Stuck for Christmas gift ideas for that hard-to-buy-for someone on your list?
Think music. Tickets to any of these upcoming New Westminster events make perfect gifts or stocking stuffers for just about anyone.
1. VANCOUVER SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
Yes, the VSO is returning to New Westminster. The orchestra is bringing Vivaldi’s Four Seasons to the Massey Theatre stage just before Christmas, on Sunday, Dec. 23 at 2 p.m., featuring young American violin star Benjamin Beilman. The program will also include Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 in G major and Corelli’s Concerto Grosso in G minor (the Christmas concerto).
Who you should buy this for: Anyone who loves classical music, anyone who used to take music lessons and anyone who’s ever hummed along to Vivaldi without even knowing it was Vivaldi. (That’s a lot of people, given that the Four Seasons has been featured in a huge range of movies and TV shows – try The Simpsons, The Crown, Sing, House of Cards, The Big Bang Theory, The Sopranos …) It’s music that will be familiar to just about everyone.
What to budget: $44 per ticket ($36 senior, $24 children and students).
Where to buy: www.vancouversymphony.ca or www.ticketsnw.ca, or call 604-521-5050.
2. VSO TINY TOTS
If you just can’t handle buying more toys for the small people in your world, buy them an experience instead. And what better experience for your child’s early years than the VSO’s Tiny Tots concert series at Anvil Centre?
If the Dec. 8 Holiday Hooray is a little too early for your planning, never fear: Hi-Lo Big Top Circus is on Saturday, March 2, and Musical Zoo for Me and You comes on Saturday, May 4. All the Tiny Tots concerts feature the duo of Let Your Music Shine! With Lisa and Linda, accompanied by a variety of symphonic instruments in concerts designed to introduce the smallest concertgoers (toddlers and preschoolers) to the world of classical music.
What to budget: $15 per adult ticket, $7 per child and $2 per baby
Where to buy: www.vancouversymphony.ca or www.ticketsnw.ca, or call 604-521-5050.
3. INTERNATIONAL GUITAR NIGHT
This tour of guitar luminaries from around the world is returning to the Massey Theatre for its 19th season on Thursday, Jan. 24 at 7:30 p.m. This year’s edition features young Italian showman Luca Stricagnoli and a pair of young French guitar stars – flamenco guitarist Samuelito and gypsy jazz guitarist Antoine Boyer, alongside the Turkish composer-performer Cenk Erdogan. They’ll perform solo, in duets and as a foursome, on a variety of guitars in a huge array of styles and with some unique fusion sounds you just won’t hear anywhere else.
Who you should buy this for: Anyone in the house who’s ever taken a guitar lesson, who loves guitar music or who tends to obsessively share social media videos of classical musicians performing their takes on popular music. Also, your mom. Because you’ll both enjoy it.
What to budget: $39 per tickets ($29 seniors/students, and $17 children under 18).
Where to buy: www.ticketsnw.ca or 604-521-5050.
4. THE REAL GROUP
The performance isn’t until February (Feb. 22, 7:30 p.m. at the Massey Theatre, to be exact), but snag your tickets now, because this is going to be one very big deal. This internationally renowned a cappella quintet from Sweden has become legendary in vocal and choral circles for its unique arrangements of all kinds of repertoire, occupying a unique space that combines pop, jazz and Nordic European choral music.
Who you should buy this for: Anyone in the house who’s ever been a choir geek, ever wanted to sing in a choir or ever got excited about a Pentatonix song on the radio. (In other words: me. Are you reading, Santa?)
What to budget: $50 per ticket ($39 for students/seniors)
Where to buy: www.ticketsnw.ca or 604-521-5050.
5. SINGIN’ IN THE RAIN
It will not have Gene Kelly, Donald O’Connor and Debbie Reynolds, but it will have everything else you know and love about the classic musical when Royal City Musical Theatre celebrates in 30th anniversary in style. It’s onstage April 4 through 20 at the Massey Theatre, and it’s an absolute guarantee that this will be a huge hit. Expect big tap numbers and a slew of favourite, singable songs – Make’Em Laugh, Good Morning and, of course, the title tune.
Who you should buy this for: Anyone who loves musicals, anyone who’s a fan of classic movies, anyone who’s ever seen a Royal City Musical Theatre production, anyone who’s never seen a Royal City Musical Theatre production. So, basically, all humans.
What to budget: $49 per ticket ($39 seniors/students, and only $19 for children under 13)
Where to buy: www.ticketsnw.ca or 604-521-5050.
