Calendar of Events
Our stages are home to a wide variety of wonderful arts and entertainment presentations throughout the year. Rock and pop concerts, drama, dance, opera, classical music and lectures are just a few of the many choices you have at Vancouver Civic Theatres.
2012: February | March | April | May | June | July | August | September | October | November | December
Ticketing Policy
Admission
Please note that Vancouver Civic Theatres requires that all audience members, including children, must have a ticket. There are no exemptions to this policy regardless of the child’s age.
If you bring young children to a performance, please be respectful of other patrons by encouraging them to observe proper theatre etiquette such as sitting still and not talking during the performance. If children become restless during the performance, you may be asked to take them into the lobby.
Note that some events may restrict admission to children of any age.
PLEASE NOTE: Tickets for events at our theatres are not available directly from us. Ticket information, when it becomes available, appears with that event.
The decision as to which are the 'best', VIP or premium seats is at the discretion of the promoter of each event as are the ticket prices.
Ticket Buyers Beware!
Please be wary of tickets that are not from official ticket sources but rather from scalpers and other secondary ticket sellers that may be listed at prices well above their face value. One site in particular—QueenElizabethTheatre.org—is based in the USA and has no official connection to the productions presented in Vancouver or with the Queen Elizabeth Theatre.
Tickets purchased on-line from secondary ticket sellers cannot be guaranteed as legitimate and may not be refundable in the event of a performance cancellation.
February
- Until February 4 - VANCOUVER PLAYHOUSE
PLAYHOUSE THEATRE COMPANY: RED
"There is only one thing I fear in life, my friend... One day the black will swallow the red.”
Under the watchful gaze of his young assistant and the threatening presence of a new generation of artists, Mark Rothko takes on his greatest challenge yet: to create a definitive work for an extraordinary setting. Red is a moving and compelling account of one of the greatest artists of the 20th century whose struggle to accept his growing riches and praise became his ultimate undoing. By John Logan. A co-production with Canadian Stage and The Citadel Theatre.
Check the Playhouse Theatre Company website for specific dates and times.
Tickets: 604-873-3311 Playhouse Theatre Company
- February 2 at 7:00 pm - ORPHEUM ANNEX
PEGGY NASH LEADERSHIP CAMPAIGN
Vancouver town hall for NDP candidate Peggy Nash. This is a free event.
Peggy Nash
- February 3 & 4 at 7:30 pm and February 4 & 5 at 2pm – QUEEN ELIZABETH THEATRE
SHEN YUN PERFORMING ARTS
Based in New York, Shen Yun Performing Arts was established in 2006 with the mission of reviving 5,000 years of divinely inspired Chinese culture. After more than 60 years of Communist rule in China, and especially after the Cultural Revolution, Chinese traditional culture has been all but completely demolished. However, the deeper spiritual core of the ancient culture, with its values of benevolence, honor, propriety, wisdom, and sincerity, as well as a reverence for the gods and the heavens, cannot be destroyed. In order to restore and revive Chinese traditional culture, a group of overseas Chinese artists established Shen Yun in New York in 2006. About 90 artists embarked on Shen Yun’s tour in 2007 in the first year, including a dance troupe, an orchestra, solo singers and musicians, emcees, and production staff. By 2009, Shen Yun had already grown to three performance troupes and orchestras of comparable size. Today, Shen Yun counts many winners of international dance and vocal competitions among its artists, and the orchestras include many musicians from world-renowned symphonies and conservatories. Tickets Ticketingbox Shen Yun Performing Arts
- February 4 at 8:00 pm – ORPHEUM
VSO MUSICALLY SPEAKING: PETER AND THE WOLF
An all-Russian concert featuring Tchaikovsky's strident Marche Slave (Slavonic March) and Prokofiev's imaginative fantasy Peter and the Wolf, in which various orchestra instruments play all the main characters in the classic fairy tale.Maestro Bramwell Tovey conducts.
Tickets 604-876-3434 Vancouver Symphony
- February 5 at 8:00 pm – ORPHEM
WILCO
The Georgia Straight presents Chicago alt rockers Wilco, live in concert, with guests, White Denim.
Tickets Timbre Productions
- February 5 at 3:00 pm – VANCOUVER PLAYHOUSE
VANCOUVER RECITAL SOCIETY: TINE THING HELSETH
Tine Thing Helseth, 24, started to play the trumpet at the age of 7, and is one of the leading trumpet soloists of her generation. She has also recorded two discs for Simax, the first of which was named Classical Recording of the Year in 2007 by the Norwegian newspaper Aftenposten, and the second which went to gold in the Norwegian classical chart after just three weeks. In recognition of her outstanding performing abilities Tine has been the recipient of various awards including the 2009 Borletti-Buitoni Trust Fellowship, Newcomer of the Year at the 2007 Norwegian Grammy Awards (the first classical artist ever to be nominated), second prize in the 2006 Eurovision Young Musicians Competition, the Luitpold Prize as the most outstanding and interesting young artist of the year at the Kissinger Summer Festival, and the prestigious Prince Eugen's Culture Prize in Stockholm. Pre-concert talk at 2:15 pm.
Tickets VRS 604-602-0363 Ticketmaster 1-855-985-2787
- February 7 at 8:00 pm – VANCOUVER PLAYHOUSE
FRIENDS OF CHAMBER MUSIC: THE CHAMBER MUSIC SOCIETY OF LINCOLN CENTER
The CMS creates wonderfully diverse programmes. This year they bring us “The Winds of France”, introducing to us new composers Emmanuel and Maresz and ending with the effervescent Poulenc Sextet.
