Since the cancellation of VSO performances starting on March 13^th the support from you, our public, has been incredible. Ticket donations, financial support, and the many messages of goodwill – thank you! You have our deepest appreciation.

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Support the VSO and help us to keep the music playing.

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Up next: VSO@Home08 – The Final Performance of the Summer

Saturday, August 29 – 7:30pm PDT

Join us for the final performance in our VSO@Home series this Saturday at 7:30pm. We have a lovely program for you featuring the music of Muczynski, Shostakovich, Martinu and more performed by members of the VSO.

Saturday, August 1 – 7:00pm PDT

On YouTube

Summertime…and the livin’ is easy!
Members of the VSO celebrate summer in their next VSO@Home release, featuring favourite popular songs (Blue Skies, Summertime and That’s A Plenty) a stroll in the garden (Schön Rosmarin and Ladies in Lavender), and a spirit-lifting Soul Bossa Nova.

Thursday, July 30 – 10am PDT: A Concert in your Kitchen!

On YouTube

Welcome to A Concert in your Kitchen! We are delighted to share an interactive and fun virtual concert that invites YOU to play along with us at home. Get ready to jam with VSO Principal Percussionist Vern Griffiths, Maestro Otto Tausk, several VSO musicians, and their friends, and hear what other kids have to say about some exciting musical masterpieces. We hope you and your families will enjoy this special concert made just for you!

Be ready to jam along with the VSO on instruments you can find in your own house! Before watching the show, with help from an adult, gather the following:

• Pots and pans

• 2 pot lids

• Cardboard boxes

• Crackers, cereal in boxes

• Chopsticks

• Empty pop can or other container with a lid

• 1 handful of dry rice

• 1 cheese grater

• 1 whisk, or spoon

• Tape

• A piece of paper

• 4 different colour crayons

Tuesday, July 7: All You Need is Love

On YouTube

We want to thank all frontline workers for your dedication and selflessness. We love you!

Performed by Doctors, Nurses, Frontline Workers, @Dan Mangan Music and the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra.

Tuesday, June 30: O Canada

On YouTube

The national anthem, filmed for Canada Day at Bon Voyage Plaza at Canada Place and the Vancouver Convention Centre, beside the iconic sculpture ‘The Drop’. Featuring VSO musicians (from left to right in the video) Vince Vohradsky, Larry Knopp, Marcus Goddard, Peder MacLellan, Andrew Mee, and Brian Wendel.

Wednesday, June 24

On YouTube

Members of the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra pay tribute to frontline healthcare workers with a beautiful virtual performance of minimalist icon Arvo Pärt’s Spiegel im Spiegel. The performance by VSO Principal Flute Christie Reside (playing alto flute) and Principal Percussion Vern Griffiths (playing vibraphone) is dedicated to frontline health workers battling the COVID-19 crisis.

Ms. Reside first heard this piece at the start of her own social isolation and instantly felt an emotional connection to the work. She states, “I was thinking of works that would be a fitting tribute, and I wanted to choose something with a powerful, emotional impact that would really show our gratitude to the frontline workers. Spiegel im Spiegel refers to an infinity mirror — what you get when two mirrors are placed facing one another, thereby producing an infinite number of images.”

Thursday, June 11 – 7:30pm PDT

On YouTube

Featuring beautiful performances from VSO musicians of music by Kreisler, Gershwin, Schipizky, and Prokofiev.

Thursday, May 28 – 7:30pm PDT

On YouTube

Featuring beautiful performances from VSO musicians of moving and thoughtful pieces by Fitzenhagen, Telemann, the Danish String Quartet and Messiaen.

Fitzenhagen: Cello Quartet 
Telemann: Sonata in E minor for Two Flutes or violins
Nordic Folk Tunes: Arranged by the Danish String Quartet
Messiaen: Quartet for the End of Time – Final Movement, “Louange à l’Immortalité de Jésus”

Thursday, May 21 – 7:30pm PDT

On YouTube

Featuring chamber music from VSO Concertmaster Nicholas Wright, Pianist Grace Huang, Principal Flute Christie Reside, Principal Percussion Vern Griffiths and the VSO Brass. Filmed in isolation and at the VSO’s Pyatt Hall. Mixed and edited into a gorgeous digital performance.

Aaron Copland: Fanfare for the Common Man 
JS Bach: Partita in A minor for solo flute, BWV 1013
Gabriel Fauré: Violin Sonata in A Major, Opus 13 
Arvo Pärt: Spiegel im Spiegel (Mirror in the Mirror)

Mother’s Day Chamber Concert

May 10, 2020, 2:00pm

Christopher Gaze, guest host
Yi Zhou, first violin
Cassandra Bequary, second violin
Greg Caisley, continuo/organ
Marcus Goddard, trumpet/piano
Angela Goddard, violin
Jasmine Goddard, guitar
Jordana Goddard, soprano

Handel: Trio sonata for two violins and basso continuo in G minor
Handel: Eternal Source of Light Divine, from Ode for the Birthday of Queen Anne; Arranged for Trumpet, Soprano, Violin, and Guitar
Marcus Goddard: Vocalise

Join special guest host Christopher Gaze from Bard on the Beach and musical families from the VSO for a delightful Mother’s Day virtual chamber concert.

Vocalise was a gift to Bramwell Tovey at his Gala concert in June 2018: “In celebration of eighteen years of leadership, guidance, inspiration, and music-making. With respect, thanks, and great affection, from the musicians of the VSO.”

