{"id":57586,"date":"2018-12-17T13:06:28","date_gmt":"2018-12-17T18:06:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/?p=57586"},"modified":"2018-12-17T14:21:24","modified_gmt":"2018-12-17T19:21:24","slug":"critics-picks-10-concerts-you-absolutely-need-to-see-in-toronto-this-week-dec-17-23","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/2018\/12\/17\/critics-picks-10-concerts-you-absolutely-need-to-see-in-toronto-this-week-dec-17-23\/","title":{"rendered":"CRITIC’S PICKS | 10 Concerts You Absolutely Need To See In Toronto This Week (Dec. 17 \u2013 23)"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Classical
Classical music and opera events happening in and around Toronto for the week of December 17 \u2013 23.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Critic\u2019s Picks (Dec. 17 \u2013 23)<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Ludwig van Toronto\u2019s weekly Critic\u2019s Picks are a curated list of some of the best concerts happening now through the end of the week. 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

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

Toronto Symphony Orchestra<\/strong> | Messiah 8 p.m. Roy Thomson Hall, 60 Simcoe St. $46-$131. Repeats Dec. 18, 19, 21, 22, 23 (mat).<\/p>\n

COC Music Director Johannes Debus conducts the TSO and a strong quartet of soloists (Claire de S\u00e9vign\u00e9, soprano; Allyson McHardy, mezzo; Andrew Haji, tenor; Tyler Duncan, baritone) in a Christmas tradition, Handel\u2019s Messiah<\/em>. They are joined by the Toronto Mendelssohn Choir. | Details<\/a><\/p>\n

Tuesday 18<\/span><\/h3>\n

National Ballet of Canada<\/strong> | The Nutcracker 7 p.m. Four Seasons Centre, 145 Queen St. W. Runs to Dec. 30. Start times vary, so check the website for details. Very limited remaining tickets $78-$163.<\/p>\n

The iconic Christmas entertainment for the classical music lover, The Nutcracker<\/em>, continues until Dec. 30. Tickets are limited, so act fast. Premiered in 1995, the James Kudelka\u2019s version resituates the story to 19th century Russia. Beautiful sets by Santo Loquasto. | Details<\/a><\/p>\n

Tafelmusik <\/strong>| Messiah 7:30 p.m. Koerner Hall, 273 Bloor St. W. Repeats Dec. 19, 20, 21. $36-$119.<\/p>\n

For the intimate Baroque Messiah, Tafelmusik fits the bill. Ivars Taurins leads the Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra and Chamber Choir, with soloists Sherezade Panthaki, soprano; Krisztina Szab\u00f3, mezzo; Charles Daniels, tenor; and Drew Santini, baritone. | Details<\/a><\/p>\n

Orpheus Choir of Toronto<\/strong> | A Child\u2019s Christmas in Wales.\u00a0 Eglinton St. George\u2019s United Church, 35 Lytton Blvd.\u00a0 $45\/$35(sr)\/$20(>30)\/$100(Family)<\/p>\n

Stratford\u2019s Geraint Wyn Davies narrates Welsh poet Dylan Thomas\u2019s beloved holiday classic, A Child\u2019s Christmas in Wales. An evening of prose and festive mix of seasonal carols. Robert Cooper, artistic director. | Details<\/a><\/p>\n

Wednesday 19 <\/span><\/h3>\n

Tongue In Cheek Productions<\/strong> | Verbotenlieder. 7 p.m. Lula Lounge, 1585 Dundas St. W. $35\/$25(arts worker)<\/p>\n

Verbotenlieder<\/em> follows the interesting TIC inaugural Winterreise<\/em>, where 24 baritones each sang one song. Now it\u2019s an all-women Verbotenlieder,<\/em> German for \u201cForbidden Songs.\u201d\u00a0 \u201cEach piece on the program is one of two things: it’s either a song that a man “ought to” sing, or it’s something a woman is told not to do.\u201d\u00a0 Pianists: Elina Kelebeev and Natasha Fransblow. Singers: Beste Kalender, Catherine Daniel, Brittany Cann, Allison Walmsley, Daniela Agostino, Gena van Oosten, Alexandra Beley, Vanessa-Oude Reimerink, Natalya Gennadi, Teiya Kasahara, Jennifer Taverner, Sonya Harper Nyby, Leah Giselle Field, Madison Angus, and Lauren Margison. Anna Theodosakis is stage director. Curious? Go find out! | Details<\/a><\/p>\n

David Warrack\u2019s Canada Pops \u201818<\/strong> | Holiday Concert 2018 in Support of United Way. 8 p.m. Sony Centre for the Performing Arts, 1 Front St. E.\u00a0 1-855-872-7669 or 416-916-7878. $45-$120.<\/p>\n

David Warrack and his 64-piece orchestra is joined by artists Chantal Kreviazuk, Ben Heppner, Louise Pitre, Thom Allison, Avery Saltzman and Sheila McCarthy in a 2018 Holiday Concert, with proceeds going to support the United Way. | Details<\/a><\/p>\n

Thursday 20<\/span><\/h3>\n

Roy Thomson Hall<\/strong> | A Celtic Family Christmas 8 p.m. Roy Thomson Hall, 60 Simcoe St. $39.50-$69.50<\/p>\n

This show stars fiddle virtuosos Natalie MacMaster and Donnell Leahy. They are accompanied by their children and other musicians in A Celtic Family Christmas<\/em>. | Details<\/a><\/p>\n

Saturday 22<\/span><\/h3>\n

Tafelmusik<\/strong> | Sing-Along Messiah 2 p.m. Roy Thomson Hall, 60 Simcoe St. General seating. $49.<\/p>\n

The Tafelmusik Sing-Along Messiah<\/em> is a grand Christmas tradition. With Massey Hall closed for renovations, this will happen at Roy Thomson Hall. The soloists are the same as the regular performances, but here you get the special appearance of Mr. Handel! Seating assigned by voice part \u2013 soprano, alto, tenor, and bass, plus a mixed choir section for groups that want to sing together. | Details<\/a><\/p>\n

Toronto International Ballet Theatre<\/strong> | The Nutcracker 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Sony Centre for the Performing Arts, 1 Front St. E. $56-$141.50.<\/p>\n

The Toronto International Ballet Theatre (Tatiana Stepanova, Artistic Director) engages young talented dancers and international stars for the last eleven seasons. This Nutcracker<\/em> stars Anastasia Stashkevich and Vyacheslav Lopatin of the Bolshoi Ballet. | Details<\/a><\/p>\n

Vesuvius Ensemble<\/strong> | Christmas in Southern Italy 8 p.m. Heliconian Hall, 35 Hazelton Ave. $30. Repeats Dec.23<\/p>\n

The Vesuvius Ensemble (Francesco Pellegrino, Artistic Director) presents Christmas in Southern Italy<\/em>, a show with traditional folk songs accompanied by instruments typical of the Italian countryside. Also included is a pastorale played on the zampogna, special bagpipes traditionally played by shepherds on Christmas Eve. | Details<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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