Travel Blog

3 Dec

Top 5 Holiday Concerts in Vancouver for 2012

Photo credit: jelene | Flickr

Tired of hearing piped-in versions of Jingle Bells and White Christmas in the malls?  Check out these holiday music performances in Vancouver this December for a dose of some real Christmas music:

  • VSO: A Traditional Christmas: The mother of all holiday concerts features the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra supported by two superb choirs.   They perform a wide range of carols, sing-alongs and classical works including Ave Maria and selections from Handel’s Messiah and Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker.  Various venues, Dec. 13-Dec. 23.
  • The Nutcracker: Tchaikovsky’s classic ballet receives not one but two separate treatments in Vancouver this year.  The Royal Winnipeg Ballet will offer an updated, Canadian version – complete with Mounties and pond hockey.  Meanwhile, the resident Goh Ballet will pair with the Vancouver Opera Orchestra for a more traditional version featuring the familiar sugar plum fairy and tin soldiers.  Royal Winnipeg Ballet at Queen Elizabeth Theatre, Dec. 14-Dec. 16.  Goh Ballet at Centre in Vancouver for Performing Arts, Dec. 19-Dec. 23. 
  • Vancouver Chamber Choir: A Dylan Thomas Christmas: A unique Vancouver holiday tradition, this performance features a reading of the classic story A Child’s Christmas in Wales, set to a selection of beloved Christmas carols and songs arranged for the award-winning, 20-person choir.  Expect to hear some truly inspired versions of Silent Night, O Christmas Tree and Good King Wenceslas.  Ryerson United Church, Dec. 14-Dec. 16. 
  • Winter Harp: If you love the sound of harps, this is the holiday music event for you.  Three harps, flutes and rare Medieval instruments offer a take on Christmas music straight out of King Arthur’s court.  Poetry and song, Medieval carols and familiar ones, all make for a memorable holiday concert.  Capilano University, Dec. 12-Dec. 13. 
  •  Chor Leoni: Luminous Night: The men’s choir’s performance focuses on both nature’s rhythms and religious traditions in the month of December, as we approach the longest night of the year and begin the shift back to sun, warmth and light.  They perform both traditional favourites and new works, including Ralph-Vaughan Williams’ Fantasia on Christmas Carols, a single movement work that integrates early English folk carols.  St. Andrew’s-Wesley United Church, Dec. 18-Dec. 19. 

There’s a lot more holiday music on tap in Vancouver this December, both traditional and non-traditional.  If you’ve got a favourite concert not featured on the list, let us know below. 

Want more updates on Vancouver and beyond? Follow me on Twitter @RemyScalza.

 

Article source: http://www.insidevancouver.ca/2012/12/03/top-5-holiday-concerts-in-vancouver-for-2012/