This past May, the Toronto Symphony Orchestra packed up almost 100 musicians, more than 200 pieces of luggage, and instruments of all shapes and sizes, and took to the skies and highways for a whirlwind adventure through Montreal and Ottawa. Touring isn’t just about hitting the road—it’s a key part of what we do, helping us grow as an orchestra and share the magic of classical music far beyond Toronto, all while flying the flag for Canadian musicianship.
The first stop was a matinee performance at Maison symphonique in Montreal where the Minister of Canadian Heritage, Pascale St-Onge, warmly welcomed the audience before Gustavo Gimeno and the TSO launched into Beethoven’s Coriolan Overture. And for those in the know, Maison symphonique boasts a unique octobass room—a space dedicated to an extraordinary string instrument that stands more than 11 feet tall and produces deep, resonant tones. A few musicians and donors previewed this impressive instrument alongside TSO staff, adding a special touch to their Montreal experience.
The tour continued the next day with an evening performance at Ottawa’s National Arts Centre, where, after the final notes of the World Première of Illumination faded, the writer of the work, TSO RBC Affiliate Composer Alison Yun-Fei Jiang, stepped onto the stage to take a bow, greeted by a standing ovation from the audience. The program in Ottawa also included enargeia and Brahms’s Symphony No. 1, adding a fresh layer to the TSO’s repertoire and connecting contemporary works with classical masterpieces.
From debating the merits of cabbage rolls versus chicken salad for staff lunches, to the last-minute dash back to pick up a straggler in Montreal, the tour was a mix of high notes and delightful detours. We’re talking rainy morning sprints through Montreal’s Old Port, surprise meetups with former teachers, and secret speakeasies that doubled as murder mystery dinner venues. There were post-concert cheese nights—looking at you, cellos—coffee breaks alongside Secret Service agents near Parliament Hill, bagel runs galore, and—we hear—a chef’s-kiss double bass dinner at Montreal’s Liverpool House. Friends of the TSO shared in the adventure too, enjoying cocktails and a backstage moment or two, soaking in the camaraderie that only a TSO tour can proffer.
And let’s not forget the music. With performances that included the North American Première of enargeia, featuring the massive talents of TSO Spotlight Artist and JUNO Award–winning mezzo-soprano Emily D’Angelo, and classic bangers like the Coriolan Overture and Brahms’s First Symphony, the TSO didn’t just play for the audience—they played for family (yes, that was Principal Clarinet Eric Abramovitz in the audience in Montreal at intermission saying hello to his mom), friends, and themselves, embracing the close-knit, special moments that come with being on tour.
This tour was part of the TSO’s ongoing journey to bring the best of classical music and the incredible talents of our musicians to the world stage, forging connections with audiences far beyond our home city. Dive into the behind-the-scenes moments that made this tour unforgettable. From backstage laughs to onstage triumphs—watch now:
