2018/19
YOUR COMPREHENSIVE GUIDE TO THE 2018/19 ARTS SEASON •
ART • CONCERTS • DANCE • EVENTS • MUSIC • OPERA • PERFORMANCE • THEATRE MAESTRO CHRISTIAN KLUXEN is entering his second season as Music Director of the Victoria Symphony. ®
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2 | S EPTEMBER 13, 2018
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Elegant, sensual, stylishly wild Bach’s Cello Suites are a cornerstone of the cello repertoire. They have become the most recognizable works for solo cello today.
Early Music Vancouver he Pacific Baroque Series (PBS) continues its inaugural season with J.S. Bach’s beloved ‘Complete Cello Suites’ performed by baroque cellist, Beiliang Zhu at Christ Church Cathedral. She will perform Suites 1, 3 and 5 on Sept. 20 at 7:30 p.m. and Suites 2, 4 and 6 on Sept. 21 at 7:30 p.m. Zhu made history in 2012 when she became the first string player to win first prize performing on a period instrument at the prestigious International Johann Sebastian Bach Competition in Leipzig, Germany. In 2016, Zhu performed the suites to a rapt, sold-out audience at the 2016 Vancouver Bach Festival. Her playing has been described by the New Yorker as “elegant and sensual, stylishly wild”.
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Written between 1717 and 1723, Bach’s Cello Suites are a cornerstone of the cello repertoire. They have become the most recognizable works for solo cello today. They consist of six virtuosic suites that push the capabilities of the instrument while imbuing soulful expression from the performer. TICKETS:
$40 general admission: $25 student, two-night pass: $70 adult, $45 student. Online: pacbaroque.com Phone: 250-386-5311; in person: at the Victoria Conservatory of Music & Alix Goolden Performance Hall Box Office, 900 Johnson St. Also at the Cathedral Office: 930 Burdett Ave., Ivy’s Bookshop: 2188 Oak Bay Ave., Munro’s Books: 1108 Government St. earlymusic.bc.ca
EARLY MUSIC VANCOUVER BACH FESTIVAL 2016. BEILIANG ZHU PERFORMS BACH CELLO SUITES. PHOTOGRAPH BY JAN GATES.
ARTS GUIDE
Autumn 2018 Victoria Times Colonist 10th Annual Arts Guide The 2018 Arts Guide is published by the Times Colonist, a division of TC Publication Limited Partnership 2621 Douglas Street, Victoria, B.C. Canada V8T 4M2 Phone: 250-382-2255
timescolonist.com
Contact: Margaret Long, Advertising Phone: 250-380-5246 Email: mlong@timescolonist.com Editor: Jenus Friesen jfriesen@timescolonist.com
V ICTORIA A RTS G UIDE | T IMES C OLONIST | 3
ADVERTISING FEATURE
Fantastic line-up at the UVic’s Farquhar Auditorium The Farquhar at UVic celebrates 40 years with a new look and exciting shows he Farquhar at UVic celebrates its 40th anniversary with a fantastic line-up of music, theatre, comedy and more. To celebrate this landmark year, they are launching a fresh new logo and look, reflected in signage, posters, brochures, advertising and more. The venue opened its doors in 1978 and quickly became known for excellent sight lines, spacious and comfortable seating and pure acoustics. The Farquhar remains the second largest soft seat venue on Vancouver Island and is home to a host of community events and activities throughout the year.
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GRAMMY AWARD WINNER MIKE FARRIS
The Farquhar season kicks off with a copresentation with the Victoria Jazz Society. Grammy Award winner Mike Farris hits the stage on Sept. 22. This musical Renaissance man toured as lead singer for the southern rock band, Screaming Cheetah Wheelies, and for the incomparable blues band, Double Trouble. Opening this evening will be Victoria’s singer-songwriter, Steph Macpherson. A hilarious, festive evening awaits on Dec. 8,
compliments of acclaimed local comedian Mike Delamont. God, dressed in a floral power-suit, comes down to skewer everything from fruitcake to Boxing Day in this all-new holiday special. There’s even a sing-along to start the fun! Jan. 27, International Guitar Night returns for the eighth consecutive year. This year’s guest host is fanfavourite Luca Stricagnoli from Italy, joined by French Swing sensation Antoine Boyer, Flamenco master Samuelito, and Turkish fretless guitarist, Cenk Erdogan. The legendary CENK ERDOGAN Canadian entertainer and multiple Juno Award winner, Fred Penner brings his trademark message of joy and inspiration to children of all ages on Feb. 10. And May the 4th be with you when Victoria’s own Charles Ross single-handedly plays all the characters, sings the music, flies the ships and fights the battles, condensing: ‘Star Wars: A New Hope’, ‘The Empire Strikes Back’ and ‘Return of the Jedi’ SAMUELITO into one hilarious production. If you seek creativity, culture and community, you’ll find it at the Farquhar at UVic. Tickets at the UVic Ticket Centre at: 250-721-8480, or visit tickets.uvic.ca.
CHARLES ROSS
CONDENSES
SEASON 18/19
SATURDAY
SEP 22
8:00 PM
SATURDAY
DEC 8
7:30 PM
SUNDAY
JAN 27
7:30 PM
SUNDAY
FEB 10
2:30 PM
SATURDAY
MAY 4
7:30 PM
FRED PENNER
STAR WARS
MIKE FARRIS & THE FORTUNATE FEW
With Victoria singer song-writer Steph Macpherson
Grammy Award winner “Best Roots Gospel Album”, Farris is a soul man with enough heart, soul and power to light up a city! mikefarrismusic.com
GOD IS A SCOTTISH DRAG QUEEN CHRISTMAS SPECIAL
Mike Delamont
God, dressed in a floral power suit, comes down to skewer everything from fruitcake to Boxing Day in an all new holiday special. mikedelamont.com
INTERNATIONAL GUITAR NIGHT
Hosted by Luca Stricagnoli
The world’s premiere finger-style guitarists - French swing sensation Antoine Boyer, flamenco master Samuelito and Turkish fretless guitarist Cenk Erdogan. internationalguitarnight.squarespace.com
FRED PENNER
Legendary Canadian Children’s Performer 4-time Juno Award winner, Fred Penner celebrates 45 years of sharing his trademark message of joy and inspiration to children of all ages. fredpenner.com
ONE MAN STAR WARS TRILOGY
Presented by Charles Ross
A one-man tour-de-force! The force is indeed strong with this one. Ross condenses all three beloved films into one hilarious production. onemanstarwars.com
uvic.ca/farquhar | 250-721-8480 |
UVicFarq |
@UVicFarquhar | TICKETS: tickets.uvic.ca
4 | S EPTEMBER 13, 2018
ADVERTISING FEATURE
Leading edge. Inspiring.
Spectacular!
ARTISTS
OF BALLET WEST IN NICOLO FONTE'S FOX ON A DOORSTEP. PHOTO BY BEAU PEARSON
ance Victoria brings the World’s Best Dance to Victoria with a leading edge, inspiring and spectacular 18/19 Season. Season subscriptions and single tickets are on sale now. With Dance Victoria’s Dance at the Royal Series, you will experience the sexy athleticism of Les Ballets Jazz de Montréal’s Dance Me, a multi faceted dance homage to poet/musician Leonard Cohen reflecting on five stages in the late singer-songwriter’s
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life; the elegance and versatility of Ballet West in a classic and contemporary program by celebrated American choreographers Val Caniparoli, George Balanchine and Nicolo Fonte; the bold innovation of internationally acclaimed Ballet BC in a mixed program by leading dance makers; and the cutting-edge ingenuity of Hubbard Street Dance Chicago featuring works by Alejandro Cerrudo and Victoria’s own Crystal Pite.
Plus there’s a choice of additional presentations: Royal Winnipeg Ballet’s Nutcracker, accompanied by the Victoria Symphony, is a uniquely Canadian perspective on the classic story, while MAN is a tender movement dialogue between Norwegian choreographer Sølvi Edvardsen and the remarkable dancer Sudesh Adhana. Adult single tickets for all Dance Victoria shows are on sale now. There are several value ticket options
including: Pay Your Age (12-29 yrs.), Night Moves (30-45 yrs.) and 50 seats for every performance at the unbelievable price of only $29 (MAN and Nutcracker excluded). Now in its 10th year, Dance Days will move you with over 70 free dance classes all over town from Jan. 18 to 26, 2019. Try a new dance style or participate in Rough Cuts at the Metro Studio Theatre: a unique opportunity to see the West Coast’s most innovative
dance artists up close and personal. Dance Victoria is the home of the Chrystal Dance Prize, Canada’s richest dance prize for international collaboration supporting both independent and emerging dance artists from western Canadian working and/or training at international dance institutions. Approximately $49,000 is awarded to winning proposals. Best Seats. Best Prices. The World’s Best Dance. Box Office: 250-386-6121. DanceVictoria.com
2018/19 Season Now On Sale
ADDITIONAL PRESENTATIONS
Les Ballets Jazz de Montréal in Dance Me. Photo © Thierry du Bois - Cosmos Image. Ballet West’s Beckanne Sisk & Christopher Ruud in Swan Lake. Photo © Luke Isley. Ballet BC’s Conner Gnam, Peter Smida, Darren Devaney, and Christoph von Riedemann in Petite Cérémonie. Photo © Michael Slobodian.
LES BALLETS JAZZ DE MONTRÉAL
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NOVEMBER 16 + 17, 2018 • 7:30 pm Dance Me is a vibrant homage to poet/musician Leonard Cohen
NOV 30 + DEC 1 + 2, 2018 • 7:30 pm DECEMBER 1 + 2, 2018 • 2:00 pm Nutcracker
“…the most ambitious project in BJM’s 45-year history.” – CBC ARTS
BALLET WEST
FEBRUARY 1 + 2, 2019 • 7:30 pm
ROYAL WINNIPEG BALLET + VICTORIA SYMPHONY
EARLY BIRD NUTCRACKER PRICING THROUGH SEPTEMBER 15. SAVE UP TO 20%!
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Mixed program by celebrated choreographers Africa Guzmán and Nicolo Fonte plus the two famous duets from Swan Lake.
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JANUARY 25, 2019 • 7:30 pm MCPHERSON PLAYHOUSE MAN • Sølvi Edvardsen Direct from Norway! A cross-cultural dialogue between Norwegian choreographer Sølvi Edvardsen and dancer Sudesh Adhana
“…undoubtedly the future for professional ballet, both classical and contemporary.” – THE O’COLLY NEWS
BALLET BC
MARCH 15 + 16, 2019 • 7:30 pm Bold, world-class dance featuring works by leading dance makers “…from sombre abstraction to playful delights.”– GEORGIA STRAIGHT
HUBBARD STREET DANCE CHICAGO
APRIL 12 + 13, 2019 • 7:30 pm
Cutting-edge works by Alejandro Cerrudo and Crystal Pite that will leave you breathless “Take a deep breath, because Hubbard Street Chicago is going to take your breath away.” – WASHINGTON POST
SEASON SPONSOR
MEDIA SPONSOR
TICKETS 250-386-6121 DANCEVICTORIA.COM Save with Pay Your Age (12–29 yrs) or Night Moves (30–45 yrs)!
