Vancouver Bach Choir 2018 / 2019 Season Brochure

2018/2019 SEASON

Transcend SECURE YOUR SEATS TODAY! vancouverbachchoir.com

SINGLE TICKETS START AT JUST $26.00!

DURUFLÉ REQUIEM AND BERNSTEIN CHICHESTER PSALMS Saturday October 13, 2018 at 7:30pm ST. ANDREW’S-WESLEY UNITED CHURCH

CHRISTMAS WITH THE BACH CHOIR Sunday December 2, 2018 at 2pm ORPHEUM THEATRE

HANDEL’S MESSIAH Saturday December 8, 2018 at 7:30pm BELL CENTRE, SURREY

BEHIND THE KEYS Friday February 15, 2019 at 7:30pm ORPHEUM ANNEX

ANDREW DOWNING’S NOSFERATU Saturday March 23, 2019 at 7:30pm ORPHEUM THEATRE

BRIAN CURRENT’S RIVER OF LIGHT Friday May 3, 2019 at 7:30pm QUEEN ELIZABETH THEATRE

SUMMERSING! Saturday May 11, 2019 at 2pm | 1pm Silent Auction CHAN CENTRE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS

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2018 / 2019 SEASON | vancouverbachchoir.com

PHOTO BY DAVID COOPER

2018/2019 SEASON

Welcome to the 88th season of the Vancouver Bach Choir and our 34th year of Children’s Choirs.

This season we explore the power of music to transcend. Our inspiration stems from our final concert of the season, Brian Current’s River of Light, that explores the journey towards light and transcendence present in many faiths and cultures. As an audience member or performer, music has the power to move you, for a moment or a lifetime. Whether it is the simplicity of shared joy during a concert or rehearsal, or a profound and truly transcendent moment, music’s transformative power is truly limitless.

We begin our season with Duruflé’s Requiem and Bernstein’s Chichester Psalms at the beautiful St. Andrew’s-Wesley United Church, two works celebrating faith and transformation in their own unique voice. Our holiday concerts return with our family of choirs heralding the season in Christmas with the Bach Choir at the Orpheum Theatre, and we bring our production of Handel’s Messiah to Surrey’s Bell Centre for the first time.

Spring is ushered in by our children’s choirs celebrating joy in music for their two spring concerts. Our return to the Orpheum honours the antithesis of light, with the dark and cinematic silent film Nosferatu, with a new score by Andrew Downing played and sung live.

The Adult Choir’s season ends with a world premiere more than 5 years in the making; River of Light by award winning Brian Current presented with Vancouver Opera. This large-scale oratorio celebrates the rich cultural tapestry of Canada as it explores the journey towards an exalted state from the point of view of several world traditions. Our Children’s Choirs cap the year with a dive into the rich world of opera for their annual May showcase at the Chan Centre.

We hope that you will join us for a year filled with new musical exploration and treasured favourites. Let us take you on a journey away from the bustling life of the city and towards the exaltation only a great piece of music can offer.

Leslie Dala and Marisa Gaetanne Music Directors of the Vancouver Bach Family of Choirs vancouverbachchoir.com | 2018 / 2019 SEASON

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DURUFLÉ REQUIEM AND BERNSTEIN CHICHESTER PSALMS Saturday October 13 at 7:30pm | RESERVED SEATING ST. ANDREW’S-WESLEY UNITED CHURCH Join us for a pre-concert talk at 6:45 “Make a joyful noise unto the Lord all ye lands.”

Contemporaries in time, but worlds apart we begin our 88th season with a celebration of two 20th century choral masterworks. In Maurice Duruflé’s Requiem from 1947, each movement is inspired by Gregorian Chant and transforms it with contemporary harmonies and a search for peace and consolation in a time of personal and historical unrest.

Premiered less than twenty years later, Chichester Psalms delivers a powerful message of peace and unity, drawing on the Hebrew texts of Bernstein’s childhood in a work of musical eclecticism and energy that could only be written by him. On the centenary of his birth, Bernstein’s work sounds as fresh and genre bending as it did more than fifty years ago.

Emma Parkinson | Mezzo-soprano Tyler Simpson | Bass-baritone Edward Norman | Organ Janelle Nadeau | Harp Daniel Tones | Percussion With Boy Soprano selected from the Vancouver Bach Children’s Choirs

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2018 / 2019 SEASON | vancouverbachchoir.com

vancouverbachchoir.com | 2018 / 2019 SEASON

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CHRISTMAS WITH THE BACH CHOIR Sunday December 2 at 2pm | ORPHEUM THEATRE “Voices harmonious with celebratory spirit.”

Our annual holiday tradition returns as we celebrate the season in song. Join us for this family friendly crowd favourite as we gather all 8 of our choirs on stage at the Orpheum Theatre.

