Toronto Symphony Orchestra

Essential to Toronto: Taste of the Danforth

Wednesday, August 4th, 2010

Get souvlaki (and more!) hot off the grill at Taste of the Danforth

AUGUST 6 TO 8 This weekend, one of Toronto’s most established ethnic neighbourhoods closes its main street and welcomes more than one million guests for a hotly anticipated party. In the heart of Greektown, the annual Taste of the Danforth invites locals and visitors to share in Hellenic hospitality, culture and cuisine—from mezes to souvlaki—grilled before your eyes. Become Greek for the day while enjoying additional attractions, including stunt shows by Zero Gravity street performers and music from members of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra. Visitors can also work up an appetite at the Sports Zone, featuring athletic challenges devised by Toronto’s pro sports teams, or cool down in the wine and beer gardens. On Danforth Avenue, between Broadview and Jones avenues, free; call 416-469-5634 or visit here for further details.

| Tags: Essential Toronto, Greektown, Taste of the Danforth, Toronto Symphony Orchestra | No Comments »

Luminato Logbook, Day Nine

Saturday, June 19th, 2010

If imagination is the core of the soul, then Toronto’s spirit is strong indeed, and on full display during Luminato. This annual celebration of arts and creativity brings to the city an international array of theatrical and dance performances, world-music concerts, visual art displays, literary events and much more—all of which you can read about here daily. Expand your horizons and imagine new heights; for 10 days in Toronto, anything is possible.

TODAY’S TOP TICKETS

Julia Domna tells a colourful tale

THIS WOMAN’S WORK Sensual colours and kinetic motion are visual metaphors for the passionate and multifaceted title character of Julia Domna. Staged by Enana Dance Theatre, this intoxicating production blends traditional and contemporary Arab dance and music to tell the story of second-century Syrian woman who would become an empress of Rome. MacMillan Theatre, 80 Queen’s Park, Sat. 2 & 8 p.m., $35.

FESTIVAL FEAST In between enjoying Luminato’s sights and attractions, there’s something nice about grabbing easy, inexpensive street food from a corner vendor—even better when it’s fresh from a bona fide gourmet chef. The closing weekend of Luminato brings some of Hogtown’s top restaurants and cooks out of the kitchen and on to the sidewalk for 1,000 Tastes of Toronto. More than 40 diverse restaurants offer an alfresco celebration of culinary creativity that’s sure to suit everyone’s tastes. Queen’s Park, noon to 9 p.m.

MORE MUST-SEE SHOWS

>> Pay tribute to Luminato co-founder David Pecaut by viewing the Atom Egoyan–curated film installation Solar Breath (Northern Caryatids)/Light Air. Brookfield Place, 181 Bay St., 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., free.

>> Experience a candy-coloured wonderland in the heart of Toronto: Miami-based art collective FriendsWithYou transforms the city centre into a “Rainbow City” with bouncing castles, giant totems and all-around warm feelings for its Wish Come True Festival. Queen’s Park, Queen’s Park Crescent and Wellesley Street, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., free.

>> He was only 12 when he hatched his dream of becoming a fashion designer; now Canadian Mark Fast’s knitwear is known the world over. A Luminato-exclusive showcase of his couture is on display today. Brookfield Place, 181 Bay St., all day, free.

>> Step on to a 30-foot Chinese junk and reflect upon life aboard the uncaptained Ship O’ Fools. Trinity Bellwoods Park, Queen Street West and Strachan Avenue, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., free.

>> Meet the masterminds behind the Wish Come True Festival’s creative dreamland in a Lunchtime Conversation. Roots (2nd floor), 100 Bloor St. W., 12:30 p.m., free.

>> Everyone’s talking about the future of books, including four well-known writers. They’ll be examining Fiction in the Age of E-Books today. Isabel Bader Theatre, 93 Charles St. W., 1 p.m., $15.

>> Three points of view merge in The Africa Trilogy, an East-meets-West exploration that unites playwrights, directors and performers with the question: How do we see each other? Fleck Dance Theatre, 207 Queen’s Quay W., 7 p.m., $30 to $45.

>> Looks can be deceiving in Masters of Magic, starring top magicians Mac King, Max Maven, Bob Sheets and Juan Tamariz. Panasonic Theatre, 651 Yonge St., 8 p.m., $35 to $45.

