As ever there’s no shortage of announcements of new and interesting stuff in the Toronto area.  Here are a few from the inbox.  Next week, there’s a premiere of David Warrack’s oratorio Abraham.  It’s a multi-faith event in aid of the Syrian Refugee Program at Metropolitan United Church.  It’s on Wednesday, October 28th at 8 p.m. at Metropolitan United Church, 56 Queen Street East, Toronto.  Richard Margison stars as Abraham and joining him are five principal vocalists; Ramona Carmelly, Meredith Hall, Hussein Janmohamed, George Krissa and Theresa Tova, three choirs: the Elmer Iseler Singers, the Jarrahi Sufi Choir with Whirling Dervishes,and the Bach Children’s Chorus  David Warrack will be at the piano.  Whirling Dervishes?  Get in!  It’s a good cause.  General admission tickets are $54; $36 for students.  $75 VIP tickets offer reserved seating and an invitation to the post-concert reception.  Tickets and more information at www.abrahamoratorio.ca.

Tickets are now on sale for Tap: EX METALLURGY; Tapestry’s collaboration with punk provocateurs Fucked Up, also featuring David Pomeroy and Krisztina Szabó.  That one is November 19th through 21st at the Ernest Balmer Studio.

November 16th sees the 3rd annual concert in memory of Elizabeth Krehm.  It’s a fundraiser for the Med/Surg ICU at St. Mike’s and it’s at 8pm also at Metropolitan United Church.  This year it’s Mahler 2 with a full orchestra conducted by Evan Mitchell with the Pax Christi Chorale and soloists Rachel Krehm and Michele Bodganowicz.  It’s pay what you can with a tax receipt for your contribution.

On November 12th and 14th (8pm) Simone Osborne is performing with the TSO at Roy Thomson Hall.  The program includes Mahler 4, the Dance of the Seven Veils from Salome, Song to the Moon from Rusalka and “Depuis le jour” from Louise.  Michael Sanderling conducts.  We haven’t seen enough of Simone in Toronto of late.

The Canadian Stage and Soundstreams collaborative production of Boesmann’s Julie runs November 17th to 29th (8 performances) at the Bluma Appel Theatre.  Matthew Jocelyn directs, Leslie Dala conducts and the cast is Lucia Cervoni, Clarence Frazer and Sharleen Joynt.  It’s being sung in English which is interesting.  It’s a powerful, if rather bleak, piece based on a Strindberg play and a rare opportunity to see a contemporary European opera.  Show times and ticket purchase here.