For the week of Oct. 17 – 23

Opera Atelier | Wallis Giunta and Brett Vansickle. (Photo: Bruce Zinger)

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. 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 curated concert listings here: Musical Toronto Datebook.

For the third week in a row, Toronto audiences can look forward to the opening of a new opera production. This week it’s the unveiling of Purcell’s masterpiece, Dido and Aeneas, by Opera Atelier (Oct. 20 – 29). It stars mezzo Wallis Giunta and tenor Christopher Enns in the title roles. Meanwhile, COC’s blockbuster hit Norma, and the strikingly re-imagined Ariodante continue. If you prefer your opera at the movies, the Met in HD is presenting Don Giovanni (Oct. 22) at selected Cineplex locations. The flamboyant Chinese pianist Lang Lang is in town for RCM’s Season Gala. There are many orchestra events this week. Attila Glatz, the impresario who brings us the annual Bravissimo and Salute to Vienna, presents a double-bill of Mozart Requiem and Bach Magnificat (Oct. 22).

Tuesday 18

COC | Norma at the Four Seasons Centre. 7:30 p.m. $50–375 (Repeats Oct. 21 and 23)

COC’s Norma stars soprano Sondra Radvanovsky, tenor Russell Thomas, mezzo Isabel Leonard, and bass Dimitry Ivashchenko, conducted by Stephen Lord. This performance is nearly sold out, but do call for returns. Repeats Oct. 21 and 23. Details, here.

RCM | Gala: An Evening with Lang Lang at Koerner Hall. 8 p.m. SOLD OUT

Royal Conservatory of Music presents Gala: An Evening with Lang Lang. He plays Albéniz, Debussy, del Falla, Granados, and Liszt. I’ve seen this listed as sold out (regular tickets), but Gala tickets may still be available. Do call (416) 408-2824, ex. 426. Listing info, here.

Wednesday 19

COC | Ariodante at the Four Seasons Centre. 7:00 p.m. $40–350 (Repeats through Nov. 3)

COC presents Handel’s Ariodante, starring Alice Coote, Jane Archibald, Varduhi Abrahamyan, and Ambur Braid. Johannes Debus conducts. Info, here.

Thursday 20

COC | Tristan Savella at Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre, Four Seasons Centre. Noon. Free!

Pianist Tristan Savella, a candidate in the artist diploma program at the Glenn Gould School, gives a recital of Schumann and Debussy. Be sure to show up an hour early to line up. Details, here.

Opera Atelier | Dido and Aeneas at the Elgin Theatre. 7:30 p.m. $39–194

Opera Atelier opens its fall season with Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas, starring Wallis Giunta and Christopher Enns. David Fallis conducts the Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra. Repeats on Oct 22 and 23. A Prologue involving dancing and narration is added to the opera proper. Info, here.

Friday 21

RCM | Academy of the St Martin in the Fields Chamber Ensemble at Koerner Hall. 8 p.m. $35+

Academy of the St Martin in the Fields Chamber Ensemble plays Rossini, Schubert, and Mozart. Sold out but call the box office for returns. Full details, here.

Sinfonia Toronto | Romantic Russians at George Weston Hall, Toronto Centre for the Arts. 8 p.m. $15–42

The opening concert of the Sinfonia Toronto season. Nurhan Arman conducts Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto No. 2 with pianist Sheng Cai. Also on the program is Tchaikovsky’s Serenade. Details, here.

Saturday 22

Met in HD | Don Giovanni at Selected Cineplex locations. 12:55 p.m.

Met in HD presents Don Giovanni, with a great cast led by British baritone Simon Keenlyside. Also appearing are sopranos Hibla Gerzmava and Malin Bystrom, tenor Paul Appleby and bass Kwanchul Youn. Fabio Luisi conducts. Info, here. For a theatre near you, see here.

IRCPA | Singing Stars of Toronto at Alliance Francaise. 7:30 p.m. $25

The International Resource Centre for Performing Artists (IRCPA) presents a concert, Singing Stars of Toronto. Performing are the ten young singers who participated in an “Encounter” with soprano Sondra Radvanovsky last week. Info, here.

Attila Glatz Concert Productions | KlangVerwaltung Orchestra at Roy Thomson Hall. 8 p.m. $65+

Attila Glatz Concert Productions presents the KlangVerwaltung Orchestra and the Chorgemeinschaft Neubeuem Chorus under the baton of Enoch zu Guttenberg, in Mozart Requiem and Bach Magnificat. Details, here.

Sunday 23

RCM | Songmasters Series: Nathalie Paulin at Mazzoleni Hall. 2 p.m. $25

As par of the Mazzoleni Masters Series, sopranos Nathalie Paulin and Monica Whicher sing English and French songs and duets on the subject of Welcome and Adieu. Robert Kortgaard and Peter Tiefenbach at the piano. Details, here.

Esprit Orchestra | Power On at Koerner Hall. 8 p.m. $40+

Esprit Orchestra, under the baton of Alex Pauk, presents Power On: A Tribute to R. Murray Schafer. Special guests include flutist Robert Aitken, percussionist Ryan Scott, and mezzo Krisztina Szabo. Info, 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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