The Toronto Symphony Orchestra (TSO) is gearing up for a powerhouse production this fall and we have all the exciting details.
The beloved Canadian orchestra is also celebrating 101 years of music and community and hopes its program reflects just that.
“We are just as excited to welcome back familiar faces as we are to see new ones. So to our fellow Torontonians who’ve been thinking about going to the symphony for the first time: this is the perfect year to start,” TSO’s Chief Executive Officer Mark Williams told Now Toronto in an email statement on Thursday.
“The diversity of our programming ensures that you’ll find everything from great classical pieces, to bold new voices in orchestral composition. You belong here, and we can’t wait to welcome every member of your family into our musical family,” he continued.
The season officially started on Wednesday and opened with TSO Music Director Gustavo Gimeno leading the orchestra. Soon after this, the audience welcomed a musical mosaic from Jean-Yves Thibaudet, who is regarded as one of the world’s top pianists.
And if you missed the event, you can check out its open house and community concert taking place this Saturday at Roy Thomson Hall.
The event runs from 10:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. where guests can immerse themselves in an array of activities, including lobby performances and activity stations where you can compose your own music.
Here is a break down of other incredible shows you can catch during the 2023/2024 season:
Seong-Jin Cho Returns + The Poem of Ecstasy
TSO Description: Two disparate works by Ravel—the intoxicating, Spanish-inspired Rapsodie espagnole and the demanding Piano Concerto for the Left Hand, performed by the masterful Seong-Jin Cho—accompany Scriabin’s transcendent The Poem of Ecstasy.
When: Thursday Sept. 28 at 8:00 p.m., Friday, Sept. 29 at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, Sept. 30 at 8:00 p.m.
Where: Roy Thomson Hall.
Who: Gustavo Gimeno, conductor and Seong-Jin Cho, piano.
The Doo Wop Project
TSO Description: From tight harmonies on street corners to supersized stages, a cappella has stood the test of time. Broadway stars of Jersey Boys and Motown: The Musical take you on a ride from The Platters to Pentatonix and more.
When: Tuesday, Oct. 3 at 8:00 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 4 at 2:00 p.m. and Wednesday, Oct. 4 at 8:00 p.m.
Where: Roy Thomson Hall.
Who: Steven Reineke, conductor and the Doo Wop Project, vocal group.
Disney Pixar’s Coco in Concert
TSO Description: Despite his family’s baffling generations-old ban on music, Miguel dreams of becoming an accomplished musician like his idol, Ernesto de la Cruz. Following a mysterious chain of events, he finds himself in the Land of the Dead, where he sets off on an extraordinary journey to unlock the real story behind his family history.
When: Friday, Oct. 6 at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, Oct. 7 at 2:00 p.m.
Where: Roy Thomson Hall.
Who: Steven Reineke, conductor.
Copland’s Clarinet
TSO Description: Two of England’s foremost composers— Vaughan Williams with a nod to a Christmas folk song, and Elgar with his witty and radiant “Enigma” Variations—complement Aaron Copland’s dedication to jazz clarinetist Benny Goodman.
When: Saturday, Oct. 14 at 8:00 p.m. and Sunday, Oct. 15 at 3:00 p.m.
Where: Roy Thomson Hall.
Who: Trevor Wilson, RBC resident conductor and Eric Abramovitz, clarinet.
Beethoven’s Seventh
TSO Description: Concertmaster Jonathan Crow performs György Ligeti’s boundary-pushing Violin
Concerto in honour of the 100th anniversary of the composer’s birth, juxtaposed by the joyful celebration depicted in Beethoven’s Symphony No. 7.
When: Wednesday, Oct. 25 at 8:00 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 28 at 8:00 p.m. and Sunday, Oct. 29, at 3:00 p.m.
Where: Roy Thomson Hall and Meridian Arts Centre.
Who: Gustavo Gimeno, conductor and Jonathan Crow, violin.
An Evening with Audra McDonald
TSO Description: Broadway sensation, Emmy, GRAMMY , and Tony Award winner Audra McDonald—whom The New York Times called a “one-of-a-kind musical super-talent” with a “lustrous lyric soprano”—joins TSO for one night only with a bouquet of theatrical favourites and new-found gems.
When: Thursday, November 2 at 8:00 p.m.
Where: Roy Thomson Hall
Who: Andy Einhorn, conductor and Audra McDonald, singer/actor.
Home Alone in Concert
TSO Description: Celebrate the holidays with the return of a seasonal favourite, Home Alone in Concert. Macaulay Culkin stars as an inventive eight-year-old, accidentally left alone over Christmas, who repeatedly outsmarts a couple of bone-headed burglars. This beloved holiday film features renowned composer John Williams’s delightful score performed live to picture by the orchestra.
When: Thursday, Dec. 7 at 7:30 p.m., Friday, Dec. 8 at 7:30 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 9 at 2:00 p.m.
and Saturday, Dec. 9 at 7:30 p.m.
Where: Roy Thomson Hall
Who: Constantine Kitsopoulos, conductor, Modern Sound Collective and Kai Leung, artistic director.
Superman in Concert
TSO Description: Hollywood’s greatest cinematic superhero returns to the big screen in the film that rocketed actor Christopher Reeve to stardom. Experience the Man of Steel amplified by the power of the TSO performing John Williams’ triumphant original score live to picture.
When: Thursday, Feb.15, 2024 at 7:30 p.m., Friday, Feb 16, 2024 at 7:30 p.m., Saturday, Feb.17, 2024 at 7:30 p.m.
Where: Roy Thomson Hall
Who: Steven Reineke, conductor
For more, you can check out the full program list here.
