Vancouver, Canada (January 8, 2020) — Inspired by the theme of (re)creation, the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra (VSO) is pleased to present the 7th Annual VSO New Music Festival featuring a concert of concerti performed by the artists who commissioned them.
The 2020 VSO New Music Festival takes place January 11-16, 2020 at various venues throughout Vancouver and showcases works from critically acclaimed composers, performed by renowned artists from around the world.
It all begins on January 11 with VSONMF01 (re)creations, presenting masterpieces by a trio of outstanding composers. Canadian star, Nicole Lizée, re-imagines scenes from The Sound of Music; celebrated Korean Unsuk Chin’s rhapsodic Violin Concerto brought her international acclaim; Kaija Saariaho’s work magnificently evokes the colours and atmospheres of Finland.
On January 12, Nicole Lizée curates a concert featuring a kaleidoscopic selection from her inventive catalogue, including a (re-)arranged Perxploitation, whose sensational premiere by VSO Principal Percussionist Vern Griffiths with Maestro Tausk at VSONMF 2019 brought the crowd to the their feet.
In VSONMF03 Bizarre Bazaar on January 13, Viviane Hagner finds poetry in the new and freshness in the old in a solo violin program weaving together works from five centuries. Kari Kriikku leads the talented members of the VSO School of Music’s Sinfonietta on a bravura global journey blending folk melodies with new sounds and voices.
On January 14 in VSONMF04 (re)flection, Standing Wave presents eclectic reflections on old themes: featuring Missy Mazzoli, and Jennifer Butler’s (re-)imagining of Messiaen’s seminal “The Blackbird”. The remarkable Vancouver Youth Choir juxtapose Palestrina’s Renaissance masterpiece Sicut Cervus with a setting of the same text by contemporary Estonian composer Part Uusberg. Plus – Katerina Gimon’s vibrant integration of voice and movement.
With his entrancing fusion of contemporary classical, post-minimal and alternative popular musical styles, Max Richter is one of today’s most successful composers for stage and screen. On January 15, VSONMF05: Waltz with Bashir features a film screening with his innovative soundtrack to Israeli director Ari Folman’s 2008 film, Waltz with Bashir, which won Richter the prestigious European Film Award for best composer and vaulted the composer into the international spotlight. Waltz with Bashir also went on to win a Golden Globe in 2009 and became the first animated film nominated for Best Foreign Language Film at the Academy Awards. A thought-provoking evening at the cutting edge of music and cinema.
On January 16, closing night of the festival features the return of VSO Music Director Emeritus Bramwell Tovey for VSONMF06: (re)composed. With virtuoso orchestration, fanciful melodies and ambitious topics, Thomas Adès’ 1995 hit opera, Powder Her Face, took the world by storm. Max Richter (re-)casts The Four Seasons for solo violin, strings and electronics. Emeritus Maestro Tovey and VSO Concertmaster Nicholas Wright present this bold and beautiful re-creation.
Ticket Information
Festival Pass: $81.50/adult, $77.50/senior, $50/student. Purchase Festival Pass online.
Sun, Jan 12 Carte Blanche: Nicole Lizée at Annex is available to NMF Pass holders as an add-on concert for $25 ($12 for students).
Single Tickets: $25/adult, $25/senior, $12/student
Festival Program
Saturday January 11, 2020 | 7:30PM | Chan Centre at UBC
Works
Nicole Lizée Behind the Sound of Music (2014) for chamber orchestra, soundtrack, video
Unsuk Chin Concerto for Violin and Orchestra (2001)
Kaija Saariaho D’om le vrai sens (2010) clarinet concerto
Artists
Viviane Hagner, violin
Kari Kriikku, clarinet
Vancouver Symphony Orchestra
Otto Tausk, conductor
Concert Description
“sonic images of magnetic power” – The Guardian on Saariaho
Masterpieces by a trio of outstanding composers. Canadian star, Nicole Lizée, re-imagines scenes from The Sound of Music; celebrated Korean Unsuk Chin’s rhapsodic Violin Concerto brought her international acclaim; Kaija Saariaho magnificently evokes the colours and atmospheres of Finland. Chin and Saariaho’s pieces are (re-)interpreted by the original soloists who inspired and premiered them.
