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Mendelssohn’s Italian Symphony

July 25 @ 7:30 pm

Associate Conductor Giuseppe Pietraroia evokes the sights and sounds of Italy, as captured by Felix Mendelssohn in a musical postcard brimming with Neapolitan flavour! Respighi serves up ‘old wine in new bottles,’ in a charming suite inspired by dances from the Italian Renaissance. Baroque dances also flavour Britten’s Simple Symphony, while Mozart’s dramatic depiction of Don Juan seduces concert goers.

Giuseppe Pietraroia, conductor

Giuseppe Pietraroia is Associate Conductor for the Victoria Symphony and newly appointed Principal Conductor of Pacific Opera Victoria. As a guest conductor he has been engaged by l’Orchestre Métropolitain, Orchestra London, Vancouver Symphony, Toronto Symphony, Calgary Philharmonic, Hamilton Philharmonic, Okanagan Symphony, Regina Symphony, Kingston Symphony and Thunder Bay Symphony.

His extensive opera engagements with Pacific Opera Victoria include productions of Il barbiere di Siviglia, La traviata, La bohème, Lucia di Lammermoor, Norma, Rigoletto, Manon Lescaut, Madama Butterfly, La Cenerentola, Tosca, and Let’s Make an Opera/The Little Sweep. In addition, he has conducted productions for l’Opéra de Montréal, l’Opéra de Québec, Opera Lyra Ottawa, Edmonton Opera, Opera New Brunswick, Calgary Opera’s Emerging Artist Program, and l’Institut Canadien d’Art Vocal.

With Victoria Choral Society, where he was Music Director for seven seasons, Maestro Pietraroia conducted performances of Handel’s Messiah and Mozart’s Mass in C minor with the Victoria Symphony, a choreographed production of Orff’s Carmina Burana in collaboration with Ballet Victoria, Dvořák’s Stabat Mater, David Fanshawe’s African Sanctus, and the Duruflé and Fauré Requiems.

Maestro Pietraroia has recorded a cd with soprano Marie-Josée Lord and l’Orchestre Métropolitain for the ATMA label, which won a Felix award granted by l’ADISQ and was also nominated for a JUNO award.

Giuseppe Pietraroia is the recipient of the George and Jane Heffelfinger Pacific Opera Victoria Artist of the Year Award and the Canada Council’s Jean-Marie Beaudet Award in Orchestral Conducting.

Mozart: Don Giovanni: Overture
Respighi: Ancient Airs and Dances, Suite No. 2
Britten: Simple Symphony
Mendelssohn: Symphony No. 4 “Italian”

 

Don Giovanni Overture


Mvt IV – Bergamasca from Respighi’s Ancient Airs and Dances Suite 2

 


Britten Simple Symphony

 


Mvt IV – Salterello from Mendelssohn’s Italian Symphony

 

Details

Date:
July 25
Time:
starts at 7:30 pm

Organizer

Victoria Symphony

Venue

Christ Church Cathedral
930 Burdett Ave + Google Map

Concert Programme

  • Mozart
    Don Giovanni: Overture
  • Respighi
    Ancient Airs and Dances, Suite No. 2
  • Britten
    Simple Symphony
  • Mendelssohn
    Symphony No. 4 "Italian"

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