The New Westminster Symphony Orchestra celebrates the beginning of its 100th year on Sunday, Nov. 2 with a concert of "exhilarating" music.
Maestro Jin "Jack" Zhang is showcasing the players of the NWSO in a program of "music from the front line of melody," says local arts promoter Tony Antonias - who's promising a program of "stunning, thrilling and exhilarating" music.
"The NWSO will whip up a storm of Wagnerian passion as it performs the prelude to The Mastersingers of Nuremberg - a delightful work by Wagner set in medieval Nuremberg and its society of trade guilds," Antonias says. "The most revered of these is the guild of Master Singers, one of whom has decided to offer his daughter Eva to the winner of the Midsummer Day Song Contest."
More humble music follows with Grieg's Peer Gynt Suite No. 2. For lovers of ballet music, the orchestra offers up Shostakovich's Ballet Suite No. 1.
Antonias notes that, even though Shostakovich toed the party line, he still fell foul of the Soviet government in the late 1940s when he and many other prominent Russian composers were singled out and denounced for "formalism" and the creation of "anti-people" art.
The highlight of the orchestra's season opener is a work by Berlioz, the ever-popular Harold in Italy, featuring violist Manti Poon.
Poon, a sought-after musician in B.C. as a soloist, orchestral performer and chamber music collaborator, has played with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, the Vancouver Opera Orchestra and the CBC Vancouver Orchestra, to name a few.
The concert takes place at the Massey Theatre on Sunday starting at 2 p.m. Admission is by donation at the door.
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If your life could use a little levity, then look no farther than downtown New West.
Lafflines Comedy Club is hosting a bunch of upcoming comedy shows that should be well worth your time.
On Friday, Oct. 31 and Saturday, Nov. 1, you can hear the comedy stylings of Erica Sigurdson - best known for her turns on CBC's The Debaters.
From Nov. 6 to 8, you can hear from Matt Billion, with shows on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights.
Shows are on at 8 p.m. Thursdays 9:30 p.m. Fridays, with two shows on Saturdays - at 8 and 10:30 p.m.
Lafflines, as most of you will know, is at the Columbia Theatre at 530 Columbia St. Tickets for its shows are $10 Thursdays, $18 Fridays and $20 Saturdays.
The main theatre at the Columbia is also hosting a night of comedy on Friday, Nov. 7 - when premier Filipino-American comedian Rex Navarette comes to the stage.
There will be two shows, at 8 and 10:30 p.m. Tickets are $25 general, or $35 VIP - email [email protected].
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An update from the Momentum Youth Arts Festival: You may recall reading in this column previously that popular up-and-coming bands We Are The City and Good for Grapes would be performing in the festival showcase at Massey Theatre on Saturday, Nov. 15.
We Are The City has since had to withdraw after unexpectedly receiving a spot in an international film festival for their documentary Violent.
In their place, local audiences will be treated to a performance by singer-songwriter Jordan Klassen, alongside Good for Grapes.
Tickets are on sale now for $15 at www.ticketsnw.ca or by calling 604-521-5050. Check out www.momentumyouthartsmovement.com for all the details, or see www.facebook.com/MomentumYouthArtsMovement.
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No, no, no. I absolutely, positively refuse to type the word "Christmas."
However, despite my reluctance to greet the festive season even before Halloween arrives, I do have to give an early heads-up to choral music fans that the perennial favourite Elektra Women's Choir Christmas concert is returning to New West.
Chez Nous: Christmas With Elektra takes to the stage at Queens Avenue United Church on Saturday, Nov. 29 at 2 p.m.
The program will include the world premiere of Winter's Grace by Edward Henderson, a work honouring the memory of the late Diane Loomer - co-founder of Elektra and founding director of the Chor Leoni Men's Choir.
The brass quintet A Touch of Brass returns, along with special guests the Eric Hamber Women's Chorale under director Les Nerling.
Tickets are $28 regular, $22 for seniors and $15 for students with ID. See bit.ly/cheznous2014 for tickets, or see www.elektra.ca.
Send arts and entertainment suggestions to Julie, [email protected], or find her on Twitter, @juliemaclellan.
