Create magical and memorable moments with your partner this holiday season and new year with a special outing at a Toronto Symphony Orchestra (TSO) concert! With a diverse array of performances from Emanuel Ax + Mozart to Pops Goes to the Movies: The Music of Hans Zimmer, you’re sure to find the perfect evening for you and your date!
Tickets for Toronto Symphony Orchestra’s (TSO) winter 2024 and 2025 season are now on sale, and it’s the best time of the year to snag your spot to see your favourites in concert!
To step out of the cold and into the warm concert hall this season, we’ve rounded up some amazing shows that will take you on winter dates all the way until Love Month (aka February) and beyond.
TSO’s upcoming concerts you need to check out include:
Messiah
December 17 – December 22, 2024
Jean-Sébastien Vallée leads TSO and the vibrant voices of the Toronto Mendelssohn Choir along with four outstanding soloists in a resplendent rendition of Handel’s beloved oratorio. Gather friends and family for Toronto’s grand musical holiday tradition—a majestic performance that will leave you singing “Hallelujah!”
Dvořák’s New World Symphony
January 9 – January 12, 2025
Dvořák’s New World Symphony, inspired by Dvořák’s late 19th-century journey to the United States, embodies the spirit of exploration and adventure. Its dynamic themes and rhythms brilliantly portray the diverse cultural tapestry and expansive terrains of the Americas. Mozart’s Clarinet Concerto, featuring Principal Clarinet Eric Abramovitz, brings a tender and lyrical charm to the stage, showcasing the composer’s timeless brilliance in an audience favourite. Opening the performance, Bacewicz’s Concerto for String Orchestra delivers a vibrant and energetic start that will leave audiences on the edge of their seats.
Emanuel Ax + Mozart
January 15 – January 19, 2025
Richard Strauss’s Also sprach Zarathustra, famously immortalized as the theme from 2001: A Space Odyssey, captivates with its cosmic grandeur and awe-inspiring majesty. The performance also features the esteemed Emanuel Ax, one of today’s foremost pianists, in Mozart’s majestic Piano Concerto No. 25, K. 503, known for its elegant lyricism and brilliance. Opening the evening is Tippett’s Concerto for Double String Orchestra, an exhilarating piece full of rhythmic vitality, setting a dynamic tone for the program. This concert is a masterful blend of energy, majesty, and refinement.
Beethoven’s Violin
January 22 & January 23, 2025
Nikolaj Szeps-Znaider’s dual role as conductor and violinist lends an intimate touch to Beethoven’s beloved Violin Concerto, an iconic work that resonates with lyrical beauty and emotional depth. Unsuk Chin’s subito con forza follows—a vibrant contemporary homage to Beethoven. The program concludes with Schumann’s Symphony No. 2, a profound work composed amid the composer’s personal struggles, capturing his journey from despair to strength through passages of introspection, exuberance, and resilience.
Matilda in Concert
January 25, 2025 at 7:30pm – full film with live concert
Acclaimed actor, producer, and director Danny DeVito joins famed film composer David Newman to narrate a very special performance of Matilda in Concert as Newman’s enchanting score is performed live to picture by your TSO! Based on Roald Dahl’s award-winning book (and directed by Danny DeVito from a screenplay by Nicholas Kazan & Robin Swicord), Matilda follows a young girl with telekinetic powers as she navigates challenges with her mean parents and school headmistress, ultimately standing up for herself and her friends with humorous and heartwarming results.
Sold Out! Keep an eye out in case extra tickets go on sale.
Tchaikovsky & Vaughan Williams
January 31 & February 1, 2025
Tarmo Peltokoski returns to lead Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto, an awe-inspiring monument of ingenious lyricism and technical experimentation, performed by renowned Armenian violinist Sergey Khachatryan. The program opens with Sibelius’s Pohjola’s Daughter, a vivid musical tale inspired by Finnish legend, capturing the mystery and enchantment of Nordic mythology. Finally, Vaughan Williams’s Symphony No. 4, a deeply compelling work that captures a spectrum of human emotions, from tumultuous intensity to profound serenity.
Enhance your concert experience by arriving early for exquisite performances by the TSO Chamber Soloists, thoughtfully curated by Jonathan Crow. There will be a pre-concert performance at 6:15pm included with the price of your ticket to the Friday, January 31 performance.
All Beethoven with Lisiecki
February 5 & February 6, 2025
Witness Spotlight Artist Jan Lisiecki’s virtuosic journey through all of Beethoven’s piano concerti, which he both plays and leads. Over two nights, experience the full expanse of the composer’s genius, from the youthful exuberance of his early piano works to the profound depths of his later compositions.
Year of the Snake: A Lunar New Year Celebration *SPECIAL*
February 8, 2025 at 8pm
Ring in the Lunar New Year with an enchanting evening of music that’s sure to inspire joy and good fortune! Join beloved comedian Dashan, renowned conductor Naomi Woo, and your TSO for a symphonic celebration in honour of the Year of the Snake. This can’t-miss concert weaves together a captivating blend of classic and festive favourites, with performances that are as meaningful as they are mesmerizing.
Experience the ethereal sounds of the guzheng, masterfully played by Wu Fei, and enjoy acclaimed violinist Stella Chen as she performs an excerpt from the ever-popular Butterfly Lovers Concerto, a piece cherished for its sweeping melodies and emotional depth. Celebrate the richness of tradition and welcome the new year with these and other festive favourites.
Plus, more concerts this season up until June.
Make a habit out of it!
If immersing yourself in music and the arts is a New Year’s Resolution of yours, TSO’s ‘Pick 3 Subscriptions’ are perfect for you!
Pick three concerts that best fit your musical taste, ranging from Masterworks, Pops, Young People’s Concerts and more.
Then, get the best seats at the best price when you buy a subscription ticket package. Learn more and sign up here!
TSOUNDCHECK
Did you know you can score highly discounted Toronto Symphony Orchestra tickets when you sign up for TSOUNDCHECK? This is TSO’s exclusive program for people ages 15 to 35 with tickets starting at just $22, making it the perfect affordable date night that immerses you in art and culture.
HOW TSOUNDCHECK WORKS
Single Tickets
TSOUNDCHECK single tickets usually will go on sale one to two weeks before a performance. Keep an eye on your email inbox for ticket availability alerts, and we recommend buying early to avoid disappointment as availability isn’t guaranteed.
Subscriptions
You can also upgrade your TSO experience with a TSOUNDCHECK subscription! You’ll get to pick your concerts in advance when you purchase a package.
Choose at least five concerts, mixing and matching between evening Masterworks and Pops, and you’ll save 20% compared to TSOUNDCHECK single ticket prices.
Plus, TSOUNDCHECK subscribers receive benefits like
- Priority seating on your subscription tickets and any additional tickets you purchase ahead of the general public on-sale in July,
- Any additional tickets you purchase where TSOUNDCHECK subscription pricing might not be available, receive a 20% discount off regular single ticket prices all season long,
- Access to fee-free, unlimited exchanges, should you wish to exchange any concerts or if plans change and you can no longer attend
- Subscriber pre-sale access on any newly announced programs, and
- Other perks accessible with your Subscriber Discount Card!
Make it a full night out and browse more date ideas of all kinds around Toronto here.
