A bouquet of spring concerts
Hi everyone! I hope you’re enjoying all the tulips and flowering fruit trees right now. My last newsletter talked a little about how I was going to be pretty busy in April and May- and here we are. I have three concerts to tell you about, and they’re all happening in the next few weeks.
27 April - Sooke Philharmonic
First up, we have a concert in Sooke, with the Sooke Philharmonic. Sooke Phil concerts are always a good vibe; they pack the house, and they start by featuring young local string students.
Schubert, Unfinished Symphony - This may be a contender for “orchestral piece that I have performed the most number of times”, but I still love it. It’s the comfort food of orchestral repertoire, for me, dramatic and beautiful, even if it is one I know well.
Dobres, Freda’s Journey Suite - A world premiere! You all know how much I love playing new music. This is from - and featuring - a local guitarist who wrote a piece about his Russian Jewish grandmother’s immigration to Canada.
His friend and collaborator, violinist Adrian Dolan (who is also playing in this concert) arranged it for orchestra and solo guitar. The result is just lovely.
Kodály, Dances of Galánta - This is one of my favorite things to listen to, and it’s also a lot of fun to play- tricky but rewarding. It’s a collection of fun Hungarian dances that’ll keep you on your toes and grooving in your seat. Give the Hungarian Radio Symphony Orchestra a listen here; we’ll have fun but nobody can do this one like actual Hungarians can:
Bonus points for being written by a guy named Zoltán. Everyone I’ve met named Zoltán has been rad.
Read more and get your tickets in advance here.
The newsletter usually ends right about here… but not this time!
3 May - Victoria Chamber Orchestra and Victoria Choral Society
Beethoven, Symphony No. 9
Yes! You’ve heard that big moment from Beethoven’s 9th Symphony a million times… but have you really? Have you sat for over an hour and listened to the whole, entire thing, from start to finish? It’s a whole journey to get there.
I’ve never performed this symphony before, mainly because I don’t work with a chorus that often, and it obviously requires one. I’m very excited to be playing it with a darn good orchestra and great singers, in one of the nicest halls in town.
Come set aside everything that’s going on in the world for 75 minutes with me and 200-odd other people on stage, and listen to what Beethoven at the height of his genius had to say about humanity at its absolute best.
Apparently tickets are selling fast, so get them here.
4 May - The Bald Eagles
Last year, I was lucky enough to play with The Bald Eagles as part of Bowker Creek Biodiversity Day, and I had a blast. They’re doing a similar event in a few weeks - Kwetlal (Camas) Day at Cattle Point. You can come listen to some tunes, learn about biodiversity, and enjoy the flowers.
I’ll be sitting in for the first hour of The Bald Eagles’ set, so come early and stick around for a good time.
That’s all for now! You’ll be hearing from me again soon, because coming up on my agenda is:
17 May: Brahms’ Requiem, performed as a memorial to beloved figure George Corwin; the concert is at 2pm at First Metropolitan United Church, with admission by donation.
24 May: Civic Orchestra of Victoria
As always, thanks for listening. And come say hi if you attend one of these!