CRITICS’ PICKS

CLASSICAL MUSIC

What: Beethoven’s Seventh Symphony When: Sunday, 2:30 p.m. Where: Royal Theatre Tickets: $32 to $55, victoriasymphony.ca Why: Victoria Symphony concertmaster Terence Tam is featured in this weekend’s concert, performing two Mozart violin concerti. Tam, also a medical doctor, has played with the orchestra for about 10 years and is an accomplished touring musician. The concert also features one of Beethoven’s most popular symphonies. Symphony No. 7 was written as an homage to soldiers and is noted for its rhythmic energy and celebratory emotion. — Sarah Petrescu, Times Colonist

FILM

What: The Florida Project Where: Cineplex Odeon When: Check ads for showtimes Why: A garish purple motel that houses transients and welfare recipients in the shadow of Orlando’s Magic Kingdom is just one of many flourishes that make director Sean Baker’s portrait of marginalized characters getting by in the Sunshine State a poignant experience. This slice of social realism’s other wonders include amazingly naturalistic performances from Brooklyn Prince as Moonee, its plucky and mischievous sixyear-old heroine, Bria Vinaite as her loving but neglectful trash-talking mother and a quietly affecting Willem Dafoe, cast against type as the exasperated yet sympathetic motel manager. While mainstream moviegoers might object to its failure to meet conventional expectations in terms of plot and action, that’s what makes this film such a standout. — Michael D. Reid, Times Colonist

KIDS’ MUSIC

What: Raffi When: Sunday, 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. Where: Royal Theatre Tickets: $33.25 Why: It’s all there in the title of this show — From Singable Songs to Child Honouring: 40 Years of Raffi — which should give families a pretty good indication of what’s ahead in the pair of weekend performances by one of the country’s most renowned entertainers. The hitmaker behind Baby Beluga (born Raffi Cavoukian) is bringing his anniversary tour to Victoria for two shows Saturday, the second of which was added to meet audience demand. No surprise there. Fans who were once kids now have kids of their own, so the whole theatre audience will join in for the Sunday afternoon singalong. — Mike Devlin, Times Colonist