{"id":32429,"date":"2015-12-14T10:55:56","date_gmt":"2015-12-14T15:55:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/?p=32429"},"modified":"2015-12-14T10:55:56","modified_gmt":"2015-12-14T15:55:56","slug":"critics-picks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/2015\/12\/14\/critics-picks\/","title":{"rendered":"CRITIC\u2019S PICKS | Seven Musical Outings You Should Do This Week"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Toronto
Toronto Christmas Market At The Distillery District (Photo: Stephen Weppler via Flickr)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Musical Toronto\u2019s weekly Critic\u2019s Picks are a fully curated list of some of the best concerts happening now through the end of the week. Of course, this is not to say we are the provocateurs of taste, but simply seek to provide a good weekly summary. For a look at the full breadth of what\u2019s available in and around Toronto, check out our concert listings in the\u00a0Musical Toronto Datebook<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Tuesday 15<\/h3>\n

TSO<\/span>\u00a0| Handel’s\u00a0Messiah\u00a0<\/em>at Roy Thomson Hall. 8 p.m. $38.75-111 (Repeats: Dec. 15, 16, 18, 19, 20 \u2013 start times vary)<\/p>\n

The third week of December is traditionally one of the heavy-duty\u00a0 Messiah\u00a0 <\/em>presentations\u00a0in Toronto. Perhaps it reflects my personal bias, top on my list is the one by the\u00a0Toronto Symphony Orchestra<\/strong>\u00a0at\u00a0Roy Thomson Hall<\/strong>, with a stellar quartet of soprano\u00a0Erin Wall<\/strong>, mezzo\u00a0Elizabeth DeShong<\/strong>, tenor\u00a0Andrew Staples\u00a0<\/strong>and bass-baritone\u00a0John Relyea<\/strong>. Three of the four are well known to Toronto opera audiences. Wall (Clemence in\u00a0L’amour de loin<\/em>; Antonia in\u00a0Les contes d’Hoffmann<\/em>) is a resident of the GTA, and she’ll sing the Contessa in\u00a0Le nozze di Figaro<\/em>\u00a0at the Canadian Opera Company next month. DeShong (Angelina in\u00a0La cenerentola<\/em>, Suzuki in\u00a0Madama Butterfly<\/em>, Hermia in\u00a0A Midsummer Night’s Dream<\/em>) sings Calbo in\u00a0Maometto secondo<\/em>\u00a0with the COC in May. John Relyea is, of course, the son of the great Canadian bass Gary Relyea. He was last heard at the COC in the title role of\u00a0Bluebeard’s Castle<\/em>\u00a0last May. Only British tenor Andrew Staples is new to Toronto audiences. Conductor Laureate\u00a0Sir Andrew Davis\u00a0<\/strong>returns to put his unique stamp on this Handel masterpiece. To my knowledge, this\u00a0Messiah<\/em>\u00a0is presented uncut, and it\u2019s not-to-be-missed. Five performances on Dec. 15, 16, 18, 19, 20. Joining them will be the Canadian national treasure, the\u00a0Toronto Mendelssohn Choir<\/strong>. Details<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Wednesday 16<\/h3>\n

TAFELMUSIK<\/span> |Handel’s\u00a0Messiah\u00a0<\/em>at Koerner Hall. 7:30 p.m. $43-106 (Repeats: Dec. 16-19)<\/p>\n

If you prefer your\u00a0<\/em>Messiah<\/em>\u00a0more intimate, the best choice is the one by\u00a0Tafelmusik\u00a0<\/strong>with\u00a0their equally fine yet contrasting vision. Many music lovers prefer the\u00a0Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra<\/strong>\u2019s version of\u00a0Messiah\u00a0<\/em>with its chamber orchestra on period instruments, the reduced choral forces of the\u00a0Tafelmusik Chamber Choir\u00a0<\/strong>and a quartet of soloists who are usually Baroque specialists. This gives their presentation a different flavour. This year the soloists are soprano\u00a0Joanne Lunn<\/strong>, mezzo\u00a0Mary Ellen Nesi<\/strong>, tenor\u00a0Rufus Muller<\/strong>\u00a0and baritone\u00a0Nathaniel Watson<\/strong>.\u00a0Ivars Taurins<\/strong>\u00a0is at the helm as usual. In years past, the Tafelmusik\u00a0Messiah<\/em>\u00a0was given at their traditional home of Trinity St. Paul Centre with its special ambience. But with the increasing demand for tickets in recent years, this show has now been relocated to the more comfortable and acoustically friendly\u00a0Koerner Hall.\u00a0<\/strong>Even though it’s bigger, the seating capacity is still less than half of the nearly 2,500 seats of Roy Thomson Hall. Details here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

AGAINST THE GRAIN THEATRE<\/span> |Messiah<\/em>\u00a0at the Harbourfront Centre Theatre. 8 p.m. $15-25 (Repeats: Dec. 17-19 \u2013 start times vary)<\/p>\n

