Critic's Picks, Toronto, April 8–14, 2019 — Classical music and opera events happening in and around Toronto for the week of April 8 – 14.

Critic’s Picks (April 8-14)

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.

Tuesday 9

Canadian Opera Company | Piano Virtuoso Series: Rachmaninoff-Go-Round. 12 p.m. Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre, Four Seasons Centre, 145 Queen St. W. Free. Limited Seating.

The advance piano students of the Glenn Gould School, the professional arm of the Royal Conservatory of Music, play an all-Rachmaninoff program. Pianists take turns performing one of the Études-Tableaux or Moments Musicaux. A great chance to hear pianists of tomorrow. | Details

Wednesday 10

Tafelmusik | Strangers in Strange Lands: Close Encounters Chamber Series. 12 p.m. Church of the Holy Trinity, 19 Trinity Square. $42. Repeats April 14 (Temerty Theatre, Telus Centre).

The theme of this concert is on works by composers living away from their homeland. Do being “strangers in strange lands” influence their creations? An intriguing question. Marco Cera (oboe), Julia Wedman (violin), Patrick G. Jordan (viola), Margaret Gay (cello), Charlotte Nediger (harpsichord). | Details

Canadian Opera Company | Chamber Music Series: Young Artist Spotlight. 12 p.m. Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre, Four Seasons Centre, 145 Queen St. W. Free. Limited Seating.

This noon hour recital features winners of the Glenn Gould School Chamber Music Competition. No program details available at press time. | Details

Toronto Symphony Orchestra | Beethoven Eroica Symphony. 8 p.m. Roy Thomson Hall, 60 Simcoe St. $40.75-$154. Repeats Apr. 12 (7:30 p.m.) & April 13 (8:00 p.m.)

French maestro Louis Langrée leads the TSO in a program of Debussy and Szymanowski, Beethoven Symphony No. 3 “Eroica” as the centrepiece. Christian Tetzlaff is the violin soloist. & 13 (8 p.m.). | Details

[Update: Louis Langrée has cancelled, and will be replaced by conductor Kerem Hasan.]

Thursday 11

Against the Grain Theatre | Kopernikus. 8 p.m. Theatre Passe Muraille Mainspace, 16 Ryerson Ave. $55/$25(under 30)/$85(VIP)

Claude Vivier’s enigmatic opera, Kopernikus, was staged by Against the Grain at Banff. Its Toronto run of six performances continues this week. Danielle MacMillan, mezzo (Agni); Krisztina Szabó, mezzo; Alain Coulombe, bass; Dion Mazerolle, baritone; Jonelle Sills, soprano, Anne Marie MacIntosh, soprano. Joel Ivany directs. Read our review, here. | Details

Friday 12

Opera Atelier | Idomeneo. 8 p.m. Ed Mirvish Theatre, 244 Victoria St. $25-$85. Repeats Apr. 13, 8 p.m.

OA’s revival of its 2008 production of Idomeneo opened to largely positive reviews. Fine cast, gorgeous production, and to my ears an acoustically friendly new venue for OA. Final two chances to catch this show. Measha Brueggergosman (Elettra); Colin Ainsworth (Idomeneo); Wallis Giunta (Idamante); Meghan Lindsay (Ilia); Olivier Laquerre(Arbace). David Fallis conducts the Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra. Read our review, here. | Details

Saturday 13

Royal Conservatory of Music | Yuja Wang and Gautier Capuçon. 8 p.m. Koerner Hall, 273 Bloor St. W. Sold Out! But do check with box office for returns.

Two highly charismatic and brilliant musicians, pianist Yuja Wang and cellist Gautier Capuçon, join forces for an evening of Chopin and Cesar Franck – Fryderyk Chopin: Cello Sonata in G Minor, op. 65; César Franck: Sonata in A Major, for cello and piano; Fryderyk Chopin: Polonaise brillante in C Major, op. 3. | Details

Sunday 14

Royal Conservatory of Music | Monica & Judy. 2 p.m. Mazzoleni Hall, Royal Conservatory of Music, 273 Bloor St. W. $30

As part of the Mazzonleni Masters Series, two veteran Canadian artists, soprano Monica Whicher and harpist Judy Loman, perform an afternoon of Strauss, Mahler, Ravel, and folksongs from North America and the British Isles. | Details

Off Centre Music Salon | To the Letter: An Epistolary Celebration. 3 p.m. Trinity-St. Paul’s Centre, 427 Bloor St. W. $50/$40(sr)/$15(youth).

Off Centre excels in thematic programming, and this afternoon, the theme is music arising from “reading a letter addressed to another,” a dramatic tool that has resulted in many scintillating creations. Works by Chopin, Debussy, Mozart, Brahms. Allison Angelo, soprano; Andrea Ludwig, mezzo; Ernesto Ramirez, tenor; Giles Tomkins, baritone; Kathryn Tremills, piano. | Details

Mooredale Concerts | New Orford String Quartet. 3:15 p.m. Walter Hall, Edward Johnson Building, University of Toronto, 80 Queen’s Park. $40.

The New Orford String Quartet (Jonathan Crow, violin; Andrew Wan, violin; Eric Nowlin, viola; Brian Manker, cello) plays an all-Beethoven program. | Details

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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 | 10 Concerts You Absolutely Need To See In Toronto This Week (April 8 – 14)