Tickets 604-437-5747 Friends of Chamber Music
- February 8 at 7:30 pm – VANCOUVER PLAYHOUSE
PUBLIC SALON
Scotiabank presents: Sam Sullivan's Public Salon, Expand Your Mind. Don Alder, Acoustic Guitarist, Shari Graydon, Jounalist and Woman's Advocate, Ryan Holmes, CEO of Hootsuite, Myriam Laroche, Founder of Eco Fashion Week, Matthew Soules, Professor of Architecture and Peter Thomas, Life Pilot. These outstanding individuals will be speaking for 7 minutes each on subjects that they are passionate about. Please join us and enjoy a fast-paced evening of ideas and experiences from people who are making a difference in our community. Optional pre-event dinner. Global Civic Society www.globalcivic.org
Tickets 604-684-2787 Tickets Tonight
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February 8 to 10 at 7:30 pm; February 11 at 11:00 am, 3:30 pm & 8:00 pm; February 12 at 2:00 pm & 7:30 pm - QUEEN ELIZABETH THEATRE
DISNEY'S BEAUTY AND THE BEAST
Disney ’s Beauty and the Beast features the animated film’s Academy Award®-winning score with music by Alan Menken and lyrics by the late Howard Ashman, with additional songs with music by Alan Menken and lyrics by Tim Rice. The book is written by Linda Woolverton. The original creators of the Broadway production are together again for this new touring production! The play is directed by Rob Roth and choreographed by Matt West, with Costume Design by Ann Hould-Ward (Tony Award® winner for her work on Disney’s Beauty and the Beast), Lighting Design by Natasha Katz, Scenic Design by Stanley A. Meyer, Sound Design by John Petrafesa Jr. and Music Supervision by Michael Kosarin. Disney’s Beauty and the Beast is the classic story of Belle, a young woman in a provincial town, and the Beast, who is really a young prince trapped in a spell placed by an enchantress. If the Beast can learn to love and be loved, the curse will end and he will be transformed to his former self. But time is running out. If the Beast does not learn his lesson soon, he and his household will be doomed for all eternity. Disney’s Beauty and the Beast has become an international sensation that has played to over 35 million people worldwide in 13 countries. Tickets: 1-855-985-5000 Ticketmaster
- February 10 & 11 at 8:00 pm – VANCOUVER PLAYHOUSE
DANCEHOUSE: WAYNE MCGREGOR/RANDOM DANCE
An hour-long breathtaking trip through a soundscape created by Coldplay and Massive Attack collaborator Jon Hopkins and award-winning composer Joby Talbot (The Divine Comedy),ENTITY is a staggering blend of bodies, lights, technology and film that place McGregor at the cutting edge of contemporary culture. Technically astonishing, emotionally uncompromising and hard-hitting, McGregor's work breaks boundaries and defies categorization.
Wayne McGregor is a multi-award winning British choreographer, renowned for his physically testing choreography and groundbreaking collaborations across dance, film, music, visual art, technology, and science. He is the Artistic Director of Wayne McGregor | Random Dance, Resident Company at Sadler's Wells Theatre in London and Resident Choreographer of The Royal Ballet (appointed 2006). In January 2011, McGregor was awarded a CBE (Commander of the Order of the British Empire). Wayne McGregor | Random Dance was founded in 1992 and became the instrument upon which McGregor evolved his dramatically fast and articulate choreographic style. Wayne McGregor | Random Dance has redrawn the boundaries for new choreography and thrust the exploration of its dancers' physical capabilities to an extreme and refreshing frontier.
Tickets 1-855-985-ARTS Ticketmaster Dancehouse
- February 11 & 13 at 8:00 pm – ORPHEUM
VSO MASTERWORKS SILVER: ROMANTIC RACHMANINOFF AND RAVEL - A VALENTINE CELEBRATION
Joyce Yang has grown into one of her generation's top pianists right before our very eyes. She performs Rachmaninoff's wildly-popular Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, and the orchestra plays a suite from Der Rosenkavalier (the Knight of the Rose) and Ravel's intense, Romantic La Valse. Conducted by Bramwell Tovey.
Tickets 604-876-3434 Vancouver Symphony
- February 16 to 18 at 8:00 pm and February 18 at 2:00 pm – QUEEN ELIZABETH THEATRE
NATIONAL BALLET OF CUBA : DON QUIXOTE
The Cuban National Ballet (Ballet Nacional de Cuba) is a classical ballet company based at the Great Theatre of Havana in Havana, Cuba. Founded by the Cuban prima ballerina assoluta, Alicia Alonso in 1948, it has become recognised as one of the world's leading ballet companies. The artistic standards and technical severity of the dancers and the wide diversity in the aesthetic conception of the choreographers in combining joyful Cuban sensuality with superb classical Russian, French and English ballets, have granted this ensemble a secure place among international dance institutions. They will be preforming Don Quixote a full length ballet based on the famous novel Don Quixote de la Mancha by Miguel de Cervantes. It was originally choreographed by Marius Petipa to the music of Ludwig Minkus and was first presented in Moscow, Russia in December 1869. There will be a pre-show chat at on February 16 at 7:20pm with Max Wyman and on February 18 at 1:20pm with Deborah Meyers.
Tickets 1-855-985-2787 Ticketmaster
- February 17 at 8:30 pm - ORPHEUM
CAROL BURNETT - LAUGHTER AND REFLECTION
Legendary entertainer Carol Burnett comes to the Vancouver ComedyFest for Laughter and Reflection with Carol Burnett: A Conversation with Carol where the Audience Asks the Questions. Six-time Emmy Award winner Carol Burnett has demonstrated such versatility since ending the 11 year run of the The Carol Burnett Show that she is now as widely recognized for her dramatic abilities as she is for her comedic and musical talents. Americans fondly consider Carol Burnett a true living legend in entertainment, having bestowed more People's Choice Awards upon her than any other woman in the award show's history. In 2003 she was a recipient of the Kennedy Center Honors and in 2005 received The Presidential Medal of Freedom. Some of her other notable awards include five Golden Globes, the Peabody Award for Friendly Fire and the Ace Award for Between Friends with Elizabeth Taylor.