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ss Flexe inPaany Us ation combin E! V and SA
All performances at the Royal Theatre (except MAN)
PUBLIC SECTOR
Hubbard Street Dance Chicago: Jesse Bechard (above) and Jason Hortin. Concept by Alejandro Cerrudo. Photo © Quinn B Wharton. Filbert in Nutcracker. Photo © Paul Martens. Sudesh Adhana in MAN. Photo © Trine – Kim Designstudio
DANCE AT THE ROYAL SERIES
6 | S EPTEMBER 13, 2018
ADVERTISING FEATURE
Great plays from the past — THE CLASSICS or 10 years, Blue Bridge Repertory Theatre has been offering Victoria audiences multi-award winning, professional productions of the great plays from the past — the ‘classics’. In 2018/19, Blue Bridge invites audiences to ‘travel the world’ with them as they present stories from Canada, Ireland, Norway, the US and Russia. Up first, from Oct. 23 to Nov. 4 is ‘Billy Bishop Goes to War’ by John MacLachlan Gray and Eric Peterson of ‘Corner Gas’ fame. The story of irreverent hero and Canadian WWI flying ace Billy Bishop remains one of the most critically acclaimed Canadian musicals of all time. From Apr. 23 to May 5, 2019 is the Irish/French absurdist classic ‘Happy Days’ by Samuel Beckett. Blue Bridge fans who remember its’ brilliant production of ‘Waiting For Godot’, will wait in eager anticipation as the theatre prepares to present a work steeped in Beckett’s trenchant, existential wit. May 28 to Jun. 9, 2019 Blue Bridge will produce its first work by the great 19th century
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Norwegian playwright, Henrik Ibsen — commonly referred to as ‘the architect of modern drama’. ‘The Master Builder’ tells the story of a hugely successful architect and a high-spirited young woman as she spurs him to live up to an earlier promise to construct “ castles in the sky”. The late, great American comedy maestro Neil Simon is next celebrated with a revival of his first commercial hit (and the work that helped launch the career of Robert Redford), ‘Barefoot in the Park’, running from Jul. 2 to 14, 2019. Closing the season, from Jul. 30 to Aug. 11, 2019 will be the classic musical, ‘Fiddler on the Roof’, based on the works of the great 19th century Russian Yiddish short story writer, Sholem Aleichem. Tickets for all events are available as either season or single tickets packages designed to provide early bird buyers savings of up to 15 per cent off season tickets, and 10 per cent off single tickets. Available at bluebridgetheatre.ca or by calling: 250-382-3370.
Blue Bridge invites audiences to ‘travel the world’ with them as they present stories from Canada, Ireland, Norway, the US and Russia.
BLUE BRIDGE THEATRE: PHOTO FROM THIS YEAR’S PRODUCTION OF ALL MY SONS, WITH BRIAN LINDS AND JAN WOOD. PHOTO BY JAM HAMIDI
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THE HIT CANADIAN MUSICAL! Roxy Theatre 2657 Quadra Street Tickets 250.382.3370 bluebridgetheatre.ca
blue bridge repertory theatre
FROM THIS YEAR’S PRODUCTION OF ALL MY SONS. JAN WOOD, J.LINDSAY ROBINSON, BRIAN LINDS - PHOTO BY JAM HAMIDI.
ADVERTISING FEATURE
CORTEO a joyous procession orteo, the latest and most enchanting Cirque du Soleil’s arena production visits Victoria at the Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre from Oct. 4 to 7 for a limited run of seven performances. They will also perform in Vancouver, Kamloops and Kelowna. This unique production, directed by Daniele Finzi Pasca, first premiered in Montreal under the Big Top in April 2005. Since then, the show has been a great success and has amazed eight million people in 19 countries on four continents. Corteo, which means ‘cortege’ in Italian, is a joyous procession, a festive parade imagined by a clown. The show brings together the passion of the actor with the grace and power of the acrobat to plunge the audience into a theatrical world of fun, comedy and spontaneity situated in a mysterious space between heaven and earth. The clown pictures his own funeral taking
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A THEATRICAL ATMOSPHERE LIKE NEVER SEEN BEFORE IN CIRQUE DU SOLEIL ARENA SHOWS.
place in a carnival atmosphere, watched over by quietly caring angels. Juxtaposing the large with the small, the ridiculous with the tragic, and the magic of perfection with the charm of imperfection, the show highlights the strength and fragility of the clown, as well as his wisdom and kindness, to illustrate the portion of humanity that is within each of us. The music turns lyrical and playful carrying Corteo through a timeless celebration in which illusion teases reality. The concept and disposition of the stage bring the audience into a theatrical atmosphere like never seen before in Cirque du Soleil arena shows. The set curtains, inspired by the Eiffel Tower, and the central curtains, which were hand-painted, give a grandiose feel to the stage. This sets the tone for the poetry of Corteo. cirquedusoleil.com/corteo
8 | S EPTEMBER 13, 2018
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Exquisite early music performances
Art of the Cocktail — it’s back! rt of the Cocktail, Vancouver Island’s premier and biggest cocktail festival for the past decade, returns on Oct. 13 to celebrate local and artisanal distilleries. “We’ve been inviting distilleries and talented bartenders for a decade now. It’s always a pleasure to see how the bartending community is growing and to help our audience discover and rediscover new and exciting spirits,� says Kathy Kay, director of the Victoria Film Festival, the charitable arts organization for which Art of the Cocktail serves as a fundraiser. Kicking off at the Crystal Gardens on Saturday, Oct. 13, the Grand Tasting is priced at $65+tax. A limited amount of VIP tickets ($90+tax) are available for patrons wanting to enjoy an additional hour of exclusive access to exhibitors. Local distilleries, restaurants and brands are out to impress the patrons with their best sips and savouries. “We love how creative bartenders get and we celebrate it by our Most Popular Cocktail Contest. Last year’s winner, Central City Brewers + Distillers, has already crafted for this year, a Queensborough Gin Edible Passion fruit toothpaste and a Nutella Old Fashioned. That should be interesting!� adds Kay. For those who like to dress up, Art of the Cocktail just announced this year’s theme — “Old Hollywood.� The best-dressed winner will
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Music before 1800 performed by the leading Early Music Ensembles or the past 33 seasons, the Early Music Society of the Islands (EMSI), a non-profit society based in Victoria B.C., has been bringing to local audiences, the very best in historically-informed performances of music composed before 1800, performed exclusively on period instruments. Since 1985, the crème de la crème of the international Early Music scene has appeared on local stages: Anonymous 4, Nancy Argenta,
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Baltimore Consort, the Harp Consort, Monica Huggett, Ton Koopman, London Baroque, Orlando Consort, Jordi Savall, Tafelmusik, Sequentia, Red Priest, Fretwork, Daniel Taylor, Concerto KĂśln, Ensemble Clement Janequin, Dame Emma Kirkby, Stile Antico, London Handel Players, Boston Early Music Festival, Collegium Vocale Gent, Tallis Scholars, and a host of others. We invite you to join us this season for exceptional performances of exquisite music. Concert listings and tickets available at: earlymusicsocietyoftheislands.ca
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receive four tickets to the Opening Gala of the 25th Victoria Film Festival. In addition to the Grand Tasting, Art of the Cocktail will host Cocktails Up Close — highenergy, in-demand workshops where participants learn how to improve their cocktail-making skills to impress their friends at their next gathering. This year, Art of the Cocktail will offer two seminars, the first led by patrons’ favourite duo, Kyle Guilfoyle and Nathan Caudle from The Nimble Bar Co. (in partnership with Vessel Liquor Store). These highly-skilled bartenders will show participants how to navigate the twists and turns of different bar tools through a curated cocktail tasting. The second seminar will be led by the sought-after mixologist, Gez McAlpine, an Australia-native known most for running the legendary Keefer Bar in Vancouver. By creating the ultimate tasting experience, the Victoria Film Festival has their patrons leaving happy — it’s no wonder this event sells out every year. Make sure you get your tickets ASAP and come with two pieces of ID and a safe ride home. See you Oct. 13! Tickets are available at artofthecocktail.ca or at the Victoria Film Festival Office, 1215 Blanshard St. Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Victoria Film Festival’s
SEASON Angels of the Ghent Altarpiece 29 September Sat 8 pm Alix Goolden Hall Psallentes (BELGIUM)
A Celebration of Baroque Dance 27 October Sat 8 pm Alix Goolden Hall
London Handel Players (UK) Mary Collins and Steve Players dancers (UK)
“My heart trembles� Cantatas by Handel 17 November Sat 8 pm Alix Goolden Hall
Schenkman and Friends (SEATTLE) Reginald Mobley countertenor (MIAMI) Byron Schenkman harpsichord and direction
A Festive Baroque Christmas 22 December Sat 8 pm St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Victoria Baroque Players Jeanne Lamon violin and direction (TORONTO) Rebecca Genge soprano (TORONTO) Kris Kwapis trumpet (SEATTLE)
J.S. Bach: The Circle of Creation 26 January Sat 8 pm Alix Goolden Hall
Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra (TORONTO) Elisa Citterio violin and direction
Tabulatura Ioannis De Lyublyn 1540
victoria’s only licensed movie house
24 February Sun 3 pm St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Corina Marti harpsichord (SWITZERLAND)
Quartets of Haydn, Beethoven, and Schubert 9 March Sat 8 pm Alix Goolden Hall Chiaroscuro String Quartet (EUROPE)
Victoria’s Requiem and Penitential Motets 23 March Sat 8 pm Co-production with Christ Church Cathedral Choir of Clare College Cambridge (UK) Graham Rodd director
Go Local, We have.
Great films with a side of BC wine, beer,, soda,, cheese & & cookies.
Gate to the East 6 April Sat 8 pm Alix Goolden Hall
Constantinople (MONTREAL) Marco Beasley tenor (ITALY) Kiya Tabassian setar and direction
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get Tickets at THEVIC.CA
808 DOUGLAS ST.
V ICTORIA A RTS G UIDE | T IMES C OLONIST | 9
ADVERTISING FEATURE
Expanded repertoire, bold initiatives highlight 21st season Canadian College of Performing Arts’ courtroom classic and two Tony Awardwinning musicals are among a diverse slate of plays set to highlight the Canadian College of Performing Arts’ 21st season, led by a new combined leadership team — Managing Artistic Director Caleb Marshall and Director of Education and Programming Heather Burns. Six plays that touch on the timelessness of being human will be showcased during the College’s 2018-19 season. The lineup at the College’s Performance Hall at 1701 Elgin Rd. includes Twelve Angry Jurors — a fresh take on Reginald Rose’s courtroom drama that opens Oct. 18; The Penelopiad — Margaret Atwood’s darkly comic update on the ancient Greek story of Trojan War hero, Odysseus from his wife Penelope’s viewpoint; Will Eno’s metaphorical small-town comedy-drama, Middletown, and Stage Door — Edna Ferber and George S. Kaufman’s classic backstage comedy. The season’s two Broadway musicals include Sweet Charity, scripted by Neil Simon, with music by Cy Coleman and lyrics by Dorothy Fields, and the big season finale at the McPherson Playhouse starting Apr. 19 — the Arthur Laurents-written and Leonard Bernstein-scored classic, West Side Story.
