2026/27 Season

Your Symphony. Your Season.

“So here it is: our most ambitious season yet. Repertoire of greater scale and consequence; music that tests us, elevates us, alongside a remarkable lineup of guest artists and more renowned soloists than ever before, joining us not as adornments, but as true partners in music-making we are now known for. I am profoundly proud of what this season represents, and I remain deeply committed to this orchestra and its community. I hope you will be part of it by joining us in the hall, bringing others with you, and standing behind what we are creating.” — Christian Kluxen, Music Director

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2026/27 Season at a Glance

September

October

November

December

January

February

March

April

May

September

SEASON OPENING: KLUXEN & HETHERINGTON – BEETHOVEN SYMPHONY NO. 7
Sunday, September 13, 2:30 pm
Royal Theatre

CHRISTIAN KLUXEN, conductor
ALEX HETHERINGTON, mezzo-soprano

Friedrich Kuhlau: Elverhøj (Elves’ Hill) Overture
Hector Berlioz: Les Nuits d’été (Summer Nights)
Britta Byström: A Walk to Beethoven
Ludwig van Beethoven: Symphony No. 7 in A major

A festive Danish curtain-raiser by Friedrich Kuhlau (Beethoven’s contemporary and a composer central to Denmark’s musical identity) sets the tone for a season that celebrates place and belonging in a time when national songs resonate more than ever. Berlioz, another nineteenth-century visionary who expanded the orchestra’s expressive range, turns that brightness inward with Les Nuits d’été, a tender farewell to summer sung by mezzo-soprano Alex Hetherington. Britta Byström’s A Walk to Beethoven, commissioned by Christian Kluxen during his Arctic Philharmonic tenure, answers across time with a luminous bridge leading naturally into Beethoven’s radiant Seventh Symphony—a “celebration of humanity being unworried and free.”

ARETHA – A TRIBUTE
Saturday, September 19, 7:30 pm
Sunday, September 20, 2:30 pm
Royal Theatre

SEAN O’LOUGHLIN, conductor
CAPATHIA JENKINS & RYAN SHAW, vocalists

R-E-S-P-E-C-T! The “Queen of Soul,” Aretha Franklin, is celebrated in a powerhouse concert of her greatest hits, from Respect and Think to A Natural Woman, Chain of Fools, and Amazing Grace. Broadway star Capathia Jenkins and three-time GRAMMY®-nominee Ryan Shaw bring soaring vocals and electric energy to the stage, backed by Sean O’Loughlin and the musicians of the VS. More than a concert, it’s a heartwarming, soul-stirring tribute to one of music’s most legendary voices.

KLUXEN & POULIOT – DVOŘÁK’S NEW WORLD SYMPHONY & SIBELIUS VIOLIN CONCERTO
Sunday, September 27, 2:30 pm
Farquhar at UVic

CHRISTIAN KLUXEN, conductor
BLAKE POULIOT, violin

Heino Eller: Koit (Dawn)
Jean Sibelius: Violin Concerto in D minor
Antonín Dvořák: Symphony No. 9 in E minor (“From the New World”)

Heino Eller’s Dawn captures both the first light of day and the awakening of Estonian national identity after World War I. Sibelius’s Violin Concerto, lyrical and vast, reflects the mystery of the landscape that shaped him, here brought to life by the brilliant Canadian violinist Blake Pouliot. Dvořák’s New World Symphony, written during his stay in America, weaves homesickness and discovery into one of the most beloved works in all symphonic literature.

October

AADLAND & TAM – THE LARK ASCENDING
Sunday, October 4, 2:30 pm
Farquhar at UVic

EIVIND AADLAND, conductor
TERENCE TAM, violin

Elgar: Introduction and Allegro
Williams: The Lark Ascending
Schumann: Symphony No. 2 in C major

Elgar’s Introduction and Allegro was written in 1905 to showcase the virtuosity of the London Symphony Orchestra’s string players and its warmth and elegance remain irresistible today. Vaughan Williams’s beloved The Lark Ascending, performed by VS Concertmaster Terence Tam, floats with pastoral grace and quiet transcendence. The concert concludes with Schumann’s Symphony No. 2, a radiant triumph over adversity, conducted by the distinguished Norwegian maestro Eivind Aadland, Artistic Director of the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra.

