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Toronto classical and opera picks for December 16 to 22, 2013

By John Terauds on December 16, 2013

Ivars Taurins leading the singalong Messiah at Massey Hall is an annual tradition (Andrew Wallace/Toronto Star photo)
Ivars Taurins leading Tafelmusik’s Singalong Messiah at Massey Hall is a beloved annual tradition (Andrew Wallace/Toronto Star photo).

The last set of weekly critic’s picks of 2013 includes the expected annual battle of the big Messiahs — Toronto Symphony vs Tafelmusik — as well as an unexpected operatic treat:

MONDAY

  • Euphonia at Lula Lounge, 1585 Dundas St W. 8 p.m.

Toronto’s hip, new chamber orchestra and conductor Simon Capet celebrate the season at their loungey home base with a variety pack of music, carols and revelry — followed by a salsa band. You’ll find the details here.

TUESDAY

  • Organist David Briggs at St James Cathedral, 1 p.m.

The Anglican cathedral’s concert-organist artist-in-residence presents a programme of Advent-themed music ranging from J.S. Bach to Marcel Dupré as well as a freewill offering from one of the world’s great organ improvisers. You’ll find the details here.

  • Ariadne auf Naxos in concert at Calvin Presbyterian Church, 26 Delisle Ave, 7:30 p.m.

There’s no staging and only a piano for accompaniment, but there are some excellent singers assembling for this concert presentation of Richard Strauss’s well-loved opera, including tenor Roger Honeywell as the resident divo. It may be worth checking out here.

THURSDAY

addis

  • Baritone Phillip Addis for Music Toronto at the Jane Mallett Theatre, 8 p.m.

We saw him just a couple of months ago in the Canadian Opera Company’s production of La Bohème. Now Phillip Addis presents a solo recital with pianist Emily Hamper. The programme includes art songs by Hugo Wolff, Francis Poulenc and Benjamin Britten. Because this is one of Music Toronto’s Discovery concerts, tickets are ridiculously cheap. Details here.

FRIDAY

  • Little Matchgirl Passion at the Music Gallery, 8 p.m.

American composer David Lang turned the story of Hans Christian Andersen’s tragic Little Match Girl into a fascinating cantata for four voices and percussion that won a Pulitzer Price in 2008. It’s a chanty, stark affair with incredible emotional power perfect for the intimate, Victorian Gothic confines of the Music Gallery. I’ll have more on this later this week. You can check out the details here.

SATURDAY

  • Organist David Briggs at St James Cathedral, 4 p.m.

One of the great masterpieces of modern organ music, La Nativité du Seigneur by Olivier Messiaen, gets a complete performance from the most capable of hands, interspersed with seasonal readings. Admission is by freewill offering.

Here is a sample, as Ian Ball plays “Dieu parmi nous” at the organ of Gloucester Cathedral:

MESSIAH WATCH

Tuesday: The Toronto Symphony launches its seasonal Messiah concerts with the Toronto Mendelssohn Choir. Besides this year’s highly operatic soloists, another wild card is the Toronto début of British conductor Christopher Warren-Green. Performances continue to Sunday (except Thursday). Details here.

Wednesday: It’s the first night of Tafelmusik’s sold-out run of Messiah performances at Koerner Hall with conductor Ivars Taurins. There may still be tickets available for Sunday afternoon’s Singalong Messiah at Massey Hall, a beloved annual tradition. Check for details here.

Saturday: Aradia Ensemble and conductor Kevin Mallon present their annual, intimate Dublin Messiah at the Glenn Gould Studio at 8 p.m. Details here.

SEASONAL CONCERTS

This week marks the start of the last, big, tinselly gasp of holiday concerts in the GTA. You’ll find an impressive list at WholeNote, here.

John Terauds

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