VAMSO: Beethoven’s Emperor

Click here for press kit   (photos, biographies, VAM logo file, downloadable press release)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 3, 2017

Vancouver Academy of Music Symphony Orchestra presents the shining splendour of

Beethoven’s Emperor

Vancouver native Ian Parker leads from piano and podium
in Beethoven’s Emperor Concerto & Symphony No. 7

 Vancouver, BC – The Vancouver Academy of Music Symphony Orchestra  (VAMSO) will embark on a thrilling exploration of Beethoven with Piano Concerto No. 5 (“Emperor”) presented alongside Symphony No. 7 and Egmont Overture, October 22, 2017, 2pm at the Orpheum Theatre. In an afternoon of orchestral vivacity, VAM Symphony Orchestra performs with pianist and conductor Ian Parker leading from both piano and podium, including a dual conductor-soloist undertaking in the Emperor Concerto.

“The Emperor Concerto and Symphony No. 7 both exude heroism on an extraordinary scale,” says Joseph Elworthy, Executive Director of the Vancouver Academy of Music. “Beethoven crafted the Emperor Concerto in the midst of great political turmoil and Symphony No. 7, which premiered in the wake of victory, was embraced with great exuberance and celebration.”

The colossal nature of Beethoven’s final concerto, filled with shining splendour, finds a fulfilling match in the lively symphony described as “dance in its highest respect” by Richard Wagner, igniting the air with pulsating rhythms and sweeping melodic lines. Egmont Overture, composed as part of a commission for incidental music accompanying a theatre production, was inspired by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe’s compelling story of resistance against occupation, mirroring the political climate from which the Emperor Concerto was born.

Tied together by tumult, defiance, and victory, the vigorous energy of this trio of orchestral masterworks is amplified by the magnetic charisma of Vancouver-born Ian Parker. The son of renowned pedagogue Edward Parker and cousin of pianists Jamie Parker and Jon Kimura Parker, the internationally acclaimed artist makes his first appearance on the podium at the helm of Vancouver Academy of Music Symphony Orchestra.

About Vancouver Academy of Music (vam.ca):
Founded in 1969, the Vancouver Academy of Music (VAM) is a non-profit institution that has been spreading a love of learning and musical excellence for generations of aspiring musicians. Located minutes away from downtown, VAM’s spacious facility features teaching studios, expansive classrooms, a library, and two recital halls – all set against the scenic backdrop of Vanier Park.

VAM’s fundamental purpose is to explore the transformative power of music through fostering an inclusive learning environment led by a team of devoted faculty with strong professional backgrounds. From Early Childhood Education to adult learning, VAM delivers world-class music education to students of all ages and abilities.

In addition to private lessons and class instruction, VAM students engage with world-renowned visiting artists in master classes, cooperate with other national and international music education organizations, and participate in numerous performances and competitions. VAM’s Orchestral Training Program is home to four levels of orchestra, which culminates in the Orpheum Series – four concerts that spotlight the VAM Symphony Orchestra in one of Vancouver’s most iconic cultural venues, the Orpheum Theatre.

LISTING INFORMATION                

VAM Symphony Orchestra: Beethoven’s Emperor

Date: Sunday, October 22, 2017 at 2pm

Ticket prices: $15 Adults, $10 Students & Seniors, available at the door or online

Address: The Orpheum, 601 Smithe St., Vancouver, BC

Website: vam.ca
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For further media information, contact

Daniel Marshall
Marketing & Communications Manager, Vancouver Academy of Music
[email protected]  |  604.734.2301

Click here for press kit   (photos, biographies, VAM logo file, downloadable press release)

 

 

VAM’s Orchestral Program is supported by RBC Foundation and the R & J  Stern Family Foundation