{"id":65206,"date":"2019-12-02T13:46:17","date_gmt":"2019-12-02T18:46:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/?p=65206"},"modified":"2019-12-02T14:24:05","modified_gmt":"2019-12-02T19:24:05","slug":"primer-ludwig-van-guide-holiday-concerts","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/2019\/12\/02\/primer-ludwig-van-guide-holiday-concerts\/","title":{"rendered":"GUIDE | A Ludwig Van Guide To Holiday Concerts"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Ludwig
Ludwig Van’s guide to holiday concerts in Toronto.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Holiday concerts help you escape the bad weather, and those tacky versions of Christmas carols that blast through every store, with great music that just happens to celebrate the season too. Luckily, Toronto\u2019s arts organizations offer many different expressions of the season, from period and traditional renditions of old favourites, to newly re-imagined works written for modern ears.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s our picks for Christmas season 2019.<\/p>\n

Toronto Mendelssohn Choir: Festival of Carols | <\/strong>December 3 & 4, 2019, 7:30 p.m. Yorkminster Park Baptist Church.
\nDavid Fallis conducts the Toronto Mendelssohn Choir, with pianist Gergely Szokolay, the Toronto Symphony Youth Orchestra and their conductor Simon Rivard, in this celebration of Christmas carols. The program features compositions by John Rutter, including Christmas Lullaby<\/em>, with his orchestral arrangements of other carols, along with \u201cL\u2019adieu des bergers\u201d, from L\u2019enfance du Christ<\/em> by Hector Berlioz, \u201cNowell\u201d from Hodie<\/em> by Ralph Vaughan Williams, among other selections \u2014 including sing-along favourites like O come all ye faithful<\/em> to join in the fun. Details<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

Tafelmusik: O Come, Shepherds & Manfredini: Christmas Concerto | <\/strong>December 4, 2019, 7 p.m., December 5 to 7, 8 p.m., December 8, 3:30 p.m. Jeanne Lamon Hall, Trinity-St. Paul’s Centre & December 10, 8 p.m. George Weston Recital Hall, Meridian Arts Centre.
\nThe Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra collaborate with the Vesuvius Ensemble, with special guest Tommaso Sollazzo on the zampogna, an Italian Baroque instrument, in this celebration of the season. The program combines Baroque Christmas concertos and the traditional music of Southern Italy, using period instrument such as the ciaramella and mandolin, along with the orchestra. There is a pre-concert chat one hour before each performance with lutenist Lucas Harris. Details<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Church of the Holy Trinity: The Christmas Story | <\/strong>December 6-8, 13-15 and 20-22, 2019, various times, Church Of the Holy Trinity.
\nThis will be the 80th season of The Christmas Story at the historic Church of the Holy Trinity. The church organ and an unseen choir provide the music as the traditional story of the Nativity unfolds in a series of narrated scenes. The story is drawn from the Gospel passages from the King James Version of the Bible. The cast is all-volunteer, including the babies who take turns in the role of Jesus. There is no set fee, with a suggested donation, and the church is wheelchair accessible. Details<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

\"Soundstreams
Soundstreams Electric Messiah (Photo courtesy of Soundstreams)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Soundstreams: Electric Messiah<\/strong> | December 10 to 12, 2019, 8 p.m., Drake Underground.
\nSoundstreams reimagines Handel\u2019s masterpiece for contemporary Toronto audiences in a performance that includes a band, turntables, and dance, and a range of musical styles. Soloists include soprano Lindsay McIntyre, alto Chloe Charles, tenor Jonathan MacArthur, and bass Andrew Adridge, with dancer Lybido, and music by SlowPitchSound. It takes place in the atmospheric Drake Underground, and is a seated event. Note that the venue is accessible only via a fight of stairs. Details<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

National Ballet of Canada: The Nutcracker<\/strong> | December 12, 2019 to January 4, 2020, times vary.
\nWith dazzling costumes and sets by Santo Loquasto, and a cast of talented dancers drawn from the company, the National Ballet’s presentation of Tchaikovsky’s well known ballet never disappoints. James Kudelka’s choreography sets the story of siblings Misha and Marie, (rather than the Clara of the original story,) and the magic Nutcracker\u2019s adventures, in 19th century Russia. It\u2019s a sweet coming of age story as the quarrelling siblings learn to work together to defeat the Mouse Tsar. Music is performed by the National Ballet of Canada Orchestra with VIVA! Youth Singers of Toronto, and the performance is 2 hours with one intermission. Details<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n