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T A F E L M U S I K

Baroque Summer Festival

::  A series of Free concerts in June. During the Tafelmusik Baroque Summer Festival, the musicians move out of their main performance space at Trinity-St. Paul's Centre and share their music with audiences in imaginative ways.

Delightully Baroque        Fri. June 5 @ 8:00 PM    Trinity- St. Paul's Centre, 425 Bloor St. W.

Musical Interlude        Wed. June 10 @ 12:00 PM     Walter Hall, Faculty of Music, U of T  80 Queens Park Circle

TBSI Orchestra & Choir         Sun. June 14 @ 1:00 PM     Walter Hall, Faculty of Music, U of T  80 Queens Park Circle

The Grand Finale         Wed. June 17 @ 7:30 PM     Grace Church-On-The-Hill, 300 Lonsdale Rd.

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T O R O N T O    S Y M P H O N Y    O R C H E S T R A

Brahms Symphony No. 1

::  Leonard Slatkin, newly installed as Music Director of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, conducts the tragedy-to-triumph journey of the imposing Symphony No. 1 by Brahms. Acclaimed soloist Gil Shaham offers the Canadian première of American composer William Bolcolm's expressive and playful Violin Concerto.
  Program:  Berlioz: Overture to Benvenuto Cellini    William Bolcolm: Violin Concerto    Brahms: Symphony No. 1

June 3 @ 8:00 PM     June 4 @ 8:00 PM   Roy Thomson Hall, 60 Simcoe St.   |   Tickets: $37 - $125   Phone: 416 597-7840  or to order online please click

Joshua Bell

::   Grammy-Award winning violinist Joshua Bell, renowned for his stunning playing on the soundtrack for the film The Red Violin, joins the TSO for one night only! For his much-anticipated return visit, he performs Lalo's dazzling Symphonie espagnole.
  Program:   Berlioz: Overture to Benvenuto Cellini, Op. 23     Lalo: Symphonie espagnole for Violin and Orchestra, Op. 21    Brahms: Symphony No. 1

June 6 @ 8:00 PM   Roy Thomson Hall, 60 Simcoe St.   |   Tickets: $41 - $130   Phone: 416 597-7840  or to order online please click

Measha Sings Strauss

::   The Strauss/Bartók mini-festival opens by basking in the autumnal glow of Strauss's final composition: the Four Last Songs. Measha Brueggergosman brings her fabulous voice and engaging personality to this music. Bartók's virtuoso orchestral showpiece, Concerto for Orchestra, and the surging, energetic Divertimento for Strings complete the programme.
   Program:  Bartók: Divertimento for Strings      R. Strauss: Four Last Songs     Bartók: Concerto for Orchestra

June 10 @ 8:00 PM     June 11 @ 2:00 PM    June 13 @ 7:30 PM   Roy Thomson Hall, 60 Simcoe St.   |   Tickets: $37 - $125   Phone: 416 597-7840  or to order online please click

Emanuel Ax Plays Bartok

::   Esteemed pianist Emanuel Ax brings his consummate artistry to two strongly contrasted works: the young Richard Strauss's playful Burleske, and the mature Béla Bartók's thrilling Concerto for Two Pianos and Percussion. Dance-flavoured Suites by both composers complete the bill.
   Program:  Bartók: Dance Suite      Bartók: Concerto for Two Pianos and Percussion      R. Strauss: Burleske       R. Strauss: Suite from Der Rosenkavalier

June 17 @ 8:00 PM     June 18 @ 8:00 PM    Roy Thomson Hall, 60 Simcoe St.   |   Tickets: $42 - $130   Phone: 416 597-7840  or to order online please click

The Music Of Abba

::    Experience the unforgettable music of ABBA live with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra. From Dancing Queen to Take a Chance on Me, share the energy and excitement of a live performance with your favourite ABBA hits. The Music of ABBA will have you dancing in the aisles of Roy Thomson Hall with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra and Rajaton!

June 20 @ 8:00 PM     June 21 @ 2:00 PM   Roy Thomson Hall, 60 Simcoe St.   |   Tickets: $39 - $109   Phone: 416 597-7840  or to order online please click

TSO Goes To the Movies

::  Join Erich Kunzel and friends for a concert of movie favourites! Watch unforgettable scenes on the silver screen accompanied by live performances of the classic soundtracks to Gone with the Wind, Lawrence of Arabia , Goldfinger, The Godfather, Rocky, Superman, and much more.

June 23 @ 8:00 PM     June 24 @ 2:00 PM & 8:00 PM   Roy Thomson Hall, 60 Simcoe St.   |   Tickets: $33 - $99   Phone: 416 597-7840  or to order online please click

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C A N A D I A N    O P E R A    C O M P A N Y

Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre:  2009  Free Concert Series

::   The insanely popular Free Concert Series returns for it's second season at the 3rd floor Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre, which allows for breath-taking views through floor to ceiling glass windows of University Avenue as a backdrop, includes concerts, performances and presentations by young artists, Canadian and international opera stars and COC staff.
  This is an exciting opportunity for Torontonians to experience the artistic excellence and cultural diversity of the city in the beautiful new Four Seasons Centre For The Performing Arts.
  All concerts are free to the public. "Brown bag" lunches are welcome for the noon performances.

