Toronto Music Garden

Toronto is rich with cultural activities and one of the most picturesque places to enjoy music and dance performances is the Toronto Music Garden. Located on the grounds of the Harbourfront Centre on the shores of Lake Ontario, the three-acre public garden is an oasis of calm and beauty on the waterfront.

About the Garden

The stunning landscape of the Toronto Music Garden was inspired by the music of Bach. Each part of the garden is meant to interpret in nature the music of Bach's First Suite for Unaccompanied Cello, with different parts of the movement reflected in the design of the trails, trees, flowers and meadows. The garden was crafted by celebrated cellist Yo Yo Ma and landscape designer Julie Moir Messervy. Visitors can purchase audio guides with commentary by the designers that explains the meaning of each area of the garden.

The “Rooms” Of the Garden

The Toronto Music Garden is separated into six “rooms” that represent each of the traditional dances featured in the six movements of Bach’s first cello suite. The “Prelude” features a flowing river bordered by granite boulders. Visitors can relax in the sitting areas in the “Allemande” section, which dot the hillside that overlooks the harbour. Vibrant perennials colour the lush “Courante” area and a large stone in the “Sarabande” section serves as a stage for poetry readings. The pavilion in “Menuett” provides a venue for music and dance performances as do the massive grass steps in the “Gigue” section, which feature views of the water and create a curved amphitheatre bordered by greenery.

Summer Music in the Garden

Each year, the Toronto Music Garden hosts Summer Music in the Garden, a popular concert series produced by the Harbourfront Centre that is free to the public. The one-hour concerts, which take place Thursdays and Sundays during the summer months weather permitting, feature classical music and dance from a diverse mix of musicians. Music lovers can bring a lawn chair and sit back and admire the lush surroundings of the gardens while enjoying the performances.

Visiting the Toronto Music Garden

Situated on the Lake Ontario waterfront, the Toronto Music Garden is located on the grounds of Harbourfront Centre at 475 Queen's Quay West between Bathurst Street and Spadina Avenue. There is no admission fee to the Toronto Music Garden, which is open year-round.

For more information on visiting the garden and for concert rain dates, call the information desk at (416) - 973-4000

Click here to visit Toronto Music Garden official website.