{"id":108926,"date":"2024-10-28T10:09:42","date_gmt":"2024-10-28T14:09:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/?p=108926"},"modified":"2024-10-28T10:09:42","modified_gmt":"2024-10-28T14:09:42","slug":"critics-picks-classical-music-events-absolutely-need-see-week-october-28-november-3","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/2024\/10\/28\/critics-picks-classical-music-events-absolutely-need-see-week-october-28-november-3\/","title":{"rendered":"CRITIC\u2019S PICKS | Classical Music Events You Absolutely Need To See This Week: October 28 \u2013 November 3"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"L-R
L-R (clockwise): Arkell Chamber Concerts (Photo courtesy of the artists); Composer\/musician Devonte Hynes (Photo courtesy of the artist); Cantus Ensemble (Photo courtesy of the artists)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

This is a list of concerts we are attending, wishing we could attend, or thinking about attending between October 28 and November 3, 2024. For more of what\u2019s happening around Toronto, visit our calendar here<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

COC Instrumental Series: Cantus Ensemble Canadian Tour 2024<\/h3>\n

Tuesday, October 29, Noon
\nRichard Bradshaw Amphitheatre, Four Seasons Centre. Free<\/p>\n

Since 2001, Cantus Ensemble has been busy bringing Croatia\u2019s contemporary music to the world. On Tuesday, the ensemble will present music from Boris Papandopulo, Sara Jakovi\u0107, David Batini\u0107, and Berislav \u0160ipu\u0161 conducted by Berislav \u0160ipu\u0161. The region is culturally complex \u2014 Croatia is at the crossroad of central Europe and the Mediterranean \u2014 and as the connector of the Roman Empire and their successors in Byzantine and Frankish dynasties, this small nation has faced enormous conflict and dichotomy for centuries. The riches stemming from the vast differences of various international powers gave them a unique perspective in national identity. The search for identity is a strong pull for the nation, and Cantus Ensemble will bring the very best takes on Croatian contemporary music. A great chance to hear rarely performed repertoire here in North America. Info here<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

COC Centre Stage Ensemble Studio Competition<\/h3>\n

Wednesday, October 30, 7 p.m.
\nFour Seasons Centre, $50+<\/p>\n

Seven young singers chosen from across Canada: Chelsea Koli\u0107, Olivia LaPointe, Emma Pennell, Ariana Maubach, Ilanna Starr, Mikelis Rogers and Nicholas Murphy, will step up to the Centre Stage<\/a> to present one aria each, showcasing their musical and emotional depth for the national audience \u2014 yes, there will be a livestream in addition to the in-person fun for this event. It is so hard to get a break in this industry, and these seven singers have prepared for years to get to the Centre Stage. The energy and support from their families and friends, and opera aficionados, along with accompanying COC orchestra, will fill this evening with excitement and fireworks, and a grand prize at the end of the evening just may be the thing that changes a person\u2019s life. So much potential drama, on and off-the-stage. Info here<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Roy Thomson Hall Presents: Devont\u00e9 Hynes with TSO<\/h3>\n

Friday, November 1, 8 p.m.
\nRoy Thomson Hall, $50+<\/p>\n

Devont\u00e9 Hynes, also known as \u2018Blood Orange\u2019 and formerly \u2018Lightspeed Champion\u2019, has been everywhere since his breakout album in 2013, Cupid Delux. As if working with superstars including Mariah Carey, A$AP Rocky, and Solange didn\u2019t keep him busy, Hynes was one of the four pianists invited to perform with Phillip Glass at the Kennedy Centre, and was nominated for Grammy for Best Chamber Music\/Small Ensemble Performance with Third Coast Percussion in 2020. His take on classical music has led to sold out shows with the LA Philharmonic; it\u2019s refreshing to see such fresh energy in the classical arena, where things may be just a little too predictable, a little too safe. Adam Tendler will perform Hynes\u2019 Happening, a piano concerto, along with Hynes\u2019 orchestral works. What\u2019s the hype? Come and find out. Seats are selling fast. Info here<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Amadeus Choir: Songs of Hope and Peace<\/h3>\n

Saturday, November 2, 3 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
\nEglinton St. George\u2019s United Church, 35 Lytton Blvd., $25+<\/p>\n