  For a complete listing of concert dates and performances for  June     please click here

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R O Y A L     C O N S E R V A T O R Y    O F    M U S I C

Royal Conservatory of Music

::  This season, The Royal Conservatory (RCM) returned home to the spectacular new TELUS Centre for Performance and Learning! With its beautifully restored Ihnatowycz Hall, gorgeous concert venues, state-of-the-art technology, and academic spaces, the new Centre will expand the global reach of the RCM's innovative programs and allow for Canada's greatest artists and emerging performers to be showcased in exciting new ways.
  Designed as a musical celebration of the Conservatory's return home, The Royal Concert Season features a greatly expanded Great Artists Series, World Music Concerts, Royal Conservatory Orchestra series, Rising Stars Series, and the free Master Class Series, featuring performances of opera, orchestral and chamber music, and recitals.

The line-up is as follows:

Motus O Dance Theatre presents East of the Sun, West of the Moon (Family Series): Friday, June 5 @ 7:30 pm

Motus O Dance Theatre presents East of the Sun, West of the Moon (Family Series): Saturday, June 6 @ 2 pm

Motus O Dance Theatre presents East of the Sun, West of the Moon (Family Series): Sunday, June 7 @ 2 pm

Tickets $20.00 - $30.00, students $10   Tickets available online by clicking here   or by calling 416 408-2824 X321,  or at the door at the RCM, 273 Bloor Street West, Toronto

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G A L L E R Y     3 4 5

10 Beethoven Sonatas In Eight Hours

::   Jacques Israelievitch and Japanese-American pianist Kanae Matsumoto will perform all 10 Beethoven violin sonatas over an eight-hour period, Sunday, June 21 in the superb acoustics of Gallery 345.
  People planning to hear all three sets (or the last two) are welcome to bring their own dinner. As well, a list of local restaurants can be accessed by clicking here.
  The performance is Israelievitch's special salute to the Chautauqua Institution Music Festival in New York State, where for 10 summers he has taught and performed. Kanae Matsumoto is also on the faculty as a collaborative pianist.
  "How crazy do you have to be to do this?" jokes Israelievitch. The violinist – who retired as the Toronto Symphony Orchestra concertmaster in 2008 – has played the Beethoven cycle several times before, but over three days, an experience he describes as "taking a bath in Beethoven."
  Part of his point in playing all 10 at one go is that some of them never get performed. "Because the Spring and Kreutzer Sonatas are so popular, they are played at the expense of the others."
  Performances will take place over three sets between 1 and 9 p.m. – at 1 p.m. (No. 1-5), 4 p.m. (No. 6-8), and 7:30 p.m. (No. 9 and 10).

Sun. June 21   Gallery 345,  345 Sorauren Avenue (east of Roncesvalles, two blocks south of Dundas St. W.)   |   Tickets:  $25 per set or $65 for the whole day   Phone: 416 822-9781   or email your inquiries and ticket orders by clicking here

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T O R O N T O    M U S I C    G A R D E N

::  The Toronto Music Garden Series returns with another exciting season showcasing outstanding free outdoor concerts by Canadian musicians and dancers and the ever popular Garden tours. The eclectic Summer Music in the Garden series will regale audiences with classical music from western and non-western traditions, along with new music and dance.
  Located on the city's waterfront at 475 Queens Quay West, between Bathurst Street and Spadina Avenue, the Toronto Music Garden is a unique creation.
  Inspired by J.S. Bach's Suite No. 1 in G Major for Unaccompanied Cello, each of the garden's six sections corresponds to a movement of Bach's Suite: Prelude, Allemande, Courante, Sarabande, Menuett and Gigue. Various walking tours are available to explore the two-acre site which contains many flowering trees, shrubs and perennials.

June 28 – Sept. 20    All concerts are free of charge.   Please click here for the entire summer's free concert schedule

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O L D    M I L L    C O N C E R T    P A R T Y     S E R I E S

::   Toronto's premier venue for great dance music and excellent cuisine in a party atmosphere presents a new series of six Wednesday evening Concert Parties with leading Canadian musicians.
  Live dance music has been a tradition at The Old Mill since 1921, and this year marks the 95^th anniversary of the Old Mill. What could be better than to revive the music and spirit of the age?
  On Wednesday, April 15, Kerry Stratton is "Puttin' on the Ritz" as he conducts his 18-piece Grand Salon Orchestra in an evening that evokes the elegant, sophisticated salon era of the 1920s and '30s, with the enduring music of Cole Porter, Irving Berlin and the Gershwins, and energetic dances like The Charleston.
  The effervescent Maestro Stratton (host of Conductor's Choice, Sundays on Classical 96.3 FM) hosts the six concerts, talking about the music and recounting colorful anecdotes.
  Following the Grand Salon's April 15 opening concert are soprano Mary Lou Fallis ("the fabulousest, Canadianest diva of them all" – Toronto Star) pianist Peter Tiefenbach and the Amaro String Quartet (May 6); Jazz in a Classical Key with pianist Gene DiNovi, clarinetist James Campbell and bassist Dave Young (June 10); Quartetto Gelato (September 23); and Fiddle On Fire, with violin virtuoso Lance Elbeck, joined by a pianist and dancer (October 21).
  Maestro Stratton and his Grand Salon return for the final concert, November 4. Mezzo-soprano Barbara Sadegur will be special guest in another evening of dining and dancing – a Remembrance Day salute to the songs of Vera Lynn that buoyed the Allies during World War II.
  For more details on each concert, please click here