Tickets: 1-855-985-5000 Ticketmaster
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February 18 to March 10 - VANCOUVER PLAYHOUSE
PLAYHOUSE THEATRE COMPANY: HUNCHBACK
A darkly romantic musical set amid the buttresses and shadows of Notre Dame Cathedral, Hunchback tells the tale of a tormented priest, a beautiful dancer and the deformed bell ringer Quasimodo. Swept up in a vortex of lust, fear and the desire to control a destiny that will ultimately destroy them all, they are consumed by love in its most potent, merciless and obsessive form. This surprising new take on Victor Hugo’s famous story comes from the multi-award-winning creative team at Catalyst Theatre. Conceived by Jonathan Christenson and Bretta Gerecke. Adapted from Victor Hugo’s novel. Commissioned by The Citadel Theatre. A presentation of Catalyst Theatre with The Cultch. Check the Playhouse Theatre Company website for specific dates and times.
Tickets: 604-873-3311 Playhouse Theatre Company
- February 18 & 20 at 8:00 pm – ORPHEUM
VSO MASTERWORKS GOLD: JOHN LILL PLAYS BEETHOVEN
Acclaimed as a leading interpreter of Beethoven's music, pianist John Lill performs his stormy, Romantic Piano Concerto No. 4. A profound and highly personal musical statement, Elgar's beautiful and intense Symphony No. 2 is described as "the passionate pilgrimage of the soul." Conducted by Bramwell Tovey.
Tickets 604-876-3434 Vancouver Symphony
- February 19 at 7:30 pm – ORPHEUM
VANCOUVER ACADEMY OF MUSIC SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA CONCERT
Come hear the VAM Symphony Orchestra Concert at the Orpheum Theatre.
Tickets 604-734-2301 Vancouver Academy of Music
- February 21 at 8:00 pm – VANCOUVER PLAYHOUSE
FRIENDS OF CHAMBER MUSIC: SZMANOWSKI QUARTET
This is the third Vancouver concert by this foursome. Founded in 1995, their extraordinary high standard has been confirmed by the numerous awards they have won culminating in the “Szymanowski Award” of the Karol Szymanowski Foundation in Warsaw – the only time ever given to a string quartet.
Tickets 604-437-5747 Friends of Chamber Music -
February 21 at 8:00 pm – ORPHEUM
JANN ARDEN
Recording artist, author and television personality, Jann Arden announces a major coast-to-coast Canadian tour. This tour coincides with the release of Jann’s eleventh album Uncover Me 2. The album features songs popularized by The Beach Boys, Fleetwood Mac, The Smiths, Peggy Lee, Lesley Gore, The Motels, and others. 2011 was a busy year for this Canadian Superstar. Not only did she complete Uncover Me 2 with legendary producer Bob Rock, she also managed to squeeze in time to write her memoir, Falling Backwards published by Knopf. The book debuted on the Best Sellers Charts at #3. Jann was also a celebrity judge on the hit Global TV show, Canada Sings. She will be returning to that seat in 2012. Jann’s CBC Radio show, Being Jann was the highest rated summer show on the network. Throw in her speaking engagements and charity work, and you have one very busy girl. However, music remains Jann Arden’s first love and appearing live is a big part of that. With Uncover Me 2 hitting the Top 10 on release, it is time to hit the road for this Canadian Icon.
Tickets 1-855-985-5000 LiveNation -
February 24 at 8:30 pm - QUEEN ELIZABETH THEATRE
19th ANNUAL NATIONAL ABORIGINAL ACHIEVMENT AWARDSThe National Aboriginal Achievement Awards (NAAA) established in 1993 exemplify, encourage and celebrate excellence in First Nations, Métis and Inuit communities across Canada. The awards recognize career achievements by Aboriginal professionals in diverse occupations, building self esteem and pride as well as providing valuable role models for Aboriginal youth. Supported by the public and private sectors, this Aboriginal initiative represents the highest honour the community bestows upon its own achievers.
Tickets 1-800-329-9780 ex 228 www.naaf.ca -
February 25 at 8:00 pm – ORPHEUM ANNEX
VSO SYMPHONY AT THE ANNEX: JUBILEES
Program to be announced. Conducted by Pierre Simard.
Tickets 604-876-3434 Vancouver Symphony
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February 25 at 8:00 pm – ORPHEUM
VANCOUVER BACH CHOIR: LES NOCES AND CATULLI CARMINA
Two of the most explosive works of the 20th century. Stravinsky’s Les Noces (1923) is striking in its folklike writing which conjures up the excitement and ceremony of a rustic wedding. Featuring chorus, soloists, an ensemble of four pianos and an array of percussion instruments, this is a landmark work of the twentieth century and is perhaps Stravinsky’s most original creation. Carl Orff’s Catulli Carmina (1943), the “sequel” to his celebrated Carmina Burana uses similar forces and is a setting of the writings of Catullus (1st century BC Roman poet) which celebrates love and desire before the ultimate betrayal. The pulsing and driving rhythms of the music combined with the highly erotic poetry is sure to ignite one’s passions. We open the concert with Midsummer Flower (2008) by Marcel Bergmann, one of the featured pianists of the evening, which is a highly lyrical invocation to the first breath of spring.
Tickets 604-872-8789 Vancouver Bach Choir
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February 26 at 7:30 pm - QUEEN ELIZABETH THEATRE
DEEP PURPLELegendary British rockers Deep Purple perform live in Vancouver on the last leg of their 2012 Winter tour.
Tickets 1-855-985-5000 Ticketmaster
- February 26 at 7:30 pm – ORPHEUM
THE FRAY
The Georgia Straight presents: The Fray with guests. Following the February 7, 2012 release of The Fray’s third album Scars & Stories, the critically acclaimed Denver-based foursome return to Vancouver’s Orpheum on February 26th. The album was recorded at the legendary Blackbird Studios in Nashville. The Fray was able to hone their sound with the help of producer Brendan O’Brien (Bruce Springsteen, Pearl Jam and Neil Young). On the new recording, the band transforms their real life experiences into a collection of songs that are reflective, but still maintain a pop sensibility. The making of Scars and Stories fostered the most evolution the band has ever experienced.
