Music Director, Tania Miller reveals the Victoria Symphony’s 2008/2009 season to be one of extreme diversity including monumental symphonies, virtuosic performers, an opera legend, Holly Cole, Flamenco dancers and a Hip Hop Odyssey.

Victoria (BC) – Last night, March 6th, at the Royal Theatre, the Victoria Symphony’s Music Director, Tania Miller revealed the exciting and diverse line-up of 32 different concerts for the 2008/2009 season to a keenly interested audience of 350 people. The evening included an enthralling 20 minute presentation by the dynamic Miller, followed by a reception and then a rare behind the scenes look at a Victoria Symphony concert in the making.

Guests were treated to a rehearsal of the Victoria Symphony’s dramatic new production of Peer Gynt which will be performed on Sunday, March 9th and Monday, March 10th. This concert combines the entire masterful work by Grieg and dramatic elements written by Ibsen scholar Errol Durbach. The rehearsal featured Miller, the orchestra; the Victoria Philharmonic Choir led by Simon Capet, soloists Sarah Fryer and Monica Whicher, and actor Christopher Gaze and left the invited guests wanting more.

Among the 2008/2009 season highlights Miller presented were:

· The Season Opener features opera superstar Jane Eaglen performing selected works of Wagner including Immolation Scene from Götterdämmerung

· Holly Cole performs Christmas with Holly Cole for the Christmas Special

· The performance of some of the most beloved and monumental symphonies including Orff’s Camina Burana, Nielsen’s Symphony No. 4 “the Inextinguishable”, Strauss’ Alpine Symphony, Vivaldi’s Gloria, and Schubert’s Symphony No. 9 “The Great”

· The Victoria Symphony will welcome back a host of favourite and remarkable conductors and soloists including Angela Cheng, Kees Bakels, Anton Kuerti, Arthur Rowe, Alain Trudel and Jeanne Lamon

· For the very first time the Victoria Symphony welcomes accomplished young violinist
JinJoo Cho, conductor Julian Kuerti and critically acclaimed electric violinist
Daniel Bernard Roumain

· The Victoria Symphony will showcase the individual talents of its own musicians throughout the season with solo performances by concertmaster Terence Tam, principal clarinet, Keith MacLeod, principal second violin Victoria Lindsay and first violin, Muge Buyukcelen-Badel

Highlights from the Signature Series

The Signature Series presents masterworks of both classical repertoire and living

composers. Monumental symphonies and concertos, as well as inspiring guest artists and renowned conductors make this series the signature of the season. Tania Miller opens the season with opera star Jane Eaglen – who will perform selected works by Wagner. Cellist John Friesen and pianist Sara Buechner return and we welcome Maestro Julian Kuerti and accomplished young violinist Jinjoo Cho to our stage for the very first time. Audiences should also look for another world premiere by composer Tobin Stokes, during the finale of the season.

Highlights from the Legacy Series

The performance of past and present legacies is the inspiration for this innovative and inspiring series. The Legacy Series honours musical works that have endured the test of time and presents them with future classics, featuring glorious symphonies and celebrated soloists. The superb musicianship of pianists Angela Cheng, Anton Kuerti and Katherine Chi will be demonstrated with performances of Brahms, Franck and Chopin. Tania Miller leads a performance of Carmina Burana featuring three solo vocalists, the Victoria Philharmonic Choir and the Victoria Children’s Choir in the grand finale of the season.

Highlights from the Classics Series

The Classics Series presents beloved music from the Baroque and Classical eras. The inspired performances of works by time-honoured composers including Bach, Beethoven, Haydn, Mendelssohn and Vivaldi ensure near sold out attendance at each concert within this series. This season, Arthur Rowe returns with conductor Alain Trudel to open the series with Mendelssohn’s Piano Concerto No. 2. The Victoria Symphony also welcomes back former music director Kees Bakels to conduct Jamie Parker performing Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 23. Tania Miller leads the performance of Vivaldi’s ever popular Gloria. The series also highlights two principal players in the orchestra: Concertmaster Terence Tam and principal second violin Victoria Lindsay. Together with Tafelmusik’s Jeanne Lamon, Terence performs Bach’s Double Violin Concerto in the series finale.

