A Burnaby cellist is onstage with the Borealis String Quartet this weekend.
Sungyong Lim is part of the acclaimed quartet, which is presenting Out of Darkness Into Light at the Surrey Arts Centre this weekend.
The concert, which is being described as a “sensory music experience,” will start in total darkness, beginning with Georg Freidrich Haas’s work String Quartet No. 3, In iij Noct – which the musicians must play without being able to see either music or each other.
“This groundbreaking composition challenges both performers and audience as they are submerged in darkness for a deeply moving listening experience,” a press release says.
Other work on the program includes Shostakovich’s String Quartet No. 2 in A Major, Haydn’s Sunrise String Quartet and Vancouver composer Farshid Samandari’s vita Borealis.
The concert is on Sunday, No. 20 at 3 p.m. at the Surrey Arts Centre Studio Theatre, 13750 88 Ave. in Surrey. Tickets are $30, regular, $15 for students. Call 604-501-5566 to book, or see www.borealisstringquartet.com for more details.
KIDS' BOOK BONANZA
Got a young reader in the house? You’ll enjoy this Kids’ Book Bonanza – and a Burnaby author will be part of the fun.
The event is set for Saturday, Nov. 19 from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Chapters Pinetree Village location (2990 Lougheed Hwy., Coquitlam).
Four B.C. authors whose work is aimed at middle-grade students and young adults will come together to meet readers and sign books.
Burnaby’s Ellen Schwartz, an award-winning author of more than 15 books for kids, will be on one of the featured authors. Her most recent book is Heart of a Champion.
She’ll be joined by Arushi Raina, author of When the Morning Comes; Mark David Smith, author of Caravaggio: Signed in Blood; and Linda Demeulemeester, author of the award-winning Grim Hill series.
YOUNG MUSICIANS ONSTAGE
Fans of classical music have a chance to check out the next generation of musicians.
The Vancouver Youth Symphony Orchestra is bringing two concerts to the stage at the Michael J. Fox Theatre in Burnaby on Sunday, Nov. 27.
The junior orchestra takes to the stage at 2:30 p.m. for Beautiful Baroque, a family-friendly afternoon that includes Tartini’s Sinfonia in D, Vivaldi’s Sinfonia in D, Vaughan Williams’ Lark Ascending and Vivaldi’s Double Concerto for two violins, with special guest violinists Ken Lin and Rick Dorfer.
At 7:30 p.m., the senior orchestra presents Ballet Russe, with a program of music from Russian ballets, including Igor Stravinsky’s Firebird Suite and Tchaikovsky’s suite from Swan Lake.
Admission to both concerts is by donation.
Check out www.vyso.com for all the details.
CHRISTMAS CHOIRS SING
It’s beginning to sound a lot like Christmas.
Grace Community Choir is inviting everyone out to enjoy their Christmas concert, The Bells are Ringing, set for Saturday, Nov. 26 at 7 p.m. at Grace Lutheran Church.
The concert is a collaborative effort with choirs from All Saints Anglican, Trinity Lutheran Delta and South Burnaby United Church.
They’ll be joined by guest artists Carole Bertho, Jackie Block, Marlin Toftager, Angus Stewart and Gabriel Stewart, with pianist Kimberley Leandro, organist Barry Waterlow and music directors Marcus Patrunia, Gerry Parsons and Leane Oftebro.
The concert is set to start at 7 p.m. Donations will be accepted at the door, with proceeds to Canadian Lutheran World Relief. Light refreshments will follow the concert.
NUTCRACKER RETURNS TO BURNABY
It’s not Christmas until you’ve heard or seen the Nutcracker.
Royal City Youth Ballet is returning to Burnaby this year with its annual full-length presentation of Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker ballet, with a cast of more than 100 dancers under the artistic direction of Dolores Kirkwood.
Join Clara on her adventures with her Nutcracker Prince and revel in the sets by Jean Claude Olivier and costuming by Chris Sinosich – not to mention the talents of all the amazing young dancers from around the region.
The show is set for Friday, Dec. 2 at 7 p.m. at the Michael J. Fox Theatre, 7373 MacPherson Ave. Tickets are being sold through www.ticketsnw.ca.
See www.royalcityyouthballet.org for all the details.
SAVE THE DATE
Here’s a heads-up save the date for choral music fans: Mark Saturday, Dec. 10 on your calendar for a lovely Christmas at Home concert by Amabilis Singers.
The singers, led by Ramona Luengen, are presenting the concert on Saturday, Dec. 10 at 2 p.m. at New Westminster Christian Reformed Church, at 8255 13th Ave. in Burnaby.
The program includes music celebrating the Christmas season, both familiar and unfamiliar – from Connor Koppin’s There is No Rose and Will Todd’s My Lord Has Come to Stacey Gibb’s spirited arrangement of Go Tell It On the Mountain, plus works by Vivaldi and Handel.
Plus, you’ll have your chance to join in the sing-alongs.
Tickets are $20, or free for children under 12. Buy at the door or call 604-503-2074.
(I must publish my usual disclaimer: I am in fact a member of Amabilis, so if you come to the concert, look me up. You’ll find me among the altos.)
Do you have an item for Lively City? Send arts and entertainment suggestions to Julie, [email protected], or find her on Twitter @juliemaclellan.