THE UNICORN’S BIRTHDAY®
Saturday, October 17, 3:00 pm
Farquhar at UVic

Bob Singleton: “The Unicorn’s Birthday®”

Everyone’s invited to the unicorn’s birthday party! Meet musical penguins, monkeys, ducks, and other whimsical creatures in this interactive concert for young families and sensory-friendly audiences. Composer Bob Singleton—best known for his decade as music director of Barney & Friends—created The Unicorn’s Birthday for the Dallas Symphony, co-commissioned by orchestras across North America. A joyful introduction to the orchestra for all ages.

Not included in subscription purchase discount.  Tickets available to purchase through the UVic Ticket Centre starting Tuesday, July 21, 2026.

PARAMESWARAN & LIU – TCHAIKOVSKY SYMPHONY NO. 1
Sunday, October 25, 2:30 pm
Royal Theatre

VINAY PARAMESWARAN, conductor
SOPHIA LIU, piano

Vivian Fung: Parade
Liszt: Piano Concerto No. 1 in E-flat major
Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 1 in G minor (“Winter Dreams”)

Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 1 evokes the frost-bright landscapes of winter, with its sweeping melodies and crisp orchestral colours revealing a youthful work of striking imagination. Rising Canadian pianist Sophia Liu dazzles in Liszt’s Piano Concerto No. 1, a brilliant showcase of fire, finesse, and fearless virtuosity. Vivian Fung’s Parade opens the concert with the vibrant rhythms and colours of San Francisco’s Lunar New Year celebrations. Vinay Parameswaran, one of the most versatile young conductors on the podium today, leads a program that moves from celebration to triumph in a blaze of orchestral colour.

SPIRITED AWAY – THE MUSIC OF STUDIO GHIBLI
Friday, October 30, 7:30 pm
Sunday, November 1, 2:30 pm
Royal Theatre

JULIANE GALLANT, conductor

Joe Hisaishi: Symphonic Variation “Merry-Go-Round” from Howl’s Moving Castle
Joe Hisaishi: Orchestra Stories: My Neighbor Totoro
Joe Hisaishi: “A Town with an Ocean View” from Kiki’s Delivery Service
Joe Hisaishi: Departures
Joe Hisaishi: Spirited Away Suite

Enter the enchanting worlds of Studio Ghibli through the magical music of Joe Hisaishi, the composer behind their most beloved animated films. This tribute concert journeys through the nostalgic melodies of My Neighbor Totoro, the lyrical flights of Spirited Away, and the epic rhythms of Kiki’s Delivery Service. Each note opens a doorway to wonder, capturing the imagination and heart of every listener—an unforgettable experience for audiences of all ages.

November

SEASON SPECIAL: KLUXEN – RAY CHEN PLAYS MENDELSSOHN
Sunday, November 8, 2:30 pm
Royal Theatre

CHRISTIAN KLUXEN, conductor
RAY CHEN, violin

Samy Moussa: Elysium
Mendelssohn: Violin Concerto in E minor
Bartók: Concerto for Orchestra

Superstar violinist Ray Chen—one of the most celebrated classical artists on the world stage—makes his long-awaited Victoria debut. Acclaimed for his awe-inspiring technique, deep artistry, and magnetic presence both on stage and online, Chen performs Mendelssohn’s beloved Violin Concerto, a perfect showcase for his radiant virtuosity. The concert opens with Canadian composer Samy Moussa’s Elysium, a luminous vision of reward and renewal. Bartók’s masterful Concerto for Orchestra, written in exile yet brimming with vitality and hope, concludes the evening and continues the VS’s exploration of the composer’s bold, transformative orchestral works.

Not included in subscription purchase discount.

KLUXEN & CHOI – PROKOFIEV CLASSICAL & HAYDN CELLO CONCERTO
Sunday, November 15, 2:30 pm
Farquhar at UVic

CHRISTIAN KLUXEN, conductor
HAYOUNG CHOI, cello

Rossini: Il signor Bruschino Overture
Haydn: Cello Concerto No. 1 in C major
Prokofiev: Symphony No. 1 in D major (“Classical”)
Haydn: Symphony No. 75 in D major

Rossini’s mischievous Il signor Bruschino Overture sparkles with wit and charm—proof that classical can also be playful. Hayoung Choi, winner of the 2022 Queen Elisabeth Competition, brings brilliance and elegance to Haydn’s much loved Cello Concerto No. 1. Prokofiev’s Classical Symphony playfully reimagines eighteenth-century forms through a modern lens, before Haydn returns to close with Symphony No. 75, whose humour and grace remind us that true classicism is always alive, never antique.