Tickets 1-855-985-5000 Livenation
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March
- Until March 10 - VANCOUVER PLAYHOUSE
PLAYHOUSE THEATRE COMPANY: HUNCHBACK
A darkly romantic musical set amid the buttresses and shadows of Notre Dame Cathedral, Hunchback tells the tale of a tormented priest, a beautiful dancer and the deformed bell ringer Quasimodo. Swept up in a vortex of lust, fear and the desire to control a destiny that will ultimately destroy them all, they are consumed by love in its most potent, merciless and obsessive form. This surprising new take on Victor Hugo’s famous story comes from the multi-award-winning creative team at Catalyst Theatre. Conceived by Jonathan Christenson and Bretta Gerecke. Adapted from Victor Hugo’s novel. Commissioned by The Citadel Theatre. A presentation of Catalyst Theatre with The Cultch. Check the Playhouse Theatre Company website for specific dates and times.
Tickets: 604-873-3311 Playhouse Theatre Company
- March 1 at 2:00 pm – ORPHEUM
VSO TEA & TRUMPETS: COME FLY WITH ME
Classical music that will make you want to take wing and fly! Selections from Strauss's Waltz Music of the Spheres, Rimsky-Korsakov's Le Coq d'Or: Wedding March, and many more will inspire your imagination to take flight. Conducted by Pierre Simard and hosted by Christopher Gaze.
Tickets 604-876-3434 Vancouver Symphony
- March 2 at 10:00 am & 11:30 am – VANCOUVER PLAYHOUSE
VSO TINY TOTS: SAILING THE MUSICAL SEA
Jump and clap, swing and sing with Presto the Porpoise and Largo the Tortoise!
Tickets 604-876-3434 Vancouver Symphony Let Your Music Shine with Lisa & Lucy
- March 2 & 3 at 8:00 pm – ORPHEUM
VSO POPS: WICKED DIVAS
Broadway new and old, with New York Pops Music Director Steven Reineke, and the stars of the long-running Broadway show Wicked. You'll hear outstanding arrangements from Ragtime, Titanic, The Wizard of Oz, Wicked – even a selection from Monty Python's Spamalot! – in a concert featuring Broadway's top talents, Stephanie J. Block and Julia Murney.
Tickets 604-876-3434 Vancouver Symphony
- March 3 at 8:00 pm – QUEEN ELIZABETH THEATRE
GOOGOOSH
Appadana Production Presents: Googoosh live in Vancouver. Googoosh.com
Info:604-841-8555 Tickets 604-986-4086
- March 4 at 2:00 pm – ORPHEUM
VSO KIDS KONCERTS: WALL TO WALL PRECUSSION
VSO Principal Percussionist Vern Griffiths plays everything including the kitchen sink! This spectacular concert that shows kids that music can be found anywhere – from professional orchestral instruments to everyday household items.
Tickets 604-876-3434 Vancouver Symphony
- March 8 - 10 at 8:00 pm – QUEEN ELIZABETH THEATRE
BALLET BC: WALKING MAD & OTHER WORKS
Johan Inger, formerly Artistic Director of Cullberg Ballet and a member of the Royal Swedish Ballet and Netherlands Dance Theatre (NDT), has created a breathtaking work for nine dancers. Inger says, “our greatest blessings come to us by way of madness.” Choreographed for NDT in 2001, Inger received the Lucas Hoving Award (Dutch) for best production and the Danza Danza Award for this ballet. Also, this event features two world premieres featuring choreography by Aszure Barton and Ballet BC’s own Artistic Director Emily Molnar who has created a new full-company work that explores the boundaries of the expressive body in time and space. Molnar is a former member of The National Ballet of Canada, Ballet BC and Frankfurt Ballet, where she created and performed an extensive repertoire under director William Forsythe.
Tickets 1-855-985-ARTS Ticketmaster Ballet BC
- March 8 at 8:00 pm – ORPHEUM
VANCOUVER RECITAL SOCIETY: MURRAY PERAHIA
In the more than 35 years he has been performing on the concert stage, Murray Perahia has become one of the most sought-after and cherished pianists of our time.
Tickets VRS 604-602-0363 Ticketmaster 1-855-985-2787
- March 10 at 8:00 pm March 11 at 2:00 pm – ORPHEUM
VSO MUSICALLY SPEAKING: A ROMAN CARNIVAL!
One of the most sought-after pianists of his generation, Benjamin Grosvenor makes his VSO debut performing Ravel's luscious Piano Concerto in G Major. This concert is all about exquisite French repertoire, under the baton of VSO Assistant Conductor Pierre Simard.
Tickets 604-876-3434 Vancouver Symphony
- March 11 at 3:00 pm – VANCOUVER PLAYHOUSE
FRIENDS OF CHAMBER MUSIC: MANDELRING QUARTET
We welcome the return of this highly accomplished ensemble comprising three Schmidt siblings and violist Roland Glass. They are joined by the Polish marimba virtuoso Katarzyna Mycka.
Tickets 604-437-5747 Friends of Chamber Music
- March 14 at 8:00 pm – ORPHEUM
LEGEND OF ZELDA: SYMPHONY OF THE GODDESSES
Jason Michael Paul Productions, Inc. and Nintendo proudly present "The Legend of ZeldaT: Symphony of the Goddesses", a concert event that will take audiences of all ages on a thrilling orchestral adventure through one of the video game industry's most beloved franchises. Conducted by Eímear Noone, "The Legend of ZeldaT: Symphony of the Goddesses" is the first ever video game themed concert to feature a complete 4-movement symphony, arranged by Zelda Symphony music director Chad Seiter (Star Trek, LOST and Fringe), showcasing the enduring and ever-adored work of Nintendo composer and sound director Koji Kondo and his dedicated music team. Brought to life as never before, witness as 25 years of video game history unfolds complete with a gorgeous and cinematic video presentation, synced to picture with the game's sensational, thematic and action-packed music played live by a full orchestra and choir.
Tickets 1-855-985-5000 Ticketmaster - March 17, 20, 22 & 24 at 7:30 pm and March 25 at 1:30 pm - QUEEN ELIZABETH THEATRE
VO: THE BARBER OF SEVILLE
An abundance of fun, and filled with effervescent melodies and inventive orchestrations, The Barber of Seville is absurd, touching, witty, hilarious and irresistible.VO’s inventive new production sets the action on a movie backlot in Seville in the 1940s. Rosina is the starlet, Bartolo is the studio owner (and Rosina’s slimy agent), Almaviva is a star-struck nobleman, and Figaro is the studio hairstylist with a flair for finagling and tomfoolery!