>> The birth and death of a monumental structure in Sarnia inspires Homage, a theatrical tribute to the poignancy of artwork. The Joey & Toby Tanenbaum Opera Centre, 227 Front St. E., 8 p.m., $35.

>> All day long, Queen’s Park plays host to the National Bank Festival: Global Divas and Global Blues, featuring female vocalists such as Creole jazz singer Carmen Souza. Queen’s Park, Queen’s Park Crescent and Wellesley Street, 1 to 11 p.m., free.

>> Push boundaries at the Waves Festival, which fills every nook and cranny of the Young Centre for the Performing Arts with theatre, dance, music and artwork. Distillery Historic District, 55 Mill St. 2 to 10 p.m., free.

>> Audience members—along with real-life gamers and game designers—help bring the theatrical production Best Before to life with the help of representative avatars. Berkeley Street Theatre, 26 Berkeley St., 8 p.m., $35.

>> It’s your last opportunity to see Rufus Wainwright’s Prima Donna opera—a spellbinding story of an aging soprano and a dangerous romance. Elgin Theatre, 189 Yonge St., 7:30 p.m., $50 to $200.

>> The masterful music of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra is a city experience not to be missed. The renowned ensemble performs Beethoven’s thrilling Symphony no. 9 tonight! Roy Thomson Hall, 60 Simcoe St., 11 p.m., $20 to $69.

Purchase Luminato tickets daily at the T.O. Tix booth, located at Yonge-Dundas Square.

| Tags: 1000 tastes of toronto, best before, David Pecaut, Entertainment, Friendswithyou, julia domna, luminato, mark fast, prima donna, Rufus Wainwright, ship o' fools, solar breath/light air, Toronto Symphony Orchestra, waves festival, wish come true festival | 1 Comment »

Weekend Roundup, June 18 to 20

Thursday, June 17th, 2010

This Father’s Day weekend is bursting with food, fun and festivals. Dad’s not the only one who’s going to have a great time!

Friday: Chortle knowingly as Jon Stewart points out what's wrong with the world.

Friday, June 18
Celebrate the proud heritage of Armenia, as the Toronto Symphony Orchestra—accompanying the beautiful voice of Isabel Bayrakdarian—fills Roy Thomson Hall with the strains of Ravel’s Shéhérazade and other related classical works.

Amidst the sprawling cityscape, The Power Plant offers an opportunity to philosophically reconnect with nature thanks to its mixed-media exhibition, Adaptation: Between Species. Enjoy a lakeside barbecue and music at tonight’s opening event.

Revel in the spry wit and piercing political barbs of Daily Show host Jon Stewart, who takes to the stage at Niagara Fallsview Casino Resort. After the show, check out the nearby nightlife and get a breathtaking look at the falls.

Saturday: See art on 401 Richmond's green roof and more (photo by veggiefrog)

Saturday, June 19
Familiarize yourself with the artists whose studios and galleries pack the 401 Richmond building, Toronto’s most creative address. This afternoon, partake in a free tour of the space and chat with the gallery owners and exhibiting artists during Brickolage Tour Series.

Sip 70-plus exquisite local vintages poured by the winemakers themselves at the annual Ontario Wine Fair at Café Taste. More than 20 wineries are participating in this event, which also offers the opportunity to nosh on 30 Ontario artisan cheeses.

“Whataya want from me?” asks glam American Idol singer-songwriter Adam Lambert in his similarly titled hit single. Make sure he hears your response at his Molson Canadian Amphitheatre show tonight. Expect to be treated to a number of cuts from Lambert’s upcoming debut album, For Your Entertainment.

Sunday: Get A.R. Rahman in your sights

Sunday, June 20
Treat dad to one of many options for a Father’s Day lunch. Amuse boasts an alfresco three-course meal served family-style at their Shared Table event; or call Casa Loma to reserve a table at its Father’s Day Royal Brunch Buffet. If you’re set on Italian, savour a Taste of Little Italy—the College Street party features numerous participating restaurants. And for a diverse range of nibbles—affordably priced at only $5 each—head to Queen’s Park to try 1,000 Tastes of Toronto.