You’ll even have your own chance to sing along, with 400 voices, organ and brass quintet in well-known traditional carols.

This year features the winner of our inaugural Composition Contest whose new seasonal work will be premiered by the VBC Adult Choir. Our children’s choirs add their voices in joyful song, celebrating treasured settings of the famous “Ave Maria” for choir. An afternoon of heartwarming holiday favourites and lesser known treasures will transport you into the celebratory mood of the season.

Leslie Dala, Marisa Gaetanne | Music Directors Edward Norman | Organ A Touch of Brass Ensemble

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2018 / 2019 SEASON | vancouverbachchoir.com

vancouverbachchoir.com | 2018 / 2019 SEASON

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HANDEL’S

MESSIAH Saturday December 8 at 7:30pm | BELL CENTRE, SURREY Join us for a pre-concert talk at 6:45pm “Ev’ry valley shall be exalted.”

For many, the holiday season isn’t complete without a performance of Handel’s Messiah. This year, we bring our beloved production of this time honoured classic to the Bell Centre in Surrey. Joined by the newly founded Surrey City Orchestra, we celebrate a holiday favourite, in a production that celebrates the depth of local talent we enjoy in the Metro Vancouver area.

With the famous “Hallelujah” chorus at its pinnacle, Handel’s Messiah is a work that delights new and experienced listeners alike, and won’t fail to ignite the holiday spirit.

Elaina Moreau | Soprano Shane Hanson | Counter-Tenor Martin Renner Wallace | Tenor Tyler Simpson | Bass-Baritone With the Surrey City Orchestra

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2018 / 2019 SEASON | vancouverbachchoir.com

vancouverbachchoir.com | 2018 / 2019 SEASON

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BEHIND THE KEYS FUNDRAISER

Friday February 15 at 7:30pm | ORPHEUM ANNEX Our annual fundraising evening takes a romantic turn this year as we celebrate love in its many forms. Join Maestro Leslie Dala and special guests in a hand-picked program of the Maestro’s favourites for voice and solo piano.

A perfect night out to enjoy with friends and family or that special someone!

We’ll transform the Annex into an intimate cabaret space complete with wine, desserts, and other tasty treats. A favourite with audiences last season, this evening will be a delight for all your senses.

Plus, get a chance to meet the Maestro and guest artists in person after the show!

Featuring | VBC Music Director Leslie Dala and guests

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2018 / 2019 SEASON | vancouverbachchoir.com

vancouverbachchoir.com | 2018 / 2019 SEASON

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ANDREW DOWNING’S

NOSFERATU WORLD PREMIERE

Saturday March 23 at 7:30pm | ORPHEUM THEATRE Join us for a pre-concert talk at 6:45pm New score by Andrew Downing to accompany the 1922 silent film, Nosferatu.

With some of the most iconic imagery in film, we bring Nosferatu to the Orpheum stage with a newly imagined score by Andrew Downing. After bringing to life Phantom of the Opera in our 15/16 and 12/13 season, Mr. Downing returns with a new vision for this classic from film history that was nearly destroyed.

Created in 1922, Nosferatu tells the story of Bram Stoker’s Dracula, here known as Count Orlof. Our talented musicians will perform a new soundtrack as the silent film is projected live on stage at the Orpheum Theatre.

One cannot have light without darkness, and Nosferatu’s life is shadowed in perpetual night, while all must search for the light internally and externally to overcome his presence.

Cameron Wilson | Violin François Houle | Clarinet Ingrid Chiang | Bassoon Brad Turner | Trumpet Jeremy Berkman | Trombone Andrew Downing | Bass Chris Gestrin | Keyboards

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2018 / 2019 SEASON | vancouverbachchoir.com

vancouverbachchoir.com | 2018 / 2019 SEASON

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BRIAN CURRENT’S

RIVER OF LIGHT WORLD PREMIERE

Friday May 3 at 7:30pm | QUEEN ELIZABETH THEATRE “And I saw a light in the form of a river, radiant as gold.”

The River of Light is a new large-scale oratorio for Canada that explores the journey towards an exalted state from the point of view of several world traditions. Each movement was created by composer Brian Current in collaboration with living writers from each community, who adapted ancient texts or myths from their respective traditions.

The result is an oratorio that brings people together in a way that only music can. It shows that no matter where we come from, or to whom we pray to, a fascination with transcendence into light permeates nearly all of our religious beliefs and unites us. Brian Current has created a truly Canadian work in its cultural diversity and message of acceptance, a piece for our time.

Presented in co-production with Vancouver Opera 2018-2019 Festival

Featuring | Vancouver Opera Orchestra Leslie Dala | Conductor Brian Current | Composer Join our mailing list and be the first to hear when tickets go on sale to this exciting premiere.

