Reviews

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15January

“Immersive Van Gogh” Extends through September 6, 2021

Making its West Coast premiere at San Francisco’s SVN West in March 2021, “Immersive Van Gogh” is an all-new visually-striking achievement that invites audiences to step inside post-Impressionist artist Vincent van Gogh’s most incredible works of art. Now, following several weeks of record-breaking advance ticket sales, Lighthouse Immersive has announced that “Immersive Van Gogh” — […]

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22December

Nine stellar highlights from Toronto’s art scene in 2020

These are the best moments, shows and accomplishments in a tough year for the arts. It’s been a rough nine months for the Toronto art world. For the romantics among us who crave the rush of an art opening or the wonder of leaning in to get closer to an artwork, 2020 has been difficult. […]

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19June

At ‘Immersive Van Gogh,’ art plus light plus animation plus sound ups the emotional ante of the viewing experience

Imagine feeling enveloped by the famous Vincent van Gogh painting “The Starry Night” or the glorious colours of a giant version of his “Irises.” That’s part of what you can expect at the exhibit “Immersive Van Gogh,” which has turned a giant room that used to house the Toronto Star’s printing presses into a cavernous […]

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02June

Выставка Винсента Ван Гога в Торонто

Эфир программы: “Наш Дом” от 2 июня 2020 года:

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09March

SCRUTINY | Les Ballets Trockadero Delight With Bravura Technique And High Camp

Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo with guest artist Vanya Verikosa (aka Brooke Lynn Hytes). Winter Garden Theatre, March 8, 2020 “The Trocks Are Back in Town!” That of course is a reference to the all-male ballet troupe Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo. Founded in 1974, it’s now “of a certain age,” but remains scintillating […]

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09March

Drag Ballet Troupe Treat Toronto With “Particular Pleasures”

Few things are as delightful as accomplished, stylish drag performance, and in an uncertain world, it’s a considerable relief that we can still count on Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo to deliver a flawless, high tone, high-test performance every time. With a well-established repertoire of ballet classics, the venerable all-male comic ballet troupe remains in excellent […]

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18January

SCRUTINY | Lucas Debargue Dazzles Sold-Out Audience In His Toronto Recital Debut

Lucas Debargue, piano. Scarlatti, six Sonatas; Ravel, Gaspard de la nuit; Nicolai Medtner, Sonata in G Minor, Op. 22; Liszt’s After a Reading of Dante: Fantasia quasi Sonata, S.109. Koerner Hall, Jan. 16, 2020. Every once in a while a young pianist emerges who can challenge established ideas of performance and interpretation. It is usually […]

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05November

SCRUTINY | Diva Hibla Gerzmava Makes A Grand Entrance In Toronto Solo Recital Debut

Songs by Glinka, Rimsky-Korsakov, Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninoff, Hahn, and Faure; arias by Donizetti, Verdi, and Bellini. Hibla Gerzmava, soprano; Ekaterina Ganelina, piano. Show One Productions. 7 p.m. Koerner Hall, Toronto, November 3, 2019. “She came, she sang, she conquered” may sound a bit like the PR hyperbole of an artist agency, but to those of us […]

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18October

SCRUTINY | Russian Pianist Denis Matsuev Dazzles In Impressive Program Of Liszt And Tchaikovsky

Liszt: Sonata in B minor; Liszt: Mephisto Waltz; Tchaikovsky: Dumka “Scenes from a Russian Village” opus 59; Tchaikovsky: Grand Sonata in G major, opus 37. Denis Matsuev, piano. Koerner Hall, 8 p.m., Oct. 17, 2019. Renowned Russian pianist Denis Matsuev was back in Toronto Thursday night, but instead of coming to conquer the audience, as he so […]

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06May

Boris Eifman delves into another Russian artist’s torment in Tchaikovsky. PRO et CONTRA

Ballet and opera fans, be forewarned. You may never be able to look at such classics as The Nutcracker, Swan Lake, Eugene Onegin and The Queen of Spades quite the same way after witnessing celebrated Boris Eifman’s searing dance psychodrama, Tchaikovsky. PRO et CONTRA. But that’s no reason to deny yourselves the thrill of experiencing the celebrated Russian choreographer’s unique blend of […]

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