This is a list of concerts we are attending, wishing we could attend, or thinking about attending between April 27 and May 3, 2026. For more of what’s happening around Toronto, visit our calendar here.
Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra: Hearing Her Voice
Thursday, April 30, 7:30 p.m., Friday, May 1, 8 p.m., Saturday, May 2, 8 p.m., Sunday, May 3, 3 p.m.
Trinity St. Paul’s United Church, $23.50+
This is a great selection drawn from numerous female composers, past and present, featuring the lovely voice of Amanda Forsythe. There may be many different reasons for the lack of stage time for so many women composers, especially from the past: lack of familiarity, the ever-present worrying from the marketing team, the varying size of their outputs, etc. Hence, variety programs are a great way to present and experience these new-to-me works: a sampler, shall we say. Come and lend your ears to the music of Elisabeth Jacquet de la Guerre, Barbara Strozzi, Mademoiselle Duval, Wilhelmine von Bayreuth, Maria Teresa Agnesi, Maria Margherita Grimani, Marianna Martinez, Mrs Philarmonica, and the premiere of Canadian composer Karen Sunabacka and Joyce Clouston, librettist. If you feel uncertain, put your faith in Forsythe’s amazing singing — after all, not everyone has a Grammy, or two! Read our Preview of the concert here. Info here.
Toronto Symphony Orchestra: Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto No. 3
Thursday, April 30, 7:30 p.m., Friday, May 1, 7:30 p.m.
Roy Thomson Hall, $69+
Elim Chan, a fast rising young star, was once planning to become a medical doctor; however, things changed fast once she took up the baton in her second year of university. By winning the Donatella Flick LSO Conducting Competition, Chan became the assistant conductor of the London Symphony, and since then, the rest is history. With pianist Vondráček, winner of the Queen Elisabeth Competition 2016, these two musicians will bring that daring energy to execute the familiar favourites: Shostakovich Symphony 9, and Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto 3 — and let’s be frank, those Rachmaninoff Piano Concertos, especially 2 and 3, are perfect works, with great writing for the soloist and orchestra, lush melodies and plenty of drama. The spectacular sight of the black, gleaming piano with its golden innards reverberating with a full-sized orchestra is hard to resist. The neophiles among us can keep their senses open especially for Cris Derksens’ Première/Art of Healing Program Commission in partnership with CAMH: ‘Still Here’. Info here.
Royal Conservatory of Music: Royal Conservatory Orchestra with Conductor Earl Lee
Friday, May 1, 8 p.m.
Koerner Hall, $25+
Earl Lee returns to Toronto to lead the RCO in this sumptuous program of Bloch’s Schelomo, Mahler 1, and a nod to Canadiana: Samy Moussa’s Elysium. Bloch’s exploration of his Jewish heritage led to many rich compositions, dripping with pathos and emotion. Along with Sacred Service (1933), ‘Schelomo: Rhapsodie Hébraïque for Violoncello and Orchestra’, the last work from Bloch’s Jewish cycle, is a perennial favourite, with its beautiful and evocative writing for both cello and orchestra. Come and hear cellist Sabina Sandvoss (winner of The Robert W. and G. Ann Corcoran Concerto Competition) unfurl this masterwork. Read our Interview with conductor Earl Lee here. Info here.
Orpheus Choir of Toronto: Sound / Space
Saturday, May 2, 7:30 p.m.
Runnymede United Church, 432 Runnymede Road, $22+
Orpheus and their guest choir, Guelph Chamber Choir, present a program of antiphonal choral music. Unlike the usual united front of choral singing, antiphonal works develop and explore the spatial elements of two separate groups, as music is passed and contrasted back and forth — the original stereo music making. Featuring a wide range of works from Eric Whitacre, Josef Rheinberger, Urmas Sisask, Swani Zubayeer, Hussein Janmohamed, and Caroline Shaw, this is a great, real way to experience choral antiphonal writing — no stereo speakers can do justice, as they simply aren’t built to create such architectural richness. Info here.
Mooredale Concerts: Kerson Leong, Violin
Sunday, May 3 3:15 p.m.
Walter Hall (University of Toronto), 80 Queen’s Park, $40+
Kerson Leong and his Ex-Bohrer, ‘Baumgartner’ Guarneri will explore the technical fieriness of the violin, featuring two Ysaÿe solo sonatas, Kreisler’s Recitativo and Scherzo, and Bach’s Chaconne, amongst others. Known for his technical mastery — including great recordings of the Britten Violin concerto, a fiendishly difficult work, and of Ysaÿe — the violin fanatics of Toronto should definitely come out for this Sunday matinee. For the littles, there’ll be a Music & Truffles children’s concert at 1:15 p.m. — this short and interactive program is a great way to enjoy music, not only for the young, but for the whole family. Info about the concert here; info about Music & Truffles 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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