The Israeli Chamber Project’s semi-staged production of Arnold Schoenberg’s Pierrot Lunaire features soprano Hila Baggio. The Vancouver Recital Society presents the production on Dec. 1. (photo from Israeli Chamber Project)
Celebrating the 150th birth year of Arnold Schoenberg, the Israeli Chamber Project will present a semi-staged production of his expressionist cabaret Pierrot Lunaire on Dec. 1 at Vancouver Playhouse, hosted by the Vancouver Recital Society.
A collaboration with Israeli Opera star Hila Baggio and stage director Shirit Lee Weiss, this production premièred in 2016. The program also includes Igor Stravinsky’s Scenes from Petrushka and Maurice Ravel’s La Valse, both arranged by Yuval Shapiro into chamber versions created especially for the Israeli Chamber Project. Joining Baggio (soprano) in the performance will be Guy Eshed (flute), Tibi Cziger (clarinet), Daniel Bard (violin/viola), Sivan Magen (harp), Michal Korman (cello) and Assaff Weisman (piano).
The Vancouver Recital Society’s 2024-2025 season, which started in September, features performances from a diverse group of artists from Canada and around the world. The next event – Oct. 20 at the Playhouse – features pianist Tamara Stefanovich, whose broad repertoire reaches from before Johann Sebastian Bach to beyond Pierre Boulez.
A two-concert Brahms Fest Nov. 3 at Vancouver Playhouse brings together eight musicians from three countries to celebrate the work of Johannes Brahms. The Castalian String Quartet, violist Timothy Ridout, cellist Zlatomir Fung and pianists Angela Cheng and Benjamin Hochman join forces in various groupings to play iconic works such as the String Sextet No. 2 in G major, and the Piano Quintet in F minor.
Guitarist Raphaël Feuillâtre – born in Djibouti, on the northeastern coast of Africa, and raised in the small city of Cholet in Western France – makes his Vancouver debut Nov. 24 at the Playhouse. Meanwhile, Montenegrin guitar virtuoso Miloš returns to the VRS Jan. 26, also at the Playhouse.
Grammy Award-winning Canadian soprano and conductor Barbara Hannigan will make her VRS debut with French pianist Bertrand Chamayou. At the Chan Centre for the Performing Arts Nov. 30, her performance will feature works by Olivier Messiaen, Alexander Scriabin and John Zorn.
Pianist Tom Borrow made his Canadian debut on the VRS stage in 2023 and wowed the VRS audience with his talent. He returns Feb. 16 for a concert at the Playhouse. And, on Feb. 23, tenThing, an all-female brass ensemble from Norway, led by trumpeter Tine Thing Helseth, will blow the roof off the Playhouse when they play a varied program that includes works by Edvard Greig, George Gershwin and Astor Piazzolla.
South Korean pianist Yuncham Lim will make his Vancouver debut playing Bach’s Goldberg Variations at the Orpheum March 2, while Swedish/Norwegian violinist Johan Dalene, with pianist Sahun Sam Hong, makes his Canadian debut March 23 at the Playhouse.
British pianist Steven Osborne comes to the Playhouse March 30, and cellist Jean-Guihen Queyras and pianist Alexander Melnikov perform there April 6.
Pianist Evgeny Kissin’s April 16 performance at the Chan Centre will feature works by Ludwig von Beethoven, Frédéric Chopin and Dmitri Shostakovich. And, when cellist Yo-Yo Ma returns to the VRS May 6 at the Orpheum, he will play a selection of his favourite pieces and share stories about an extraordinary life dedicated to music.
Full details of the VRS 2024-2025 performances are available online at vanrecital.com. Tickets start at $28 and can be purchased on the website or by phone at 604-602-0363.
– Courtesy Vancouver Recital Society