Classical music and opera events happening in and around Toronto for the week of March 12 – 18.

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 13

University of Toronto Faculty of Music | gamUT: Contemporary Music Ensemble. Noon. Walter Hall, Edward Johnson Building, University of Toronto. 12:10 p.m. Free

Gary Kulesha conducts Le Marteau sans Maȋtre by Pierre Boulez, with mezzo Krisztina Szabo. Wallace Halladay directs. | Listing

National Ballet of Canada | The Sleeping Beauty. 7:30 p.m. Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts, 145 Queen St. W. $65-$265. Daily to Mar. 18. Check website for start times.

Your last chance to see this perennial favourite this season. March 13 cast includes Elena Lobsanova (Princess Aurora) and Naoya Ebe (Prince Florimund). Check website for casting details for other dates. | Listing

Wednesday 14

Tafelmusik | J.S. Bach: The Circle of Creation. 7 p.m. Pre-curtain chat at 6 p.m. Trinity-St. Paul’s Centre, 427 Bloor St. W. $19-$97. Repeats Mar. 15, 16, 17 at 8 p.m., 18 at 3:30 p.m.

This multimedia presentation, conceived by Alison MacKay, combines text, music and projections to explore the world of artisans who helped Bach with his creations. This is a return of the show previously seen in the 2014-15 season. Elisa Citterio leads the Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra; Marshall Pynkoski of Opera Atelier directs. | Listing

Royal Conservatory of Music/Glenn Gould School | Die Fledermaus. 7:30 p.m. Koerner Hall. $25-$40-$55. Repeats Mar. 16.

RCM’s professional division, the Glenn Gould School, puts on Johann Strauss’s Die Fledermaus as its spring opera production. Nathan Brock conducts and Joel Ivany directs. Singers include Kjel Erickson (Eisenstein), Jonelle Sills (Rosalinda), Lynn Isnar (Adele), Jacques Arsenault (Alfred), Rachel Miller (Orlofsky), and Adam Harris (Falke). Pre-curtain talk at 7 p.m. | Listing

Thursday 15

Canadian Opera Company | Vocal Series: Opera for All Ages. 12 p.m., Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre, Four Seasons Centre. Free. Be sure to show up early for a seat.

This annual March Break presentation introducing opera to the young and old is back. Kyra Millan leads mezzo Megan Quick and baritone Samuel Chan from the COC Ensemble in this lively and fun show, with Christina Faye at the piano. | Details (PDF)

University of Toronto Faculty of Music | Thursdays at Noon: Music and Poetry. 12:10 p.m. Free.

Soprano Monica Whicher sings Schumann’s Liederkreis Op. 24, with Steven Philcox at the piano. Walter Hall, Edward Johnson Building, University of Toronto. | Details

University of Toronto Faculty of Music | Spring Opera Production. 7:30 p.m. MacMillan Theatre, Edward Johnson Building, University of Toronto. $40/$25(sr)/$10(st) Repeats Mar. 16, 17, 18 (2:30 p.m.)

The Faculty of Music’s opera program is putting on Gershwin’s Of Thee I Sing. Is this really a Canadian Premiere? Michael Patrick Albano directs this piece about the shenanigans at the White House — how timely is that! Sandra Horst conducts. Sung in English with Surtitles. Too bad both U of T and RCM opera productions occur on the same week, with some overlap as well as during spring break, which cuts down on attendance. | Details

Music Toronto | Penderecki Quartet. 8 p.m. Jane Mallett Theatre, St. Lawrence Centre. $55-$50/$10(full time st).

The Penderecki String Quartet (violinists Jeremy Bell and Jerzy Kaplanek, violist Christine Vlajk, and cellist Katie Schlaikjer) plays a program of Schumann, Elgar, and a contemporary piece by Kelly-Marie Murphy, Oblique Light. It’s the Quartet-in-Residence at Wilfrid Laurier University. | Listing

Friday 16

Toronto City Opera | Fidelio. 7:30 p.m. Al Green Theatre at the Miles Nadal Community Centre, 750 Spadina Ave. Repeats Mar. 18 2 p.m.

This is the 51^st season of Toronto City Opera. It was called Toronto Opera Repertoire in its first 47 years, under the direction of Giuseppe Macina. When he retired, it was taken over by mezzo Beatrice Carpino and pianist Adolfo de Santis. Now it is run by co-music directors Ivan Jovanovic and Jennifer Tung. The two shows this spring are Fidelio and The Magic Flute. Michelle Veenhuizen (Leonore), Slava Serebrianik (Florestan), Dylan Wright (Rocco), Sara Schabas (Marzelline), Ilya Serebrianik (Jacquino), and Peter Bass (Pizarro). | Listing

Sunday 18

Royal Conservatory of Music | Songmasters: You’re Welcome, Rossini. 2 p.m. Mazzoleni Concert Hall. $25 Listed as Sold Out, but the website shows 7 seats available as of Mar. 11.

Soprano Lucia Cesaroni and mezzo Allyson McHardy join forces to present “a witty and fun program of works by six historic women vocalists who are often associated with Rossini.” Can you guess who these women are? Giuditta Pasta? Adelina Patti? Marcella Sembrich? Will they sing the Cat Duet? It’ll be fun! | Listing

Royal Conservatory of Music | Clemens Hagen with Kirill Gerstein. 3 p.m. Koerner Hall. $35-$85.

Austrian cellist Clemens Hagen and Russian pianist Kirill Gerstein play an all-Beethoven program. Pre-curtain talk by Rick Phillips at 2 p.m.| Details

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).

CRITIC'S PICKS | Eleven Concerts You Should Absolutely See This Week (Mar. 12 – 18)