My Toronto Concert Picks for the week of Jan. 12 to 18
Joseph So
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The Toronto Symphony Orchestra kicks off the new year with its Mozart Birthday Celebrations - Mozart @259. It started with a celebration of the 250th anniversary of his birth and now it's an annual affair, and why not - what better way to lift the spirit from the depth of winter than some Mozart? On Jan. 15, the TSO is presenting Mozart Paris Symphony, a mixed program of Serenade No. 8 K239, Piano Concerto No. 23, Sonata No. 15 for Organ and Strings, and Symphony No. 31. (On Jan. 14, as part of its truncated Afterworks Series, the sonata and serenade are omitted) TSO concertmaster Jonathan Crow, Italian pianist Benedetto Lupo and organist Patricia Krueger are the soloists. For details, go to http://www.tso.ca/en-ca/concerts-and-tickets/Calendar.aspx
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On Jan. 17 and 18 are two performances billed as Mozart Family Ties, featuring works by Amadeus Mozart and his father Leopold, plus Haydn and Peter Schickele (aka PDQ Bach). British conductor Matthew Halls returns to the TSO for all four performances. These are relatively light programs perfect to introduce young people and those new to the joys of classical music. All performances at Roy Thomson Hall. http://www.tso.ca/
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Finally, I want to mention the COC 2015-16 Season Announcement on Wednesday Jan. 14. This is not a public event as such as it's invitation only. However, I will be reporting on it as soon as I get the press release that evening. I think a relatively safe bet would be Wagner's Siegfried as one of next season's productions, since it's common knowledge that the COC is doing the Ring cycle minus Das Rheingold. Die Walkure is opening in three weeks, and it would seem logical that Siegfried is next. However, the rest of the season's is anybody's guess!
Joseph So
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756 - 1791)
The Toronto Symphony Orchestra kicks off the new year with its Mozart Birthday Celebrations - Mozart @259. It started with a celebration of the 250th anniversary of his birth and now it's an annual affair, and why not - what better way to lift the spirit from the depth of winter than some Mozart? On Jan. 15, the TSO is presenting Mozart Paris Symphony, a mixed program of Serenade No. 8 K239, Piano Concerto No. 23, Sonata No. 15 for Organ and Strings, and Symphony No. 31. (On Jan. 14, as part of its truncated Afterworks Series, the sonata and serenade are omitted) TSO concertmaster Jonathan Crow, Italian pianist Benedetto Lupo and organist Patricia Krueger are the soloists. For details, go to http://www.tso.ca/en-ca/concerts-and-tickets/Calendar.aspx
Pianist Benedetto Lupo
On Jan. 17 and 18 are two performances billed as Mozart Family Ties, featuring works by Amadeus Mozart and his father Leopold, plus Haydn and Peter Schickele (aka PDQ Bach). British conductor Matthew Halls returns to the TSO for all four performances. These are relatively light programs perfect to introduce young people and those new to the joys of classical music. All performances at Roy Thomson Hall. http://www.tso.ca/
British conductor Matthew Halls
Toronto Masque Theatre is presenting Handel's Acis and Galatea with soprano Teri Dunn and tenor Lawrence Wiliford for three performances Jan. 15 to 17, at the Enoch Turner Schoolhouse, 106 Trinity St. Also in the cast are tenor Graham Thomson and baritone Peter McGillivray. Larry Beckwith conducts.
Tenor Lawrence Wiliford
Finally, I want to mention the COC 2015-16 Season Announcement on Wednesday Jan. 14. This is not a public event as such as it's invitation only. However, I will be reporting on it as soon as I get the press release that evening. I think a relatively safe bet would be Wagner's Siegfried as one of next season's productions, since it's common knowledge that the COC is doing the Ring cycle minus Das Rheingold. Die Walkure is opening in three weeks, and it would seem logical that Siegfried is next. However, the rest of the season's is anybody's guess!