For those with an affinity for the avant-garde<\/em>, an excellent choice is the re-imagining of\u00a0Messiah<\/em>\u00a0by the stage director\u00a0Joel Ivany<\/strong>\u00a0and his\u00a0Against the Grain Theatre<\/strong>. \u00a0This company is known for pushing the envelope, so to speak. Their cutting edge, semi-staged version two years ago at the Opera House, a small venue east of downtown Toronto was quite an experience. \u00a0I recall vividly that on the opening night, a snowstorm that hit was nearly as memorable as the performance itself! This time around, AtG is partnered with the Corporation of Roy Thomson Hall and Massey Hall in a run of four performances (Dec. 16, 17, 18 at 8 pm, and Dec. 19 at 2 pm) at the more accessible Harbourfront Centre Theatre.<\/strong>\u00a0 It is essentially a re-mount, but choreographer\u00a0Jennifer Nichols<\/strong>\u00a0has created new movements for the performance. Singers are soprano\u00a0Miriam Khalil<\/strong>, mezzo\u00a0Andrea Ludwig<\/strong>, tenor\u00a0Owen McCausland<\/strong>, and bass-baritone\u00a0Stephen Hegedus<\/strong>. There’s also an 18-member orchestra and a 16-member chorus, all under the direction of\u00a0Topher Mokrzewski<\/strong>. \u00a0Here’s a preview of the show<\/a>. More details here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

TORONTO CHORAL SOCIETY<\/span> | Bach: Christmas\u00a0Oratorio\u00a0<\/em>at Eastminster United Church. 7:30 p.m. $21<\/p>\n

For an alternative to\u00a0Messiah<\/em>, the\u00a0Toronto Choral Society<\/strong>\u00a0is presenting an equally beloved piece, Bach’s\u00a0Christmas Oratorio<\/em>\u00a0on Wednesday, Dec. 16th 7:30 pm at\u00a0Eastminster United Church\u00a0<\/strong>310 Danforth Avenue east of downtown Toronto. Conductor\u00a0Geoffrey Butler<\/strong>\u00a0leads soloists soprano\u00a0Anne Marie Ramos<\/strong>, mezzo\u00a0Jillian Yemen<\/strong>, baritone\u00a0Anthony Cleverton<\/strong>, organist\u00a0William O’Meara<\/strong>\u00a0and the\u00a0Talisker Players<\/strong>. Info here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Dmitri Levkovich <\/em><\/span>at\u00a0Heliconian Hall. 8 p.m. $20-40<\/p>\n

If you are looking for some non-Holiday programming, a very good choice is the recital by the fine Ukrainian Canadian pianist\/composer\u00a0Dmitri Levkovich<\/strong>. On the program are works by Chopin, Rachmaninoff, Liszt, Schubert, and Mozart. Performance at the\u00a0Heliconian Hall<\/strong>\u00a0in Yorkville on Wednesday, Dec. 16th 8 pm. You can find plenty of audio and video clips of Mr. Levkovicho on his website<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Saturday 19<\/h3>\n

TORONTO CHILDREN’S CHORUS<\/span> |A Chorus Christmas: Across the Universe<\/em>\u00a0<\/em>at Roy Thomson Hall 2\u00a0p.m. $35.50-45.50<\/p>\n

Toronto Children’s Chorus\u00a0<\/strong>under the direction of\u00a0Elise Bradley<\/strong>\u00a0is presenting\u00a0A Chorus Christmas: Across the Universe\u00a0<\/em>on Dec. 19th 2 pm at\u00a0Roy Thomson Hall<\/strong>. \u00a0The choral forces consist of the Toronto Children’s Chorus at 300 members, plus the 100-voice\u00a0Alumni Choir.<\/strong>\u00a0On the program is the world premiere of\u00a0Fantasia on Christmas Carols for Treble Voices and Baritone \u2013<\/em>\u00a0the baritone being none other than the great\u00a0Russell Braun<\/strong>! \u00a0Incidentally, there’s no mention of the composer’s name on the Toronto Children’s Chorus website<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Sunday 20<\/h3>\n

TAFELMUSIK<\/span> |\u00a0Sing-Along Messiah\u00a0<\/em>at Massey Hall. 7:30 p.m. $43-106 (Repeats: Dec. 16-19)<\/p>\n

An annual institution at this time is the\u00a0Sing-Along Messiah\u00a0<\/strong>for those keen to exercise their vocal cords. It’s the same soloists and orchestra and choir as the regular Tafelmusik Messiah, but you get to sing along! Here is a PDF<\/a> of the full program. \u00a0You can also find out more about the show from the modern-day Herr George Frideric, the alter-ego of Tafelmusik conductor\u00a0Ivars Taurins <\/strong>via Youtube<\/a>. I saw this once many moons ago, and I can say that it’s something that everyone should go to at least once in a lifetime. Joining 2,700 other souls in the Hallelujah Chorus is a thrilling experience. This show at the venerable old lady of concert venues,<\/p>\n

I saw this once many moons ago, and I can say that it’s something that everyone should go to at least once in a lifetime. Joining 2,700 other souls in the Hallelujah Chorus is a thrilling experience. This show at the venerable old lady of concert venues,\u00a0Massey Hall<\/strong>, sells out every year, so don’t be tardy and get your tickets as soon as possible. Details here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

#LUDWIGVAN<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Want more updates on Toronto-centric classical music news and review\u00a0before anyone else finds out? Get our exclusive newsletter\u00a0<\/em>here<\/a><\/span>\u00a0and follow us on\u00a0<\/em>Facebook<\/a><\/span>\u00a0or<\/em>\u00a0Twitter<\/a><\/span>\u00a0for all the latest.<\/em><\/p>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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