It鈥檚 no exaggeration to report that at least some of what was announced during the Victoria Symphony鈥檚 2016-17 season launch at the Royal Theatre Wednesday was out of this world.
Indeed, it seemed executive director Mitchell Krieger was about to ascend like a spaceship when he announced it would include Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield singing his own space songs.
Like the down-to-earth Rocket Man, Krieger and music director Tania Miller were musicians on a mission as they shared highlights with 250 subscribers who were also treated to a reception and the opportunity to watch an open rehearsal.
They learned that Canadian singer-songwriter Chantal Kreviazuk, former Victoria Symphony Splash 2006 young soloist Timothy Chooi and 2012 Honens winner Pavel Kolesnikov would be featured during the orchestra鈥檚 76th year, as well as blockbusters including Carmina Burana, Beethoven鈥檚 Symphony No. 5, Rimsky-Korsakov鈥檚 Scheherazade and Sibelius鈥檚 Symphony No. 2.
With more than 30 concerts scheduled during Miller鈥檚 final season, there were plenty of oohs, aahs and applause.
Indeed, the event doubled as what will surely be the first of many events celebrating Miller鈥檚 vision and creative contributions during her 14-year reign.
The affable maestra from Foam Lake, Sask., described the orchestra as 鈥渙ne of the most precious aspects of who we are鈥� and a musical treasure that unites our community.
鈥淚t brings us into a place as human beings that changes the depth, quality and beauty of our lives. It causes us to think and cherish and feel in a way that words cannot.鈥�
She said when they鈥檙e making beautiful music together, she鈥檚 always reminded of her own roots in a small community where orchestral music was not easily accessible.
鈥淚t鈥檚 been my aspiration and inspiration to bring my own love of music to be a personal experience that other people can have.鈥�
Miller, 46, said she hoped the community would 鈥渃ontinue to love and cherish this orchestra鈥� that has changed and grown along with it.
She said she鈥檚 excited by the new season鈥檚 diversity. Highlights include its Classics series focus on Haydn; Shostakovich鈥檚 Symphony No. 5, which Miller conducted in her first season; a new piece written in her honour by her mentor Bramwell Tovey, Vancouver Symphony Orchestra鈥檚 music director; and vocalist Jim Witter鈥檚 return with a Simon & Garfunkel tribute.
Miller has also planned musical celebrations of sa国际传媒鈥檚 sesquicentennial, including a Concert of Remembrance at the Bay Street Armoury and programs highlighting Canadian landscapes and literature.
鈥淲e want to celebrate Tania and continue to make this orchestra essential,鈥� said Krieger. 鈥淲e want to give people a shared experience, to enrich their lives through extraordinary music.鈥�
James Hesser, the retired Dominion Astrophysical Observatory director and symphony board member, said he鈥檚 been astonished by its growth.
The passionate music lover and his wife Betty lived in South America before moving to Victoria in 1977 鈥渁nd then the 21 per cent mortgages hit, so there was no way we were attending anything.鈥�
Once the financial climate improved, they began buying the 鈥渃heapest tickets we could afford鈥� and became subscribers cherishing a gift he says we shouldn鈥檛 take for granted.
鈥淲e all have CDs, wonderful renditions of classical music at home but when we come to this theatre and you experience the music live it鈥檚 an amazing thing,鈥� said Hesser. 鈥淣othing can compare.鈥�
Other highlights include appearances by pianists Lorraine Min, Krzysztf Jablonski, Sara Davis Buechner and Andre Laplante; Miller鈥檚 final collaboration with concertmaster and violinist Terence Tam as soloist; Science @ the Symphony with CBC鈥檚 Quirks and Quarks host Bob McDonald; tenor Ken Lavigne鈥檚 Celtic Celebration; and A Sentimental Christmas, featuring conductor Brian Jackson and Canadian College of Performing Arts performers.
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