In Wednesday’s (10/9) Vancouver Sun, David Gordon Duke writes, “As an example of fresh strategies, the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra is mounting a number of high-profile events designed to lure new listeners away from their game consoles and televisions: The Legend of Zelda: Symphony of the Goddesses—Second Quest, and the pops concert The Cocktail Hour: Music of the Mad Men Era. In an amiably contrarian spirit, I’d like to point out four autumn performances that, while part of the classical raison d’être for the VSO, still make for just-slightly-outside the box hearing.” Among the lineup Duke discusses are concerts featuring Music Director Bramwell Tovey (Tchaikovsky, early orchestral suites by Bernstein) and guest conductor Mei-Ann Chen (Tchaikovsky’s Winter Dreams, Saibei Dance by Toronto resident An-lun Huang); violinist Augustin Hadelich in Dvorák’s violin concerto; music for choir and orchestra by Poulenc led by British guest conductor Simon Wright; and guest conductor Jun Markl with violinist Nicola Benedetti in a program of Scottish-themed works.
Posted October 11, 2013
