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Volume 31 Issue 2 - November & December 2025

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  • Music
  • Wholenote
  • Toronto
  • Classical
  • Jazz
  • Live music
  • Music theatre
  • Orchestra
  • Opera
  • Choral
  • Film
  • Canadian
  • Ontario
  • Arts
  • November
  • December
  • Christmas
  • Holiday
  • Winter
November and December combined for the first time in our history, with January and February likewise joined at the hip up next. Window-shop the 2025/26 Blue Pages (ten new members since last issue). "Critical mass" is the flavour of the issue, with "A Mass for the Endangered" leading the way, and a feast of Music Theatre, serious and not, close behind. Choral Scene looks at choirs augmenting their year-ending offerings with instrumental forces, and orchestras likewise augmenting their offerings with massed human voice. And masses of new recordings to discover and listen to. ALL THIS AND MORE.

LIVE OR ONLINE | Nov 1

LIVE OR ONLINE | Nov 1 to Jan 7, 2024From .● Nov 14 8:00: Roy Thomson Hall. Legendsof Motown. 60 Simcoe St. www.tickets.mhrth.com or 416-598-3375. From .Saturday November 15● Nov 15 2:00: Aurora Cultural Centre. DivineBrown Sings Ella, Billy & Sarah. AuroraTown Square - Davide De Simone PerformanceHall, 50 Victoria St., Aurora. 365-500-3313 or www.auroraculturalcentre.ca. ;(st). Also 7:30pm.● Nov 15 2:00: Tranzac Club Main Hall. GetTogether: Songs of Peace, Love, and Happiness.Tranzac Club, 292 Brunswick Ave. 416-594-3388 or www.sueanddwight.com. .● Nov 15 2:30: Heliconian Club Music Section.Musique des années folles. HeliconianHall, 35 Hazelton Ave. www.heliconianclub.org. General: per concert or 0 for4-concert series; Heliconian Club members; per concert or for 4-concert series.Refreshments included.● Nov 15 3:00: VOICEBOX: Opera in Concert.Richard Cœur-de-Lion. Trinity St.Paul’s United Church. Jeanne Lamon Hall,427 Bloor St. W. www.rcmusic.com/tickets/seats/408001 or 416-408-0208. .● Nov 15 4:00: The Edison Singers. Vierne:Messe Solennelle & Whitacre: The SacredVeil. Church of St. Peter and St. Simon-the-Apostle, 525 Bloor St. E. 226-384-9300or www.theedisonsingers.com/performances/.; (sr); (st); (child). AlsoNov 8(St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church,Guelph); 9(St. Mark’s Anglican Church,Niagara-on-the-Lake).● Nov 15 7:00: Korean Canadian SymphonyOrchestra. Canadian Symphony Orchestrawith Yemel Philharmonic Society Presents:Korean Fantasy: A CommemorativeConcert Celebrating the 80th Anniversary ofKorea’s Liberation. Yorkminster Park BaptistChurch (Toronto), 1585 Yonge St. www.kcso.ca or meetkccc@gmail.com. ; (st);Free(under 12).● Nov 15 7:30: Aurora Cultural Centre. DivineBrown Sings Ella, Billy & Sarah. AuroraTown Square - Davide De Simone PerformanceHall, 50 Victoria St., Aurora. 365-500-3313 or www.auroraculturalcentre.ca. ;(st). Also 2pm.● Nov 15 7:30: Barrie Concert Association.Schumann and Beyond. Hiway PentecostalChurch, 50 Anne St. N., Barrie. www.barrieconcerts.orgor 705-436-1232. ; (st).● Nov 15 7:30: Melos Choir & Period Instruments.The Pow’r of Musicke: St. Ceciliain England in the 17th & 18th Centuries. St.George’s Cathedral (Kingston), 270 King St.E., Kingston. 613-542-6571 or www.melosearlymusic.org.. Available online or atNovel Idea.● Nov 15 7:30: Stratford Symphony Orchestra.Sitarski Performs Barber. AvondaleUnited Church (Stratford), 194 Avondale Ave.,Stratford. 519-271-0990 or www.stratfordsymphony.ca.From .● Nov 15 7:30: Toronto Symphony Orchestra.Joshua Bell Returns. Roy Thomson Hall,60 Simcoe St. www.tso.ca or 416-598-3375.Call or visit website for ticket information.Also Nov 13(7:30pm).● Nov 15 8:00: Acoustic Harvest. BlackUmfolosi. St. Paul’s United Church (Scarborough),200 McIntosh St., Scarborough.www.ticketscene.ca/events/53314/; www.acousticharvest.ca. .● Nov 15 8:00: David Glabais/RifflandiaEntertainment Company. Unbreakable: AConcert for the Princess Margaret (UHN).Massey Hall, 178 Victoria St. www.tickets.mhrth.com. From .