For the week of Sept. 26 – Oct. 2
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. 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 curated concert listings in the Musical Toronto Datebook.
There are plenty of interesting musical events this week. Top on my list is the return of American mezzo Jamie Barton to the Toronto Symphony Orchestra as alto soloist in Mahler’s Third Symphony (Sept. 28, 29). This sublime — and at 90 minutes very long — Mahler Symphony is not performed all that often due to the huge forces required. There’s a huge orchestra, a soloist and three choirs! It’s Mahler’s ode to nature, and one can count it among his most moving of creations. And to have Jamie Barton in the last two movements is a bonus. If you missed all three of Tafelmusik’s season-opening concerts last week, you have one more chance to catch it on Sept. 27 at the George Weston Recital Hall. Chinese pianist Sa Chen, in town for a recital last week, is giving a masterclass at the Steinway Piano Gallery (Sept. 27). And don’t forget this coming weekend is Ontario’s Culture Days (Sept. 30 – Oct. 2), with many events, all free but tickets are required to some. We can be really proud of our different levels of government for this initiative, to encourage Ontarians to explore the diversity of our cultural offerings.
Tuesday 27
COC | Vocal Series: Meet the Young Artists at Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre, Four Seasons Centre. Noon. Free!
The 2016-17 Canadian Opera Company Ensemble Studio will be unveiled at this concert. The members are sopranos Danika Lorèn and Samantha Pickett, mezzos Emily D’Angelo, Lauren Eberwein and Megan Quick, tenors Aaron Sheppard and Charles Sy, baritone Bruno Roy, and pianists Hyejin Kwon and Stephane Mayer. No program information at the website. Show up at least an hour early to line up for admission to this free concert. Details, here.
Li Delun Music Foundation | Sa Chen Masterclass at Steinway Piano Gallery. 6:30 p.m. $15–20
Chinese pianist Van Cliburn laureate Sa Chen shows young pianists the tricks of the trade in a masterclass. Details, here.
Tafelmusik | Handel’s Water Music at George Weston Recital Hall. 8 p.m. $15–85
Tafelmusik gives the last of their opening concert program of Water Music plus Bach’s Orchestra Suites no. 4 and Dances from Rameau’s Les Indes galantes. Info, here.
Wednesday 28
Musicians in Ordinary | The Principal’s Music Series at St. Basil’s Church, St. Michael’s College, University of Toronto. 7:30 p.m. Free! (donations welcome)
Musicians in Ordinary and St. Michael’s Schola Cantoum are jointly presenting Vivaldi’s Gloria and Handel’s Concerto grosso in A Major. Details, here.
TSO | Mahler Third Symphony at Roy Thomson Hall. 8 p.m. $33.75+ (Repeats Sept. 29)
Toronto Symphony Orchestra presents Mahler Third Symphony, with mezzo soloist Jamie Barton. She is joined by the Women of the Amadeus Choir, the Elmer Iseler Singers, and the Toronto Children’s Chorus. Peter Oundjian conducts. Details, here.
Friday 30
Trio Arkel | Metamorphosis at Trinity St. Paul’s Centre. 7:30 p.m. $15–30
This chamber group is comprised of three eminent string players — COC Concertmaster Marie Berard, TSO Principal Viola Teng Li, and well-known cellist Winona Zelenka. They are joined by TSO Concertmaster Jonathan Crow for Metamorphosis, an eclectic pairing of Ligeti and Mozart. Details, here.
New Music Concerts | Beijing Memories at the Musical Gallery. 8 p.m. $25–35
New Music Concerts presents Beijing Memories, Highlights from the 2016 Beijing International Composition Workshop. Robert Aitken conducts. Details, here.
RCM | Culture Days Concert: Royal Conservatory Orchestra at Koerner Hall. 8 p.m. Free (tickets required)
The Royal Conservatory of Music is presenting a Culture Days Concert, featuring the Royal Conservatory Orchestra under Hungarian maestro Gábor Takács Nagy. The program includes Rachmaninoff’s Vocalise, Piano Concerto no. 2, with pianist Rossina Grieco, and Schumann Symphony no. 4. Info, here.
Saturday 1
U of T | The University of Toronto Symphony Orchestra at MacMillan Theatre. 7:30 p.m. $10–30
The University of Toronto Symphony Orchestra under conductors Uri Mayer and Chad Heltzel presents a program of Ridout, Butterworth, Britten and Vaughan Williams. Baritone Adam Harris sings Six Songs from A Shropshire Lad. Details, here.
Sunday 2
RCM | Culture Days Concert: Allison Au Quartet at Mazzoleni Concert Hall. 2 p.m. Free! (tickets required)
Allison Au Quartet presents a recital as part of Culture Days. Program details not available. Info, here.
Massey and Roy Thomson Hall | Richard Clayderman at Roy Thomson Hall. 3 p.m. $43–179
Richard “Prince of Romance” Clayderman gives a concert combining his original compositions with classics and pop standards. Details, here.
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