VSO@Home YouTube Premiere Watch-Party

April 21, 7:30pm

Featuring:

Strauss: Serenade for Winds
Rossini: Duet for Cello and Double Bass

With introduction by Maestro Otto Tausk, bassist J. Warren Long and clarinetist Michelle Goddard

VSO@Home Watch-Party Premiere of Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5

April 08, 2020, 7:30pm

Otto Tausk, conductor

Beethoven: Symphony No. 5

Today, we are pleased to share with you something quite special that we captured at the end of BeethovenFest in March. Long before social distancing measures came into place, Maestro Tausk and the musicians of the VSO gathered in an empty Orpheum Theatre for a new recording project: Beethoven’s remarkable 5th Symphony.

Now more than ever we ask for your support to assist us in navigating these difficult times. Please consider making a donation to support the VSO online.

We are so grateful to be able to make music with you and for you. The VSO is taking a short intermission from live performances and looks forward to playing again for you very soon.

BeethovenFest Virtual Finale

March 15, 2020, 2pm

Otto Tausk, conductor
Saleem Ashkar, piano

Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 4
Beethoven: Symphony No. 6 “Pastorale”

In response to the COVID-19 crisis and subsequent closure of Vancouver’s performing arts spaces, Maestro Otto Tausk and the musicians of the VSO gathered in an empty Orpheum Theatre to livestream their performance of Beethoven’s 6th Symphony on March 15, 2020. We hope it brings you comfort and calm through this turbulent time. Please note – this concert was streamed on March 15, 2020 before bans on mass gatherings and recommendations to distance 2 metres apart were implemented. The VSO cares deeply for the health and safety of its musicians and has taken great care to adhere to new health authority recommendations on social distancing as they arise.

Thank you to the following for their generous support of BeethovenFest:

PRESENTING SPONSOR

SERIES & CONCERT SPONSORS

PIANO SOLOISTS APPEAR WITH
THE GENEROUS ASSISTANCE OF
SHEAHAN AND GERALD McGAVIN, C.M., O.B.C

Saleem Ashkar appears courtesy of DECCA Classics

VSO@Home: Q&As

June 10, 2020

Chris James, Acting Principal Flute
Otto Tausk, Music Director
Olivia Blander, Cello (Gerhard and Ariane Bruendl Chair)
Brian Wendel, Principal Trombone

Join host Chris James, Maestro Otto Tausk, and VSO musicians Brian Wendel and Olivia Blander, for a VSO Facebook Live session.

June 3, 2020

Chris James, Acting Principal Flute
Katrina Chitty, Viola
Carina Vincenti, Second Violin

This week, Acting Principal Flute Chris James is joined by VSO musicians, Violist Katrina Chitty, and Violinist Carina Vincenti.

Katrina and Carina are two of the VSO’s most recently tenured musicians and they’ll be talking about their first season in the orchestra and sharing some original stories about life before the VSO. Plus, a special digital performance of music from Mozart’s Eine Kleine Nachtmusik!

May 27, 2020

Chris James, Acting Principal Flute
Bramwell Tovey, Music Director Emeritus
Beth Orson, Assistant Principal Oboe (Chair in Memory of John S. Hodge)
Andrew Brown, Associate Principal Viola

Acting Principal Flute Chris James is joined by VSO Music Director Emeritus Bramwell Tovey, Assistant Principal Oboe Beth Orson, and Assistant Principal Viola Andrew Brown to discuss Vaughan Williams, Chopin, and Bramwell’s history with the VSO.

May 20, 2020

Chris James, Acting Principal Flute
Andrew Crust, Assistant Conductor (Marsha & George Taylor Chair)
Beth Orson, Assistant Principal Oboe (Chair in Memory of John S. Hodge)
Emilie Grimes, Assistant Principal Viola

This week, Acting Principal Flute Chris James is joined by Assistant Conductor Andrew Crust, Assistant Principal Oboe Beth Orson, and Assistant Principal Viola Emilie Grimes to discuss the Tea and Trumpets series, playing in different styles, and managing multiple concert programs in a week.

May 15, 2020

Chris James, Acting Principal Flute
Marcus Goddard, Associate Principal Trumpet
Timothy Steeves, Associate Concertmaster (William and Irene McEwen Chair)
Rebecca Whitling, First Violin

Join us for another VSO Q&A with musicians Chris James, Marcus Goddard, Rebecca Whitling and Timothy Steeves to discuss the music we would have played this weekend.

May 8, 2020

Chris James, Acting Principal Flute
Gwen Seaton, Bassoon
Roger Cole, Principal Oboe (Wayne and Leslie Ann Ingram Chair)
Rosanne Wieringa, Flute (Michael and Estelle Jacobson Chair)

Join the VSO Musicians for a Q&A on Pulcinella!

May 1, 2020

Chris James, Acting Principal Flute
Vern Griffiths, Principal Percussion (Martha Lou Henley Chair)
Larry Knopp, Principal Trumpet
Cassandra Bequary, Second Violin

April 24, 2020

Chris James, Acting Principal Flute
Jenny Jonquil, Principal Clarinet (Robert G. and Suzanne Brodie Chair)
Nicholas Wright, Concertmaster (Ron and Ardelle Cliff Chair)
Elizabeth Volpé Bligh, former Principal Harp

The VSO would have performed the Scheherazade in a trio of concerts this upcoming weekend in Mozart & Rimsky-Korsakov.

Instead, we invite you to live-chat with VSO Acting Principal Flute Chris James, Concertmaster Nicholas Wright, Principal Clarinet Jeanette Jonquil, and former Principal Harp Elizabeth Volpe Bligh as they discuss this famous Russian piece, what it’s like to perform, and what they love about Scheherazade.