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CANADIAN COLLEGE OF PERFORMING ARTS. RELAXED PERFORMANCES
noises, confined spaces or disabilities of any kind. The more casual-than-usual approach includes low light in the audience during the performance, introduction to the actors and the story, and reduction of the intensity of potentially startling effects. One performance of each of the College’s
The College is proud to be the first organization on the Island to be incorporating Relaxed Performances into their program. A Relaxed Performance is open to anyone who may find the theatre environment challenging, be that a fear of the dark, loud
in-house productions has been set as a Relaxed Performance. The first Relaxed Performance of the season will be Twelve Angry Jurors on Oct. 21 at 2 p.m. at the Performance Hall. For tickets: boxoffice@ccpacanada.com or call: 250-595-9970. ccpacanada.com
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CONTACT US FOR TICKETS, COMPLETE SEASON INFORMATION, AND OTHER SPECIAL EVENTS
250 595 9970
CCPACANADA.COM
10 | S EPTEMBER 13, 2018
ADVERTISING FEATURE
The evolution continues: world-class music, soloists + conductors Victoria Symphony (VS) he evolution continues in the 2018/19 season with Maestro Christian Kluxen entering his second season as Music Director. This season will again feature the VS performing over 50 concerts in theatres and throughout Greater Victoria and the Island communities. The VS is thrilled to present three spectacular Masterworks series at the Royal Theatre in addition to the Classics series at the University of Victoria. VS Pops and Concerts for Kids as well as the New Music Festival and Holiday presentations will round out another remarkable season. The Masterworks Series features a triumphant and bright season opener in Mahler’s ‘Symphony No. 4’ with soprano Leslie Ann Bradley. Wagner’s ‘Lohengrin’ with the Victoria Choral Society, Beethoven’s ‘Eighth Symphony’ as well as an all-Russian program, VS-own Concertmaster Terence Tam playing Shostakovich are all highlights this year. The VS will continue the tradition of welcoming world-class soloists including Daniel Hass, Stewart Goodyear and Leonardo Colafelice. International conductors David Danzmayr returns and Giordano Bellincampi makes his debut. Audiences will be delighted by VS soloists Christi Meyers, Victoria Lindsay and Ryan Cole. The Classics series features acclaimed violinist, Tasmin Little who will weave together excerpts from Vivaldi’s ‘Four Seasons’, Panufinik’s ‘Four World Seasons’ and Piazzolla’s ‘Four Seasons of Buenos Aires’. International pianist, Lukas Geniusas will be performing the ˘ beautiful, intimate and powerful ‘Piano Concerto No. 2’ by Brahms and Tania Miller returns to conduct Bach featuring pianist Charlie Albright. New Principal Pops Conductor, Sean O’Loughlin joins the VS artistic team and is starting off the VS Pops season with ‘Broadway & Bernstein’. Through the season, he will delight audiences with music from ‘Star Wars’ and a tribute to Queen and the first ever presentation of ‘The Wizard of Oz’ accompanied by live orchestra. VS favourites, the Irish Tenors, return to Victoria for an evening of Celtic melodies and holiday tunes at Christmas time. Giuseppe Pietraroia will take the baton to conduct both this year’s ‘Messiah’ and ‘A Viennese New Years’. This year’s festive Holiday Pops will see new life as Sean O’Loughlin conducts festive family favourites. In the Explorations series, the VS features a concert inspired by the death of cyber-bullied teen, Amanda Todd, in ‘My Name is Amanda Todd’. Another titled ‘Bondarsphere’ pays tribute to the remarkable life of Canadian, Roberta Bondar. Finally, the New Music Festival features a concert celebrating works composed by former VS Composers in Residence as well as ‘Singing the Earth’ highlighting the beauty of Bella Coola. It’s an exciting time for the VS and a thrilling lineup of diverse concerts. See you at the Symphony! victoriasymphony.ca
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THE EVOLUTION CONTINUES WITH MAESTRO CHRISTIAN KLUXEN AND THE VICTORIA SYMPHONY. — KEVIN LIGHT PHOTO.
12 | S EPTEMBER 13, 2018
ADVERTISING FEATURE
Two Broadway musicals: RENT + Shrek
A SCENE FROM VICTORIA OPERATIC SOCIETY’S PRODUCTION OF LES MISÉRABLES IN MAY 2015.
One musical in the fall and one again in the spring VOS IS A NON-PROFIT, VOLUNTEER-DRIVEN ORGANIZATION ESTABLISHED IN 1945. THEY BRING TOP-QUALITY LIVE MUSICAL THEATRE TO VICTORIA AND OFFER ASPIRING YOUNG SINGERS AND PERFORMERS THE OPPORTUNITY TO DISPLAY THEIR TALENTS.
RENT
SHREK: The Musical
ive-hundred-twenty-five-thousand, six-hundred-minutes — how do you measure a year? Asks the cast of RENT in one of the show’s most memorable songs, “Seasons of Love.” Based loosely on Puccini’s “La Boheme,” Jonathan Larson’s ‘RENT’ follows a year in the life of a group of impoverished young artists and musicians struggling to survive and create in New York’s Lower East Side in the late 1980s. How these young bohemians negotiate their dreams, losses, loves and conflicts provides the narrative thread to this ground-breaking musical. With songs that rock and a story that resonates, ‘RENT’ is about falling in love, finding your voice and living for today. Winner of the Tony Award for Best Musical and the Pulitzer Prize for Drama, ‘RENT’ has become a pop cultural phenomenon. Exploring themes surrounding the fragility of life and the power of friendship, the show also deals with social problems including drug addiction, gentrification, and the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Still, ‘RENT’ is primarily a celebration of life. As Mark proclaims in another notable song, “La Vie Bohème,” “the opposite of war isn’t peace, it’s creation.” This is theatre at its best — exuberant, passionate and joyous. How do you measure a year? Measure in love.
“Once upon a time, there was a little ogre named Shrek ...” And thus begins the comedic tale of an unlikely hero who finds himself on a life-changing journey alongside a wisecracking donkey and a feisty princess who resists her rescue. On his seventh birthday, two ogre parents send their son Shrek out into the world to make his living. They warn him that because of his looks, humans will hate him, and the last thing he will see is an angry mob before he dies. Some years later, an embittered, grown-up Shrek is living contentedly alone in a swamp. However, his solitude is disrupted when a band of fairy-tale misfits show up on his property. Throw in a short-tempered bad guy and a cookie with an attitude and you’ve got the kind of mess that calls for a real hero. Luckily, there’s one on hand...and his name is Shrek. Based on the Oscar-winning DreamWorks Animation film, ‘Shrek: The Musical’ is a Tony Award-winning fairy tale adventure that brings all the beloved characters you know from the film to life on stage, and proves there’s more to the story than meets the ears. Irreverently fun for the whole family, ‘Shrek’ proves that beauty is truly in the eye of the ogre. vostheatre.ca
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V ICTORIA A RTS G UIDE | T IMES C OLONIST | 13
Langham Court Theatre turns 90 angham Court, Victoria’s longest running theatre established in 1929, celebrates its 90th birthday this upcoming season. This is a Canadian success story about what happens when passionate, talented people work together doing something they love. With nearly 400 volunteers and members, Langham is also Victoria largest volunteer-run community theatre that operate its own theatre facility in the community. The theatre produces six shows per season in addition to offering numerous events, workshops and collaborations with other arts organizations in Victoria. This season, Langham’s offerings include a mixture of different styles, genres and time periods, including a few old favourites along with some exciting new material. The season is bookended by classic comedic plays, beginning with Noel Coward’s ‘Blithe Spirit’ and concluding with Michael Frayn’s ‘Noises Off’. The remainder of the season is comprised of a wartime drama, David Wood’s ‘Goodnight Mister Tom’, an irreverent musical comedy, Rebecca Feldman’s ‘25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee’, a piece by a local playwright and member of the Langham community, Janet Munsil’s ‘That Elusive Spark’, and a thoughtful comedy about opera singers going through the aging process, Ronald Harwood’s ‘Quartet’. 2018 / 2019 Directors: Toshik Bukowiecki (Blithe Spirit), Shauna Baird (Goodnight Mister Tom), Pat Rundell (The 25th Annual Putnam Spelling Bee), Mercedes Bátiz-Benét (That Elusive Spark), Jon Scheer (Quartet) and Don Keith (Noises Off). langhamtheatre.ca
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Pho oto o: De D rek Ford o
LANGHAM COURT THEATRE’S PRODUCTION OF “URINETOWN”.
McPherson Playhouse McPherson Playhouse Oct 26 & 27 at 7:30 Oc 7:3 30 pm | Oct Oct 28 28 at 2:00 2:0 :00 0 pm Tickets: T ck Ti cket etss: balletvictoria.ca ballletv tvic icto tori ria. a ca • 2 250-386-6121 50-3 50 386 8 -6 -612 121 The Gift - Dec. 28, 29 & 30, 2018 Coming Soon Carmina Burana - March 5 & 6, 2019 Alice in Wonderland - May 17 & 18, 2019
Seasons Subscriptions Available now
P AU L D E S T RO O PE R - A RT I S T I C D I R E C TO R - BA L LE T VICTORIA
14 | S EPTEMBER 13, 2018
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Bringing Art to your community f you haven’t checked out the Art Gallery of Even the AGGV’s popular Family Sunday Greater Victoria (AGGV) in recent months, program is taking a turn at OFFSITE | INSIGHT you might be surprised by what you have programming this weekend, from Sept. 13 to16, missed. The AGGV has been bringing art into the with a special outdoor adventure at Victoria’s community through special programs and largest music festival, Rifflandia. The AGGV events. booth will be on hand all weekend for a special In July, for the 31st year, the TD Art building project inspired by nature, music Gallery Paint-In brought art from 190 and the outdoors. artists to Moss Street, with over More OFFSITE | INSIGHT pro30,000 people enjoying the art, grams will be held in coming ‘Forest Breath: A Portrait In Progress’ music, food and fun of the day. months; make sure to check out IS A 3D The new OFFSITE | INSIGHT aggv.ca/offsite-insight for STEREOSCOPIC VIDEO series has taken art to new and future happenings. INSTALLATION FILMED unusual places and spaces In keeping with the AGGV’s WITH AN IMAX RIG WITH TWO SONY F65 8K throughout the region. In June, commitment of taking art into CAMERAS IN THE SOUTH internationally renowned artist the community, a Pop-Up WALBRAN. Brendan Fernandes, performed his Gallery shop will be open at 833 piece ‘Moving Change’ at locations Fort St. throughout the fall. This across Victoria, which were kept secret temporary extension of the AGGV’s Art until the artist sent location details by text prior Rental and Sales Program and Gallery Shop to each performance. has been provided, thanks to the vision and genAugust brought the AGGV’s first-ever art event erosity of Parc Retirement Living. The next time to the community of Port Renfrew where 120 you’re in the Fabulous Fort district, pay the shop people attended a screening of ‘Forest Breath: a visit and browse a diverse range of local art, A Portrait In Progress’, a 3D stereoscopic catalogues, books, jewellery and holiday gifts. video installation filmed with an IMAX rig with Information about the AGGV’s Art Rental and two Sony F65 8k cameras in the south Walbran. Sales, Gallery Shop and Pop-Up Shop can all be The afternoon was an opportunity to experience found at: aggv.ca/art-rental-sales. an innovative work in development, to meet PHOTO COURTESY OF LEILA SUJIR FROM artist Leila Sujir, and to contribute insights THE FOREST BREATH: A PORTRAIT IN towards a broader understanding of the unique PROGRESS VIDEO SCREENING IN PORT RENFREW, forests in the region. AUG. 12, 2018.
