This week, a quick tour of Canadian orchestras’ current and upcoming performances, live and digital. Many orchestras charge a small fee for digital concerts (often $15-$25); others are free, but donations are always encouraged.

BC/Alberta

The Calgary Philharmonic has replaced its 20/21 season with a series of virtual concerts; the most recent is a performance of Stravinsky's Soldier's Tale.

The Edmonton Symphony launched its 20/21 season with a concert at the Winspear on October 5th, with limited forces and audience Global News reported. ESO musicians have also performed over 180 community concerts since the shutdown.

The Vancouver Symphony has launched a paywalled online series at TheConcertHall.ca; current offerings include their opening night Beethoven 7.

The Victoria Symphony’s virtual season continues Thursday, Nov. 12 with a performance of Grieg and Bach, featuring pianist Angela Hewitt.

Prairies

The Regina Symphony has re-invented its 20/21 season of live concerts with limited forces; on Nov. 19-21, they feature works by Haydn, Lau, and Shostakovich.

The Saskatoon Symphony is offering a weekly digital series for $15 a ticket -- though they postponed this weekend’s performance due to a major snowstorm.

The Winnipeg Symphony’s paywalled livestream series continues on November 27 with An Evening in Vienna, works by Schubert, Brahms, and Korngold.  

Ontario (non-GTHA)

The next Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony broadcast, premiering Friday, Nov. 20, features symphonies by Haydn and Mendelssohn, conducted by music director Andrei Feher: The Master and the Prodigy.

The London Symphonia’s 20/21 series of limited audience concerts are offered for live stream at a small fee. On Saturday, Nov. 21, they perform with Sarah Slean at London’s Metropolitan United Church.

The National Arts Centre Orchestra premieres a free concert this Saturday, Nov. 14 featuring Mozart’s Jupiter Symphony and a world premiere by Kelly-Marie Murphy.

The Thunder Bay Symphony offers a series of live chamber music concerts next weekend, juxtaposing Wonderful Winds with Baroken Strings.

The Windsor Symphony is packaging its digital concert series of 12 varied performances for $100. 

GTHA

The Hamilton Philharmonic’s latest broadcast premieres Saturday, Nov. 14: Reflections from Russia, featuring members of the HPO string section in music by Prokofiev, Shostakovich, Esmail, and Ho.

The Toronto Symphony has also been presenting a paywalled On Demand series, though it is currently paused due to Covid-19 restrictions.

The Canadian Opera Company saw average attendance rise in the 2019-20 season, even as it faced cancellations and a significant operating deficit due to Covid-19. Ludwig Van reports on COC's recent AGM.

The Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO) presents a series of Friday afternoon performances featuring artists from the Toronto Symphony, Canadian Opera Company, National Ballet of Canada, and others. 

Quebec & Atlantic

The Montreal Symphony is offering a distinctive series of online concerts, each available for a fee of $20. Their latest features pianist Angela Hewitt and the Ravel Piano Concerto in G.

Orchestre Metropolitain is also offering a paywalled online season. Their latest, available Nov. 6-13, features Fauré’s Requiem.

This Friday, the Quebec Symphony offers a free concert in memory of the tragic events of October 31, featuring works by Barber, Beethoven, Stölzel, Schumann, Faure, Mahler, and Strauss.

Symphony Nova Scotia is offering a varied array of “compact community concerts”, online learning events, and intimate “fusion sessions” with popular local artists. 

Compiled by Matt Heller, with assistance and oversight by the OCSM Editorial Committee. We also welcome your comments, news tips, and ideas for newsletter content as we prepare to relaunch Una Voce (digitally, of course). Best wishes and stay safe.