{"id":50969,"date":"2018-02-12T08:29:30","date_gmt":"2018-02-12T13:29:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/?p=50969"},"modified":"2018-02-12T19:14:58","modified_gmt":"2018-02-13T00:14:58","slug":"critics-picks-ten-concerts-absolutely-see-week-feb-12-18","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/2018\/02\/12\/critics-picks-ten-concerts-absolutely-see-week-feb-12-18\/","title":{"rendered":"CRITIC’S PICKS | Ten Concerts You Should Absolutely See This Week (Feb. 12 \u2013 18)"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Classical
Classical music and opera events happening in and around Toronto for the week of February 12 \u2013 18.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Ludwig van 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\u00a0here<\/a><\/span>.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Tuesday 13<\/span><\/h3>\n

Canadian Opera Company<\/strong> | The Abduction from the Seraglio. 7:30 p.m. Four Seasons Centre. $35-$350. Repeats Feb. 16, 18, 22, 24. Check website for start times.<\/p>\n

In his interesting, if controversial re-thinking of the Mozart comic opera<\/a>, stage director Wajdi Mouawad has reframed the story as a flashback, by adding an opening scene with copious extra spoken dialogue, while the music and the basic outcome of the story stay the same. It\u2019s generating divided opinions, but to me it\u2019s a thoughtful and non-gratuitous attempt to bring this problematic story to the 21st<\/sup> century. Great singing on opening night from all the principals, particularly Jane Archibald (Konstanze) and Mauro Peter (Belmonte). Johannes Debus leads the COC Orchestra. | Listing<\/a><\/p>\n

Wednesday 14<\/span><\/h3>\n

Canadian Opera Company<\/strong> | Vocal Series: The Truth About Love. 12 p.m. Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre, Four Seasons Centre. Free. Be sure to show up early for a seat.<\/p>\n

Canadian coloratura soprano Claire de S\u00e9vign\u00e9, currently the excellent Blondchen in Abduction from the Seraglio<\/em> gives a Valentine concert of love songs, in an interesting and intricate program melding text (read by Huw Montague Rendall) and music (songs by Faure, Debussy, Wolf, Liszt, Schumann, Strauss, Schubert, Poulenc, Weill, Previn, Copland and Bridge). | Details<\/a><\/p>\n

Royal Conservatory of Music<\/strong> | Vocal Concert: Ian Bostridge and Julius Drake. 8 p.m. Koerner Hall. $40-$95.\u00a0 Pre-concert talk at 7 p.m. by Rick Phillips.<\/p>\n

A consummate recitalist who combines a beautiful voice with musical intelligence, British tenor Ian Bostridge makes a welcome return to Toronto and Koerner Hall for an All-Schubert Valentine\u2019s Day recital. He\u2019s partnered by renowned pianist Julius Drake in a program of Schubert songs from different cycles. Unfortunately, the notes on the RCM website has no annotations, so be sure to attend the Rich Phillips pre-concert talk. This is a must-see recital this season if you like nuanced and thoughtful programming. | Listing<\/a><\/p>\n

Toronto Symphony Orchestra<\/strong> | Prokofiev Romeo & Juliet. 8 p.m. Roy Thomson Hall. $40.75-$154. Repeats Feb. 15 8 p.m.<\/p>\n

The TSO contributes to Valentine Day programming with music about those eternal star-crossed lovers, Romeo and Juliet. It opens with three Russian folk songs by Balakirev, followed by the Harp Concerto<\/em> by Reinhold Gli\u00e8re.\u00a0 The centerpiece is Prokofiev\u2019s Suite from Romeo and Juliet<\/em>, conducted by Conductor Emeritus Sir Andrew Davis. | Listing<\/a><\/p>\n

Thursday 15<\/span><\/h3>\n

Canadian Opera Company<\/strong> | Vocal Series: Russian Romance. Noon, Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre, Four Seasons Centre. Free. Be sure to arrive early to ensure a seat.<\/p>\n

Artists of the COC Ensemble Studio (sopranos Lauren Eberwein, Danika Lor\u00e8n and Samantha Pickett; mezzos Simone McIntosh and Megan Quick; baritones Bruno Roy and Samuel Chan; pianists Rachael Kerr and Stephane Mayer) join forces for a program of romantic songs by Rachmaninov, Tchaikovsky, Mussorgsky and Sviridov, mostly familiar works, particularly Rachmaninov\u2019s \u201cSpring Waters\u201d Op. 14, No. 11 and \u201cLilacs\u201d Op. 21, No. 5. | Details<\/a><\/p>\n

Opera Atelier<\/strong> | Harmonia Sacra. 7 p.m. Samuel Hall Currelly Gallery, Royal Ontario Museum. 100 Queen\u2019s Park. $69<\/p>\n

This is the Toronto premiere of Harmonia Sacra<\/em>, OA\u2019s one-hour concert that premiered at Versailles in May 2017.\u00a0 It melds music by Henry Purcell with baroque dance, plus a new Canadian commission, Inception for solo violin<\/em> composed and performed by Edwin Huizinga, with choreography by Tyler Gledhill.\u00a0 Soloists are soprano Mireille Asselin, baritone Jesse Blumberg, three Atelier Ballet dancers and six members of the Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra.\u00a0| Listing<\/a><\/p>\n

Friday 16<\/span><\/h3>\n

Royal Conservatory of Music<\/strong> | Leon Fleisher Conducts the Royal Conservatory Orchestra. 8 p.m. Koerner Hall, 273 Bloor St. W. $25-$55. (prelude performance in Koerner Hall at 6:45 p.m.)<\/p>\n

The legendary pianist\/conductor\/pedagogue celebrates his 90th<\/sup> birthday this year, and at such a grand age, he is still super-active, conducting the RC Orchestra in a program of Beethoven, Sibelius, and Richard Strauss. Also featured is Joaquin Valdepenas to conduct soprano Jocelyn Fralick in Strauss\u2019s Vier letzte Lieder.\u00a0<\/em>| Listing<\/a><\/p>\n

Saturday 17<\/span><\/h3>\n

Canadian Opera Company<\/strong> | Rigoletto. 7:30 p.m. Four Seasons Centre. $88-$350. Repeats 21, 23.<\/p>\n

The revival of the Christopher Alden production of Rigoletto<\/em> continues with a very strong cast. American tenor Joshua Guerrero, who stepped in to replace an indisposed Stephen Costello mid-performance on Jan. 27, made his scheduled debut on Feb. 11. This is his second performance. Anna Christy is Gilda, and Roland Wood is Rigoletto. Stephen Lord conducts.\u00a0| Listing<\/a><\/p>\n

Toronto Symphony Orchestra<\/strong> | The Wizard of Oz with Live Orchestra. 7:30 p.m. Roy Thomson Hall. $25-$88 Repeats Feb. 18 3 p.m.<\/p>\n

Another one of those TSO family shows pairing orchestra with famous movies, and you can\u2019t get much more famous than The Wizard of Oz<\/em>! Emil de Cou conducts the TS forces in this family classic. The TSO website even has a link to a clip from the movie.\u00a0| Listing<\/a><\/p>\n