● Nov 15 8:00: Heliconian Hall. NoamLemish: Quartet Album Release Concert.35 Hazelton Ave. www.eventbrite.ca/e/noamlemish-quartet-album-release-concert-tickets-1696191778269.; (st).Sunday November 16● Nov 16 1:30: Toronto Symphony Orchestra.The Composer Is Dead. Roy ThomsonHall, 60 Simcoe St. www.tso.ca or 416-598-3375. Call or visit website for ticket information.Also 4pm.● Nov 16 3:00: Kitchener-Waterloo ChamberMusic Society. Complete BeethovenViolin & Piano Sonatas - Concert 2. KefferMemorial Chapel, Wilfrid Laurier University,75 University Ave. W., Waterloo. www.ticketscene.ca/kwcms.Each concert: ; (st)or All 3 concerts: ; (st).● Nov 16 3:00: Royal Conservatory ofMusic. Jan Lisiecki, Piano. Royal Conservatoryof Music - TELUS Centre - KoernerHall, 273 Bloor St. W. 416-408-0208 or www.rcmusic.com/performance. From .● Nov 16 4:00: St. John’s Anglican Church(Rockwood). Classical Piano Concert inRockwood. 112 Guelph St., Rockwood. 519-856-9211. Voluntary contribution.● Nov 16 4:00: St. Philip’s Recital Series.Tim Beattie, Solo Guitar. St. Philip’s AnglicanChurch (Etobicoke), 31 St. Phillips Rd., Etobicoke.647-270-7257. Pay-what-you can. Suggested:.● Nov 16 4:00: Toronto Symphony Orchestra.The Composer Is Dead. Roy ThomsonHall, 60 Simcoe St. www.tso.ca or 416-598-3375. Call or visit website for ticket information.Also 1:30pm.Tuesday November 18● Nov 18 12:00 noon: Canadian Opera Company.Instrumental Series: The ClassicalThread. Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre,Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts,145 Queen St. W. www.coc.ca/freeconcerts.Free. Please check website for any programmingupdates.● Nov 18 12:10: Nine Sparrows Arts Foundation.Lunchtime Chamber Music: Rising StarsRecital Featuring Performance Studentsfrom the UofT Faculty of Music. YorkminsterPark Baptist Church (Toronto), 1585 Yonge St.416-922-1167 or www.yorkminsterpark.com.Free. Donations welcome.● Nov 18 1:00: St. James Cathedral. TuesdayOrgan Recital. Cathedral Church of St.James (Toronto), 106 King St. E. 416-364-7865or www.stjamescathedral.ca/recitals. Free.Donations encouraged.● Nov 18 7:30: Ancaster Memorial ArtsCentre. Sisters in Song: Suzie Vinnick.357 Wilson St. E., Ancaster. 905-304-3232 orwww.memorialarts.ca/sisters-in-song/suzievinnick..Wednesday November 19● Nov 19 12:00 noon: Canadian Opera Company.Instrumental Series: Rebanks FamilyFellowship Spotlight. Richard BradshawAmphitheatre, Four Seasons Centre for thePerforming Arts, 145 Queen St. W. www.coc.ca/freeconcerts. Free. Please check websitefor any programming updates.● Nov 19 12:15: St. Andrew’s PresbyterianChurch (Kitchener). Douglas Haas LegacyConcerts. 54 Queen St. N., Kitchener. 519-578-4430. Free. Lunch available for purchaseat 11:30am or bring your own.● Nov 19 5:00: University of Toronto - TrinityCollege Chapel. 70th Anniversary ofTrinity College Chapel. 6 Hoskin Ave. 416-978-2522. Free.● Nov 19 7:00: Browntasaurus Records.Nick Maclean’s Snaggle Featuring The AliBrothers: An Asimov-inspired Jazz-FunkJourney (Newmarket). George WhiskeyLounge, 238 Main St. S., Newmarket. 416-389-2643. (door); (adv). See separatelistings for appearances in other Ontariolocations.● Nov 19 7:00: Royal Conservatory ofMusic. Ray Chen, Violin, with Chelsea Wang,Piano. Works by Tartini, Saint-Saëns, Bach,Bazzini, Dvořák, and Saraste. Royal Conservatoryof Music - TELUS Centre - KoernerHall, 273 Bloor St. W. 416-408-0208 or www.rcmusic.com/performance. From .● Nov 19 7:00: Toronto City Opera. Pagliacci.918 Bathurst Centre for Culture, Arts,Media and Education, 918 Bathurst St. www.torontocityopera.com/tickets. From . AlsoNov 22(2pm) & 23(4pm).● Nov 19 8:00: Brampton On Stage. JannArden Christmas Tour. Rose Theatre, The(Brampton), 1 Theatre Ln., Brampton. 905-874-2800 https://tickets.brampton.ca. From.● Nov 19 8:00: Live Nation. TromboneShorty & Orleans Avenue. Massey Hall,178 Victoria St. www.ticketmaster.ca/trombone-shorty-orleans-avenue-torontoontario-11-19-2025/event.From .Thursday November 20● Nov 20 7:00: Browntasaurus Records.Nick Maclean’s Snaggle Featuring The AliBrothers: An Asimov-inspired Jazz-FunkJourney (Kingston). RCHA Club, 193 Ontario28 | November & December 2025 thewholenote.com