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A R T, T E C H N O LO G Y & T H E FO R EST ON NOW UNTIL SEPTEMBER 30, 2018 aggv.ca | 1040 Moss Street
AUGUST BROUGHT THE AGGV’S FIRST-EVER ART EVENT TO THE COMMUNITY OF PORT RENFREW WHERE 120 PEOPLE ATTENDED A SCREENING OF ‘Forest Breath: A Portrait In Progress’ by ARTIST LEILA SUJIR.
V ICTORIA A RTS G UIDE | T IMES C OLONIST | 15
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Get involved + support local music
Ladies + Gents, meet Theatre Inconnu! hat is Theatre Inconnu? Quite literally the name means “Unknown Theatre,” and many have called the company “Victoria’s best kept secret”. It’s time to get this secret out in the open. Did you know that Theatre Inconnu has produced over 130 plays in Victoria since 1987, that Theatre Inconnu founded and produced the Summer Shakespeare Festival from 1991 to 2002, and that Theatre Inconnu has logged hundreds of touring performances in six countries? Most importantly, Theatre Inconnu has been, for over three decades, focused on introducing local audiences to nationally and internationally acclaimed works covering multiple genres. The company chooses plays that are ideally suited
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The Civic Orchestra of Victoria he Civic Orchestra of Victoria is pleased to announce its 35th season. This season includes an exciting concert with the International Accordion and Tango Festival, the 20th Annual Sing-Along Messiah, a great program of classical music under the insightful direction of guest conductor, Yariv Aloni, a concert featuring soloists from within the Orchestra’s own ranks, and a concert featuring acclaimed guitarist, Alexander Dunn. This is sure to be another stellar season filled with musical collaborations that you won’t want to miss. As a community ensemble in the truest sense, the Civic Orchestra’s volunteer members
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span a variety of musical backgrounds and collaborate to extend an appreciation of orchestral music in the Greater Victoria region. The orchestra endeavours to keep ticket prices accessible to all ages — students with valid ID can buy a ticket for only $10. There are discounts for seniors and tickets for children are free when accompanied by an adult with a ticket. Season ticket packages are available and provide excellent savings. Get involved and support local music. The Civic Orchestra of Victoria is always looking for community members to join or volunteer with the organization. If you’d like to be involved with the orchestra in any capacity, or purchase tickets, visit: civicorchestraofvictoria.org.
to its intimate production style. With seating for 60, audiences are guaranteed a rich theatrical experience and an opportunity to see some of Victoria’s best known and talented actors challenge themselves with roles that push their skill sets to the max. Theatre Inconnu offers an inviting atmosphere. New visitors quickly feel part of the “Inconnu family” as they return time and again to rediscover the richness of this artform. With admission costs comparable to movie ticket prices and regular pay-what-you-wish nights, Theatre Inconnu’s productions are accessible to all. Make this year, the year that Theatre Inconnu becomes less “inconnu” for you. Begin by checking out the company’s website: theatreinconnu.com.
‘MATING DANCE OF WEREWOLF’ BY MARK STEIN (2016) DIRECTED BY: WENDY MERK. LEFT TO RIGHT: WAYNE YERCHA, RENEE YAKEMCHUK, LEILANI FRASER. PHOTO BY CLAYTON JEVNE. THE
16 | S EPTEMBER 13, 2018
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Contemporary, seductive ...
AND REALLY GOOD!
SHELDON ELTER WITH CHORUS: LARA EBATA, GIANNA VACIRCA, SKYE DEMAS, ALIDA KENDELL, ZOE GLASSMAN, KENDRA SHORTER, REBECCA SADOWSKI IN THIS SEASON’S MULTIAWARD-WINNING PLAY, ‘BEARS’ BY MATTHEW MACKENZIE. PHOTO BY ALEXIS MCKEOWN.
The Belfry’s 2018 - 19 Season ere at the Belfry, our mandate is to produce contemporary theatre with an emphasis on Canadian plays. We program engaging, exciting and entertaining stories — plays that open a window onto a world with which we are unfamiliar, or that provide a new perspective on the world we know. Some plays have recently premiered elsewhere. Some are from the canon of great Canadian plays. Some are from the hottest international playwrights. And often — usually at least once a season — they are plays that the Belfry has commissioned, developed and workshopped; plays that have been written for this theatre for a Victoria audience and which
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debut here before going on to theatres across the country. This season, we’ll be producing ‘Bears’, Matthew MacKenzie’s multi-award-winning play about the environment, and Kat Sandler’s surreal comedy, ‘Mustard’. Both Kat and Matthew are emerging Canadian playwrights. ‘A Doll’s House, Part 2’ and ‘4000 Miles’ are new plays from Lucas Hnath and Amy Herzog, and they come with Tony and Pulitzer Award nominations. Hnath’s ‘A Doll’s House, Part 2’ examines gender parity and Herzog’s ‘4000 Miles’ is an intergenerational comedy. In December, we’ll premiere Nick Bantock’s ‘Griffin & Sabine’, based on his international best-selling trilogy. Nick lives in Victoria, and
we’re honoured to have the opportunity to premiere this new work. We’re finalizing our tenth annual SPARK Festival (March 2019) right now, but be ready as you won’t want to miss ‘Old Stock: A Refugee Love Story’ by Hannah Moscovitch, Ben Caplan and Christian Barry — a Canadian musical that the New York Times has named a Critic’s Pick and the New Yorker said “it is hard to imagine a more apt time for a production with so clear a moral center.” SPARK will also feature ‘Mama’s Boy’ (Mike Delamont), ‘Good Morning, Viet Mom’ (Franco Nguyen) and ‘The Ex-Boyfriend Yard Sale’ (Haley McGee). We rehearse and build our productions right
here in Fernwood. Tucked away in our restored heritage building is our rehearsal hall, a carpentry shop where our sets are built, and a wardrobe shop where our costumes are created. Come for the stories. Stay for the conversations. We have a slew of informative programs designed to enhance your play-going experience: podcasts, magazines, before-play talk shows, after-play discussions and more — all of which will throw the windows open even wider. Tickets and more information are available at belfry.bc.ca, or come by the theatre at 1291 Gladstone Ave. (at Fernwood Road) and get your copy of our season guide.
Get your tickets today! 250-385-6815 www.belfry.bc.ca/tickets
1291 Gladstone Avenue Victoria, BC, V8T 1G5
18 | S EPTEMBER 13, 2018
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Buddy Holly and his million dollar friends he Legends of Rock n’ Roll present the headline performers from two award-winning musical productions on one spectacular concert. Zachary Stevenson from “The Buddy Holly Story” returns to the stage as Buddy Holly. He is joined by the headline performers from the hit production “Million Dollar Quartet”, with Lance Lipinsky as Jerry Lee Lewis, Jonathan Lyons as Johnny Cash, and Ben Klein as Elvis. This is a musical pairing that could have happened, but never did—until now. Zachary Stevenson brings Buddy Holly to life like no other. He not only duplicates Holly’s sound, gestures and mannerisms, but actually resembles Holly in physical appearance down to that cocky, self-assured grin. Holly will be your host thru this fabulous rock’n’roll journey. Lance Lipinsky as Jerry Lee Lewis, plays the piano every which-way—seated, standing, on top and backwards, with his hands and with his feet. He romances that
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ZACHARY STEVENSON, THE #1 STAR OF BUDDY HOLLY AND HIS MILLION DOLLAR FRIENDS.
Victoria Philharmonic Choir
piano like a like a guy with a serious case of the blues, then thrashes it like a prizefighter with a grudge. It’s a wonder both Lipinsky and the piano don’t self-destruct into “Great Balls of Fire.” Jonathan Lyons as a young Johnny Cash has that same deep, deep voice as he massages the heck out of songs like “Fulsome Prison Blues”, “Ghost Riders” and “Sixteen Tons”. Ben Klein as young Elvis has the looks, the voice and the moves with his sincere and pin-point tribute to the King of Rock’n’Roll. Buddy Holly and his Million Dollar Friends is a fun-filled, toe tapping evening of good old rock & roll music played the way it is supposed to be played. As Sam Phillips—the so-called “Father of Rock and Roll”—said, “Rock and Roll ain’t a fad; it’s a revolution”. And you’ll join a houseful of ‘revolutionaries’ on their feet doin’ a whole lot of shakin’ and movin’ as the curtain falls at this extraordinary concert event. More information at LegendsofRocknroll.com
Medival to modern choral music
Peter Butterfield Music Director
2018–2019 Season Medieval to Modern
Saturday November 17, 2018 John Rutter Requiem Friday December 21, 2018 Family Christmas Carol Sing-Along Concert Saturday April 20, 2019 JS Bach St. Matthew Passion Saturday June 8, 2019 500 Years of English Church Music Tickets go on sale four weeks before each concert
vpchoir.ca
he Victoria Philharmonic Choir’s (VPC) 2018-19 season begins and ends in the English choral tradition — opening with a performance of contemporary music by composer, John Rutter.
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Requiem: Saturday, Nov. 17, 7:30 p.m. First Metropolitan United Church Inspired by Gabriel Fauré’s ‘Requiem’, composed a century earlier, Rutter’s setting
of the Latin mass for the dead, with additional psalms and biblical verses in English, is hailed for the purity of its vocal lines and sense of consolation. It has been a hit with choirs and audiences since its completion in 1985. The VPC’s ever-popular Family Christmas Carol Sing-along returns Dec. 21. On Easter Saturday, Apr. 20, 2019, Peter Butterfield conducts the 85-voice choir,
double orchestra and soloists in J.S. Bach’s monumental ‘St. Matthew Passion’. In June, the choir explores the richness of English Church music from 16th century polyphony to 20th century organ anthems with organist Donald Hunt at Christ Church Cathedral. Visit vpchoir.ca for ticket and concert details.
V ICTORIA A RTS G UIDE | T IMES C OLONIST | 19
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Chemainus Theatre ignites your imagination he legacy of The Chemainus Theatre Festival is one of great people and great stories. Nestled in the seaside town of Chemainus, the theatre has offered regionally and internationally acclaimed theatre since 1993. As one of Western Canada’s largest performing arts organizations, this charitable Society welcomes over 70,000 residents and visitors every year by championing exceptional theatre that explores and nourishes the human spirit. Audiences from all over come to immerse themselves in the story and song of the stage, and are also drawn to the energy and beauty of the Cowichan region. Patrons enjoy classic and contemporary productions in musical, tribute, dramatic, and comedic style. The Festival has attracted talented guest actors, directors, musicians and designers from across North America — a testament to the highly regarded theatrical productions and facilities. Guests marvel at the warmth and kindness of the Chemainus
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Theatre Festival Experience, which features quality performances as well as delectable dining and an on-site gallery featuring local B.C. artisans. In the Playbill Dining Room, enjoy an enticing and satisfying experience with a selection of culinary delights, and a new menu inspired by every production. The executive chef prepares a diverse and tasteful menu for you to enjoy, accompanied by live music while you dine. The Gallery Gift Shop affords the opportunity for patrons and art enthusiast to take home a memorable piece of the West Coast. Every year, your support and patronage emboldens The Chemainus Theatre to continue providing theatre in creative new ways that aim to ignite your imagination with each new season. It’s a pleasure to produce theatre in the heart of Vancouver Island. We invite you to join us in the colourful journey through story, and savour the season at the Chemainus Theatre Festival. chemainustheatrefestival.ca
We champion hope. We champion love. We champion the wide expanse of the human spirit.
