HOME ALONE in Concert, Canadian Brass Christmas, MESSIAH and More Set for TSO's Holiday Lineup

This December, the magic of music is in the key of Christmas at the Toronto Symphony Orchestra (TSO).

The festive season kicks off with Home Alone in Concert on December 1-3 (and a newly added performance on November 30). Under the direction of guest conductor Constantine Kitsopoulos, the Orchestra delivers John Williams's delightful score-with the participation of the Etobicoke School of the Arts Concert Choir-live with the classic film on the big screen.

What would December be without the music of Tchaikovsky? Though this program does not include holiday music, Best of Tchaikovsky, on December 5, 6 & 7, is a chance to discover the Russian composer's genius beyond The Nutcracker. Guest conductor Keri-Lynn Wilson leads the TSO in such masterpieces as the Romeo and Juliet Fantasy-Overture-arguably one of the most recognizable melodies in the world-and Symphony No. 5, with its distinctively Russian flavour. TSO Principal Cello Joseph Johnson performs the rarely heard original version of Tchaikovsky's elegant Rococo Variations. The December 5 concert opens with Laura Pettigrew's Dòchas, and the December 6 performance opens with Andrew Ager's The Talk of the Town-both Sesquies for Canada's 150th.

On December 10, the TSO presents The Snowman. Guest conductor David Amado leads the combined forces of the Resonance Youth Choir and Tha Spot Holiday Dancers as the TSO performs Howard Blake's beautiful score to the award-winning animated film. The performance spotlights the 2017 TSYO Concerto Competition Winner, cellist Dale Yoon Ho Jeong. The toe-tapping program filled with festive favourites is the ideal family outing for the holiday season.

On December 12 & 13 (two performances), Canadian Brass Christmas is a must-see, merry holiday treat. The famously dazzling brass quintet and the Etobicoke School of the Arts Concert Choir join the TSO, under the baton of Canadian conductor Lucas Waldin, for an evening of brilliant music-making and pure fun.

Ending 2017 in a rousing, inspiring mode, the TSO presents the cherished Toronto Christmas tradition, Handel's Messiah, December 18-23. Four brilliant Canadian soloists-soprano Karina Gauvin, mezzo-soprano Krisztina Szabó, tenor Frédéric Antoun, and baritone Joshua Hopkins-raise their voices with the Toronto Mendelssohn Choir led by guest conductor Matthew Halls for a thrilling musical experience.

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DECEMBER 2017 LISTINGS:

All concerts take place at Roy Thomson Hall, 60 Simcoe St., unless otherwise noted. Call the TSO ticket line at 416.593.1285, or order tickets online at TSO.CA.

Home Alone in Concert

Thursday, November 30 at 7:30pm
Friday, December 1 at 7:30pm
Saturday, December 2 at 2:00pm
Saturday, December 2 at 7:30pm

Constantine Kitsopoulos, conductor
Etobicoke School of the Arts Concert Choir

John Williams: Home Alone
(Film with live Orchestra)

TICKETS: $25.00-$88.00

Best of Tchaikovsky

Tuesday, December 5 at 8:00pm
Wednesday, December 6 at 8:00pm
Thursday, December 7 at 8:00pm

Keri-Lynn Wilson, conductor
Joseph Johnson, cello

Laura Pettigrew: Dòchas: Sesquie for Canada's 150th (TSO Première/TSO Co-commission)*
Andrew Ager: The Talk of the Town: Sesquie for Canada's 150th (TSO Première/TSO Co-commission)**
Tchaikovsky: Romeo and Juliet Fantasy-Overture
Tchaikovsky: Variations on a Rococo Theme (original version)
Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 5

*December 5 only
**December 6 only

TICKETS: $34.75-$148.00

The Snowman

Sunday, December 10 at 3:00pm

David Amado, conductor
Resonance Youth Choir (Bob Anderson, choir conductor)
Tha Spot Holiday Dancers (Chantelle Fernandes, choreographer)
Dale Yoon Ho Jeong, cello (2017 TSYO Concerto Competition Winner)