Make it a Father’s Day dad will always remember with a war re-enactment, hearty ribs and fun for the whole family. Black Creek Pioneer Village presents the Battle of Black Creek—a lively re-creation of an 18th century skirmish for control of Upper Canada. Top of the invigorating spectacle with barbecued ribs or a tour of the Black Creek Historic Brewery.

Experience the musical talents of Oscar- and Grammy-winner A.R. Rahman. Known for his Slumdog Millionaire score, the Indian composer teams up with creative director Amy Tinkham (creator of concerts for Britney Spears and the Backstreet Boys) in Jai Ho: The Journey Home Concert at the Air Canada Centre, employing international musicians and dancers.

| Tags: 1000 tastes of toronto, 401 Richmond, a.r. rahman, Adam Lambert, air canada centre, amuse restaurant, Black Creek Pioneer Village, cafe taste, Casa Loma, isabel bayrakdarian, jon stewart, luminato, molson canadian amphitheatre, niagara fallsview casino, power plant, taste of little italy, Toronto Symphony Orchestra | No Comments »

Hot Date: Bayrakdarian’s Back

Tuesday, June 15th, 2010

Isabel Bayrakdarian (photo by Dario Acosta)

JUNE 18 Soprano Isabel Bayrakdarian joins the Toronto Symphony Orchestra in a production of Ravel’s Shéhérazade—part of an evening of music and culture honouring Armenian heritage. Peter Oundjian conducts a program that also includes Khachaturian’s “Waltz from Masquerade,” “Three Armenian Songs” and “Adagio of Spartacus and Phrygia.” Roy Thomson Hall, 8 p.m., $44 to $165; call 416-593-4828 to purchase.

| Tags: Armenia, Concert, Entertainment, isabel bayrakdarian, Music, Opera, Peter Oundjian, soprano, Toronto Symphony Orchestra | No Comments »

Hot Date: Spanish Heat

Friday, May 28th, 2010

Carlos Miguel Prieto

MAY 29 & 30 The Toronto Symphony Orchestra turns up the heat with its performance of España, a concert of folk melodies and infectious rhythms from Spain, Mexico and Argentina. Maestro Carlos Miguel Prieto conducts a programme of music including Copland’s
El Salón México and Falla’s Nights in the Gardens of Spain. Roy Thompson Hall, Saturday 7:30 p.m., Sunday 3 p.m. $27 to $74;
call 416-593-4828 or visit here to buy.

| Tags: Carlos Miguel Prieto, Concert, Entertainment, Music, Roy Thomson Hall, Spain, Toronto Symphony Orchestra | No Comments »

Hot Date: Bonny Brit Hits

Tuesday, March 2nd, 2010

Nicola Benedetti performs this month with the TSO

MARCH 6 & 7 Enjoy a medley of classical hits from the U.K. with the “Best of British” series of concerts presented by the Toronto Symphony Orchestra. The intriguing program sees violinist Nicola Benedetti perform cadenzas from Ralph Vaughan Williams’s lyrical homage to pre-war England, The Lark Ascending, while maestro Christopher Bell leads the orchestra in renditions of Elgar’s Enigma Variations, plus spirited Scottish dances and selections from the comic operas of Gilbert and Sullivan. Roy Thomson Hall, Saturday 7:30 p.m., Sunday 3 p.m., $27.50 to $74; call 416-593-4828 or visit the TSO to purchase.

| Tags: Classical Music, Concert, Nicola Benedetti, Roy Thomson Hall, Toronto Symphony Orchestra | No Comments »

February Editor’s Picks: Entertainment

Monday, February 8th, 2010

Ty Pennington offers tips at the National Home Show.

FEBRUARY 19 TO 28 Find all of the decorating, remodeling and landscaping tools you’ll need for your next big project or mini-makeover at the National Home Show. North America’s largest home design and renovation expo boasts more than 700 exhibitors as well as themed stage shows, eco-friendly displays and a lush 32,000-square-foot garden. Even reluctant rehabbers are sure to be inspired after touring the impressive modular dream home created by top Toronto designers. And don’t miss on-stage appearances by Extreme Makeover: Home Edition star Ty Pennington and experts from HGTV, who share tips on the hottest interior design trends throughout the week. Direct Energy Centre, admission $11 to $15; call 416-644-5400 or click here for more information.

