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May in Toronto: Buxtehude to Bach, Beethoven's Eroica and a season of finales

Just as orchestras and ensembles across Toronto wrap up their seasons, so too concludes the first year of Allegro Classical.

We set out to connect more people to classical music, and it has been genuinely something to watch this community grow — not just in the GTA, but across the country. Hundreds of people now visit Allegro every month to check what's on in their city. Thank you for supporting your local classical music community.

May belongs to Tafelmusik. Mid-month brings an Abendmusik at Jeanne Lamon Hall tracing Buxtehude's influence on Bach, with the Chamber Choir and members of the Baroque Orchestra. Then the season finale at Koerner Hall pairs Beethoven's Eroica with Joseph Bologne's Violin Concerto — two composers writing through the same revolutionary decade, one of whom took nearly two centuries to get his due.

Elsewhere: Soundstreams closes its season with In Terra Pax at the Jane Mallett, the Penderecki String Quartet marks thirty-six years at Music Toronto, and the Royal Conservatory does something harder to categorise with Orchestrated, in which the trio Dragonette — who write songs under two minutes long — perform with the RCM orchestra.

This is the same lineup that went out in this month's newsletter, adapted here in case you'd rather browse than scroll an inbox. If you're new here, Discover is the editorial side of Allegro — a little more opinionated than the full listings. Subscribe below and I'll send the next one straight to your inbox.

🌟 Top Highlight 🌟

Fri
May 15
8:00 PM
Abendmusik: from Buxtehude to Bach

Abendmusik: from Buxtehude to Bach

A special Abendmusik exploring Buxtehude's profound influence on Bach, featuring the Tafelmusik Chamber Choir and members of the Baroque Orchestra in …

📍 Trinity St. Paul's United Church

🎭 Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra

🎼 Best First Classical Concert 🎼

Fri
May 29
8:00 PM
Beethoven Eroica & Bologne: The Winds of Change

Beethoven Eroica & Bologne: The Winds of Change

Tafelmusik's season finale celebrates the ideals of the French Revolution through Beethoven's Eroica Symphony and Joseph Bologne's Violin Concerto, le…

📍 Koerner Hall

🎭 Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra

🚀 For the Adventurous 🚀

Thu
May 14
7:30 PM
Orchestrated: Dragonette with Tiny Sun

Orchestrated: Dragonette with Tiny Sun

Genre-blurring trio Dragonette with Tiny Sun, united by the playful constraint of crafting songs under two minutes, performs with the Royal Conservato…

📍 Koerner Hall

🎭 Royal Conservatory of Music

✨ Can't Miss ✨

Sat
May 9
7:30 PM
In Terra Pax

In Terra Pax

Soundstreams presents In Terra Pax, curated by Anna Pidgorna — a season-closing program of contemporary choral and chamber music exploring themes of p…

📍 Jane Mallett Theatre

🎭 Soundstreams

Sat
May 9
7:30 PM
Spring Journeys

Spring Journeys

Conductor Stephanie Childress leads the TSO at George Weston Recital Hall in a program filled with the enduring charm of springtime, beginning with Br…

📍 George Weston Recital Hall

🎭 Toronto Symphony Orchestra

Thu
May 21
7:30 PM
Penderecki String Quartet

Penderecki String Quartet

Canada's renowned Penderecki String Quartet celebrates 36 years as one of the most celebrated chamber ensembles of their generation, demonstrating rem…

📍 Jane Mallett Theatre

🎭 Music Toronto

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Upcoming Concerts in Toronto

Tue
Dec 1
7:30 PM
Festival of Carols

Festival of Carols

The Toronto Mendelssohn Choir's holiday tradition, blending timeless carols with contemporary works and audience sing-alongs, in the resonant setting …

📍 Yorkminster Park Baptist Church

🎭 Toronto Mendelssohn Choir

Thu
Jan 28
7:30 PM
Star Wars: A New Hope in Concert

Star Wars: A New Hope in Concert

The complete film is screened while John Williams's Oscar-winning score is performed live by the TSO, marking 50 years since the first Star Wars movie…

📍 Roy Thomson Hall

🎭 Toronto Symphony Orchestra

Sat
Apr 3
4:00 PM
TOT Cabaret: British Luminescence after Gilbert & Sullivan

TOT Cabaret: British Luminescence after Gilbert & Sullivan

An afternoon cabaret of operetta songs full of wit, charm and lively storytelling, in the intimate setting of the Edward Jackman Centre, performed by …

📍 Edward Jackman Centre

🎭 Toronto Operetta Theatre

Sun
Apr 25
7:30 pm
Requiem & Lux Aeterna

Requiem & Lux Aeterna

Duruflé's Requiem paired with Lauridsen's Lux Aeterna.

📍 St. Aidan's in the Beach

🎭 Toronto Beach Chorale