Sunday January 12, 2020 | 2:00PM | Annex – 823 Seymour St.
VSONMF02 CARTE BLANCHE: NICOLE LIZÉE
Works
Girl, You’re Living a Life of Crime (2001)
Carpal Tunnels (2001)
Another Living Soul (2016)
Darkness is Not Well Lit (2016)
Lynch Études (2016/arr. 2019)
Hitchcock Études (2010)
Sepulchre (2018/arr. 2019)
Keep Driving, I’m Dreaming (2017/arr. 2019)
8-Bit Urbex (2016)
Suite from Perxploitation (2018/arr. 2019)
Artists
Vern Griffiths, percussion
Otto Tausk, conductor
Andrew Crust, conductor
Concert Description
Nicole Lizée curates a concert featuring a kaleidoscopic selection from her inventive catalogue, including a (re-)arranged Perxploitation, whose sensational premiere by VSO Principal Percussionist Vern Griffiths with Maestro Tausk at VSONMF 2019 brought the crowd to their feet. Part of the VSO’s “Carte Blanche” ANNEX series.
Monday January 13, 2020 | 7:30PM | Christ Church Cathedral
Works
Works for solo violin by Bach, Kreisler, Kuntze-Krakau, Kurtág, and Yun
Bizarre Bazaar: Folk music from Hungary, Egypt, Argentina and Portugal
Artists
Viviane Hagner, violin
Kari Kriikku, clarinet and leader
Sinfonietta and faculty of the VSO School of Music
Concert Description
“[a]hauntingly masterful display of technique and artistry” – Washington Post on Hagner
Viviane Hagner finds poetry in the new and freshness in the old in a solo violin program weaving together works from five centuries. Kari Kriikku leads the talented members of the VSO School of Music’s Sinfonietta on a bravura global journey blending folk melodies with new sounds and voices.
Tuesday January 14, 2020 | 7:30PM | Christ Church Cathedral
Works
Missy Mazzoli Still Life with Avalanche (2008)
Olivier Messiaen, arr. Jennifer Butler Le merle noir (1952, arr. 2013)
Vulc Tadeja O SAPIENTIA (2016)
Roomful of Teeth Quizassa (2012)
Slovene Folk Melody Bog Daj, Bog Daj
Palestrina Sicut Cervus (1594)
Part Uusberg Sicut Cervus (2012)
Merrill Garbus Water Fountain (2014)
Katherina Gimon Fire (2013)
Artists
Standing Wave
Vancouver Youth Choir
Carrie Tennant, conductor
Concert Description
Standing Wave presents eclectic reflections on old themes: featuring Missy Mazzoli, and Jennifer Butler’s (re-)imagining of Messiaen’s seminal “The Blackbird”. The remarkable Vancouver Youth Choir juxtapose Palestrina’s Renaissance masterpiece Sicut Cervus with a setting of the same text by contemporary Estonian composer Part Uusberg. Plus — Katherina Gimon’s vibrant integration of voice and movement.
Wednesday January 15, 2020 | 7:30PM | Waterfront Theatre – Granville Island
Film Screening
Waltz with Bashir, Soundtrack by Max Richter
Description
With an entrancing fusion of contemporary, classical, and post-minimalist styles, Max Richter is one of today’s most successful composers for stage and screen. Ari Folman’s Golden Globe and Academy award winning film, Waltz with Bashir, features Richter’s innovative score and won a European Film Award for best composer.
Thursday January 16, 2020 | 7:30PM | Orpheum
Works
Thomas Ades, Luxury Suite from Powder Her Face – Suite No.2 (2017)
Recomposed by Max Richter: Vivaldi – The Four Seasons (2017)
Artists
Nicholas Wright, violin
Vancouver Symphony Orchestra
Bramwell Tovey, conductor
Concert Description
“Vivaldi-goes-clubbing” – Gramophone Magazine
With virtuoso orchestration, fanciful melodies and ambitious topics, Thomas Adès’ 1995 hit opera, Powder Her Face, took the world by storm. Max Richter (re-)casts The Four Seasons for solo violin, strings and electronics. Emeritus Maestro Tovey and VSO Concertmaster Nicholas Wright presnt this bold and beautiful re-creation.