Eric Clapton

FEBRUARY 21 Guitar legends and long-time chums Eric Clapton and Jeff Beck take to the stage for an extraordinary musical collaboration. Currently working as solo artists, but with individual careers spanning more than four decades—including stints in some of rock ‘n’ roll’s seminal bands—the British axemen earned rave reviews when they performed together last year in Tokyo, Japan. Toronto is one of only three scheduled dates for the duo and promises the best that both Clapton and Beck have to offer. Each guitarist is slated to play a solo set before joining forces for a special finale. Air Canada Centre, 8 p.m., $69.50 to $225; call 416-870-8000 or visit Ticketmaster for tickets.

The Toronto Symphony Orchestra (photo by Cylla von Tiedemann)

This month, Roy Thomson Hall hosts show-stopping performances by the Toronto Symphony Orchestra and a renowned European ensemble. Call 416-593-4828 for information, times and tickets to all performances.

FEBRUARY 10 & 11 Canadian conductor Douglas Boyd leads an evening that pairs two Beethoven masterpieces—Symphony No. 5 and the overture from Fidelio—with the North American premiere of A Table of Noises, a percussion concerto by British composer Simon Holt.

FEBRUARY 18 & 20 Soprano Michele Crider and tenor Maxim Aksenov are joined by the Toronto Mendelssohn Choir for a sublime choral rendition of Verdi’s Requiem, considered by many to be the Italian composer’s greatest work.

FEBRUARY 24 The Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra graces the stage with works by Messiaen, Ravel and Richard Strauss. French-Canadian wünderkind Yannick Nézet-Séguin performs baton duties for this varied program.

| Tags: air canada centre, Concert, Direct Energy Centre, Entertainment, Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, National Home Show, Roy Thomson Hall, Toronto Symphony Orchestra, Ty Pennington | No Comments »

What’s Hot in January Across Canada

Wednesday, January 13th, 2010

Halifax

Roots-rock legends Blue Rodeo return to the Halifax Metro Centre on January 28, performing concert classics like “Hasn’t Hit Me Yet” and “Diamond Mine,” along with their newest material.

Vancouver & Whistler

The 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games are almost here, and they’re bringing a lot more than just sports to Vancouver and Whistler. The Cultural Olympiad 2010 (Jan 22 – Mar 21) is the culmination of three years of Cultural Olympiads on the West Coast, and it features some of the world’s best artists, musicians, dancers, actors and performers. Vancouver highlights include Joni Mitchell’s The Fiddle and the Drum at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre (Jan 22 – 24), Nevermore: The Imaginary Life and Mysterious Death of Edgar Allan Poe at the Granville Island Stage (Jan 21 – Feb 6), and Steve Earle and Joel Plaskett at The Orpheum (Jan 23).

Whistler highlights include Canada’s first theatre of snow and ice, Nix (Jan 22 – Feb 27), Corb Lund at Whistler Village Square (Feb 19), and the Nunavut-based circus Artcirq at the Squamish Lil’Wat Cultural Centre (Feb 20).

Ottawa

During the Carleton Cup Triathlon on Jan 30, fearless participants—athletically inclined or otherwise—skate for nearly 7km up and down the Rideau Canal, run through the ByWard Market, then slide into The Aulde Dubliner & Pour House to pound back a drink. First one in gets the bragging rights, but the real winner is the Canadian Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Led by controversial-yet-charismatic frontman Axl Rose, the newest incarnation of Guns N’ Roses will tour to promote Chinese Democracy, an album that was 15 years in the making. They stop into Ottawa Jan 31.

Calgary

Known for its memorable songs like, “Matchmaker, Matchmaker,” the Tony Award-winning musical, Fiddler on the Roof plays at the Jubilee until Jan 17. Throughout the month of January, One Yellow Rabbit’s High Performance Rodeo offers theatre-lovers innovative plays, skits and acts from around the world. Highlights include Kawasaki Exit, a play about the dark-side of Japanese social networking sites and The Pajama Men, a comedy duo who perform their act in their pjs.