HUYNH & VALCHEFF – BEETHOVEN SYMPHONY NO. 1 & COPLAND’S TENDER LAND SUITE
Sunday, November 22, 2:30 pm
Royal Theatre

NORMAN HUYNH, conductor
JACOB VALCHEFF, percussion

Copland: The Tender Land Suite
Samuel Kerr: Percussion Concerto
World Premiere – With the support of the Hugh Davidson Fund at the Victoria Foundation
Beethoven: Symphony No. 1 in C major

“The promise of living with hope and thanksgiving / Is born of our loving our friends and our labor.” So sing the closing lines of Copland’s The Tender Land, whose open harmonies celebrate community and gratitude. Dynamic conductor Norman Huynh leads a program grounded in musical friendship: VS Principal Percussion Jacob Valcheff joins as soloist in a vibrant new concerto by Canadian composer Samuel Kerr, commissioned with support from the Hugh Davidson Fund at the Victoria Foundation. Beethoven’s youthful First Symphony closes with exuberant optimism and elegant humour—music born of curiosity, confidence, and connection.

December

CHRISTMAS POPS WITH STEVEN PAGE
Saturday, December 5, 7:30 pm
Sunday, December 6, 2:30 pm
Royal Theatre

STEVEN PAGE, vocalist

Celebrate the season with acclaimed singer-songwriter Steven Page, co-founder of Barenaked Ladies, in a festive concert blending heart, humour, and harmony. Hear the iconic hits Brian Wilson, Jane, Call and Answer, The Old Apartment, and What a Good Boy, along with joyful holiday favourites guaranteed to make you feel merry and bright. A feel-good evening that sparkles with wit, nostalgia, and warmth.

MESSIAH BY CANDLELIGHT
Friday, December 11, 7:30 pm
Saturday, December 12, 7:30 pm
Sunday, December 13, 2:30 pm
Christ Church Cathedral

GIUSEPPE PIETRAROIA, conductor
SARAH DUFRESNE, soprano
GEORGIA BURASHKO, mezzo-soprano
JAMES REESE, tenor
SUMNER THOMPSON, baritone
VICTORIA CHORAL SOCIETY
BRIAN WISMATH, conductor
CHRIST CHURCH CATHEDRAL YOUNG CHORISTERS

Handel: Messiah

“Hallelujah!” In 1741, Handel composed his great oratorio Messiah in just three weeks, and its message of hope and redemption has echoed ever since. Victoria’s magnificent Christ Church Cathedral glows with candlelight as the VS, local choirs, and four outstanding soloists bring this timeless story to life—a tradition that has sold out two years in a row!

Concert Sponsor

CHRISTMAS POPS WITH THE VS
Wednesday, December 16, 3:00 pm
Wednesday, December 16, 7:30 pm
Mary Winspear Centre

Thursday, December 17, 3:00 pm
Thursday, December 17, 7:30 pm
Qualicum Beach Civic Centre

GIUSEPPE PIETRAROIA, conductor

Santa Claus isn’t the only one coming to town! Maestro Giuseppe Pietraroia and the VS make a welcome return to Sidney and Qualicum Beach for the annual favourite Christmas Pops tradition. Bringing you music for The Most Wonderful Time of the Year, from holiday classics to spirited renditions of favourite carols, join us for a festive celebration right in your own backyard!

HOME ALONE IN CONCERT
Saturday, December 19, 7:00 pm
Sunday, December 20, 2:30 pm
Sunday, December 20, 7:00 pm
Royal Theatre

GIUSEPPE PIETRAROIA, conductor

A true holiday favourite, this beloved comedy classic features renowned composer John Williams’ charming and delightful score performed live to picture by the Victoria Symphony. Macaulay Culkin stars as Kevin McCallister, an 8-year-old boy who’s accidentally left behind when his family leaves for Christmas vacation, and who must defend his home against two bungling thieves. Hilarious and heart-warming, Home Alone is holiday fun for the entire family!

© 1990 Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation. All rights reserved.

Not included in subscription purchase discount.

January

NEW YEAR’S DAY CELEBRATION
Friday, January 1, 2:30 pm
Royal Theatre

GIUSEPPE PIETRAROIA, conductor
MATTHEW CAIRNS, tenor
MEMBERS OF PACIFIC OPERA VICTORIA CHORUS
DANCERS FROM BALLET VICTORIA

Ring in the New Year with sparkling arias, choruses, and dances in Victoria’s most joyful musical tradition. Tenor Matthew Cairns joins Ballet Victoria and members of the Pacific Opera Victoria Chorus for an afternoon brimming with glamour, melody, and celebration. A toast to 2027 that has sold out three years running!