SAVOUR THE SEASON AT THE CHEMAINUS THEATRE FESTIVAL.
GLORIOUS!
SEP 14 - OCT 6
LUXURIOUS THEATRE GETAWAYS
OUTSIDE MULLINGAR
Dinner, Theatre, Accomodation & Breakfast from $124 per person
LITTLE WOMEN
1.800.565.7738
OCT 19 - NOV 3
NOV 16 - DEC 30
chemainustheatre.ca
20 | S EPTEMBER 13, 2018
ADVERTISING FEATURE
CapriCCio Vocal Ensemble — celebrating 30th season ounded in 1989 by director Michael Gormley*, CapriCCio Vocal Ensemble is dedicated to performance of the finest choral music. While the choir’s initial focus was on music of the Renaissance and Baroque periods, its’ repertoire has expanded to include a variety of musical styles from the 15th century to the present. CapriCCio excels in the performance of a capella music, but also collaborates with orchestras including the Victoria Symphony, Portland Baroque Orchestra and Pacific Baroque Orchestra. Now in its 30th season, CapriCCio continues to captivate audiences with outstanding performances of choral music from Gabrieli to Esenvalds — folk songs to Bach’s Mass in B minor — all performed with CapriCCio’s signature style: virtuosic clarity with sensitive and spirited musicality.
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Four wonderful concerts have been programmed for the 2018-19 season. In Remembrance Nov. 11, 2018, 2 p.m. Join CapriCCio in a beautiful Remembrance Day concert that includes Eric Whitacre’s ethereal ‘Sleep’, add Randall Thompson’s ‘Frostiana’, as well as traditional observances.
UVIC
GUEST ARTISTS Stevan Paranosic trumpet and Jane Edler-Davis piano
November 11 | 2018 | 2pm
Christ Church Cathedral Quadra at Rockland
Eric Whitacre’s ethereal Sleep, Randall Thompson’s Frostiana, and traditional observances 2018-2019 CONCERTS
VETERANS FREE Tickets $25, $22, $10. 12 and under free with ticket holder. Munro’s Books, Long & McQuade, Ivy’s Bookshop, Christ Church Cathedral Office, at the door or online www.capriccio.ca INFO 250-896-9195
DECEMBER 22 s 2018 s 7:30 PM
’Twas NOT the night before
FACULTY CONCERT SERIES
Bach and Mendelssohn Jun. 1, 2019 7:30 p.m. Mendelssohn was greatly influenced by the glorious music of Bach. Experience both composers in this final concert of the season. Double choir motets with instrumentalists. All concerts at Christ Church Cathedral, Quadra at Rockland. Tickets are available online at capriccio.ca, from choir members, at the door and three weeks prior to each concert at Ivy’s Bookshop, Christ Church Cathedral office, Munro’s Books, and Long and McQuade. For season tickets and more info, visit: capriccio.ca.
ENSEMBLE SERIES
SEPT. 21 @ 8 PM
NOV 9 @ 8 PM
LAFAYETTE STRING QUARTET ALONI, VIOLA
WITH YARIV
Music by American composer Amy Beach, plus Mozart’s String Quintet No.4 in G Minor.
UVIC VOICE ENSEMBLE
IN REMEMBRANCE
Music and readings to commemorate the centenary of the end of World War I. Phillip T. Young Recital Hall | By donation
SEPT. 28 @ 8 PM
ALEXANDER DUNN, GUITAR A unique concert of guitar & string music with guests including the Chroma Quartet & members of the Lafayette String Quartet. OCT. 13 @ 8 PM
NOV 17 @ 8 PM
UVIC JAZZ ENSEMBLE
LIVE MUSIC FOR SILENT FILM
An original live soundtrack to the 1925 silent film Battleship Potemkin. Phillip T. Young Recital Hall | $10-$20
FACULTY CHAMBER MUSIC SERIES
Capriccio Classics:
A program highlighting UVic brass, woodwind & voice faculty.
Bach and Mendelssohn
All-time favourites of director Michael Gormley as well as some CapriCCio classics. CapriCCio fans — you won’t want to miss this one. Come for the great reveal…
2018/19
WIND AND SONG
JUNE 1 s 2019 s 7:30 PM
CapriCCio Classics: Michael’s Favourites Feb. 23, 2019 7:30 p.m.
Season Highlights
FEBRUARY 23 s 2019 s 7:30 PM
Michael’s Favourites
CapriCCio invites you to join us ‘around the hearth’ in a heart-warming Christmas special featuring Daniel Pinkham’s ‘Christmas Cantata’ and Jessye Norman’s ‘Christmastide’ (Jessye’s Carol). Music for choir and brass, a favourite tradition of Victoria audiences.
UVIC SCHOOL OF MUSIC
Michael Gormley MUSICAL DIRECTOR
In Remembrance
‘Twas NOT the night before’, Dec. 22, 2018, 7:30 p.m.
Phillip T. Young Recital Hall | $10-$25
DEC 1 @ 7 PM
UVIC CHOIRS More than 250 voices from UVic’s choirs join in harmony for this popular seasonal concert. Christ Church Cathedral | By donation
Tickets: 250-721-8480 | uvic.ca/music
V ICTORIA A RTS G UIDE | T IMES C OLONIST | 21
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Share the good vibrations
Making harmony — naturally
ozart’s sparkling ‘Cosi fan tutte’ Overture and Handel’s glorious ‘Messiah’ are just two of the popular musical works the Sooke Philharmonic Orchestra and Chorus will perform during its 2018-19 concert season. Yariv Aloni, well-known conductor and now Music Director of the Sooke Philharmonic, said, “Our season offers something for everyone— from a contemporary composition by Leonard Bernstein to traditional works by Mozart and Schubert. I invite classical music fans from throughout the Victoria region to join us for this exciting and diverse program”. The season opens Oct. 27 and 28 with Young Masters, featuring violist Danielle Tsao, winner of the Don Chrysler Concerto Composition. The program includes the ‘Cosi fan tutte Overture’ as well as works by Hindemith and Bizet’s ebullient ‘Symphony No.1’. Dec. 1, 2 and 16, the Sooke Orchestra and Chorus present Handel’s ‘Messiah’ in Colwood, Sooke and Sidney. “To meet expected
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by renowned fiddler Pierre Schryer and guitarist Adam Dobres for a captivating program combining classical and folk music traditions. Jazz personality Patrick Boyle honours the music of the legendary Chet Baker with Victoria veteran pianist Tom Vickery on Jan. 18. The concert season is further enriched by some special guest events. The Orion Series in Fine Arts offers concerts, lectures and masterclasses with renowned artists from across the globe, and the Emerging Artists Alumni Series welcomes up-and-coming alumni back to the Phillip T. Young Recital Hall stage. Whether you are a music aficionado or curious for new sounds, the School of Music has something to offer on just about any given day between September and April. Many events are free or by donation. For ticketed concerts, special pricing is available for students, alumni and seniors. For details and tickets visit: uvic.ca/music. For live online broadcasts, tune in at: livestream.com/somlive.
SOOKE PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA& CHORUS
Yariv Aloni Music Director
Tickets www.sookephil.ca 250-419-3569
2018 -19 SEASON
significant part of the student experience at the University of Victoria’s School of Music takes place on stage. When it comes to live music-making, the energy transmitted by a receptive audience is invaluable to the success of those performing. Share your good vibrations by attending a studio or student graduating recital, or one of the many ensemble concerts by the UVic Orchestra, Wind Symphony, Chorus, or Jazz Ensemble. Drop in for weekly Tuesdaymusic and Fridaymusic concerts at 12:30 p.m. to hear a wide range of repertoire performed by School of Music students. The popular Faculty Concert Series frequently showcases faculty collaborations within and outside of UVic. Season highlights include guitarist Alexander Dunn performing with the Chroma Quartet and members of the Lafayette String Quartet in a unique concert of guitar and string music on Sept. 28. On Jan. 13, trumpeter Merrie Klazek is joined
demand for this popular holiday music, we scheduled a rare third performance and one beyond the West Shore,” said Aloni. He added, “We want to give every area resident a convenient opportunity to experience the skill and artistry of our musicians and choristers. Feb. 10 brings the annual Tea & Symphony—a program of familiar music performed in the informal atmosphere of an afternoon “tea room”. Apr. 6 and 7 concerts feature Bernstein’s ‘Chichester Psalms’ and Mendelssohn’s ‘Hear My Prayer’, one of the best-loved choral works. Jun. 15 and 16, the Orchestra presents ‘Winds of Summer’ with works by Mendelssohn, Mozart and Schubert. The season ends Jul. 7 with the traditional Philharmonic Fling!—a pops open-air family concert Nicholas Fairbank and Michael Klazek, well-known area conductors, will again lead individual concerts during the season. Afternoon and evening concerts are planned. For details about program concert dates, times, venues and ticket sales, check out: sookephil.ca
October 27 & 28 Young Masters December 1, 2 & 16 Handel’s Messiah February 10 Tea & Symphony April 6 & 7 Songs & Psalms June 15 & 16 Winds of Summer July 7 Philharmonic Fling
22 | S EPTEMBER 13, 2018
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JON MARK
PHOTO.
Bach’s Magnificat and more
THE VICTORIA CHORAL SOCIETY IS AN AUDITIONED, MIXED-VOICE SYMPHONIC CHORUS DEDICATED TO PRESENTING THE FINEST CHORAL MUSIC. JON MARK PHOTO.
The Victoria Choral Society presents Bach’s Magnificat and more he Victoria Choral Society, under the direction of Brian Wismath, M.Mus, will present Bach’s ‘Magnificat’, Arvo Pärt’s ‘Adam’s Lament’, and Knut Nystedt’s ‘Immortal Bach’ with guest choir Vox Humana at 8 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 2 at the University of Victoria Farquhar Auditorium. The program will feature Bach’s magnificent ‘Magnificat’, and will be performed by over 140 singers, featuring soloists Emma Hannan (Soprano), Kristen Birley (Soprano), Ciara Gallagher (Mezzo), Benjamin Butterfield (Tenor), and Nathan McDonald (Bass). ‘Adam’s Lament’ will be performed by Vox Humana. Both choirs will perform ‘Immortal Bach’. The choirs will be accompanied by an orchestra of musicians from the Victoria Symphony.
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orchestra and soloists, most recently Beethoven’s ‘Missa Solemnis’, ‘Songs of Destiny: Mendelssohn’s Lobgesang’ and ‘Hear My Prayer, Brahms’ Schicksalslied’ and the world premiere of ‘Nocturno’ by Liova Bueno, Jonathan Dove’s ‘The Passing of the Year’, Knut Nystedt’s Immortal Bach’, Rheinberger’s ‘Mass in C Major’, Vivaldi’s ‘Gloria’, and Handel’s ‘Joshua’. victoriachoralsociety.ca
About the Victoria Choral Society The Victoria Choral Society, directed by Brian Wismath, is an auditioned, mixed-voice symphonic chorus, dedicated to presenting the finest choral music — from baroque to contemporary. Founded in 1934, the Victoria Choral Society has played a leading role in Victoria’s cultural life, and has performed with every Victoria Symphony conductor since the symphony’s inception. Recent performances with the Symphony include Verdi’s ‘Requiem’, Britten’s ‘War Requiem’, Handel’s ‘Messiah’, Mozart’s ‘Requiem’, Beethoven’s ‘Ninth Symphony’, and Orff’s ‘Carmina Burana’. Each year, the Victoria Choral Society produces its own concerts with
— Brian Wismath is music director of the Victoria Choral Society, Civic Orchestra of Victoria, Linden Singers of Victoria, Victoria Conservatory of Music Chorale, and Vox Humana Chamber Choir.
