Plus a spooktacular October weekend

PICTURE COURTESY BLOOR ST. CULTURAL CORRIDOR: The Toronto Jewish Film Society presents The Human Resources Manager on October 15. Adapted from a novel by A.B. Yehoshua, it tells the story of an HR manager who reluctantly takes home the body of a Romanian worker after she is killed in a suicide bombing in Israel.

By Heather Kelly

Art & Architecture Exhibitions

The Istituto Italiano di Cultura presents With New Eyes: Architecture for Toronto by Francesco and Aldo Piccaluga Architects, and opening on October 19, the Gardiner Museum presents Steven Heinemann: Culture and Nature. Gardiner Museum Executive Director & CEO Kelvin Browne and curator Rachel Gotlieb lead an intimate discussion with the artist on Tuesday, October 17.

Alliance Française opens a new exhibition called Outcomes from the Edge, and at the Miles Nadal JCC, textile artist Sharon Epstein displays Jewish Chuppahs or “canopies” in the exhibition Blessings.  Continuing exhibitions include an Eiko Ishioka Poster Exhibition on view at the Japan Foundation, Building a Community: Estonian Architects in Post-War Toronto on view at the Museum of Estonians Abroad, and the ROM explores the connections between family photographs, migration, and identity with the original ROM exhibition The Family Camera until Sunday, October 29.

On the Big Screen

Alliance Française continues its Movie Thursday series, the Miles Nadal JCC presents darkly comic Israeli drama The Human Resources Manager, introduced by Adam Nayman, October 15, and the Bata Shoe Museum hosts a special screening of the short film 40 Years of Goth Shoes, October 19, including a Q&A with producer Liisa Ladouceur.

Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema’s Podcast Festival features Intercepted with Naomi Klein, Desmond Cole and Narcy, The Nod with guests Sarah Hagi and Vicky Mochama, Another Round, Canadaland with guest Daniel Dale, Washington correspondent for The Toronto Star, and more, October 12-15. Doc Soup returns with a group of improbable heroes and their inspiring plight to make high quality healthcare available to everyone in Bending the Arc, October 4-5.

Catch a Concert

Tafelmusik’s new music director Elisa Citterio leads a grand tour across baroque Italy, from Vivaldi’s Autumn to Fontana’s sonatas, Steffani’s dramatic suites to Locatelli’s energetic concertos, in “Elisa’s Italian Adventure,” October 11-15 at Jeanne Lamon Hall, Trinity-St. Paul’s Centre.

Soundstreams’ 35th season opens with Northern Encounters on October 16 at Koerner Hall, where the Lapland Chamber Orchestra performs music by Jean Sibelius, Harry Somers, and Claude Vivier, with dance by powerhouse choreographer Michael Greyeyes, the world premiere of Soundstreams’ 35th Anniversary Fanfare by Canadian Anna Pidgorna, and gems by Stravinsky and Debussy.

PICTURE COURTESY BLOOR ST. CULTURAL CORRIDOR: Legendary Chilean music ensemble Inti-Illimani teams up with poet, songwriter and activist Nano Stern to celebrate their 50th anniversary at Koerner Hall on October 27. Evocative of Chile’s unique culture voice, the ensemble has inspired artists like Peter Gabriel, Sting, and Bruce Springsteen.

Chamber music takes centre stage at the University of Toronto Faculty of Music, with Enrico Elisi’s From Public Stage to Private Parlour: An Introduction to Rarely Performed Piano Works from Rossini’s Years of Silence on October 2; the New Orford String Quartet performing Gellman, Ravel, and Tchaikovsky on October 5; and the Toronto Symphony’s Joseph Johnson with the Gryphon Trio’s James Parker on October 30. The U of T’s free Thursdays at Noon concert series will feature the Toronto Symphony’s Jonathan Crow and Joseph Johnson on October 19, and Musical Chairs II featuring Elizabeth McDonald, Giles Tomkins, Achilles Liarmakopoulos, and Kathryn Tremills on October 26.

As the Royal Conservatory of Music’s concert season begins, the Miles Electric Band comes to Koerner Hall on October 14, Flamenco Legends by Javier Limón: The Paco de Lucía Project performs on October 21 (in a related event, the documentary film, Flight of the Guitar: Dreaming of Paco de Lucía, will be screened at the Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema on October 24), and renowned Chilean band Inti-Illimani celebrates its 50th anniversary on October 27.

The Istituto Italiano di Cultura will present Giovanna d’Arco in a new production by Teatro Regio di Parma, on October 5 at the Alliance Française Spadina Theatre. And the 918 Bathurst Centre for Culture, Arts, Media and Education is partnering with the Music Gallery to bring X Avant Festival concerts to 918 Bathurst starting October 11, and Teo Milea’s Piano Soundscapes will be there on October 29. On October 27, the Estonian girls choir Elis from Pärnu will be performing a PWYC concert at 7 p.m. at Tartu College.

Take in a Talk

The ROM feeds curious minds on October 3, when spectacular finds unearthed from an undisturbed burial site are the focus of ROM Speaks: The Griffin Warrior of Pylos. On October 17 is ROM Speaks: Ways of Knowing – Archaeology for the 21st Century, and on Tuesday, October 24, iconic visual and performance artist Kent Monkman is at ROM Speaks: Art & Identity.

At the Royal Conservatory of Music you can learn more about the music you love at Music appreciation classes offered in mornings, afternoons, or evenings. Alliance Française presents four talks this month: Literary Encounter – The Search for Heinrich Schlögel: Music and Post Cards on October 4; A History of Beauty on October 18; Political Feelings: Moving Society on October 25; and Discussion with the writer Sylvain Prudhomme on October 24.

At the Miles Nadal JCC, daytime adult cultural talks include a three-part art lecture series: Modigliani Unmasked with Osnat Lipa beginning October 16; Jewish Folk Tales That Have Become Operas with Dr. Joseph Gilbert on October 19; and Honouring the Past, Imaging the Future: The Legacy of Honest Ed with Bill Gladstone on October 26.

Fundraising Events

Three fundraising events take place at local cultural organizations this month. On October 1, the museum of Estonians Abroad and their partners present Northern Spirit: Estonian Fashion and Design Experience, a fundraising fashion event with fashion shows at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. at Tartu College. The Gardiner Museum sees the 25th anniversary of its Empty Bowls fundraiser on October 12 with delicious soup by some of the city’s top chefs and attendees choose a ceramic bowl to take home, all in support of Anishnawbe Health Toronto. The Randolph Centre for the Arts presents the Encore Gala, on October 23, to celebrate 25 years of educating and preparing artists for a career — and life — in the performing arts industry. The evening will feature a silent auction, casino, cabaret performances, and a gala concert with appearances by alumni, current students, and friends, with special musical guests.

Halloween Fun

The ROM invites adults to come dressed in Halloween costumes to party with fellow ghouls and ghosts at Friday Night Live: Wicked on Friday, October 27. The Bata Shoe Museum is planning a “spooktacular” weekend of family fun activities on October 28 and 29, where kids in costumes get in free. Alliance Française presents a film for children, A Monster in Paris on October 29 at 2 p.m.