The Toronto Symphony Orchestra (TSO) continues its season with bold symphonic masterpieces to audiences this month. Highlights include Vivaldi, Samuel Barber, Fjóla Evans, Tchaikovsky, and many others.
As many of you know, I always enjoy my time at the TSO. Below are my picks for concerts this month. Which are yours?
Vivaldi’s Four Seasons
November 16, 17*, 20 & 21, 2019
*George Weston Recital Hall
Concertmaster Jonathan Crow leads the Orchestra and is featured as a soloist in Vivaldi’s timeless The Four Seasons. He also leads an American classic—Aaron Copland’s joyous Appalachian Spring, featuring the inspiring hymn “Simple Gifts”—and Songs of the Invisible Summer Stars by Yellowknife composer Carmen Braden that was inspired by the ceaseless summer twilight experienced in extreme northern and southern regions.
An American In Paris
November 22 – 23, 2019
Famed conductor Leonard Slatkin leads this program of all-American masterworks, including Gershwin’s jazzy musical postcard and Samuel Barber’s Pulitzer Prize–winning Piano Concerto, performed by Canadian gem Jon Kimura Parker. The TSO gives the Canadian Première of Cindy McTee’s Double Play for Orchestra.
I’m intrigued by this program, as I do not know some of the works that will be performed in this concert.
All Tchaikovsky
November 27 – 30 & December 1, 2019
The TSO’s annual all-Tchaikovsky concert features the resounding 1812 Overture—which is sure to blow the roof off Roy Thomson Hall—the too-rarely encountered Symphony No. 1 “Winter Dreams”, and teenage superstar Daniel Lozakovich performing the Violin Concerto.
In my humble opinion, Tchaikovsky does not disappoint.
Explore The Score
November 30, 2019
This is the second edition of Explore the Score, which invites audiences to witness some of Canada’s top rising composers’ works rehearsed in a live professional orchestral setting. On this night, audiences will witness artistic creation first-hand, as pieces by four gifted composers—Ian Cusson, Matthew Emery, Fjóla Evans, and Jared Richardson—are performed by the Orchestra under the baton of TSO Composer Advisor Gary Kulesha with TSO RBC Affiliate Composer Emilie LeBel hosting. This program is a collaboration with the Canadian Music Centre.
I encourage you to attend this performance, as you may just find a new favourite in this line up!
For full listings and advanced tickets, please visit TSO.CA. For now, I leave you with the playlist from An American In Paris.
