It is a listing of concert events we’re attending, wishing we may attend, or desirous about attending between Could 12 and 18, 2025. For extra of what’s taking place round Toronto, go to our calendar right here.
Tapestry Opera: Sanctuary Music
Wednesday, Could 14, 6 p.m., Thursday, Could 15, 8 p.m., Friday, Could 16, 4 p.m., Saturday, Could 17, 2 p.m., and continues to Could 25
Nancy & Ed Jackman Efficiency Centre, 877 Yonge St., $60 normal admission; PWYC and free youth tickets (beneath 18) out there
Nearly 45 minutes lengthy, this little opera about Sydney the elephant who journeys from the wild to a circus and a zoo, then to a Tennessee sanctuary, is a stunning solution to bridge stay efficiency and theatre for all ages. Elephants, extremely smart and social, have been a perennial favorite for a lot of people for many years, which sadly led to the once-common but slowly dying observe of performing elephants. What would it not be like, to be led into the world the place topsy turvy turns take you without warning — some with pleasure, some with unhappiness, throughout the globe half-way? With 4 singers and 4 musicians, the musical setting by Abigail Richardson-Schulte and Marjorie Chan is intimate but vibrant (due to the wonderful world of percussion particularly). Come and witness this pretty manufacturing, which opened simply final weekend, and expertise the magic of small theatres. In contrast to the large, cavernous opera homes and infinite rows of seats in main symphony halls, there’s a peculiar magic in these small productions — an immediacy that’s not out there anyplace else. The manufacturing photos look implausible, and we are able to belief the magic of intimate storytelling; in spite of everything, Richardson-Schulte’s work has gained many theatre-related awards together with a Dora for the Finest New Opera, and her 2012 now-classic The Hockey Sweater, primarily based on e book by Roch Service, is sort of at 200 performances — clearly, she is a succesful storymaker. Deliver all individuals of all ages, for a quick journey out of our day by day lives. Data right here.
Royal Conservatory of Music: Rhiannon Giddens & The Previous-Tim Revue
Thursday, Could 15, and Friday, Could 16, at 8 p.m.
Koerner Corridor, $80+
Rhiannon Giddens, a real warden of American individuals’s music, lastly returns to Toronto — that is the reschedule of her 2023 September live performance on account of sickness — and her ardent followers are excited to see the second date added; the preliminary single date bought out in days. Giddens, after ending Oberlin’s opera program, went again to North Carolina, sunk into folks music — and has not stopped since. Successful two Grammys, MacArthur Fellowship, Pulitzer for Music (2023), and so many extra, her large collaborations and stylistic experiments make it onerous to pin her down right into a style — maybe greatest described as root music: multifaceted Americana, constructed and evolving from early blues, nation, folks, R&B, and lots of others, it’s merely stunningly lovely. A number of of her collaborations embrace critically acclaimed initiatives with Christian McBride and Francesco Turrisi, the Silkroad Ensemble, and Beyonce — it’s fascinating to see her play, curate, and evolve continuously. Root/folks music is sort of tough to outline: we really feel it after we hear it, however that leaves us with a restricted publicity to what ‘turns into’ out there — a random streaming observe, a music in a film, an occasional curiosity in Chris Thiel maybe, whose mandolin genius could also be acquainted to Bach and Vivaldi followers. So come out this week, and listen to this wonderful lady and her crew: Justin Robinson, Dirk Powell, Amelia Powell, Jason Sypher, and Demeanor, and be immersed within the complicated custom of Americana, at its greatest. 20 months was a very long time to attend. Data right here.
