This is a list of concerts we are attending, wishing we could attend, or thinking about attending between September 16 and 22, 2024. For more of what’s happening around Toronto, visit our calendar here.
Daniel Adam Maltz, Fortepiano
Tuesday, September 17, 7 p.m.
Campbell House Museum, 160 Queen St. W. $30
The familiar word, piano, is a nickname for pianoforte. Italians often use this full name even now, and we aren’t exactly sure when it got shortened — probably when people had money to buy them and bring one into the house (the opposite of today, where many are getting rid of acoustic pianos, in favour of recordings/music streaming/electronic instruments…), and that everyone knew what ‘piano’ is/was. Then there is the fortepiano, which isn’t a… piano. Fortepiano, the earlier version of the current piano, came into being during Mozart and early Beethoven’s time, and it operates by having hammer sets that hit the strings (instead of plucking, like a harpsichord). It came with knee-operated pedals (before they became foot-pedals). This instrument, somewhat exotic to many, is being seriously studied nowadays, thanks to current burgeoning historically-informed practice. First Viennese School specialist Daniel Adam Maltz is stopping by at the Campbell House Museum, as part of his 70+ city international tour, with a 1792 Viennese fortepiano, made in the year of the Insurrection of the French Revolution. Here’s your chance to hear music from the past, on the original instrument, ask questions and perhaps get a closer look into this curiosity. Info here.
Final Fantasy VII Rebirth Orchestra World Tour
Thursday, September 19, 7:30 p.m., Friday, September 20, 7:30 p.m.
Roy Thomson Hall, $131.30+
The gaming industry flexes its global appeal in Toronto this week. Started in Los Angeles on August 10 and scheduled to finish in Barcelona on March 30, 2025, the FF VII world tour features music from Nobuo Uematsu, a self-taught musician who initially started to compose for SquareSoft and ended up writing for the Final Fantasy series from 1987, amongst others. For the Toronto shows, conductor Arnie Roth will lead the Toronto Symphony Orchestra and the Modern Sound Collective. If you suffer from fear of missing out, you should hurry, as Friday is sold out, and there’s just about 20 tickets left at Roy Thomson Hall, at time of writing. Info here.
Hans Zimmer Live
Thursday, September 18, 8 p.m.
Scotiabank Arena, $200+
Just across from the Roy Thomson, ardent fans will be cramming into Scotiabank Arena for another superstar composer, Hans Zimmer. Following a sold-out European show, Zimmer will be on stage and will be playing from his amazing list of hits from: Gladiator, Pirates of Caribbean, The Dark Knight, Interstellar, The Lion King, The Last Samurai, and Dune. That’s some serious movie history stats right there. If you loved these movies but suffered through somewhat anemic speakers at home (or worse, earbuds or headphones), this is your chance to hear these tracks in a truly gigantic fashion. Only a smattering of tickets are still available through the official seller — act fast! Info here.
Mandle Philharmonic presents Mahler & Beethoven
Friday, September 20, 7:30 p.m. Koerner Hall;
Thursday, September 26, 7:30 p.m., George Weston Concert Hall, Meridian Arts Centre. $40+
A few years ago, in November 2018, at age 70, Mandle Chung took a big sidestep from his successful tech business, conducting his first concert at Glenn Gould Studio. After several concerts since then, this week Chung, is bringing back his first-ever program: Mahler 4 and Beethoven 5, to Koerner Hall. We often talk about passion — passions transform and sustain many of our lives daily — and it’s heartwarming to see another human pursuing a true passion, year after year. The orchestra consists of great musicians from Toronto, and Mahler 4, the smallest and the most intimate of all Mahler Symphonies, is a brief (by Mahlerian standard!) and beautiful work, full of hope. Come for that fate’s knock in Beethoven 5, and be transported to heaven with Mahler. Info here.
North Wind Concerts: Acquiescent: The French Baroque in China
Saturday, September 21, 7:30 p.m.
Heliconian Hall, Pay-What-You-Can
What happened when Western music went over to the East? Harpsichordist Louise Hung, with Jin Cho (traverso), Matt Antal (viola), and Margaret Jordan-Gay (cello) explore music of the French Baroque, and how it was received at the 18th-century Chinese Imperial Court. Too often, as our national identity has been closely tied to Western Europe, we focus on what ‘we, the Westerners, thought of others’, while the flipside — how the others thought of ‘us,’ is just as interesting and important in forming early international relations. Come and experience music from Rameau and Blavet, with visuals, soundscapes, and first-hand accounts from the past. Check out our Preview here. Info here.
Ladon Ensemble
Saturday, September 21, 8 p.m.
Hugh’s Room Live, 296 Broadview Ave., $35+
The Ladon Ensemble, a group focusing on all good music — from Western classical, klezmer, pop, classical Persian, and all things fun — returns from the summer with a bang. The mixture of individuals: Pouya Hamidi (piano), Adam Campbell (percussion), Michael Bridge (accordion), and Beth Silver (cello), with their seasoned experience and love of all music, makes their concerts quite special — so come out, and hear them live: a recording/streaming is never the same as a live show, especially when these musicians are prone to break out in improvisations and many other surprises on stage. HRL is not yet fully wheelchair accessible. Info here.
First Anniversary of the Carillon: Carillon Recital: Andrea McCrady
Sunday, September 22, 12:20 p.m.,
Yorkminster Park Baptist Church
A Carillon consists of at least 23 bells, is arranged over 2 octaves, and is played with a keyboard. There are about 170 carillons in North America currently — did you know that the Metropolitan United Church on Queen St, was the first carillon ever installed in North America? Yorkminster Park Baptist Church has been adding bells since its initial installation: a 2008 cast for 4 bells for its automatic Westminster Chime, a 2014 cast for 10 bells, and another 2023 cast for 23 bells with a new carillon keyboard. Boasting three full octaves, its heaviest bell weighing 1990 lbs, the Yorkminster Park Carillon is a magnificent instrument, and to celebrate the first year of the latest installation, Andrea McCrady, the Dominion Carillonneur from the Peace Tower, Ottawa, will present a recital after the Sunday service this weekend. It is best heard on the church grounds, so bring a blanket, and marvel at the sky, with the singing bells. Info here.
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