Venue: The Royal Conservatory of Music, TELUS Centre, Koerner Hall, Toronto

Semyon Bychkov and the Czech Philharmonic bring their Year of Czech Music to a triumphant conclusion in Toronto’s Koerner Hall, where Daniil Trifonov raises the roof with Dvořák’s neglected Piano Concerto. 

The Toronto Summer Music Festival opens with Les Arts Florissants’ enchanting performance of Purcell’s The Fairy Queen, featuring the singers of Le Jardin des voix and the dancers of Compagnie Käfig.

Sir András Schiff’s seventh visit to Toronto’s Koerner Hall was an almost three-hour-long feast of “quality” music by his musical heroes.

The young Handel's homage to Counter Reformation Rome, La resurrezione, is effectively brought to life by Opera Atelier with glittering sets and fine, stylish singing.

Faust and Melnikov's concert of Beethoven sonatas at Koerner Hall in Toronto swelled with passion tempered by gentleness.

On 1 October, Soundstreams, an international centre for new directions in music based in Toronto, presented music by Arvo Pärt, James Rolfe and Riho Esko Maimets. The latter two might be called Canadian counterparts to the established Estonian composer.

Ludwig van Beethoven once said: “Tones sound, and roar and storm about me until I have set them down in notes.” On 19 September, 2013, Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra performed three works by the late Classical and early Romantic composer: the overture to Die Geschöpfe des Prometheus, and his first two symphonies.

As I sat in the intriguing darkness of Koerner Hall, Marielle Labèque carefully placed the opening notes of Le fils des étoiles by Erik Satie. They hung in the air like little crystals. This was a simple beginning, yet deceptively so, that would build towards something larger. In turn, these notes would unfold in a continuous stream of build-ups and decays.