Here we are – 2008 is upon us, and after a little break, the orchestra rings in the New Year with seven great performances. January may not be as busy as usual for the Symphony, but every concert offers something exciting for Lower Mainland audiences.
The month kicks off with two performances at the Chan Centre for the Performing Arts, featuring Canadian violinist James Ehnes performing all five of Mozart's Violin Concerti, an exciting and unprecedented two evening Mozart cycle. Mr. Ehnes will perform 1, 2 and 3 on Friday evening, and 4 and 5 on Saturday evening. This will be the first time Mr. Ehnes and the VSO work together since their joint GRAMMY nomination for the critically acclaimed CBC recording of Violin Concertos by Walton, Korngold and Barber, featuring Bramwell Tovey conducting.
At the same time, the other half of the orchestra will be at the Roundhouse Community Centre in Yaletown, for the start of the 2007/2008 Season Symphony at the Roundhouse series. This 3-concert series features contemporary music performed in the intimate space of the Roundhouse. The first concert includes the Canadian premiere of Harold Meltzer's Full Faith and Credit, and the North American premiere of Bramwell Tovey's Pictures in the Smoke.
Next up, it is the VSO's privilege to perform with one of the great sopranos of our time, internationally-renowned Korean soprano Sumi Jo. Darling of the Metropolitan Opera and in demand worldwide, this extraordinary artist brought the house down in her VSO debut two years ago, and returns this month for a concert of beloved Operatic arias.
Pianist Mihaela Ursuleasa is one of the top young up-and-coming stars in the Classical field. She makes her VSO debut for three performances of Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 21 (popularly tagged as 'Elvira Madigan' since that Swedish film so effectively used the second movement of the concerto in its soundtrack) on a program conducted by Hugh Wolff, at the Orpheum.
The Mozart Cycle: James Ehnes Performs Mozart's Violin Concertos
Friday, January 18
Mozart - Violin Concerto No.1
Mozart - Violin Concerto No.2
Mozart - Violin Concerto No.3 Strassburg
Saturday, January 19
Mozart - Rondo in C Major
Mozart - Violin Concerto No.4
Mozart - Violin Concerto No.5 Strassburg -- www.vancouversymphony.ca
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