Winnipeg

World-class men’s curling talent sweeps into Winnipeg for the BDO Canadian Classic Open Jan 20 – 24. Top names like Canada’s Olympic representative Kevin Martin and Scotland’s reigning World Champion David Murdoch are expected to participate.

Edmonton

Coleman Lemieux & Compagnie, one of Canada’s most accomplished dance organizations, brings three brilliant performances to Edmonton Jan 20: In Paradisum; Soudain, l’hiver dernier; and Fifteen Heterosexual Duets, all choreographed by James Kudelka. Artistic Director Laurence Lemieux promises “an exhilarating voyage to the heights of paradise and the depths of the heart.” Edmontonians revel in the winter months at the Winter Light Festival. Every weekend brings a blizzard of family fun with many events such as ice carving, ice-skating, art shows and much more. On until Mar 12, free admission.

Canadian Rockies

The Olympic Torch Relay comes through Banff Jan 20 and the town is celebrating outdoors with live music. Watch as teams carve massive blocks of ice into glittering sculptures at the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise during the Ice Magic Festival, Jan 22 – 24 (if you can’t catch the carving, admire the art until it melts away in a few months). Or hit up Jasper in January for ski lift ticket and hotel discounts, plus fun events like the polar bear dip, Taste of the Town, music and skating parties, Jan 15 – 31.

Toronto

Important figures of history continue to draw crowds in the present. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart looms large over the city on select dates between Jan 13 and 24 as the Toronto Symphony Orchestra presents the Mozart@254 Festival, its annual concert series commemorating the 1756 birth of the Classical Era’s greatest composer. This year’s program features guest artists including famed baritone Russell Braun, violinist Pinchas Zukerman and many others. Or, have an archeological encounter with the great rulers of Egypt, by visiting the Art Gallery of Ontario’s ongoing exhibit, King Tut: The Golden King and the Great Pharaohs. The massive display showcases rare artifacts from the days of Khafre, Amenhotep IV, Rameses II and other significant monarchs, as well as more than 50 exquisite treasures from the tomb of Tutankhamun. On until Apr 18.

| Tags: 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, Art Gallery of Ontario, axl rose, Banff, Canmore & Area, blue rodeo, Calgary, Canada, Cultural Olympiad, Edmonton, Events, Family Fun, Fiddler on the Roof, guide, Halifax, high performance rodeo, Jasper & Area, joel plaskett, Lake Louise, live music, Ottawa, rockies, Theatre, Toronto, Toronto Symphony Orchestra, Travel, Tutankhamun, Vancouver, what's hot, Whistler, Winnipeg | No Comments »

Hot Date: Amadeus, Amadeus!

Tuesday, January 12th, 2010

The Toronto Symphony Orchestra (photo by Cylla von Tiedemann)

JANUARY 13, 14, 16, 17, 20, 21, 23 & 24 If Wolfgang’s works are your cup of tea, it runneth over during the Mozart@254 Festival. Hear the Toronto Symphony Orchestra accompany principal horn Neil Deland in Horn Concerto no. 2 directed by Peter Oundjian, or principal viola Teng Li playing Sinfonia Concertante conducted by scholar Jane Glover, who authored Mozart’s Women. In Mozart: Beyond the Score, actor Paul Gross explores cultural and historical themes in the composer’s music in a multimedia experience designed for both symphony newcomers and classical enthusiasts. Roy Thomson Hall and George Weston Recital Hall, $29 to $128, call 416-593-4828 or click here for times and tickets.

| Tags: Concerts, George Weston Recital Hall, Mozart, Music, Paul Gross, Peter Oundjian, Roy Thomson Hall, Toronto Symphony Orchestra | No Comments »

December Hot Date: Holiday Concerts

Thursday, December 10th, 2009

Toronto’s top orchestral and vocal ensembles ignite the seasonal spirit with a trio of concerts.

Members of the Nathaniel Dett Chorale (photo by John Beebe)

The Nathaniel Dett Chorale sings for the season (photo by John Beebe)

DECEMBER 16 & 18 to 21 Hark! Hear the holiday spirit in George Frideric Handel’s timeless oratorio Messiah. Performed by the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, a special participatory concert invites the audience to sing along. Hallelujah! Roy Thomson Hall, December 16, 18, 19 and 21 at 8 p.m., December 20 at 3 p.m., $35 to $99; call 416-872-4255 or click here for tickets.

