Presented by
Music fills the warm summer air once again as our Symphony in the Summer Festival returns from July 24 – August 3, 2024. Join us for our annual summer music festival around some of Vancouver Island’s most beautiful locations.
We gratefully acknowledge the financial support of the Province of British Columbia.
Festival Supporter
Wednesday, July 24, 7:30 pm
Christ Church Cathedral
JULIA WEDMAN, violin/leader
MARK McDONALD, organ
Bach: Suite No. 3 in D major
Grimaldi: Sinfonia from Pallade e Marte
Vivaldi: Violin Concerto in D minor “For Anna Maria”: I. Allegro
Handel: Organ Concerto No. 13 in F Major, “The Cuckoo and the Nightingale”
Handel: Royal Fireworks Music
Baroque specialist Julia Wedman leads Bach’s much-loved Air on the G String, plus Handel’s explosive Royal Fireworks, and a concerto inspired by bird song. Wedman also shines a light on Maria Grimani (the first woman to have her opera staged at the Vienna Court Theatre) and Anna Maria “dal Violin,” a student of Vivaldi who went from an orphan to become a famed violin soloist.
Thursday, July 25, 7:30 pm
Christ Church Cathedral
GIUSEPPE PIETRAROIA, conductor
Mozart: Don Giovanni: Overture
Respighi: Ancient Airs and Dances, Suite No. 2
Britten: Simple Symphony
Mendelssohn: Symphony No. 4 “Italian”
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!
Friday, July 26, 5:00 pm
The Atrium
GIUSEPPE PIETRAROIA, conductor
Mozart: Don Giovanni: Overture
Haydn: Symphony No. 73 – Mvt. IV
Mozart: Three German Dances
Salieri: Sinfonia in D “La Venziana” – Mvt. I
Mozart: Symphony No. 35 “Haffner” – Mvt. IV
Handel: Royal Fireworks Music – Mvt. III-V
Mendelssohn: Symphony No. 4 “Italian” – Mvt. I
Start your weekend right with a cocktail, appetizers, and the excellence of the VS in the most intimate and informal of settings. One of our signature events, this highly social gathering takes the music you love outside the concert hall, offering an entirely different VS experience.
Doors open at 5:00 pm
Cocktail hour from 5:00 – 6:00 pm
VS Orchestra at 6:00 pm
Sunday, July 28, 2:00 pm
Qualicum Beach Civic Centre
GIUSEPPE PIETRAROIA, conductor
Mozart: Don Giovanni: Overture
Handel: Royal Fireworks Music: Overture
Respighi: Ancient Airs and Dances, Suite No. 2
Britten: Simple Symphony
Mendelssohn: Symphony No. 4 “Italian”
VS makes a welcome summer trip to Qualicum Beach! Associate Conductor Giuseppe Pietraroia entices concertgoers with Mozart’s dramatic depiction of Don Juan. The fireworks continue with music of Handel, as well as Respighi’s suite inspired by Renaissance dances. Britten’s Simple Symphony revisits the baroque in playful fashion, while Mendelssohn evokes the sights and sounds of Italy in a symphonic postcard brimming with Neapolitan flavour!
Qualicum Beach Presenting Sponsor
Thursday, August 1, 8:00 pm
The Butchart Gardens
GIUSEPPE PIETRAROIA, conductor
ELANA LIN, violin
LUCIA CESARONI, soprano
JUSTIN WELSH, baritone
Verdi: La forza del destino: Overture
Beethoven: Symphony No. 6 “Pastoral” – Mvt. I
Mozart: Violin Concerto No. 5 “Turkish” Mvt. III
Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 5 – Mvt. III Valse
Mozart: Così fan tutte: “Come scoglio”
Dvořák: Czech Suite – Mvt III & V
Mozart: Concert aria “Rivolgete a lui lo sguardo”
Mozart: La clemenza di Tito: Overture
J. Strauss Jr.: Emperor Waltzes
A signature musical event of the summer! The VS Orchestra, led by Associate Conductor Giuseppe Pietraroia performs at the beautiful Butchart Gardens alongside soprano Lucia Cesaroni, baritone Justin Welsh, and young violin soloist Elana Lin.
This concert is included in the price of admission to The Butchart Gardens. Admission to The Gardens can be purchased in advance or upon arrival at the venue.
Friday, August 2, 7:30 pm
Christ Church Cathedral
PACIFIC BAROQUE ORCHESTRA
ALEXANDER WEIMANN, conductor
THE VICTORIA SYMPHONY PRESENTS THE PACIFIC BAROQUE ORCHESTRA’S PRODUCTION OF THE MONTEVERDI VESPERS.
Claudio Monteverdi’s Vespers of 1610 is an undisputed masterpiece of spiritual and emotional depth, at times intimate and reverent, grand and dramatic, thrilling and sensual. Brilliant instrumental writing paired with impressive choruses and solos create an opulent tribute to the Virgin Mary, a testament to Monteverdi’s attention to the expressive power of music.
In this performance of this rarely-performed work, Alexander Weimann leads ten international soloists and a collection of 17th-century instrumentalists, including the peerless Bruce Dickey on cornetto.
Friday, August 2, 5:00 pm
Cameron Bandshell, Beacon Hill Park
GIUSEPPE PIETRAROIA, conductor
Various, arr. Polster: That’s Entertainment
Horner: James Horner: Hollywood Blockbusters
Rodgers & Hammerstein: The Sound of Music
Lerner & Loewe: Camelot – Selections
Morricone: Gabriel’s Oboe, from The Mission
Gershwin, arr. Sayre: I Got Rhythm
Portman: Emma: End Titles
Brooks, arr. Ricketts: The Producers
Korngold: The Sea Hawk – Suite
Loesser arr. Custer: Music from Guys and Dolls
Schwartz: Highlights from Wicked
Williams: Flying Theme, from E.T.
VS offers two free full orchestral concerts at the Cameron Bandshell in beautiful Beacon Hill Park. Take a bench seat, or bring your own chair and blanket, and enjoy an early evening concert featuring excerpts from our 2024/25 Pops Series.
Saturday, August 3, 6:00 pm
Cameron Bandshell, Beacon Hill Park
GIUSEPPE PIETRAROIA, conductor
LUCIA CESARONI, soprano
JUSTIN WELSH, baritone
Verdi: La forza del destino: Overture
Beethoven: Symphony No. 6 “Pastoral” – Mvt. I
Mozart: Così fan tutte: “Come scoglio”
Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 5 – Mvt. III Valse
Mozart: La clemenza di Tito: Overture
Mozart: Concert aria “Rivolgete a lui lo sguardo”
Portman: Emma: End Titles
Verdi: Rigoletto: Duet, Act I “Figlia!… Mio padre!”
J. Strauss Jr.: Emperor Waltzes
VS offers two free full orchestral concerts at the Cameron Bandshell in beautiful Beacon Hill Park. Take a bench seat, or bring your own chair and blanket, and enjoy an early evening concert featuring excerpts from our upcoming Masterworks Series, as well as excerpts from Pacific Opera Victoria’s 2024/25 Season.
620 View Street, Suite 610
Victoria, BC, Canada V8W 1J6
Regular Hours: Monday to Friday 9am to 12pm and 1pm to 4pm, except holidays.
The Victoria Symphony performs on the traditional lands of the Songhees, Esquimalt, and W̱SÁNEĆ peoples whose historical relationships with the land continue to this day. We extend our respect as well as our appreciation for this opportunity.