Events in Toronto: April 21 to 23, 2017

1. Best of Rodgers & Hammerstein

This fabulous concert brings you unforgettable songs from every one of the eleven Broadway musicals that this legendary team created—solid-gold classics such as The Sound of Music, South Pacific, Carousel, Oklahoma!, and The King and I, with appealing rarities like Cinderella and Flower Drum Song, too! Details

2. Canadian Music Week

During the week more than 4500 musicians and 160,000 music fans are drawn to Toronto annually to participate in Canada’s largest new music festival. With more than 900 performances taking place in 60 venues throughout downtown Toronto, Canadian Music Week offers an array of entertainment from some of Canada’s hottest acts, emerging artists, and headline talent from all over the world. Details

3. Music from the Ukrainian Sacred Choral Tradition

This sacred music concert will feature a combined male chorus over 50 voices, including members of Pro Coro Canada, Boyan Ensemble of Kyiv, Chorus of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Vydubychi Church Choir, the Kyiv National Philharmonic, the Ukrainian Bandurist Chorus (Detroit) and more — all under the direction of Michael Zaugg of Pro Coro Canada. Details

4. An American in Paris

Rob Kapilow gets you up close and personal with the jaunty Gershwin piece that follows an American tourist as he takes in the dazzling sights of Paris. Once Rob Kapilow and the Orchestra have shown you how Gershwin put it together, they’ll give you a complete, uninterrupted performance. Details

5. Legends Of Motown Live!

Legends of Motown is a 15-piece cast of singers and musicians performing live look-a-like/sound-a-like tributes to The Supremes, The Four Tops, The Temptations, Marvin Gaye, Smokey Robinson, Jackson 5, Martha and the Vandellas and more and features all your favourite songs of the Motown era. With dazzling choreography, authentic costumes, stunning vocal performances and a fabulous live band, this high-energy show with the most timeless music of our lives is not to be missed!. Details

6. Buddy Guy

For the thirteenth time in as many years, living blues legend Buddy Guy returns to Massey Hall. A Rock and Roll Hall of Famer, Kennedy Center Honoree, a Presidential National Medal of Arts recipient, and the living link to and pioneer of Chicago’s fabled West Side sound, the eight-time Grammy Award-winner – including a 2015 Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award – continues to thrill audiences demonstrating, at 80 years young, why he belongs on Rolling Stone Magazine’s 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time list. Details

7. Mozart & Mendelssohn

Mendelssohn’s joyful souvenir of a tour through Italy, and a playful operatic overture by a native Italian, Rossini, highlight this sunny program. Italian pianist Luca Buratto, the 2015 Honens Prize Laureate, brings all his “fiery imagination and finesse” (to quote Musical America) to a masterful Mozart concerto. Details

7. Concert of South African music with Nhapitapi

An outstanding group of musicians, Nhapitapi specializes in the mbira (thumb piano), a traditional instrument of Zimbabwe. Theyll introduce you to the traditional South African music typical of their country. Details

8. O Canada! A Choral Landscape

From the Rockies, prairies, and coastlines, to the forests and great northern expanses, our diverse and dramatic landscapes are vividly imprinted on our collective imagination. Come hear the landscape sing in a programme of music that evokes this mighty land, including works by Canadian composers Raminsh, Glick, Chatman, Dett, Letourneau, and Sirett. Reception to follow. Details

 

For live music at nightclubs, see under Nightlife/Food Events

Performing Arts Events

Performing Arts & Theatre in April

Events this week include

1. Medea @ Elgin Theatre
2. Midsummer @ Tarragon Theatre’s Mainspace
3. Prince Hamlet @ The Theatre Centre
4. I Take Your Hand in Mine…’@ Tarragon Theatre Extraspace
5. Tons of Money @ Theatre Scarborough
6. Pearle Harbour’s Chautauqua @ The Theatre Centre
7. Sound of the Beast @ Theatre Passe Muraille
8. The Draupadi Project @ The Theatre Centre
9. Banana Boys @ Factory Theatre
10. Hieronymus Bosch @ Bluma Appel Theatre
11. Louis Riel @ The Four Seasons Centre

and more!

2. TIFF Kids International Film Festival

Showcasing the best in Canadian and international cinema, the TIFF Kids International Film Festival is the can’t-miss event for families this spring. TIFF’s second biggest film festival offers unique screening experiences for the youngest film-lovers. Details

3. Redux Festival

Water Docs is a documentary environmental film festival celebrating all things water. Enjoy the features and shorts, take part in lively discussions with filmmakers and guest speakers, learn about water issues, and discover action possibilities from our featured community partners. Details

4. Images Festival

The festival is Canada’s largest on and off-screen showcase of innovative contemporary art, featuring eight days of screenings, events, performances and exhibitions. In total, the 2017 festival includes 48 on screen films, 12 off screen exhibitions, and four live image projects. Images Festival 2017 is a celebration of Toronto’s interdisciplinary arts community that is sure to thrill by showcasing engaging vanguard projects across many media art platforms from Canadian and international artists. Details

1. Toronto Blue Jays

2. Toronto FC

3. Toronto Maple Leafs

4. Toronto Raptors

1. Fashion Art Toronto

Packed with provocative and avant-garde designs, Fashion Art Toronto 2017 stretches the boundaries of Canadian fashion, art and photography.Featuring runway shows and art installations from over 100 Canadian and International fashion designers, artists, photographers, filmmakers and performers. Details

2. National Canadian Film Day 150

Presented by REEL CANADA, NCFD 150 will be the world’s largest film festival – ever – with more than 1,700 screenings taking place across the country and around the world. With films also available on multiple Canadian broadcast stations and online platforms on April 19; NCFD 150 will be the most accessible film festival our country has seen! Details

3. AGO Creative Minds: Art and Nationhood

Architect Sir David Adjaye, visual artist Christi Belcourt, author Junot Díaz and filmmaker Paul Gross join moderator Matt Galloway, host of CBC Toronto’s Metro Morning, for an evening of inspired conversation on the nation-state and its impacts. The discussion will address current global politics and how art shapes our understanding of place, history and progress. The event kicks off with a performance by JUNO Award-winning Inuit throat singer Tanya Tagaq. Details

4. Backyard Living Expo

A one-of-a-kind show is coming to The International Centre in Mississauga this spring, just in time for backyard, patio and barbecue season. Backyard Living Expo is the ultimate and only backyard event of its kind in the GTA. The consumer show will exhibit quality products and services to best serve outdoor living spaces. Details

5. Celebrate Earth Day

Celebrate Earth day through events and activities that interacts with the natural environment. Details

6. Battle of York Commemoration

Honour the 204th anniversary of the Battle of York fought on April 27, 1813. The fort comes alive with musket firing demonstrations, Georgian cooking in the Officers’ Quarters kitchen, site tours and period animation. Kids can try “falling-in” for 1812-era soldiering drill! Spend some time with one of the actual survivors of the Battle of York! Now on display in the special collections Vault at Fort York’s new Visitor Centre, the original Regimental Colours of the 3rd Regiment of York Militia who fought gallantly against American invaders at the Battle of York fought on April 27, 1813. Details

7. Massasauga Rattlesnake Workshop

This is your chance to experience close encounters with some native Ontario snakes, meet a live rattlesnake with Toronto Zoo reptile experts and learn how to identify and live safely with the Massasauga rattlesnake as well as other snakes you may find in your own backyard! The workshop, led by Dr. Andrew Lentini, Curator of Reptiles and Amphibians, will also include information on the Toronto Zoo’s important partnerships and how we work together. Details

8. Other Events

1. Origins and Traces of the Indian Subcontinent: The Anne Romoff Gross Collection: Daniel Chen, Adjunct Curator of Chinese Ceramics, brings to life the spectacular collection of Chinese blue and white porcelain gifted to the Gardiner Museum by Janice Gross Stein and Susan Gross Soloman, in memory of their mother Anne Romoff Gross. Details

 

2. Celebrate World Book Day with a BIG Little Library!: Join us for Amazon’s World Book Day event this Thursday, April 20th for an afternoon of book swaps, readings from incredible authors and more. Stop by with a book in hand, ready to swap it for another, and enjoy being surrounded by others who love to read over a cup of joe. Details

 

3. Salon 21: CeramiX
Explore the intersection of music and design in this immersive walking performance by Toronto composer Germaine Liu through the museum. Performed by percussionists Tomasz Krakowiak, Joe Sorbara, and Mark Zurawinski, the evening will feature a sneak peek of a brand new collaboration between Germaine and ceramist Chiho Tokita. Details

 

4. A Wake For Lost Time
featuring [elephants] collective Details

 

5. Drop, Swap & Shop
Drop your end-of-life electronics, pass on things you don’t use and pick-up one-of-a-kind items. On Earth Day weekend you can contribute to the sharing economy and connect with your community at this cool event. Details