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Review | TSO, Davis and Lortie Provide Wonderful Evening

By Andrea Rush on 24 February 2023 Concert Reviews, Orchestral, Toronto

The style was casual elegance at Roy Thomson Hall last night, and the mood buoyant. Back from a multi-city tour through Ottawa, Montreal, New York and Chicago, the tireless TSO members were charged and ready for more stellar performances. This week’s program features Sir Andrew Davis, Conductor Laureate and Principal Conductor of the TSO from 1975-1988 and one of Canada’s foremost concert pianists, Louis Lortie. What you missed? As a pre-concert appetizer, Lortie spoke about and played Alban Berg’s Piano Sonata, Op. 1 (consisting of 1 movement). It was a teaser to the orchestral arrangement by Sir Andrew Davis that…

Ambur Braid as Salome (front) and Karita Mattila as Herodias (back) in the Canadian Opera Company’s production of Salome, 2023. Photo: Michael Cooper

Review | Canadian Opera Company’s Salome a Love-Hate Production

By Denise Lai on 6 February 2023 Concert Reviews, Orchestral, Toronto

Richard Strauss’ Salome is a story of lust, obsession and unrequited love. Salome, step-daughter of King Herod, is the object of desire of both Herod and his army captain, Narraboth. Salome, however, only has eyes for Jochanaan (John the Baptist), who is being held prisoner by Herod. Jochanaan denounces the adulterous Herod and his wife Herodias, and spurns Salome’s advances. When Herod offers Salome anything she desires for a dance, she demands Jochanaan’s head on a silver platter. What you missed A sense of déjà vu hit me when the curtain lifted—the steeply raked stage bears an eerie semblance to…

Review | TSO’s The Hockey Sweater

By Andrea Rush on 6 February 2023 Classical Music, Toronto

TSO’s program, The Hockey Sweater, fittingly opened with “Canada’s second national anthem”, composer Deloris Claman’s Hockey Night in Canada theme, led by RBC resident conductor Trevor Wilson, (in referee attire). What you missed? Host Abigail Richardson-Schulte introduced the two TSO teams, Team Woodwinds Brass and Percussion and Team Strings. Sections of the orchestra (many wearing hockey sweaters) displayed their instruments as the host drew analogies to hockey players positioned on the rink. The TSO launched into the William Tell Overture (Finale), Team Strings and Team Winds, Brass and Percussion engaged in frenetic melodic pursuit. In a slow motion ’replay’, the…

Wed, Feb 1, 2023 -- Chicago Symphony Orchestra Riccardo Muti, Conductor 2023 Winter Tour Concert 1 in Toronto © Todd Rosenberg Photography 2023

Review | Fiery Mussorgsky Marks Chicago Symphony’s First Toronto Visit in a Century

By Joseph So on 3 February 2023 Concert Reviews, Orchestral, Toronto

Beethoven: Coriolan Overture, Op. 62; Symphony No. 8 in F Major, Op.93; Liadov: The Enchanted Lake, Op. 62; Mussorgsky: Pictures at an Exhibition (Orch. Ravel). Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Riccardo Muti, conductor. Koerner Hall, Feb. 2, 2023. We are still in the early stages of the new year, and already Toronto has experienced what surely will count as a highlight of the 2023 musical season. I am talking about the visit earlier this week of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, under its music director Riccardo Muti, for two performances at the acoustically superb Koerner Hall. This tour was Muti’s last as CSO’s…

Photo: Michael Cooper

Review | The Marriage of Figaro Makes a Triumphant Return to Canadian Opera Company Stage

By Denise Lai on 3 February 2023 Concert Reviews, Toronto

The Marriage of Figaro features a convoluted plot filled with love and desire, disguise and deception, mischief and jealousy–all elements that make for a juicy opera story. Count Almaviva tries to sabotage the wedding of Susanna and Figaro, both servants in his household. The Count intends to seduce Susanna for himself, while pressuring Figaro to marry another woman to whom Figaro owes an old debt. Along with the spurned Countess, Susanna and Figaro scheme to thwart the count’s evil plans and teach him a lesson in love. It all culminates in a happy ending with double weddings, and nobody dies…

