Victoria Symphony 2014/15 Season Preview

On Wednesday March 5, Music Director Tania Miller and members of the orchestra unveiled the Victoria Symphony’s outstanding concert lineup for the 2014/15 season.  In front of an enthusiastic crowd at the showroom of Three Points Motors (the Conductor Circle sponsor) , Music Director Tania Miller, Conductor in Residence Giuseppe Pietraroia, Principal Trumpet Ryan Cole and other orchestra musicians presented highlights for the Victoria Symphony’s 74th season. Prior to the launch, Conductor Circle member John McEown received an award for his exceptional philanthropy and service to the Victoria Symphony.

This season, the Victoria Symphony commemorates the onset of the Great World War, playing works that have never been presented in Victoria before such as Britten’s War Requiem and Sibelius’ Symphony no 4. The season also includes popular masterpieces such as Brahms’ Symphony no. 4, Rachmaninov’s Piano Concerto no. 3, Dvořák’s uplifting Symphony no. 8, Handel’s Music from the Royal Fireworks, and closing the season with a bang, Ravel’s iconic and thrilling Bolero. For children, and the young at heart, Fred Penner leads a sing-along, and the tale of Jack and the Beanstalk is told through music.

Rising star Jan Lisieki returns to play Ravel’s Piano Concerto, and is joined by favourites such as cellist Zuill Bailey and acclaimed pianists Stewart Goodyear and Jamie Parker. Fascinating debut soloists include Finland’s Elina Välhälä and Ukraine’s Anna Fedorova. Principal guest conductor Berhard Gueller returns to conduct A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and is joined by conductors Timothy Hankowich, James Feddeck, Andrew Grams and Michael Butterman, all making their Victoria Symphony debuts.

The VS Pops Series features an exciting array of concerts, from The Spectacular Spanish Bagpipes with Carlos Nuñez, the return of Five by Design with Music of the Mad Men Era, to the Canadian College of Performing Arts taking centre stage in Broadway Lights. Audience favourite Brian Jackson is joined by piano great Ian Parker to celebrate the rhythms and melodies of the legendary George Gershwin.

The Irish Tenors headline the holiday concerts, which also include the traditional Handel’s Messiah and A Viennese New Year’s. And as a followup to South Pacific in Concert, the Victoria Symphony and Pacific Opera Victoria are again joining forces to present Lerner and Loewe’s beloved Camelot, the tale of the forbidden love of Sir Lancelot and Guinevere in King Arthur’s Court.

Individual tickets go on sale to the public on July 21. The current 2013/14 season has fifteen more concerts, including Le Vent du Nord (March 7, 8 & 9), The Chooi Brother’s Play Bach (March 22 & 23) and Brahms Requiem (May 10 & 11).

The Victoria Symphony, led by its vibrant Music Director Tania Miller, is Vancouver Island’s largest and most active arts organization offering its audiences high-quality concerts in seven diverse series, a commitment to fostering new music, and a dedication to community involvement through music education. More than 140,000 people hear the Symphony each year, including 12,000 schoolchildren. Showcasing the outstanding talents of its musicians and guest artists, the Victoria Symphony’s 2013-2014 season offers a diverse and exciting line-up of over 60 concerts.

For further concert details, see http://victoriasymphony.ca/2014-15-concert-series