Vancouver Symphony Orchestra announces new concert season, its 103rd year
Highlights include works by Indigenous composers and women, plus star guest appearances
Otto Tausk leads members of the VSO.
AFTER A 20-month hiatus, Vancouver Symphony Orchestra is back at the Orpheum for its 2021-22 season. Marking the organization’s 103rd anniversary, the hybrid season will also include digital performances, all kicking off September 18 and 19 with the We’re Back Gala.
“We have come through a most challenging and strange time, VSO music director Otto Tausk said in a release. “Now, let us turn a page and come back to the things we love most. For the musicians of the VSO and myself, that means making music with you. This will be a season of return, discovery, adaptation, and evolution.”
The gala features Beethoven’s Fidelio Overture, excerpts from Massenet and Berlioz, works from Canadian voices Dinuk Wijeratne and Barbara Assiginaak. It closes with Tchaikovsky’s triumphant 5th Symphony.
Back to the Future In Concert September 23 to 25 opens the TELUS Movie Nights series. The VSO will play the score live underneath the big screen. (Other films this season include Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1, Star Wars: Return of the Jedi, Home Alone, and The Snowman.)
The season features symphonic works by four indigenous Canadian composers: Odawa First Nation artist Barbara Assiginaak; Ian Cusson (writing new songs for mezzo-soprano Krisztina Szabó); Cris Derksen (“War Cry” for orchestra and cello solo); and Andrew Balfour (“Pyotr’s Dream”, an original commission from Tafelmusik).
There’s an emphasis on music by women, including Anna Clyne, Linda Caitlin Smith, Barbara Assiginaak, among others, as well as first visits from conductors Anna Rakitina, a Dudamel Fellow with the LA Philharmonic and assistant conductor at the Boston Symphony, and Speranza Scappucci, one of the most interesting conductors on the international scene and a regular at Opera Houses in Vienna, Rome, Barcelona, Zurich and Los Angeles.
Acclaimed musicians Yefim Bronfman and Mischa Maisky both make appearances. Bronfman plays Beethoven’s 3rd Piano Concerto with Maestro Bramwell Tovey on the podium on November 12 and 13. Maisky delivers Dvořák’s Cello Concerto with guest Maestra Speranza Scappucci leading on April 1 and 3.
Canadian pop icons Steven Page (January 14 and 15) and Paul Shaffer (February 11 and 12) performs part of the London Drugs Pops Series. Trailblazer Buffy Sainte-Marie performs on April 20.
Comfort seating will be in place for reduced capacity performances, with tickets going on sale September 13.
The VSO will continue its digital broadcasts, with its VSO Online series at TheConcertHall.ca. Ten full concerts will be streamed live from the Orpheum stage throughout the season.
“The 21/22 VSO season is one of recovery, reinvention, and a shift to a new reality,” said Angela Elster, president and CEO of the VSO and VSO School of Music. “We will celebrate our return to the concert hall with a multitude of audience favourites but will also introduce audiences to new voices, diverse voices, and healing voices.”
The VSO’s main series classical concerts, Newmont Masterworks Gold and Assante Vancouver Centre Masterworks Diamond Series, include Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition, Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 4, Dvořák’s New World Symphony, Berlioz’sSymphonie fantastique, Bach’s Brandenburg Concertos, Rachmaninoff’s Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, and other pieces.
The Musically Speaking series features commentary and live close-ups of performers on video screens and performances by guest artists such as cellist Mischa Maisky.
London Drugs VSO Pops features Sal Ferreras leading a Latin Nights show; Christmas songs with singer Dee Daniels; and an appearance by the The Celtic Tenors. Late Night star Paul Shaffer will join Valerie Simpson to share favourite pop, jazz and R&B tunes, and Canadian icon Steven Page returns to the VSO with Kevin Fox and Craig Northey. The series will end with a TELUS Movie Night screening of Singin’ in the Rain.
Parc Retirement Living Tea & Trumpets series of Thursday matinees continues with guest host Christopher Gaze and maestro Andrew Crust taking you into the stories behind the music of Tchaikovsky, Copland, Debussy and more. The traditional service of tea and cookies in the hour preceding the concert is on hold.
The five-concert Sunday matinee Origino Kids Concerts series features Lemony Snicket’s The Composer Is Dead; The Snowman with live orchestra; Carnival of OUR Animals. VSO principal percussionist Vern Griffiths introduces kids to the music of living composers in The Composer is Here, and the series closes with the classic story Beethoven Lives Upstairs.
Symphony Sundays, presented by RGF Integrated Wealth Management, continues featuring cellist Mischa Maisky playing Dvorak’s Cello Concerto and pianist Angela Cheng in a program of music by Clara & Robert Schumann. A French program features composers Lili Boulanger, Erik Satie, Fauré and Debussy, plus Chinese composer Tan Dun, while a Bohemian program features all Dvořák and Smetana with David Lakirovich on violin.
For more information, see VancouverSymphony.ca
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