Philippe Sly in Toronto recital tonight (and some upcoming shows)

Philippe Sly

We have a substantial number of readers in Canada, which is probably due in part to our generous coverage of Canadian singers. Of course, when you have talents like Québecois bass-baritone Philippe Sly it's a no-brainer. We've stated that he's one of the great low voice talents to emerge in the last decade. As wonderful as he is as a performer of opera, his true gift is the recital stage where he brings beautiful vocalism and a depth of interpretation far beyond his years. If you're anywhere near Toronto tonight, you won't want to miss his recital with pianist Julius Drake at Walter Hall.

He will be performing lieder by the Austrian composers Schubert and Wolf as well as mélodies by the French masters Ravel and Duparc. Tickets are available online and, remarkably, there are still unsold seats.

If you can't catch him tonight, he will be performing throughout Canada and the U.S. this year. From September 12-17, he joins Kent Nagano and the Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal for their season opener in performances of Berlioz's La Damnation de Faust. Tickets available online.


In December, he has two performances of Handel's Messiah: December 6 and 7 with Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra and on December 17 and 18 at the National Arts Centre Orchestra in Ottawa.

His next scheduled performance in the U.S. is with Yannick Nézet-Séguin and the Philadelphia Orchestra in performances of the Fauré Requiem. Tickets are available online.