{"id":40390,"date":"2016-12-05T19:06:32","date_gmt":"2016-12-06T00:06:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/?p=40390"},"modified":"2016-12-07T18:51:20","modified_gmt":"2016-12-07T23:51:20","slug":"critics-picks-dec-5-11","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/2016\/12\/05\/critics-picks-dec-5-11\/","title":{"rendered":"CRITIC’S PICKS | Twelve Classical Music Shows You Should Absolutely See This Week"},"content":{"rendered":"

For the week of Dec. 5 \u2013 11<\/h3>\n
\"Critic\u2019s
Critic\u2019s Picks for classical music events in Toronto for the week of Dec. 5 \u2013 11.<\/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. 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 curated concert listings here: Musical Toronto Datebook<\/a><\/span>.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The big news on the symphonic front this week is the return of Orchestre symphonique de Montreal and Kent Nagano to Roy Thomson Hall on Dec. 8<\/a><\/span>, in a program of Beethoven, Dutilleux, and Ravel. Also noteworthy is the Toronto Symphony Orchestra in an All-Tchaikovsky program with guest conductor John Storg\u00e5rds (Dec. 7<\/a>).\u00a0 The ever-adventurous Soundstreams is presenting Electric Messiah<\/em>, a funky deconstruction of the Handel masterpiece (Dec. 5\u20137<\/a>).\u00a0\u00a0 Tafelmusik explores a musical East Meets West in Tales of Two Cities: The Leipzig-Damascus Coffee House,<\/em> in the gorgeous Aga Khan Museum (Dec. 9<\/a>). Tons of Christmas programming \u2014 among them Toronto Mendelssohn Choir (Dec. 7<\/a>), Toronto Symphony (Dec. 9<\/a>), Toronto Consort (Dec. 9<\/a>), Pax Christi Chorale (Dec. 10<\/a>), and King\u2019s Singers (Dec. 11<\/a>). No Christmas season is complete without The Nutcracker<\/em> from the National Ballet (Dec. 10<\/a>). Canadian pianist Charles Richard-Hamelin plays Mozart Piano Concerto with Sinfonia Toronto (Dec. 9<\/a>). Finally, Met Live in HD is presenting Kaija Saariaho\u2019s L\u2019amour de loin<\/em>, the first opera by a woman composer at the Met in a century! Canadian content supplied by stage director Robert Lepage (Dec. 10<\/a>).\u00a0 Lots more than what\u2019s included here, be sure to browse the full Datebook<\/a><\/strong> listings.<\/p>\n

Monday 5<\/h3>\n

Soundstreams<\/span> |\u00a0Electric Messiah <\/em>at The\u00a0Drake Hotel. 8 p.m. $15\u201320 (Repeats Dec. 6\u20137)<\/p>\n

Soundstreams brings back Electric Messiah<\/em> \u2013 a stripped down, surround sound electro-improv version of Handel’s Messiah<\/em>. Gabriel Dharmoo, Christine Duncan, Jeremy Dutcher and Carla Huhtanen are the soloists accompanied by guitar and electronics. Info, here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Wednesday 7<\/h3>\n

Toronto Mendelssohn Choir<\/span> |\u00a0Festival of Carols <\/em>at\u00a0Yorkminster Park Baptist Church 7:30 p.m.\u00a0$35\u201376<\/p>\n

Toronto Mendelssohn Choir presents Festival of Carols, <\/em>joined by the Elora Singers and Canadian Staff Band, in a program of the best-loved carols plus works by Poulenc, Vaughan Williams, and others. David Briggs, organ; Noel Edison, conductor. Details, here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

TSO<\/span> |\u00a0All Tchaikovsky<\/em> at\u00a0Roy Thomson Hall. 8 p.m.\u00a0$39.75\u2013154<\/p>\n

Toronto Symphony Orchestra in an All-Tchaikovsky program, including the perennial favourite Piano Concerto No.1<\/em> with pianist Lukas Geniu\u0161as, paired with Symphony No. 5<\/em>. John Storg\u00e5rds conducts. Info, here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Thursday 8<\/h3>\n

