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 20
Canadian Opera Company | Vocal Series: Vienna to Paris. 12 p.m. Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre, Four Seasons Centre. Free. Be sure to show up early for a seat.
Canadian soprano Jane Archibald, COC’s first Artist-in-Residence and Konstanze in The Abduction from the Seraglio, sings songs by Purcell, Debussy, Schubert, and Richard Strauss. Liz Upchurch is the pianist; also appearing is Dominic Desautels, clarinet. | Details (PDF)
Wednesday 21
Canadian Opera Company | Rigoletto. 7:30 p.m. Four Seasons Centre. $88-$350. Last performance Feb. 23.
The last two performances of the Christopher Alden production of Rigoletto, with excellent singing from Roland Wood in the title role, Anna Christy as Gilda, and Stephen Costello as the Duke. The equally fine alternate Duke, Joshua Guerrero, sings on Feb. 23. Stephen Lord conducts. | Listing
Toronto Symphony Orchestra | Dvořák and Beethoven. 8 p.m. Roy Thomson Hall. $40.75-$154. Repeats Feb. 22.
Spanish conductor Gustavo Gimeno leads the TS forces in Beethoven’s Fourth Symphony, as well as Dvořák’s Cello Concerto with cellist Johannes Moser, who last appeared here two years ago. Interesting that the TSO webpage lists him as Canadian. Mr. Moser’s father is German cellist Kai Moser, and his mother is Canadian soprano Edith Wiens. The novelty of the evening is Ligeti’s Romanian Concerto. | Listing
Thursday 22
Yamaha Recital Space | Bach Unlimited. Lise de la Salle, piano. 7:30 p.m. Atelier Rosemarie Umetsu, 310 Davenport Road, Toronto. RSVP requested. CD purchase $20
Canadian pianist Lise de la Salle celebrates the launch of her new CD, Bach Unlimited, with this recital and cocktail reception. “In lieu of tickets there will be CDs available for sale at the door which will be autographed at the end of the night.” Program includes Bach’s Italian Concerto and other works. | Listing
Canadian Opera Company | The Abduction from the Seraglio. 7:30 p.m. Four Seasons Centre. $35-$350. Lasts performance Feb. 24.
Your last two chances to catch this Wajdi Mouawad staging of Mozart’s The Abduction from the Seraglio. He has reframed the story as a flashback, by adding an opening scene with extra dialogue, while the music and the outcome of the story stay the same. It’s generating divided opinions, but to me it’s a thoughtful and non-gratuitous attempt to bring this problematic story to the 21st century. A strong cast with Jane Archibald (Konstanze), Mauro Peter (Belmonte), Claire de Sévigné (Blondchen), Owen McCausland (Pedrillo) and Goran Juric (Osmin). Johannes Debus leads the COC Orchestra. | Listing
Music Toronto | Apollon Musagète Quartet. 8 p.m. Jane Mallett Theatre, St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts. $50-$55/$10(st)
Apollon Musagète Quartet (violinists Pawel Zalejski and Bartosz Zachlod, violist Piotr Szumiel and cellist Piotr Skweres) made their Music Toronto debut in 2015. They return to play a program of Haydn, Arensky and Grieg. | Listing
Tafelmusik | Handel: Alexander’s Feast. 8 p.m. Koerner Hall. Repeats Feb. 23, 24, 25. Check website for start times. $39-$121/$39-$109(sr)/$26-$93(under 35)
Ivars Taurins leads Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra and Chamber Choir in a performance of Handel’s Alexander’s Feast, with soprano Amanda Forsythe, tenor Thomas Hobbs, and baritone Alexander Dobson. Pre-concert chat one hour before showtime. | Listing
Saturday 24
Met Live in HD | La boheme Selected Cineplex cinemas in GTA. 12:55 p.m. $28
According to statistics based on the number of performances worldwide the last five seasons, La boheme ranks #4 in popularity. When it’s as dazzling as this Zeffirelli production, it’s easy to see why. It stars Bulgarian soprano Sonya Yoncheva as Mimi and American tenor Michael Fabiano as Rodolfo. Marco Armiliato conducts. | Details
Orpheus Choir of Toronto | Nordic Light Gala Concert. 7:30 p.m. Metropolitan United Church, 56 Queen St. E. $55/$45(sr)/$25(st)
Robert Cooper leads the Orpheus Choir, That Choir and the Orpheus Concert Orchestra in the music of Latvian choral composer Ēriks Ešenvalds. The centerpiece is the Canadian premiere of Nordic Light, the Latvian composer’s multimedia symphonic representation of the aurora borealis.| Listing
Sunday 25
Amici Chamber Ensemble | Inspired by Levant. 3 p.m. Mazzoleni Hall, 273 Bloor St. W. $45/$40(sr)/$15(30 and under)/$10(st)
Amici presents it’s Juno Award-winning recording of Levant, a musical journey through the Middle East, featuring violinist Lara St. John. Music by Abou-Khalil, Glazunov, Golijov, Prokofiev and others.| Listing
Toronto Classical Singers | Music For Troubled Times. 4 p.m. Christ Church Deer Park, 1570 Yonge St. $30
Jurgen Petrenko conducts the Talisker Players Orchestra in Schubert’s Mass in G and Haydn’s Lord Nelson Mass. Soloists are soprano Lesley Bouza, mezzo Danielle MacMillan, tenor Stephen McClare, and baritone Michael Nyby.| Listing
LUDWIG VAN TORONTO
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