{"id":36623,"date":"2016-05-02T11:44:02","date_gmt":"2016-05-02T15:44:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/?p=36623"},"modified":"2016-05-02T11:44:02","modified_gmt":"2016-05-02T15:44:02","slug":"critics-picks-eleven-shows-you-should-absolutely-see-this-week","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/2016\/05\/02\/critics-picks-eleven-shows-you-should-absolutely-see-this-week\/","title":{"rendered":"CRITIC’S PICKS | Eleven Shows You Should Absolutely See This Week"},"content":{"rendered":"

For the week of May 2\u20138<\/h3>\n
\"Critic's
Critic’s Picks for classical music and opera events in Toronto for the Week of MAY 2 to 8, 2016.<\/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><\/span>.<\/em><\/p>\n

Plenty of great music this coming week. I attended the opening night<\/a> of COC\u2019s Maometto II<\/em> last Friday \u2013 it\u2019s a beautiful production with terrific singing. Not to be missed!\u00a0 Meanwhile, Carmen<\/em> is still on, with two great casts.\u00a0 Also of note is Canadian violinist Leila Josefowicz playing the premiere of John Adams\u2019 Scheherezade 2<\/em> with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra. Also of interest are two brilliant young pianists: 2012 Honens Laureate Pavel Kolesnikov gives a recital with Women\u2019s Musical Club of Toronto, and 2009 Van Cliburn Gold Medalist Haochen Zhang at George Weston Recital Hall. Both absolute must-sees for the piano aficionado!<\/p>\n

Tuesday 3<\/h3>\n

COC<\/span>\u00a0| Vocal Series: Georgian Romance<\/em> at The Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre, Four Seasons Centre. 12 Noon. Free!<\/p>\n

Georgian mezzo Anita Rachvelishvili, currently in town to sing Carmen, is giving a noon hour recital, Georgian Romance<\/em>, at RBA. She sings songs by Rachmaninoff, de Falla, Ravel, Faure, and Taktakishvili. David Aladashvili is the pianist. Show up early for a seat. Info, here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

COC<\/span>\u00a0| Rossini’s,\u00a0Maometto II<\/span><\/i>\u00a0at The Four Seasons Centre. 7:30 p.m. $50\u2013355. (Repeats through May 14. Start times vary)<\/p>\n

Maometto II<\/em>, with a fabulous cast led by Luca Pisaroni in the title role. It also stars Leah Crocetto (Anna), Elizabeth DeShong (Calbo), and Bruce Sledge (Erisso). Harry Bicket conducts. David Alden directs. Also May 5 and 7. Full details found, here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

TALISKER PLAYERS<\/span>\u00a0|\u00a0Cross\u2019d by the Stars\u00a0<\/em>at Trinity St. Paul\u2019s Centre. 8:00 p.m. $10\u201340. (Repeats May 4)<\/p>\n

Talisker Players is known for its interesting and intelligent theme-based programming. This time around, it\u2019s Cross\u2019d by the Stars,<\/em> an exploration of star-cross lovers in music and literature. Soloists are mezzo Krisztina Szabo and baritone Aaron Durand. Stewart Arnott is the actor\/reader.\u00a0 On the program are music by Purcell, Gluck, Mahler, Bernstein, and Canada\u2019s own Dean Burry, plus readings.\u00a0 Also May 4. See here<\/a>, for more info.<\/p>\n

Wednesday 4<\/h3>\n

COC<\/span>\u00a0|\u00a0Georges Bizet\u2019s Carmen<\/em> at The Four Seasons Centre. 7:30 p.m. $50\u2013435 (Repeats through May 15. Start times vary)<\/p>\n

The run of Carmen<\/em> continues with two of the greatest Carmens in front of the public today \u2014 mezzos Anita Rachvelishvili and Clementine Margaine. Also May 6 and 8. Details, here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

TSO<\/span>\u00a0| Brahms Symphony No. 4<\/em> at Roy Thomson Hall. 8:00 p.m. $33.75\u2013148 (Repeats May 5)<\/p>\n

The Toronto Symphony Orchestra plays Brahms Symphony No. 4 and the Egmont Overture, under the baton of its Music Director, Peter Oundjian. Canadian violinist Leila Josefowica is the soloist in John Adams\u2019 Scheherazade 2, a Canadian premiere. Also on May 5. \u00a0Info found right, here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Thursday 5<\/h3>\n

