Major concerts will feature fully staged opera, 250th anniversary of Mozart’s Symphony, pop music and more in Mississauga

The Mississauga Symphony Orchestra is back for its latest concert season, with an exciting lineup of performances that have something for everyone to enjoy.

The orchestra’s 2023/2024 concert season will include holiday concerts, odes to musical legends like Michael Jackson and The Beatles, and even a tribute to the beloved late Mississauga mayor Hazel McCallion. Tickets are available now.

It all happens inside Hammerson Hall at The Living Arts Centre, a gorgeous and spacious theatre with plenty of comfortable seating that’s perfect for enjoying live entertainment with your loved ones.

Here’s when these major concerts are happening and what to expect:

Tosca – Fully Staged Opera
Feb. 8 and 10, 2024 – 8:00 p.m.

The MSO is the only hybrid orchestra in Canada that produces fully-staged opera. This year, they will produce Puccini’s Tosca. Set in Rome during the Napoleonic era, Tosca tells the story of love, passion, rebellion, and tragedy.

Zealous painter Cavaradossi and passionate singer Tosca are deeply in love. When Cavaradossi hides escaped political prisoner Angelotti from the villainous chief of police Scarpia, a tragic conflict unfurls. Caught between loyalty to her rebel lover and Scarpia’s web of deceit, Tosca must take matters into her own hands – but no one is guaranteed to get out alive.

Masterwork Celebrations
Mar. 31, 2024 – 3:00 p.m.

Join the Mississauga Symphony Orchestra as they celebrate the anniversary of three iconic works –the 100^th anniversary of Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue and Sibelius’ Symphony No. 7, and the 250^th anniversary of Mozart’s Symphony No. 29.

Rhapsody in Blue is regarded as one of the most influential pieces of American classical music. Seamlessly combining elements of classical music with jazz and pop, Rhapsody in Blue embodies the spirit of the Roaring Twenties, and the cultural dynamism of the time.

Composed when Mozart was only 18 years old, Symphony No. 29 is known for its elegance, youthful exuberance, and melodic richness. The symphony is a beloved and frequently performed work, showcasing Mozart’s genius at a young age.

An unprecedented 22-minute single movement, Sibelius’ Symphony No. 7 is considered one of the masterpieces of 20th century orchestral repertoire. Symphony No. 7 is the final symphony composed by Sibelius, and a robust farewell to the Romantic era.

Symphonic Pops
Apr. 27, 2024 – 8:00 p.m.

From The Beatles to Queen, Metallica to Michael Jackson, Symphonic Pops will pay tribute to some of pop music’s biggest names in symphonic form. Complimenting the orchestra will be an all-star band comprised of some of Canada’s finest musicians, and a roster of fantastic soloists.

A wildly popular concert in 2017, Symphonic Pops is expected to sell out and dazzle audiences again this year. Make sure to purchase your tickets in advance to avoid disappointment at the box office on concert night!

Season Finale: Alpine Symphony
May 25, 2024 – 8:00 p.m.

Serving as the finale that will end the season on a very high note, An Alpine Symphony is one of the most monumental works in the symphonic repertoire.

A symphonic poem composed by Richard Strauss, An Alpine Symphony is an ambitious and technically demanding sonic expedition through the Alpine landscape, capturing the grandeur and beauty of nature. Rarely performed, An Alpine Symphony is a musical experience that is not to be missed.

Previous concerts:

Verdi Requiem: A Tribute to Hazel McCallion
Nov. 18, 2023 – 8:00 p.m.

The MSO welcomes the Mississauga Festival Choir and a roster of incredible soloists for a performance of the awe-inspiring Verdi Requiem in tribute to Mississauga’s late mayor, Hazel McCallion.

A unique and towering masterpiece, the Verdi Requiem is filled with a whirlwind of emotions moving through profound loss and ending with a sense of eternal peace. The immensity of Verdi’s Requiem – scored for four vocal soloists, a double choir, and a large orchestra – solidifies it as one of the greatest choral works ever composed.

A Merry Little Christmas
Dec. 13, 2023 – 4:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.

The orchestra’s popular Christmas concert, A Merry Little Christmas, is back for another holiday season of music and merriment. A combined orchestra of 150 MSO and MSYO musicians will perform your favourite festive music – a perfect treat to begin the most wonderful time of the year.

There will be two versions of the concert: A shorter matinée that’s suited towards families with young children, and the full, all-ages concert later that same evening.

The Mississauga Symphony Orchestra is one of Mississauga’s longest running and most popular musical ensembles, with over five decades of performances under their belt.

Since being established in 1972, the orchestra has performed a wide range of different concerts and community events at The Living Arts Centre and other venues across the city, and they’re excited to keep it going for many more years to come.

For more information and show details, visit the Mississauga Symphony Orchestra’s website, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter pages.