DECEMBER 16 & 19 Enjoy An Indigo Christmas, presented the world-famous Nathaniel Dett Chorale—among the performers at U.S. President Barack Obama’s inauguration—a Toronto-based, classically trained chorus with an Afrocentric focus. Glenn Gould Studio, 8 p.m., $39.50; call 416-205-5000 or follow this link for tickets.

DECEMBER 19 If it warms your heart to hear children—300 of them, aged 6 to 17—rejoice in song, don’t miss the Toronto Children’s Chorus belt out contemporary and traditional holiday music. Roy Thomson Hall, 2 p.m., $34.50 to $44.50, call 416-872-4255 or navigate here for tickets.

| Tags: Concerts, Glenn Gould Studio, handel's messiah, holidays, Music, Nathaniel Dett Chorale, Roy Thomson Hall, Toronto Children's Chorus, Toronto Symphony Orchestra | No Comments »

Weekend Roundup, December 4th to December 6th

Thursday, December 3rd, 2009

December is finally here! ‘Tis the season to eat, drink, shop, skate and be merry at festive holiday performances.

Friday: Spend an evening at the Distillery Historic District

Friday: Spend some time at the Distillery Historic District

Friday December 4th
Pick out gifts for little loved-ones at the Distillery Historic District’s Children’s Trunk Show shopping event, then spend the evening walking the area’s cobblestone laneways and admiring its seasonal light display.

Get into the festive spirit at the Friday After Five event hosted by the Gardiner Museum. This special holiday happy hour features Christmas cocktails and a tourtiere poutine created by celebrity chef Jamie Kennedy.

Partake in a 72-year-old seasonal tradition at the Church of the Holy Trinity—its Christmas Story performance brings the nativity to soul-stirring life.

Saturday: Tea at the Royal York

Saturday, December 5th
Take time for afternoon tea at the Fairmont Royal York Hotel and nibble on finger sandwiches, mincemeat tarts and other holiday treats. Visitors can also take home decadent goodies from the on-site Festive Bakery.

Meet new friends while learning how to pry open shellfish at the singles oyster shucking, tasting & wine pairing night at Leslieville gastro-pub Prohibition.

Sing along with Weezer and other alternative-rock superstars—the Air Canada Centre hosts radio station 102.1 The Edge’s Jingle Bell Rock concert.

Sunday: Eva Avila portrays Maid Marian in Robin Hood

Sunday, December 6th
Enjoy a festive afternoon at Roy Thompson Hall as the Toronto Symphony Orchestra presents Dickens’s holiday classic, A Christmas Carol.

Strap on your blades for Harbourfront Centre’s HarbourKIDS: SK8 festival at Canada’s largest artificially cooled outdoor ice rink.

Follow Robin Hood as his merry men as they engage in eco-conscious hijinks in the Ross Petty production of Robin Hood: The Environ-Mental Family Musical.

| Tags: a christmas carol, Children's Trunk Show, Christmas, Church of the holy trinity, Distillery District, Gardiner Museum, Harboufront Centre, HarbourKIDS SK8 festival, high tea, holidays, ice skating, Jamie Kennedy, Jingle Bell Rock, Leslieville, Prohibition, Robin Hood, Royal York Hotel, Toronto Symphony Orchestra, Weezer | No Comments »

December Editor’s Picks: Entertainment

Tuesday, December 1st, 2009

Yamato Drummers of Japan

DECEMBER 2 Music, dance and propulsive percussion fill the city this month in a dramatic display of rhythmic prowess by the Yamato Drummers of Japan. A modern generation of energetic men and women revives an ancient Japanese art form in this unforgettable ensemble presentation featuring traditional taiko drums and thunderous odaiko barrels that are six feet in diameter. Both ingeniously innovative and intensely physical, the Yamato Drummers’ performances are influenced by the idea that the drumbeat, like the heartbeat, is the very pulse of life. Massey Hall,
8 p.m., $49.50 to $69.50; for tickets call 416-872-4255.

DECEMBER 6 A classic fable of kindness and redemption is told through music when the Toronto Symphony Orchestra and Canadian Children’s Opera team up to present Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. Roy Thomson Hall, 3 p.m. $15 to $59; call 416-593-4828 for tickets.

