After a long hiatus from live performances, Victoria Symphony and Pacific Opera are thrilled to co-present a two-week summer festival on the beautiful Whosaykum grounds at St. Ann’s Academy in downtown Victoria.
For 10 days this summer—July 22 to 26 and July 29 to August 2—Open Air: A Summer Festival of Music will feature an eclectic variety of instrumental chamber music, opera arias, show tunes and family-friendly programs set in the luscious gardens of St. Ann’s Academy. Programs feature Victoria Symphony musicians and singers who are regular collaborators with Pacific Opera. Featured vocalists include soprano Lara Ciekiewicz, mezzo-soprano Marion Newman, tenor Adam Luther and baritone Bruce Kelly.
The festival will feature two stages and up to 12 programs daily: the Music Garden, with physically distanced seating for up to 50 people, and the Courtyard Stage, accommodating up to 100 people. Programs will be approximately 45 minutes in duration and tickets will be required. A complete schedule of concerts (including family-friendly programs) will be available in early July at victoriasymphony.ca and pacificopera.ca.
The festival will also feature a variety of “pop-up” events in various locations on the grounds. Entitled Music in the Meadows, these unscheduled instrumental and vocal performances will include a diversity of artists from many cultural traditions that now co-exist on these territories. These programs will in involve Indigenous performers, artists who are visitors to the territory, young musicians, as well as programs designed especially for families. QR codes throughout the grounds invite visitors to enjoy personal music experiences even when the grounds seem quiet. These short performances will be up to 10 minutes and are free for everyone.
Tickets ($10-$35) go on sale July 6 at noon at victoriasymphony.ca and pacificopera.ca