It’s been another vibrant year of classical music in Canada, complete with exciting debut performances, innovative programming, and plenty of fan favorites. Join us as we take a look back at some of our favorite concerts of the year, as reviewed by our writers in Toronto, Montreal, Quebec City and Ottawa.
In January, Joseph So enjoyed the “fluty, focused tone of Jane Archibald, the smooth-as-silk mezzo of Susan Platts, the heart-on-sleeve urgency of the tenor Isaiah Bell, and the requisite gravitas for the bass part, admirably executed by bass-baritone Kevin Deas” at the Toronto Symphony Orchestra’s performance of Mozart’s Requiem, conducted by Michael Francis.
Denise Lai described the Canadian Opera Company’s Feburary production of Le Nozze di Figaro as having been “anchored by a magnificent-all-over cast.”
Canadian Pianist Marc-André Hamelin joined the TSO for a bombastic performance of Messiaen’s Turangalila-Symphonie in May. Reviewer Andrea Rush noted that “his majestic command of all ranges of the keyboard provided a platform for the full orchestra, as he navigated flawlessly with fluidity and fluency.”
In July, audiences at the Toronto Summer Music festival were surprised with the last-minute debut of American Mezzo Soprano J’Nai Bridges, who executed “a glorious demonstration of the beauty of musical collaboration” with collaborative pianist Rachael Kerr.
Ensemble Caprice
This fall, Mathias Maute’s Ensemble Caprice filled a packed Maison Symphonique with the charming sounds of Vivaldi’s Gloria, in celebration of the ensemble’s 35th anniversary. “The ensemble demonstrated drive, emotion, and expressivity,” wrote Viktor Lazarov.
The Staatskapelle Berlin made an “unforgettable Canadian debut” in Toronto’s Koerner Hall, where they were led by Lithuanian conductor Giedrė Šlekytė, who “did not disappoint” according to reviewer Denise Lai. “The orchestra played with impressive dynamic contrasts, their warm sounds flowed like liquid gold. There was technical brilliance from all sections: from the pianissimo plucking by the strings to the powerful surges of the brass, there was not a weak link.”
Rising star María Dueñas “made her mark on Montreal’s stage once again,” in performance with Yannick Nézet-Séguin and the Orchestre Métropolitain. She played Norwegian composer Johan Halvorsen’s violin concerto, and “captivated the audience from the initial cadence to the expressive folkloric finale.”
María Dueñas (Photo by Denis Germain – Orchestre Métropolitain)
At the Montreal Bach Festival, Vincent Lauzer and Dorothéa Ventura performed a collection of suites, recomposed using dance movement by J.S. Bach. “The concert brought unparalleled richness and freshness from a stylistic, rhythmic, and technical perspective,” said Viktor Lazarov.
Last week, the Toronto Symphony Orchestra and the Toronto Mendelssohn Choir joined forces in their performance of Handel’s Messiah. “From the very first downbeat, the gorgeous sounds of the TSO and the mellow warmth of the TMC permeated Roy Thomson, making it a truly enjoyable sonic journey.”
Canadian classical music audiences have been treated to the highest calibre of talent this year, in cities across the country. We at La Scena Musicale look forward to bringing our readers into the concert hall with many more reviews in the new year, and in the meantime, wish you a safe and healthy holiday season.