St., Kingston. 416-389-2643. (door);(adv). See separate listings for appearancesin other Ontario locations.● Nov 20 7:30: Toronto Symphony Orchestra.Romeo & Juliet. Roy Thomson Hall,60 Simcoe St. www.tso.ca or 416-598-3375.Call or visit website for ticket information.Also Nov 21(7:30pm) & 22(7:30pm).● Nov 20 8:00: Modo-Live. Virginia to Vegas.TD Music Hall, 178 Victoria St. 416-823-9193or www.tickets.mhrth.com/7003/7004. .Friday November 21● Nov 21 12:10: Music at St. Andrew’s.Noontime Recital. St. Andrew’s PresbyterianChurch (Toronto), 73 Simcoe St. 416-593-5600 x220 or www.standrewstoronto.org.Free. Donations welcome.● Nov 21 7:30: DJB Live Entertainment. ToyStory in Concert. Meridian Hall, 1 Front St. E.www.tolive.com or 416-366-7723. From .Also Nov 22(2pm).● Nov 21 7:30: North Wind Concerts/Toronto Silent Film Festival. In the Key ofCocteau. Heliconian Hall, 35 Hazelton Ave.www.universe.com/events/68ae1b6edf44910028877f3b. .59.● Nov 21 7:30: Toronto Symphony Orchestra.Romeo & Juliet. Roy Thomson Hall,60 Simcoe St. www.tso.ca or 416-598-3375.Call or visit website for ticket information.Also Nov 20(7:30pm) & 22(7:30pm).● Nov 21 8:00: Massey Hall. Classic AlbumsLive: Madonna -The Immaculate Collection.178 Victoria St. www.tickets.mhrth.com/6887/6890. From .● Nov 21 8:00: Massey Hall. Rheostatics. TDMusic Hall, 178 Victoria St. 416-823-9193 orwww.tdmusichall.mhrth.com/tickets/rheostatic.Tickets are not currently available forthis concert. Also Nov 22.● Nov 21 8:00: Moonhorse Dance Theatre.Older & Reckless 25. The Fleck atHarbourfront Centre Theatre, 231 Queen’sQuay West. www.my.harbourfrontcentre.com/41458/41459. From . AlsoNov 22(2pm & 8pm).● Nov 21 8:00: Royal Conservatory ofMusic. Royal Conservatory Orchestra withMei-Ann Chen, Conductor. Royal Conservatoryof Music - TELUS Centre - KoernerHall, 273 Bloor St. W. 416-408-0208 or www.rcmusic.com/performance. From .Saturday November 22● Nov 22 2:00: DJB Live Entertainment. ToyStory in Concert. Meridian Hall, 1 Front St. E.www.tolive.com or 416-366-7723. From .Also Nov 21(7:30pm).● Nov 22 2:00: Don Heights Unitarian Congregation(North York). Chopin’s Magic.18 Wynford Dr., Suite 102, North York. 416-321-0633. (door); (adv); Free(agesunder 14).● Nov 22 2:00: Moonhorse Dance Theatre.Older & Reckless 25. The Fleck atHarbourfront Centre Theatre, 231 Queen’sQuay West. www.my.harbourfrontcentre.com/41458/41460. From . AlsoNov 21(8pm) & 22(8pm).● Nov 22 2:00: Toronto City Opera. Pagliacci.918 Bathurst Centre for Culture, Arts,Media and Education, 918 Bathurst St. www.torontocityopera.com/tickets. From . AlsoNov 19(7pm) & 23(4pm).● Nov 22 7:30: Array Productions.The Array Ensemble: Future, Past, TheyDisappear. Array Space, 155 Walnut Ave.www.tickettailor.com/events/arraymusic1/1883765.Live: or Pay What YouWant; Livestream: or Pay What You Want.● Nov 22 7:30: Browntasaurus Records.Nick Maclean’s Snaggle Featuring The AliBrothers: An Asimov-inspired Jazz-FunkJourney (Ottawa). Night Oat, 750 GladstoneAve., Ottawa. 