Review | TSO: Tarmo Peltokoski and Jonathan Crow Memorable

By Andrea Rush on 2 February 2023 Classical Music, Concert Reviews, Orchestral, Toronto, Violin

It was a wintery night, and the program was particularly well suited for those who braved the storm warnings. The trek to Roy Thomson Hall to hear Shostakovich 5 & Crow Plays Brahms was well rewarded. Listeners voted with their feet and the thunderous multiple standing ovations for guest conductor Tarmo Peltokoski and violinist Jonathan Crow, the TSO’s beloved concertmaster. The selection of pieces and the performances were timely and memorable. What you missed? Protégé guest conductor Peltokoski has reportedly received almost as many prizes as his age, 22. His conducting is detailed, insightful and clear and according to his…

Review | Toronto Symphony Orchestra Celebrates Mozart’s Birthday with A Superb Requiem

By Joseph So on 12 January 2023 Choral, Concert Reviews, La Scena Online, Orchestral, Toronto

Jane Archibald, sop., Susan Platts, mezz., Isaiah Bell, ten., Kevin Deas, bbar., Toronto Mendelssohn Choir, Toronto Symphony Orchestra, Michael Francis, cond., Roy Thomson Hall, Jan. 11, 2023. Photos: Jag Gundu January is Mozart Month at the Toronto Symphony Orchestra. To mark the 267th anniversary of the birthday of the great Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (Jan 27, 1756 – Dec. 5, 1791), the TSO is giving four performances of his incomparable Requiem Mass. The story behind its genesis is very well known, thanks to the hugely successful 1984 movie Amadeus. Mozart died before the completion of the work, and it was left…

Newswire | Music Director Gustavo Gimeno’s First TSO Tour also Marks His Carnegie Hall Début

By Newswire on 10 December 2022 Classical Music, Toronto

Toronto, December 8, 2022 – As a momentous part of its extended Centennial Celebration, the Toronto Symphony Orchestra (TSO) will embark on its first tour under the artistic leadership of Music Director Gustavo Gimeno from February 11–14, 2023. Taking the Orchestra to three cities and celebrated venues in Canada and the US, the tour includes the TSO’s début at Chicago’s Symphony Center and return appearances at Ottawa’s National Arts Centre, as part of an orchestra exchange, and at New York’s Carnegie Hall, marking Maestro Gimeno’s début at the famed locale. “As an orchestra of international stature, the Toronto Symphony is…

Newswire | NACO Music Director Alexander Shelley Contract Extended

By Newswire on 12 September 2022 Newswire, Ottawa

September 8, 2022 – OTTAWA (Canada) – The National Arts Centre (NAC) is pleased to announce a three-year contract extension for Alexander Shelley as Music Director of the NAC Orchestra, from September 1, 2023, to August 31, 2026. Since taking on the role of Music Director in 2015, Alexander Shelley has led the NAC Orchestra through transformational initiatives and major tours, highlighting the ensemble’s national role and positioning it as a creative and collaborative space for Canadian composers, conductors, artists and partners. “I continue to be energized by the individual and collective brilliance of our musicians and inspired by the…

Chloé Robichaud (left) and Sophie Desmarais (right) first teamed up for "Sarah préfère la course", in 2013 (Credit: Ninon Pednault)

Highlights | Actress Sophie Desmarais Conducts OM, TSO Emails Hacked, New Ergonomic Curved Keyboard

By Zenith Wolfe on 29 July 2022 Classical Music, Highlights, Toronto

Welcome back to La Scena Musicale’s Highlights, a curated, weekly list of arts-related news stories from across the world! Music Industry Ludwig Van | Toronto Symphony Orchestra among international cultural institutions victimized by hackWordFly, a email software used by institutions like the Toronto Symphony Orchestra (TSO) and the Canadian Opera Company (COC), was hacked in early July. Personal information like names, email address, TSO and COC account IDs, and survey responses were stolen – no credit card or financial data was accessed by the hacker. The data was removed from the hacker’s possession less than a week later. La Presse…

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