Saturday, December 17, 2022

Vancouver Symphony Orchestra - A Traditional Christmas - Orpheum

Laura and I thoroughly enjoyed the VSO Traditional Christmas this year.  What a treat to hear this great symphony playsuch Christmas classics as O Holy Night then Sleigh Ride. The stories told by Christopher Gaze were delightful, shorts from Scrooge and poets of  Christmas yore interspersed with the song and symphony. 
Rachel Buttress . Soprano, was so simply heavenly that I was levitated by her Holy Night and captivated by her Messiah Rejoice.  What a truly incredible  voice that filled the Orpheum packed with families of all ages.  
I’d just heard Nat King Cole on the car radio driving in and there was Odyn Mulder sounding like a flawless continuation the master.  I’ll never again hear ‘Chestnuts Roasting on an Open fire’ without remembering the depth, reach and richness of his Bass-Baritone voice.  
I’d not seen David Bui, the RBC Assistant Conductor but loved his presence and attunement with the symphony.  He’s young but then we noticed that there were some very young members of the VSO we didn’t remember from before Covid. God forbid that we are aging. 
We so enjoyed this concert and remembered it last at Christ Church Cathedral.  Time passes but it’s made best with these ageless moments. 
And yes, we enjoyed singing Silent Night and Hark the Herald Angels with the audience of the Orpheum accompanied by the VSO, Buttress and Mulder.  Laura was right, the Christmas spirit we were missing in the hustle of work and winter storms was indeed sparked by this gift of music joy. 
Both of us were lighter leaving the Orpheum feeling a touch of love and peace despite the appalling politics and media of this year.  Our hearts and souls were opened and we smiled at others as we went out into the night
Thank you VSO.

Hallelujah!


















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