This is a list of concerts we are attending, wishing we could attend, or thinking about attending between January 26 and February 1, 2026. For more of what’s happening around Toronto, visit our calendar here.
University of Toronto, Faculty of Music: New Music Festival (UTNMF) — Canadian Art Song Project
Monday, January 26, 7:30 p.m.
Walter Hall, Faculty of Music, 80 Queen’s Park, free
UTNMF presents an evening with Canadian Art Song Project (CASP). Founded by Steven Philcox and Lawrence Wiliford, the project has been rigorous in broadening Canadian repertoire through commissions and performance. Featuring this year’s focus composer, Vivian Fung, with additional music from Leslie Uyeda, Larysa Kuzmenko, Maria Thompson Corley and Cecilia Livingston, the programme will be sung by Jonelle Sills (soprano), Jesse Bloomberg (baritone), with support from the piano by Helen Becqué and Steven Philcox. The current hyperfocus on nationalism is mostly aggressive and fearful — which is a pity. This program is such a contrast, as we celebrate national identity in a beautifully positive manner — in creating, sharing and shaping our own community identity. Read our Preview of the New Music Festival here. Info here.
Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra: Bach Brandenburgs!
Thursday, January 29, 7:30 p.m., Friday, January 30, 8 p.m., Saturday, January 31, 8 p.m., Sunday, February 1, 3 p.m.
Jeanne Lamon Hall, Trinity- St. Paul’s Centre, $23.50+
The brilliant Brandenburg concertos will grace the Trinity-St. Paul’s Centre, this week. Led by the fiery Rachel Podger, Tafel will tackle the variety, colour, and virtuosity of instrumental writing — natural horns, oboes, bassoon, trumpet, recorder/flutes, and continuo. It’s weird to think that such brilliant works were completely forgotten for years — Bach, desperate to get out of bumbling Leipzig, wrote six concertos, and sent them to the Margrave of Brandenburg in 1792, hoping for… a better future. However, the work was left cold, and wasn’t even mentioned on the Margraves’ library inventory. Luckily, it survived, and is considered one of the best instrumental writings of the Baroque era. Come out and be amazed by the incredible colours and depth of these magical works; Tafel will present numbers 1, 2, 3, and 4, along with a newly orchestrated version of Bach’s St. Anne fugue — a wonderful organ composition (a personal favourite as an organist). Don’t miss this extravaganza, it’ll be a sumptuous evening against the stark, freezing January nights. Read our Preview of the concert here. Info here.
Esprit Orchestra: Superstrings V
Thursday, January 29, 8 p.m.
Koerner Hall, $20+
This is an A-lister program with a Jimi Hendrix cameo. Arvo Pärt’s Silhouette will receive its Canadian premiere, followed by the international favourite, Cantus in Memory of Benjamin Britten. Along with a full string orchestral version of Purple Haze, the work of three additional A-composers — Anders Hillborg, Andrew Norman, Alexina Louie — will be performed. Come out and experience fresh music with startling vitality. All are welcomed to join the pre-concert talk with Alexina Louie & guests, starting at 7:15 p.m. Info here.
St. Anne’s Music and Drama Society: H.M.S. Pinafore & Trial by Jury
Friday, January 30, 7:30 p.m., Saturday, January 31, 2 p.m., Sunday, February 1, 2 p.m., and 4 additional performances on February 5, 6, 7, and 8
St. Anne’s Parish Hall, 651 Dufferin St., $37+
Since the 1920s, St. Anne’s Music and Drama Society (MADS) has been presenting the cheeky comic fun of Gilbert and Sullivan, and this January-February fun features two of their best: H.M.S.Pinafore, and Trial by Jury. There’s something touching in these small, consistent productions — it’s really lovely to experience people’s enthusiasm and dedication, and we must focus on grassroot cultivation of performances, arts-creation and individual participation, if we are to foster community music making — the basis for all art things. One could join a choir, a book group — anyone can become involved in art, in any way — but do come out and share MADS’ enthusiastic performances, to see how that works. Read our Preview of MADS’ performance here. Info here.
Royal Conservatory of Music: Soledad Barrio and Noche Flamenca — Searching for Goya
Saturday, January 31, 3 p.m., and 8 p.m.
Koerner Hall, $60+
Noche Flamenca, one of the world’s premier touring flamenco companies, comes to Toronto in the midst of the deep freeze. Fill your Sunday afternoon, or evening, with flashes of bright sunlight, the joy and pathos from the depth of the heart, and let the spirited clapping and footsteps ring through the beautiful Koerner Hall. After all, such transportation into the glorious, brilliant colours of flamenco from this cold winter is what sustains us till we can see the return of spring and summer. The technical and artistic mastery of Noche Flamenca is such a pleasure — come and join them in their fourth performance at Koerner. Info here for the matinee, and for the evening. Info here.
Array Ensemble: New Encounters
Saturday, January 31, 7:30 p.m.
Array Space, 155 Walnut Ave., $25 or Pay What You Want
Array presents a program of ambitious new music by Bekah Simms, Monica Pearce, Courtney Bryan, Bruce A. Russell, and John Kameel Farah. Dedicated and talented musicians of the Array Ensemble: Aysel Taghi-Zada, Amahl Arulanandam, Colleen Cook, Brad Cherwin, Stephanie Chua, Aiyun Huang, David Schotzko, and John Jameel Farah, may or may not be familiar faces, but they are fiercely intelligent, and their full commitment to new music is refreshing and inspiring. You may not know much, or anything, about these composers, but that’s exactly why you should come out! New Music isn’t difficult or weird. It isn’t Mozart, but it also isn’t the incomprehensible monster that people often make it out to be. Just like any new ideas, it needs exposure, exploration, and an open mind. Come out and witness the passion and technical mastery this evening. There’s also an option of livestream, for those who cannot be there in person. Info here.
Piano Lunaire at The nanoSTAGE: SNOW MOON
Sunday, February 1, 7 p.m.
The nanoSTAGE, 1001 R Bloor St. W, $30
Piano Lunaire, a long-running series run by Adam Sherkin, is celebrating the first new moon of 2026 with a concise, one-hour program, featuring Bryn Blackwood and Shirkin himself. Music of Harry Somers, Robert Fleming, Michael Tippett, and Sherkin, will be as fresh as the new moon, and the tight one-hour length makes it a great end to the weekend exploration. Take a seat, let the two pianists take you to new places — and see what you may find. Read our Preview of the concert here. Info here.
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Cecilia tumbled into ‘serious’ music study when she decided to avoid attending medical school. Currently working in the field of classical music, recording, and Korean-English interpretation, she tends to get her nose dirty in many different things in the city. Cecilia holds a DMA in Piano Performance from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
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