For the week of April 18 to 24

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 our concert listings in the Musical Toronto Datebook.

This is definitely a voice-centric week in the Toronto classical music scene. If you haven’t seen the COC Carmen, you definitely should. Canadian stage director Joel Ivany gives it a fresh look. And you get your choice of the two very fine casts. Two of the Carmen stars – mezzo Clémentine Margaine and tenor Russell Thomas – are giving free noon hour concerts at the opera house, and Welsh baritone Bryn Terfel makes one of his infrequent visits to Toronto for a recital at Koerner Hall.

Wednesday 20

COC | Georges Bizet’s Carmen at The Four Seasons Centre. 7:30 p.m. $55-435 (Repeats April 20 to May 15. Start times vary)

April 20 and 23 The spring season of the Canadian Opera Company continues with its first production, Bizet’s Carmen. I attended the opening, and I’m happy to report that it’s a terrific show. The principals are double cast – with mezzo Clémentine Margaine/Anita Rachvelishvili* (Carmen), David Pomeroy/Russell Thomas* (Don Jose), Karine Boucher/Simone Osborne* (Micaela) and Zachary Nelson/Christian Van Horn* (Escamillo). (*) denotes singers for April 23. Paolo Carignani conducts. Full details, here.

Thursday 21

COC | Vocal Series: Songs for Springtime — Russell Thomas (tenor) at The Four Seasons Centre, Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre. 12:00 p.m. Free!

American tenor Russell Thomas, in town for Don Jose, gives a free noon hour recital, Songs for Springtime, on April 21st at the Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre. On the program are Schumann’s Dichterliebe, and songs by Mascagni, Verdi, and Donaudy. Liz Upchurch is the pianist. Be sure to show up an hour early to ensure a spot. Info found, here.

TSO | Toronto Symphony Youth Orchestra at Koerner Hall. 7:30 p.m. $23.50-35.50

The Toronto Symphony Youth Orchestra gives its Spring Concert on April 21st 7:30 p.m.at Koerner Hall, under the baton of conductor Shalom Bard. On the program is Prokofiev’s Symphony No. 5, and the first movement of Samuel Barber’s Violin Concerto, with Emma Morrison as soloist. More info, here.

Friday 22

COC | Vocal Series: Arena del Amor — Clémentine Margaine (mezzo-soprano) at The Four Seasons Centre, Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre. 12:00 p.m. Free!

On Friday, April 22, French mezzo-soprano Clémentine Margaine takes time out from her Carmen duties to give a free noon hour recital, Arena del Amor, of French and Spanish love songs. Program details not available. The pianist is Stephen B. Hargreaves. Be sure to show up an hour early to ensure a spot. Details, here.

Saturday 23

ORPHEUS CHOIR | Such Stuff As Dreams are Made On — The Lyrical Shakespeare at Trinity-St. Paul’s Centre. 7:30 p.m. $10-35

Orpheus Choir of Toronto is giving a concert, Such Stuff As Dreams are Made On: The Lyrical Shakespeare, on Saturday, April 23 7:30 p.m. at Trinity-St. Paul’s Centre, 427 Bloor Street West. On the program is No Mortal Business, a choral drama by Canadian composer Allan Bevan, inspired by The Tempest, featuring Stratford Festival’s Geraint Wyn-Davies. Full details found, here.

MUSICIANS IN THE ORDINARY | Sweet Swan of Avon: Shakespeare’s Sorrows at Heliconian Hall. 8:00 p.m. $20-30

On April 23rd 8 p.m. at the Heliconian Hall in Yorkville, Musicians in Ordinary is presenting Sweet Swan of Avon: Shakespeare’s Sorrows, in commemoration of the 400th anniversary of the death of Shakespeare. It features John Edwards on the lute and soprano Hallie Fishel. More info, here.

Sunday 24

RCM | Bryn Terfel & Natalia Katyukova at Koerner Hall. 3:00 p.m. $50-140

On Sunday, April 24th 3 p.m. Welsh baritone, Bryn Terfel is making one of his infrequent visits to Toronto, for a recital at Koerner Hall, with pianist Natalia Katyukova. On the program are Welsh and English folk songs, plus songs by Ibert, Schumann, and Schubert. For tickets and info, see here.

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Joseph So

Joseph So is Professor Emeritus at Trent University and Associate Editor of Opera Canada.He is also a long-time contributor to La Scena Musicale and Opera (London, UK). His interest in music journalism focuses on voice, opera as well as symphonic and piano repertoires. He appears regularly as a panel member of the Big COC Podcast.He has co-edited a book, Opera in a Multicultural World: Coloniality, Culture, Performance, published by Routledge (Taylor & Francis Group).

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