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2018 / 2019 SEASON | vancouverbachchoir.com

vancouverbachchoir.com | 2018 / 2019 SEASON

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CONCERTS IN THE COMMUNITY Each year we send our choirs out into the community to partner with local organizations and share their music with as many people as possible. Look for us at one of the events below!

October 27 | CHAN CENTRE Our Sarabande Chamber choir joins with Pers Pacific Enterprise for an evening with famed Persian singer Alireza Ghorbani.

November 17, 7:30pm | CHRIST CHURCH CATHEDRAL November 18, 2pm | CENTENNIAL THEATRE With West Coast Symphony After a successful partnership presenting Mahler’s 8th Symphony last season, we re-unite with the West Coast Symphony to present Vaughan Williams “Sea Symphony.”

SUMMERSING! Saturday May 11 at 2pm Doors at 1pm CHAN CENTRE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS Our season finale returns to the Chan with all eight choirs joining in song. This year we celebrate the operatic tradition in an Operamania themed program. From our tiny Piccolos (age 5) to the award winning adult choir, the Chan Centre stage will fill with voices united in melodies both familiar and new.

Remember to come early and take part in our popular silent auction!

Marisa Gaetanne, Leslie Dala | Music Directors

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2018 / 2019 SEASON | vancouverbachchoir.com

November and December | CAROLING THROUGHOUT THE CITY Visit our website for more info on our many different appearances during the holiday season.

March 12 and 14 Spring Concerts with the Vancouver Bach Children’s Choirs and Youth Choir and Sarabande June 9 | BEETHOVEN 9 WITH LANGLEY COMMUNITY MUSIC SCHOOL Join us as we help the Langley Community Music School celebrate their 50th Anniversary alongside the Surrey Youth Orchestra and alumni soloists.

June 16 | CAR FREE DAY ON MAIN STREET Wander the streets and catch some songs from our Youth Choirs as we celebrate our neighborhood.

We’re always adding new events to our season, so be sure to check our website and social media for the latest info. vancouverbachchoir.com | 2018 / 2019 SEASON

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TICKET INFORMATION BUNDLE AND SAVE! Available now until single ticket on-sale date September 1, 2018 Buy multiple concerts and get the best price of the year on tickets.

Purchase two or more concerts and save 15%.

Purchase three or more concerts and save 20%.

Receive priority booking of reserved seats and advance purchase options on shows like River of Light with Vancouver Opera.

SINGLE TICKETS On-sale September 1, 2018.

YOUTH Youth 18 and under pay only $18.00 for any show, at any time of the year. Valid ID required.

UNDER 35 Get the best seats in the house for just $18 if you’re aged 18-35.

Seats go on sale 2 weeks before concert dates. Join our mailing list and we’ll let you know when we release our Under 35 seats.

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SUPPORT THE VANCOUVER BACH CHOIR In addition to purchasing tickets, there are many ways to support the activities of the Vancouver Bach Choir. No gift is too small and we would not be able to maintain our standard of excellence without your ongoing support. As a registered charity, donations make up a large portion of our annual operating expenses and are tax deductible.

JOIN OUR MAILING LIST! Stay up to date with info about upcoming concerts and special activities.

DONATE There are many ways to give to the VBC Family and each gift helps us bring the best possible music programming and education to Vancouver.

SENIORS Seniors receive 10% off all single tickets at any time.

Or purchase a bundle of tickets now and save even more!

GIVE THE GIFT OF MUSIC

SECURE YOUR SEATS TODAY!

Visit vancouverbachchoir.com for more information!

Online at vancouverbachchoir.com In Person at the Chan Centre Box Office Chan Centre Ticket Office 6265 Crescent Road, UBC Tue-Sat 12-5pm

By Phone 604 822 2697 (subject to a $2.50 per order phone fee)

The Vancouver Bach Choir gratefully acknowledges the continued support of the Canada Council for the Arts, the Province of British Columbia through the British Columbia Arts Council, Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General Gaming Policy and Enforcement Branch, Government of British Columbia and the City of Vancouver; The Loyal Protestant Association, Christopher Foundation, The Martha Lou Henley Charitable Foundation and the McLean Foundation.

2018 / 2019 SEASON | vancouverbachchoir.com

Need the perfect gift for the music lover in your family? Get them a gift certificate for tickets of their choice for our 18/19 season.

vancouverbachchoir.com | 2018 / 2019 SEASON

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304 – 3102 Main Street Vancouver BC V5T 3G7 T: 604 872 8789 info@vancouverbachchoir.com vancouverbachchoir.com

ILLUSTRATIONS BY LYDIA AVSEC

2018/2019 SEASON