Massey Hall (178 Victoria St.) / Toronto
Roy Thomson Hall (60 Simcoe St.) / Toronto
For tickets call 416-872-4255, buy online masseyhall.com | roythomson.com
Or visit the Roy Thomson Hall Box Office (60 Simcoe St, Toronto, ON)
Holiday Traditions New and Old
AN EAST COAST CHRISTMAS – SPECIAL GUESTS JUST ANNOUNCED
Hosted by David Myles
With special guests Damhnait Doyle and Stuart Cameron (of The Heartbroken), Fortunate Ones, and Ten Strings And A Goat Skin
Saturday, December 19, 8pm
Jane Mallett Theatre (St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts)
$25-55
Wonder how they celebrate Out East? Frederictonian singer-songwriter and host of CBC’s East Coast Music Hour David Myles leads some of our favourite East-Coasters bringing the Atlantic to Lake Ontario alongside special guests folk-pop duo Fortunate Ones, Damhnait Doyle and Stuart Cameron of The Heartbroken and Ten Strings And A Goat Skin.
In partnership with East Coast Music Week
Supported by RBC Emerging Artists and with the participation of the Government of Canada.
TORONTO CHILDREN’S CHORUS
A Chorus Christmas: Across The Universe
Saturday, December 19, 2pm
Roy Thomson Hall
$35.50-45.50
Russell Braun, baritone
Stan Klebanoff, trumpet
Carol Lynn Fujino, violin
Virginia Chen Wells, violin
Mary Carol Nugent, viola
Winona Zelenka, cello
Internationally-renowned Canadian baritone Russell Braun joins the 300-member Toronto Children’s Chorus and its Alumni and Youth Choirs at one of the city’s favourite holiday concerts. Enjoy seasonal classics, audience carols and new works — including the premiere of a new arrangement of Ralph Vaughan Williams’ Fantasia on Christmas Carols for treble and baritone – accompanied by piano, strings, trumpet and pipe organ.
ORPHEUS CHOIR OF TORONTO
‘Tis the Season!
Wednesday, December 16, 12pm
Roy Thomson Hall
FREE
Robert Cooper, conductor
Edward Moroney, piano and organ
Celebrating over 50 years of music-making, the Orpheus Choir of Toronto has earned a reputation as one of our country’s most illustrious large choral ensembles. Under the leadership of Robert Cooper since 2004, the 60-voice choir is known for adventurous programs that include a range of content old and new, from classical to jazz.
Messiah
A long-time holiday tradition, Handel’s masterpiece is on display several different ways this season. The TSO’s Messiah, the biggest Messiah in town, and Tafelmusik’s intimate and spirited Sing Along Messiah, which have each had longtime homes in Roy Thomson Hall and Massey Hall respectively, are complimented this year by Against The Grain Theatre’s (AtG) “sideways” version, presented by Massey Hall for a four-show run at the Harbourfront Centre Theatre.
ATG’s MESSIAH – 4 Shows
Wednesday, December 16, 8pm
Thursday, December 17, 8pm
Friday, December 18, 8pm
Saturday, December 19, 2pm
Harbourfront Centre Theatre
$25-79.50
Miriam Khalil, soprano
Andrea Ludwig, mezzo-soprano
Owen McCausland, tenor
Stephen Hegedus, bass-baritone
Alt-opera company Against the Grain Theatre’s Messiah walks the line between edgy and faithful, with Handel’s score intact, but without the “stand and deliver” performance, tuxedos and choral folders.
TORONTO SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA – MESSIAH
Tuesday, December 15, 8pm
Wednesday, December 16, 8pm
Friday December 18, 8pm
Saturday, December 19, 8pm
Sunday, December 20, 3pm
Roy Thomson Hall
$38.75 – $111.25
Sir Andrew Davis, conductor
Erin Wall, soprano
Elizabeth DeShong, mezzo-soprano
Andrew Staples, tenor
John Relyea, bass-baritone
Toronto Mendelssohn Choir
It’s the biggest Messiah in Toronto! These heartening performances of Handel’s immortal oratorio will be given in Sir Andrew Davis’s uniquely grand-scaled edition—with a large classical orchestra, huge choral forces, and esteemed vocal soloists. An event not to be missed—this isn’t your average Baroque Messiah!
TAFELMUSIK BAROQUE ORCHESTRA AND CHAMBER CHOIR – SING-ALONG MESSIAH
Sunday, December 20,2pm
Massey Hall
$30 – $48
Soloists include:
Joanne Lunn, Soprano
Mary-Ellen Nesi, Mezzo-soprano
Rufus Müller, Tenor
Nathaniel Watson, Baritone
Toronto’s Hallelujah Event! Family and friend festivities with “Herr Handel”. Join 2,700 enthusiastic sing-alongers and guest soloists, as “George Frideric Handel” conducts his beloved Messiah at the historic Massey Hall. Non-singers welcome!