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Back by magical demand! This fantastically funny show features a special appearance from a fire-breathing dragon ...
back by magicaL demand ALL SEVEN HARRY POTTER BOOKS IN SEVENTY HILARIOUS MINUTES!
“YOU’RE GONNA LOVE THIS SHOW” Toronto Star
Royal McPherson Playhouse Oct. 3 to 8 otted Potter— the New York and West End smash hit has garnered rave reviews from New York to Nashville, Chicago to Mexico City, and Critics’ Picks from the New York Times, New York Magazine, Time Out London, Boston Globe, Chicago Daily Herald and the New York Post! ‘Potted Potter’ takes on the ultimate challenge of condensing all seven Harry Potter books (and a real life game of Quidditch) into 70 hilarious minutes.
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This fantastically funny show features all of your favourite characters, a special appearance from a fire-breathing dragon, endless costumes, brilliant songs, ridiculous props and a generous helping of Hogwarts magic. Even if you don’t know the difference between a Horcrux and a Hufflepuff, Potted Potter will make you roar with laughter. This brilliant family entertainment is perfect for ages six to Dumbledore (who is very old indeed). rmts.bc.ca/events/potted-potter-2018mcpherson-playhouse
“CASTS THE PERFECT SPELL OVER THE AUDIENCE!” The New York Times
OCtober 3–8 McPherson Playhouse POTTEDPOTTER.COM
24 | S EPTEMBER 13, 2018
ADVERTISING FEATURE
It’s all in the execution ‘The Mikado’ tackles decades-old controversy he Victoria Gilbert and Sullivan Society (VGSS) presents Gilbert and Sullivan’s familiar ‘The Mikado’ (1885), with a twist that places the history and inspiration for the operetta at centre stage. The all-new production includes the entire libretto of the original with an additional scene — a prologue and revised performance practices, and avoids the parodies of Japanese fashion and culture that have created controversy for many years. Gilbert’s dry British wit and Sullivan’s sweeping orchestrations are in top form in ‘The Mikado’, making the operetta one of the most performed of their 14 collaborations. Set in a fictional Japanese town, the musical lampoons British society and English ways of life. The story has stood the test of time. The characters are iconic — the music unforgettable. With its upcoming production, VGSS is helping to preserve ‘The Mikado’ by making it meaningful to modern audiences. VGSS is delighted to present the Canadian premiere of ‘The Mikado’ with a new Prologue, ‘The Mikado Re-Imagined’. The result of collaboration with the Asian-American theatrical community, the New York Gilbert and Sullivan Players’ critically acclaimed production of ‘The Mikado’ premiered in New York in 2017. Performances began with a short, original ‘Prologue, The Mikado: Re-imagined’, written by David Auxier-Loyola of NYGASP. The scene introduces real-life members of the D’Oyly Carte Opera Company of Victorian London and frames ‘The Mikado’ and its portrayal of Japan as a dream of writer W.S. Gilbert’s, influenced by Japanese artifacts from a London exhibition. The Prologue serves as an example of a cooperative effort to promote diversity, equity and inclusive practice with classic works of art. ‘The Mikado’ is directed and choreographed by Heather-Elayne
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VICTORIA GILBERT + SULLIVAN’S 2017 PRODUCTION OF PIRATES OF PENZANCE. PHOTO BY WILLIAM STURROCK.
Day. Music director is Tom Mitchell. Set design is by Christopher Green with costume design by Norma Jee and lighting design by Elizabeth Martin. The production features more than 40 volunteers (cast and production) from the community plus a professional, 16piece orchestra conducted by Tom Mitchell. VGSS acknowledges the generous support of the CRD Arts Development Service.
Ballet Victoria 2018-19 season of full-length works for the whole family begins in October with Frankenstein’, a gothic classic with a Ballet Victoria twist — it’s a love story! The score combines traditional ballet, opera and contemporary music for an electrifying performance. December brings ‘The Gift’ with the Victoria Symphony. With its trademark tweaks and surprises, ‘The Gift’ blends tradition with holiday cheer, magic and stellar classical ballet. The ‘Nutcracker’ score, mice, a white dragon, snow queen and sugar plum fairy are all part of the adventure of a young girl on Christmas Eve. The fiery ‘Carmina Burana’ takes to the stage in March. Sung live by the Victoria Chorale Society 140 voice choir and accompanied by musicians of the Victoria Symphony — danced masterfully by the dancers of Ballet Victoria — this is an experience not to be missed. A Chaucerian flair permeates the very physical choreography to Carl Orf’s brilliant score, reinforcing the power of love. The 2018/19 season closes with ‘Alice in Wonderland’, a new ballet by artistic director Paul Destrooper, which he promised will go where no Alice has gone before. Visit balletvictoria.ca to become a BVIP and receive many benefits, including the opportunity to preview all the performance before they hit the stage. The 2018/19 season marks Ballet Victoria’s 16th year. The professional company performs four full programs each year, touring in Canada and the US and provides complimentary out-
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See ‘The Mikado’ performed by the VGSS. Performances: Nov. 2, 3 and 4 Dave Dunnet Theatre, Oak Bay High School, Nov. 9, 10 and 11 at the Charlie White Theatre, Mary Winspear Centre, Sidney. More info at: gilbertandsullivanvictoria.ca
The
The Victoria Gilbert & Sullivan Society proudly presents
Mikado
A comic operetta by W.S.Gilbert & Arthur Sullivan
It’s all in the ex xecution Featuring a new prologue by the New York Gilbert and Sullivan Players
PERFO ORMANCES Fri Nov 2 & Sat Nov 3 • 7:30pm Sun Nov 4 • 2:00pm Dave Dunnet Community Theatre, Oak Bay High School, Victoria
Fri Nov 9 • 7:30pm Sat Nov 10 & Sun Nov 11 • 2:00pm Charlie White Theatre, Mary Winspear Centre, Sidney
Tickets and more information: gilbertandsullivanvictoria.ca reach programs for seniors and public schools. For details, visit: balletvictoria.ca. Tickets are available at the Royal & McPherson box offices, or by phone at: 250-386-6121. PHOTO
BY
BARBARA BURNS
Tickets for the Oak Bay performance also on sale at Ivy’s Bookshop, 2188 Oak Bay Ave The Mikado Re-Imagined, a Prologue, by author and creator David Auxier-Loyola, is used with the permission of New York Gilbert and Sullivan Players, originally appearing in their January 2017 production at The Kaye Playhouse in New York, NY Flag artwork created by Catherine Giel, Capitol City Opera Company, Atlanta, GA
V ICTORIA A RTS G UIDE | T IMES C OLONIST | 25
ADVERTISING FEATURE
New Music Technology Lab + Open House his month marks the official launch of the Victoria Conservatory of Music’s (VCM) new Music Technology Lab. Located at the VCM’s downtown location in what was formerly a more traditional theory/composition classroom, state-of-the-art iMac workstations, audio equipment and industry standard software now await students who have an interest in the burgeoning field of music technology. Outfitted with a multi-channel audio system, the room allows students to hear their creations and discuss with their instructor and peers. The traditional blackboard is replaced by a large Smart TV that allows the VCM to connect live with industry professionals and mentors around the globe.
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Students have the opportunity to learn about performing live with electronic and virtual instruments, including polyphonic synthesizers, sequencing, Ableton Live PUSH, electric 4- and 5-string violins and more. “The new Music Technology Lab enables students to be more creative with music, in the areas of writing, recording and performing,” says Stephen Green, VCM Dean. “It means VCM can provide a more relevant and essential pathway to learning about the newest advances in music technology as they relate to students learning music. It connects them in a broader way to the music industry of today, and prepare them for a possible future career in this expanding area.” To introduce the new lab, the VCM is offering six FREE introductory workshops, helping them discover the possibilities in the partnership of music and technology. Workshops will be held weekly on Saturdays from 10 to 11:30 a.m. in the Music Technology Lab at 900 Johnson St., starting Sept. 15 for 6 weeks, until Oct. 27, excluding Oct.6. The VCM extends its enormous gratitude to donors Pitt and Sheila Linder, who have underwritten the cost of developing and launching the Music Technology Lab at the VCM. For more info about the Lab and to sign up for a free workshop, visit: vcm.bc.ca/music-tech-lab
VCM WESTHILLS OPEN HOUSE TAKES PLACE SATURDAY, SEPT. 15, FROM 3 TO 6 P.M. YOUR CHANCE TO TRY FREE MINILESSONS WITH THE EXPERTS.
Visit the Open House at VCM Westhills This Saturday, Sept. 15, the Victoria Conservatory of Music at Westhills, 210-1314 Langford Parkway (in the YMCA/YWCA) invites you to a fun afternoon Open House from 3 to 6 p.m. Try free mini-lessons with expert VCM faculty, create your own musical instruments,
and grab a sweet treat at the candy buffet. For details, visit: vcm.bc.ca/events During the afternoon Open House, take part in a lantern-making workshop with our friends at the West Shore Arts Council. For $5, you can create your own lantern for Light Up the Hills.
CHAMBER MUSIC SERIES:
STUDENT CONCERT:
Masters, Friends, and Mentors
Spark to Flame
Sunday, November 4 | 2:30pm
Friday, March 1 | 7:30pm
Local favourite and Head of Keyboard Robert Holliston, piano, and Head of Strings Simon MacDonald, violin $20.35 - $21.61
VCM’s top students perform with the Senior String Orchestra and professional musicians $10.25 - $12.05
2018-19 CONCERT SEASON
DANIEL LAPP’S
OPERA STUDIO:
Home for Christmas Concerts
The Magic Flute
Friday, December 21 | 7:30pm Saturday, December 22 | 2:00 / 7:30pm
Friday, March 29 | 7:30pm Saturday, March 30 | 7:30pm
VCM BOX OFFICE
Musical Treats and Poetry for Valentines Day
VCM Presents
VCM.BC.CA/EVENTS
900 Johnson Street 250.386.5311 Prices shown include tax and service charges
Folkestra, BC Fiddle Orchestra, and Joy of Life Choir $14.85 - $29.10
15th ANNUAL
Pacific Baroque Festival February 7 - 10 Including the Goldberg Variations, Well-Tempered Clavier, and Vivaldi’s Gloria
See pacbaroque.com for details
CHAMBER MUSIC SERIES:
A Mozart classic from advanced vocalists $11.75 - $24.35
CHAMBER MUSIC SERIES:
New Orford String Quartet
Thursday, April 4 | 7:30pm “Nothing short of electrifying” -Toronto Star $20.35 - $25.35
DANIEL LAPP’S
Joy of Life Festival
Sunday, February 10 | 2:30pm
Friday, May 3 | 7:30pm Saturday, May 4 | 7:30pm
An afternoon of unique and romantic performances $20.35 - $21.61
Two joyous performances with special guests $14.85 - $25.85
26 | S EPTEMBER 13, 2018
ADVERTISING FEATURE
Kaleidoscope Theatre for young people
Kaleidoscope believes that singing, acting, and dancing are life skills that develop creativity, collaboration, and communication. KALEIDOSCOPE IS THE LEADING PROVIDER OF ARTS EDUCATION FOR YOUNG PEOPLE ON
VANCOUVER ISLAND.
ictoria’s Kaleidoscope Theatre for Young People has been inspiring generations of theatre lovers since their inception in 1974. Under the Artistic Direction of Roderick Glanville, Kaleidoscope is Vancouver Island’s resident professional theatre company for young audiences — offering year ‘round theatrical programs and a performing arts theatre school for children and teens. Kaleidoscope’s 2018-19 season features an exciting lineup of productions based on award-winning literature for young people: ‘The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane’, ‘Pippi Longstocking’, and ‘The Giver’. Learn what it is to love with the Canadian premiere of Kate DiCamillo’s award-winning ‘The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane’. A heartwarming story that follows the journey of a China rabbit, Edward Tulane. Vain and selfcentered, Edward journeys through a cast of loving and suffering characters on a long trip back to the girl who lost him as he learns to value the people around him, and to love others selflessly. Go on an adventure with Pippilotta Delicatessa Windowshade Mackrelmint Efraim’s Daughter, Longstocking — or Pippi for short!
