For the week of Dec. 5 – 11
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 here: Musical Toronto Datebook.
The big news on the symphonic front this week is the return of Orchestre symphonique de Montreal and Kent Nagano to Roy Thomson Hall on Dec. 8, in a program of Beethoven, Dutilleux, and Ravel. Also noteworthy is the Toronto Symphony Orchestra in an All-Tchaikovsky program with guest conductor John Storgårds (Dec. 7). The ever-adventurous Soundstreams is presenting Electric Messiah, a funky deconstruction of the Handel masterpiece (Dec. 5–7). Tafelmusik explores a musical East Meets West in Tales of Two Cities: The Leipzig-Damascus Coffee House, in the gorgeous Aga Khan Museum (Dec. 9). Tons of Christmas programming — among them Toronto Mendelssohn Choir (Dec. 7), Toronto Symphony (Dec. 9), Toronto Consort (Dec. 9), Pax Christi Chorale (Dec. 10), and King’s Singers (Dec. 11). No Christmas season is complete without The Nutcracker from the National Ballet (Dec. 10). Canadian pianist Charles Richard-Hamelin plays Mozart Piano Concerto with Sinfonia Toronto (Dec. 9). Finally, Met Live in HD is presenting Kaija Saariaho’s L’amour de loin, the first opera by a woman composer at the Met in a century! Canadian content supplied by stage director Robert Lepage (Dec. 10). Lots more than what’s included here, be sure to browse the full Datebook listings.
Monday 5
Soundstreams | Electric Messiah at The Drake Hotel. 8 p.m. $15–20 (Repeats Dec. 6–7)
Soundstreams brings back Electric Messiah – a stripped down, surround sound electro-improv version of Handel’s Messiah. Gabriel Dharmoo, Christine Duncan, Jeremy Dutcher and Carla Huhtanen are the soloists accompanied by guitar and electronics. Info, here.
Wednesday 7
Toronto Mendelssohn Choir | Festival of Carols at Yorkminster Park Baptist Church 7:30 p.m. $35–76
Toronto Mendelssohn Choir presents Festival of Carols, joined by the Elora Singers and Canadian Staff Band, in a program of the best-loved carols plus works by Poulenc, Vaughan Williams, and others. David Briggs, organ; Noel Edison, conductor. Details, here.
TSO | All Tchaikovsky at Roy Thomson Hall. 8 p.m. $39.75–154
Toronto Symphony Orchestra in an All-Tchaikovsky program, including the perennial favourite Piano Concerto No.1 with pianist Lukas Geniušas, paired with Symphony No. 5. John Storgårds conducts. Info, here.
Thursday 8
TSO | Orchestre symphonique de Montréal at Roy Thomson Hall. 8 p.m. $39.75–154
Toronto Symphony Orchestra presents Orchestre symphonique de Montréal and its music director Kent Nagano in a program of Beethoven, Dutilleux, and Ravel. Pianist Till Fellner plays Beethoven Piano Concerto No. 4. Full details, here.
Friday 9
Tafelmusik | Tales of Two Cities: The Leipzig-Damascus Coffee House at the Aga Khan Museum. 3:30 p.m. $25
Tafelmusik presents Tales of Two Cities: The Leipzig-Damascus Coffee House, a multimedia creation from Alison Mackay. Jeanne Lamon, director; Alon Nashman, narration, and the Trio Arabica. The performance will be recorded for an upcoming Tafelmusik Media CD and DVD release. Concert already announced as Sold Out! Full details found, here.
TSO | The Twelve Days of Christmas at Roy Thomson Hall. 7 p.m. $26–75 (Repeats Dec. 11)
Toronto Symphony Orchestra presents The Twelve Days of Christmas, a kids-friendly, family program, featuring the Highland Creek Pipe Band, Resonance Youth Choir, and Tha Spot Holiday Dancers, under the baton of RBC Resident Conductor Earl Lee. Details, here.
Toronto Consort | A Medieval Christmas at Trinity St. Paul’s Centre. 8 p.m. $27–67 (Repeats Dec 10 and 11 (3:30 p.m.)
Toronto Consort presents A Medieval Christmas, featuring works by Hildegard of Bingen, Anna of Cologne and others. More info, here.
Sinfonia Toronto | Transfigured Night (with pianist Charles Richard-Hamelin) at the Glenn Gould Studio. 8 p.m. $42
Sinfonia Toronto presents Transfigured Night. Chopin International Piano Competition Laureate Charles Richard-Hamelin plays Mozart Piano Concerto No. 23, conducted by Nurhan Arman. Also on the program are works by Hindemith and Schoenberg. Details, here.
Saturday 10
National Ballet of Canada | The Nutcracker at the Four Seasons Centre. 2 p.m. $39–175 (Repeats through Dec 29)
National Ballet of Canada presents The Nutcracker with the fabulous Tchaikovsky score and choreography by James Kudelka. Repeats More info, here.
Pax Christi Chorale | Ode on the Nativity at the Grace Church on-the-Hill. 7:30 p.m. $45 (Repeats Dec. 11 at 3 p.m.)
Pax Christi Chorale presents Ode on the Nativity. The program includes works by Parry, Palestrina, Holst, Pärt and Poulenc, plus two new commissions by Matthew Emery. Shannon Mercer, soprano; Aslan Boys Choir. Details, here.
Met Live in HD | L’amour de loin at participating Cineplex Cinemas. 12:50 p.m. $28
Met Live in HD presents L’amour de loin by Kaija Sariaaho, with soprano Susanna Phillips and bass Eric Owens, conducted by Susanna Mälkki. Tickets, here.
Sunday 11
RCM | The King Singers at Koerner Hall. 3 p.m. $40
The Royal Conservatory presents The King’s Singers @ Christmas. On the program are works by Tchaikovsky, Lawson, and Pärt plus traditional seasonal songs. More info, here.
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