{"id":45072,"date":"2017-05-08T11:32:49","date_gmt":"2017-05-08T15:32:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/?p=45072"},"modified":"2017-05-09T14:40:16","modified_gmt":"2017-05-09T18:40:16","slug":"critics-picks-11-classical-music-shows-you-should-absolutely-see-this-week","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/2017\/05\/08\/critics-picks-11-classical-music-shows-you-should-absolutely-see-this-week\/","title":{"rendered":"CRITIC&#8217;S PICKS | 11 Classical Music Shows You Should Absolutely See This Week"},"content":{"rendered":"<h3><strong>For the week of May 8\u201314<\/strong><\/h3>\n<figure id=\"attachment_45076\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-45076\" style=\"width: 1024px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-45076\" src=\"http:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2017\/05\/CP-MAY8-14-2017.jpg\" alt=\"Classical music and opera events happening in and around Toronto for the week of May 8 to 14.\" width=\"1024\" height=\"679\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2017\/05\/CP-MAY8-14-2017.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2017\/05\/CP-MAY8-14-2017-300x199.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2017\/05\/CP-MAY8-14-2017-768x509.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-45076\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Classical music and opera events happening in and around Toronto for the week of May 8 to 14.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><b>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: <\/b><span style=\"color: #ff0000\"><a style=\"color: #ff0000\" href=\"http:\/\/www.musicaltoronto.org\/datebook\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><u><b>Musical Toronto Datebook<\/b><\/u><\/a><\/span><b>.<\/b><\/p>\n<h3>Monday 8<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"color: #ff0000\">Elmer Iseler Singers<\/span> | Get Music! Gala Concert.\u00a0 7:30 p.m. Metropolitan United Church, 56 Queen Street East. $25-$55<\/p>\n<p>Conductor Lydia Adams and the Elmer Iseler Singers present Get Music!, a gala grand finale and performance of works by Canadian and International composers. Joining them are guest conductors from participating secondary schools with their choirs, in this Educational Outreach Initiative in memory of John C. Bird. <a href=\"http:\/\/www.musicaltoronto.org\/datebook\/elmer-iseler-singers-get-music-gala-concert\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Full details found here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h3>Tuesday 9<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"color: #ff0000\">Canadian Opera Company<\/span> | Vocal Series: Women on the Edge. Noon. Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre. Free.<\/p>\n<p>The fine Canadian mezzo Allyson McHardy, currently appearing in <em>Louis Riel<\/em>, sings Schumann\u2019s <em>Po<\/em><em>\u00e8mes de la reine Marie d\u2019Ecosse<\/em>, and Zemlinsky\u2019s <em>Six Songs after Poems by Maeterlinck<\/em>. Rachel Andrist is the pianist. Be sure to show up an hour early for a seat. <a href=\"http:\/\/files.coc.ca\/pdfs\/concert170509.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Here\u2019s the full program (PDF)<\/a>. \u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.musicaltoronto.org\/datebook\/canadian-opera-company-vocal-series-women-on-the-edge\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Listing info here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #ff0000\">Canadian Opera Company<\/span> | Tosca. Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts. 7:30 p.m. $35-$235. Repeats May 11, 12, 14. Check website for start times.<\/p>\n<p>Puccini\u2019s <em>Tosca<\/em>, a perennial favourite, is the last production of the COC season. Paul Curran directs a traditional take on this verismo gem. Adrianne Pieczonka sings Tosca, Marcelo Puente is Cavaradossi, and Markus Marquardt is Scarpia. (Performances on May 11 and 14 star the alternate cast of Keri Alkema, Kamen Chanev, and Craig Colclough) Keri-Lynn Wilson conducts. <a href=\"http:\/\/www.musicaltoronto.org\/datebook\/canadian-opera-company-tosca\/2017-05-09\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Be sure to check the listing for all the details<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h3>Wednesday 10<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"color: #ff0000\">Canadian Opera Company<\/span> | Vocal Series: Transformations. Noon. Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre. Free.<\/p>\n<p>Now that we\u2019re near the end of the opera season, a few of the COC Ensemble Studio artists are presenting their recital programs as part of the noon hour series. Tenor Aaron Sheppard sings Finzi\u2019s <em>A Young Man\u2019s Exhortation<\/em>, based on text by Thomas Hardy, with pianist St\u00e9phane Mayer. Mezzo Megan Quick offers Robert Fleming\u2019s <em>The Confession Stone<\/em>, a cycle closely associated with contralto Maureen Forrester. Soprano Samantha Pickett sings Samuel Barber\u2019s <em>Hermit Songs<\/em>. Ensemble pianist Hyejin Kown is at the piano for both. <a href=\"http:\/\/files.coc.ca\/pdfs\/concert170510.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Here\u2019s the complete program<\/a>. Be sure to show up an hour early for a seat.<\/p>\n<h3>Thursday 11<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"color: #ff0000\">Canadian Opera Company<\/span> | Vocal Series: Bach Cantatas. Noon. Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre. Free.<\/p>\n<p>COC Ensemble Studio mezzo Lauren Eberwein sings two Bach Cantatas,<em>Ich habe genug, BWV 82<\/em>, and <em>Vergn<\/em><em>\u00fcgte Ruh, beliebte Seelenlust, BWV 170<\/em>, with chamber accompaniment by members of the COC Orchestra. Hyejin Kwon is the organist. <a href=\"http:\/\/www.musicaltoronto.org\/datebook\/canadian-opera-company-vocal-series-bach-cantatas\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Listing here<\/a>.\u00a0Be sure to show up an hour early for a seat.