A Summer of Music!
Summer is a great time to experience music at Christ Church Cathedral. From the intimate Summer Recital Series, to the glorious sounds of the Victoria Symphony, there's something for music-lovers of all kinds at the cathedral this summer. Read on for details on our upcoming musical offerings...
The Summer Recital Series
Now in its 62nd season, the popular Summer Recital Series returns on Saturday afternoons in July and August. Highlights from this year include some new faces like pianist Simi Luttrell and organist Stephen Price alongside returning favourites like guitarists Janet Grohovac and Chad Ibison, and violin/piano duo Nancy Di Novo and Monica Pfau.
The series runs every Saturday in July and August at 4.00 p.m. Admission is by donation. More details below...
Music on the Threshold – Saturday, July 6, 4.00pm
Alexandra Roedder, cello
Nancy Lee Harper, piano
Long time collaborators Alexandra Roedder and Nancy Lee Harper return to the cathedral to perform their newest program of daring music from Canada (Ethridge), USA (Barber, H. Roedder), Hungary (Dohnanyi), and France (Ducros). They present a personal exploration of the boundaries of identity and artistry in these contemporary creations that are inspired by classical models of Bach, Beethoven, Brahms, Britten and Schubert.
Love Songs – Saturday, July 13, 4.00pm
Adam Dyjach, tenor
James Yi, piano
Victoria’s own Adam Dyach (tenor) and James Yi (piano) join up for a classical crossover program sure to set your heart aflutter. Selections from the Great American Songbook cuddle comfortably alongside love songs by the Father of American Music, Stephen Foster.
The Dynamic Organ – Saturday, July 20, 4.00pm
Stephen Price, organ
Dr. Stephen Price is a native of Buffalo, New York who recently joined the music faculty at the University of Washington (Seattle) as the Artist-in-Residence in organ performance. This program, played on the cathedral’s remarkable Helmuth Wolff organ, features multi-movement organ works by George Frideric Handel, Erland Hilden, Rachel Laurin, and J.S. Bach.
Superb & Sublime – Saturday, July 27, 4.00pm
Janet Grohovac & Chad Ibison, guitars
Grammy-nominated guitarists Janet Grohovac & Chad Ibison return for their fourth appearance in the Summer Recital Series. This year, they bring their delicate touch to a program of original music for classical guitar (Sergio Assad, Astor Piazzolla, Paolo Bellinati) as well as transcriptions (J.S. Bach).
Vienna Titans – Saturday, August 3, 4.00pm
Nancy DiNovo, violin
Monica Pfau, piano
Join duo partners and friends Nancy DiNovo and Monica Pfau in a delightful presentation of works by two of Vienna’s most cherished composers. The miniature Sonata in G Major K 301 by Mozart displays the composer’s intimate elegance while Beethoven’s monumental “Kreutzer” Sonata in A Major Op 47 stretches the form to its ultimate limits. Nancy’s historical anecdotes will draw you into this Golden Age of Viennese culture.
“Liebeslieder” Waltzes – Saturday, August 10, 4.00pm
Jennifer Turner, soprano
Alana Hayes, mezzo-soprano
Tim Carter, tenor
Kyron Basu, baritone
Alex Chen, piano
Heather Byford, piano
Four hands on the piano and four voices on the stage join forces to bring Johannes Brahms’ charming “Liebeslieder Waltzer” to life. This set of folk dances probe the mysteries of love and amorous relationships, setting texts from Georg Friedrich Daumer's collection Polydora. The short movements, rich in varied emotion is sure to get your heart beating and your toes tapping.
Fantasy Pieces – Saturday, August 17, 4.00pm
Cris Inguanti, clarinet
Monica Pfau, piano
Former Vancouver Symphony Orchestra clarinetist, Cris Inguanti now teaches music at Northern Arizona University’s Kitt School of Music. He joins forces with his favourite collaborative pianist, Monica Pfau, for an exploration of marvelous repertoire written for the clarinet and piano from the late 18th century through the middle of the 20th century, featuring works by Devienne, Schumann, Debussy, and Copland
“Humoreske”– Saturday, August 24, 4.00pm
Simi Luttrell, piano
BC-based pianist Simi Luttrell’s playing has been described as “magical from the first moment to the last.” In his first appearance in the cathedral’s Summer Recital Series, he’s sure to dazzle as he takes us on a journey from Bach (“Prelude and Fugue in E major”) to Copland (“Piano Variations”), all leading up to a performance of one of Schumann’s most astonishing works, the “Humoreske”, op. 20.
"Le Grand Tango” – Saturday, August 31, 4.00pm
Carmelo De Los Santos, violin
Falko Steinbach, piano
German-American pianist Falko Steinbach and University of New Mexico violinist Cármelo De Los Santos return for their second appearance at the cathedral. Enjoy the final days of summer and the last recital in the series with sonatas by Mozart and Grieg, and Piazzolla’s “Le Grand Tango.”
Symphony in the Summer... at the Cathedral!
The Cathedral is once again pleased to be partnering with the Victoria Symphony to host three concerts in the VS's Symphony in the Summer Festival.
Tickets can be purchased through the Victoria Symphony's website.
Wednesday, July 24, 7.30 p.m.: Bach’s Orchestral Suite in D
Julia Wedman, violin/leader
Mark McDonald, organ
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. TICKETS
Thursday, July 25, 7.30 p.m.: Mendelssohn’s Italian Symphony
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. TICKETS
Friday, August 2, 7.30 p.m.: Monteverdi’s Vespers of 1610
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. TICKETS
Sing the North! Howard Dyck conducts Mozart Requiem
Join us for the rare appearance in Victoria of Canadian choral legend Howard Dyck! Host of CBC's Saturday Afternoon at the Opera and Choral Concert for many years, and longtime conductor of the Kitchener-Waterloo Grand Philharmonic Choir, Howard Dyck is on the island to conduct a very special performance of Mozart's Requiem (the rarely heard 'Levin completion' featuring newly composed material based on Mozart's sketches). Howard Dyck conducts the 90-voice Sing the North Summer Festival Chorus and Orchestra plus two chamber choirs, with a third chamber choir led by festival director, Kathryn Whitney. Concertmaster Christi Meyers leads the Festival Orchestra, with the cathedral's Assistant Director of Music, Mark McDonald, on organ.
Saturday, July 27, 7.30 p.m.: Sing the North: Mozart Requiem
Howard Dyck, conductor
Sing the North Festival Choir and Orchestra
TICKETS
The Cathedral...After Dark
Cathedral After Dark presents the Blackwood duo in this unique late-night affair on August 3 at 9.00 p.m. Jeff Reilly (bass clarinet) and Peter Togni (piano/organ) present an atmospheric program under the candlelit vaulted ceiling of the cathedral.
Saturday August 2, 9.00 p.m.: Cathedral After Dark: Blackwood Duo
Jeff Reilly, bass clarinet
Peter Togni, piano/organ
Admission by donation.
And some lunchtime music...
Friday August 9, 12.30 p.m.: Lunchtime music with singers Elizabeth Humphries and Stuart Orme
Admission by donation.