{"id":121948,"date":"2026-02-23T10:22:27","date_gmt":"2026-02-23T15:22:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/?p=121948"},"modified":"2026-02-23T10:22:27","modified_gmt":"2026-02-23T15:22:27","slug":"critics-picks-classical-music-events-absolutely-need-see-week-february-23-march-1-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/2026\/02\/23\/critics-picks-classical-music-events-absolutely-need-see-week-february-23-march-1-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"CRITIC\u2019S PICKS | Classical Music Events You Absolutely Need To See This Week: February 23 \u2013 March 1, 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"L-R
L-R (clockwise): Choreographer Crystal Pite (Photo courtesy of the artist); The Happenstancers (L-R): Brad Cherwin, clarinets and artistic direction; Peter Eom, cello; Joonghun Cho, piano (Photo courtesy of the artists); The Danish String Quartet (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 February 23 and March 1, 2026. For more of what\u2019s happening around Toronto, visit our calendar here<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

National Ballet of Canada: Flight Pattern \/ Suite en Blanc<\/h3>\n

Friday, February 27, 7:30 p.m., Saturday, February 28, 2 p.m., and 7:30 p.m., Sunday, March 1, 2 p.m., with four additional performances in the following week
\nFour Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts, $56+<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve been dying to see anything and everything by the choreographer Crystal Pite ever since I saw Angel\u2019s Atlas in 2020. Pite\u2019s works may shatter what people would expect from the conventional idea of ballet \u2014 in the best way possible. Finally, this week, Pite\u2019s Flight Pattern, and a contrasting work by Serge Lifar, Suite en Blanc, returns to the Four Seasons. With live performances of the first movement from G\u00f3recki\u2019s Symphony of Sorrowful Songs (featuring the NBC debut of soprano Measha Brueggergosman-Lee) \u2014 a work that sold over a million copies in its serene, sorrowful beauty, topping not only classical charts, but international pop charts too \u2014 along with the feisty, evocative music of \u00c9douard Lalo, the program promises much emotion and beauty. Seeing the human body move in space in real time, along with sound that is made to exist, and flow in real space, is a true sensory experience that no screen and speakers can ever emulate. Not to be missed. Read our Preview of the performance here<\/a>. Info here<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

The Happenstancers: Die Nacht \/ Der Mond<\/h3>\n

Saturday, February 28, 7:30 p.m.
\nArray Space, 155 Walnut Ave., $30<\/p>\n

Often we forget what art is really about. Of course, the actual physical representations of art, as works \u2014 books, performances, paintings \u2014 all are lovely things to accumulate, collect, and catalogue in the big list of important human civilization. However, it is in the individual human experience that art thrives and truly exists. With so much noise in the world, it\u2019s difficult to discern what might be worthwhile. People no longer just walk into a coffeeshop \u2014 a web search is a must, and a first. The major disadvantage of such cultural flow is that it is so easy to get lost in the echo chamber. The same things, the same people, the same aesthetics get fed and fed again, obliterating everything else that is even just slightly different. To see the Happenstancers take the time and expertise to craft really beautiful music that is considered non-mainstream for many is heartwarming. Saariaho, J\u00f6rg Widmann, Thomas Ad\u00e8s, Peter Eotvos, and Gy\u00f6rgy Kurt\u00e1g \u2014 all these names may ring strange to many. However, among the enthusiasts, these composers represent the best of human expression, just as Brahms and Faur\u00e9 did; the only difference being the distance of time. A classic is survived, rather than made. So come out to this program, put your fear of new music aside, and sink into these amazing sound events: let your mind wander, and simply experience. It\u2019s when we have the least expectation, that we may see all the beauty that has always been there; exuding on its own, even when it feels fresh, strange, and wonderful. Read our Preview of the concert here<\/a>. Info here<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Royal Conservatory of Music: Danish String Quartet<\/h3>\n

February 28, Saturday, 8 p.m.
\nKoerner Hall, $55+<\/p>\n

The Danish String Quartet returns to Koerner for the third time, bringing an intriguing mix of repertoire. Ravel\u2019s quartet in F major, a lush work by a young Ravel, aged 28, is one of the best loved works of the canon, often contested with Debussy\u2019s quartet for the title of best Romantic quartet masterpiece. However, Schnittke\u2019s music, full of both humour and incredible bitterness, manic joy and the most heartwrenching lamentation, will be the real treat, as the DSQ\u2019s versatility and sensitivity will shine through the demands of such thorny writing. The Suite from There Will Be Blood (2007), a masterwork from the chameleon Jonny Greenwood of the famed Radiohead, has won hoards of best score for film awards, including a nod from the GRAMMYs. It is gritty, eerie, and beautiful. The soundtracks\u2019 emotional impact, coupled with Daniel Day-Lewis and Paul Dano\u2019s superb acting, made the film a real standout. The programming promises much drama and incredible intensity. Not to be missed. Info here<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Royal Conservatory of Music: Chanticleer<\/h3>\n

March 1, Sunday, 3 p.m., Koerner Hall, $50+<\/p>\n

The 12-men strong a capella group, Chanticleer, will fill out this Sunday afternoon with music from everywhere \u2014 as far ancient as Juan Guti\u00e9rrez de Padilla, and as close as Pete Seeger and Irving Berlin \u2014 along with music of the people of spirituals and American folksongs, as well as contemporary art music. This Grammy-winning group\u2019s musical versatility is magical in its illustration of what male voices are capable of. As high as countertenors, and going deep, deep down with a true bass, come and see their magical blending, and be touched by the one of the most essential expressions of humanity \u2014 the voice. Info here<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Amici Chamber Ensemble: From Mozart to Mamma Mia<\/h3>\n

March 1, Sunday, 3 p.m.
\nTrinity St. Paul’s United Church and Centre for Faith, Justice and the Arts, $30+<\/p>\n

Amici\u2019s third concert of the year is a good mix of elegance and pure fun. It is so easy to categorize things, and keep things separated \u2014 like little school childrens\u2019 lunch plates, where the food groups are never meant to touch each other. However, joy is joy, and beauty is beauty, regardless of the vessels that carry it. Amici\u2019s choice of Mozart and ABBA may seem strange; however, isn\u2019t it true that both entities managed to get the people up from their chairs and sing along to those incredible melodies \u2014 many earworms that will burrow into your heart? Come out and join Amici and friends, as they move seamlessly from the eternal beauty of Mozart\u2019s Clarinet Quintet, to the best of ABBA. Info here<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

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Classical music and opera events in Toronto for the week of February 23 to March 1, 2026. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":62,"featured_media":121950,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[42533,10,76,19,38,49],"tags":[258,40824,39438,2346,41089],"yst_prominent_words":[7173,8465,23838,17108,6616,11056],"acf":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/02\/Copy-of-CRITICS-PICKS-2026-02-23T101516.737.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p9bakr-vIU","amp_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/121948"}],"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=121948"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/121948\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":121951,"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/121948\/revisions\/121951"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/121950"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=121948"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=121948"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=121948"},{"taxonomy":"yst_prominent_words","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/yst_prominent_words?post=121948"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}