Tickets: 604-683-0222 Vancouver Opera
- March 17 & 19 at 8:00 pm – ORPHEUM
VSO MASTERWORKS DIAMOND: PETER SERKIN AND BRAHMS
Refined technique and unsurpassed depths of musicality define pianist Peter Serkin. For over four decades, his name has been near the top of the list of the world's most accomplished pianists. He tackles the monumental Brahms Piano Concerto No. 1 in a performance sure to be remembered long afterward.
Tickets 604-876-3434 Vancouver Symphony
- March 18 at 3:00 pm – VANCOUVER PLAYHOUSE
VANCOUVER RECITAL SOCIETY: ELIAS STRING QUARTET
Since its formation in 1998 at the Royal Northern College of Music, the Elias String Quartet have established themselves as one of the most intense and vibrant quartets of their generation. Pre-concert talk at 2:15 pm.
Tickets VRS 604-602-0363 Ticketmaster 1-855-985-2787
- March 21 at 8:00 pm – ORPHEUM
VSO SPECIALS: RENEE FLEMING
The world's greatest soprano returns to the Orpheum stage to perform a sensational program of operatic and classical arias with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra.
Tickets 604-876-3434 Vancouver Symphony
- March 23 & 24 at 8:00 pm – VANCOUVER PLAYHOUSE
DANCEHOUSE: GALLIM DANCE

Founded in 2006 by choreographer Andrea Miller, Gallim Dance is a New York City based company that quickly caught the attention of the dance community. Known for its visceral movement that lingers and resonates with audiences, Gallim Dance includes an award-winning ensemble of dancers hailed for their quick wit, morphing physical quality, and technical virtuosity. “One is never so dangerous as when one has no shame, than when one has grown too old to blush.” Inspired by a quote from the Marquis de Sade, Blush is an invigorating work dense with emotion and physical exertion that investigates themes of intimacy, instability, and the desire of the heart and body to feel strongly. Movement that draws from Butoh and ballet is set to a collage of music ranging from Chopin to Electro Punk. As the battlefield of the dance develops six dancers covered in white paint increasingly make contact, harsh movement leads to achingly tender moments. The raw, explosive power of Blush exposes the dancers’ rosy flesh and the ecstasy of their existence. Presented with the Chutzpah! The Lisa Nemetz International Showcase of Jewish Performing Art.
Tickets 1-855-985-ARTS Ticketmaster Dancehouse
- March 24 at 7:30 pm – ORPHEUM ANNEX
BY STARLIGHT
Lande Productions presents: By Starlight starring Lauren Bowler, Geoff Campbell, Brennan Cuff, Jennifer McLaren, Ronald Smith and Jeffrey Victor. Performing songs such as Mood Indigo, Moonlight Becomes You, Easy to Remember, Dancing in the Dark and many more. 823 Seymour Street. Cabaret table seating available.
Tickets 604-684-1986 lande@telus.net
- March 24 & 26 at 8:00 pm – ORPHEUM
VSO MASTERWORKS SILVER: ELECTRIFYING! NADJA SALERNO-SONNENBERG
Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg has remained the classical world's most electrifying performer since she burst forth like a comet on to the music scene nearly twenty-five years ago. Her fearless interpretations and powerful, no-holds-barred playing makes her a perfect match for Shostakovich's exciting Violin Concerto No. 1.
Tickets 604-876-3434 Vancouver Symphony
- March 27 at 8:00 pm – VANCOUVER PLAYHOUSE
FRIENDS OF CHAMBER MUSIC: VIENNA PIANO TRIO
Described as “an excellently refined ensemble, with a fine sense of balance” the trio continues to win many accolades and has been appointed “Ensemble in Residence” at Wigmore Hall in London for the 2011/12 season.
Tickets 604-437-5747 Friends of Chamber Music
- March 31 at 8:00 pm – ORPHEUM
VANCOUVER BACH CHOIR: THE CREATION
Haydn’s masterpiece performed in the original German. Haydn spent almost two years completing this work, the most time spent on any of his works. He was to have said, “I spent much time over it because I expect it to last a long time.” This is surely the most celebrated oratorio after Handel’s Messiah and rightly so. It is a miracle of invention, word painting, and it conveys a sense of awe and wonder from the mysterious opening bars depicting Chaos until the Third Part in the Garden of Eden where peace and serenity reign. Featuring triumphant choruses and achingly beautiful arias, this work has not been programmed by the VBC in over a decade and it now makes a welcome return and brings a classic end to an adventurous season.
Tickets 604-872-8789 Vancouver Bach Choir
- March 31 at 1:00 pm and 7:00 pm – VANCOUVER PLAYHOUSE
PLAYHOUSE THEATRE COMPANY:THE CAT CAME BACK
A remarkable pair of performers, Fred and Jay join together to create a brand new play with great tunes about the unusual relationship a man has with his cat. In this fanciful tale inspired by the song Fred made famous, we meet a merry band of musicians from the Chautauqua touring tent era who must deal with their grumpy neighbor Mr. Johnson and his mysterious cat. Together, they learn about the joys and challenges of friendship, and how we can take care of each other. Outstanding feline puppetry and masterful music make this a show you won't want to miss! Suitable for children 3 - 10 years of age (and their parents!) Co-Created by Fred Penner, Jay Brazeau and Kim Selody.
Tickets 604-873-3311 Vancouver Playhouse
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April
- April 2 to April 5 at 10:30 am – VANCOUVER PLAYHOUSE
PLAYHOUSE THEATRE COMPANY: THE CAT CAME BACK
A remarkable pair of performers, Fred and Jay join together to create a brand new play with great tunes about the unusual relationship a man has with his cat. In this fanciful tale inspired by the song Fred made famous, we meet a merry band of musicians from the Chautauqua touring tent era who must deal with their grumpy neighbor Mr. Johnson and his mysterious cat. Together, they learn about the joys and challenges of friendship, and how we can take care of each other. Outstanding feline puppetry and masterful music make this a show you won't want to miss! Suitable for children 3 - 10 years of age (and their parents!) Co-Created by Fred Penner, Jay Brazeau and Kim Selody.
