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Toronto classical concert and opera picks for May 6 to May 10, 2014

By Michael Vincent on May 5, 2014

Tafelmusik, Nov 2004
Tafelmusik, Nov 2004

Toronto picks up this week with a number of events that will satisfy almost every taste, from opera to new music. Be sure to come out and enjoy what this abundant city has to offer.

6 Tuesday

  • Allyson McHardy, mezzo; Andrew Haji, tenor; Liz Upchurch, piano at Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre, Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts. Noon. Free

This is a great opportunity to hear some of the COC’s talent up close. Canada’s own mezzo-soprano, Allyson McHardy – currently performing in COC’s Roberto Devereux – will join pianist Liz Upchurch, tenor Andrew Haji and COC principal violist Keith Hamm for a few songs by Brahms, Britten, and Robert Fleming. More details here.

 

7 Wednesday

Jean-Yves Thibaudet © Decca Kasskara
Jean-Yves Thibaudet © Decca Kasskara
  • Toronto Symphony Orchestra with pianist Jean-Yves Thibaudet and Peter Oundjian, conducting at Roy Thomson Hall. 8 p.m. $33–145.

Decca recording artist Jean-Yves Thibaudet is a pianist known for his flair and sensitivity. He will be in Toronto this week to perform Tchaikovsky’s classic Symphony 6 “Pathétique”, and Rossini’s Overture to La scala di seta. The program will also include the Canadian premiere of Scottish composer James MacMillan’s Piano Concerto No.3 “Mysteries of Light”, a work composed especially for Thibaudet. The concert will repeat on Wednesday, May 7th and Thursday May 8th. They will also present the concert over the weekend (May 10-11) with some minor differences: Saturday will replace MacMillan’s concerto with Shostakovich’s Piano Concerto No. 1, and omit the Rossini overture. Sunday’s concert will be held at George Weston Hall in North York. Details here.

Here is a video of James MacMillan discussing his Piano Concerto No.3 “Mysteries of Light”

Part 1:

Part 2:

 

8 Thursday

Jeanne Lamon
Jeanne Lamon
  • Tafelmusik at Trinity-St. Paul’s Centre, Jeanne Lamon Hall 8 p.m. $29-89

Tonight marks the first of six concerts celebrating Jeanne Lamon’s time as Music Director of the legendary Tafelmusik. The concert features Lamon’s personally selected favourites from the past 33 seasons at Tafelmusik. She writes, “I want to share my favourite music with you – Bach, Vivaldi, Handel, Monteverdi – at my last Toronto concert as full-time Music Director. It would mean so much to me to have you join us for this very special occasion!” Earlier this week, John Terauds wrote a touching tribute to Jeanne here.

There will be an audience-choice portion of the concert, pre-selected by you! Definitely a huge event and not to be missed. Show repeats May 9-11, 14 at Trinity-St. Paul’s Centre, Jeanne Lamon Hall. May 13 at George Weston Recital Hall. More details here.

Here’s a short video of Jeanne Lamon introducing the event:

 

  • Thin Edge New Music Collective at Array Space. 8 p.m. $15-20

Onomatopoeia is a concert exploring the nature of spoken and musical language, and will feature Toronto-based chamber choir GREX, and Montreal-based Jason Sharp (bass saxophone) and Kaie Kellough (word sound systemizer). They will be performing two compositions by Toronto-based composers Elisha Denburg and Tova G. Kardonne as well as works by Moondog, Meredith Monk, Simon Steen-Andersen, and Udo Kasemets. Sounds like a very strong premise for a show. Details here.

 

9 Friday

DON QUICHOTTE: John Relyea (centre, on horse) as Don Quichotte in the Seattle Opera production of Don Quichotte. Photo Credit: Rozarii Lynch © 2011
DON QUICHOTTE: John Relyea (centre, on horse) as Don Quichotte in the Seattle Opera production of Don Quichotte.
Photo Credit: Rozarii Lynch © 2011
  • Canadian Opera Company Massenet’s Don Quichotte at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts 7:30 p.m. Prices vary.

This has been a big season for the COC, with Hercules, Roberto Devereux, and now opening tonight is Massenet’s chivalrous Don Quichotte. The production and cast look strong with Italian Bass Ferruccio Furlanetto in the signature role, Georgian mezzo-soprano Anita Rachvelishvili, returning from Carmen at the COC two years ago, and Hawaiian baritone Quinn Kelsey, also returning to the COC from his stint in Rigoletto. Music will be directed by the able hand of Johannes Debus. This is a five-act opera full of swanky melodies and Spanish dance rhythms that conjure up medieval Spain at the end of the age of chivalry. (A lot of) info here.

Show repeats:

Sun. May 11, 2014 at 2 p.m.; Wed. May 14, 2014 at 7:30 p.m.; Sat. May 17, 2014 at 7:30 p.m.; Tues. May 20, 2014 at 7:30 p.m.; Thurs. May 22, 2014 at 7:30 p.m.; Sat. May 24, 2014 at 4:30 p.m.

Here’s a preview:

 

composer, John Luther Adams
composer, John Luther Adams
  • TorQ Percussion Quartet at the Church of the Holy Trinity. 8 p.m. $10-20

TorQ will be concluding their 2013-2014 Generations and Geographies concert series with the Canadian premiere of John Luther Adams’ Strange and Sacred Noise for percussion quartet. Announced just last month,  John Luther Adams is this year’s winner of the Pulitzer Prize in music. The piece is a powerful, evening-length work that explores JLA’s Alaskan sonic geography – and the idea of sound as place. If you have never experienced his works live, you really should drop what you’re doing and go. I had the honour of hearing the premiere of his The Light Within by the Seattle Chamber Players in 2008, and I will never forget it. Tickets here.

 

10 Saturday

  • Stacie Dunlop, soprano, Andrea Neumann, violin, Peter Lutek, clarinet, bassoon and electronics at Gallery 345. 8 p.m. $10-20

For a more intimate affair, Gallery 345 will present a concert of contemporary chamber music. The program will begin with improvisation on clarinet, bassoon and electronics, and lead to György Kurtág’s deeply thoughtful Kafka Fragments. Each of these performers are top-notch, so for those interested in contemporary sounds, this concert is sure to be worth your while. More details here.

Michael Vincent

Michael Vincent
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