{"id":43635,"date":"2017-03-13T18:04:25","date_gmt":"2017-03-13T22:04:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/?p=43635"},"modified":"2017-03-14T20:31:32","modified_gmt":"2017-03-15T00:31:32","slug":"critics-picks-march-13-19","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/2017\/03\/13\/critics-picks-march-13-19\/","title":{"rendered":"CRITIC’S PICKS | 10 Classical Music Offerings To Consider This Week"},"content":{"rendered":"

For the week of March 13 \u2013 19<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"
Critic\u2019s Picks for classical music and opera events happening in and around Toronto for the week of Mar. 13 \u2013 19.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

This being the traditional Spring Break, musical activities in TO are somewhat lighter than usual, in anticipation of folks escaping to warmer climes. Given the predicted mammoth snowstorm to start on Monday, can\u2019t say I blame them.\u00a0 But for those choosing \u201cstaycation,\u201d \u00a0there are still plenty of musical events, including a few kids-friendly ones, such as National Ballet\u2019s Pinocchio<\/em> (Mar. 15, 18, 19<\/a>), and soprano Kyra Millan\u2019s Opera for All Ages<\/em> (Mar. 14<\/a>). \u00a0Both the University of Toronto and Royal Conservatory of Music opera programs are putting on their respective spring productions \u2013 La Cecchina<\/em> by Niccolo Piccinni at the Royal Conservatory of Music (Mar. 15, 17<\/a>), and Handel\u2019s Imeneo<\/em> at the U of T (Mar. 16-19<\/a>). York University Department of Music is presenting a World Music Festival<\/em> with many events, beginning Mar. 16<\/a>. Philharmonia Quartett Berlin plays a program of Haydn, Beethoven, and Schumann under the auspices of Music Toronto (Mar. 16<\/a>). Canzona Chamber Players\u2019 Duo Rideau (piano four hands) gives a recital of Mozart, Schubert, Grieg, Rachmaninoff and others (Mar. 13<\/a>). The dance troupe, Coleman Lemieux & Compagnie presents Love, Sex & Brahms <\/em>(Mar. 16 \u2013 19<\/a>). Tenor Andrew Haji and bass-baritone Jason Howard sing a program of English Songs at Mazzoleni Hall (Mar. 19<\/a>). Do consult the complete listings for more events.<\/p>\n

Monday 13<\/h3>\n

Canzona Chamber Players<\/span> | Duo Rideau. Music Gallery, 197 John St. 7:30 p.m. $25<\/p>\n

The piano four-hands duo known as Duo Rideau (pianists Amelie Langlois and Catherine Donkin) plays a program of Mozart, Schubert, Grieg, Rachmaninoff, Khachaturian, and Donkin. This is the one group I know with duo concerts, one in the city (Mar. 13), and one in the Toronto Islands (St. Andrew by the Lake), which had already taken place (Mar. 12). Info here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Tuesday 14<\/h3>\n

Teatro Proscenium Limited Partnership\/Garth Drabinsky<\/span> | Sousatzka. Elgin Theatre. 8 p.m. $60 – $175. (Repeats daily except Monday.)<\/p>\n

The musical adaptation of Madame Sousatzka<\/em>, based on the novel by Bernice Rubens, is currently in preview (started on Feb. 15). Opening night in Toronto is Mar. 23, and the show will move to Broadway afterward. Set in London, England in 1982, it\u2019s the story of a talented young boy torn between two powerful women \u2013 his mother, and Madame Sousatzka, his piano teacher, originally played by Shirley MacLaine in the 1988 movie. Full concert listing found here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Canadian Opera Company<\/span> | Vocal Series: Millan and Faye Present Opera for All Ages. Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre. 12 p.m. Free.<\/p>\n

Soprano Kyra Millan, pianist Christina Faye, baritone Bruno Roy and singers from the Canadian Children\u2019s Opera Company explore selections from various operas, plus a special focus on Mozart\u2019s The Magic Flute. <\/em>Be sure to show up an hour early for a seat.\u00a0Program details here: PDF<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Wednesday 15<\/h3>\n

Royal Conservatory of Music\/ Glenn Gould School<\/span> | La cecchina<\/em>. 7:30 p.m. Koerner Hall. $25 – $55. Repeats Mar. 17.<\/p>\n

