Musical Toronto’s weekly Critic’s Picks are a fully curated list of some of the best concerts happening now through the end of the week. Of course this is not to say we are the provocateurs of taste, but simply seek to provide a good weekly summary. For a look at the full breadth of what’s available in and around Toronto, check out the comprehensive concert listings from our friends at Wholenote Magazine.
Tuesday 13
Ryan MacEvoy McCullough at the Canadian Music Centre. 5:30 p.m. Free!
Starting off the week, the American pianist Ryan MacEvoy McCullough (who makes his TSO debut this season), presents an intimate program of modern works at the CMC. Includes Messiaen’s Catalogue d’Oiseaux (Book IV), and Gilles Tremblay’s Musique de l’eau. Highly recommended for contemporary music lovers and Messiaen fans. Details here.
Wednesday 14
Toronto Symphony Orchestra with Matthew Halls, conductor, Benedetto Lupo, piano at Roy Thomson Hall. 6:30 p.m. $39–82.
Shedding a bit of warmth on a chilly winter week in Toronto this week, the TSO’s annual Mozart@259 festival begins with conductor Matthew Halls and pianist Benedetto Lupo. This opening concert will focus on Mozart’s Piano Concerto No.23, K.488, and the “Paris” Symphony No.31, K.297. Tom Allen will host. Details here.
Thursday 15
Toronto Symphony Orchestra with Matthew Halls (conductor), Jonathan Crow (violin), Benedetto Lupo (piano) and Patricia Krueger (organ) at Roy Thomson Hall. 8:00 p.m. $33–145.
The TSO’s Mozart festival continues this Thursday with a focus on Mozart as performer: Serenade No.6, K.239 “Serenata notturna”, Mozart: Piano Concerto No.23, K.488, Mozart: Sonata No.15 in C Major for Organ and Strings, and Mozart: Symphony No.31, K.297 “Paris”. Pianist Benedetto Lupo’s delicate and light touch makes him an ideal conduit for Mozart’s musical energy. Highly recommended. Details here.
Toronto Masque Theatre – Handel’s Acis and Galatea at the Enoch Turner Schoolhouse. 8:00 p.m. $43-50
The Toronto Masque Theatre presents Handel’s greatest pastoral opera about love and transformation, Acis and Galatea, until January 17. Includes some very strong voices, including soprano Teri Dunn, tenors Lawrence Wiliford and Graham Thomson, and baritone Peter McGillivray. Also features UofT’s period orchestra Schola Cantorum, conducted by Larry Beckwith. Definitely recommended for the early opera set. Info here.
Friday 16
Eybler Quartet at Heliconian Hall. 7:30 p.m. $20-25
Toronto’s formidable period string quartet is all about Beethoven this week. They will be playing String Quartets Op.18 No.1-3. Historically, Beethoven revised these quartets to include metronome markings, helping to establish the tradition of using exact tempo markings. (Learn something new everyday!). Info here.
Saturday 17
Arraymusic: David Schotzko, percussionist at Array Space. 8:00 p.m. $12-20
Toronto-based percussionist David Schotzko performs Spanning Tree, a new, full-length work by composer Michael Oesterle. According to the promo material “A tree grows toward the sun, spanning the distance between itself and the light—each branch, each new angle reaching forward. In mathematics the branches of the spanning tree never grow back on themselves, never interfere with the light or each other…” Enough said. More Details here.
Academy Concert Series at Eastminster United Church. 8:00 p.m. $14-20
The Academy Concert Series is all about celebrating the best chamber music written. Join them tonight for a concert of exploring the baroque practice of improvisation through the vehicles of the prelude and fantasy. Info here.
Toronto Symphony Orchestra with Matthew Halls (conductor), Andrew McCandless, (trumpet) and Gordon Wolfe (trombone) at Roy Thomson Hall. 7:30 p.m. $33–93. (repeats Sunday at 3:30 p.m.)
Continuing with TSO’s Mozart festival, Saturday is about looking at his inner circle, with his father Leopold, a musical prank, and a musical mash-up by PDQ Bach (Peter Schickele). Sounds like a lot of fun. Info here.
Monday 19
University of Toronto Faculty of Music at Walter Hall, Edward Johnson Building. 7:00 p.m. $10-40
Calling all contemporary music fans: it is not often George Crumb is performed, especially his Voice of the Whale for 3 Masked Players. Also includes Angelo’s Sonata para flauta, viola y piano, Hatzis’ Nadir for flute, viola and tape, each performed by Susan Hoeppner, Teng Li, Shauna Rolston, and Lydia Wong. (some) Details here.
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