'It's Cool Britannia' With Vancouver Orchestra

This cool concert includes music from the James Bond movies, the Austin Powers theme, music of the Beatles, Gilbert & Sullivan, Ivor Novello, and Noel Coward. Bramwell Tovey conducts and hosts with humour and panache. The Vancouver Symphony Orchestra is also proud to welcome legendary mezzo-soprano Judith Forst, the Chor Leoni Men's Choir and the Elektra Women's Choir and will take place on Friday & Saturday, May 16th & 17th at the Orpheum Theatre.

It has been over a decade since Vancouver's own mezzo-soprano star, Judith Forst, last collaborated with the VSO – she comes out of semi-retirement to sing for the final Vancouver Symphony Orchestra Pops concert of the season, and audiences eagerly anticipate her return. Forst is truly a Canadian legend, having received the Order of Canada in 1991, the Order of British Columbia in 2001, the Freedom of the City of Port Moody in 1992, and named Canadian Woman of the Year in 1978. She won the Metropolitan Opera Auditions Award and has honourary Doctorates from both UBC and UVic. In 2004, Judith Forst received Canada's most prestigious opera honour – a Ruby Award – marking her distinguished career in opera. Yet, despite all this reverence, Forst remains extremely down to earth.

She regards leading a school concert in Port Moody as important as singing with the Metropolitan Opera in New York City. A staunch supporter of new composers, fellow performers, and conductors throughout her career, she generously gives her time for fundraisers and benefit concerts.

The Chor Leoni Men's Choir is one of the leading male choir movements in Canada. Maestro Tovey affirmed "Chor Leoni has a polish, a sound, a spontaneity and a style that I feel is unequaled by any male voice choir that I have ever heard…" In addition to Chor Leoni's many concerts, it mentors young singers and gives them an exceptional opportunity to sing with the choir.

Elektra Women's Choir is regarded as an international leader in the classical women's choir movement. Its mandate is to inspire and lead in the choral art form through excellence in performance and through the creation, exploration and celebration of women's repertoire. Elektra is known for adventurous programming, seeking out music written specifically for women and commissioning new works. Singers are selected by audition and share an enthusiasm for challenging repertoire. -- www.vancouversymphony.ca