VSO's June Concert Listings

We’Äôre hitting the home stretch, as June marks the final month of concerts for the VSO’Äôs 2008/09 Season! We’Äôre close to making it through another successful Symphony Season with just six performances in the month ’Äì but what a group of concerts!

June concerts begin right off the bat with pianist Benjamin Hochman making his VSO debut on June 1^st at the Orpheum. VSO Conductor Laureate Kazuyoshi Akiyama conducts the orchestra in a concert that features a rarely performed Mozart piano concerto and the passionate music of Russian master Sergey Prokofiev.

Next up is a classical blockbuster featuring Schubert’Äôs Rosamunde and Mahler’Äôs Symphony No.6. Mahler’Äôs deeply tragic Symphony No.6 is one of the most extraordinary pieces of music ever written, one of the great canons of the symphonic literature. This concert is sure to be an epic musical experience; live concerts with music like this is why symphony orchestra’Äôs exist.

Recognized as one of the most beloved musical figures of our time, the great Frederica von Stade (famously known as ’ÄòFlicka’Äô worldwide) makes her VSO debut teamed up with Samuel Ramey, the world’Äôs foremost operatic bass-baritone. A concert for the ages, these two extraordinary artists at the peak of their careers perform music by Gounod, Berlioz, Boito, Offenbach, Copland and Gershwin. Bramwell Tovey conducts.

The VSO’Äôs Season Finale is a real barn-burner: Carl Orff’Äôs celebrated Carmina Burana. This work is a musical setting of medieval poetry, from the sacred to the profane, from piety to drinking songs and debauchery. It also happens to be one of the wildest live concert experiences you can possibly have. A wonderful Season Finale for Lower Mainland audiences, and a prelude to the excitement of the 2009/2010 Season!

CONCERT INFO

PricewaterhouseCoopers Masterworks Silver Series:

Melody and Power: Mozart and Prokofiev

Saturday & Monday, May 30 & June 1, 8pm, Orpheum Theatre

Kazuyoshi Akiyama, conductor

Benjamin Hochman, piano

Kabalevsky Colas Breugnon: Overture, Op. 24

Mozart Piano Concerto No. 9 in E-flat Major, Jeunehomme

Prokofiev Symphony No. 5 in B-flat Major, Op. 100

Tickets $25 to $78.50 (Student, Senior and Subscriber discounts available)

Tickets available by phone at 604.876.3434 or online at www.vancouversymphony.ca

Generously Supported By:

Series Sponsor: PricewaterhouseCoopers

Video Screen Sponsor: TELUS

Video screen presentations created and produced by students and staff of digital video productions at Columbia Academy.

Radio Sponsor: CKNW AM980

Masterworks Gold Series:

Classical Blockbuster: Mahler’Äôs Titanic

Saturday & Monday, June 6 & 8, 8pm, Orpheum Theatre

Bramwell Tovey, conductor

Schubert Rosamunde: Ballet Music (selections tbc)

Mahler Symphony No. 6 in A minor, Tragic

Tickets $25 to $78.50 (Student, Senior and Subscriber discounts available)

Tickets available by phone at 604.876.3434 or online at www.vancouversymphony.ca

Generously Supported By:

Radio Sponsor: CKNW AM980

Specials

Flicka and Ramey: A Concert for the Ages

Thursday, June 11, 8pm, Orpheum Theatre

Bramwell Tovey, conductor

Frederica von Stade, mezzo-soprano

Samuel Ramey, bass

Tickets $45 to $165 (Student, Senior and Subscriber discounts available)

Tickets available by phone at 604.876.3434 or online at www.vancouversymphony.ca

Masterworks Diamond Series:

Carmina Burana!

Saturday & Monday, June 13 & 15, 8pm, Orpheum Theatre

Bramwell Tovey, conductor

Laura Whalen, soprano

Colin Ainsworth, tenor

Hugh Russell, baritone

Vancouver Bach Choir

Vancouver Bach Children’Äôs Chorus

Stravinsky Symphony of Psalms

Orff Carmina Burana

Tickets $25 to $78.50 (Student, Senior and Subscriber discounts available)

Tickets available by phone at 604.876.3434 or online at www.vancouversymphony.ca

Generously Supported By:

Radio Sponsor: CKNW AM980