This is a list of concerts we are attending, wishing we could attend, or thinking about attending between December 22, 2025 and January 4, 2026. For more of what’s happening around Toronto, visit our calendar here.
Roy Thomson Hall: Canadian Brass: Home for the Holidays
Monday, December 22, 8 p.m.
Roy Thomson Hall, $53+
Making history since 1970 — selling over 2 million albums globally, casually chilling at the
Billboard Classical Charts in the Top 25 for 8 weeks, and serenading children on Sesame Street
— Canadian Brass is truly an international icon. They return with their famous holiday concert
this Tuesday. With Chuck Daellenbach, the sole original founding member joined by the next
generations, this is a lovely concert to hear top notch chamber playing — sure, we do have a few
brass ensembles in town, but like a string quartet, hearing a tightly-knit brass quintet is a quite
an experience, especially at this calibre. Come on down to Roy Thomson, and lend your ears to
this lovely Home for the Holidays program, crossing all genres, the best holiday classics in
bespoke arrangements. What a joy. Info here.
Music around the Corner
Saturday, December 27, 7:30 p.m., Youthful Vengeance, 1110 Dundas St W.
Sunday, December 28, 2 p.m., Glad Day Lit, 32 Lisgar St., $18+
Formed during the midst of the pandemic summer of 2020, Music Around the Corner strives to
bring live chamber music to pockets of Toronto. For this holiday season, they will take over
Youthful Vengeance, a great indie gallery/cafe, and the new location of Glad Day Lit (they
recently moved from Church St. to 32 Lisgar St.), presenting two new-to-us works — Francis
Malka’s String Quartet 1, and Reena Esmail’s Ragamala, along with a familiar favourite, Ravel’s
quartet. Drag yourself out from the decadence and stupor of the holiday jollity, and experience
the fresh energy of these ambitious musicians. For the Saturday concert, the quartet invites
everyone for a sight reading-party afterward — do bring your instruments, and take part in the joy
of playing great repertoire with new-to-be-friends. After all, it’s sometimes more meaningful to
create, than to consume. Check out our Preview of the concerts here. Info here for December 27; info here for December 28.
Attila Glatz Concert Productions/Roy Thomson Hall/Canadian Opera Company: Bravissimo! New Year’s at the Opera
Wednesday, December 31, 7 p.m.
Roy Thomson Hall, $87.50+
If you are into the glam of the most beautiful arias, orchestra, and lovely voices for the last night
of the year, warm up the evening with Glatz Production’s Bravissimo, featuring Andrea Carroll
(soprano), Wallis Giunta (mezzo), David Esteban (tenor), Luke Sutliff (baritone), and the
Canadian Opera Company Orchestra under the baton of Johannes Debus. Picking the best
numbers from Rossini, Donizetti, Mozart, Delibes, Bizet, and more, the program promises
sumptuous and beautiful singing. And, with a 7 p.m. start, there’ll be plenty of time to get to your
favourite place to ring in the New Year with friends and family. Info here.
Attila Glatz Concert Productions/Roy Thomson Hall: Salute to Vienna New Year’s Concert
2026
Thursday, January 1, 2:30 p.m.
Roy Thomson Hall, $94+
If you prefer to ring in New Year’s day with a hint of European charm, there’s the Salute to
Vienna concert, inspired by Vienna’s unrivalled tradition of Neujahrskonzert. Strategically placed
at a friendly matinée start of 2:30 p.m., AGCP invites you to come down with a blank canvas, to
be filled with this mixed program of singers, dancers, and orchestra. There’s something
incredibly beautiful to see dancers live, moving across with live music — let their elan and grace
inspire us for this brand new day with a hint of freshness, and hope for a gentle new year for
every single one of us. Info here.
Li Delun Music Foundation: New Year’s Concert 2026
Sunday, January 4, 3 p.m.
George Weston Recital Hall, 5040 Yonge St., $40+
Another New Year’s tradition, Li Delun Music Foundation presents a great mix of Chinese and
Western classical favourites. Continuing the pioneering spirit of Li Delun, the founder of the first
professional symphony of the People’s Republic of China, his two grandchildren, Kemin
and Rosalind Zhang, pulled together a lovely group of musicians deeply connected through
musical, cultural, and immigration webs in Toronto, to share music, and the joy of community
building. The program ranges from well-known favourites including a Strauss Waltz, to the
Yellow River Piano Concerto, and the Yellow River Cantata. Toronto is a lovely place, and one of
the special riches we have access to is the cultural commitment and diversity of many ethnic
groups. Despite the noise we hear from the media against immigration and emigration — usually
out of desperation and misunderstanding — a place where such rich cultural experiences remain
so accessible is hard to find. So get your shoes on, and head to North York to get a dose of
repertoire beyond the usual classical top 100. You might finally recognize that lovely sound from a
pipa, erhu, or a suona — all familiar through many soundtracks — yet still elusive to many
Canadians. Read our Preview with Kemin and Rosalind Zhang here. Info here.
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- CRITIC’S PICKS | Classical Music Events You Absolutely Need To See From: December 22, 2025 – January 4, 2026 - December 22, 2025
- CRITIC’S PICKS | Classical Music Events You Absolutely Need To See This Week: December 15 – December 21 - December 15, 2025
- CRITIC’S PICKS | Classical Music Events You Absolutely Need To See This Week: December 8 – December 14 - December 8, 2025