TSO<\/span> |\u00a0Orchestre symphonique de Montr\u00e9al<\/em> at\u00a0Roy Thomson Hall. 8 p.m.\u00a0$39.75\u2013154<\/p>\n

Toronto Symphony Orchestra presents Orchestre symphonique de Montr\u00e9al and its music director Kent Nagano in a program of Beethoven, Dutilleux, and Ravel. Pianist Till Fellner plays Beethoven Piano Concerto No. 4.<\/em>\u00a0Full details, here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Friday 9<\/h3>\n

Tafelmusik<\/span> |\u00a0Tales of Two Cities: The Leipzig-Damascus Coffee House<\/em> at the\u00a0Aga Khan Museum. 3:30 p.m. $25<\/p>\n

Tafelmusik presents Tales of Two Cities: The Leipzig-Damascus Coffee House, a multimedia creation from Alison Mackay. Jeanne Lamon, director; Alon Nashman, narration, and the Trio Arabica. The performance will be recorded for an upcoming Tafelmusik Media CD and DVD release. Concert already announced as Sold Out! Full details found, here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

TSO<\/span> | The Twelve Days of Christmas<\/em> at\u00a0Roy Thomson Hall. 7 p.m.\u00a0$26\u201375 (Repeats Dec. 11)<\/p>\n

Toronto Symphony Orchestra presents The Twelve Days of Christmas, a kids-friendly, family program, featuring the Highland Creek Pipe Band, Resonance Youth Choir, and Tha Spot Holiday Dancers, under the baton of RBC Resident Conductor Earl Lee. Details, here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Toronto Consort<\/span> |\u00a0A Medieval Christmas<\/em> at\u00a0Trinity St. Paul\u2019s Centre. 8 p.m.\u00a0$27\u201367 (Repeats Dec 10 and 11 (3:30 p.m.)<\/p>\n

Toronto Consort presents A Medieval Christmas<\/em>, featuring works by Hildegard of Bingen, Anna of Cologne and others. More info, here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Sinfonia Toronto<\/span> |\u00a0Transfigured Night <\/em>(with pianist Charles Richard-Hamelin<\/em>) at the\u00a0Glenn Gould Studio. 8 p.m.\u00a0$42<\/p>\n

Sinfonia Toronto presents Transfigured Night<\/em>. Chopin International Piano Competition Laureate Charles Richard-Hamelin plays Mozart Piano Concerto No. 23<\/em>, conducted by Nurhan Arman. Also on the program are works by Hindemith and Schoenberg. Details, here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Saturday 10<\/h3>\n

National Ballet of Canada<\/span> |\u00a0The Nutcracker<\/em> at the\u00a0Four Seasons Centre. 2 p.m. $39\u2013175 (Repeats through Dec 29)<\/p>\n

National Ballet of Canada presents The Nutcracker<\/em> with the fabulous Tchaikovsky score and choreography by James Kudelka. Repeats More info, here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Pax Christi Chorale<\/span> |\u00a0Ode on the Nativity at the Grace Church on-the-Hill. 7:30 p.m. $45 (Repeats Dec. 11 at 3 p.m.)<\/p>\n

Pax Christi Chorale presents Ode on the Nativity. The program includes works by Parry, Palestrina, Holst, P\u00e4rt and Poulenc, plus two new commissions by Matthew Emery. Shannon Mercer, soprano; Aslan Boys Choir. Details, here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Met Live in HD<\/span> |\u00a0L\u2019amour de loin <\/em>at participating Cineplex Cinemas. 12:50 p.m. $28<\/p>\n

Met Live in HD presents L\u2019amour de loin<\/em> by Kaija Sariaaho, with soprano Susanna Phillips and bass Eric Owens, conducted by Susanna M\u00e4lkki. Tickets, here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Sunday 11<\/h3>\n

RCM<\/span> | The King Singers at Koerner Hall. 3 p.m. $40<\/p>\n

The Royal Conservatory presents The King’s Singers @ Christmas.<\/em> On the program are works by Tchaikovsky, Lawson, and P\u00e4rt plus traditional seasonal songs. More info, here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

#LUDWIGVAN<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n

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