L-R (clockwise): Víkingur Ólafsson (Photo courtesy of the RCM); Gustavo Gimeno conducts the TSO (Photo courtesy of the TSO); A scene from Don Giovanni, Royal Opera House, 2022 (Photo: Marc Brenner)

This is a list of concerts we are attending, wishing we could attend, or thinking about attending between January 29 and February 05, 2024. For more details on what’s happening around Toronto, visit our calendar here.

Gryphon Trio | University of Toronto New Music Festival

Monday Jan. 29 at 7:30 p.m.
Walter Hall, Edward Johnson Building, University of Toronto. Free.

As part of the 2024 University of Toronto New Music Festival, Gryphon Trio and guest artists present a contemporary piano trio program with a focus on Canadian composers, including work from this year’s Roger D. Moore Distinguished Visitor, Marjan Mozetich, and John Burge. Info here.

The Black Fish Ensemble | COC Noon Concerts

Wednesday Jan. 31 at 12 p.m. noon.
Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre, Four Seasons Centre, COC. Free.

The Black Fish Ensemble presents a colourful, eclectic program at the COC, drawing inspiration from multicultural Toronto, its people and their cross-genre synergy. The Black Fish Project, a multi-disciplinary creation by Keyan Emami, based on the iconic Persian children’s tale The Little Black Fish, is not to be missed. Info here.

Toronto Symphony Orchestra | Pines of Rome

Thursday Feb. 01 at 8 p.m., Saturday Feb. 03 at 8 p.m., Sunday Feb. 04 at 3 p.m.
Roy Thomson Hall. $35+.

Drawing heavily from Italian flair and drama, Gustavo Gimeno and TSO present perennial favourites, Resphigi’s Pines of Rome, and Roman Festival. Verdi and Rota provide further lyricism and elegance. Not-to-be-missed, however, is Luciano Berio’s 4 dédicaces, a collection of four demanding short compositions at the height of Berio’s modernist exploration of colour and texture- powerful. Info here.

COC | Don Giovanni

Friday Feb. 02 at 7:30 p.m., Sunday Feb. 04 at 2 p.m. Also Feb. 07, 09, 15, 17 and 24.
Four Seasons Centre. $35+

One of Mozart’s most popular operas, Don Giovanni, returns to COC this February. This co-production of Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, Gran Theatre del Liceu, the Israeli Opera and Houston Grand Opera, under the director Kasper Holten, is a visual stunner. Gordon Bintner sings the title role, with Anita Hartig (Donna Elvira), Mané Galoyan (Donna Anna), Paolo Bordogna (Leporello), Ben Bliss (Don Ottavio), Simone McIntosh (Zerlina), Joel Allison (Masetto), and David Leigh (Il Commendatore). Info here.

Tafelmusik | Fantasticus

Friday Feb. 02 at 8 p.m., Saturday Feb. 03 at 8 p.m., Sunday Feb. 04 at 4 p.m.
Jeanne Lamon Hall, Trinity-St. Paul’s Centre. $23.50+

Ferocious Spanish violinist Lina Tur Bonet directs Tafelmusik, in an exploration of the stylus fantasticus, where expressions and emotions roam wild in virtuosic improvisations, and musical conversations are pushed to the dramatic extreme. Info here.

TO Live Presents | Compañía Nacional de Danza: Carmen

Friday Feb. 02 at 8 p.m., Saturday Feb. 03 at 8 p.m.
Meridian Hall. $55+

Choreographer Jonah Inger, known for his work with the Nederlands Dans Theater, brings Spain’s Compañía Nacional de Danza, taking Carmen to a new depth, where human body language and gestures explore the dark emotions of jealousy and rage, set against the most tender feelings of love and infatuation. In this production, three scores are combined to create a unique musical setting — Bizet, Shchedrin, and Marc Alvarez. Info here.

Soundstreams | Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir

Saturday Feb. 03 at 7:30 p.m.,
St. Paul’s Basilica, 83 Power St., Toronto. 28+, currently sold out with the option of waitlist

Tõnu Kaljuste returns to Toronto for the sixth time with the renowned Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir, presenting Arvo Pärt, Palestrina, and music by Estonian/Canadian composer Omar Daniel, based on H.P.Lovecraft’s sonnet, Antarktos. It is currently sold out, but worth getting onto the waitlist. Read our Preview here. Info here.

The Royal Conservatory of Music | Vikingur Ólafsson: The Goldberg Variations

Saturday Feb. 03 at 8 p.m., Sunday Feb 04 at 3 p.m. (Sold out).
Koerner Hall. $50+.

Icelandic pianist Víkingur Ólafsson, whose 2018 Johann Sebastian Bach album received multiple awards, is coming to Toronto to present his latest project: a world tour of the Goldberg Variations, 2023-2024. Feb. 04 is sold out, but the additional date, Feb. 03, makes it possible to catch this phenomenon in person. Info here.

University of Toronto New Music Festival: U of T Percussion Ensemble: Pillars

Sunday Feb. 04 at 8 p.m., Walter Hall, University of Toronto. Free.

Pulitzer Prize finalist and GRAMMY-nominated Andy Akiho’s work, Seven Pillars: an 11-part, 80-minute work for percussion quartet, gets its Canadian premiere with U of T Percussion Ensemble. The work’s musical intricacy and physical technical demand — for individuals, and the for the ensemble — make this event a must-attend. Info here.

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Hye Won Cecilia Lee

Cecilia tumbled into 'serious' music study when she decided to avoid attending medical school. Currently working in the field of classical music, recording, and Korean-English interpretation, she tends to get her nose dirty in many different things in the city. Cecilia holds a DMA in Piano Performance from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.