{"id":37023,"date":"2016-05-30T10:08:39","date_gmt":"2016-05-30T14:08:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/?p=37023"},"modified":"2016-05-31T17:16:27","modified_gmt":"2016-05-31T21:16:27","slug":"critics-picks-seven-amazing-shows-to-see-this-week","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/2016\/05\/30\/critics-picks-seven-amazing-shows-to-see-this-week\/","title":{"rendered":"CRITIC’S PICKS | Nine Amazing Shows To See This Week (Updated)"},"content":{"rendered":"

For the week of May 30 to June 5<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Critic\u2019s
Critic\u2019s Picks for classical music and opera events in Toronto for the Week of May 30 to June 5.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

[Updated, May 31, 5:15 p.m.]<\/p>\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>.<\/em><\/p>\n

Now we are at the end of May and into June, the season when classical music programming winds down for the most part, with a few exceptions. Lest you feel deprived, it\u2019s comforting to know the Toronto Symphony Orchestra has nearly a full month to go. Top on my list this week are two TSO offerings. One has the brilliant Basque conductor Juanjo Mena returning for Ravel\u2019s Daphnis et Chlo<\/em>\u00e9<\/em>. I still remember two years ago when Mena conducted the Beethoven 6th<\/sup> from memory. The other is an all-American program, with several very popular pieces by Copland and Gershwin, conducted by American Andrew Grams, a maestro I\u2019ve not heard before. The venerable Amadeus Choir, in its 40th<\/sup> season, is presenting the lovely Serenade to Music<\/em> by Ralph Vaughan Williams. If you are interested in something a little different, there\u2019s vocalist Tamara Gverdtsiteli, called the \u201cRussian Piaf\u201d by the New York Times, in concert of Yiddish, Russian, Georgian, and Italian songs, with the Moscow Male Jewish Capella.<\/p>\n

Monday 30<\/h3>\n

WESTWOOD CONCERTS<\/span>\u00a0|\u00a0Ashes of Soldiers<\/em> at the Church of the Holy Trinity. 12:15 p.m. PWYC. (Repeats May 31 at Gallery 345)<\/p>\n

Composer and journalist Colin Eatock\u2019s composition, Ashes of Soldiers<\/em>, will be performed by soprano Kripa Nageshwar, clarinettist Michael Westwood and pianist Chad Heltzel. Also on the program are works by Mahler and Vaughan Williams. This show is repeated on Tuesday, May 31, 7:30 p.m. at Gallery 345, Sorauren Avenue. $30\/$20 (adv.) Details, here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

BRAVO NIAGARA!<\/span> | James Ehnes & Andrew Armstrong at\u00a0St. Mark\u2019s Anglican Church, Niagara-On-The-Lake. 7 p.m.\u00a0$32.25\u2013106.10<\/p>\n

Violinist James Ehnes is currently on his 40th<\/sup> birthday national tour with pianist Andrew Armstrong. This recital takes place a day after their appearance at Koerner Hall, as part of RCM\u2019s 21C New Music Festival. \u00a0On the program are works by Handel, Beethoven, and a new piece by composer-conductor Bramwell Tovey. I am in the process of interviewing Ehnes for an article, in conjunction with his return to the TSO on June 9-11 to play the Elgar Violin Concerto. Concert details, here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Tuesday 31<\/h3>\n

TAPESTRY OPERA<\/span> |\u00a0Rocking Horse Winner at the Berkeley Street Theatre. 8 p.m.\u00a0$27\u2013112. (Repeats through June 4).<\/p>\n

Tapestry Opera\u2019s Rocking Horse Winner<\/em> continues this week, with music by Gareth Williams and libretto by Anna Chatterton, based on a short story by D.H. Lawrence. Soloists are Carla Huhtanen, Keith Klassen, Peter McGillivray, and Asitha Tennekoon. Jordan de Souza conducts and Michael Mori directs. Repeats on June 2, 3, and 4. Details, here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Wednesday 1<\/h3>\n

TSO\u00a0<\/span>|\u00a0Ravel\u2019s Daphnis et Chlo<\/em>\u00e9<\/em> at Roy Thomson Hall. 8 p.m. $33.75\u2013148 (Repeats June 2)<\/p>\n

Toronto Symphony Orchestra presents Ravel\u2019s Daphnis et Chlo<\/em>\u00e9 <\/em>with Basque conductor Juanjo Mena on the podium, paired with the Nielsen Violin Concerto<\/em> with soloist Pekka Kuusisto, and Intermezzo from Goyescas<\/em> by Granados. This program is repeated on June 2. Details, here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Friday 3<\/h3>\n

SHOW ONE PRODUCTIONS<\/span> | Tamara Gverdtsiteli at\u00a0Roy Thomson Hall. 8 p.m.\u00a0$55\u2013150<\/p>\n

Vocalist Tamara Gverdtsiteli, called the \u201cRussian Piaf\u201d by the New York Times, returns to Toronto in Mamele (The Mother\u2019s Eyes)<\/em>, a concert of Yiddish, Georgian, Russian, French and Italian songs, with the Moscow Male Jewish Cappella. If you are unfamiliar with the charismatic singer, you can get a taste at her Moscow concert available on Youtube<\/a>. For more details of her RTH concert, see here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

JEWISH MUSIC WEEK<\/span> |\u00a0Adam Sherkin at the Music Gallery 12 p.m. Free!<\/p>\n

Adam Sherkin plays piano music of Aaron Copland. Free Admission but ticket required. This goes well with the TSO All-American program! Details, here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Saturday 4<\/h3>\n

ORIANA WOMEN’S CHOIR<\/span> \u00a0|\u00a0East Meets West \u2013 Autorickshaw<\/em> at Grace Church on-the-Hill. 8 p.m. $10\u201325<\/p>\n

Oriana Women\u2019s Choir, under the direction of Mitchell Pady, presents East Meets West \u2013 Autorickshaw<\/em>. It\u2019s a Toronto-based east-west fusion trio featuring vocalist Suba Sankaran, tabla player Ed Hanley, and multi-instrumentalist Dylan Bell. For more information, see here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

TSO<\/span> | An American in Paris at\u00a0Roy Thomson Hall. 7:30 p.m. $33.75\u2013148 (Repeats June 5, 3 p.m.)<\/p>\n

An All-American program of works by Aaron Copland and George Gershwin, with a short but scintillating piece by John Adams thrown into the mix. American conductor Andrew Grams leads the TS forces, and Orion Weiss is the pianist.\u00a0 Repeats on June 5, 3 p.m. Details, here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Sunday 5<\/h3>\n

AMADEUS CHOIR<\/span> \u00a0|\u00a0Serenade To Music<\/em>\u00a0at George\u2019s United Church 7 p.m. $25\u201340<\/p>\n

Amadeus Choir celebrates its 40th<\/sup> year by bringing its season to a close with Serenade To Music<\/em>, one of Vaughan Williams\u2019 most inspired works. I haven\u2019t managed to find the names of the fifteen soloists, but I imagine they\u2019ll be regular members of the Amadeus Choir. Also on the program are works by Schubert, Britten, Howells, Gibbons and others, all gems of the choral repertoire. Here\u2019s one of my favourite versions of Serenade to Music<\/em>, conducted by Sir Adrian Boult, available on Youtube<\/a>. \u00a0Listing details, here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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