The Glenn Gould School, the professional arm of RCM, presents its annual opera production this week. The work this year is the seldom-staged Baroque opera La cecchina<\/em> by Niccolo Piccinni, a rather conventional comic period piece, gratefully written for young voices. The cast is made up of current and former students of the GGS. Leslie Dala conducts. Details here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

National Ballet of Canada<\/span> | Pinocchio. Four Seasons Centre. 7:30 p.m. $39 – $265. Repeats Mar. 16, 17, 18, 19. Consult their website for details.<\/p>\n

This new production of Pinocchio, with music by Paul Englishby and libretto by Alasdair Middleton, opened on March 11 to mixed but generally positive receptions.\u00a0 Unlike the typical ballet where the story is told from movement, this production includes spoken text! As Michael Crabb in Toronto Star points out, it\u2019s also unusual that it lacks a romance in the story, and the dancing is mostly \u201ccharacter dancing.\u201d That said, it\u2019s still well worth attending. Full details found here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Thursday 16<\/h3>\n

York University Department of Music<\/span> | World Music Festival: Cuban Ensemble. 11 a.m. Tribute Communities Recital Hall, Accolade East Building, York University. Free.<\/p>\n

York University\u2019s World Music Festival is a cross-cultural celebration of musical traditions around the world, with ten concerts over a two day period (Mar. 16 & 17). \u00a0Go to their website<\/a> for details.<\/p>\n

University of Toronto Faculty of Music<\/span> | Handel: Imeneo<\/em>. MacMillan Theatre, Edward Johnson Building. 7:30 p.m. $40. Repeats Mar. 18, 18, 19.<\/p>\n

The U of T Faculty of Music opera division is presenting a Baroque rarity, Handel\u2019s Imeneo<\/em>, directed by Tim Albery. The creative team includes countertenor Daniel Taylor, designer Michelle Tracey, and lighting designer Jason Hand. There is an Opera Talk half an hour before\u00a0the performance<\/del>. Full details here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Music Toronto<\/span> | Philharmonia Quartett Berlin. Jane Mallett Theatre, St. Lawrence Centre. 8 p.m. $55.<\/p>\n

The 30-year old Philharmonia Quartett Berlin returns to Toronto for a program of Haydn, Beethoven, and Schumann. This is their 8th<\/sup> concert for Music Toronto. The soloists are violinists Daniel Stabrawa and Christian Stadelmann, violist Neithard Resa, and cellist Dietmar Schwalke. More info found here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Coleman Lemieux & Compagnie<\/span> | Love, Sex and Brahms<\/em>. Betty Oliphant Theatre, 404 Jarvis St. 8 p.m. $25. Gala opening night ticket $100. Repeats 17, 18, 19.<\/p>\n

The dance ensemble, Coleman Lemieux & Compagnie, winner of a Dora Mavor Moore Award in 2015, presents an expanded version of James Kudelka\u2019s work with the addition of five Brahms Intermezzi for solo piano featuring CLC dancers, including former Royal Winnipeg Ballet\u2019s Evelyn Hart. Pianist is Andrew Burashko.\u00a0 Introduction by James Kudelka at 7 p.m. \u00a0Info here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Sunday 19<\/h3>\n

Royal Conservatory of Music<\/span> | Songmasters: English Song Treasures. Mazzoleni Hall, Telus Centre, 273 Bloor St. W. 2 p.m. $25<\/p>\n

The RCM Songmasters series presents a recital with Canadian tenor Andrew Haji and Welsh bass-baritone -Toronto resident Jason Howard in a program of English songs. No program details available from the RCM website unfortunately. Haji just sang Tamino in the COC The Magic Flute<\/em> to critical acclaim, and he returns next season as Nemorino in L\u2019Elisir d\u2019amore<\/em>. This is a voice that\u2019s going places. I last heard Welsh baritone Jason Howard, an estimable Wotan, in a production of South Pacific<\/em> at the Four Seasons Centre. A fine singer that we don\u2019t get to hear often enough in Toronto. All the details here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

#LUDWIGVAN<\/i><\/b><\/h3>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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