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‘Pippi Longstocking: The Family Musical’ is a glorious musical production for the whole family. No school, no parents, no bedtime or rules. Pippi’s on her own to live as she pleases! Discover what it means to grow up, to grow wise, and to take control of your own destiny in the stage adaptation of the celebrated novel, ‘The Giver’. Jonas’ world is perfect. Everything is under control and safe. There is no war or fear or pain. But when Jonas turns 12, he is chosen for special training — to receive and keep the memories of the community. Now Jonas will learn the truth about life — and the hypocrisy of his utopian world. When it comes to theatre training for young people, Kaleidoscope believes that singing, acting, and dancing are life skills that develop creativity, collaboration, and communication. As the premiere training institution for young artists on Vancouver Island, Kaleidoscope’s Performing Arts Studio has consistently focused on a single mission: training young people to become highly skilled, confident, well-rounded young performers. Offering classes in acting, musical theatre, voice, acting for film, improvisation and countless camps, workshops and opportunities, Kaleidoscope is the leading provider of arts education for young people on Vancouver Island. Introduce a young person to the power of live theatre with Kaleidoscope Theatre for Young People! kaleidoscope.bc.ca
ADVERTISING FEATURE
V ICTORIA A RTS G UIDE | T IMES C OLONIST | 27
Energy, skill and passion Greater Victoria Youth Orchestra Yariv Aloni, Music Director ensational symphonic sounds spring from Baumann Centre in Downtown Victoria every Saturday morning. Sixty-five exuberant young musicians — friends and collaborators committed to their musical craft — make up the Greater Victoria Youth Orchestra (GVYO). Expressive, focused and adventurous, the GVYO is respected GVYO — AN INVALUABLE as one of the finest youth ensembles in EXPERIENCE FOR the country. YOUNG PEOPLE. GVYO players are guided by Maestro Aloni and a faculty of Victoria’s top musicians through rehearsals, Vancouver Island and as far afield as the workshops and sectional coaching sessions. Kootenays, Haida Gwaii and Yukon Territory. They develop musical style, ensemble skills and GVYO alumni are found in ensembles, teamwork. With discipline and initiative, senior orchestras and academies throughout the world. players inspire their younger colleagues, who THREE GVYO CONCERTS embrace new repertoire with energy, enthusiasm, and imagination. Over the years, Join the GVYO for three Sunday afternoon the GVYO has been further enriched by concerts at University Centre Farquhar internationally esteemed guest artists such as Auditorium: Nov. 4, Feb. 3 and Apr. 14. Sir Yehudi Menuhin, Jonathan Crow, Ben Program highlights include Schumann’s Heppner and Timothy Vernon. Symphony No. 4, Brahms’ Academic Festival The results are performances of an Overture, Tchaikovsky’s Sleeping Beauty Suite, impressive calibre, and invaluable experience for Mendelssohn’s Symphony No. 4 (Italian), young people who mature not only as musiSibelius’ Karelia Suite, Copland’s Rodeo: Four cians, but as contributors to their community. Dances and more. For 33 years, the Greater Victoria Youth Phone: 250-360-1121. Orchestra has enchanted audiences across Visit: gvyo.org
S
Greater Victoria
Youth
Cowichan Performing Arts Centre irsten Schrader has curated yet another incredible season creating a diverse fall program for the Cowichan Performing Arts Centre (CPAC) — chock full of awardwinning, multifaceted musicians, theatrical dance and critically-acclaimed comedy. Juno-award winning Jesse Cook performs Sept. 26, and one of Canada’s most-celebrated musicians, Jann Arden on Nov. 19, making a return visit, while the indigenous dance troupe, Dancers of Damelahamid perform at the CPAC for the first time on Oct. 14 with their masked-dance production, Flicker. The season opens on Sept. 22 with a unique musical performance featuring Ukraine’s DakhaBrakha, delivering a tapestry of indie folk-rock and pop music blended with Ukrainian folk-music — an avant-garde sound that’s become a cult phenomenon around the world — lovingly described as “ethno-chaos”. CPAC delivers unique musical performances with Nashville Hurricane, starring Chase Padgett on Oct. 18. On Nov. 2, the BC World Music Collective brings together 13 musicians from Cuba, Mexico, Brazil, Africa and London that takes listeners on a worldwide journey without ever leaving their seats. Here’s your chance to catch some of Canada’s rising stars in CPAC’s Cabaret Series. The stage is transformed into an intimate, speakeasy-style venue with on-stage seating.
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Cabaret Series Performances: Oct. 4: Lion Bear Fox Apr. 25: Derina Harvey Band The Comic Strippers return on Oct. 12 with their sexy-larious fictitious male stripper parody. Victoria’s Mike Delamont returns Nov. 3 as the Almighty in, God Is A Scottish Drag Queen: The Second Coming. Nov. 16, CBC’s ‘This is That’ returns for a final appearance on the CPAC stage. Oct. 25: Ballet Kelowna brings an evening of passion and power in an adaptation of Tennessee Williams’ ‘A Streetcar Named Desire’. Nov. 7: Glass Tiger performs legendary iconic songs featuring special guest Jessica Mitchell. Nov. 18: Tango de mi Vida — an afternoon of high-energy music and dance. Nov. 25: Natalie MacMaster and Donnell Leahy’s festive holiday concert ‘A Celtic Family Christmas’. Nov. 29: Dean Brody brings his Dirt Road Stories Acoustic Tour in a solo performance. Dec. 9: Winter Harp magical holiday concert. Dec. 14 &15: A Royal City Youth Ballet of ‘The Nutcracker’ with more than 100 dancers. Jan. 25: International Guitar Night with Italy’s Luca Stricagnoli, Antoine Boyer and Samuelito joined by Cenk Erdogan. Feb. 7: Canada’s Ballet Jörgen brings a tale of love, life and mistaken identity in ‘Coppélia’. Feb. 8: Acoustic performance from Matthew Good. cowichanpac.ca
Cowichan Performing Arts Centre presents
Orchestra Yariv Aloni
MUSIC DIRECTOR
Innovative world music infused with traditional Ukrainian folk music
Season 33 2018–2019
All concerts Sunday 2:30pm University Centre Farquhar Auditorium
NOV
4
2018
Brahms Academic Festival Overture Debussy Petite Suite Schumann Symphony No. 4
TICKETS Season 250-360-1121
Single 250-721-8480 1611 Quadra St, Victoria BC V8W 2L5 250-360-1121 www.gvyo.org gvyorchestra@gmail.com
FEB
3
2019
APR
SEASON SPONSOR CRISTIAN HOSHIZAKI VICE PRESIDENT AND PORTFOLIO MANAGER
14
2019
Respighi Ancient Airs & Dances, Suite 2 Sibelius Karelia Suite Debussy Prélude à l'après-midi d'un faune Tchaikovsky Sleeping Beauty Suite Mendelssohn Symphony No. 4 Smetana The Bartered Bride: Three Dances Copland Rodeo: Four Dances
Saturday Sept. 22, 2018 7:30pm
“Visually striking and awesomely unusual. ” ~Broadway World
Tickets $36 eyeGo $5 cowichanpac.ca
Ticket Centre: 250.748.7529 2687 James St. Duncan, BC
28 | S EPTEMBER 13, 2018
ADVERTISING FEATURE
St. Luke’s Players celebrate 70th anniversary season
A PHOTO FROM ONE OF LAST SEASON’S PLAYS AT ST. LUKE’S: ‘LAURA’.
EACH SEASON—OCTOBER PANTO.
THROUGH
MAY—THE
TROUPE PUTS ON THREE PLAYS AND A
n 1949, a group under the leadership of Mrs. Flora (“Nicky”) Nicholson began life as the Doncaster Players. The following year they moved to St. Luke’s Church Hall (1888) on the corner of Cedar Hill and Cedar Hill X Roads and became St. Luke’s Players. Today, they are a friendly and welcoming group of over 150 members (and growing), celebrating 70 years of providing the community with quality performances. The lovely costuming, incredible sets and creative period decor and furnishings capture their patrons and whisk them away into stories unfolding. Each season—October through May—the troupe puts on three plays and a Christmas Panto. The 2018/19 season opens with the captivating thriller, Night Watch. No one, including her husband, a psychiatrist, and her old friend and houseguest, believes Elaine Wheeler is seeing dead people in the window across the way. The suspense and mystery deepen toward a riveting and chilling climax. Sleeping Beauty for Christmas: The celebration of a new darling baby princess, a nasty curse from an uninvited guest and the banishment of pins from the land … The day is will be saved “panto-style” with
I
CHRISTMAS
singing, dancing, lame jokes and silly, good fun with audience participation encouraged. March presents the tantalizing Sherlock Holmes and the Widows of Blackmead, murder mystery. Someone is murdering the women of Blackmead Manor—a fiercely independent female academic community. Is this merely another interesting case, or a fatal trap for Holmes himself? The season winds up in May with a funny and heartwarming comedy: Things My Mother Taught Me. Olivia and Gabe are moving into their first apartment together. After driving halfway across the country to start their new life in Chicago, can a two-bedroom apartment contain all of the love, laughs, worry and wisdom when both sets of parents show up to help?