The Princess and the Handmaiden (photo by iden ford)

DECEMBER 18 TO 27 In Disney on Ice Presents Princess Classics, pint-size viewers marvel as Cinderella, Snow White and other beloved screen characters skate through an undersea kingdom, an enchanted castle and beyond. Rogers Centre, $15 to $90; call 416-870-8000 to buy.

TO DECEMBER 30 Canadian composer and librettist Leslie Arden explores friendship and loyalty in her world-premiere musical, The Princess and the Handmaiden, a modern retelling of a fairytale about a pampered royal and her hard-working companion. Lorraine Kimsa Theatre for Young People, $10 to $20; call 416-862-2222 for times and tickets.

A 2008 performance of Bravissimo

DECEMBER 31 Stand up and cheer for some of the most passionate operatic music ever written, as Bravissimo! Opera’s Greatest Hits returns to Toronto for a spectacular New Year’s Eve concert. Led by Austrian-Italian conductor Roberto Paternostro, an all-star cast of internationally renowned singers and musicians, perform an array of beloved arias, duets, overtures and more. Newcomers and seasoned aficionados alike are sure to be moved by the legendary melodies from Carmen, Madama Butterfly, La bohème and other classics from opera’s golden age. Roy Thomson Hall, 7 p.m., $75 to $155; call 416-872-4255 to purchase tickets.

| Tags: a christmas carol, Bravissimo, Charles Dickens, Disney On Ice, Entertainment, Lorraine Kimsa Theatre for Young People, Massey Hall, Opera, Rogers Centre, The Princess and the Handmaiden, Toronto Symphony Orchestra, Yamato Drummers of Japan | No Comments »

Weekend Roundup, September 25th to 27th

Thursday, September 24th, 2009

Many music ensembles are now launching their seasons, so take in some fresh concerts this weekend.

Friday: Step out to the AGO and ROM to see Edward Steichen's photograph of Princess Nathalie Paley and much more.

Friday, September 25th
Listen as Jean-Philippe Tremblay leads the Royal Conservatory Orchestra in a rendition of the sweet then rousing sounds of Beethoven’s Choral Fantasy, as part of the grand opening concert at the Royal Conservatory of Music’s new Koerner Hall performance venue.

Wipe away tears of laughter at the Toronto Improv Festival’s midnight show as audience-driven Road Trip and the MAYBE trio engage in ad hoc antics.

Admire some of the 20th century’s most ingenious and revolutionary celebrity and fashion photographs in two related exhibitions: Vanity Fair Portraits: Photographs 1913-2008 at the Royal Ontario Museum and Edward Steichen: In High Fashion, the Condé Nast Years, 1923-1937 at the Art Gallery of Ontario. Both highly anticipated shows open today.

Saturday: Sit in awe of Madama Butterfly's beautiful melodies.

Saturday: Sit in awe of Madama Butterfly's beautiful melody.

Saturday, September 26th
Lend your ears to the award-winning violinist Joshua Bell, who helps kick off the Toronto Symphony Orchestra’s new season with an homage to the music of Johannes Brahms.

Roll out your mat and stretch into your favourite asana for morning yoga on the manicured grounds of Casa Loma. The session includes a concert by kirtan yoga band Guara Shakt post-sun salutation.

Be moved by the tragic love story between a geisha and a U.S. naval officer in the Canadian Opera Company’s opening performance of Puccini’s Madama Butterfly.

Sunday: Hear Margaret Atwood at the International Festival of Authors.

Sunday, September 27th
Sing along to “Octopus’s Garden” as Canadian artists belt out classic Beatles tunes in the Art of Time Ensemble’s special presentation of the Fab Four’s final album, Abbey Road.

At the nationwide book and magazine festival The Word on the Street, hear acclaimed author Margaret Atwood talk about her latest literary masterpiece, The Year of the Flood.

Rifle through the sample-sale racks to find the perfect one-of-a-kind party frock at The Clothing Show, Canada’s largest weekend-long independent designer and vintage shopping event.

| Tags: Art Gallery of Ontario, Art of Time Ensemble, canadian opera company, Casa Loma, joshua bell, Koerner Hall, Madama Butterfly, Royal Ontario Museum, The Clothing Show, Toronto Improv Festival, Toronto Symphony Orchestra, Weekend, Word on the Street | No Comments »

September Hot Date: TSO’s New Season

Thursday, September 17th, 2009

Peter Oundjian conducts the TSO.

