Critic’s Picks (Mar. 18 – 24)
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 18
York University Department of Music | Jazz Festival: Jazz Vocal Ensemble. 12:30 p.m. Martin Family Lounge, Accolade East Building, York University, 4700 Keele St. Free.
The York University Jazz Festival, running March 18-21, showcases rising young talent directed by leading lights of the Canadian jazz scene. This show features the Jazz Vocal Ensemble. For additional events of interest to the jazz fan, go to see here. | Details
Tuesday 19
Canadian Opera Company | Vocal Series: The Next Wave. 12 p.m. Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre, 145 Queen St. W. Free. Limited Seating.
The mandate of Musique 3 Femmes (pianist Jennifer Szeto, mezzo Kristin Hoff, and soprano Suzanne Rigden) is to “identify and support the future female leaders of classical music. In this performance, they highlight winners from the inaugural Mécénat Musica Prix 3 Femmes, a new initiative to develop operatic creations by teams of emerging female composers and librettists in Canada.” | Details
Wednesday 20
Toronto Symphony Orchestra | Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back in Concert. 7:30 p.m. Roy Thomson Hall, 60 Simcoe St. $55-$127. Repeats Mar. 21, 22, 23.
As part of the Star War Film Concert Series, guest conductor Sarah Hicks leads the TSO in a performance of John Williams’s score to accompany a showing of Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back. | Details
Royal Conservatory of Music | The Magic Flute. 7:30 p.m. Koerner Hall, 273 Bloor St. W. Repeats Mar. 22. $25-$60.
Students from The Glenn Gould School, the professional arm of the RCM, perform Mozart’s The Magic Flute, conducted by Nathan Brock and directed by Joel Ivany. A strong cast led by tenor Zachary Rioux (Tamino) and Kateryna Khartova (Pamina). Program info here (PDF) | Details
National Ballet of Canada | Apollo & Night & The Sea Above, The Sky Below & Paquita. 7:30 p.m. Four Seasons Centre, 145 Queen St. W. Repeats Mar. 21 (2 pm and 7:30 pm). $40-$265. Check website for casting details.
A mixed program evening, of Apollo (Balanchine), Night (Julia Adam), The Sea Above, The Sky Below (Robert Binet), Paquita (Christopher Stowell). | Details
Read our review, here.
Thursday 21
Tafelmusik | Bach St. Matthew Passion 7:30 p.m. Trinity-St. Paul’s Centre, 427 Bloor St. W. Repeats Mar. 22, 23, 24(mat). Sold Out (contact the box office for returns)
Internationally renowned Bach specialist Masaaki Suzuki is the guest director in Tafelmusik’s presentation of St. Matthew Passion, with soloists Hannah Morrison, soprano; Terry Wey, countertenor; James Gilchrist, tenor/Evangelist; Stephan MacLeod, bass-baritone/Jesus; and Tyler Duncan, baritone. They are joined by the Tafelmusik Chamber Choir and members of the Toronto Children’s Chorus. | Details
Friday 22
Etobicoke Philharmonic Orchestra | It’s All About the Tunes. 8 p.m. Martingrove Collegiate Institute, 50 Winterton Dr., Etobicoke. $30/$25(sr)/$15(st).
EPO is a mixed professional/amateur orchestra of 60 musicians. This concert features the rare appearance of celebrated Latvian-Canadian pianist Arthur Ozolins in Schumann Piano Concerto in A Minor, Op. 54. Also on the program are works by Elgar and Brahms. Matthew Jones conducts. | Details
Saturday 23
National Ballet of Canada | Erik Bruhn Competition. 7:30 p.m. Four Seasons Centre, 145 Queen St. W. $40-$265.
The Erik Bruhn Competition remembers and honours Bruhn, who was the Artistic Director of the National Ballet from 1983 until his death in 1986. Prizes are awarded to one young male and one young female dancer, plus a Choreographic Prize to honour the best new choreography commissioned for the Competition. | Details
Sunday 24
University of Toronto Faculty of Music | Choirs In Concert: A Celebration of Faculty of Music Composers. 2:30 p.m. MacMillan Theatre, Edward Johnson Building, 80 Queen’s Park. $30/$20(sr)/$10(st).
To celebrate the U of T Faculty of Music’s 100th anniversary, the MacMillan Singers and the Women’s Chamber Choir present choral works by faculty and students, including music by MacMillan, Kuzmenko, Holman, and emerging student composers. David Fallis and Lori-Anne Dolloff, conductors. | Details
Esprit Orchestra | Grand Slam! 8 p.m. Koerner Hall, 273 Bloor St. W. $20-$65. 7:15 p.m. pre-concert talk.
Alex Pauk leads the Esprit Orchestra in a program of Christopher Thornborrow (Canada) Trompe l’œil (2019); Maki Ishii (Japan) Afro Concerto (1982); and Unsuk Chin (Korea) Cello Concerto (2006; rev. 2013). Soloists are Ryan Scott (percussion) and Joseph Johnson (cello). | Details
LUDWIG VAN TORONTO
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