Until Nov. 4 @ 6:00 PM   Old Mill Inn, 21 Old Mill Rd.   |   Tickets: $39 (à la carte from the menu)   Phone: 416-236-2641 or to e-mail reservations, please click here

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T O R O N T O    S U M M E R    M U S I C    F E S T I V A L

::   The finest artists from the world of chamber music will come to the city from July 21 to August 14 and this year's Festival theme, Eternal Stars, will highlight the performances from such distinguished artists as Menahem Pressler and Anton Kuerti, as well as star composers, three of whom have significant anniversaries this year - Joseph Haydn, Felix Mendelssohn, and Bohuslav Martinu.
*   One of the biggest highlights of the Festival will be the return of perhaps the most outstanding chamber musician of our time, pianist Menahem Pressler. On July 23, Menahem Pressler & Friends - his relatively newly formed quartet - will play piano quartets by Mozart and Dvorak.
*    For the second consecutive year, the Festival will open at the spectacularly refurbished Carlu Concert Hall, formerly the Eaton Auditorium.
On Tuesday, July 21 TSMF will present two extraordinary Canadian artists, together for the first time - Grammy and Juno award-winning violinist James Ehnes and Leeds International Competition winner, pianist Jon Kimura Parker. The duo will perform pieces by Mozart, Prokofiev, Kernis, and Ravel.
*   The Toronto Summer Music Festival will also be the first to present another exciting, newly-formed duo - Ian Swensen and Mayumi Seiler. On August 4, these two brilliant violinists, both of whom are accomplished soloists as well as chamber musicians, will perform rare Baroque pieces as well as Bartok's Duos and Shostakovich's Three Violin Duos.
*   Duo concerts will also include the immensely popular Canadian pianists James Anagnoson and Leslie Kinton (who most recently sold out concerts at The Royal Conservatory) on July 28.
They will play, among other pieces, Mozart's Sonata for Two Pianos in D Major, K. 448, the only composition Mozart wrote for two pianos.
*    In the last duo recital, on August 8, French star flutist Patrick Gallois and Swedish pianist Cecilia Löfstrand will present Sonatas by Gaubert, Prokofiev, and Poulenc, as well as Desbrière's Cinq Pièces Étrangers.
*    On July 25, the foremost Japanese string players - cellist Tsuyoshi Tsutsumi & Friends (violinist Yasuko Ohtani and violist Yoshiko Kawamoto) - will unleash the power of Czech folk music in Martinu's String Trio No. 2. The program also includes one of Mozart's greatest achievements in the field of chamber music, his Divertimento in Eb Major, K. 563.
*   On July 30, the celebrated Leipzig String Quartet will make their annual pilgrimage to the TSMF , this time with clarinetist Karl Leister, who served as the principal clarinetist of the Berlin Philharmonic. He will join the Quartet in Brahms' Clarinet Quintet in B Minor.
*   On July 31, the Penderecki String Quartet, one of Canada's most celebrated ensembles devoted to exciting new music, will play Hatzis' award-winning Quartet No.2, The Gathering.
*    On August 6, two of Canada's up and coming young quartets - Cecilia String Quartet & Tokai String Quartet will join forces to perform Mendelssohn's Octet in Eb Major, op. 20.
*   Another Toronto favourite group and Juno award-winners, the Gryphon Trio, will appear on August 11 with soprano Monica Whicher in a programme of Scottish Folk Songs. Other works on the programme will include Hayden's Trio in C Major and Mendelssohn's Trio No. 2 in C Minor.
*    Legendary pianist Anton Kuerti will present the only solo recital during the Festival on August 1, after selling out his TSMF concerts for two consecutive years. Haydn, Mendelssohn, Schuman, and, of course, Beethoven will be on the programme of this renowned Beethoven expert.
*   Opera Extravaganza on Thursday, August 13, will feature some of the star alumni of the TSMF Academy Opera Studio, accompanied by the National Academy Orchestra, and conducted by TSMF Artistic Director Maestra Agnes Grossmann. The evening will be filled with some of the most beautiful and powerful operatic arias, duets, and ensembles.

Prior to each concert lecturers such as Iain Scott, Keith Horner, and composer Christos Hatzis, will introduce the works being performed that evening. The Lecture Series are free.

July 21 - Aug. 14   Carlu Concert Hall, 444 Yonge St. 7th floor   Walter Hall and MacMillan Theatre (U ofT Faculty of Music)   |   Tickets: $20 - $75  Festival Pass: $120 - $300   Phone: 416 597-7840 or to order passes ans tickets online, please click here

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Concert and Events-at-a-glance calendar   click here

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