Tickets 604-873-3311 Vancouver Playhouse - April 2 at 8:00 pm – ORPHEUM
VSO SPECIALS: THE WIZARD OF OZ!
COME IN COSTUME to Oz with the Orchestra! Follow the yellow brick road to the Orpheum to watch this beloved classic, beautifully restored in full colour, on the big screen with live music performed by the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra. Dress up as your favourite character for the Wizard of Oz as you've never seen (or heard) it before!
Tickets 604-876-3434 Vancouver Symphony
- April 6 at 8:00 pm – ORPHEUM
VANCOUVER CHAMBER CHOIR: BACH IN EXCELSIS
Many music lovers consider JS Bach to be the ultimate composer of all time and his set of six magnificent motets to be the touchstone of his choral writing. Join Jon Washburn, the singers and instrumentalists for an evening of unparalleled grace, beauty and profundity.
Tickets 1-855-985-ARTS Ticketmaster Vancouver Chamber Choir
- April 7 at 8:00 pm – QUEEN ELIZABETH THEATRE
SOWETO GOSPEL CHOIR
Two-time Grammy award winners Soweto Gospel Choir return to Vancouver with their new show “African Grace”. Through vibrant rhythm movement and its renowned vocal harmonies, Soweto Gospel Choir’s inimitable performance style has become a worldwide phenomenon. Since its foundation in 2002, the 30-person Choir has performed to sell-out crowds at the greatest concert halls across the globe and alongside superstars including Bono, Queen, Celine Dion, John Legend, Peter Gabriel, Josh Groban, Aretha Franklin and Stevie Wonder. The Choir sold out their last two appearances in Vancouver, so don’t miss out on this uplifting and vivacious spectacle that literally takes your breath away!
www.sowetogospelchoir.com
- April 10 to 14 at 8:00 pm, April 14 & 15 at 2:00 pm and April 15 at 7:00 pm - QUEEN ELIZABETH THEATRE
CATS
There's no better way to introduce your family to the wonders of live theatre than with the magic, the mystery, the memory of Cats. What began as a musical about cats after Andrew Lloyd Webber picked up a book of poems by T.S. Eliot in an airport bookshop has become one of the longest running shows in Broadway's history. Winner of seven Tony® Awards including Best Musical, Cats features 20 of Andrew Lloyd Webber's timeless melodies, including the hit song "Memory."
Tickets:1-855-985-5000 Broadway Across Canada -
April 10 at 8:00 pm – ORPHEUM
ELVIS COSTELLO
Elvis Costello is proud to announce the 2012 Canadian debut of the “Spectacular Spinning Songbook”. At each tour performance, select fans are invited onstage to spin the Wheel, helping to create new sets at each performance from a collection of 40 banners including hits, rarities, and a few surprises. This tour has marked the Wheel's first appearance in 25 years and includes an on-stage go-go cage and "Society Lounge" in addition to the monumental game-show wheel. With set-lists boasting over 200 different songs, the tour hit more than 30 cities in 2011, garnering acclaim at every turn.
Tickets 1-855-985-5000 Ticketmaster
- April 11 at 10:30 am – ORPHEUM
MUSIC IN THE MORNING: ANTON KUERTI
"One of the truly great pianists of our time” (CD Review, London), Anton Kuerti has performed in recital and with leading orchestras and conductors across Canada and in nearly 40 other countries. The Austrian-born Canadian pianist, music teacher, composer, and conductor has received international recognition and numerous honourary doctorates, as well as founding the Festival of the Sound in Parry Sound, Ontario. For this performance, Kuerti will play Beethoven’s magnificent Appassionata sonata. The program will also feature Dvorak’s Piano Quintet for which Kuerti will be joined by the young, energetic, all-Canadian Afiara String Quartet. The highly decorated Afiara placed second in the prestigious Banff International String Quartet Competition in 2010 and the Munich ADR Competition, and also won the Concert Artists Guild International Competition in New York in 2008.Coffee at 10:00 am.
Tickets 604-873-4612 Music in the Morning
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April 12 at 2:00 pm – ORPHEUM
VSO TEA & TRUMPETS: LEHAR - THE MERRY WIDOW
Franz Lehar was the king of operetta, and The Merry Widow is his most popular and beloved work. Conducted by Pierre Simard and hosted by Christopher Gaze.
Tickets 604-876-3434 Vancouver Symphony
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April 13 & 14 at 8:00 pm – ORPHEUM
VSO POPS: LET’S DANCE!
A very special Symphony Pops concert created by Jeff Tyzik and Carla Heiney, 2010 National Jitterbug Champ and choreographer for the hit TV show, So You Think You Can Dance. Heiney and other top professional dancers will dance Swing, Waltz, Latin, Ballroom and Tap to the lush, full sounds of the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra.
Tickets 604-876-3434 Vancouver Symphony
- April 14 to May 5 - VANCOUVER PLAYHOUSE
PLAYHOUSE THEATRE COMPANY: GOD OF CARNAGE
When two young boys get into a playground fight, their parents meet to discuss the incident in a civilized manner. But what begins as a calm and rational debate between grown-ups, soon degenerates into a hysterical evening of name-calling, tantrums and tears before bedtime. A West End and Broadway hit, God of Carnage is fast, furious and very, very funny. By Yazmina Reza. Translated by Christopher Hampton. A co-production with Manitoba Theatre Centre. Check the Playhouse Theatre Company website for specific dates and times.
Tickets: 604-873-3311 Playhouse Theatre Company
- April 15 at 7:30 pm – ORPHEUM
VSO SPECIALS: THE SEOUL PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA
The VSO presents a performance by the Seoul Philharmonic, featuring Wu Wei, the world's leading sheng player. The sheng is a 4,000 year old Chinese mouth organ, the world's oldest reed-based instrument, and carries a rich, diverse, and amazing sound. Unsuk Chin's composition for sheng and orchestra provides an extraordinary counterpoint to the music of Ravel and Tchaikovsky.
