conrad Chow are joined by dancers Anjelica Scannura and Damian Norman. A short video clip on YouTube. Performance details, here.

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Joseph So

Joseph So is Professor Emeritus at Trent University and Associate Editor of Opera Canada.He is also a long-time contributor to La Scena Musicale and Opera (London, UK). His interest in music journalism focuses on voice, opera as well as symphonic and piano repertoires. He appears regularly as a panel member of the Big COC Podcast.He has co-edited a book, Opera in a Multicultural World: Coloniality, Culture, Performance, published by Routledge (Taylor & Francis Group).

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