LATIN NIGHTS WITH SAL FERRERAS & ADONIS PUENTES
Saturday, January 23, 7:30 pm
Sunday, January 24, 2:30 pm
Royal Theatre

SEAN O’LOUGHLIN, conductor
SAL FERRERAS, percussion
ADONIS PUENTES , vocalist
LATIN JAZZ SEXTET

After their crowd-pleasing Symphony SPLASH! debut in 2025, percussionist Sal Ferreras, vocalist Adonis Puentes, and the Latin Jazz Sextet return with irresistible energy, rhythm, and joy. Featuring new works from Adonis Puentes and Miguelito Valdés, plus musical gems from Lalo Schifrin (Argentina), Ernesto Lecuona (Cuba), Sergio Mendes (Brazil), and Oscar Hernández (Puerto Rico), Latin Nights is an electrifying celebration of song and dance.

KLUXEN – WAGNER/MAAZEL: THE RING WITHOUT WORDS
Sunday, January 31, 2:30 pm
Farquhar at UVic

CHRISTIAN KLUXEN, conductor

Wagner (Arr. Lorin Maazel): Der Ring ohne Worte for Orchestra (The Ring Without Words)

Experience Wagner’s monumental Ring Cycle—Das Rheingold through Götterdämmerung—in a single, seamless symphonic journey. The Ring Without Words, arranged by Lorin Maazel, distills fifteen hours of drama into seventy-five minutes of breathtaking orchestral storytelling. Christian Kluxen leads one of the largest ensembles ever assembled by the VS in this landmark event for Wagnerians and newcomers alike.

February

SEASON SPECIAL: KLUXEN – MARC-ANDRÉ HAMELIN PLAYS RACHMANINOFF’S PIANO CONCERT NO. 3
Sunday, February 7, 2:30 pm
Farquhar at UVic

CHRISTIAN KLUXEN, conductor
MARC-ANDRÉ HAMELIN, piano

Rachmaninoff: Piano Concerto No. 3 in D minor
Brahms: Symphony No. 1 in C minor

Canadian piano legend Marc-André Hamelin, hailed by The New York Times for his “near-superhuman technical prowess,” takes on the towering “Rach 3,” one of the most challenging concertos ever written. Christian Kluxen pairs it with Brahms’s heroic First Symphony, a work born of grief for Schumann yet resolved in radiant strength, affirming resilience through beauty.

Not included in subscription purchase discount.

M IS FOR MUSIC!
Saturday, February 13, 3:00 pm
Farquhar at UVic

SHAUNA JOHANNESEN, writer / performer

Eight-year-old Sarah T. Murdoch isn’t thrilled about her class trip to the Symphony—no sharks, no climbing wall, not even a frog! But with the help of a conductor and a magical book, she discovers that the orchestra is full of adventure. Through music by Mussorgsky, Barber, Bizet, Saint-Saëns, and John Williams, Sarah learns that symphonic music can move hearts, bodies, and imaginations alike. A fun, participatory concert for children and families.

Not included in subscription purchase discount.  Tickets available to purchase through the UVic Ticket Centre starting Tuesday, July 21, 2026.

BAIGENT & CROZMAN – MOZART’S JUPITER & WALTON’S CELLO CONCERTO
Saturday, February 28, 2:30 pm
Royal Theatre

BERTIE BAIGENT, conductor
CAMERON CROZMAN, cello

Marcus Goddard: Antarctica: Life Emerging
Walton: Cello Concerto
Ravel: Pavane pour une infante défunte (Pavane for a Dead Princess)
Mozart: Symphony No. 41 in C major (“Jupiter”)

The program opens with Marcus Goddard’s Antarctica: Life Emerging, an immersive orchestral work and film tracing the fragility of life on one of the planet’s most extreme environments. The evening then turns inward with William Walton’s lyrical Cello Concerto, premiered by Gregor Piatigorsky and brought vividly to life by Canadian cellist Cameron Crozman. After intermission, Maurice Ravel’s Pavane pour une infante défunte opens the second half, its translucent orchestration and nostalgic grace offering a moment of poised reflection. The program concludes with Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s radiant Symphony No. 41, Jupiter, a jubilant finale to the Classical era.

