Toronto Classical Music Critic’s Picks between Dec. 19 – Jan. 1

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.

Every December, like clockwork, it’s slim pickings the last ten days or so of the month when it comes to classical music events. This year, Holiday programming has come to an end except for the tail end of the TSO Messiah (Dec. 20, 21, 23), as Christmas is a time reserved for family and friends. There is, however, an old standby — the Nutcracker put on by the National Ballet of Canada. It runs daily except Christmas Day, to New Year’s Eve. Another good bet this year is the musical theatre version of Sleeping Beauty put on by Ross Petty Productions. It opened on November 25^th and continues to Jan. 7th^tat the Elgin Theatre. Opera fans can count on Guillermo Silva-Marin and the Toronto Operetta Theatre to put on something frothy and fun, in this case a G&S favourite, Pirates of Penzance. Thanks to impresario Attila Glatz, there’s even an opera gala! Bravissimo! Opera’s Greatest Hits returns to Roy Thomson Hall on New Year’s Eve, followed by an afternoon of Viennese bon-bons in Salute to Vienna on January 1st.

Let me take this opportunity to send my warm Seasons Greetings to all Musical Toronto readers, and may 2017 brings you the three “H’s” — Health, Happiness, and of course, Heavenly Music.

Monday 19

TSO | Messiah at Roy Thomson Hall. 8 p.m. $44.75+ (Repeats 20, 21, 23)

Opened on Sunday 18th, TSO’s fabulous Messiah continues this week, 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. Details, here.

Tuesday 20

National Ballet of Canada | The Nutcracker, at the Four Seasons Centre. 7 p.m. $39 –175. (Repeats daily except Christmas Day through Dec. 31)

Opened last Tuesday Dec. 13, the National’s iconic show is a must if you’ve never seen it before. Check for time and casting. Choreography by James Kudelka, set to the divine score by Tchaikovsky. Full listing, here.

Wednesday 21

Ross Petty Productions | Sleeping Beauty, at the Elgin Theatre. 7 p.m. $27–99. (Repeats daily except Christmas Day through December 31)

The musical theatre version of Sleeping Beauty, written by Jeremy Diamond and directed by Tracey Flye, with choreography by Julie Tomaino. Check rosspetty.com for details.

Tuesday 27

Toronto Operetta Theatre | Pirates of Penzance at Jane Mallett Theatre, St. Lawrence Centre. 8 p.m. $49 – $95 (Repeats Dec. 30, 31, Jan. 6, 7, 8)

One of the most popular and enduring of works by Gilbert & Sullivan – G&S for short to their fans – it stars Colin Ainsworth, tenor (Frederic); Vania Chan, soprano (Mabel); Curtis Sullivan, baritone (Major General); and Elizabeth Beeler, alto (Ruth). Derek Bate conducts and TOT’s Guillermo Silva-Marin is the stage director. Info, here.

Thursday 29

Sony Centre/Attila Glatz Concert Productions | E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial Live in Concert at the Sony Centre for the Performing Arts. 7:30 p.m. Pre-show talk at 6:30 p.m. $49–99 (Repeats Dec. 30)

A good choice if you have young children who need to be entertained over the holidays. This immensely popular Steven Spielberg movie is here accompanied by the Motion Picture Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Evan Mitchell. Full details, here.

Saturday 31

Attila Glatz Concert Productions/Roy Thomson Hall | Bravissimo! Opera’s Greatest Hits, at Roy Thomson Hall. 7 p.m. $55 – $145

The New Year’s Eve opera concert is back, and this time with Italian maestro Marco Guidarini at the helm. He is well known to COC audiences, having conducted here on several occasions. Soloists are Donata D’Annunzio Lombardi, soprano; Diletta Rizzo Marin, mezzo; Leonardo Caimi, tenor; and Lucio Gallo, baritone, in selections from Così fan tutte, Madama Butterfly, Rigoletto, Pagliacci, and Tosca. Opera Canada Symphony and Opera Canada Chorus. More details found, here.

Sunday 1

Attila Glatz Concert Productions/Roy Thomson Hall | Salute to Vienna New Year’s Concert at Roy Thomson Hall 2:30 p.m. $65–115

This is the 22nd annual New Year’s Concert in Toronto presented by Attila Glatz. Strauss waltzes and melodies from operettas with full orchestra and dancers. Strauss Symphony of Canada conducted by Matthias Fletzberger. Soloists are Polina Pasztircsák, soprano, Alexander Kaimbacher, tenor, and dancers from Kiev City Ballet. More info, here.

#LUDWIGVAN

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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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