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #ff0000\">Show One Productions\/Sony Centre for the Performing Arts<\/span> | Eifman Ballet \u2013 Red Giselle. Sony Centre for the Performing Arts. 8 p.m. $55-$145. Repeats May 12 and 13. Check website for start times.<\/p>\n<p>Following the huge success of <em>Trio Magnifico<\/em>, Show One is bringing the Eifman Ballet of St. Petersburg to Toronto for performances of the <em>Red Giselle<\/em>. It tells the story of famous ballerina Olga Spessivtseva. The work draws parallels to the classic ballet <em>Giselle<\/em>, with a provocative twist. <a href=\"http:\/\/www.musicaltoronto.org\/datebook\/show-one-productions-eifman-ballet-red-giselle\/2017-05-11\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Details here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #ff0000\">Art of Time Ensemble<\/span> | Doghouse Roses. 8 p.m. Harbourfront Centre Theatre. $15-$64 Repeats May 12, 13.<\/p>\n<p>An evening of the words and music of Steve Earle, a folk artist for contemporary America. Singers Andy Maize, Susie Ungerlieder, Tom Wilson, and Gregory Hoskins will perform Earle\u2019s music, and Michael Ondaatje and Rick Roberts will read his words. <a href=\"http:\/\/www.musicaltoronto.org\/datebook\/art-of-time-ensemble-doghouse-roses\/2017-05-11\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Full listing here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h3>Friday 12<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"color: #ff0000\">Toronto Consort<\/span> | Helen of Troy by Cavalli. Trinity St. Paul\u2019s Centre. 8 p.m. $27-$67.<\/p>\n<p>A concert performance of <em>Helen of Troy<\/em>, a comic opera by Francesco Cavalli, with Kevin Skelton (Menelaus), Michele DeBoer (Helen), and Laura Pudwell (Hippolyta). <a href=\"http:\/\/www.musicaltoronto.org\/datebook\/toronto-consort-helen-of-troy-by-cavalli\/2017-05-12\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Full details found here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Saturday 13<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #ff0000\">Met Live in HD<\/span> | Der Rosenkavalier. At select Cineplex locations. 12:55 p.m. $28 Encores on June 17, 19, 21.\u00a0 Check website for times and locations.<\/p>\n<p>The final presentation of the 2016-17 Met Live in HD season is a biggie. Not just because it\u2019s a new production of <em>Der Rosenkavalier<\/em> directed by Canadian Robert Carsen, it marks the final performance of beloved American soprano Ren\u00e9e Fleming as the Marschallin. \u00a0The rest of the cast includes Latvian mezzo Elina Garanca (Octavian), Erin Morley (Sophie) and Gunther Groissb\u00f6ck (Ochs). German maestro Sebastian Weigle is at the helm. Not to be missed! <a href=\"http:\/\/www.cineplex.com\/Events\/MetOpera\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Info here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #ff0000\">Canadian Opera Company<\/span> | Louis Riel. 7:30 p.m. Four Seasons Centre. $35-$235.<\/p>\n<p>We\u2019ve come to the last performance of the run of Harry Somers\u2019 <em>Louis Riel<\/em>, brilliantly re-imagined by stage director Peter Hinton. It received uniformly fine reviews. After it closes, the production moves on to Ottawa and Quebec City. Russell Braun is stunning in the title role. Johannes Debus conducts. Highly recommended. <a href=\"http:\/\/www.musicaltoronto.org\/datebook\/coc-louis-riel\/2017-05-13\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">More details found here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h3>Sunday 14<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"color: #ff0000\">Orpheus Choir of Toronto<\/span> | Identities: Glorious and Free. 3:30 p.m. Koerner Hall. $45-$75.<\/p>\n<p>Orpheus Choir pays a musical tribute to Canada with this concert, including the Ontario premiere of Larysa Kuzmenko\u2019s <em>The Golden Harvest<\/em>. It commemorates the 125<span style=\"font-size: 13.3333px\">th\u2013<\/span>anniversary of Ukrainian immigration to Canada.\u00a0 Soloists are soprano Andriana Chuchman and baritone James Westman, joined by the Vesnivka Choir, the Toronto Ukrainian Male Chamber Choir, the Orpheus Choir and the Orpheus Concert Orchestra under the direction of Robert Cooper. <a href=\"http:\/\/www.musicaltoronto.org\/datebook\/orpheus-choir-of-toronto-identities-glorious-and-free-2\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Listing info here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h3><b>For more events, visit our <\/b><span style=\"color: #ff0000\"><a style=\"color: #ff0000\" href=\"http:\/\/www.musicaltoronto.org\/datebook\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><u><b>DATEBOOK\u00a0CALENDAR<\/b><\/u><\/a><\/span><b>.<br \/>\n<\/b><\/h3>\n<h3><b><i>#LUDWIGVAN<\/i><\/b><\/h3>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Classical music and opera events happening in and around Toronto for the week of May 8 to 14.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":22,"featured_media":45076,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[6439,3895,63],"tags":[],"yst_prominent_words":[],"acf":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2017\/05\/CP-MAY8-14-2017.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p9bakr-bIY","amp_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/45072"}],"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=45072"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/45072\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":45149,"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/45072\/revisions\/45149"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/45076"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=45072"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=45072"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=45072"},{"taxonomy":"yst_prominent_words","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/yst_prominent_words?post=45072"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}