The Vancouver Symphony Orchestra
Tea & Trumpet Series: J’dore Paris

When and Where March 6, 2025 at 2pm | Orpheum Theatre

Conductor David Bui Host Christopher Gaze

Program Bizet's L'Arlésienne, Suite No.2: Farandole; Offenbach's Orpheus in the Underworld Overture; Debussy's Prélude à l'après-midi d'un faune; Saint-Saëns' Samson and Delilah: Danse Bacchanale; Fauré's Pelléas et Mélisande: Sicilienne; Gounod's Faust: Les Nubiennes, valse; Piaf's La Vie en Rose; Lloyd Webber's The Phantom of the Opera, Medley

Reviewer John Anthony Jane

For this Tea & Trumpets concert, the fourth of the season, the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra take the audience on an afternoon excursion to the City of Light. The concert begins in rousing fashion with Georges Bizet's famous Farandole from L'Arlésienne, Suite No.2. The melody is based on an old song from Provence that incorporates the theme of the March of the Kings that is also heard in Suite No.1. Maestro David Bui’s reading is robust and an ideal work to begin a concert. Full review

The Tucson Irish Musicians Showcase

Where & When Saturday February 22, 2025 at 7pm | The Berger Performing Arts Center, Tucson, AZ

Reviewer Patricia Cassidy

I attended the Tucson Irish Musicians Showcase at The Berger Performing Arts Center, in Tucson, Arizona on Saturday February 25, 2025. The Berger Center is a premier venue for showcasing Tucson’s performing artists. It’s a state-of-the art facility with excellent acoustics, a very comfortable environment, excellent lighting plus it’s downtown. Full review

Anvil Theatre
Kellylee Evans with opening act Dawn Pemberton
When and Where February 15, 2025 at 7.30pm | , Anvil Theatre, New Westminster

Reviewers John Anthony Jane & Alexander M.

Despite bad weather and flight interruptions back east, Kellylee Evans happily made it out to the west coast. Perhaps in keeping with Valentine’s Day, Ms. Evans offered a repertoire of original songs centred on a ‘Love’ theme – not necessarily carnal love in every case, but sometimes sisterly love or dutiful love that one would have for parents, a child or a higher being. Full review

Early Music Vancouver
Lumen Festival

When & Where 15 Februrary, 2025 at 3.00 pm | St. Andrew's Wesley United Church, Vancouver

Performers Dorothee Mields, Alexander Weimann, Pacific Baroque Orchestra

Reviewer Elizabeth Paterson

In a marriage possibly made in heaven, the golden voice of Dorothee Mields and the consummate Pacific Baroque Orchestra united in performing some of Bach’s most beautiful explorations of love, both earthly and spiritual. His wedding cantatas bring joy to happy couples to this day, full as they are of emotional depth, charm and brilliance. Service to God and a close reading of Biblical texts, central to Bach both personally and professionally, underlie all his work. Full review

Sunny & the Dudes with

When & Where Friday, January 24, 2025 at 8pm | Portside, Vancouver

Performers Chloe Morgan - opening act for Sunny and The Dudes

Reviewer Shakeela Begum

Chloe Morgan kicked off the evening in a show-stopping sparkly pink suit, delivering a performance that was as vibrant and dynamic as her outfit. Her set was an electrifying mix of danceable ’80s and ’90s vibes, packed with nostalgic energy and a modern twist that kept the crowd on their feet. Full review

Salish Sea Early Music Festival
Italian Canzonas

When & Where January 24, 2025 | St. Mary's Kerrisdale, 2490 West 37th Avenue, Vancouver

Reviewer Elizabeth Paterson

Salish Sea Early Music Festival opened its season with a rewarding evening, both intellectually and musically. The program covered a lot of ground, chronologically tracing the development of the Italian canzona from its inspiration in 16th century French chanson to the beginnings of the baroque sonata in the 17th. Full review

Tucson Jazz Festival
Delfeayo Marsalis and The Uptown Jazz Orchestra

When & Where January 17 - 25, 2025 | 17 W Congress St, Tucson, Arizona

Reviewer Patricia Cassidy

The evening started off with the New Breed Brass Band– to use their words “Music for and by New Orleans next generation”. They are a mix of Jazz, funk, the cities brass band tradition, R&B and hip hop. First time I have seen and heard a “Sousaphone” in a contemporary concert setting. Full review

The Vancouver Symphony Orchestra
Tea & Trumpets Series: I’ve Got Rhythm

When & Where Thursday, January 23, 2025 at 2pm | Orpheum Theatre

Conductor David Bui Host Christopher Gaze

Program:
Rossini's Gazza Ladra, La: Overture, Britten's Young Person's Guide To The Orchestra, Benjamin's Jamaican Rumba, Anderson's The Typewriter, Hayman's Pops Hoedown, Gershwin's Cuban Overture, Tchaikovsky's Valse from Swan Lake, Coates's Knightsbridge March, Williams' Star Wars: Suite For Orchestra

Reviewer John Anthony Jane

It’s always a good idea to start a concert of music by various composers with an overture and Gioachino Rossini's Overture to The Thieving Magpie is arguably one of the best known and was even used in the Batman Video Game Score. It is certainly better known than the opera itself. Rossini's lengthy Overture definitely appropriates the pomp and pathos of the opera. Full review