Traditional/arr. C. Dragon: Jingle Bells Fantasie
Smith-Bernard: Winter Wonderland
Howard Blake: The Snowman
Korngold: The Snowman Overture
Strauss: Pizzicato Polka
John Rutter: "Star Carol"
Tchaikovsky: Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy from The Nutcracker
Saint-Saëns: Excerpt from Cello Concerto No. 1 in A Minor, Op. 33
Strauss: Unter Donner und Blitz, Op. 324
Berlin/arr. C. Dragon: White Christmas
Hugh Martin & Ralph Blane/arr. Ryan Brandaun: "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas"
Various/arr. Finnegan: Christmas Carols
(singalong) "Jingle Bells", "Joy to the World", "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing", "O Come All Ye Faithful"

TICKETS: $16.00-$69.00

Canadian Brass Christmas

Tuesday, December 12 at 8:00pm
Wednesday, December 13 at 2:00pm
Wednesday, December 13 at 8:00pm

Lucas Waldin, conductor
Canadian Brass, brass quintet
Etobicoke School of the Arts Concert Choir

John Mcpherson: In Excelsis Gloria (After the Huron Carol): Sesquie for Canada's 150th (World Première/TSO Co-commission)*
Jeff Tyzik: Christmas Overture
Alan Silvestri/arr. Conrad Pope: "The Spirit of the Season" from The Polar Express
Traditional/arr. Carmen Dragon: Ar Hyd y Nos (All Through the Night)
John Williams: "Merry Christmas" from Home Alone 2
Traditional: Just a Closer Walk with Thee
Traditional/arr. Henderson: Ding Dong! Merrily on High
Berlin/arr. Henderson: White Christmas
Chris Dedrick: Sweet Songs of Christmas
Kenton/arr. Carmichael: "Angels We Have Heard on High"
J.S. Bach/arr. Coletti: Bach's Bells
Traditional/arr. Henderson: Go Tell It on the Mountain
Rollins/Nelson/arr. Henderson: Frosty the Snowman
Traditional/arr. James M. Stephenson III: Holiday Fanfare Medley No.1
Tchaikovsky/Pierpont/arr. C. Bridwell/orch. C. Eaves: "Nutcracker Jingles"
Traditional/arr. C. Dragon: The First Noël
Garaldi/arr. Ridenour: Christmastime Is Here
Traditional/arr. Bagley: Jolly Old St. Nicholas
Traditional/arr. Bagley: Gesù Bambino
Various/arr. Bagley: Christmas Medley
Various/arr. S. Reineke: Christmas Carols
(singalong) "O Come All Ye Faithful", "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing", "Joy to the World", "Silent Night"

*December 12 only

TICKETS: $34.75-$107.00

Messiah

Monday, December 18 at 8:00pm
Tuesday, December 19 at 8:00pm
Wednesday, December 20 at 8:00pm
Friday, December 22 at 8:00pm
Saturday, December 23 at 3:00pm

Matthew Halls, conductor
Karina Gauvin, soprano
Krisztina Szabó, mezzo-soprano
Frédéric Antoun, tenor
Joshua Hopkins, baritone
Toronto Mendelssohn Choir (Noel Edison, Artistic Director)

Handel: Messiah

TICKETS: $38.75-$111.25

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Founded in 1922, the Toronto Symphony Orchestra is one of Canada's most important cultural institutions, recognized internationally. Music Director Peter Oundjian leads the TSO with a commitment to innovative programming and audience development through a broad range of performances that showcase the exceptional talents of the Orchestra along with a roster of distinguished guest artists and conductors. The TSO also serves the larger community with TSOUNDCHECK, the original under-35 ticket program; the Toronto Symphony Youth Orchestra; and music-education programs that reach tens of thousands of students each year.

For more about the TSO, follow on Twitter: @TorontoSymphony, Facebook: facebook.com/torontosymphonyorchestra, YouTube: youtube.com/torontosymphony and Instagram: instagram.com/torontosymphony.

Pictured: Canadian Brass. Photo by Bo Huang.

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