{"id":114772,"date":"2025-06-02T10:53:29","date_gmt":"2025-06-02T14:53:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/?p=114772"},"modified":"2025-06-02T14:00:03","modified_gmt":"2025-06-02T18:00:03","slug":"critics-picks-classical-music-events-you-absolutely-need-to-see-this-week-june-2-june-8","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/2025\/06\/02\/critics-picks-classical-music-events-you-absolutely-need-to-see-this-week-june-2-june-8\/","title":{"rendered":"CRITIC\u2019S PICKS | Classical Music Events You Absolutely Need To See This Week: June 2 \u2013 June 8"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"L-R
L-R (clockwise): Pianist Beatrice Rana (Photo courtesy of the artist); Cellist Yo-Yo Ma (Photo courtesy of the artist): Ladom 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 June 2 and June 8, 2025. For more of what\u2019s happening around Toronto, visit our calendar here<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Lula Music & Arts+ Lulaworld Records: Ladom Ensemble Album Release Concert<\/h3>\n

Monday, June 02, 8 p.m.
\nLula Lounge, 1585 Dundas St. W, $36.39<\/p>\n

Open this first week of June with Ladon Ensemble\u2019s kaleidoscopic new album launch: Sofreh Tisch. Known for their creativity, LE draws from a wide-range: Western classical, klezmer, rock, tango, jazz, and all things possible. This third album is inspired by Iranian (from Pouya Hamidi, piano), and Yiddish culture (from Beth Silver, cello), and it\u2019s a joy to experience such genuine, deep richness of the vibrant multiculturalism in our own city. Read our Interview with Pouya Hamidi here<\/a>. Info here<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Royal Conservatory of Music: Sheku Kanneh-Mason, Cello, With Isata Kanneh-Mason, Piano<\/h3>\n

Tuesday, June 3, 8 p.m.
\nKoerner Hall, $50+<\/p>\n

After the unfortunate snafu with Air Canada regarding transportation of the Godfriller cello<\/a>, valued at $3 million USD, and the subsequent cancellation of sold-out concert for last December, the power siblings, Sheku, and Isata Kanneh-Mason, take two, to fill out Koerner Hall with lush cello-piano repertoire. The Faure 1st sonata and Poulenc sonata, are so fantastic, yet rarely performed; this would be a great chance to experience these two works live. The connection between well-matched musical duos is pure magic \u2014 the instantaneous communication, physical volleying of ideas, demonstrating the joy of being together- a core human value that we all crave, and appreciate. Grab a precious seat on this near-capacity concert, and sink in- to sync in. Info here<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Toronto Symphony Orchestra, Beatrice Rana: Mozart’s Jupiter<\/h3>\n

Wednesday, June 4, 8 p.m., Thursday, June 5, 8 p.m, Saturday, June 7, 8 p.m, at Roy Thomson Hall; Sunday June 8, 3 p.m., George Weston Recital Hall, Meridian Arts Centre. $30+<\/p>\n

Jupiter, the most brilliant Mozart symphony, is paired with mercurial, agile, and stunningly beautiful Ravel Piano Concerto for the TSO this week. Pianist Beatrice Rana, a silver medal, and the Audience Award winner at the 2013 Van Cliburn, is known for her technical virtuosity, and her love for Ravel \u2014 since she picked up Gaspard de la nuit at tender age of 14, she\u2019s been fascinated with the dichotomy of Ravel\u2019s music, a modernist in the peak of Romanticism. This capricious concerto is a great choice to experience Rana live. Come on down to RTH, at the heart of downtown, or, if you live uptown, save the driving and enjoy the TSO in the heart of North York, for a leisurely Sunday afternoon concert. Info here<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra: Motets: Bach as Muse<\/h3>\n

Friday, June 6, 8 p.m.
\nTrinity St. Paul’s United Church, $45.<\/p>\n

This single night concert is built with Bach\u2019s motets at the centre, along with motets of Homilius, Mendelssoh, Brahms, Rheinberger, Reger, and selected movements from Bach\u2019s cello suites played by Michale Unterman. Bach\u2019s polyphonic writing, along with his brilliant word painting, makes him a true master of choral writing. Though only seven of his motets survive, along with his larger choral works, most notably the passions, and B-minor mass, Bach\u2019s influence on Western classical music is impossible to define, and these carefully chosen companion pieces, under Taurins\u2019 direction, will surely move even the coldest heart. Come and enjoy the fine mastery of drama at heart by Bach. Info here<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Roy Thomson Hall: An Evening with Yo-Yo Ma \/ An Afternoon with Yo-Yo Ma<\/h3>\n

Friday, June 6, 8 p.m., Saturday, June 7, 2 p.m.
\nRoy Thomson Hall, $210.90+<\/p>\n

One of the most influential musicians of our time, Ma visits Toronto for two concerts in Toronto this week. With over 120 albums, 19 GRAMMY Awards, and slew of cross-cultural project, including our own Toronto Music Garden (yes, this garden was a direct part of Ma\u2019s Inspired by Bach project, involving Ma, the landscape designer Julie Moir Messervy, Rhombus Media Incorporated, and the City of Toronto), Ma occupies a special place for many, going far beyond the usual classical music territory. This week\u2019s programming will pair Ma\u2019s performance and his own thoughts on the possibility of culture as a major exploration and definition of humanity; it\u2019s nearly sold-out, so act fast if you are interested in joining Ma and fellow Torontonians in this super-popular event. Info here<\/a><\/strong> and here<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Poculi Ludique Societas: York Plays 2025<\/h3>\n

Saturday, June 7, 6 a.m. start, *Rain date: Sunday, June 8, 6 a.m.
\nStart; Burwash Quad, Victoria University, University of Toronto, 89 Charles St. W, Toronto, Free Admission with Donation Option<\/p>\n

FIFTY medieval plays by 17 North American theatre groups will fill out this day, starting at 6 a.m., finishing sometime around midnight. These medieval plays are going to be played on the replica wagon stages, just like the way it happened way back in medieval York (1376-1569). One of the key elements of the medieval play was music, and this year, early music groups: The Gemsmen, Pneuma Ensemble, The Dawn Players, and others, will join the troupes for this all-day-and-night fun. The audience is encouraged to waft in-and-out of this all-day affair, to truly enjoy the day at their own pace. What an excellent way to spend a Saturday! For this unique event, the Y25 plays made a detailed info sheet to make your day enjoyable, from bringing your own lawn chairs, to bringing your favourite snacks! Info here<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

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\nHERE<\/a>.<\/h3>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Classical music and opera events in Toronto for the week of June 2 to 8.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":62,"featured_media":114773,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[41660,74,76,19,3895,21,62,63],"tags":[18391,4907,3224,3631],"yst_prominent_words":[8345,14729,14728,18388,6674],"acf":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/06\/Copy-of-CRITICS-PICKS-6.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p9bakr-tRa","amp_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/114772"}],"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=114772"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/114772\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":114781,"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/114772\/revisions\/114781"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/114773"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=114772"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=114772"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=114772"},{"taxonomy":"yst_prominent_words","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/yst_prominent_words?post=114772"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}