Toronto is the place to be for classical music aficionados this season! With a plethora of events dedicated to the genius of Ludwig van Beethoven, there's something for everyone. From the Toronto Symphony Orchestra's vibrant opening with Jan Lisiecki performing Beethoven’s Triple Concerto and Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition at David Pecaut Square, to Emanuel Ax's mesmerizing recital at The Royal Conservatory of Music featuring Beethoven's Piano Sonata No. 13. Explore the depths of Beethoven's music through insightful presentations by Rob Kapilow at Meridian Hall, and enjoy the dual role of Nikolaj Szeps-Znaider in Beethoven’s Violin Concerto. Don't miss the chance to witness Jan Lisiecki’s virtuoso performances over two nights, delving into all of Beethoven’s piano concerti. The Takács Quartet and Sir Stephen Hough bring a modern twist to Beethoven’s String Quartet No. 1, while Pierre-Laurent Aimard's interpretation of Beethoven’s 11 Bagatelles is a must-see. Conclude your Beethoven journey with Sunny Ritter's performance of Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 3 and finally, be uplifted by the grandeur of Beethoven’s Eroica Symphony.

Experience Beethoven Across Toronto: From Concertos to Symphonies

Join the musical journey across Toronto as the city comes alive with the enchanting melodies of Johannes Brahms. From Saraste's powerful rendition of Mozart's Requiem and Brahms's Symphony No. 3 at David Pecaut Square, to the Toronto Mendelssohn Choir's romantic waltzes and tangos at The Royal Conservatory of Music, the city will reverberate with Brahms's genius. Experience the high spirits of Brahms's Academic Festival Overture at Meridian Arts Centre, the innovative Takács Quartet, and the unparalleled energy of the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra featuring Brahms's Violin Concerto. This Brahms-infused series will culminate in a grand finale with Gimeno conducting the best of Brahms, ensuring every concert-goer leaves with a heart full of timeless music.

Toronto Celebrates Brahms: Concerts Highlighting the Master Composer

Toronto is set to become a haven for classical music aficionados with a series of captivating events celebrating the genius of Ludwig van Beethoven. From the Toronto Symphony Orchestra’s vibrant performances of Beethoven’s Triple Concerto and Violin Concerto at David Pecaut Square to the Royal Conservatory of Music hosting Emanuel Ax and the Takács Quartet, these events will showcase the timeless beauty and emotional depth of Beethoven’s works. Additionally, don’t miss Rob Kapilow’s enlightening 'What Makes It Great?' series at Meridian Hall and Meridian Arts Centre, along with Pierre-Laurent Aimard’s masterful piano interpretations and the grand 'Eroica' symphony to close the season.

Toronto’s Classical Music Delight: Unveiling Beethoven's Masterpieces in 2024-2025

Toronto is set to become a haven for classical music enthusiasts with a spectacular lineup of events featuring the works of Johannes Brahms. From the haunting melodies of Mozart's Requiem conducted by Jukka-Pekka Saraste to the passionate waltzes and tangos of Brahms's Liebeslieder Walzer with the Toronto Mendelssohn Choir, the city will resonate with musical brilliance. The Toronto Symphony Orchestra will showcase Brahms's Academic Festival Overture, Symphony No. 1, and Violin Concerto, while the Takács Quartet and Sir Stephen Hough will bring innovative interpretations of Brahms's Piano Quintet. Don't miss the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra's electrifying performance of Brahms's Violin Concerto and Shostakovich's Symphony No. 5. Finally, Icelandic sensation Víkingur Ólafsson will deliver a profound exploration of Brahms with his Second Piano Concerto and Fourth Symphony. Join us in celebrating the timeless beauty of Brahms's music in Toronto.

Experience the Magic of Brahms in Toronto: A Symphony of Events

The Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto is set to host an extraordinary lineup of events featuring some of the most celebrated artists in classical music, opera, and jazz. From the dynamic conducting of Naomi Woo to the soulful melodies of the Cesária Évora Orchestra, these performances promise a rich tapestry of artistry and culture. This February and March, Toronto's music scene will be alive with innovation, passion, and a celebration of timeless classics, offering a unique experience for all music lovers.

