Amateur conductor and CEO performs with Toronto Symphony Orchestra to a packed house | Canada Voices

The Toronto Symphony Orchestra’s performance this week of Gustav Mahler’s Symphony No. 2 in C Minor included a lot of what attendees might expect to see – and hear – from a concert at a packed Roy Thomson Hall: bows raised and lowered in near-perfect unison, a mezzo-soprano in a glittery gown and dramatic swells of music.

What some attendees didn’t know they were getting, however, was an amateur conductor who bankrolled the production. Having come across ads for the performance on social media, some attendees said they took advantage of lower admission prices to hear a long-admired piece of music played by some of the most talented musicians in the country.

The symphony was led by Mandle Cheung, founder and chief executive officer of the Markham, Ont., contact-centre company Computer Talk Technology Inc. In the past 10 years, he has funnelled his energy and wealth into his passion for classical music, establishing a namesake orchestra of freelance musicians.

Instead of leading his own orchestra on Wednesday evening, Mr. Cheung conducted one of Canada’s pre-eminent orchestras – the TSO – drawing ire from some members of the orchestra.

“They didn’t mention that when I bought the tickets,” attendee Mat Dean said upon learning that the person leading the performance was an amateur.

“Is that why the tickets were cheap?” he asked.

Mr. Dean said he learned about the performance from an ad on Instagram. He and his partner, Lindsay, used to take advantage of the TSO’s program that offered discounted admission for those under the age of 35, but having now crossed that age threshold and with three young kids at home, they said it had been some time since they attended a concert.

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With the tickets being “well priced” at around $55 each, the couple seized the opportunity.

Ms. and Mr. Dean were surprised to learn about Mr. Cheung’s unconventional path to Roy Thomson Hall.

“It feels like something you shouldn’t be able to buy your way into,” Ms. Dean said.

Mary Brock said it was her love for Mahler that brought her to the show after she saw an ad for it on Facebook.

“I think Mahler’s Second is spectacular,” Ms. Brock said. “I’m always looking to see who’s doing it when I go.”

She said she was disappointed to learn who the conductor was.

“Then I think, well, it’s giving them work,” Ms. Brock said, referring to the musicians.

She said it didn’t change her mind about attending. “It’s such a fabulous piece, you want to hear it,” Ms. Brock said.

After the show, she remarked that the tempo was different than other renditions of Mahler’s Second that she’s heard, but it didn’t take away from her enjoyment of the piece.

Grade 9 student Vorna Sadeghi and Frank Qian, who had his Grade 12 graduation earlier on Wednesday, play the trumpet and the cello respectively in orchestras.

“I’m always interested in listening to a modern symphony in person,” Mr. Qian said.

Vorna said he had heard about the conductor’s career path from friends, but he was mostly paying attention to other aspects of the performance.

He said that compared with other conductors, “you can definitely notice a difference” in Mr. Cheung’s performance, but he had his eyes and ears on the brass section of the orchestra.

While some audience members were seen dozing off during the concert, others sat with their elbows on their knees, nearly on the edge of their seats, taking in every moment.

After the music swelled to its final dramatic crescendo, the audience rose to a standing ovation.

With a report by Josh O’Kane