Highlights from the Odyssey Series

Cultural and artistic diversity is the inspiration behind the Victoria Symphony’s Odyssey Series. This series pushes the boundaries of what orchestral music can be – making it more accessible to a broader audience while evolving the perception of what a Symphony can perform. This year is no exception with three concerts of exceptional diversity and boundary breaking programs. The Victoria Symphony welcomes the Silk Road Ensemble premiering new works by leading the Canadian composers featuring virtuoso performances on Chinese, Indian and western instruments. The Esquimalt First Nations Singers and Dancers for Legends of the First Nations and Hip Hop Odyssey featuring the incredible Daniel Bernard Roumain, an electric violinist who is a self proclaimed “classical urban embassador”. This high energy concert also includes local rap group Sueca and the award winning DJ G-Nius.

Highlights from the Pops Series

The Beltone Pops Series offers six energetic programs of popular and beloved music. Principal pops conductor and audience favourite, Brian Jackson will return to conduct four of the concerts. This season audiences will enjoy orchestral music coupled with adventure and excitement – as themed concerts of romance, Spanish dance, Christmas sentimentality, the wild west and dueling brass are presented. Guest artists include jazz vocalist Melinda Whitaker, dance group El Viento Flamenco, vocalist Denys Mailhiot and the men of Men in Brass, Mike Herriott and Jeff Nelsen. Brian Jackson ends the season with the extremely popular phenomenon known as the Last Night of the Proms.

Highlights from the Royal Tea Concerts

The entertaining duo of conductor Giuseppe Pietraroia, and host Scott Walker, once again team up to present the Royal Tea Concerts. Songs of Remembrance returns, this year featuring the beautiful voice of soprano Marilyn Arsenault. The music of the great Russian Romantics are celebrated in To Russia with Love and Mark Dubois returns to perform music of London’s West end during An Afternoon in the British Isles. As the official tea supplier of the Victoria Symphony, Khona coffee will be serving a perfect cup of tea prior to each concert.

Highlights from Concerts for Kids

Our popular Concerts for Kids Series returns in 2008/2009 with three wonderful concerts - each with a distinctly different style. The classic tale of Peter and the Wolf is presented with narration by Scott Walker in the first concert, along with the film version of Howard Blake’s The Snowman with live musical accompaniment by the orchestra. The nutty Al Simmons returns this time with Symphonic Shenanigans with Al Simmons. The series ends with the immensely popular Judy and David and their Symphonic Adventure.

New Subscription Options

Two new subscription options were announced:

Royal Pops Subscription

The Royal Pops subscription combines the exciting line-up of the Beltone Pops concert series with the tea, treats and light orchestral music of our delightful Sunday afternoon Royal Tea series. The combination of the two provides greater savings.

Young Professionals Subscription

Sample the performances of the Victoria Symphony with this new subscription package tailored for ages 25 to 40. This series includes an exciting selection of 6 concerts. This, combined with exceptional savings over single tickets, priority group seating and opportunity to meet and interact with other YP subscribers at pre-concert gatherings, makes for a great night on the town.

Subscriptions are on sale now.

Subscribers have the first choice of the best seats, save up to 30% off regular ticket prices, receive subscriber preferred prices on all single ticket purchases throughout the regular season, and “beat the box office” by purchasing single tickets before they go on sale to the public in September.

Patrons can subscribe in person at the Victoria Symphony Box Office, 620 View St., Suite 610, or by phone at (250) 385-6515, Monday to Friday, 9:00am-4:00pm.

For more concert details or to request a new season brochure visit www.victoriasymphony.ca
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For further information including requests for complete media kits contact:
Bethany Wilson
Director of Marketing
Victoria Symphony
(250) 385-9771 ext. 233
bethany@victoriasymphony.ca