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CRITIC'S PICKS | 10 Classical Music Offerings To Consider This Week

By Joseph So on March 13, 2017

For the week of March 13 – 19

Critic’s Picks for classical music and opera events happening in and around Toronto for the week of Mar. 13 – 19.

This being the traditional Spring Break, musical activities in TO are somewhat lighter than usual, in anticipation of folks escaping to warmer climes. Given the predicted mammoth snowstorm to start on Monday, can’t say I blame them.  But for those choosing “staycation,”  there are still plenty of musical events, including a few kids-friendly ones, such as National Ballet’s Pinocchio (Mar. 15, 18, 19), and soprano Kyra Millan’s Opera for All Ages (Mar. 14).  Both the University of Toronto and Royal Conservatory of Music opera programs are putting on their respective spring productions – La Cecchina by Niccolo Piccinni at the Royal Conservatory of Music (Mar. 15, 17), and Handel’s Imeneo at the U of T (Mar. 16-19). York University Department of Music is presenting a World Music Festival with many events, beginning Mar. 16. Philharmonia Quartett Berlin plays a program of Haydn, Beethoven, and Schumann under the auspices of Music Toronto (Mar. 16). Canzona Chamber Players’ Duo Rideau (piano four hands) gives a recital of Mozart, Schubert, Grieg, Rachmaninoff and others (Mar. 13). The dance troupe, Coleman Lemieux & Compagnie presents Love, Sex & Brahms (Mar. 16 – 19). Tenor Andrew Haji and bass-baritone Jason Howard sing a program of English Songs at Mazzoleni Hall (Mar. 19). Do consult the complete listings for more events.

Monday 13

Canzona Chamber Players | Duo Rideau. Music Gallery, 197 John St. 7:30 p.m. $25

The piano four-hands duo known as Duo Rideau (pianists Amelie Langlois and Catherine Donkin) plays a program of Mozart, Schubert, Grieg, Rachmaninoff, Khachaturian, and Donkin. This is the one group I know with duo concerts, one in the city (Mar. 13), and one in the Toronto Islands (St. Andrew by the Lake), which had already taken place (Mar. 12). Info here.

Tuesday 14

Teatro Proscenium Limited Partnership/Garth Drabinsky | Sousatzka. Elgin Theatre. 8 p.m. $60 – $175. (Repeats daily except Monday.)

The musical adaptation of Madame Sousatzka, based on the novel by Bernice Rubens, is currently in preview (started on Feb. 15). Opening night in Toronto is Mar. 23, and the show will move to Broadway afterward. Set in London, England in 1982, it’s the story of a talented young boy torn between two powerful women – his mother, and Madame Sousatzka, his piano teacher, originally played by Shirley MacLaine in the 1988 movie. Full concert listing found here.

Canadian Opera Company | Vocal Series: Millan and Faye Present Opera for All Ages. Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre. 12 p.m. Free.

Soprano Kyra Millan, pianist Christina Faye, baritone Bruno Roy and singers from the Canadian Children’s Opera Company explore selections from various operas, plus a special focus on Mozart’s The Magic Flute. Be sure to show up an hour early for a seat. Program details here: PDF.

Wednesday 15

Royal Conservatory of Music/ Glenn Gould School | La cecchina. 7:30 p.m. Koerner Hall. $25 – $55. Repeats Mar. 17.

The Glenn Gould School, the professional arm of RCM, presents its annual opera production this week. The work this year is the seldom-staged Baroque opera La cecchina by Niccolo Piccinni, a rather conventional comic period piece, gratefully written for young voices. The cast is made up of current and former students of the GGS. Leslie Dala conducts. Details here.

National Ballet of Canada | Pinocchio. Four Seasons Centre. 7:30 p.m. $39 – $265. Repeats Mar. 16, 17, 18, 19. Consult their website for details.

This new production of Pinocchio, with music by Paul Englishby and libretto by Alasdair Middleton, opened on March 11 to mixed but generally positive receptions.  Unlike the typical ballet where the story is told from movement, this production includes spoken text! As Michael Crabb in Toronto Star points out, it’s also unusual that it lacks a romance in the story, and the dancing is mostly “character dancing.” That said, it’s still well worth attending. Full details found here.

Thursday 16

York University Department of Music | World Music Festival: Cuban Ensemble. 11 a.m. Tribute Communities Recital Hall, Accolade East Building, York University. Free.

York University’s World Music Festival is a cross-cultural celebration of musical traditions around the world, with ten concerts over a two day period (Mar. 16 & 17).  Go to their website for details.

University of Toronto Faculty of Music | Handel: Imeneo. MacMillan Theatre, Edward Johnson Building. 7:30 p.m. $40. Repeats Mar. 18, 18, 19.

The U of T Faculty of Music opera division is presenting a Baroque rarity, Handel’s Imeneo, directed by Tim Albery. The creative team includes countertenor Daniel Taylor, designer Michelle Tracey, and lighting designer Jason Hand. There is an Opera Talk half an hour before the performance. Full details here.

Music Toronto | Philharmonia Quartett Berlin. Jane Mallett Theatre, St. Lawrence Centre. 8 p.m. $55.

The 30-year old Philharmonia Quartett Berlin returns to Toronto for a program of Haydn, Beethoven, and Schumann. This is their 8th concert for Music Toronto. The soloists are violinists Daniel Stabrawa and Christian Stadelmann, violist Neithard Resa, and cellist Dietmar Schwalke. More info found here.

Coleman Lemieux & Compagnie | Love, Sex and Brahms. Betty Oliphant Theatre, 404 Jarvis St. 8 p.m. $25. Gala opening night ticket $100. Repeats 17, 18, 19.

The dance ensemble, Coleman Lemieux & Compagnie, winner of a Dora Mavor Moore Award in 2015, presents an expanded version of James Kudelka’s work with the addition of five Brahms Intermezzi for solo piano featuring CLC dancers, including former Royal Winnipeg Ballet’s Evelyn Hart. Pianist is Andrew Burashko.  Introduction by James Kudelka at 7 p.m.  Info here.

Sunday 19

Royal Conservatory of Music | Songmasters: English Song Treasures. Mazzoleni Hall, Telus Centre, 273 Bloor St. W. 2 p.m. $25

The RCM Songmasters series presents a recital with Canadian tenor Andrew Haji and Welsh bass-baritone -Toronto resident Jason Howard in a program of English songs. No program details available from the RCM website unfortunately. Haji just sang Tamino in the COC The Magic Flute to critical acclaim, and he returns next season as Nemorino in L’Elisir d’amore. This is a voice that’s going places. I last heard Welsh baritone Jason Howard, an estimable Wotan, in a production of South Pacific at the Four Seasons Centre. A fine singer that we don’t get to hear often enough in Toronto. All the details here.

#LUDWIGVAN

Joseph So

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