ADAM SHERKIN<\/span>\u00a0|\u00a0Write Off the Keyboard<\/em> at Lower Bluma Appel Lobby in the St. Lawrence Centre. 12 Noon. Free!<\/p>\n

Canadian pianist\/composer Adam Sherkin continues with his Write Off the Keyboard<\/em> Noon Hour series at the Lower Bluma Appel Lobby in the St. Lawrence Centre. This is the last concert of the season. Sherkin plays Liszt\u2019s Transcendental Etudes No. 8<\/em> and his Grand Paganini Etudes Nos. 4 and 6<\/em>, plus two of his own compositions. Details, here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

COC<\/span>\u00a0| Vocal Series:\u00a0A Celebration of Canadian Art Song<\/em> at The Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre, Four Seasons Centre. 12 Noon. Free!<\/p>\n

The Canadian Art Song Project presents A Celebration of Canadian Art Song<\/em>, with former COC Ensemble soprano Ambur Braid and pianist Steven Philcox. Fresh from singing Queen of the Night at the English National Opera and Calgary Opera, Braid is singing works by John Beckwith and Sylvia Richard, and a new cycle by Erik Ross, The Living Spectacle. Full details found, here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

WMCT<\/span> | Pavel Kolesnikov at Walter Hall. 1:30 p.m. $45<\/p>\n

The brilliant young Russian pianist, 2012 Honens Laureate Pavel Kolesnikov is in town to give a recital of works by CPE Bach, Beethoven, Chopin and Debussy.\u00a0 This guy is the real deal!\u00a0 His Honens performance on YouTube<\/a>. \u00a0Concert details, here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Friday 6<\/h3>\n

TORONTO CONSORT<\/span> | Monteverdi Vespers at Trinity St. Paul\u2019s Centre. 8:00 p.m. $10\u201358 (Repeats through May 8. Start times vary)<\/p>\n

Toronto Consort, Toronto\u2019s premiere early music ensemble, is presenting Monteverdi Vespers, its final concert of the season.\u00a0 Guest soloist is British tenor Charles Daniels and Montreal\u2019s cornetto and sackbut ensemble La Rose des Vents. You’ll find all the details, here.<\/a><\/p>\n

Saturday 7<\/h3>\n

SHOW ONE PRODUCTIONS<\/span>\u00a0| Mischa Maisky\u00a0at Koerner Hall. 4:00 p.m. $35\u201385<\/span><\/p>\n

The Latvian-born Israeli cellist is in town to play all six of Bach\u2019s Cello Suites in two concerts on the same day.\u00a0 In the afternoon, he plays Suites No. 1, 4, and 5. In the evening, it\u2019s No. 2, 3, and 6.\u00a0 The RCM is selling tickets to one or both concerts, or tickets with a dinner package after the first concert! Info, here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Sunday 8<\/h3>\n

THE LI DELUN MUSIC FOUNDATION<\/span> | Haochen Zhang\u00a0at George Weston Recital Hall, Toronto Centre for the Arts 3:00 p.m. $30\u201360<\/span><\/p>\n

The terrific young Chinese pianist, Haochen Zhang, is in town to give a piano recital, under the auspices of the Li DeLun Music Foundation. He\u2019s playing Chopin\u2019s Mazurkas and Piano Sonata No. 2 in B flat minor, Op. 35, as well as Schubert\u2019s Four Impromptus D.935 and the Prokofiev Piano Sonata No. 7 in B flat major, Op. 83. \u00a0Go to Mr. Zhang\u2019s website<\/a> for a generous selection of his live performance videos. Full details, here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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

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Critic’s Picks for classical music and opera events in Toronto for the Week of May 2 \u2013 8, 2016.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":22,"featured_media":36648,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[5723,3895],"tags":[5876,5913],"yst_prominent_words":[],"acf":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2016\/05\/CP-COVER-MAY2-8.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p9bakr-9wH","amp_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/36623"}],"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\/22"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=36623"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/36623\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":36649,"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/36623\/revisions\/36649"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/36648"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=36623"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=36623"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=36623"},{"taxonomy":"yst_prominent_words","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/yst_prominent_words?post=36623"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}