March

HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON IN CONCERT
Wednesday, March 3, 6:30 pm
Thursday, March 4, 6:30 pm
Royal Theatre

SEAN O’LOUGHLIN, conductor

A young Viking named Hiccup defies tradition when he befriends a ferocious dragon he calls Toothless, and together, these unlikely heroes must fight against all odds to save both their worlds. Featuring John Powell’s Oscar-nominated score performed live to picture by the Victoria Symphony, DreamWorks’ How to Train Your Dragon is a thrilling experience for all ages.

Not included in subscription purchase discount.

SINATRA AND FRIENDS IN HOLLYWOOD
Friday, March 5, 7:30 pm
Qualicum Beach Civic Centre

Saturday, March 6, 7:30 pm
Sunday, March 7, 2:30 pm
Royal Theatre

SEAN O’LOUGHLIN, conductor / co-creator
JULIA GOODWIN & NICK ZIOBRO, vocalists

Come Fly With Me! This film-with-symphony event celebrates four-time Oscar®-winning songwriter Jimmy Van Heusen, whose music defined Hollywood’s golden era. Hits like Love and Marriage, All the Way, Ain’t That a Kick in the Head, My Kind of Town and more come to life on stage and screen with iconic performances by Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole, Ella Fitzgerald, Dean Martin, and Bing Crosby. Sean O’Loughlin’s arrangements and guest vocalists bring to life an unforgettable evening of swing and style.

COHN & PION – RIMSKY-KORSAKOV’S SCHEHERAZADE
Sunday, March 14, 2:30 pm
Royal Theatre

MAURICE COHN, conductor
ÉLISABETH PION, piano

Jocelyn Morlock: Oiseaux bleus et sauvages (Wild Blue Birds)
Falla: Noches en los jardines de España (Nights in the Gardens of Spain)
Rimsky-Korsakov: Scheherazade

VS transforms the Royal Theatre into a gallery of musical paintings under guest conductor Maurice Cohn. Jocelyn Morlock’s Oiseaux bleus et sauvages captures the exuberance of wild birds in flight; pianist Élisabeth Pion, Radio- Canada’s 2024–25 Classical Revelation, brings vivid colour to Falla’s Nights in the Gardens of Spain. Finally, Rimsky- Korsakov’s Scheherazade unfolds its timeless tales of adventure and imagination—a symphonic storytelling masterpiece.

TAUSK – BACH’S MASS IN B MINOR
Saturday, March 20, 7:30 pm
Sunday, March 21, 2:30 pm
Christ Church Cathedral

OTTO TAUSK, conductor
YULIA VAN DOREN, soprano
DANIELLE REUTTER-HARRAH, soprano
SARA COUDEN, alto
JAMES REESE, tenor
SUMNER THOMPSON, baritone
VANCOUVER CHAMBER CHOIR

Bach: Mass in B minor, BWV 232

Bach’s Mass in B minor stands as one of the greatest summations of his genius. Vancouver Symphony Orchestra Music Director Otto Tausk leads the VS, Vancouver Chamber Choir, and five exceptional soloists in a sweeping tapestry of spiritual awe and luminous choral writing. Sacred or secular in resonance, the Mass invites listeners into a profound meditation on hope, beauty, and transcendence.

THE SCIENCE OF SOUND
Saturday, March 27, 3:00 pm
Farquhar at UVic

MAESTRO JOEY, conductor
BOB McDONALD, host

A symphony makes a giant sound, but did you know it all comes from just four basic actions? Hitting, blowing, stroking, and plucking! Join CBC Quirks & Quarks host Bob McDonald for a lively afternoon of scientific hijinks the whole family will enjoy. With plenty of audience participation, discover how everyday objects can create music, how those sounds compare to the orchestra, and how you can build your own instruments!

Not included in subscription purchase discount.  Tickets available to purchase through the UVic Ticket Centre starting Tuesday, July 21, 2026.

April

TZIGANE, BOUTIN-BOURQUE, & GUNTER – SCHUBERT SYMPHONY NO. 9
Sunday, April 11, 2:30 pm
Royal Theatre

EUGENE TZIGANE, conductor
DAVID BOUTIN-BOURQUE, clarinet
JENNIFER GUNTER, bassoon

Jacques Hétu: Légendes (Legends)
R. Strauss: Concertino for Clarinet and Bassoon in F major
Schubert: Symphony No. 9 in C major (“The Great”)

Canadian composer Jacques Hétu’s Légendes weaves three Québec folk tales into devilishly clever orchestral storytelling, rich in colour and dramatic flair. Richard Strauss’s Concertino for Clarinet and Bassoon offers a rare and playful spotlight for two wind soloists, and provides a special opportunity to feature Victoria Symphony’s own principal players, David Boutin-Bourque (Principal Clarinet) and Jennifer Gunter (Principal Bassoon), in a work full of wit, lyricism, and elegant dialogue. Schubert’s monumental Ninth Symphony crowns the program: a vast, life-affirming journey often likened to a four volume novel that leaves you yearning for more. Guest conductor Eugene Tzigane unites these works through a shared fascination with storytelling, character, and symphonic scale.

