SCRUTINY | Outgoing Music Director Alexander Shelley Leads National Arts Centre Orchestra In Sensational Farewell Concert At Roy Thomson Hall

By Denise Lai on February 9, 2026

Torontonians filled Roy Thomson Hall and gave a warm welcome to the National Arts Centre Orchestra and, for the last time, its conductor Alexander Shelley.

SCRUTINY | Esprit Orchestra’s Superstrings V. Was A Tour De Force For The Orchestra And Soloist Mark Fewer

By Anya Wassenberg on January 30, 2026

Alex Pauk and his Esprit Orchestra truly comprise some of the most talented classical performers in the city, as displayed in last night's Superstrings V.

SCRUTINY | The Canadian Opera Company’s Rigoletto Is Visceral, Powerful

By Ludwig Van on January 26, 2026

The Canadian Opera Company delivered a visceral and powerful Rigoletto at Saturday’s opening night, with the cast and orchestra in superb form.

SCRUTINY | Toronto Symphony & Pianist Bruce Liu Give Impressive Preview Of Upcoming Europe Tour

By Denise Lai on January 26, 2026

Roy Thomson Hall buzzed with warm excitement for the TSO and pianist Bruce Liu performing the same program for the first leg of the TSO’s Europe Tour that starts this week.

SCRUTINY | Lisa Nasson’s Mischief Brings Larger Issues To Life Through Humour And Sympathetic Characters

By Anya Wassenberg on January 22, 2026

Lisa Nasson's Mischief uses humour and a cast of sympathetic characters to illuminate the daily and constant injustices endured by Indigenous people.

SCRUTINY | Theatre Smith-Gilmour’s Pu Songling: Strange Tales Takes The Audience On A Wild & Imaginative Ride

By Anya Wassenberg on January 19, 2026

SCRUTINY | Finnish Conductor Eva Ollikainen & Japanese Pianist Mao Fujita Debut In Toronto Symphony Orchestra’s Firebird Program

By Ludwig Van on January 16, 2026

The Firebird marked the Toronto Symphony Orchestra debuts of Finnish conductor Eva Ollikainen and Japanese pianist Mao Fujita.

SCRUTINY | Part Parody, Part Critique, Make Banana Cry At Buddies In Bad Times Reveals The Distance Navigated By Asians In The West

By Anya Wassenberg on January 15, 2026

Make Banana Cry by choreographers Andrew Tay and Stephen Thompson, currently at Buddies In Bad Times Theatre, blends runway aesthetics, performance, and dance.

SCRUTINY | Tafelmusik’s Messiah: Handel-ed With Care

By Michelle Assay on December 19, 2025

At Koerner Hall, Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra & Chamber Choir, directed by Ivars Taurins, provided a stylish and well thought out Messiah.

SCRUTINY | Toronto Symphony Orchestra’s Messiah Covers The Basics, But Misses On True Holiday Magic

By Arthur Kaptainis on December 17, 2025

Handel’s Messiah returns every year to Roy Thomson Hall under the auspices of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, in 2025 under the baton of British conductor Michael Francis.