As spring seems to be slowly setting in in Toronto, this week looks to be a basket of roses – in concerts anyways.
25 Tuesday
- CMC’s Score Reading Club at Chalmers House. 7 p.m. Free
This event is a great way to present contemporary music in an informal and accessible way. Each piece will be treated to a passionate and informed discussion with an opportunity for questions and dialogue with each presenter. The event features works by John Weinzweig, Sofia Gubaidulina. They will be performed by locals Chris Dickson, Jason Doell, and pianist/conductor Anastasia Tchernikova. Details here.
26 Wednesday
- Toronto Mendelssohn Choir with sopranos Jennifer Taverner and Lesley Bouza, mezzo Jennifer Enns Modolo, tenor Isaiah Bell, and baritone Michael York with the Festival Orchestra conducted by Noel Edison. Koerner Hall. 7:30 p.m. $35-87
Tonight features a very special evening with the Toronto Mendelssohn choir performing Bach’s iconic full-scale Catholic Mass. Bach assembled the B Minor Mass between 1724 and 1749 – a twenty-five year span. However, when experiencing this music, it is amazing how coherent and seamless it all sounds – as if written over an evening. More details here.
TMC has released a great podcast about one of conductor Noel Edison’s ‘desert island works’ – Bach’s B Minor Mass. Click here.
Note there is also a pre-concert talk at 6:45 in the lobby of the lower balcony. Rick Phillips will chat with TMC Associate Conductor Caron Daley about the work and preparing it for performance.
- Toronto Symphony Orchestra under the baton of American conductor Hugh Wolff, with Percussionist Colin Currie. Roy Thomson Hall. 8 p.m. $33-145.
Hugh Wolff joins us in Toronto this week to conduct the Toronto Symphony Orchestra. The TSO will be performing some very innovating programming: Beethoven’s Overture to Fidelio, Schumann’s Symphony No. 2., and Finish composer Kalevi Aho’s Sieidi Concerto for Solo Percussion and Orchestra. The dynamic Colin Currie – one of the best percussionists since Evelyn Glennie, will be thundering his way though the piece originally premiered by the London Philharmonic in April 2012. More details here.
To hear Colin Currie discussing the work, see here:
Note: there will be a repeat matinée performance, on Thursday at 2 pm, also at Roy Thomson Hall.
27 Thursday
- The Canadian Art Song Project with Monica Whicher, Soprano, Brett Polegato, Baritone, Colin Ainsworth, Tenor, Steven Philcox, Piano, Kathryn Tremills, Piano. Noon. Free.
I can’t say enough about how lucky we are in Toronto to have these on-going free noon-hour concerts. They feature incredible performances, and this Thursday’s is perhaps one of the most promising of the season. The Canadian Art Song Project is the brainchild of tenor Lawrence Wiliford and pianist Steven Philcox. They will be presenting a varied recital of songs by Canadian composers Derek Holman, Pierre Mercure, Matthew Emery and James Rolfe. Don’t miss this one.
Also, Ash Roses, a newly recorded CD of songs by Derek Holman, will be on sale after the concert. For program information, see here.
28 Friday
- Tafelmusik with guests Cecilia Bernardini, Ivars Taurins at Trinity-St. Paul’s Centre. 8 p.m. $15-87.
Imagine yourself in a magnificent hall in the Tuileries Palace, listening to the latest French and Italian music with guests from around Europe. Join Tafelmusik as they present A Night In Paris: Le Concert Spirituel with special guests Cecilia Bernardini (baroque violin) and choral conductor Ivars Taurins. They will dazzle with Vivaldi: Violin Concerto “Tempeste di Mare”, and various works by Telemann and Leclair. Looks like a nice evening. More info here.
Note the concert is presented Thu Mar 27, Fri Mar 28, Sat Mar 29 at 8pm, Sun Mar 30 at 3:30pm, 2014.
29 Saturday
- Peggy Baker Dance Projects with pianist John Kameel Farah, cellist supernova Shauna Rolston, and clarinetist Max Christie (principal clarinet National Ballet Orchestra and Esprit Orchestra). Betty Oliphant Theatre. 8:30 p.m. $23-28
At age 60, Peggy Baker is surely one of the most outstanding and influential contemporary dancers of her generation. The project, he:she, is a multi-media contemporary dance work celebrating a world balanced by dualities. The program runs Friday March 28 through to Sunday April 6 with performances Wednesdays through Sundays. More details here.
30 Sunday
- Wagner’s Dream with Robert Lepage, TIFF Bell Lightbox. 12:30 p.m.
Documentarian Susan Froemke captures the backstage drama and unprecedented logistical challenges involved in mounting Lepage’s monumental staging of Wagner’s Ring cycle at New York’s Metropolitan Opera in 2012. Robert Lepage will be in attendance. Tickets and info here.
Michael Vincent
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