KLUXEN & SARKISSIAN – SCHUBERT SYMPHONY NO. 5 AND RAUTAVAARA FLUTE CONCERTO
Sunday, April 18, 2:30 pm
Farquhar at UVic

CHRISTIAN KLUXEN, conductor
ARIN SARKISSIAN, flute, piccolo, alto flute, & bass flute

Langgaard: Upaaagted Morgenstjerner (Unnoticed Morning Stars)
Einojuhani Rautavaara: Flute Concerto (“Dances with the Winds”)
Schubert: Symphony No. 5 in B-flat major
Josef Strauss: Sphärenklänge (Music of the Spheres) – Waltz

Heavenly inspiration and earthly beauty intertwine in this celestial program. Langgaard (Danish visionary, eccentric, and long misunderstood) paints a luminous morning sky, his melodic imagination anticipating modernism’s bold colours. Rautavaara’s Dances with the Winds, performed by VS Principal Flute Arin Sarkissian, breathes spiritual life and mystery into the instrument’s voice. Schubert’s pastoral and light Fifth Symphony follows, clear and human in its warmth, before Josef Strauss brings us full circle with his cosmic Music of the Spheres, where Viennese grace meets the harmony of the heavens.

KLUXEN & PARKER – MOZART & SIBELIUS
Sunday, April 25, 2:30 pm
Royal Theatre

CHRISTIAN KLUXEN, conductor
JON KIMURA PARKER, piano

Raminta Šerkšnytė: Midsummer Song
Mozart: Piano Concerto No. 9 in E-flat major (“Jenamy”)
Sibelius: Symphony No. 3 in C major

Internationally acclaimed pianist Jon “Jackie” Kimura Parker—one of Canada’s most beloved and dynamic artists—brings elegance, wit, and sparkle to Mozart’s radiant Jenamy (also known as Jeunehomme) Concerto. Lithuanian composer Raminta Šerkšnytė’s Midsummer Song glows with the serenity and timelessness of the solstice, while Sibelius’s Third Symphony, a masterpiece of restraint and clarity, closes the program with balance, poise, and quiet revolution. Music that finds grandeur not in excess, but in refinement.

May

STAR WARS: A NEW HOPE IN CONCERT
Friday, April 30, 7:00 pm
Saturday, May 1, 7:00 pm
Sunday, May 2, 2:30 pm
Sunday, May 2, 7:00 pm
Royal Theatre

SEAN O’LOUGHLIN, conductor

Star Wars: A New Hope™ sees young Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) beginning to discover his destiny. Joined by Jedi Obi-Wan Kenobi, hotshot pilot Han Solo (Harrison Ford), and droids R2-D2 and C-3PO, the rogue team sets out to rescue Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher) and mount a climactic battle with Darth Vader. Experience the magic of this intergalactic epic like never before as the Victoria Symphony performs John Williams’ Oscar®-winning score LIVE to the film on the big screen.

Presentation licensed by DISNEY CONCERTS in association with 20th Century Fox, Lucasfilm and Warner/Chappell Music. © 2018 TM LUCASFILM LTD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Not included in subscription purchase discount.

KLUXEN – SHOSTAKOVICH LENINGRAD SYMPHONY
Sunday, May 9, 2:30 pm
Royal Theatre

CHRISTIAN KLUXEN, conductor

Shostakovich: Symphony No. 7 in C major (“Leningrad”)

Shostakovich’s monumental Seventh Symphony was composed in 1942 during the brutal Nazi siege of Leningrad, as the composer refused evacuation and wrote from the besieged city. Its historic performance by the starving musicians of Leningrad, broadcast across the city, became a symbol of defiance against totalitarianism. Later smuggled to New York, the work caused a sensation under Toscanini. Scored for a very large orchestra, this multi-layered symphony questions whether Shostakovich’s dedication refers to the city besieged by the Nazis or the one he reportedly said “Stalin destroyed and Hitler simply finished off.” What remains clear is its powerful portrayal of fascism and the triumph of the human spirit.

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