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 guns are out this week when it comes to Christmas programming, with both the Toronto Symphony Orchestra’s annual large-scale Messiah (Dec. 18) and Tafelmusik’s relatively intimate Baroque version on offer (Dec. 14-17). If you want to give your vocal cords a workout, a good choice is Tafelmusik’s Sing-Along Messiah with Herr Handel, a.k.a. Ivars Taurins the rest of the year (Dec. 18). Other seasonal offerings include Amadeus Choir (Dec. 17), Toronto Masque Theatre (Dec. 12), Orpheus Choir (Dec. 13), Jann Arden Christmas with TSO (Dec. 13), Toronto Choral Society (Dec. 14), and Toronto Children’s Chorus (Dec. 17). National Ballet of Canada’s The Nutcracker continues (Daily from Dec. 13). Not too many non-Yuletide shows, but I found two terrific ones — Ukrainian-Canadian pianist and composer Dmitri Levkovich gives a recital at Heliconian Hall (Dec. 13), and the Gryphon Trio playing a program of Schönberg and Brahms at the Jane Mallett Theatre (Dec. 15).
Monday 12
Toronto Masque Theatre | O Tannenbaum: The Tree of Life at The Atrium, 21 Shaftesbury Avenue. 7:30 p.m. $25 SOLD OUT To be put on the waiting list, call 416-410-4561
Seasonal songs and stories, including No Tongue Will Tally by Harry Somers and Dr. Claude Bissell for the annual Christmas Gaudy at Massey College. Soloists are soprano Jennifer Taverner, tenor Bud Roach, alto Andrea Ludwig, and bass Alexander Dobson. Food, drinks and silent auction. Full details, here.
Tuesday 13
National Ballet of Canada | The Nutcracker at Four Seasons Centre. 7 p.m. $39 – $175 (Repeats through Dec. 31)
A must for the Holidays is this iconic Christmas show if you’ve never seen it before. Performances almost daily – check their website for time and casting. Choreography by James Kudelka, set to the divine score by Tchaikovsky. Info, here.
Dmitri Levkovich | Piano Recital at Heliconian Hall, 35 Hazelton Ave. 7:30 p.m. $40
The brilliant Ukrainian-Canadian pianist and composer is giving a recital of Franck: Prelude, Choral et Fugue FWV21; Chopin: Sonata No. 2 in B-flat Minor Op. 35; Mozart: Sonata No. 17 in F-blat K570; and Chopin: 12 Etudes Op. 25. Details, here.
Orpheus Choir | Welcome Christmas! at Yorkminster Park Baptist Church, 1585 Yonge St. 7:30 p.m. $40
This is a repeat of the successful concert from last year, with jazz and gospel singer Jackie Richardson and the Hannaford Street Silver Band. For info, see here.
Toronto Symphony Orchestra | A Jann Arden Christmas at Roy Thomson Hall. 8 p.m. From $39.75 (Repeats Dec. 14, 2 & 8 p.m.)
Canadian pop icon Jann Arden celebrates Christmas in this holiday season special. She’s joined by the Etobicoke School of the Arts Chorus and the Toronto Symphony under the baton of Steven Reineke. Info, here.
Wednesday 14
Tafelmusik | Messiah at Koerner Hall 7:30 p.m. $39 and up. (Repeats Dec. 15, 16, 17)
Canada’s premiere Baroque orchestra presents Messiah, with an excellent quartet of soloists – Amanda Forsythe, soprano; Krisztina Szabó, mezzo; Colin Balzer, tenor; Tyler Duncan, baritone. Ivars Taurins directs. Details found right, here.
Toronto Choral Society | Buon Natale! at Eastminster United Church, 310 Danforth Ave. 7:30 p.m. $21, $26 (at the door)
Toronto Choral Society presents Buon Natale! Featuring festive Italian choral works including Vivaldi’s Gloria and Respighi’s Lauda per la Natività. Soloists are soprano Giovanna Carina, mezzo Jullian Yemens, tenor Riccardo Ianello and the Talisker Players. Info, here.
Thursday 15
Music Toronto | Gryphon Trio at Jane Mallett Theatre, St. Lawrence Centre. 8 p.m. $55
The Gryphon Trio (violinist Annalee Patipatanakoon, cellist Roman Borys and pianist Jamie Parker) plays Schönberg’s Verklarte Nacht arranged for trio, a Gryphon Trio commission – Give Me Phoenix Wings to Fly, by Kelly-Marie Murphy, and Brahms’ Trio in B-sharp Major. Info, here.
Saturday 17
Toronto Children’s Chorus | A Child’s Christmas at Roy Thomson Hall 2 p.m. $35.50 – $45.50
The 300-strong Toronto Children’s Chorus is joined by the TCC Alumni Choir in a performance of seasonal favourites, including a musical reading of Dylan Thomas’s A Child’s Christmas in Wales, narrated by Geraint Wyn Davies. Members of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, and harpist Judy Loman, trumpeter Stan Klebanoff, and percussionist Andy Morris. See here, for more info.
Pax Christi Chorale | The Children’s Messiah at Church of St. Mary Magdalene, 477 Manning Ave. 4 p.m. PWYC
Pax Christi Chorale presents The Children’s Messiah, designed for children and young families. Soloists are sopranos Larissa Koniuk and Caitlin Wood, mezzo Maria Soulis, tenor Jacques Arsenault, and baritone Dion Mazerolle. Info, here.
Amadeus Choir | Winter Lullabies at Yorkminster Park Baptist Church, 1585 Yonge St. 7:30 p.m. $40
Amadeus Choir presents Winter Lullabies, “seasonal music to soothe the soul.” Also featured are Erica Goodman (harp), Shawn Grenke and Eleanor Daley (piano/organ). Bach Children’s Chorus conducted by Linda Beaupré. Lydia Adams conducts the Amadeus Choir. Details, here.
Sunday 18
Tafelmusik | Sing-Along Messiah at Massey Hall 2 p.m. $49
Tafelmusik presents its ever-popular Sing-Along Messiah, now in its 30th year, led by Herr Handel, a.k.a Ivars Taurins. Joining the Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra and Chamber Choir are soloists soprano Amanda Forsythe, mezzo Krisztina Szabó, tenor Colin Balzer, and baritone Tyler Duncan. Seating is assigned by voice parts. Families and friends may sit together in the mixed-voice section. Details, here.
TSO | Messiah at Roy Thomson Hall. 3 p.m. $44.75 and up. (Repeats 19, 20, 21, 23)
Toronto Symphony Orchestra presents its annual Messiah, with guest maestro and Baroque specialist Nicholas McGegan, leading a quartet of soloists (Yulia Van Doren, soprano; Abigail Lewis, mezzo; Isaiah Bell, tenor; Daniel Okulitch, bass-baritone), joined by the Toronto Mendelssohn Choir. Info, here.
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