SEPTEMBER 24 & 26 The Toronto Symphony Orchestra launches its 2009/10 season with a program featuring two works by Johannes Brahms. Conducted by Peter Oundjian, the orchestra accompanies violinist Joshua Bell—playing his 300-year-old Stradivarius—on Brahms’s graceful Violin Concerto in D Major and Symphony No. 2. Roy Thomson Hall, 8 p.m., $35 to $125; call 416-598-4828 or click here to buy.

| Tags: Entertainment, Johannes Brahms, joshua bell, Music, Peter Oundjian, Roy Thomson Hall, Toronto Symphony Orchestra | No Comments »

Weekend Roundup, June 12 to 14

Friday, June 12th, 2009

The weather is warm and the weekend is here; get out and see the city!

Friday: Indulge in fine seafood at Fisherman's Wharf.

Friday: Enjoy the seafood at Fisherman's Wharf.

Friday, June 12
Sample everything from Alberta whiskey to Zen Green Tea Liquor in the open-air ambience of the waterfront at the Toronto Drinks Show.

Surrender to the artistry of Searching For… a showcase of art work and stage performances created by FireSlide Productions and the artists and writers belonging to their workshops.

Dive into the Fisherman’s Wharf of San Francisco for a sophisticated selection of seafood like the signature coquilles St. Jacques: a medley of bay scallops, shrimp, lobster and crab meat in a white wine and cream sauce baked with parmesan cheese.

Saturday: Hear soprano Measha Brueggergosman (photo by Joy von Tiedemann).

Saturday, June 13
Examine the evolution of painted pottery over the last 500 years at the Gardiner Museum’s exhibition Clay Canvases: The Fine Art of Painted Ceramics.

Marvel at Canadian soprano Measha Brueggergosman as she pays homage to composers Richard Strauss and Béla Bartók with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra.

Experience the enchanting flow of flying feet and fiddles at a performance of the award-winning Riverdance at the Canon Theatre.

Join Russell Peters for a hilarious evening of impressive impersonations and cultural humour at the Air Canada Centre.

Sunday: Treatments from Shizen Spa are a great way to unwind (photo by Getty Images).

Sunday: Unwind at Shizen Spa (photo by Getty Images).

Sunday, June 7
Soak in the sun and the blues on the beach during the Waterfront Blues Festival at Woodbine Park.

Get wrapped in a blanket of flower petals and revel in the soft texture and aroma of the signature rose wrap treatment at Shizen Spa.

Delight in a decadent croque-monsieur and mimosa for brunch on the sunlit terrasse of Le Sélect Bistro.

| Tags: FireSlide Productions, Fisherman's Wharf, Gardiner Museum, Le Select Bistro, Measha Brueggergosman, Riverdance, russell peters, Shizen Spa, Toronto Drinks Show, Toronto Symphony Orchestra, Waterfront Blues Festival, Weekend | No Comments »

June Hot Date—Toronto Symphony Orchestra

Wednesday, June 3rd, 2009

Renowned soprano Measha Brueggergosman performs this month with the TSO (photo by Joy von Tiedemann).

JUNE 10, 11, 13, 17 & 18 The Toronto Symphony Orchestra presents a mini homage to Richard Strauss and Béla Bartók featuring super soprano Measha Brueggergosman. Measha Sings Strauss has the Canadian singer performing the composer’s final work, Four Last Songs. Bartók’s orchestral Concerto for Orchestra and the energetic Divertimento for Strings round out the program. On the second ticket, pianist Emanuel Ax takes on two contrasting works: the young Strauss’s playful Burleske followed by Concerto for Two Pianos and Percussion by the more mature Bartók. Roy Thomson Hall, $29 to $132; call 416-593-4828 for tickets and times.

| Tags: Bela Bartok, Emanuel Ax, Entertainment, Measha Brueggergosman, Richard Strauss, Roy Thomson Hall, Toronto Symphony Orchestra | No Comments »