Ludwig van 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.
Tuesday 30
Canadian Opera Company | Piano Virtuoso Series: Bravura Piano. 12 p.m. Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre, Four Seasons Centre. Free.
German pianist Leon Bernsdorf, Third Prize Winner of the 14th Liszt Ferenc International Competition in Budapest (2016) as well as the Glenn Gould School Concerto Competition, plays a program of Liszt, Scriabin, and Rachmaninoff. Be sure to line up an hour early for a seat. | Details
Wednesday 31
Tafelmusik | Close Encounters…in Salzburg. 11 a.m. Heliconian Hall, 35 Hazelton Ave. Repeats Feb. 3, 2 p.m. Temerty Theatre. Sold Out.
Interesting concert featuring the music of Biber and the unusual Baroque instrument called viola d’amore, played by Thomas Georgi. Informal hour-long concert with introductions by the musicians — Christopher Verrette and Julida Wedman, violin; Thomas Georgi, viola d’amore; Lucas Harris, lute; Charlotte Nediger, harpsichord/organ. | Listing
Toronto Symphony Orchestra | A European Romance. 8 p.m. Roy Thomson Hall. Repeats Feb. 2, 7:30 p.m. $40.75-$154.
Slovak conductor Juraj Valcuha makes his TSO debut conducting a program of Richard Strauss, Liadov and Falla, with Argentinean pianist Ingrid Fliter in Nights in the Garden of Spain for Piano and Orchestra. | Listing
Thursday 1
Canadian Opera Company | Vocal and Chamber Music Series: Mr. Tambourine Man. 12 p.m. Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre, Four Seasons Centre. Free.
Artists of the Glenn Gould School perform Mr. Tambourine Man: Seven Poems of Bob Dylan, a song cycle for soprano and chamber ensemble by John Corigliano. Topher Mokrzewski conducts Katy Clark and Maeve Palmer, sopranos. Be sure to arrive early for a seat. | Details
Canadian Opera Company | Rigoletto. 7:30 p.m. Four Seasons Centre. Repeats Feb. 4 (2 p.m.) $88-$350. Runs to Feb. 23.
Rigoletto opened on Jan. 20 with a very strong cast, led by British baritone Roland Wood (Rigoletto) and American tenor Stephen Costello (Duke of Mantua). Stephen Lord conducts. In three later performances, the role of the Duke will be sung by another American tenor, Joshua Guerrero. Note: I just heard that on Jan. 27, the second performance, Guerrero made an unscheduled debut taking over from an indisposed Costello after the intermission. This is a revival with great singing and not to be missed. | Listing
Music Toronto | St. Lawrence Quartet. 8 p.m. Jane Mallett Theatre, St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts. $55/$50/$10(full time st)
The St. Lawrence Quartet has appeared annually with Music Toronto since 1992. This time around on the program are works by Haydn, Janacek and Tchaikovsky. | Listing
Royal Conservatory of Music | Daniil Trifonov in Recital. 8 p.m. Koerner Hall, 273 Bloor St. W. Sold Out.
The good news? The great Russian pianist Daniil Trifonov is back in Toronto to play a recital. The bad news is – if you don’t have a ticket, you are too late! On the program are pieces by Mompou, Schumann, Grieg, Barber, Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninoff, and Chopin. | Listing
Tafelmusik | Haus Musik: The Classical Alternative. 8 p.m. Longboat Hall, The Great Hall, 1087 Queen St. W. $25/$20(adv)
Musicians of Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra, joined by Thomas Georgi, viola d’amore and Renee Killough, dancer, in a program of music by Biber and Noble Oak, in an informal setting. | Listing
Saturday 3
Amadeus Choir | Songs from a Celtic Heart. 2 p.m. Jubilee United Church, 40 Underhill Dr. $50/$40(sr)/$25(under 30). Repeats at 7 p.m.
Amadeus Choir of Greater Toronto and conductors Lydia Adams and Joan Andrews are having its Annual Fundraising Event. Also featured is Shawn Grenke (conductor/piano) and Tom Leighton (guitar and vocals). On the program are well-loved pieces from Scotland, Wales, Ireland and Cape Breton. There will also be silent auction, games, cash bar etc. | Listing
Sunday 4
Opera in Concert: Voicebox | I due Figaro. 2:30 p.m. Jane Mallett Theatre, St. Lawrence Centre. $22/$52
Opera In Concert is presenting a rarity, I due Figaro by Mercadante, sung in Italian. It features mezzos Beste Kalender and Marjorie Maltais, sopranos Ilana Zarankin and Holly Chaplin, tenor Tonatiuh Abrego, and baritone Nicholas Borg. Narmina Afandiveva is the pianist. | Listing
LUDWIG VAN TORONTO
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