The Victoria Symphony is launching what it describes as its most ambitious season ever, with a jam-packed repertoire that spans classical masterpieces, contemporary compositions and popular favourites.
The season offers an intense and diverse range of performances, aimed at appealing to a wide array of tastes.
Audiences can expect a rich variety of performances that celebrate the timeless works of Beethoven, Strauss, Shostakovich, Bartók, and Dvorák, while also highlighting Canadian composers and contemporary voices.
The season goes beyond traditional boundaries, incorporating everything from orchestral renditions of iconic film scores like The Princess Bride and Home Alone to genre-crossing performances that include ABBA's hits, Sinatra tunes, Broadway musicals, TV’s Murdoch Mysteries in Concert and more.
The symphony is offering its usual crowd pleasers, such as Canadian Brass performing Christmas pops, but it will also feature the work of Inuk throat singer and cultural icon Tanya Tagaq – along with other artists who break new ground.
“The vision for the 2024/25 season is all about pushing the boundaries of what a symphonic experience can be and making each concert something that really sticks with you,” says Victoria Symphony Music Director Christian Kluxen.
Kluxen, who has been the symphony’s director since 2017, says the upcoming season will stay true to the VSO’s “three main lanes – classical, pops and educational/family concerts,” while aiming for excellence in innovation.
“We’re challenging the idea that people have fixed tastes when it comes to music. What really matters is how the music is presented and how it connects with you. Whether we’re pairing a well-loved classic with something fresh and unexpected, or mixing up different genres in one concert, the goal is to create a story that pulls you in and takes you along for the ride.
“We want every concert to feel like more than just a series of works – it should be an experience that resonates long after the last note.”
Besides Tagaq, featured performers include world-renowned cellist Yo-Yo Ma, Canadian pianists Angela Hewitt and Jon Kimura Parker, Victoria-born violinist Timothy Chooi and tenor Josh Lovell, and pianist/vocalist Tony DeSare.
“Each concert is designed to be approachable, no matter what kind of music you’re into, because we want everyone to find something they connect with,” Kluxen says.
“In short, this season is about breaking new ground – engaging, inspiring and connecting with our community in fresh ways, making sure every concert feels like a meaningful adventure you can take away and keep in your heart.”
The Victoria Symphony's season begins Sept. 18 and runs until May 11, featuring 30 concert programs.
There is a post-season “special,” as well.
ECHO: Memories of the World on May 29 at McPherson Playhouse, co-presented by the Victoria Symphony and Pacific Opera Victoria, is a multimedia exploration of submerged histories, featuring the Gryphon Trio, mezzo-soprano Marion Newman and actor Aaron Wells, bridging Indigenous and non-Indigenous perspectives through music, video and spoken word.
See the Victoria Symphony Orchestra's full 2024-25 lineup at victoriasymphony.ca