SEASON TICKETS St. Luke's Players' season tickets offer you some great benefits including: savings off individual prices, one free performance if you buy all four shows, preferred dates ahead of sales, preferred performance dates and reserved seating. stlukesplayers.org
V ICTORIA A RTS G UIDE | T IMES C OLONIST | 29
ADVERTISING FEATURE
Concert series of acclaimed musicians he Victoria Jazz Society, producer of the TD Victoria International JazzFest and Vancouver Island Blues Bash, is a professional arts organization that offers high-quality jazz to the community, showcasing performances with acclaimed musicians. The VJS presents a Fall/Winter/Spring Concert Series, with this year’s series featuring the following artists:
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MIKE FARRIS & THE FORTUNATE FEW plus Steph Macpherson: Saturday, Sept. 22 UVic Farquhar Auditorium. Mike Farris toured as lead singer for the southern rock band, Screaming Cheetah Wheelies, and blues band Double Trouble. Farris won the Americana Music Award for “Best New Emerging Artist”, a Dove Award for “Best Traditional Gospel Album of the Year”, and a 2015 GRAMMY for “Best Roots Gospel Album,” Shine For All The People. In September, Farris releases his latest album, ‘Silver & Stone’. HALIE LOREN: Saturday, Oct. 13 Hermann’s Jazz Club. Justin Time recording artist/singer-songwriter Halie Loren reached #1 on Japan’s Billboard Jazz Chart and Canada’s iTunes chart with her 2013 album, ‘Simply Love’. Loren and producer Troy Miller (Gregory Porter, Amy Winehouse) developed her ninth album, ‘From the Wild Sky’ in April 2018. Loren performed at TD JazzFest 2016. JANE BUNNET AND MAQUEQUE: Saturday, Nov. 3
Kaeshammer will be joined in Victoria on the Something New tour by New Orleans’ musicians Johnny Vidacovich drums, David Piltch bass, amongst others. Keep “live jazz alive” in Victoria, learn about future VJS presentations first, and access memberonly pre sales. Join the Victoria Jazz Society! Find out about VJS membership, upcoming VJS performances, plus where to buy tickets at jazzvictoria.ca, or call: 250-388-4423. Gift certificates can be purchased and redeemed for tickets to VJS presentations, including TD JazzFest. The 36th edition of the TD Victoria International JazzFest occurs Jun. 21 to 30, 2019. The 26th Annual Vancouver Island Blues Bash occurs Aug. 30 to Sept. 2, 2019. jazzvictoria.ca
JANE BUNNET + MAQUEQUE, SATURDAY, NOV. 3 AT HERMANN’S JAZZ CLUB.
Hermann’s Jazz Club. A five-time JUNO Award winner and three-time GRAMMY nominee, flautist/ saxophonist Jane Bunnett leads the brilliant five-member Cuban jazz ensemble, Maqueque. They performed at TD JazzFest 2014.
& THE THE MIKE FARRIS &FORTUNATE FORTU UNATE NATE E FEW FEW FE
Saturday, Sept 22
TICKETS:
University of Victoria Box Office (250-721-8480 / www.tickets.uvic.ca)
LINDSAY BEAVER: Saturday, Nov. 10 Hermann’s Jazz Club. Blues-rocking, drummer/singer Lindsay Beaver leads a powerhouse band. Signing with Alligator Records this year, Beaver’s label debut, Tough As Love, will release in October 2018. Beaver recently performed at TD JazzFest 2018.
SOMETHING NEW ALBUM TOUR MCPHERSON
PLAYHOUSE
Royal & McPherson Box Office (250-386-6121 / www.rmts.bc.ca)
753 VIEW ST
EMMET COHEN TRIO: Thursday, Nov. 15 Hermann’s Jazz Club. American jazz pianistcomposer Emmet Cohen is a multifaceted solo and trio performer. Cohen was a finalist in the 2011 Thelonious Monk International Piano Competition and the prestigious American Pianists Association’s Cole Porter Fellowship (2011, 2015). MICHAEL KAESHAMMER: Tuesday, Dec. 11 McPherson Playhouse. Two-time JUNO Award winner, singer and pianist Michael Kaeshammer tours his brand-new album, ‘Something New’, released April 2018, recorded at the historic Esplanade Studios in the heart of New Orleans’ Treme district.
TICKETS:
MICHAEL KAESHAMMER KAES Tuesday, Dec 11
HALIE LOREN N Saturday, Saturd y Oct 13 MAQUE MAQUEQUE MAQUEQUE M MAQUEQ AQUEQ JANE NE BUNNET Saturday, N Nov 3 No LINDSAY BEAVER AVER T A L AND AND D
OUGH S OVE ALBUM TOUR
Saturday, Nov 10
EMMET COHEN TRIO O Thursday, Nov 15
MICHAEL KAESHAMMER, TUESDAY, DEC. 11 AT THE MCPHERSON PLAYHOUSE.
TICKETS: TIC CKETS
VJS Office (977 Alston St./ 250-388-4423) VJS Royal & M Ro McPherson Box Office (250-386-6121 / www.rmts.bc.ca)
jazzvictoria.ca
30 | S EPTEMBER 13, 2018
ADVERTISING FEATURE
Phoenix Theatre covering all the bases
Because your first journey to motherhood can feel like visiting another world.
UVIC THEATRE ALUMNA NICOLLE NATTRASS RETURNS TO THE PHOENIX THEATRE WITH HER ONEWOMAN SHOW, “MAMAHOOD”.
From Greek classics to Broadway musicals, Phoenix Theatre’s season covers all the bases Vic’s Department of Theatre is gearing up for the return of their students and an incredible season of plays. The Phoenix Theatre’s 2018-19 Season covers a lot of bases, ranging from a solo show about the hilarious (and not-so-fun struggles) of becoming a mom, to a full-blown musical with a stage crowded with singing and dancing colourful characters (and an airplane). It takes us back in time with an enduringly powerful Greek classic and then forward to the 20th century with a whimsically dark comedy by one of Canada’s top playwrights. In October, the annual Spotlight on Alumni features the work of alumna and Jessie-nominated playwright and actress, Nicolle Nattrass (BFA ‘91). Her one-woman play, ‘Mamahood: Bursting into Light’ (Oct. 10 to 20) explores her experiences in becoming a new mother at the age of 40 — one she likens to a journey into another world. Complete with ‘80s musical interludes, she shares poignant moments from her initial dreams to her real struggle to become the “perfect mom”. In November, one of Canada’s distinguished directors and choreographers, Jacques Lemay, will guest direct ‘The Drowsy Chaperone’ (Nov. 8 to 24). This farcical send-up of jazz-age musicals was first performed by Toronto theatre mainstays Don McKellar, Lisa Lambert and Greg Morrison as a wedding gift for their friends, Janet Van De Graff and Bob Martin. Martin joined the trio as a writer and the play won rave reviews at the Toronto Fringe. Producer David Mirvish picked up the play and booked it for an extended run in two prominent Toronto theatres, before it moved to Broadway in 2006 with Bob Martin in the lead role.
U October
10 – 20, 2018
Mamahood
Bursting into Light
Written & Performed by Nicolle Nattrass | Director TJ Dawe
2018/19 SEASON
SPOTLIGHT ON ALUMNI
From initial idyllic dreams to her detrimental struggle to be the “perfect mom,” Nicolle’s courageous ode to becoming a new mother – at age 40! – is a hilarious and heartbreaking journey (that’s fuelled by a little ’80s music!)
The Drowsy Chaperone By Lisa Lambert, Greg Morrison, Bob Martin & Don McKellar Directed by Jacques Lemay
NOV. 8 - 24, 2018
Presented by
VE SAO 5 0 % s
UP
250.721.8000 phoenixtheatres.ca
T
ays . 50
3 pl
$40
ay
4 pl
$54
Trojan Women By Euripides Directed by Jan Wood
FEB.14 - 23, 2019
7 Stories By Morris Panych Directed by Fran Gebhard
MAR. 14 - 23, 2019
Nominated for 14 New York Drama Desk Awards, earning five Tony Awards and four Drama Desk Awards. ‘Trojan Women’ (Feb. 14 to 23): directing debut of theatre professor, Jan Wood. Jan has 35+ years of experience in professional theatre as an actor, director, movement coach, voice coach and teacher. She will direct this timeless Greek classic — first written in 415 BCE, but still one of the most powerful plays about the casualties of war. Set against the background of the epic tale of the Trojan War, the playwright Euripides shifts our focus away from the conquering heroes. Instead, he tells the story from the perspective of the vanquished wives, mothers and daughters of the defeated Trojan warriors. The final play of the Phoenix season takes us to the precarious ledge of a seven-storey building with the award-winning play, ‘7 Stories’ (Mar. 14 to 23) by Canadian playwright Morris Panych. Fast-paced and sophisticated, this satire is full of eccentric characters, including a man contemplating suicide. Instead, he is endlessly interrupted by quirky building residents and becomes drawn into the their daily lives. So self-absorbed are his neighbours, that no one even bothers to ask why he’s out there! This quick-witted, dark comedy is in good hands with director and Professor Fran Gebhard, who has directed many comedies for the Phoenix. The Phoenix season is available as a 3 or 4-package subscription, starting at $40.50 — saving you up 50 per cent off regular ticket prices with many subscriber benefits. Tickets for individual shows available one week in advance of each play. Contact the Phoenix Theatre at phoenixtheatres.ca for details or call: 250-721-8000.
ADVERTISING FEATURE
V ICTORIA A RTS G UIDE | T IMES C OLONIST | 31
Stories so big they have to be sung! pera performance and exploration is at the heart of Pacific Opera Victoria’s 2018/19 season, which features original productions of Fidelio, La traviata, and Countess Maritza — plus a kaleidoscope of concerts, discussions and experiences that invite you to discover the many surprising delights of opera. The season opens with Beethoven’s only opera, Fidelio. With its timeless call for human justice, this magnificent work is a sublime expression of Beethoven’s passionate belief in freedom and hope. Acclaimed Canadian soprano Aviva Fortunata makes her debut in the title role, and Dutch director Wim Trompert returns to Victoria to direct this unforgettable masterpiece. Lighting up the stage in February is Verdi’s La traviata, one of opera’s most enduring love stories. In this sumptuous production set in the 1920s, Violetta is a music hall artist — beautiful, sought after, but not quite respectable. As her tragedy unfolds, we marvel at Verdi’s compassionate and extravagantly melodic portrayal of a woman who isn’t allowed to fit in. POV has teamed up with four other Canadian opera companies to create a beautiful new production of this glorious and deservedly popular opera. The season comes to a deliriously happy ending with Emmerich Kálmán’s luscious operetta, Countess Maritza, the story of a beguiling young countess who invents a fiancé in order to keep her hordes of admirers at bay. Of course, it’s inevitable that she will find true love — and that the music will be utterly gorgeous. Fidelio, La traviata, and Countess Maritza are all presented at the Royal Theatre, with POV Artistic Director Timothy Vernon conducting the Victoria Symphony.
O
There’s more …
PACIFIC OPERA VICTORIA PRODUCTION OF RINALDO, APRIL 2018 (ANDREY NEMZER). PHOTO BY DAVID COOPER.
In November, POV presents Ayre at the Baumann Centre. This fascinating 21st century song cycle is based on stories and music from three cultures — Jewish, Christian and Muslim — and performed by Lebanese-Canadian soprano Miriam Khalil and Victoria’s internationally acclaimed Aventa Ensemble. Hear stories of murder and love, war, seduction and exile told in music that veers from classical and opera to klezmer and folk. In addition, The Co|Opera|tive is a series of inspiring events and experiences intended for everyone — youth, artists and community. This ever-changing smorgasbord of events includes classroom visits and youth camps as well as recitals, film screenings, discussions and hands-on workshops for passionate amateurs. For opera tickets, and to discover everything POV has to offer, contact Pacific Opera Victoria at: 250-385-0222 or visit: pov.bc.ca
18/19
Opera Season
Beethoven
FIDELIO October 11, 13, 17, 19, 21 / 2018 Verdi
LA TRAVIATA February 14, 16, 20, 22, 24 / 2019 Kálmán
COUNTESS MARITZA April 25, 27, May 3, 5 / 2019
Stories so big they have to be sung
A t the Royal Theatre
Tickets start as low as $27 – call today! 250.385.0222 / 250.386.6121 / www.pov.bc.ca SEASON SPONSOR:
CORPORATE SPONSORS:
MEDIA SPONSORS:
SUBSCRIBE AND SEE 3 OPERAS AS LOW AS
$69
ANNUAL OPERATING GRANTS PROVIDED BY: