Events in Toronto – Feb 5 – 7, 2016

2. Song Book IV

Tapestry Opera presents SONGBOOK VI, a vocal recital featuring the best of the company’s 36-year collection of absurd, tragic, and beautiful Canadian opera. Featuring star mezzo-soprano Wallis Giunta and Tapestry Opera’s Conductor-in-Residence Jordan de Souza on piano, SONGBOOK VI is a limited engagement, with only two performances. Details

3. Cathedral Bluffs Symphony Orchestra

The Cathedral Bluffs Symphony Orchestra, under the direction of Norman Reintamm, with guest artists TRYPTYCH CONCERT & OPERA, with stage director Edward Franko, presenting PUCCINI’s comic opera Gianni Schicchi. In Puccini’s one-act comic opera, Gianni Schicchi is enlisted by greedy relatives to rewrite the will of their kinsman to their benefit. But, the devious Schicchi decides to turn the tables. The concert will also include a performance of SMETANA’s Die Moldau, a musical portrayal of the river Moldau as it runs through the Bohemian countryside.

4. New Music Festival

The 2016 New Music Festival features work by JUNO Award-winning Canadian guest composer Allan Gordon Bell, as well as brand new music by U of T students, faculty and alumni. The festival week includes performances by Land’s End Ensemble, Gryphon Trio, Cecilia String Quartet, as well as all U of T major ensembles.

5. Chilly Gonzales & Kaiser Quartett

with special guest Alejandra Ribera.

6. Alan Cumming

Four-Time Emmy nominee and Tony Award-winning actor and activist Alan Cumming, known for standout roles in television (The Good Wife, The L Word), film (Eyes Wide Shut, Titus), theatre (Hamlet, Cabaret, Macbeth) as well as for his writing – a best-selling memoir – and stand-up comedy, has been called “a bawdy countercultural sprite” and “one of the most fun people in show business.”

7. The Greater Toronto Philharmonic Orchestra

Under the direction of Jean-Michel Malouf, program will include popular waltzes by Johann Strauss “Artist’s Life” and “Gypsy Baron” as well as overtures of “Nabucco” and “La Forza del destino” by Verdi, “Merry Widow” by Franz Lehar and “Italian girls in Alger” by Rossini. Canadian soprano Jennifer Mizzi has been hailed as “beautiful to watch” and “sweet on stage”. Ms Mizzi is quickly establishing herself on the operatic and recital stages earning national attention for her interpretation and commitment to communicating the essence of the music at its most innate level .

8. Live Music @ GTA Venues

2. The McCartney Experience – A 5-piece ensemble delivers a dynamic live performance, paying tribute to Paul’s current touring act. All your favourites, from Yesterday, All My Loving, and Back in the USSR, through Jet, My Love, and Maybe I’m Amazed, this show presents an authentic reproduction of McCartney’s greatest hits.

3. Pictures at an exhibition – Dukas’ well-known Sorcerer’s Apprentice magically colours the concert hall with atmospheric grandeur and spectacle. Lyrical grace and virtuosity empower the Piano Concerto No. 2 by the brooding and adventurous Beethoven. Wallow in the glory of Pictures at an Exhibition; Ravel’s splendid orchestration of Mussorgsky’s musical portraits, inspired by the paintings of a lost friend.

3. Aurora Winter Blues Fest Pop-Up – The Aurora Winter Blues Fest supports the launch of the SOYRA Showcase today with a live pop-up performance featuring Ready, Willin’ & Abel.

4. The Basically Basie Big Band – he Mississauga-based big band, under the direction of Jim Davey, performs selections from the Basie library including a number of the great vocals that the Count recorded with Ella Fitzgerald, Anita O’Day and Diane Schuur.

5.Classic Albums Live: The Wall -Join us as Pink Floyd’s The Wall is recreated live on stage, note for note, and cut for cut by top Canadian musicians!

1. Performing Arts Events

Performing Arts & Theatre in February

Events this week include
Going Home Star – Truth and Reconciliation @ Sony Centre For The Performing Arts

Going Home Star – Truth and Reconciliation, produced with the support of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada (TRC), is a choreographic representation of the many stories, both told and still unraveling, by Indian Residential School Survivors and their families. The creative team that brought this story to life includes renowned choreographer Mark Godden, Canadian novelist and TRC Honourary Witness Joseph Boyden, Cree actor, former Member of Parliament, and TRC Honourary Witness Tina Keeper, Juno Award-winning composer Christos Hatzis, and Polaris Prize-winning Inuk throat singer Tanya Tagaq.

