Barber - Adagio for Strings
Weber - Clarinet Concerto No. 1
Dominic Desautels, clarinet
Tchaikovsky - Symphony No. 6 "Pathétique"
Rafael Luz Conductor
Experience an evening of profound musical depth with "Stirring Emotions." The concert begins with Samuel Barber's hauntingly beautiful Adagio for Strings, a work that has become a poignant anthem of mourning and introspection, resonating with listeners worldwide.
The program continues with Carl Maria von Weber's Clarinet Concerto No. 1. We are thrilled to feature the extraordinary talent of Dominic Desautels, Principal Clarinet of the Canadian Opera Company, whose virtuosity and expressive power will bring this brilliant and dramatic concerto to life.
The journey culminates with Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 6, the "Pathétique". This intensely personal and powerful symphony is a masterpiece of emotional storytelling, from its somber opening to its famously tragic and heart-wrenching finale. Tchaikovsky poured his soul into this work, and its raw, passionate expression makes it one of the most moving symphonies ever composed. Don't miss this unforgettable concert experience.
7:30pm Saturday April 18, 2026 Eglinton St George's United Church, 35 Lytton Boulevard, Toronto
Reserved best seats - $45
Unreserved - $35 regular, $30 senior, $20 under 30, $10 under 13
A native of Quebec, Dominic Desautels is the Principal Clarinetist at the Canadian Opera Company in Toronto and is considered among the most inspiring clarinetists of his generation. He began playing the clarinet at 15 and made his solo debut with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra at 21, also being hired later that season as guest principal clarinet. He has since performed regularly as a soloist in Canada and abroad.
He studied at the Glenn Gould School with Joaquin Valdepeñas and at the Université de Montréal with Jean-François Normand. Upon graduation in 2007, he was hired as principal clarinetist of Brazil’s Orquestra Filarmônica de Minas Gerais, subsequently holding the same position with Symphony Nova Scotia and the Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra. He was appointed to the Canadian Opera Company in 2017.
Desautels was the first clarinetist to win a top prize at the Canadian Music Competition’s Stepping Stone (33rd edition), leading to a 40-recital tour for Jeunesses Musicales of Canada. Among his concerto projects is the world-premiere recording of Paul Frehner’s Cloak with the Hamilton Philharmonic and conductor Gemma New (Centrediscs, 2023). In 2019 he toured the U.S. as a last-minute replacement for Italian clarinet star Corrado Giuffredi. In 2023 he became the first Canadian and second North American invited as the guest International Soloist at the Deutsche Klarinetten-Gesellschaft (German Clarinet Association), at its 25th biennial conference in Munich.
Ambassador for Seggelke Clarinets (Model 1000 in mopane wood), Dominic Desautels is an endorsing artist for Silverstein and Légère. He performs each year at the Scotia Festival of Music, where he mentors clarinetists from around the world.
Eglinton St. George's United Church
35 Lytton Boulevard
Toronto, ON
Parking
Street parking is available in the neighbourhood - please see this Parking Map.
There is a Green P parking lot at 6 Sherwood Avenue (550m).
Limited on-site accessible parking available only by prior arrangement
TTC
The nearest TTC station is Eglinton station on Line 1. TTC buses go from Eglinton station north on Yonge Street. To reach the church, exit the bus at Lytton Boulevard and walk one block west on Lytton.
Scent Free Venue
To ensure an enjoyable experience for everyone, we kindly ask that guests refrain from wearing scented products such as perfumes, colognes, or scented lotions. Some of our attendees may have sensitivities or allergies, and we appreciate your efforts towards creating a comfortable, scent-free environment.
Seating
The auditorium will open 45 minutes before the performance.
This concert will have both reserved and unreserved seating.
In addition to on-line purchase, tickets will be available at the door from 1 hour before the performance.
