I can’t believe an October preview post already.  But here it is.  So what’s on?  Against the Grain’s Opera Pub kicks off again on the 5th at the Amsterdam Bicycle Club.  It’s the usual 9pm start but come really early if you want a table.  The 10th to the 12th sees Amplified Opera’s series of three shows at the Ernest Balmer Studio.  The 11th is the first Toronto date for Against the Grain’s La Bohème tour.  That’s 7.30pm at the Tranzac.  Other dates and other city information here.  The 12th is opening night for Dvořák’s Rusalka at the COC.  Full details on dates, cast, tickets etc here.  On the 19th UoT’s Early Music programme are doing Handel’s Acis and Galatea at the Heliconian Club at 2pm.

On the 25th at Koerner Hall at 8pm there’s a concert to celebrate the 150th anniversary of Armenian composer Komitas Vartabed.  Performers include Russell Braun and Lynn Isnar.  Centre Stage, including the Ensemble Studio competition is on the 30th at the Four Seasons Centre.  On the 31st the UoT Contemporary Ensemble have a free concert at Walter Hall featuring Ligeti’s Mysteries of the Macabre.  Opera Atelier’s Don Giovanni opens the same night.  It’s a revival of the 2011 production and plays at the Ed Mirvish Theatre through November 9th.

Notable concerts in the noon hour free concert series in the RBA include:

• Soprano Vanessa Vasquez on the 1st in a recital titled The Maiden and the Nightingale
• Soprano Marjorie Owens on the 2nd in a programme that promises some Strauss
• On the 8th there’s a love themed programme from UoT Opera
• Matthew Cairns and Rachel Kerr of the Ensemble Studio in recital on the 29th

And finally, and also free, Eric Owens is doing a public master class in Walter Hall on the 23rd at 12.10pm.