SCRUTINY | 20th-Century Ringer Stands Out In 21st-century Program

By Arthur Kaptainis on May 22, 2015

No question, Kajia Saariaho is a name to contend with. A music lover might fairly congratulate the Royal Conservatory for securing the presence on Thursday night of this 62-year-old Paris-based Finnish composer as part of the 21st Century Music Festival in Koerner Hall.

SCRUTINY | TSO: Stars Align For Verdi Requiem With Sir Andrew Davis

By Joseph So on May 22, 2015

Once in awhile, when the music gods are smiling down from heaven and all the stars are aligned, an audience will get to witness an extraordinary musical event, a performance that will stay in memory for a very long time. Last evening’s Verdi Requiem was just such an event.

SCRUTINY | 21C Festival Openner One Grand Experiment

By Michael Vincent on May 21, 2015

Stewart Copeland and Jon Kimura Parker join forces during the opening night of RCM's 21C Music Festival.

THE CLASSICAL TRAVELER | Inaugural SOLUNA International Music & Arts Festival in Dallas Celebrates Bernstein

By Paul E. Robinson on May 21, 2015

The Dallas Symphony (DSO) has come up with an exciting extension of its spring season –an annual three-week long festival called SOLUNA. In the words of the conductor’s daughter Anna Sophia van Zweden, the Director of Festival Advancement – there’s a title for you! –

SCRUTINY | Opera de Montreal's Silent Night

By Lev Bratishenko on May 20, 2015

Opera de Montreal are ending their season with Kevin Puts’s Silent Night, a cinematically efficient opera about the Christmas truce of 1914.

SCRUTINY | Toronto and Montreal Swap Orchestras

By Arthur Kaptainis on May 14, 2015

MSO brings Sibelius, Mozart, and Samy Moussa to Roy Thomson Hall.

SCRUTINY | Talisker Players’ Close 20th Season with a Little Help From the Gods

By Robin Roger on May 13, 2015

CD REVIEWS | Two New Enescu Discoveries: Axel Strauss/Ilya Poletaev (Naxos) & Hannu Lintu/Truls Mørk (Ondine)

By Paul E. Robinson on May 11, 2015

Although Enescu never received the adulation he deserved for his music during his lifetime, in recent years his music is being “rediscovered”, as it were, and these two new recordings should help to move along the Enescu revival.

THE VOICE | COC: Lepage Landmark Double Bill Revived (Review)

By Neil Crory on May 9, 2015

Dramatically, the pairing of these two gripping psychological studies is a natural fit. Musically, however, they are light years apart. Neil Crory reviews.

SCRUTINY | Ensemble Made in Canada Make Homecoming at the WMCT

By Robin Elliott on May 8, 2015

Ensemble Made in Canada make homecoming with Women’s Musical Club of Toronto.