David Bui conducts a mix of cinematic hits and classics at VSO's Symphony in the Park
Relaxed Deer Lake Park concert on the grass features beloved blockbuster tunes from Star Wars, Harry Potter, and more
Symphony in the Park 2022. Photo by Sarah Race
Symphony in the Park with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra takes place at Deer Lake Park on July 15 at 7:30 pm
MUSIC LOVERS CAN lounge on blankets amid the beauty of Burnaby’s Deer Lake Park this month for a free concert by the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, complete with family activities and food trucks.
This year’s 34th anniversary performance of Symphony in the Park will transport listeners to other worlds—whether it’s the story of a British spy in Monty Norman’s James Bond Theme, an adventure through another galaxy in Star Wars Suite for Orchestra: III. Imperial March by John Williams, or the tale of a young wizard in Williams’s Hedwig’s Theme from Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone.
The show, presented by the City of Burnaby, will be led by the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra’s RBC assistant conductor David Bui. For the Canadian-German-born talent, the outdoor concert is expected to draw nearly 10,000 attendees—the largest audience he’s conducted in front of.
“The big difference is it’s not in a hall, it's under the sky—so the atmosphere is quite relaxed. I would say it’s much, much more relaxed,” shares Bui of the upcoming event over a call with Stir. “Sometimes you’re just taking care of the music part so much you forget everything else. But it [Symphony in the Park] is much more accessible … People can eat, people can talk, which is very different to a typical classic concert.”
David Bui. Photo by Lentes Fotografie
This year marks Bui’s first time conducting Symphony in the Park since assuming his position with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra in April 2022. The event was led in years past by the VSO’s previous associate conductor, Andrew Crust.
A rising force in the symphony scene, Bui won first prize at the Ionel Perlea International Conducting Competition in 2021. He has engaged in a wide variety of musical events around the world, from the Bartók Festival in Szombathely, Hungary, and the Mendelssohn Festival in Hamburg, Germany, to B.C.’s own PRISMA Festival.
Symphony in the Park’s format showcases several short pieces throughout the evening, instead of one long, continuous symphony typical of a more traditional concert. Some of the music featured is classical, taking on a beautifully intimate tone, contrasted by more bombastic film soundtrack hits.
The orchestra will play seven pieces by critically acclaimed American composer-conductor-pianist John Williams, who Bui describes as “probably the greatest film composer to ever exist”. Melodies from Jurassic Park, Raiders of the Lost Ark, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, Hook, and more will reverberate into the summer sky.
Guests are encouraged to get comfortable by bringing lawn chairs, refillable water bottles, sunscreen, sunglasses, and snacks.
Bui says that listeners can expect more back-and-forth chatting between audience members and conductor than usual, to create a vibe that’s fun, laid-back, and musically inspiring—the perfect recipe for a memorable night.
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