Critic’s Picks (Nov. 12 – 18)
Ludwig van Toronto’s weekly Critic’s Picks are a curated list of some of the best concerts happening now through the end of the week. For a look at the full breadth of what’s available in and around Toronto, check out our curated concert listings here.
Monday 12
Collectif9 | No Time for Chamber Music 7:30 p.m. Lula Lounge, 1585 Dundas St. W. $10/$20 (includes CD) Reservations 416-588-0307
The Montreal-based contemporary classical ensemble returns to Toronto for a concert and launch of its CD, No Time for Chamber Music, inspired by Gustav Mahler. The musicians are Thibault Bertin-Maghit, leader and bass; John Corban, Yubin Kim, Robert Margaryan, and Liz Skinner, violins; Scott Chancey and Xavier Lepage-Brault, violas; Andrea Stewart and Jérémie Cloutier, cellos. | More info here.
Tuesday 13
National Ballet of Canada | Anna Karenina. 7:30 p.m. Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts, 145 Queen St. W. Runs to Nov. 18. Start times vary.
The North American premiere of John Neumeier’s Anna Karenina continues this week. Loosely based on the novel by Leo Tolstoy, the Neumeier’s version is set in the present day. It contains music by Tchaikovsky but also Alfred Schnittke and Cat Stevens! | More info here.
Wednesday 14
Ukrainian Art Song Project | The Fall Salon. Gallery 345, 345 Sorauren Aven. 416-822-9781. $35/$20(st) Pre-recital reception at 7 p.m. Post-recital reception and cash bar.
The Ukrainian Art Song Project is the brainchild of bass-baritone Pavlo Hunka. It was through his efforts that the beautiful songs of many Ukrainian composers have become known outside Ukraine. This recital features duets and trios by Lysenko and Stepoviy, sung by soprano Kateryna Khartova, and mezzos Andrea Ludwig, Ariane Meredith and Olenka Slywynska. Albert Krywolt is the pianist. | More info here.
Thursday 15
University of Toronto Faculty of Music | Women on the Verge. 12:10 p.m. Walter Hall, Edward Johnson Building, University of Toronto, 80 Queen’s Park. Free.
Part of the Thursday at Noon Series that features Faculty of Music members, Women on the Verge (Elizabeth McDonald, soprano, Emily Martin, soprano, and Kathryn Tremills, piano) explore the common threads of women’s lives through the millennia including music by alumni Cecilia Livingston and Emilie LeBel, and faculty member Norbert Palej. | More info here.
Music Toronto | Ensemble Made In Canada. 8 p.m. Jane Mallett Theatre, St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts, 27 Front St. E. $53.50-$58.
Ensemble Made In Canada is a Canadian piano quartet with Angela Park, piano, Elissa Lee, violin, Sharon Wei, viola, and Rachel Mercer, cello. They perform a specially commissioned suite of piano quartets by 14 Canadian composers, each inspired by a region of Canada. On the program as well is Schumann’s Piano Quartet in E-flat Major, Op. 47. | More info here.
Friday 16
University of Toronto Faculty of Music | New Orford String Quartet. 7:30 p.m. Walter Hall, Edward Johnson Building, University of Toronto, 80 Queen’s Park. $40/$25(sr)/$10(st)
The New Orford String Quartet (violinists Andrew Wan and Jonathan Crow, violist Eric Nowlin, cellist Brian Manker) plays Brahms’ Piano Quintet in F minor, Op. 34 (with Enrico Elisi), and Mendelssohn’s Octet in E flat Major, Op. 20, with violinists Alice Hong and Heng-Han Hou, violist Maxime Despax, and cellist Allison Rich. | More info here.
Sinfonia Toronto | Rachmaninoff 8 p.m. Gleen Gould Studio, 250 Front St. W. $42/$35(sr)/$15(st).
Nurhan Arman conducts the Sinfonia Toronto in a program of Rachmaninoff’s Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini; plus works by Roussel, Bruckner, and Bacewicz. Anne Louise-Turgeon is the pianist.| More info here.
Saturday 17
Opera by Request | Aïda. 7:30 p.m. College St. United Church, 452 College St. $20 416-455-2365 for reservations and information.
Opera by Request presents Aïda in concert, with piano accompaniment by William Shookhoff. Soloists are Stephanie DeCiantis, soprano (Aida); Monica Zerbe, mezzo (Amneris); Boris Derow, tenor (Radames); Andrey Andreychik, baritone (Amonasro); Steven Henrikson, baritone (Ramphis). | More info here.
Soundstreams | The Latvian Radio Choir. 8 p.m. Metropolitan United Church, 56 Queen St. E. 416-504-1292. $22-$67.50.
On the eve of the Latvian centenary, the contemporary music ensemble Soundstream (Artistic Director Lawrence Cherney) is presenting the Latvian Radio Choir in a program that features Latvian, Canadian, Russian and international choral works – Ēriks Ešenvalds: A Drop in the Ocean (2006); Ēriks Ešenvalds: Stars (2011); Omar Daniel: Sõduri Ema (2018); Tālivaldis Ķeniņš: Alleluia (1981); Sergei Rachmaninov: All Night Vigil (1915); Anders Hillborg: Mouyayoum (1983-85); Santa Ratniece: Chu Dal (2009); Pēteris Vasks: The Tomtit’s Message (2005); and Gabriel Dharmoo: Futile Spells (excerpts) (2018). | More info here.
Sunday 18
Amici Chamber Ensemble | Convivencia 3 p.m. Mazzoleni concert Hall, 273 Bloor St. W. $45/$40(sr)/$15(30 and under)/$10(st)
Amici Chamber Ensemble (Joaquin Valdepenas, clarinet; David Hetherington, cello; Serouj Kradjian, piano) presents a concert with a Spanish, Arabic and Jewish focus, on the theme of intercultural harmony and coexistence. On the program are works by Zemlinsky, ravel, de Falla, Kradjian, de Lucia, About-Khalil and others. | More info here.
