Noteworthy

It’s a Thursday evening in late spring, and I’m standing in front of my closet, deciding which outfit to wear on a date with my husband. We’re heading to Roy Thomson Hall for a performance by the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, so really, I can put on whatever I want—the audience will be in everything from jeans, sweaters and businesswear to suits and cocktail dresses. In the end, I grab a simple cotton dress and some flats, throwing on a pair of gold earrings at the last minute. My husband meets me at the door in jeans and a button-down shirt, and soon we’re making our way downtown.

An easy, elevated evening

There are countless reasons I love the TSO, but the ease and pleasure they add to date night are pretty high on the list. It feels more special than our usual dinner out, but just as relaxed. We get to experience an incredible live orchestra performance in a beautiful setting that’s steps from transit. The rest of the night is flexible—sometimes, we dine out before the show, and other times, we eat at home. We can grab a glass of wine or sparkling water at the venue (there are several bars on site, plus a members lounge) or pop into a nearby hotel bar for a nightcap. When life is hectic, we go straight home and get into bed at a reasonable hour, still feeling like we’ve had a satisfying evening out. (We may be relatively young, but we have jobs and kids that make an early bedtime deeply attractive.)

After years of attending one-off performances, my husband suggested a small TSO subscription package, and I quickly agreed. Now in our second year as subscribers, we put multiple shows in the calendar well in advance and look forward to them throughout the season. Instead of saying, “We should go on a date soon,” for the twelfth time while making dinner or chauffeuring our children around town, we just look at the calendar to see when our next TSO performance is. It feels a little bit fancy, but never fussy—exactly what I need more of in my life.

Something for everyone

I love seeing my favourite bands in concert, and a night with the TSO feels like a calm, restorative experience that complements our usual rock, pop and punk shows. No two TSO performances are alike, so even when we attend frequently, we never get bored. Hearing much-loved pieces alongside new (and new-to-us) music is magical, and we’re often treated to a world debut or guest performer who blows us away. There are exceptional classical performances (Vivaldi, Debussy and Orff’s Carmina Burana have been some of my favourites this season) as well as stunning contemporary pieces we may not have discovered otherwise (STILL HERE by the late Cris Derksen).

My husband and I are thrilled whenever the Toronto Mendelssohn Choir takes the stage, and the Toronto Children’s Chorus often leaves me teary-eyed. We may gravitate to the classical music I grew up with, but there’s programming for people who love jazz or Broadway standards, plus celebrations of pop hits and movie soundtracks. The variety is incredible, and there are multiple performances of most programs, so we can choose a casual Thursday evening or an elegant Saturday night out at the symphony. (I’ll take a few of each, please.)    

Cheers to a better date night    

Whether you’re dating someone new or have been married for ages, shared experiences are important to a relationship. Dining out, travelling together, going to art galleries and museums—my husband and I have done it all a thousand times, but we’ll keep coming back to the symphony. (Our first TSO date night was roughly 20 years ago, when we were broke university students with an affinity for the TSO TSOUNDCHECK program.) I’m glad we have a way to keep our date nights feeling special after so many years, and we’re already looking forward to next season. Try to spot us on the balcony—we’ll be there giving a standing ovation.

Erin Pepler is a freelance writer and the author of Send Me Into The Woods Alone: Essays on Motherhood. A TSO subscriber who grew up attending performances with her grandparents, Erin’s work has appeared in Toronto Life, Chatelaine, Maclean’s, Today’s Parent, Broadview Magazine and many other publications.