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CRITIC’S PICKS | Classical Music Occasions You Completely Want To See This Week: December 9 – 15


L-R (clockwise): pianist Isata and cellist Sheku Kanneh-Mason (Picture courtesy of the artists); The Toronto Kids’s Refrain (Picture courtesy of TCC); The St. Michael’s Choir College (Picture courtesy of St. Michael’s School)

It is a record of concert events we’re attending, wishing we may attend, or serious about attending between December 9 and 15, 2024. For extra of what’s taking place round Toronto, go to our calendar right here.

Confluence Concert events: Letters to the Writer

Tuesday, December 10, 7:30 p.m.
Heliconian Corridor, $30

Life is a steady dialogue. Regardless of the inflexible traces we strive to attract in between issues, the fixed semiosis of the in-betweens marks our personal transient nature, and the messy, wealthy, and extensive world we occupy. This live performance, curated by the 24-25 Confluence Live performance Younger Creative Affiliate, Aidan McConnell, focuses on that infinite area between the creators and the recipients — artists and viewers; or maybe, all of us are artists after we understand issues which might be better than the mechanical a part of actuality and change into ‘artwork,’ if only for that flashing second. Music of Joni Mitchell, Milton Nascimento, Elis Regina, Cecile Mclorin Salvant, Burt Bacharach, Benjamin Britten, John Coltrane, and others, has been chosen to create a brilliant constellation for all who take part with open ears. Come for candy moments of intimacy — sink into the music as these beautiful musicians, crossing many genres and bounds, pulse collectively. Pre-concert chat at 6:45 p.m. Information right here.

Toronto Symphony Orchestra: TSO Vacation Pops

Tuesday, December 10, 8 p.m.; Wednesday, December 11, 2 p.m. and eight p.m., Thursday, December 12, 8 p.m.
Roy Thomson Corridor, $78+

Christmastide is likely one of the greatest instances for a pops live performance: previous favourites, classical bangers, choir carols, and jazz — it’s very troublesome to sit down in and attempt to keep a grinch stance when these acquainted tunes waft in with a way of festivity. Denzal Sinclaire, the most effective Nat King Cole interpreters, with three albums underneath the belt with Common Music, is joined by Etobicoke College of Arts Vacation Refrain, TSO, and two younger and mighty soloists from TSYO: Tina Sievers and Ethan Hyo Jeon. Come and get your vacation season began with this glowing program. Information right here.

Royal Conservatory of Music: Sheku Kanneh-Mason with Isata Kanneh-Mason

Wednesday, December 11, 8 p.m.
Koerner Corridor, $50+

Two members of the astonishing Kanneh-Mason household grace Koerner Corridor this night. Cellist Sheku, the winner of 2016 BBC Younger Musician competitors, turned an instantaneous family identify when he performed on the British Royal Marriage ceremony of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle; the eldest Kanneh-Mason, Isata, a pianist, has been busy performing internationally, together with a BBC Proms concerto efficiency. To expertise these proficient siblings presenting this nice program of cello-piano sonatas is a tremendous deal with, because it’s the symbiosis between the people that makes a stay human efficiency a profitable expertise. Technically and musically demanding, but terribly stunning works by Mendelssohn, Fauré, Poulnec and Klouda (Canadian premiere) promise pleasure and magnificence. To not be missed. Information right here.

Elmer Isler Singers: December Splendour: Handel’s Messiah

Friday, December 13, 7:30 p.m.
Yorkminster Park Baptist Church, $35+

Handel wrote many bangers, and maybe his hottest work, Messiah, graces many halls internationally throughout Christmastide and Easter. For this week, the ELS and nice visitors: VIVA Chamber Singers, and the Amadeus Choir, herald tidings and pleasure of the excellent news to individuals on this Friday. Acquainted faces, Leslie Fagan, Allyson McHardy, Colin Ainsworth, and Peter McGillivray, will ship the excellent news as soloists. Messiah works in lots of settings — small and intimate, to huge, full-out stadium scale, and this feels excellent; a communal effort, from younger youngsters to skilled execs. Do come and expertise it stay, amongst this excellent group. Information right here.

Royal Conservatory of Music: VOCES8

Friday, December 13, 8 p.m.
Koerner Corridor. $50+

Doubtlessly the most effective vocal ensembles on this planet proper now, VOCES8 makes its Koerner Corridor debut. A splendid program of Christmas music from Praetorius to ‘Silver Bells’ and ‘Let It Snow’ will showcase what eight human voices can do collectively. This live performance bought out weeks in the past, but there’s prone to be small variety of rush tickets for just a few fortunate people on the day, so get your speed-dial able to ring at 5 p.m. sharp, to affix the packed corridor, in anticipation of what simply could also be one of the best choral live performance of the yr within the metropolis. Information right here.

St. Michael’s Choir College: Gloria!

Saturday, December 14, 7 p.m.
Massey Corridor, $45

St. Michael’s Choir College brings the custom of choral scholarship to Massey Corridor on this Saturday night. For the 59th annual Christmas live performance, the boys and males, together with returning alumni, are presenting Vivaldi’s Gloria, Carol of the Bells, and The Carol, amongst different seasonal favourites. The splendour of 300+ male voices is kind of particular — one other nice probability to expertise the wealthy resonance of a big vocal ensemble. Information right here.

Royal Conservatory of Music: Emilie-Claire Barlow: Winter Wonderland

Saturday, December 14, 8 p.m.
Koerner Corridor, $50+

Come for an intimate vacation live performance with Emilie-Claire, one of many brightest Canadian jazz stars. Recognized for her beautiful voice and a pointy ear for arranging, Emilie-Claire’s been busy publishing 12 albums on her personal, and along with her experience as a top-notch producer, she’s an all-around tour-de-force. This night, she’s going to fill the Koerner Corridor with a 9-members combined ensemble, evoking pleasure and style to sum up this vacation season. With out intermission, this 90-minute live performance could possibly be simply the factor so that you can convey that vacation cheer up one other notch. Information right here.

Canadian Kids’s Refrain: Songs of the Season

Sunday, December 15, 2 p.m.
Roy Thomson Corridor $56.36+

We frequently say we have to nurture and encourage youngsters. However on this case, come and be amazed and impressed by these proficient, hardworking youngsters as they current ‘Songs of the Season with Toronto Kids’s Refrain’, a practice that’s been occurring for over 30 years. Starting from age six to younger adults, it’s wonderful what they create artistically — their musicianship and technical mastery of choral singing are genuinely spectacular — singing shouldn’t be a straightforward factor! With many visitors, together with musicians of the Toronto Symphony Youth Orchestra, and an alumni choir, it is a nice solution to expertise numerous artistry inside our group. Information right here.

Royal Conservatory of Music: Kevin Chen

Sunday, December 15, 3 p.m.
Koerner Corridor, $30+

This younger Canadian man has been busy dashing by the worldwide piano festivals. He was the youngest winner of the Franz Liszt Worldwide Piano Competitors, and has gained the first prize on the Concours de Genève, and the Arthur Rubinstein Piano Grasp Competitors. Chen is bringing the height canon repertoire of the Romantic piano works of Chopin and Liszt. Should you want a respite from the ocean of seasonal cheer, this live performance will current you with spectacular technicality and panache of classical piano.  Information right here.

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