A very grand Beethoven’s Ninth from the TSO

My review of Thursday night’s performance at Roy Thomson Hall of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony conducted by Gustavo Gimeno with soloists, the TSO and the Toronto Mendelssohn Choir is now up at Bachtrack. It’s Beethoven in the grand manner and very enjoyable. It’s playingg again Friday, Saturday, Sunday with a singalong livestream at Sankofa Square on Friday.

Photo credit: Alan Cabral… courtesy of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra

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Werther at the COC

The COC’s production of Massenet’s Werther opened at the Four Seasons Centre on Thursday evening. My full review is published at Bachtrack.

TL/DR version… there’s some excellent music making but the production doesn’t really elevate a rather dull, sentimental opera.

Victoria Karkacheva as Charlotte and Russell Thomas as Werther. Photo: Michael Cooper

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COC’s Duke Bluebeard’s Castle/Erwartung double bill still impresses after 30 years

My review of the COC’s excellent revival production of the Robert Lepage double bill of Bartók’s Duke Bluebeard’s Castle and Schoenberg’s Erwartung is now published at Bachtrack.

Christian Van Horn and Karen Cargill in Duke Bluebeard’s Castle – Photo: Michael Cooper

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