{"id":120679,"date":"2026-01-05T09:51:15","date_gmt":"2026-01-05T14:51:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/?p=120679"},"modified":"2026-01-05T09:51:15","modified_gmt":"2026-01-05T14:51:15","slug":"critics-picks-classical-music-events-absolutely-need-see-week-january-5-january-11","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/2026\/01\/05\/critics-picks-classical-music-events-absolutely-need-see-week-january-5-january-11\/","title":{"rendered":"CRITIC\u2019S PICKS | Classical Music Events You Absolutely Need To See This Week: January 5 \u2013 January 11"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"L-R
L-R (clockwise): Classical guitarist Emma Rush (Photo courtesy of the artist); Pianist Anastasia Rizikov (Photo courtesy of the artist); Ori Shalva 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 January 5 and 11, 2026. For more of what\u2019s happening around Toronto, visit our calendar here<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Small World Music Incubator\/Drom Taverna: Alilo-Oba with Ori Shalva & Andrea Kuzmich\u2019s Songscapin\u2019<\/h3>\n

Wednesday, January 7, 7 p.m.
\nDrom Taverna, 458 Queen St. W., cover charge \u2014 please check with Drom Taverna<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s a celebration from afar: Georgia, on the coast of the Black Sea \u2014 on our own doorstep! The Old Christmas celebration will fill the ears of their audience this Wednesday, starting at 7 p.m., as the virtuosi of Ori Shalva, led by Shalva Makharashvili, perform at the Drom. The second set, Songscapin\u2019, is a delectable mix of Georgian and Ukrainian folk music with jazz and improvisation, promising foot-stomping, sing-along good times. Toronto\u2019s cultural diversity is one of the finest in the world, and it is so easy to say \u2018I will go next week.\u2019 However, Christmas really only comes around once a year, and what better way to liven up the first dreary January week than to be with this incredibly beautiful Georgian harmony? Drom releases the weekly info including cover charge fees on Mondays \u2014 usually nominal fee of 15-25 bucks \u2014 what a bargain! Also their Czech Wednesday special of pilsner and schnitzels (food at DT is excellent) makes this event a great way to bring a bit of festivus into the week. Info here<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Canadian Opera Company: Instrumental Series \u2014 Songs Without Words<\/h3>\n

Thursday, January 8, 12 Noon
\nRichard Bradshaw Amphitheatre, Four Seasons Centre, free<\/p>\n

After the bustle of the holiday, a lovely noon concert on this Thursday of the first full week back is a welcome opportunity to centre yourself for the new year. Vivian Lang Chen (piano) and Patrick Goodwin (violin) bring piano-violin duo works of the past and now, including the familiar favourite of Brahms\u2019s gentle Violin Sonata No. 1, and Jhula Jhule, a work based on Indian folksong by Reena Esmail, one of the brighter contemporary composers. Come out and be reminded of the small beauties that are present throughout our lives, and be sustained by them, especially after blurred days of holidays. Info here<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Toronto Symphony Orchestra: Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons<\/h3>\n

Thursday, January 8, Friday January 9, Saturday, January 10: 7:30 p.m. at Roy Thomson Hall
\nSunday January 11, 3 p.m. at George Weston Recital Hall, please contact Patron Services<\/p>\n

Our city\u2019s main orchestra opens 2026 with a celebratory program of Baroque classics featuring Jonathan Crow, leader and violin; Sarah Jeffrey, oboe; Heidi Elise Bearcroft, harp; R\u00e9mi Pelletier, viola. Along with Vivaldi\u2019s Four Seasons \u2014 the main centrepiece and perhaps the most famous classical composition of all times \u2014 Bach\u2019s Oboe Concerto, Telemann\u2019s Viola Concerto, and Handel\u2019s Harp Concerto will fill out these three evenings at Roy Thomson, together with a Sunday afternoon matinee at George Weston Hall in North York. This hugely popular program seems currently sold out, but there are always a few returned tickets and new availability, especially on the day of the performance \u2014 totally worth calling in and getting in touch with the Patrons Services (416-598-3375). Info here<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Niagara Classics: Emma Rush \u2014 Classical Guitar<\/h3>\n

Saturday, January 10, 7 p.m.
\nSmall World Music Centre, Artscape Youngplace, 180 Shaw St., $40 or Pay-What-You-Can<\/p>\n

Come down to a little cozy space of the Small World Centre by the Trinity Bellwoods Park and lend your ears to the intricacy of solo guitar. Emma Rush, a Canadian classical guitarist, has been a valuable contributor to guitar communities through her international performing career, along with her research on Victorian virtuoso, Catharina Pratte (read our Interview with Rush here<\/a>). As we try unwind from the rush of the busy week of back-to-the-madness, a solo guitar recital where all sound and detail is delivered with the utmost care, carried through the hearts and ears of dedicated Toronto guitar enthusiasts (you will not find a more careful and quiet audience anywhere else in the city!), this just might be the magic ticket for the weekend. Info here<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Anastasia Rizikov: Continuum \u2014 Piano Recital<\/h3>\n

Saturday, January 10, 7 p.m.
\nJeanne Lamon Hall, Trinity-St. Paul’s Centre. 427 Bloor Street West., $30\/60<\/p>\n

Celebrated for her prowess at the piano, Anastasia Rizikov, no longer a child proteg\u00e9, now a mature musician with vast experience and imagination, brings a solo piano program: Continuum, to the Annex. Her exploration of spirituality, folklore, and minimalism in this program will include her own transcriptions of Bloch, Mahler, and Skoryk, and works by Say, Shamo, and others. It is always interesting to get an in-depth look at a person, and in this concert, Rizikov\u2019s identity in multiple layers \u2014 as a performer and an arranger \u2014 promises much intrigue. Come and see where she may guide you, in her flow of consciousness, and be ready to encounter gorgeous piano playing. Read our Interview with Anastasia here<\/a>. Info here<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

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Classical music and opera events in Toronto for the week of January 5 to 11, 2026. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":62,"featured_media":120681,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[42533,74,76,19,3895,38,63,72],"tags":[5025,4439,5644],"yst_prominent_words":[14866,19094,14729,12857,14728,15493,23244],"acf":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/01\/Copy-of-CRITICS-PICKS-2026-01-05T094424.966.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p9bakr-vor","amp_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/120679"}],"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=120679"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/120679\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":120683,"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/120679\/revisions\/120683"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/120681"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=120679"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=120679"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=120679"},{"taxonomy":"yst_prominent_words","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/yst_prominent_words?post=120679"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}