{"id":119519,"date":"2025-11-17T09:56:31","date_gmt":"2025-11-17T14:56:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/?p=119519"},"modified":"2025-11-17T09:56:31","modified_gmt":"2025-11-17T14:56:31","slug":"critics-picks-classical-music-events-absolutely-need-see-week-november-17-november-23","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/2025\/11\/17\/critics-picks-classical-music-events-absolutely-need-see-week-november-17-november-23\/","title":{"rendered":"CRITIC\u2019S PICKS | Classical Music Events You Absolutely Need To See This Week: November 17 \u2013 November 23"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"L-R
L-R (clockwise): Violinist Ray Chen (Photo: \u00a9 Decca Records 2024); Soundstreams Ensemble and Chamber Choir (Photo courtesy of Soundstreams); Flamenco dancers (Photo courtesy of Duende International Flamenco Festival)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

This is a list of concerts we are attending, wishing we could attend, or thinking about attending between November 17 and 23, 2025. For more of what\u2019s happening around Toronto, visit our calendar here<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Royal Conservatory of Music: Ray Chen, Violin, with Chelsea Wang, piano<\/h3>\n

Wednesday, November 19, 7 p.m.
\nKoerner Hall, $55+<\/p>\n

The young, brilliant, and charismatic Ray Chen returns to Koerner, with Chelsea Wang, pianist. Chen needs no further introduction. He was accepted to the Curtis Institute of Music at age 15, then won first prizes in both the Yehudi Menuhin (2008) and Queen Elizabeth (2009) competitions. Despite the classical music scene\u2019s setback with the Great Recession (2007-09), Chen\u2019s influence only grew stronger with his incredible social media savvy, and he now has over 2.3 million followers. With a beautiful new Stradivarius violin on his hands and charisma to spare, Chen is a force to be reckoned with. Wang, also a Curtis graduate, is making her Koerner debut; known for her collaboration with the greats, including Sir Andr\u00e1s Schiff, Leonidas Kavakos, and Emerson Quartet, to just name a few, she\u2019ll be a formidable partner for this evening\u2019s program. It\u2019s full of panache, ranging from solo Bach to Romantic favourites, including Kreisler arrangements, and the beloved Zigeunerweisen by Sarasate. A lovely way to fill up a dull November dark weeknight with explosive, captivating fireworks. Read our Interview with Ray Chen here<\/a>. Info here<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Toronto Symphony Orchestra: Romeo & Juliet<\/h3>\n

Thursday, November 20, 7:30 p.m., Friday, November 21, 7:30 p.m., Saturday, November 22, 7:30 p.m.
\nRoy Thomson Hall, $38+<\/p>\n

Gimeno brings two amazing works of Prokofiev to the stage \u2014 Symphony 3, and Romeo and Juliet \u2014 along with a brand new work by Matthew-John Knights, Lines, Layers, Ligaments. Many composers and artists have taken on the eternal tragedy of Romeo and Juliet, but Prokofiev\u2019s take is a truly amazing version, from the most beautifully balanced and resonant chords in fairytale romance, moving in timeless progression, to the brutality portrayed through crushing orchestral tuttis \u2014 that menacing timbre that only Prokofiev can draw out from the orchestra with unstoppable, inevitable dread \u2014 it\u2019s really one of his best works. Prokofiev\u2019s obsession with Valery Bryusov\u2019s Gothic novel, The Fiery Angel, another love story (this one twisted by religious obsession, sexual deviation and occult-mysticism) led to his opera of the same title. However, after eight years of struggle, Prokofiev, having finally managed to get a live performance of its second act under the baton of Serge Koussevitzky, decided to transform the work into a symphony. Starting with bell tolls and hellfire, the work is full of drama and ecstasy, with that truly Prokofiev magic. Gimeno\u2019s been transforming the TSO since his arrival, and this particular evening is a great chance to take the time to really sink your teeth into the world of Prokofiev with two amazing works, where images are conjured with the most intense beauty and terror \u2014 a true apocalypse, Book of Revelation grade. Info here<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

FILMHarmonique Orchestra: Toy Story<\/h3>\n

Friday, November 21, 7:30 p.m., Saturday, November 22, 2 p.m.
\nMeridian Hall, $75+<\/p>\n

The Pixar project that really started it all, Toy Story, has been an international cultural icon since its premiere in 1995. The franchise, which has grossed over 3.3 billion USD worldwide, is still going strong, with Toy Story 5 scheduled for a June 2026 release. Thirty years later, the first group of children who were mesmerized with the beloved characters, Woody and Buzz, and the lovely, bumbly, and unpredictably silly gang of friends, are now in their adulthoods, with a special nostalgia for this cinema magic. And I bet there were a few parents, grans, and babysitters whose eyes were touched with tears by the sincerity, loss, and joy of this amazing friendship story over the years. So come down to the Meridian Hall, for the very first Canadian debut of Toy Story in Concert, and hear Randy Newman\u2019s intimate, amazing scores live through the FILMHarmonique Orchestra under the baton of Francis Choin\u00e8re. Read our Interview with Francis Choin\u00e8re here<\/a>. Info here<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Royal Conservatory Orchestra with conductor Mei-Ann Chen<\/h3>\n

