Noteworthy

When Swan Lake first graced the stage in Moscow in 1877, audiences and critics responded with tepid enthusiasm, calling the production forgettable and indistinctive. Yet, centuries later, the work has become cemented as a global icon, presented on some of the world’s grandest stages—from the Bolshoi Theatre to the Royal Opera House—and reimagined in film, popular culture, and even Taylor Swift’s music video for “Shake It Off”. 

While the ballet is beloved for many reasons—the exquisite costuming, ethereal set design, and sweeping drama of tender love—its enduring magic lies in Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s score. Considered a masterpiece full of emotional intensity and orchestral complexity, it remains one of the most influential scores of all time, elevating music from being merely background accompaniment to a vehicle of dramatic storytelling. You will never forget your first time hearing the hauntingly melodic “Swan’s Theme”. From the sorrowful cry of an oboe, and strings mimicking the gentle swish of a swan’s wing, the orchestra expresses the emotional weight in this fairy tale. This isn’t just music for dance; it’s music to make you feel. And that sensation will linger long after curtain call. 

This holiday season, the Toronto Symphony Orchestra will present three performances of a suite from Swan Lake as part of its Masterworks Series, which pairs classical masterpieces with contemporary compositions. While the story of Swan Lake itself doesn’t have a specific seasonal setting, it has always been strongly associated with winter and is often staged with wintry scenes, making it a fitting choice for the season. Even if you’ve seen the ballet on stage many times, hearing it performed by the TSO will offer an entirely new experience. Under its musicianship, familiar melodies become newly alive: the shimmering strings, powerful brass, and pulse of dance beneath it all. It’s a chance to rediscover a masterpiece.

“Tchaikovsky’s capacity for writing these incredible and beautiful melodies is unmatched with any other composer,” says Gustavo Gimeno, Music Director of the TSO, who compiled this particular suite. “And as human beings, we are always drawn to the emotional connection of melody and how music makes us feel in a moment of time. There’s a reason why something like Swan Lake has carried us through centuries—it is the definition of art.”

Under the direction of Gimeno, this series highlights not only the talent of the TSO’s musicians, but also the creativity of emerging Canadian composers. Each year, the TSO commissions a select group of up-and-coming composers to create original orchestral works that are premièred during the season. For the Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake performances, they have invited two award-winning creators—Sophie Dupuis and Darren Xu—to compose new pieces to open the program. “The Toronto Symphony Orchestra is one of the most prestigious orchestras in Canada,” says Dupuis. “It’s an incredible honour to be commissioned to write a piece to precede this legendary ballet.” 

Known for her work in acoustic, electroacoustic, and interdisciplinary “art music,” Dupuis has established herself as a distinctive voice in contemporary composition. Her works have been performed by ensembles across Canada, culminating in her 2023 début album, Comme bon lui semble, an eclectic collection inspired by visual art. Rooted in emotive melodies and immersive soundscapes—shaped in part by her life in the Maritimes—her music draws from pop art and high culture, creating sound worlds that are abstract and deeply affecting. 

Although she has long embraced the expressive freedom contemporary music affords, the TSO Commission prompted her to revisit the classical tradition she once resisted. “I didn’t stop myself from being true to my artistic integrity,” she says, “but I also wanted to honour the whimsy and colour of Swan Lake in my piece.” The result is Les aventures de Sarah—to be performed by the TSO on November 27 and 30—which was inspired by her one-year-old daughter, and the journey and joys of being a new mom. “I never thought I’d write a piece for my child, but having a child changes everything,” she says. “We’re in the world of monsters, unicorns, and all the magic that comes with it. This piece is about those imaginary adventures, and it radiates playfulness, affection, and the small moments of wonder that define a child’s world.” 

Currently completing his PhD at the Royal College of Music in the UK, Darren Xu is an emerging composer whose work spans concert music, multimedia, film, and interdisciplinary collaborations. Known for his inventive use of unconventional instrumental pairings, Xu has seen his music performed internationally, with his first orchestral work, To Liberate, premièring at the Winnipeg New Music Festival in 2023 and later read by the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra. Drawing inspiration from his childhood in Guangzhou, China, Xu explores the melodic and tonal inflections of Cantonese, using language as a bridge to uncover the emotional depth of sound. 

His TSO Commission, Because I Sing—to be performed by the orchestra on November 29 and 30—reflects on how voice and melody can help one cope with complex emotions. “I often find myself singing to process difficult moments,” he says. “It’s something very human—an instinctive way of releasing and transforming emotion.” Uplifting and lyrical, the work connects to Swan Lake through its expressive melodic writing and sense of renewal. For Xu, composing is also an act of self-acceptance and identity: “Growing up outside the cultural majority, I used to feel defined by what I wasn’t. Contemporary music allows me to be exactly who I am—and to share that honestly through sound.”

Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra isn’t just a concert—it’s a celebration of sound, emotion, and artistry. Whether it’s your first or 50th time, you’ll leave with a renewed sense of wonder at how music can move us so deeply. While Gimeno frequently leads the world’s most renowned orchestras, including the Berlin Philharmonic and the Chicago and Boston Symphony Orchestras, he recognizes that a certain alchemy occurs when leading the TSO. “We want audiences not only to hear the iconic masterpieces they know and love, but also to experience the sound and voice of the present—our community of rising Canadian composers—performed at the highest level. At the TSO, we celebrate the great works of the past and help create the art of our time. It’s art that nourishes our humanity and spirit.”

Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake runs from Thursday, November 27 to Sunday, November 30 at Roy Thomson Hall. Experience this timeless masterpiece live—purchase your tickets at TSO.CA/Concerts. 

Written by Lara Ceroni, a writer, editor, and social strategist whose work has appeared in ELLE Canada, The Globe and Mail, National Post, FASHION, and more. With over a decade of experience shaping stories and social strategies for global brands, she brings a sharp editorial eye and a passion for authentic storytelling across lifestyle, travel, music, and culture.

The NextGen Composers program is generously supported by RBC Foundation