Weaving former Chinese traditions with modern perspectives, Unbound is an intense and stylish exploration of ideals of beauty, power dynamics, and gender relationships.
Wen Wei Wang’s choreography uses as its starting point reflections on the former Chinese practice of binding women’s feet in pursuit of status and an impossible erotic ideal, but transcends its cultural origins to unravel sexualities, emotions and relationships that are universally familiar. Tickets: Adult $23, Youth $5 plus HST
Verdi’s Ernani – Angela Meade takes center stage in Verdi’s thrilling early gem. Marcello Giordani is her mismatched lover, and all-star Verdians Dmitri Hvorostovsky and Ferruccio Furlanetto round out the cast.
Stuttgart’s Voca Me ensemble presents the music of the 9th Century Byzantine composer Kassia, the earliest known female composer (predating Hildegard von Bingen by 200 years).
Haunting voices and intuitive arrangements transport listeners to a long-lost age, immersing them in the mysticism of Constantinople. As an emancipated, free thinking, and extraordinarily gifted woman, Kassia was a legend in the intellectual and artistic life of her time.
Pre-concert chat – 1:30pm
Nathan Rogers has agreed to one tour only of the songs of his father Stan Rogers and we are privileged to present him on Salt Spring. Co-presented with Fridas Villa, this will be an exceptional show! Some say he was born into it, some that he was born with it, while others claim he has earned it. With one foot planted firmly in folk music’s traditional roots and the other reaching into its dynamic future, Nathan Rogers isn’t entirely sure what ‘it’ is: singer, songwriter, guitarist, throat-chanter, percussionist, revivalist, or innovator. Whatever it may be, “Nathan has the ability to turn the folk, roots world on its ears.”
To say that Carlos del Junco plays the harmonica is like saying “Jimi Hendrix plays guitar.” He delivers music that’s simultaneously sophisticated and raw, blurring the boundaries between blues and jazz.
The emphasis in on blues, but Carlos and his band are not afraid to strike off in other directions, delivering a seamless fusion of New Orleans second line grooves, swing, Latin, hip-hop or ska melodies, and swampy roots rock.
Founded in 1979 by the late Dr Elmer Iseler, the “Dean of Canadian Choral Conductors”, the Elmer Iseler Singers remain one of our country’s most important musical institutions. Under current conductor Lydia Adams, the 20-voice, fully professional choir performs throughout Canada and the US as well as internationally. With repertoire that spans 500 years of choral music, the Elmer Iseler Singers are known for their beauty of tone and wide interpretive range. The choir regularly commissions and performs new works, and is frequently involved in radio and television broadcasts and a variety of recording projects.
An exciting combination of five of North America’s finest musicians brings together award-winning Alberta drummer Karl Schwonik and Montréal saxophone legend Rémi Bolduc. In just a few short years, Schwonik has established himself as a new creative force in the Canadian music landscape.
His youthful energy is a perfect complement to Bolduc’s intensity and precision of sound and rhythm. Joining them are pianist and CBC’s Galaxie Rising Star Chris Andrew, virtuoso Chicago trumpeter James Davis, and Western Canada’s bass stalwart Kodi Hutchinson.
Garry Oaks wine tasting – 7:00pm
Canadian pianist André Laplante is one of the world’s great romantic virtuosos. Critics have compared him with Ashkenazy, Horowitz and Rudolph Serkin. An Officer of the Order of Canada, he has toured everywhere from China and Australia to North America to all the major festivals of Europe.
He has worked with all the great conductors of our time, from Sir Neville Mariner to Andrew Davis to Yehudi Menuhin. In his ArtSpring recital M. Laplante will present works by Liszt and Debussy for sure, and other repertoire of his choosing. Tickets: Adult $28, Youth $5 plus HST. Artist’s reception to follow.
After their hugely popular Carmen last spring, Ballet Victoria returns with a new work based on Vivaldi’s Four Seasons interpreted through a West Coast imagination. Paul Destrooper’s original choreography combines with poetry by Linda Rogers and visual art by Deb North to create a uniquely innovative dance experience. A mixed repertoire of new work from international choreographers will again open the first act.
Massenet’s Manon– New Production – Anna Netrebko’s dazzling portrayal of the tragic heroine in Laurent Pelly’s new production travels to the Met from the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden. Piotr Beczala and Paulo Szot also star, with the Met’s Principal Guest Conductor Fabio Luisi on the podium.