The Amadeus Choir, under the baton of Lydia Adams, brings us a concert filled with remembrance, hope, peace and the longing for home. Narrated by Tom Allen, the program draws from the words of soldiers long gone from WW1. The English word \u2018home\u2019 is so much more than house. A connecting space for one\u2019s history and present, where peoples\u2019 lives overlay, grow, decay, and may be forgotten, home is a living memory and a context for the future. Jeffrey Ryan\u2019s Song of the Soldiers, a National Arts Centre commission for the centenary anniversary of the end of WW1, along with choral works by Eleanor Daley, Morten Lauridsen, John Rutter, Srul Irving Glick and others, will fill our hearts. In the midst of such riches, keep your ears sharp for two premieres: L\u2019homme arm\u00e9 arranged by Lydia Adams, and We Will Fall by Roman Hurko. Info here<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Toronto Mendelssohn Choir: The Love Affair: Waltz and Tango<\/h3>\n

Sunday, November 3, 3 p.m.
\nKoerner Hall, $46+<\/p>\n

TMChoir\u2019s official season opener, The Love Affair, promises a lovely evening. Though Brahm\u2019s Liebeslieder Walzer, initially written for a close, intimate group of four singers and two at the piano \u2014 just enough to fit into a room, standing closely to one another, and singing and swaying, gently cradled by the l\u00e4ndler rhythm \u2014 there is no doubt that TMC, despite its large size (160+) will be absolutely tuned into a singular unit. That’s the magic of great choirs, and to experience such synchronicity is a real joy. Palmeri\u2019s Misatango, an eclectic mix of two very unlikely things \u2014 nuevo tango and Latin mass, has been performed all over the place since 1996; a truly charismatic work. And there\u2019s even a world premiere of TMC commission, by Aaron Manswell: Poverty. It is lovely to hear TMC in various orchestral projects, but to listen to them as the main focus, is the best way to listen to their superb musicianship. Come out and enjoy the resonance of 160+ voices in sync. Read our Preview here<\/a>. Info here<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Arkel Chamber Concerts: Contrasts<\/h3>\n

Sunday, November 3, 3 p.m.
\nTrinity St. Paul\u2019s Center, $40+<\/p>\n

After eleven years, Trio Arkel is expanding its format to a versatile chamber group, where core members Marie B\u00e9rard and Winona Zelenka will be joined by six guest artists for the inaugural season 24\/25: Heidi Elise Bearcroft (harp), Philip Chiu (piano), Ryan Davis (viola), Erika Raum (violin), Theresa Rudolph (viola), and Julie Ranti (flute). This season opening concert will feature two well-loved string quartets: Mendelssohn Op. 12 No. 1, and Shostakovich Op. 110, No. 8. The gentle, young apollonian Mendelssohn contrasts sharply with mature Shostakovich, who’s been thoroughly seasoned through censorship, terror of Stalin, and the horror of WW2, making us rethink what it means when we say \u2018great.\u2019 Bridging the two pillar works, is Robert M\u00fcller-Hartmann\u2019s Sonata for 2 violins. Come and witness the joy of string chamber music; the timbre of a well-matched string quartet is something to behold, truly one of the most magical instrumental combinations. Info here<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

#LUDWIGVAN<\/b><\/em><\/h3>\n

Get the daily arts news straight to your inbox.<\/em><\/p>\n

Sign up for the Ludwig Van Toronto e-Blast! \u2014 local classical music and opera news straight to your inbox <\/em>HERE<\/a>.<\/h3>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Classical music and opera events in Toronto for the week of October 28 to November 3, 2024. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":62,"featured_media":108929,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[40967,11,76,19,3895,38,43,63],"tags":[41534,41368,3349],"yst_prominent_words":[8965,13156,9426,31991,12857,6674,9335],"acf":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/10\/Copy-of-CRITICS-PICKS-93.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p9bakr-skS","amp_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/108926"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/62"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=108926"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/108926\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":108930,"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/108926\/revisions\/108930"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/108929"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=108926"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=108926"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=108926"},{"taxonomy":"yst_prominent_words","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/yst_prominent_words?post=108926"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}