Tickets 604-876-3434 Vancouver Symphony
- April 15 at 7:30 pm – VANCOUVER PLAYHOUSE
VANCOUVER CHOPIN SOCIETY: LUKAS GENIUSAS
Lukas Geniusas won Second equal prize in the 16th International Fryderyk Chopin Piano Competition in Warsaw in 2010, and also the special award of the Fryderyk Chopin Society for the best performance of a polonaise in Stage II. He was born in 1990 in Moscow. Being born into a family of musicians played a major role in Mr. Geniusas’s swift musical development at an early age. His grandmother, Vera Gornostaeva, a prominent teacher and a professor at the Moscow Conservatory, became his first mentor. He will be performing works of Liszt and Chopin.
Tickets 1-855-985-2787 Ticketmaster Chopin Society - April 17 at 8:00 pm – VANCOUVER PLAYHOUSE
FRIENDS OF CHAMBER MUSIC: QUATUOR MOSAÏQUES
Originally members of the famed Concentus Musicus Wien, these four players decided in 1987 to form a quartet that would play on historical instruments. They are recognized as the leading exponents of the central European classical repertoire and the ultimate objective of each interpretation is to reveal the inner spiritual wealth of the music.
Their concerts sell out in such major venues as Wigmore Hall in London, the Musikverein and Konzerthaus in Vienna, and the Théâtre de la Ville in Paris.
Tickets 604-437-5747 Friends of Chamber Music
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April 21 at 8:00 pm – ORPHEUM ANNEX
VSO SYMPHONY AT THE ANNEX: SONGS WITHOUT WORDS
A program showcasing the works of Ryan, Sharman and Nobles, and featuring Beth Orson on the Oboe. Conducted by Bramwell Tovey.
Tickets 604-876-3434 Vancouver Symphony
- April 21, 24 26 & 28 and May 1 & 3 at 7:30 pm - QUEEN ELIZABETH THEATRE
VO: AIDA
Set amidst the monumental opulence of ancient Egypt, Verdi’s famous opera is visually stunning and musically magnificent. Against the sweeping background of warring nations, fierce patriotism and the mysteries of a powerful priesthood is a passionate drama of loyalty and love across enemy lines that will reach deep into your heart.
Tickets: 604-683-0222 Vancouver Opera
- April 22 at 3:00 pm – VANCOUVER PLAYHOUSE
FRIENDS OF CHAMBER MUSIC: EMERSON STRING QUARTET
We have presented the Emerson throughout their outstanding career and take great pride in being one of their early sponsors. They continue to accumulate accolades; they have won nine Grammy Awards and have been
inducted into the American Classical Music Hall of Fame.
Tickets 604-437-5747 Friends of Chamber Music -
April 22 at 2:30 pm – ORPHEUM
VANCOUVER ACADEMY OF MUSIC: SUZIKI FESTIVAL
Come hear the Vancouver Academy of Music Suziki Festival in the Orpheum.
Tickets Vancouver Academy of Music
- April 26 at 8:00 pm – ORPHEUM
VSO SPECIALS: LARRY KING STANDING UP
For fifty years in broadcasting, Larry King was the one asking the questions. Now, he turns the tables on himself with his brand new stage show! The Emmy, Peabody and CableACE Award-winning broadcast icon will be giving fans a hilarious and insightful look inside the legend – starting with his life growing up as a street-smart kid in Brooklyn, to tales from his storied career as the greatest interviewer of all time. You will also have the extraordinary opportunity to ask your own questions of the broadcast legend in a Q&A session, as part of this unique and once-in-a-lifetime evening that you will never forget. VIP Meet and Greet Package: $175, including prime seating in Dress Circle or Orchestra level, and catered post-concert meet and greet reception with Larry King at the Pyatt Hall in the VSO School of Music, immediately adjacent to the Orpheum.
Tickets 604-876-3434 Vancouver Symphony
- April 28 at 8:00 pm & April 29 at 2:00 pm – ORPHEUM
VSO MUSICALLY SPEAKING: GILBERT & SULIVAN’S TRIAL BY JURY
Critically-acclaimed pianist Peter Longworth is a concert pianist of power and grace. He will perform John Ireland's beautiful impressionist Piano Concerto, in a program that also includes Gilbert & Sullivan's hilarious one act comic opera Trial by Jury, with G&S specialist Richard Suart – and of course, Maestro Bramwell Tovey.
Tickets 604-876-3434 Vancouver Symphony
- April 30 at 7:30 pm – ORPHEUM
SNOW PATROL
100.5 The Peak and Georgia Straight present: Snow Patrol with guest Ed Sheeran. Multi-platinum, Grammy-nominated UK band Snow Patrol announce a return to Vancouver on April 30th in support of their sixth studio album FALLEN EMPIRES. FALLEN EMPIRES establishes Snow Patrol as a band big on experimental ideas as well as stadium sized anthems. “I’ve always wanted to make an album that could rank with the ones that inspire me,”singer Gary Lightbody says, “and hopefully this one will. I’m really proud of this album. Listening to it thrills me and that is a beautiful thing indeed.”
Tickets 1-855-985-5000 Livenation
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May
- May 1 & 3 at 7:30 pm - QUEEN ELIZABETH THEATRE
VO: AIDA
Set amidst the monumental opulence of ancient Egypt, Verdi’s famous opera is visually stunning and musically magnificent. Against the sweeping background of warring nations, fierce patriotism and the mysteries of a powerful priesthood is a passionate drama of loyalty and love across enemy lines that will reach deep into your heart.
Tickets: 604-683-0222 Vancouver Opera
- May 2 at 8:00 pm – ORPHEUM
VSO SPECIALS: CHRIS BOTTI
The one and only Chris Botti makes his highly-anticipated return to the Orpheum to perform with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra! His last VSO performance – a sold-out concert in 2010 – had audiences leaping to their feet for multiple standing ovations. So get your tickets now, it is sure to sell out again!