TSO: Beethoven’s Fifth with the Nationwide Arts Centre Orchestra
Friday, Could 16, 7:30 p.m., Roy Thomson Corridor, $30+
Ah, it’s good to have an orchestra go to Toronto. Toronto is vibrant. There’s a lot variety and so many issues to do — however maybe not a lot within the arts. With a inhabitants of nearly 3 million (as of 2022, excluding the GTA), we merely lack the dimensions and depth of audiences to have true variety for arts compared to the mega cities of the world. The large, lovely Canadian panorama actually doesn’t assist this trigger: the closest full-season orchestras are at the very least a pair hours away. Therefore, it’s crucial that we additionally preserve an ear out for non-local ensembles. NACO is bringing just a few perennial bangers: Beethoven’s Fifth, and Mozart Piano Concerto No. 22 with Yeol Eum Son; and the NACO fee by Keiko Devaux: ‘Listening Underwater’ (2023), is an fascinating deal with to spice this conventional programming. Son was silver medal winner of the Tchaikovsky Competitors (2011), and Van Cliburn (2009), recognized for her Mozart taking part in (her stay Tchaikovsky Competitors Mozart recording has hit over 25 million views) — promise an fulfilling, candy program with zero further journey. Data right here.
Vesuvius Ensemble: Le Tarantelle: Spiders’ Evening!
Friday, Could 16, 8 p.m.
Heliconian Corridor, 35 Hazelton Ave., $40+
The Vesuvius Ensemble, our personal native group specializing in Italian heritage, sells out each live performance. The authenticity and pleasure they create is vivid and heat. This time, specializing in the perennial favorite model, Le Tarantelle, the night guarantees an immersion in la dolce vita, with the additional zing of… toxic bites. ‘… to entry the tarantella’s therapeutic energy, we’ll want to search out the music that pleases the “spider” whose “chew” brought about your ailment,’ says VE — will they ship the products? Come and discover out, on the intimate Heliconian Corridor, and sink into magnificence. Data right here.
Canzona Chamber Gamers: Chamber Café
Sunday, Could 18, 10:30 a.m., Canzona Music Studio, 27 Sherbourne St. N., $40
As a substitute of the glam of the efficiency homes, come as you might be, (or in your Sunday morning greatest), seize a cup of espresso and native bakery items (this time, delivered from the Jule’s patisserie) and let Bohemian Spring circulation gently by way of the weekend glory. Taking part in chamber music is synonymous with listening to chamber music, for a lot of musicians. In reality, all of us agree that chamber music with associates, and friends-to-be, is among the greatest riches we have now in life. Individuals construct life-long friendships, fall into deepest love, and get to know others in methods which are a lot extra intimate than phrases, once they actually play collectively. We choose up on little distinctive mannerisms, and supply a depth of emotion that goes far past the on a regular basis language. A sound can say a lot. The gestures and mutual communication that allow such sound creation, can say much more. It should not be a complete fluke that the verb ‘to play,’ is utilized to music; coming from Proto-West Germanic ‘plegōjanan,’ which means to ‘occupy oneself about,’ after we play collectively, we occupy oneself with the others. So come to this pretty, open, casual setting and let the acquainted faces fill out this Sunday morning with human magnificence. Learn our Preview right here. Data right here.
Arkel Chamber Concert events: Below a Veil of Stars
Sunday, Could 18, 3 p.m.
Trinity St. Paul’s United Church, $40
In case you are not a morning individual, right here’s a Sunday afternoon chamber live performance for you! That includes two piano trios: Schubert, and Kevin Lau, Arkel is joined by visitor pianist Philip Chiu. Schubert’s piano trio, his a hundredth work, is considered one of his final works, and it was the one large-scale instrumental work that was revealed in his lifetime, probably premiered in one of many ‘Schubertiad’, casual celebrations the place Schubert and associates gathered to share life and music. Lau’s music, new but alway accessible, makes a superb pair for this mild afternoon program — an excellent lengthy weekend outing selection. Data right here.
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Cecilia tumbled into ‘severe’ music research when she determined to keep away from attending medical college. Presently working within the discipline of classical music, recording, and Korean-English interpretation, she tends to get her nostril soiled in many various issues within the metropolis. Cecilia holds a DMA in Piano Efficiency from the College of Nebraska-Lincoln.
