This Week in Toronto (Apr. 7 - 13)

Hercules with Alice Coote (Dejanira), Richard Croft (Hyllus) and Chorus (Photo: Michael Cooper)

Canadian Opera Company's spring season opened with a triumphant Handel's Hercules last Saturday. By re-imagining the work to the time of the Iraqi conflict, American stage director Peter Sellars' vision gives this baroque oratorio powerful contemporary resonance. He demonstrates that by focusing on the human toll of war, a piece from as long ago as 1744 can speak to modern day audiences, because the emotions of the characters transcend time and space.  The set by George Tsypin - and in particular the lighting by James Ingalls - is beautifully evocative, with extremely effective use of projections. The singing was first rate in every way. British mezzo Alice Coote's as Dejanira, the frustrated wife of Hercules, was a complete triumph.  American bass-baritone Eric Owens was a physically and vocally imposing Hercules.  Making a welcome return to the COC after 22 years, American tenor Richard Croft remains a model of vocal grace as Hyllus. Equally impressive was American countertenor David Daniels as the herald Lichas. Incidentally you can hear these two singers in their respective roles in the Archiv recording of Hercules with Anne Sofie von Otter in the title role. Making her COC debut was British soprano Lucy Crowe whose soaring soprano was an absolute delight. COC frequent guest Harry Bicket returns to lead a lyrical and deeply moving reading of the divine score. And I would be remiss in not mentioning the excellent COC chorus, so important in Handel. (A full review will appear in La Scena Musicale and at in a future print issue of Opera in London, UK.) This is a show not to be missed. Performance this week on Friday April 11 7:30 pm at the Four Seasons Centre. http://www.coc.ca/Home.aspx

American pianist Richard Goode (Photo: Steve Riskind)

To celebrate the 150th anniversary of the birth of Richard Strauss, the Toronto Symphony Orchestra is presenting the ever-popular Ein Heldenleben. It's paired with Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 17 K. 453 played by American pianist Richard Goode.  Also on the program is Aqua, a piece by Canadian composer Vivian Fung receiving its Canadian premiere here. Peter Oundjian conducts. Friday 7:30 pm and Saturday 8 pm at Roy Thomson Hall. http://tso.ca/en-ca/Home.aspx

Soprano Isabel Bayrakdarian 

Tafelmusik is presenting this week The Rival Queens, a vocal concert of arias by Handel, Bononcini and Hasse, plus orchestral works by Handel, Zelenka, Vivaldi, and Telemann. Soprano Isabel Bayrakdarian is the soloist. Performances on April 9, 10, 12, and 13 at Koerner Hall. Details at http://www.tafelmusik.org/concert-calendar/concert/rival-queens-isabel-bayrakdarian

Parker Quartet (Photo: www.parkerquartet.com)

Music Toronto is presenting the Parker Quartet in a chamber music recital of works by Beethoven, Dvorak, and Thomas Ades.   Thursday April 10 8 pm at the Jane Mallett Theatre. http://music-toronto.com/

Lydia Adams of Amadeus Choir

Given Easter is just around the corner, the Amadeus Choir of Greater Toronto under the direction of Lydia Adams, in collaboration with the Elmer Iseler Singers, is presenting Bach's Mass in B Minor, with soloists soprano Meredith Hall, mezzo Catherine Wyn-Rogers, tenor Colin Ainsworth and bass-baritone Nathaniel Watson. Performance on Saturday April 12 7:30 pm at the Metropolitan United Church at the corner of Queen and Bond Streets.  http://www.amadeuschoir.com/