Tickets 604-876-3434 Vancouver Symphony
- Until May 5 - VANCOUVER PLAYHOUSE
PLAYHOUSE THEATRE COMPANY: GOD OF CARNAGE
When two young boys get into a playground fight, their parents meet to discuss the incident in a civilized manner. But what begins as a calm and rational debate between grown-ups, soon degenerates into a hysterical evening of name-calling, tantrums and tears before bedtime. A West End and Broadway hit, God of Carnage is fast, furious and very, very funny. By Yazmina Reza. Translated by Christopher Hampton. A co-production with Manitoba Theatre Centre . Check the Playhouse Theatre Company website for specific dates and times.
Tickets: 604-873-3311 Playhouse Theatre Company
- May 5 & 7 at 8:00 pm – ORPHEUM
VSO MASTERWORKS GOLD: BRAHMS AND DVORAK WITH JAN VOGLER
Known for his heart-on-his-sleeve style of playing, Jan Vogler performs the greatest concerto for cello and orchestra in a concert that also showcases the most beautiful of the four amazing symphonies written by Johannes Brahms.
Tickets 604-876-3434 Vancouver Symphony
- May 10 at 2:00 pm – ORPHEUM
VSO TEA & TRUMPETS: BACH AND HANDEL
Bach and Handel were the quintessential Baroque masters. In this outstanding Baroque concert, you will hear Bach's Orchestral Suite No. 1, selections from Handel's Water Music, and much more. Conducted by Pierre Simard and hosted by Christopher Gaze.
Tickets 604-876-3434 Vancouver Symphony
- May 10 - 12 at 8:00 pm – QUEEN ELIZABETH THEATRE
BALLET BC: BLISS
This full-evening work will be Ballet BC’s first by Resident Choreographer José Navas, who credits his experience with Ballet BC with “awakening an urgency to create classical dance but from a contemporary point-of-view. I want to change the way we look at contemporary ballet and bring back the beauty of pure movement.” Part of the full-evening work includes a reprisal of the acclaimed ballet The bliss that from their limbs all movement takes presented in the fall of 2010. Featuring the music of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Philip Glass and Ravi Shankar.
Tickets 1-855-985-ARTS Ticketmaster Ballet BC
- May 11 & 12 at 8:00 pm – ORPHEUM
VSO POPS: ESSENTIAL BRASS WITH ALLEN VIZZUTTI
Internationally-acclaimed as one of the world's very best trumpet players, Allen Vizzutti makes his much-anticipated return to the VSO Pops series, performing an eclectic concert that includes Carnival of Venice, Aventure Español, An American Jazz Suite, selections from Gershwin's Porgy and Bess, Copland's Fanfare for the Common Man, and more! Conducted by Jeff Tyzik.
Tickets 604-876-3434 Vancouver Symphony
- May 13 at 2:00 pm – ORPHEUM
VSO KIDS KONCERTS: EMILY SAVES THE ORCHESTRA
Award-winning Platypus Theatre presents a theatrical introduction to the instruments of the orchestra and the basic elements of music – melody, harmony, dynamics, rhythm and tone – in a concert that tells the story of a young girl's battle to save music.
Tickets 604-876-3434 Vancouver Symphony
- May 19 at 8:00 pm – ORPHEUM ANNEX
VSO SYMPHONY AT THE ANNEX: SENTIMENTAL GEOMETRY
A program showcasing the works of Solovic, Bouliane and Murail. Conducted by Pierre Simard.
Tickets 604-876-3434 Vancouver Symphony
- May 20 at 7:00 pm – VANCOUVER PLAYHOUSE
KVARTAL 95
Russian language comedy. For more information call 604-273-5941.
www.showbirzha.com
- May 26 & 28 at 8:00 pm and May 27 at 2:00 pm – ORPHEUM
VSO MASTERWORKS DIAMOND: YEVGENY SUDBIN!
Yevgeny Sudbin is a shooting star in the musical firmament, and his passionate, thrilling performances take audience's collective breath away and leave critics searching for superlatives. He will perform one of Mozart's most important (and brilliant) concertos, in a concert that also features the lush, beautiful music of Claude Debussy.Conducted by Kazuyoshi Akiyama..
Tickets 604-876-3434 Vancouver Symphony
- May 30 at 8:00 pm – ORPHEUM
VSO SPECIALS: LAST NIGHT OF THE PROMS
Last Night of the Proms is a traditional concert celebrating the last night of theBBC Promenades series of concerts in London's Royal Albert Hall, a beloved concert series that began in 1895. Maestro Bramwell Tovey and the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra proudly uphold that tradition in a fun and fantastic concert featuring Pomp & Circumstance, Rule Britannia, Jerusalem, and much more!
Conducted by Bramwell Tovey.
Tickets 604-876-3434 Vancouver Symphony
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June
- June 2 & 4 at 8:00 pm – ORPHEUM
VSO MASTERWORKS GOLD: A HERO’S LIFE
Referred to as "the most sensational young artist to emerge in Canada in a decade," Jan Lisiecki is a superstar in the making. He performs Schumann's delicious Piano Concerto in his Vancouver debut, while in the second half, Maestro Tovey explores the rich treasure trove of music that is A Hero's Life by Richard Strauss. Conducted by Bramwell Tovey.
Tickets 604-876-3434 Vancouver Symphony
- June 9 & 11 at 8:00 pm – ORPHEUM
VSO MASTERWORKS SILVER: BRAMWELL TOVEY’S THE INVENTOR
Maestro Bramwell Tovey's recently-premiered spectacular opera The Inventor opened at the Calgary Opera in January 2011 to critical acclaim. John Murrell's libretto tells the tragic story of Alexander ("Sandy") Keith Jr., nephew of the famous brewmaster, with Tovey's spectacular, dramatic score. The VSO presents the concert version of this new opera, featuring the original cast and, of course, Maestro Tovey conducting.
Tickets 604-876-3434 Vancouver Symphony
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