A Symphony of Talent: Celebrated Artists Take the Stage in Toronto

Stephen Hough

The Royal Conservatory of Music

The 2024 Grammy award-winning nominated English a cappella octet returns for another extraordinary Christmas concert.

Touring globally, VOCES8 performs an extensive repertory both in its a cappella concerts and in collaborations with leading musicians, orchestras, conductors, and soloists. Versatility and a celebration of diverse musical expression are central to the ensemble’s performance and education ethos which is shared both online and in person.

Voces8

A reimagining of the classic album by R&B legend Chaka Khan and Chick Corea featuring the original drummer and Koerner Hall favourite, Lisa Fischer.

Echoes of an Era was a stunning jazz album released in 1982, featuring Chaka Khan, Chick Corea, Freddie Hubbard, Joe Henderson, Stanley Clarke, and Lenny White. With timeless standards like “All of Me,” “I Hear Music,” and “I Loves You, Porgy,” this project showcased Chaka’s incredible versatility as a vocalist and earned her a Grammy nomination in the jazz category.

Echoes of an Era feat. Lisa Fischer, Orrin Evans, Lenny White, and More

The concert will be an exploration of the westward migration of Eastern European composers to Los Angeles for work in the film industry, coupled with the delight and buoyancy of Gabriela Montero’s classical improvisations for which she is famous, this time accompanying Charlie Chaplin’s film The Immigrant.

Gabriela Montero, piano

The Icelandic sensation plays a deeply personal program centred around Beethoven’s Piano Sonata No. 30. 

“Breathtakingly brilliant pianist” (Gramophone) Ólafsson has been called “Iceland’s Glenn Gould” by The New York Times, and was named Artist of the Year at the Gramophone Awards in 2019 and Instrumentalist of the Year by Musical America in 2024. His remarkable originality has made an unforgettable impact. His album, Johann Sebastian Bach, on Deutsche Grammophon won Best Instrumental Album and Album of the Year at the 2019 BBC Music Magazine Awards. 

Víkingur Ólafsson, piano

The Grammy Award-winning Scottish violinist returns for another enthralling Koerner Hall concert, featuring works by Debussy, Chopin, Sarasate, and others, along with new commissions and arrangements of traditional Scottish music.

Nicola Benedetti is one of the most sought-after violinists of her generation. Her ability to captivate audiences and her wide appeal as an advocate for classical music has made her one of the most influential artists of today. Winner of the Grammy Award for Best Classical Instrumental Solo in 2020, as well as Best Female Artist at both 2012 and 2013 Classical BRIT Awards, Ms. Benedetti’s most recent recording features works written especially for her by jazz musician Wynton Marsalis: Violin Concerto in D Major and Fiddle Dance Suite for Solo Violin.

An Evening with Nicola Benedetti

Maestro Peter Oundjian has been hailed as a masterful and dynamic presence in the conducting world and has developed a multi-faceted portfolio as a conductor, violinist, professor, and artistic advisor. He has been celebrated for his musicality, an eye towards collaboration, innovative programming, and an engaging personality.

Royal Conservatory Orchestra with conductor Peter Oundjian Eric Guo, piano

Hungary’s finest cultural ambassadors bring us Mahler’s monumental Symphony No. 3 for orchestra, mezzo-soprano, women’s choir, and children’s choir.

Founded by Iván Fischer in 1983, the Budapest Festival Orchestra (BFO) is rated among the top 10 orchestras in the world, regularly performing at the most important concert venues of the international music scene. The BFO has won two Gramophone Awards and was nominated for a Grammy in 2013 for its recording of Mahler’s Symphony No. 1. The BFO also received the Association of Music Critics of Argentina’s award for Best Foreign Symphony Orchestra in 2016, the Diapason d’Or for its recording of Mahler’s Symphony No. 5 in 2014, and the Italian Toblacher Komponierhäuschen prize.