The Second City Spring 2016 Revue @ Second City

Mustard @ Tarragon Theatre

The Winter’s Tale @ Coal Mine Theatre

Within the Glass @ Tarragon Theatre’s Mainspace

One Night Only: The Greatest Musical Never Written @ Factory Theatre

Siegfried (opera) @ Four Seasons Centre

The Marriage of Figaro @ Four Seasons Centre

The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee @ Scarborough Village Theatre

CHELSEA HOTEL: The Songs of Leonard Cohen @ TheatrePass Muraille

Bigmouth @ Panasonic Theatre

Twelve Angry Men @ Young Centre for the Performing Arts

Stepping Out @ Alumnae Theatre

Romeo and Juliet @ Hammerson Hall, Mississauga

Chelsea Hotel: The Songs of Leonard Cohen @ Theatre Passe Muraille Mainspace

The Cherry Orchard @ Berkeley Street Theatre

Hedda Gabler @ Berkeley Street Theatre

Elle @ Theatre Passe Muraille

Gaslight @ Ed Mirvish Theatre

The Anger in Ernest and Ernestine @ Michael Young Theatre

Cowboy Versus Samurai @ Michael Young Theatre

The Trial of Judith K. @ Theatre Passe Muraille

The Last 5 Years @ Lower Ossington Theatre

Kiss & Cry @ Bluma Appel Theatre

Les Belles-Soeurs @ Oshawa Little Theatre

Rumors @ Milton Centre for the Arts

2. Progress Festival

Progress is an international festival of performance and ideas presented by the SummerWorks Performance Festival in partnership with The Theatre Centre.

1. Toronto Mapleleafs

2. Mississauga Steelheads

1. Winterlicious

Toronto’s winter culinary celebration offers the perfect opportunity to discover delicious cuisine at more than 200 restaurants and experience unique culinary events.

2. Kuumba 2016

Join us as Kuumba 2016 explores the theme of “Black Like We” through music, discussion, comedy, dance and family activities for all ages. Building on over 20 years of tradition, Kuumba has sparked discourse and conversation around current and historical debates within the African-Canadian community.

3. Lunar New Year Celebration

1. To celebrate the incoming Year of the Monkey, the clever, curious and playful zodiac animal, Scarborough Town Centre is hosting a fun-filled Lunar New Year celebration featuring a legendary Monkey King performance and one of the largest lion dances in the GTA.

2. Lunar Fest: Join us to welcome the Year of the Monkey! This is a three-day event to enjoy the spirit of the festival, fun-packed with various cultural performances, God of Fortune parade, all sorts of gift and merchandise for the house and a wide variety of food booths.

3. The Chinese Collective Arts Association is pleased to announce that we will be hosting a Lunar New Year Celebration to Celebrate the Year of the Monkey! Of course, the God of Fortune will be greeting everyone with Lucky Red Pockets! Looking forward to seeing you all there!

4.Naughty and Nice Fair

A pre-Valentine’s Day shopping event at the Camaraderie Artisan Market. Swing by to shop from vendors of all kinds, featuring naughty and nice products. We’ll house the nice vendors on the ground floor and the naughty vendors in the basement for your discretion. Feel comfortable shopping for your kind of Valentine’s Day!

5. CNTV Chinese New Year Gala

The CNTV Chinese New Year Gala 2016 is the largest and the costliest extravaganza for the Chinese Community, and with the blessings of the Consulate-General of the People’s Republic Of China in Toronto, we are able to gather together over eight hundred elite artists from Mainland China and Canada to perform in this preeminent social networking event of the Chinese community. Details

5. WinterFest

Celebrate winter at this annual festival that features two days of fun winter activities across Newmarket, hosted by the Town of Newmarket and supported by 35 community organizations. Try new activities, foods and enjoy live music.

6. Richmond Hill Winter Carnival

The Richmond Hill Winter Carnival is a weekend of affordable fun and entertainment organized by volunteers to celebrate the community of Richmond Hill in a welcoming atmosphere. From Face Painting to Pony Rides, from a Colouring Contest to seeing live animals like porcupines and eagles, there is something for everyone that’s kid at heart.

7. Toronto Tours & Walks

Explore Toronto through speciality guided tours & Scavenger Hunts!
1. Tasty Tours: Tasty Tours offers a variety of Sweets Tours along Toronto’s eclectic multicultural neighbourhoods.

2. Murder at the ROM: A murder mystery scavenger hunt! A curator has been murdered and you must follow the clues through the museum collections to solve whodunit.

3. The Mummy’s Curse : A murder mystery scavenger hunt! Did the mummy’s curse strike the museum? Solve the clues to uncover the truth.