General Admission, seating by voice part.
New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day Celebrations
NEW YEAR’S EVE COMEDY EXTRAVAGANZA – LINE UP JUST ANNOUNCED
Hosted by Shaun Majumder
Starring Simon Cotter
Also Featuring Peter Anthony, Eman El-Husseini, Sean Emeny, Keith Pedro, Darryl Orr and Mark Heath
Thursday, December 31, 7:30pm
Massey Hall
$39.50-69.50
Join host Shaun Majumder to ring in 2016 with laughter. Curated by Yuk Yuk’s founder Mark Breslin, the 15th annual event features a host of professional funnyfolk, with Bonzai Suzuki once again providing musical entertainment. Joining the already-announced award-winning Simon Cotter are some of Canada’s funniest comedians: Peter Anthony, Eman El-Husseini, Sean Emeny, Keith Pedro, Darryl Orr and Mark Heath.
BRAVISSIMO! OPERA’S GREATEST HITS
Thursday, December 31, 7pm
Roy Thomson Hall
$55-145
Opera Canada Symphony & Opera Canada Chorus
Marco Guidarini, conductor (Italy)
Karina Gauvin, soprano (Canada)
Krisztina Szabó, mezzo soprano (Canada)
Stefano La Colla, tenor (Italy)
Lucio Gallo, baritone (Italy)
Now in its eighth year, this New Year’s Eve tradition features an international cast of opera stars, chorus and full orchestra performing timeless arias, choruses and duets. Opera Canada Symphony and Opera Canada Chorus, conducted by Italian maestro Marco Guidarini (after his successful run conducting La Traviata in Toronto), back a spectacular cast of soloists: Canadian soprano and mezzo soprano Karina Gauvin and Krisztina Szabó, and Italian tenor and baritone Stefano La Colla and Lucio Gallo. The evening includes selections from La traviata, The Magic Flute, Tosca, La bohème, Rigoletto and more. The final bows take place well before 10pm so your New Year’s Eve celebrations can continue.
Co-presented with Attila Glatz Concert Productions
SALUTE TO VIENNA NEW YEAR’S CONCERT
Friday, January 1, 2:30pm
Roy Thomson Hall
$65-155
Strauss Symphony of Canada
Imre Kollár, conductor (Budapest)
Katarzyna Dondalska, soprano (Berlin–Warsaw)
Franz Gürtelschmied, tenor (Vienna)
Featuring dancers from Hungarian National Ballet & International Champion Ballroom Dancers
The 21st annual New-Year’s celebration of uplifting Viennese music. Strauss waltzes and sweeping melodies from operettas including Die Fledermaus and Merry Widow will be sung by hand-picked European singers and full orchestra. Costumed ballet and ballroom dancers will present romantic vignettes, whisking you off to the City of Dreams.
Co-presented with Attila Glatz Concert Productions
The Celebration Continues with Carnival
globalFEST ON THE ROAD: CREOLE CARNIVAL
Featuring Emeline Michel, Casuarina and Brushy One String
Tuesday, February 23, 8pm
Massey Hall
$19.50- $69.50
The festivities continue well into the New Year as Massey Hall partners with Toronto Caribbean Carnival to celebrate Carnival, the world’s biggest bash. globalFEST On The Road: Creole Carnival heats up Massey Hall with three amazing artists: Emeline Michel, the reigning Queen of Haitian songs, combining gospel, jazz and pop; Casuarina, Rio’s innovative samba masters; and Brushy One String who channels dancehall and delta blues into a unique and soulful sound.
Presented in partnership with Toronto Caribbean Carnival.
HALL PARTY: CARNIVAL
Friday, February 5, 8pm
The Great Hall
$25 General Admission.19+.
Get into the Carnival mood with Hall Party: Carnival, where The Great Hall will be transformed from top to bottom with Brazilian, Colombian and Caribbean celebrations featuring, respectively, Mar Aberto SoundSystem, Lido Pimienta and Jester alongside many others.
GLOBAL CARNIVAL
Thursday, February 18, 8pm
Lula Lounge
$15
Massey Hall partners up with Lula Music & Arts Centre for a second pre-Creole Carnival night of global carnival. Multi-cultural percussion posse Samba Squad features Mardi Gras-inspired horns and a heavy dose of urban funk, and leads a dance-till-you-drop tour of global Carnival grooves. Presented by Lula Music & Arts Centre and part of Massey Hall’s Carnival celebrations.
To share this video, use direct link: bit.ly/MHRTHWinter1516
The music in this video is a sample of “I Want” by Canadian artist Alejandra Ribera (who performs live at Massey Hall on February 5)
For more insight into Carnival, and what to expect from the Carnival events presented by Massey Hall read “More than One Way to Party” by Nicholas Jennings at masseyhall.com/soundboard.