Budapest Festival Orchestra conducted by Iván Fischer

Witness the exceptional talents of RCM alumni Luka Coetzee and Jon Kimura Parker as they perform a varied selection of works from Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue to Chopin’s Cello Sonata in G Minor, and beyond. 

“Tonally, technically, and musically superb,” Canadian cellist Luka Coetzee “plays sublimely, with an interpretative grasp [and] phenomenal musicianship [that] should on no account be missed,” said Fanfare Magazine. Since her professional debut at age 11, Luka has appeared as soloist with orchestras worldwide including the Helsinki Philharmonic, Lahti Symphony, Cape Town Philharmonic, Stuttgart Chamber, and more. At the age of one, Luka had her first cello lesson with Christine Bootland. Luka also started playing piano at the age of three and finished the Royal Conservatory of Music ARCT piano exam with First Class Honours under the instruction of Derek Chiu.

Luka Coetzee, cello, with Jon Kimura Parker, piano

"A marvel of digital dexterity, warmly romantic sentiment, and jaw-dropping bravura." (Chicago Tribune) 

Grammy Award-winning, Uzbekistan-born classical pianist, Yefim Bronfman, is internationally recognized as one of today's most acclaimed and admired pianists for his commanding technique, power, and exceptional lyrical gifts.

“It is safe to say there is no pianist around remotely like Yefim Bronfman.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

Yefim Bronfman, piano

The acclaimed string quartet of three Danes and one Norwegian return to perform a wide-ranging program from Ravel’s String Quartet to Jonny Greenwood’s Suite for String Quartet from the film There Will Be Blood.

The Danish String Quartet has established its pre-eminence among the world’s finest string quartets with its impeccable musicianship, sophisticated artistry, and, above all, an unmatched ability to play as one. Their performances are characterized by a rare musical spontaneity, giving audiences the sense of hearing even treasured canon repertoire as if for the first time. 

Danish String Quartet

The celebrated Grammy Award-winning vocal ensemble returns with a program of a cappella choral music, ranging from Renaissance masterworks to roof-raising spirituals.

Chanticleer has been hailed as “the world’s reigning male chorus” by The New Yorker and is known around the world as “an orchestra of voices” for its wide-ranging repertoire and dazzling virtuosity. Founded in San Francisco in 1978 by singer and musicologist Louis Botto, Chanticleer quickly took its place as one of the most prolific recording and touring ensembles in the world, selling over one million recordings and performing thousands of live concerts to audiences around the world.

Chanticleer

The multi-Grammy Award-winning pianist dazzles as he honours Dizzy Gillespie and Charlie Parker with his big band, continuing his father Chico O’Farrill’s legacy of composing and arranging for these jazz icons.

Arturo O’Farrill, pianist, composer, and educator, was born in Mexico and grew up in New York City. His professional career began with the Carla Bley Band and continued as a solo performer with a wide spectrum of artists including Dizzy Gillespie, Lester Bowie, Wynton Marsalis, and Harry Belafonte. His powerful “Three Revolutions” from the album Familia: Tribute to Bebo & Chico won the 2018 Grammy Award for Best Instrumental Composition. Most recently, in February of 2023, Arturo was awarded his eighth Grammy for the album Fandango at the Wall in New York.

Arturo O'Farrill Afro-Latin Jazz Ensemble

The world-renowned Takács Quartet brings its innovative musical thinking to works by Beethoven and Brahms, along with a new string quartet by the acclaimed pianist Stephen Hough. 

The Takács Quartet is known for its innovative programming. In 2015, the Takács performed a program inspired by Philip Roth’s novel Everyman with Meryl Streep at The Royal Conservatory of Music. They have toured 14 cities with the poet Robert Pinsky and played regularly with the Hungarian folk group Muzsikas. 

Takács Quartet with Sir Stephen Hough, piano

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