This is a list of concerts we are attending, wishing we could attend, or thinking about attending between December 2 and 8, 2024. For more of what’s happening around Toronto, visit our calendar here.
Toronto Mendelssohn Choir: Festival of Carols
Tuesday, December 3, 7:30 p.m., Wednesday, December 4, 7:30 p.m.
Yorkminster Park Baptist Church, $25+
Yep, ‘tis the season. As we all make a mad dash towards the end of the year (where did the time go?), we need to remind ourselves that this is not only a time of stress and logistical nightmares, but it is the time to celebrate, open our arms, and welcome all the beauty, especially with the trials, that we’ve experienced this year, and beyond. The excellent Mendelssohn Choir brings us riches of traditional carol and festive music, and a new work by Aaron Manswell — a lovely mix of old and new. Come and hear the resonance in the huge space of the Yorkminster, as TMC draws you in, and submerges you into a great resonance that is unique to the human voice — with its 160+ members. And do remember the pains that the year has brought, and be ready to share generously — there will be a food drive in support of Daily Bread Food Bank. Check out our Preview here. Info here.
Soundstreams/Music Toronto: Invocations
Thursday, December 5, 2024, 7:30 p.m.
Jane Mallett Theatre, $63+
The fierce Lara St. John — as a musician, and as an activist — brings her tour-de-force presence to Toronto in an eclectic program, joining the Gryphon Trio, Aviva Chernick, Noa Sarid, and Sheila Jaffe. Soundstream’s programming, consistently amongst the best in Canada, features amazing music that many simply have not yet heard — you must come! The music of Avner Dorman, James Rolfe, Copland, Vivian Fung and Amy Beach adorns this program, along with a familiar favourite: Schumann’s Piano Quintet. Abandon that feeling of uncertainty, that hint of neophobia, and trust these musicians. One will be inspired. Read our Preview here. Info here.
Yorkminster Park/Citytv: City Carol Sing
December 7, 2 p.m.
Yorkminster Park Baptist Church, Free, donations encouraged
The famed carillon of the Yorkminster signals the start of this lovely afternoon, with Naoko Tsujita from the bell tower at 1:30 p.m. The Yorkminster Park Baptist Church Choir, with its open door, is joined by guests Hedgerow Singers, John Wanless Gr. 6 Choir, the Toronto Brass Quintet, and oh-so-many-more, including the familiar voice of Heather Bambrick, and Devo Brown from Breakfast Television as MC. One of the most devastating outcomes of the pandemic was the breakdown of physical connection to our communities. And we really have not recovered from that — perhaps it will be sealed as a permanent paradigm shift, where we forget to appreciate‘being there in real-time with our bodies and minds, experiencing things as a rich physical phenomenon. This concert celebrates and supports a very important community program: Churches on-the-Hill Food Bank, and by creating a real open celebration, where all levels of ensembles join in, with free admission, this is an excellent way to bring oneself back, to re-experience what it is like, to be there, and to refresh that we do belong within a community. Come, be joyous, and please consider sharing with our community, whether it be a physical presence, or with a real precious gift of donation to the COTH foodbank. Info here.
Amadeus Choir, Bach Children’s Chorus, Hannaford Street Silver Band: Holiday Serenade
December 7, 7:30 p.m.
George Weston Hall, Meridian Arts Center, $26.53+
In truly extravagant fashion, this is a great traditional large-scale holiday spirit celebration. With two choirs and an award-winning brass band of our own, this will be an easy-going, gold-and-silver celebration. Hannaford Street Silver Band may not be a common name to many; however, they have won, and continue to win numerous international awards, including the North American Brass Band Association President’s Award this year, and considering the sheer number of bands that exist in the States, this is no small feat. Come out and ease into the familiar tunes — slightly tinged with British sentiment, featuring some of the best arrangements done by John Rutter, and Sir David Wilcocks, with literal brass fanfares. Info here.
Royal Conservatory: Czech Philharmonic
December 7, 8 p.m., December 8, 3 p.m.
Koerner Hall, $100
Semyon Bychkov and Czech Philharmonic bring Dvořák’s music, with the amazing Daniil Trifonov (piano) who performs on Dec. 7, and Jan Mráček (violin) who performs on Dec. 8, over two nights at Koerner Hall. Simply one of the best old world orchestras, the Czech Phil’s excellence, recognized since its debut concert in 1896 with Dvořák on the podium, continues on well into the present, recently marked by the 2022 Gramophone’s Orchestra of the Year award. Despite the stiff pricing, both concerts are nearly sold out — and yes, it is cheaper than flying out to Prague. Totally worth the splurge, though if you snooze, you will lose — get your tickets soon. First night features an all Czech program, and the second show, a matinée, features a mix of Dvořák and Mahler. Info for Dec. 7 here, and Dec. 8 here.
Ensemble Mistral: Dans l’univers d’Astor
Saturday, December 7, 8 p.m.
Alliance Française de Toronto, 24 Spadina Road, $18
A nice contrast from the bustle of Christmas holiday music — Ensemble Mistral brings the Tango Nuevo of Astor Piazzolla to this intimate concert. Take yourself out onto the streets of Argentina, as violin, saxophone/flute/clarinet, guitar, and bass, weave scenes from faraway. It is amazing to continue to experience true cultural diversity in our mid-sized city — as cliché as that may sound — and let the evocation of Piazzolla’s music take us away to a different place, where emotions, despite our differences, still ring true. Info here.
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