416-389-2643. (door);(adv). See separate listings for appearancesin other Ontario locations.● Nov 22 7:30: Cantabile Chamber Singers.The Heart Remembers. Church of theRedeemer (Toronto), 162 Bloor St. W. www.zeffy.com/en-CA/ticketing/the-heart-remembers..● Nov 22 7:30: Cantemus Singers. Gloriain Excelsis: Carols & Motets of Tudor England.Church of the Holy Trinity, 19 Trinity Sq.www.cantemus.ca or 416-578-6602. ;Free(under 12). Also Nov 23(3pm) @ St. Aidan’sAnglican Church.● Nov 22 7:30: Guitar Society of Toronto.Leonela Alejandro, Guitar. St. Andrew’s PresbyterianChurch (Toronto), 73 Simcoe St.www.guitarsocietyoftoronto.com. From .● Nov 22 7:30: Karen Schuessler Singers.Go for Baroque! Wesley-Knox United Church(London), 91 Askin St., London. 519-680-1146or www.kssingers.com/#/kss/1. ; (st);Free(ages 6-13 when accompanied by an adult).● Nov 22 7:30: Kitchener Waterloo CommunityOrchestra. Celebrate the Joy ofMusic. Knox Presbyterian Church (Waterloo),50 Erb St. W., Waterloo. 519-744-2666or www.kwco.org. ; (sr); (univ/collegest); Free(high school st & younger).UNIQUELYMass for theEndangeredNOV 22, 2025Jeanne Lamon Hall,Trinity-St. Paul’s Centresoundstreams.ca● Nov 22 7:30: Soundstreams. Mass forthe Endangered. Trinity St. Paul’s UnitedChurch and Centre for Faith, Justice and theArts, 427 Bloor St. W. Information at www.soundstreams.ca/events/mass-for-theendangered.Tickets at www.rcmusic.com/events-and-performances/soundstreamspresents-mass-for-the-endangered.From.60.● Nov 22 7:30: Toronto Symphony Orchestra.Romeo & Juliet. Roy Thomson Hall,60 Simcoe St. www.tso.ca or 416-598-3375.Call or visit website for ticket information.Also Nov 20(7:30pm) & 21(7:30pm).● Nov 22 8:00: FirstOntario Concert Hall(Hamilton). CHOIR! CHOIR! CHOIR! Un-Silent Night: An Epic Holiday Sing-Along.1 Summers Ln., Hamilton. www.ticketmaster.ca/choir-choir-choir-unholynight-an-hamilton-ontario-11-22-2025/event/1000630595E913E9. From .● Nov 22 8:00: Hugh’s Room. David Francey.Hugh’s Room Live - Green Sanderson Hall,296 Broadview Ave. www.showpass.com/david-francey-2. .● Nov 22 8:00: Ice Cap Entertainment.The Liverpool 4. Massey Hall, 178 VictoriaSt. www.tickets.mhrth.com/6633/6634.From .● Nov 22 8:00: Massey Hall. Rheostatics. TDMusic Hall, 178 Victoria St. 416-823-9193 orwww.tdmusichall.mhrth.com/tickets/rheostatic.Tickets are not currently available forthis concert. Also Nov 21.● Nov 22 8:00: Moonhorse Dance Theatre.Older & Reckless 25. The Fleck atHarbourfront Centre Theatre, 231 Queen’sQuay West. www.my.harbourfrontcentre.com/41458/41467. From . AlsoNov 21(8pm) & 22(2pm).● Nov 22 8:00: Royal Conservatory ofMusic. Isabel Bayrakdarian: AncestralSongs, Prayers, and Lullabies. Royal Conservatoryof Music - TELUS Centre - KoernerHall, 273 Bloor St. W. 416-408-0208 or www.rcmusic.com/performance. From .Sunday November 23● Nov 23 2:00: Peter Margolian andFriends. Music for Voice, Strings, Winds& Piano. Trinity St. Paul’s United Churchand Centre for Faith, Justice and the Arts,427 Bloor St. W. peter.margolian@gmail.com. Free.