For the week of May 23 to 29

Critic’s Picks for classical music and opera events in Toronto for the Week of May 23 – 29, 2016.

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.

Among the many events this week, three, in particular, caught my eye. The third annual 21C Music Festival is due to take place over five days at the Royal Conservatory. In this celebration of new music, there’s a total of seven concerts with twenty-six premieres. Among the many headliners are the Kronos Quartet, James Ehnes, Barry Shiffman, Bramwell Tovey and Ana Sokolović. Also on my radar is the return to Toronto after an absence of many years of American soprano Kathleen Battle, in recital with pianist Joel A. Martin. Finally, TSO Conductor Laureate Sir Andrew Davis is making his annual spring visit, this time, to conduct Richard Strauss’ An Alpine Symphony.

Tuesday 24

TAFELMUSIK | Tales of Two Cities: The Leipzig-Damascus Coffee House at George Weston Hall. 8 p.m. $37-79

Tafelmusik’s Tales of Two Cities, an exploration into the meeting of musical traditions of East (Damascus) and West (Leipzig) that opened on May 19 continues this week at George Weston Recital Hall, Toronto Centre for the Arts, in North York. Full details, here. For MT’s review, see here.

Wednesday 25

TSO | An Alpine Symphony at Roy Thomson Hall. 6:30 p.m. $29.50–83.75 (Repeats May 26, 28; start times vary)

An hour-long Toronto Symphony Orchestra Afterworks concert featuring Strauss’s An Alpine Symphony performed without an intermission. There’s light hors d’oeuvres served in the lobby before the concert. TSO Conductor Laureate Sir Andrew Davis is at the helm. On May 26 and 28, the performance will have additional works by Ives, Janacek and Elgar. More info, here.

RCM | 21C Music Festival: Kronos Quartet and special guest Tanya Tagaq at Koerner Hall. 8 p.m. $21–90 (Festival Pass available)

The 21C Music Festival starts today, with Kronos Quartet and special guest Tanya Tagaq. If new music is your thing, this 5-day festival is for you. There are pre-concert talks for most shows – consult the program. More info, here.

Thursday 26

RCM | 21C Music Festival: Brad Mehlaud at Koerner Hall. 8 p.m. $21–75 (Festival Pass available)

Three Pieces After Bach: Solo recital by Brad Mehlaud, playing the works of Bach and his own improvisations on Bach, plus pieces to be announced from the stage. Info, here.

RCM | 21C Music Festival: Continuum Contemporary Music presents Japan: NEXT at Mazzoleni Hall. 8 p.m. $21–75 (Festival Pass available)

Mazzoleni Hall. Continuum Contemporary Music presents Japan: NEXT. This concert features the works of Fujikura, Kiyama, Mochizuki, Oesterle, and Tsurumoto. More info, here.

Friday 27

RCM | 21C Music Festival: 21C After Hours: Blackout at Conservatory Theatre. 8 p.m. $21 (Festival Pass available) (Repeats at 10:30 p.m.)

21C After Hours: Blackout. Four world premieres by John Oswald for ensembles, choir, and piano, commissioned by RCM. More info, here.

TRIO ARKEL | Europa! at Trinity St. Paul’s Centre. 7 p.m. $15-30

Violinist Marie Berard, violist Teng Li and cellist Winona Zelenka are joined by special guest Yao Guang Zhai (clarinet) in works by Hummel, Kodály, Cras and Penderecki. There’s a pre-concert talk at 6:45 p.m. More info, here.

FOUR CENTURIES OF BACH | Toronto Bach Festival: Cantatas from Weimar at St. Barnabas Church on Danforth. 8 p.m. $30

May 27, 8 p.m. St. Barnabas Church on Danforth. $30 The first annual Toronto Bach Festival takes place May 27 to 29, with three concerts celebrating the music of Johann Sebastian Bach. The Inaugural Concert, Cantatas from Weimar, features soprano Ellen McAteer, alto Daniel Taylor, tenor Lawrence Wiliford, and baritone Sumner Thompson. The Four Centuries of Bach Ensemble under the direction of John Abberger, who is also the Artistic Director. More info, here.

TORONTO MASQUE THEATRE | Purcell’s The Fairy Queen at Arts and Letters Club. 8 p.m. $50 (Repeats May 28 & 29)

Toronto Masque Theatre presents Purcell’s The Fairy Queen, under the direction of Larry Beckwith. Repeats on May 28 and 29. More info, here.

TAPESTRY OPERA | Rocking Horse Winner at the Berkeley Street Theatre. 8 p.m. $36–112. (Repeats through June 4).

Tapestry Opera presents Rocking Horse Winner, with music by Gareth Williams and libretto by Anna Chatterton, based on short story by D.H. Lawrence. Jordan de Souza conducts, directed by Michael Mori. Singers include Carla Huhtanen, Keith Klassen, Peter McGillivray and Asitha Tennekoon. More info, here.

Saturday 28

RCM | 21C Music Festival: Cinq a Sept at Conservatory Theatre. 5 p.m. $21–75 (Festival Pass available)

Cinq a Sept. Works by Andrew Norman, Rodney Sharman, Anna Pidgorna, and Ana Sokolović. More info, here.

RCM | 21C Music Festival: Cinq a Sept at Koerner Hall. 8 p.m. $21–75 (Festival Pass available)

Indie music triple-bill featuring ambient orchestral music composer Jherek Bischoff, as well as the experimental trio Dawn of Midi, and the cello-voice duo The Visit. More info, here.

MISSISSAUGA SYMPHONY | Beethoven Symphony No. 9 at Hammerson Hall, Living Arts Centre. 8 p.m. $20–65

The Mississauga Symphony Orchestra presents Beethoven Symphony No. 9, featuring the Toronto Mendelssohn Choir and soloists under the direction of Noel Edison. The names of the soloists not available on the website.

AMICI | A Three Tenors Concert at Islington United Church. 7:30 p.m. $25

May 28, 7:30 p.m. Islington United Church, 25 Burnhamthorpe Road. $25 Amici: A Three Tenors Concert, with Jean-Philippe Fortier-Lazure, Daevyd Pepper and Charles Sy. These three guys have terrific voices and lots of youthful enthusiasm. I’ve heard each of them multiple times and they will be in fine form for this concert. Go if you can. Ivan Jovanovic is the pianist. More info, here.

Sunday 29

ROY THOMSON HALL | Kathleen Battle: Underground Railroad: A Spiritual Journey at Roy Thomson Hall. 3 p.m. $39.50–129.50

Surprise! Kathleen Battle is back, in a special program exploring the “traditional slave spirituals and the writing of abolitionists Harriet Tubman and Frederick Douglass.” She’s joined by pianist Joel A. Martin. I have fond memories of Battle, having heard her many times in her prime. I vividly recall driving down to Cleveland to hear her Sophie in Der Rosenkavalier, way back in 1983. The venue was not ideal, in some sort of an arena with poor acoustics, but what a cast! Elisabeth Söderström was the Marschallin and Frederica von Stade was Octavian, conducted by James Levine. It was an unforgettable evening. Nobody can turn back the clock, so I am not expecting the same Kathleen Battle. But I think she’s still well worth hearing. More info, here.

#LUDWIGVAN

Want more updates on Toronto-centric classical music news and review before anyone else finds out? Get our exclusive newsletter here and follow us on Facebook for all the latest.

Author
Recent Posts

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).

CRITIC'S PICKS | Fifeteen Shows To Consider This Week