Friday, November 21, 8 p.m.
\nKoerner Hall, $25+<\/p>\n

The formidable RCO, full of young, focused, and ambitious musicians of the Glenn Gould School, and alumni, steps on to the stage with Mei-Ann Chen, Taiwanese American conductor whose brilliant intellect and communication skill has led her to work with over 150 orchestras to date. Her work, especially with educational orchestras, is phenomenal. Tongue-in-cheek, most tier-1 orchestras are ready to deal with anything in performance, including terrible conductors. They\u2019ve honed their craft, they know the repertoire in their hearts, and their ensemble communication is so efficient that the sections may play without, or even despite the conductor on the podium. There are orchestras without conductors \u2014 the most notable was Les Dissonance: their rendition of large scale works such as La Mer (Debussy), Romeo and Juliet (Prokofiev), and Daphnis et Chloe (Ravel) leaves some doubt; what does a conductor do? It was with the National Youth Orchestra of America\u2019s NYO2 Hindemith video where I first saw the great capacity and charisma that Chen brings to a performance. She has worked with LA Phil, Atlanta, Baltimore, Memphis, Chicago Sinfonietta, and many more; it is exciting to see where Chen could lead the RCO with her humanity, expertise, and character. \u2028The featured soloist, Zane Mallett, winner of the Corcoran Concerto Competition, brings the rarely heard Ginastera Harp Concerto. As one of the best of non-European composers, Ginastera\u2019s music is vital and evocative, and his mastery of orchestration, along with that distinctive rhythmic drive, is simply wonderful. Along with Stewart Goodyear\u2019s Seasons (world premiere), and Stravinsky\u2019s The Rite of Spring, this is a fantastic program \u2014 where could you experience all of this starting at $25? You can hardly get a lunch around the RCM for that. So come on down, and see where the youth, and this inspiring conductor, may take us. Info here<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Soundstreams: Mass for the Endangered<\/h3>\n

Saturday, November 22, 7:30 p.m.
\nTrinity St. Paul’s United Church and Centre for Faith, Justice and the Arts, 427 Bloor St. W, $22.60+<\/p>\n

The first full-length program for Soundstream\u2019s 25\/26 season starts on an ominous note. Centred on Sarah Kirkland Snider\u2019s Mass for the Endangered, SS have curated a kaleidoscope of shifting sonic worlds and timbres through the music of Andrew Balfour, R. Murray Shafer, Chris Hutchings, Olivier Messiaen, and Arvo P\u00e4rt. There is a certain reluctance about trying out new things, and the old image of crusty academics writing weird music in ivory towers still remains iconic. However, consider the reality where good music, regardless of the time of its inception, always manages to speak to the heart. Cliche, but the world is constantly changing. And the sonic world people live in now is so different from the times of Beethoven and Tchaikovsky. So why only stick around the canon, and continue to be afraid of the world that we live in now? After all, we constantly seek authors of our own time, the movies and television series of our own time \u2014 this isn\u2019t any different, despite the golden aura of bygone grandeur that the classical music industry has created, whether intentionally, or coincidentally. With top notch performers, including Soundstreams Choir 21, a chamber choir with the calibre to perform difficult yet hauntingly beautiful contemporary works (this is not your usual church choir!), we can come without the weight of all expectations, except one: excellence. Info here<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Aga Khan Museum: 11th Duende International Flamenco Festival: Alter Ego<\/h3>\n

Sunday, Nov 23, 8 p.m.
\nNanji Family Foundation Auditorium, $48.75+<\/p>\n

The annual Aga Khan Museum\u2019s Duende International Flamenco Festival started on Sunday, November 16, with many performances, masterclasses, and community workshops, and this concert marks the final performance of this year. For the weekend, there are three shows: Cruces (Friday), Flamenco: Made in Canada (Saturday), and Alter Ego (Sunday). For Alter Ego, evoking a game of mirrors, Alfonso Losa and Paula Comitre bring their contemporary edition of flamenco to Toronto; it was recently featured as the New York City Center\u2019s Flamenco Festival\u2019s opening night program, and has sold out across the world \u2014 in Madrid, Jerez, and London\u2019s Sadler\u2019s Wells. Flamenco, both dance and music, has captured the imagination of many musicians over the centuries, and the impact is deeply felt in Western classical music, beyond the national music of Alb\u00e9niz and de Falla. Traditional flamenco continuously draws people over with its hypnotic rhythm and incredibly expressive music; and where are they going now? Come out and see the possibilities in flesh. Info here<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

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Classical music and opera events in Toronto for the week of November 17 to 23, 2025. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":62,"featured_media":119520,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[41660,11,76,18,19,3895,23,38,63],"tags":[42422,42429,2764,3079],"yst_prominent_words":[7173,12186],"acf":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/11\/Copy-of-CRITICS-PICKS-2025-11-17T094823.635.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p9bakr-v5J","amp_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/119519"}],"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=119519"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/119519\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":119521,"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/119519\/revisions\/119521"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/119520"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=119519"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=119519"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=119519"},{"taxonomy":"yst_prominent_words","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/yst_prominent_words?post=119519"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}