For the week of Oct. 31 – Nov. 6
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.
This is quite a voice-centric week, with three operas on offer — the last of COC’s Ariodante and Norma, as well as Tosca from Opera York, a small regional company in the York Region. If you like up-and-coming singers, try Centre Stage, the annual vocal competition where contestants compete for spots on the COC Ensemble Studio. Tafelmusik Chamber Choir celebrates its 35th anniversary with a special concert. Through a quirk of scheduling, both the Toronto Mendelssohn Choir and the Pax Christi Chorale are presenting Elijah, at the same time! That said, the TMC is a traditional presentation while the Pax Christi Chorale is a “re-interpretation.” In Support of Song is a fund-raising event in support of the Canadian Art Song Project. The Toronto Symphony Orchestra features Canadian pianist Jon Kimura Parker in Prokofiev’s Piano Concerto No. 3, paired with Shostakovich Symphony No. 1, under the baton of frequent guest conductor James Gaffigan. There’s a lot more — do consult the complete listing.
Tuesday 1
New Orford String Quartet | Debussy, Beethoven and Uriel Vanchestein at Walter Hall. 7:30 p.m. $40
New Orford String Quartet, made up of four outstanding musicians (violinists Jonathan Crow and Andrew Wan, violist Eric Nowlin, and cellist Brian Manker), is in residence this week at the University of Toronto and will be performing Debussy, Beethoven, and Uriel Vanchestein. Details, here.
Canadian Art Song Project | In Support of Song at Heliconian Hall. 7 p.m. $20
In Support of Song, a fund-raising event of silent auction, wine, conversation and music in support of the Canadian Art Song Project. Artists include mezzo Allyson McHardy, baritone Peter Barrett, pianist Helen Becque, tenor Colin Ainsworth and pianist Stephen Ralls. Info, here.
Wednesday 2
Tafelmusik | Let Us All Sing: Tafelmusik Chamber Choir at 35 at Trinity St. Paul’s Centre. 7 p.m. $39–93 (Repeats on Nov. 4, 5, 6)
The 22-member Tafelmusik Chamber Choir celebrates its 35th birthday in a concert of works by Handel, Steffani, Lully, Rameau and Zelenka. Soloists are soprano Sherezade Panthaki, tenor Philippe Gagné, and bass-baritone Jonathan Woody. Info, here.
TSO | The Decades Project: From Paris to Leningrad at Roy Thomson Hall. 8 p.m. (Repeats Nov. 3 and 5)
The Toronto Symphony Orchestra presents The Decades Project: From Paris to Leningrad, with Canadian pianist Jon Kimura Parker in Prokofiev’s Piano Concerto No. 3. Also on the program is Shostakovich Symphony No. 1. James Gaffigan conducts. Repeats Nov. 3 and 5. Details, here.
Thursday 3
Adam Sherkin | Rachmaninoff: Let Hands Speak at the Jane Mallett Theatre Lobby. noon & 5:30 p.m. Free!
Pianist/composer Adam Sherkin, under the auspices of Steinway Piano Gallery, plays Rachmaninoff’s Corelli Variations, Op. 42, juxtaposed with Sherkin’s own, recently completed work, Punch. Info, here.
Centre Stage | COC Ensemble Studio Competition at the Four Seasons Centre. 5:30 p.m. $100
Contestants vie for a sport in the Ensemble Studio next season. Finalists this year are sopranos Andrea Nunez, Maria Lacey, Myriam Leblanc, and Andrea Lett, mezzo Simone McIntosh, and baritones Samuel Chan and Geoffrey Schellenberg. Info, here.
Opera York | Tosca at the Richmond Hill Centre for the Performing Arts. 7:30 p.m. $50. (Repeats Nov. 5)
Opera York presents Tosca, with soprano Jessica Lane, Romulo Delgado, and Nicolae Raiciu. Sabbatino Vacca conducts. Repeats Nov. 5. Details, here.
Art of Time Ensemble | That’s Not Funny at the Harbourfront Centre Theatre. 8 p.m. $15–64 (Repeats Nov. 5)
The ever-eclectic Art of Time Ensemble presents That’s Not Funny, an evening of comedy in music and dance, including works by Spike Jones, Haydn and Tom Lehrer. Repeats Nov. 5 Full details, here.
Friday 4
COC | Ariodante at the Four Seasons Centre. 7:00 p.m. $40–350
Last performance of COC’s Ariodante starring Alice Coote, Jane Archibald, Varhudi Abrahamyan, and Ambur Braid. Johannes Debus conducts. Details, here.
Saturday 5
COC | Norma at the Four Seasons Centre. 4:30 p.m. $50–375
The last performance of Norma, with Elza van den Heever, Russell Thomas, Isabel Leonard and Dimitry Ivashchenko. Stephen Lord conducts. Info, here.
Toronto Mendelssohn Choir | Mendelssohn’s Elijah at Koerner Hall. 7:30 p.m. $20–81
Toronto Mendelssohn Choir presents Mendelssohn’s Elijah. Lesley Bouza, soprano; Christina Stelmacovich, mezzo; Michael Schade, tenor; David Pittsinger, bass-baritone; Festival Orchestra. Details, here.
Pax Christi Chorale | Mendelssohn’s Elijah at the Grace Church on-the-Hill. 7:30 p.m. $25–45 (Repeats Nov. 6)
Pax Christi Chorale “re-interprets” Mendelssohn’s Elijah, with the Bicycle Opera Project. Stephanie Martin conducts. Repeats Nov 6. Details, here.
Sunday 6
Mooredale Concerts | A Talent to Amuse: The Words and Music of Noël Coward at Walter Hall. 3:15 p.m. $40
Mooredale Concerts presents A Talent to Amuse: The Words and Music of Noël Coward. Soprano Monica Whicher, mezzo Norine Burgess, tenor Benjamin Butterfield, baritone Alexander Dobson, violinist Barry Shiffman, cellist Adrian Fung, and pianist John Greer. Info, here.
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