{"id":110335,"date":"2024-12-16T10:05:38","date_gmt":"2024-12-16T15:05:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/?p=110335"},"modified":"2024-12-16T10:05:38","modified_gmt":"2024-12-16T15:05:38","slug":"critics-picks-classical-music-events-absolutely-need-see-week-december-16-22","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/2024\/12\/16\/critics-picks-classical-music-events-absolutely-need-see-week-december-16-22\/","title":{"rendered":"CRITIC\u2019S PICKS | Classical Music Events You Absolutely Need To See This Week: December 16 \u2013 22"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"L-R
L-R (clockwise): Tafelmusik Sing-Along Messiah with Herr Handel (Photo courtesy of Tafelmusik); Duo Cichorium (Photo courtesy of the artists); Toronto Mendelssohn Choir (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 December 16 and 23, 2024. For more of what\u2019s happening around Toronto, visit our calendar here<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Orpheus Choir of Toronto: A Ceremony of Carols<\/h3>\n

Tuesday, December 17, 7:30 p.m.
\nCalvin Presbyterian Church, 26 Delisle Ave., $25+<\/p>\n

Written in the brutality of war in 1942 on a 5-weeks ship voyage from New York back to England, Britten is poignant in his contemplation on the dire need for the arrival of saviour in treacherous times. Instead of cheerful jollity, the cycle has many dark moments, focusing on the rebirth post-death, post-winter, and struggle between good and evil \u2014 especially in \u2018This Little Babe\u2019: \u2018…With tears he fights and wins the field, His naked breast stands for a shield; His battering shot are babish cries, His arrows looks of weeping eyes, His martial ensigns Cold and Need, And feeble Flesh his warrior\u2019s steed.\u2019 As we get ready to celebrate the end of 2024, sadly, some things have not changed since the WW2 \u2014 wars raging, the poor suffering, tears flowing. Come and listen to this amazing austere setting of the babe saviour, from a darker, humanistic perspective, with superb artistry of Orpheus Choir of Toronto with sparse accompaniment of the harp. Reena Esmail\u2019s Winter Breviary and additional Christmas and Chanukah tunes complete the evening. Info here<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Toronto Symphony and Toronto Mendelssohn Choir: Messiah<\/h3>\n

Tuesday, December 17, 8 p.m.; Wednesday, December 18, 8 p.m.; Friday, December 20, 8 p.m.; Saturday, December 21, 8 p.m.; Sunday, December 22, 3 p.m.
\nRoy Thomson Hall, $64+<\/p>\n

If you wanted your seasonal Messiah with a huge choir (125+ for these runs), ringing through the building, this is the one to come to. Covering the favourite numbers from all three books, immerse yourself into the night of great storytelling. Soloists Sherezade Panthaki, Nicholas Burns, James Ley, and Enrico Lagasca, will be well-supported by this superb large choral group, and the TSO. Jean-S\u00e9bastien Vall\u00e9e conducts. With five performances, surely, you can make it to one! Info here<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Voices Chamber Choir: Joyeux No\u00ebl<\/h3>\n

Wednesday, December 18, 8 p.m.
\nSt. Martin-in-the-Fields Anglican Church, 151 Glenlake Ave., $20+, Free for children under age 12<\/p>\n

Voices Chamber Choir under direction of Ron Chung has been busy presenting high-calibre performances in Toronto since 1996, and for their 28th Christmas concert, Voices are presenting one of the best French baroque Christmas works: Messe de minuit pour No\u00ebl. It may seem bizarre initially that Charpentier, one of the very best of the French Baroque composers, is so rarely heard in Toronto \u2014 but considering the musical finesse and sensitivity required, it is no wonder that many shy away from performing it. So here\u2019s your chance to experience the high French Baroque glory, with all its golden curly edges. Info here<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Array Music: Playscape Emporium: Of Dances and Dreams<\/h3>\n

Thursday, December 19, 7:30 p.m.
\nArray Space,155 Walnut Ave, $20, Pay-what-you-can available<\/p>\n

If you are tired of the seasonal bangers, here\u2019s something quite different. Duo Cichorium (Jasmine Tsui and Louis Pino), curators at Array Music (2024-2027), are in charge of six concerts: Cichorium\u2019s Playscape Emporium, and for this edition, they are bringing all the bells and whistles, as Angela Blumberg Dance Company, teething \u2014 a six-member improvisation ensemble \u2014 and visual artist JEIA join them on this evening of possibilities. If contemporary music makes you feel a bit uneasy, this IS the concert you should come to! There is no obligation to endure, but if you simply choose not to try new music out, you just could be missing out on the new favourite thing. It\u2019s important to remember that simplest things, like boiled peas, require repeated exposure for a toddler to make their mind up \u2014 experts say, on average, 7 tries. We are often quite open, even excited to try out a new fashion style, a drink, or a snack. Remember getting that radical haircut? A new lipstick? Why should we stop experimenting and exploring when it comes to the arts? No answer is required. Do come out and see what is happening, in our own time, in our own city, from these creative minds. Info here<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Choir! Choir! Choir!: Un-Silent Night<\/h3>\n

Saturday, December 21, 2 p.m., and 8 p.m.
\nMassey Hall, $57.30<\/p>\n

This amazing group, led by Daveed Goldman and Nobu Adilman (aka Dabu), have been running C!C!C! since 2011, and their events are so fun- and it is open to you! Yes, you! Do come and take that invitation to participate \u2014 let your guard down, and sing along. Mixing singing, arts, comedy, and community spirit, their shows usually sell out- no wonder, as true inclusivity and openness is quite rare in this, ahem, serious (classical) musical world. Come out, and feel that freedom of singing, with your friends, and soon-to-be-friends, in this time of reflection and sharing. Info here<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra: Sing-Along Messiah<\/h3>\n

Sunday, December 22, 2 p.m.
\nMassey Hall, $59.70<\/p>\n

If you didn\u2019t get your tickets for Tafel\u2019s Messiah at Koerner Hall (Friday, Dec 20; Saturday, Dec 21), it\u2019s probably too late \u2014 it is officially sold out. You could hang your hope on the last minute rush tickets (as there\u2019s always a few who cannot make it to the event last minute) \u2014 either apply to be put on the waiting list, or call the box office at 4:30 p.m. to see if there\u2019s anything available on the day of the performance, or hurry up and get a seat for the Messiah sing-along! The superb soloists from Friday and Saturday will join you, yes, you, as we all sing our hearts out on these favourite tunes. Mr. Handel, in spectacular, hand-made costume, will lead you through this dramatic take on nativity story and salvation. Get your tickets now though, it is selling super fast. 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 December 16 to 23, 2024. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":62,"featured_media":110336,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[40967,74,11,19,3895,5722,38,43,63],"tags":[367,41634,5166,30643,5793],"yst_prominent_words":[8345,17180,10287,12857,6914],"acf":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/12\/Copy-of-CRITICS-PICKS-2024-12-16T094711.041.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p9bakr-sHB","amp_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/110335"}],"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=110335"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/110335\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":110337,"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/110335\/revisions\/110337"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/110336"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=110335"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=110335"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=110335"},{"taxonomy":"yst_prominent_words","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/yst_prominent_words?post=110335"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}