For the week of May 1–7
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.
Tuesday 2
Canadian Opera Company | Louis Riel. Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts. 7:30 p.m. $35-$235. Repeats May 5.
COC’s revival of Louis Riel with an all-Canadian cast continues this week. I enjoyed the opening night performance. Kudos to Peter Hinton for his powerful directorial vision, one that transforms a dated period piece into something more in keeping with 21st century Canadian social and political values. Russell Braun in the title role gave the performance of his career. The atonal score by Harry Somers adds to the drama in this production. A very worthwhile show to catch. Details found here.
Wednesday 3
Toronto Symphony Orchestra | Arabian Nights: Pre-Europe/Israel Tour Concert. Roy Thomson Hall, 8 p.m. $48.25-$173.75.
The TSO is embarking on a tour of Israel and Europe, but before they leave, we are getting a Pre-tour Concert of music inspired by Arabian Nights – Rimsky Korsakov’s Scherherazade. Also on the program is a piece by Czech-Canadian composer Oskar Morawetz, and one by Pierre Boulez featuring soprano Carla Huhtanen. More info here.
Thursday 4
Women’s Musical Club of Toronto | Charles Richard-Hamelin in Recital. Walter Hall, Edward Johnson Building, University of Toronto, 1:30 p.m. $45 / SOLD OUT!
Winner of the WMCT Career Development Award in April 2015, Charles Richard-Hamelin went on to win the Silver Medal and the Krystian Zimerman award for Best Sonata at the International Chopin Piano Competition in Warsaw. Richard-Hamelin is playing a program of works by Mozart, Chopin, Schumann, and Arno Babadjanian. Full details found here.
Toronto Symphony Orchestra | Schumann Piano Concerto: Pre-Europe/Israel Tour Concert. Roy Thomson Hall. 8 p.m. $39.75-$98.25
Another Pre-Tour Concert by the TSO, this one featuring Canadian pianist Jan Lisiecki playing the Schumann Piano Concerto in A Minor. Also on the program is Bartok’s Concerto for Orchestra and a TSO Commission, Iris by Jordan Pal. Peter Oundjian conducts. See here for the listing.
Canadian Opera Company | Tosca. Four Seasons Centre. 7:30 p.m. $35-$235. Repeats May 6, 7 (2 p.m.)
This ultra-traditional COC production of Tosca keeps getting better with each viewing. I attended the opening on April 30, and it was a marvelous performance, with great singing by Canadian soprano Adrianne Pieczonka and Argentinean tenor Marcelo Puente. Conductor Keri-Lynn Wilson made an auspicious COC debut at the helm. If you love traditional productions, don’t miss this one. More info found here.
Adam Sherkin | Write Off The Keyboard Mainstage. Jane Mallett Theatre, St. Lawrence Centre. 8 p.m. $55
The multi-talented Canadian pianist-composer Adam Sherkin plays a recital of works by Mozart, Liszt, Chopin, Rachmaninoff, Harry Somers, as well as his own compositions. Info here.
Tafelmusik | Mozart Mass in C Minor. Koerner Hall, Telus Centre. 8 p.m. $49 and up. Repeats May 5, 6, 7 (mat).
For its season finale, Tafelmusik is offering Mozart’s magnificent Mass in C Minor. Ivars Taurins directs the Tafelmusik forces, plus sopranos Julia Doyle and Joanne Lunn, tenor Asitha Tennekoon, and bass-baritone Joel Allison. In addition, there’s Haydn’s Symphony No. 98 in B-flat Major, directed by Elisa Citterio. Details found here.
Friday 5
Opera By Request | Lohengrin in Concert. College Street United Church, 452 College St. $20.
Given that the last time the Canadian Opera Company programmed Wagner’s Lohengrin was way back in 1983, this concert performance with piano accompaniment is worth considering. It features fine local singers, under the direction of pianist William Shookhoff. Jason Lamont, tenor (Lohengrin); Stephanie DeCiantis, soprano (Elsa); Andrew Tees, baritone (Telramund); Kristine Dandavino, mezzo-soprano (Ortrud); Norman Brown, baritone (King Henry); Michael Robert-Broder, baritone (Herald). More info here.
Sinfonia Toronto | Death and the Maiden. George Weston Recital Hall, Toronto Centre for the Arts, 5040 Yonge Street. 8 p.m. $42
Sinfonia Toronto’s season finale features young Austrian violinist Elisso Gogibedashvili playing Sarasate and Tchaikovsky, with the centerpiece being Schubert’s Death and the Maiden arranged for orchestra. Also on the program is the world premiere of a fanfare by Chan Ka Nin. Full details found here.
Saturday 6
Toronto Children’s Chorus | In Peace and Celebration. George Weston Recital Hall, Toronto Centre for the Arts. 3 p.m. $35.50-$45.50
The spring concert of the Toronto Children’s Chorus celebrates Artistic Director Elise Bradley’s 10th season with works by Canadian and world composers, including Lori-Anne Dolloff, Hussein Janmohamed, Shireen Abu-Khader, Oscar Peterson, Imant Raminsh and Mark Sirett. See here for more info.
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