classical music concerts, Toronto — Classical music and opera events happening in and around Toronto for the week of September 14 – 22.

Critic’s Picks (Sept. 14 – 22)

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.

Saturday 14

Mysterious Barricades Toronto | Live Concert. 1 p.m., Walter Hall, Edward Johnson Building, University of Toronto, 80 Queen’s Park. Free.

Marking Suicide Awareness Week, Mysterious Barricades is presenting 15 Cross-Canada Concerts, with the goal of letting people at risk of suicide know how much their lives matter, and to eliminate the stigma of mental illness. The Toronto concert features baritone Russell Braun; mezzo Norine Burgess; harpist Judy Loman; pianists Carolyn Maule and Jialiang Zhu; sopranos Nathalie Paulin and Monica Whicher; Turkwaz (Jayne Brown, Sophia Grigoriadis, Maryem Tollar); and the Mysterious Barricades Toronto Chorale, with Yvonne Choi, conducted by Tracy Wong. Monica Whicher is the host, with Dr. Andrea Levinson as guest speaker. | Details

Piano Lunaire/Rainhard Brewery | Harvest Moon Vinyl Album Launch: Romance from the Coda. 6 p.m. Rainhard Brewing Co., 100 Symes Rd, unit 108, Toronto, ON M6N 3T1. Tel: 416-763-BEER (2337); Info@rainhardbrewing.com; Event contact: mallory@rainhardbrewing.com $15. Opener and beer tasting: 6pm. Performance (two sets) at 6:15pm. Reception at 7:30pm.

Launched by Canadian composer-pianist Adam Sherkin, Piano Lunaire is a performance event that takes place on the full moon of every month. This month’s concert marks the launching of the Harvest Moon Vinyl Album: Romance from the Coda. It features works by Liszt, Chopin and Rachmaninoff, as well as Sherkin himself. | Details

Monday 16

International Resource Centre for Performing Artists (IRCPA) | In Conversation with Barbara Hannigan. 4:30 p.m. Heliconian Club, 35 Hazelton Ave., Toronto. Free (registration required).

In advance of her engagement with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra (Sept. 19), Canadian soprano/conductor Barbara Hannigan is appearing in conversation with music journalist William Littler, under the auspices of IRCPA. In addition to a stellar career as a soprano, Hannigan is the founder of Equilibrium, a program for emerging professionals. Their conversation will be followed by a Question and Answer opportunity. | Details

Tuesday 17

Toronto Wagner Society | An Evening with Robert Wilson. 7:30 p.m., Arts and Letters Club, 14 Elm Street, Toronto. Free Admission.

Celebrated American stage director Robert Wilson takes time out from rehearsals of the COC’s new production of Turandot to be the special guest of the Toronto Wagner Society. Wilson has an extremely impressive dossier of directing works in the performing arts. His provocative production of Phillip Glass’s Einstein On The Beach made an indelible impression on the Luminato Festival audience a few seasons ago. TWS President Frances Henry interviews Wilson on his thoughts on directing opera, particularly Wagner. Given the special nature of this event, admission is free of charge. | Details

Thursday 19

Toronto Symphony Orchestra | Dynamic Duo: Hannigan and Storgårds. 8 p.m. Roy Thomson Hall, 60 Simcoe Street. $41-$144. Repeats Sept. 21.

Soprano Barbara Hannigan and conductor John Storgårds trade places in this concert, as both conductors and soloists, in a program that combines contemporary pieces by Henri Dutilleux and Brett Dean with classics by Beethoven, Haydn, and Sibelius. | Details

Tafelmusik | Tafelmusik Meets Tchaikovsky. 8 p.m. Koerner Hall, 273 Bloor St. W. $39-$127. Repeats Sept. 20, 21, 22 (3:30 p.m.).

In a departure from its traditional Baroque repertoire, Tafelmusik under the direction of Elissa Citterio plays for the first time a work by Tchaikovsky — Serenade for String Orchestra, op. 48 (1880). Equally unusual is Pytor’s Dream, a new commission for period instruments by Canadian composer Andrew Balfour. Also on the program are works by Mendelssohn. | 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 (Sept. 14 – 22)