MUSICIANS GET THEIR HOLIDAY ACTS IN TUNE
Plethora of seasonal performances starts Saturday
In a matter of hours it will be December, and the annual banquet of seasonal music is already off and running. Given the renewed popularity of Advent calendars, it would be a fine thing to offer a one-dayat-a-time list of music events. Alas, the growing trend is for weekend performances, and that forces even the most eager listeners to select and plan. So we’ll be making a list of holiday events over the course of several previews. Yes, there is just that much to consider.
Early starters include one of the biggest events of the season, Christmas with the Vancouver Bach Choir, this Sunday at 2 p.m. at the Orpheum (601 Smithe St.). This big, multi-ensemble blowout is always well attended and always a fine Christmas blend of repertoire. Tickets from $18 at vancouverbachchoir.com or call 604-872-8789.
Musica Intima isn’t quite as fast off the mark, but the conductorless group does plan to offer the first of its A Christmas Story programs Dec. 8, 2 p.m. at North Burnaby’s Brentwood Presbyterian Church (1600 Delta Ave.). Tickets from $16.55 at musicintima.org. More about repeat performances next week.
Although written for Easter, Handel’s Messiah has been a feature of a Vancouver Christmas, since, well, forever. This season we have performances both downtown and in the suburbs. The new Surrey City Orchestra and the Kwantlen Polytechnic University Chorus (now there’s a mouthful!) are first out of the gate with a performance this Saturday at 7:30 p.m., at Fleetwood Reform Church (9165 160 St.). Tickets from $20 at surreycityorch.brownpapertickets.com.
Jon Washburn’s Vancouver Chamber Choir has done quite a few Messiahs over the course of 48 seasons. This year, augmented by the Pacifica Singers plus chamber orchestra and a fine quartet of soloists, the choir gives its latest performance of Handel’s greatest hit Dec. 7, 8 p.m., at the Orpheum. Tickets from $31.75 at vancouverchamberchoir.com or call 604738-6822.
And Les Dala and the Vancouver Bach Choir can be heard in another Messiah the following day in Surrey at the spiffy Bell Performing Arts Centre (6250 144 St.), also with the Surrey City Orchestra, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets from $34.25 at vancouverbachchoir.com or call 604-872-8789.
The traffic mayhem associated with the dark days of December makes neighbourhood events especially welcome. Lars Kaario’s North Shore-based vocal ensemble Laudate plans A German Baroque Christmas, featuring music for choir and baroque chamber orchestra by J.S. Bach, Schutz, and Praetorius, Dec. 8, 8 p.m. at Highlands United Church (3255 Edgemont Blvd.). Tickets from $10 at laudatesingers.com or call 604729-6814.
While choirs are the star performers at Christmas, there are instrumental options too. The Vancouver Symphony Orchestra does the holidays in a big way with its perennial A Traditional Christmas shows later in the month. But other VSO events start right away, with a showcase for ensembles from the VSO School of Music Dec. 4, 7:30 p.m. at Christ Church Cathedral.
The anchor work of the program will feature the VSOSM Sinfonietta performing the soundtrack to the film The Snowman. Then there’s Holiday Hooray!, the December edition of the VSO’s Tiny Tots series, Dec. 7, 10 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. at the Vancouver Playhouse (600 Hamilton St.) and Dec. 8, 10 a.m. at New Westminster’s Anvil Centre (777 Columbia St.). Tickets at vancouversymphony.ca or call 604-876-3434.
A new VSO holiday treat is the latest in the orchestra’s wildly successful practice of screening films with live, full orchestra performances of their scores. Do you even need to ask what’s the December choice? It’s Home Alone, of course, which brings a chance to hear live one of movie music titan John Williams’ rather underrated scores. Two shows, Dec. 14 and 15, 7 p.m. at the Orpheum. Tickets from $37.75 at vancouversymphony. ca or call 604-876-3434.
Finally, for those still in denial about the impending holidays, here are the two best classical bets for December: the Takacs Quartet plays for Friends of Chamber Music, Dec. 3, 3 p.m. at the Vancouver Playhouse. Tickets $50 and $60 at friendsofchambermusic.com or call 778-300-1895. The following Sunday, same time, same place, wonderful British pianist Paul Lewis plays music by Haydn, Beethoven, and Brahms for the Vancouver Recital Society. Tickets from $25 at vanrecital.com or call 604-602-0363.