● Nov 23 2:30: OperOttawa. Giulio Cesarein Egitto. First Baptist Church (Ottawa),140 Laurier Ave. W., Ottawa. www.eventbrite.ca/e/1288491224939.; (st);Free(under 10).● Nov 23 3:00: Amici Chamber Ensemble.Northern Lights: Inspired by Canada. TrinitySt. Paul’s United Church and Centre for Faith,Justice and the Arts, 427 Bloor St. W. . ;(under 30); 0(donor ticket with a tax receipt).● Nov 23 3:00: Canadian Sinfonietta. CanadianSinfonietta Chamber Wine and Cheese.Heliconian Hall, 35 Hazelton Ave. www.canadiansinfonietta.com.; (ages 45 andup); (ages 6-17).● Nov 23 3:00: Cantemus Singers. Gloriain Excelsis. St. Aidan’s Anglican Church(Toronto), 70 Silver Birch Ave. www.cantemus.caor 416-578-6602. ; Free(under 12).Also Nov 22(7:30pm) @ Church of the HolyTrinity, Eaton Centre.● Nov 23 3:00: Les AMIS Concerts. ChamberMusic Concert. Trinity United Church(Cobourg), 284 Division St., Cobourg. www.tickets.cobourg.ca/TheatreManager. .● Nov 23 3:00: Royal Conservatory ofMusic. Tony Siqi Yun, Piano. Royal Conservatoryof Music - TELUS Centre - KoernerHall, 273 Bloor St. W. 416-408-0208 or www.rcmusic.com/performance. From .● Nov 23 3:00: The Jeffery Concerts.Toronto Symphony Orchestra Chamber Soloists.St. John the Evangelist Anglican Church(London), 280 St. James St., London. www.grandtheatre.com or 519-672-8800 or jefferyconcerts@gmail.com.; Free(st).● Nov 23 4:00: Flato Markham Theatre.Ensemble Vivant. 171 Town Centre Blvd.,Markham. 905-305-7469 or www.flatomarkhamtheatre.ca/Online/Article/vivant.Call or visit website for ticket pricing andinformation.SUN 23 NOV AT 4Choral Evensongplus at 4.45 p.m.PUTTING THEGARDEN TO BEDStories, poems and musicwith St. Olave’s Arts Guild● Nov 23 4:00: St. Olave’s Anglican Church.Putting the Garden to Bed. St. Olave’s AnglicanChurch (Toronto), 360 Windermere Ave.416-769-5686 or watch live or later at www.youtube.com/StOlavesAnglicanChurch. Contributionsappreciated.● Nov 23 4:00: Toronto City Opera. Pagliacci.918 Bathurst Centre for Culture, Arts,Media and Education, 918 Bathurst St. www.torontocityopera.com/tickets. From . AlsoNov 19(7pm) & 22(2pm).● Nov 23 6:00: Browntasaurus Records.Nick Maclean’s Snaggle Featuring The AliBrothers: An Asimov-inspired Jazz-FunkJourney (Keene). Keene Centre for the Arts,12 First St., Keene. 416-389-2643. (door);(adv). See separate listings for appearancesin other Ontario locations.● Nov 23 7:30: Music Toronto. MUSE: TomAllen & Friends - J. S. Bach’s Long Walkin the Snow. St. Lawrence Centre for theArts - Jane Mallett Theatre, 27 Front St. E.Nov 23J.S. BACH’SLONG WALKIN THE SNOWwith Tom Allen& friendsmusic-toronto.comthewholenote.com November & December 2025 | 29

Volumes 26-30 (2020-2025)

Volumes 21-25 (2015-2020)

Volumes 16-20 (2010-2015)

Volumes 11-15 (2004-2010)

Volumes 6 - 10 (2000 - 2006)

Volumes 1-5 (1994-2000)