MUSIC / MOVIES
Arts companies step up to provide holiday music
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by Steve Newton
MESSIAH FAVOURITES
ith the latest COVID-19 restrictions putting the kibosh on live concerts for the immediate future, it’s good to know that local arts companies like Vancouver Opera, Chor Leoni, Music on Main, Vetta Chamber Music, musica intima, and Early Music Vancouver are offering online alternatives.
(December 19 at 7:30 p.m. and December 20 at 2 p.m., operaboxcompany.com) OperaBox Company and Burnaby Lyric Opera present a virtual performance of favourite selections from George Frideric Handel’s Messiah. CEREMONY OF CAROLS
(December 19, 7:30 p.m., musicaintima.org) Musica intima livestreams a performance of Benjamin Britten’s Ceremony of Carols.
THE MUSIC OF RAVEN CHACON
(To December 21, 7 p.m., chancentre.com) Navajo Nation composer from Fort Defiance, Arizona, dips into colours and timbres from across the spectrum of sound. CRISTINA PATO
Vancouver Opera’s virtual production of Amahl and the Night Vistors (left) will be available next month, as will composer Raven Chacon’s online performance (photo from the Chan Centre).
(To December 21, 7 p.m., chancentre.com) Master of the Galician bagpipe moves between jazz, classical, and folk styles.
voice, with fortepianist Alexander Weimann. After this free premiere, it will remain online for a year.
free online holiday concert featuring five new virtual-choir videos and live performances by the UGC ensemble and band.
EVERYTHING ALREADY LOST
TOM JACKSON’S THE HURON CAROLE
A CELTIC FAMILY CHRISTMAS—AT HOME
(November 19, 5 p.m., musiconmain.ca) Music on Main presents the world-premiere broadcast of composer Jeffrey Ryan’s new song cycle, featuring baritone Tyler Duncan and pianist Erika Switzer. DREAM PIANO TRIOS
(November 26 to 29, 2 p.m., chancentre.com) Vetta Chamber Music presents pianist Arthur Rowe, violinist Joan Blackman, and cellist Brian Yoon performing a tribute to Eugene Osadchy, featuring works by Haydn, Brahms, and Schubert recorded live at the Chan Centre. HAYDN’S ARIADNE AUF NAXO
(December 9, 7:30 p.m., earlymusic.bc.ca) Early Music Vancouver presents Canadian mezzo-soprano Mireille Lebel performing one of Haydn’s most spectacular works for
(December 11, 7 p.m., huroncarole.ca) Canadian actor-singer Jackson’s annual evening of contemporary and signature Christmas music, along with stories, is one of several across Canada raising funds for local food banks and family-services agencies. AMAHL AND THE NIGHT VISITORS
(December 12, 7:30 p.m., digital.vancouveropera.ca) Vancouver Opera presents a digital version of Gian Carlo Menotti’s opera, which depicts the Three Kings stopping for shelter at the home of a poor shepherd boy and his widowed mother on the way to Bethlehem. THERE’S STILL MY JOY
(December 12, 7:30 p.m., universalgospelchoir.ca) The Universal Gospel Choir performs a
theatre groups in the United States. Sanders moved to B.C. in 1984 to perform in Barkerville and, later, he sang in Ain’t Misbehavin’ at the Arts Club Theatre. He joined UBCP/ACTRA’s board in 2002, became treasurer in 2009, and served as president from 2010 to 2017. In his acceptance speech, Sanders emphasized the importance of respect. He noted that actors must respect each other before they’ll get it from agents, producers, and others in the film sector. “Without us, we performers, this multibillion industry we helped bring to B.C. wouldn’t be here,” Sanders said. This industry continues to thrive, even in the face of a pandemic. UBCP/ACTRA’s director of member services, communications, and community relations, Sue Brouse, credits the provincial government for recognizing the importance of the Film and TV sector to restart B.C.’s economy in the pandemic and to the entire industry working together along with the union to develop safety guidelines early on. That includes wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) wherever possible.
(December 17, 8 p.m., capilanou.ca) Natalie MacMaster and Donnell Leahy are featured in a Celtic holiday concert that includes candid moments around the kitchen, decorating the tree, and other bits of Christmas chaos. THE MAGIC OF CHRISTMAS: UNPLUGGED
(December 17, 7:30 p.m., Kay Meek Arts Centre) Unplugged Christmas concert features West Van’s Creber family: Monique, Michael, and their daughter Michelle. CHRISTMAS WITH CHOR LEONI
(December 18 to January 1, chorleoni.org) Enjoy the beautiful voices of the Chor Leoni Men’s Choir under artistic director Erick Lichte with a free concert.
“There are now zones on film sets,” Brouse told the Straight by phone. “Obviously, when performers are in their scenes, they can’t wear PPE, so there are a lot of protocols in place to ensure their health and safety onset—and to make sure COVID-19 doesn’t pass from one person to another on-set.” In the same call, UBCP/ACTRA president-elect Ellie Harvie told the Straight that the pandemic has changed everything for people in the film-and-television industry. “You used to go into casting directors’ offices to do your auditions,” she said. “They have studios, but now everything is considered self-tape. Where I am sitting right now, I have a blue screen, lights, and a circle ring-light that I put my phone in to record my audition. And everyone does that.” Brouse added that the union has given a great deal of support to members—even reimbursing some of them for equipment and creating how-to videos—to help them understand how to self-tape. UBCP/ACTRA advocates for better policies and regulations to encourage production in recorded media, as well as improved pay and better working conditions. That leads to more opportunities for performers.
DING DONG!
(December 22, 7:30 p.m., musicaintima.org) Musica intima explores the sweet and salty sides of Christmas music, from the Pogues to the Pretenders. AN ITALIAN BAROQUE FESTIVE CELEBRATION
(December 23, 7:30 p.m., earlymusicbc.ca) The Pacific Baroque Orchestra and mezzo soprano Krisztina Szabó perform baroque music for Christmas, streaming by donation. MUSIC FOR THE WINTER SOLSTICE 2020 WATCH PARTY
(Mid-December [date TBA], musiconmain.ca) Music on Main presents concert performances by Caroline Shaw (voice and violin), Rachel Iwaasa (piano), Steve Maddock (voice), Couloir (cellist Ariel Barnes and harpist Heidi Krutzen), Veda Hille (voice and piano), Adrian Verdejo (guitar), Nicole Lizée (composer and performer), Wallgrin (violin and voice), Carman J. Price (vocals), Corey Payette (vocals), Julie McIsaac (vocals), Karen Gerbrecht (violin), and Gabriel Kahane (vocals and piano). g
In addition, UBCP/ACTRA is committed to achieving gender equality, equity, and inclusion. In a speech at the beginning of the awards ceremony, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau acknowledged that the film industry has experienced challenging times due to the COVID-19 outbreak. “That hasn’t stopped you from bringing our stories to life,” Trudeau said. “It is a testament to your professionalism and dedication to the film and television industry right here in British Columbia. Our government is always here to support talent and Canadian industry.” UBCP/ACTRA president and ACTRA vice president Keith Martin Gordey celebrated how the virtual awards ceremony allowed members to come together to celebrate their best and brightest, despite the pandemic. “These accomplished individuals, from a field of accomplished individuals, truly deserve this recognition,” Gordey added, “and we are delighted to have found a way to honour them in these challenging times.” During the recorded speech, Gordey also quipped: “I kind of miss the rapturous applause that accompanied my entrance in the past.” g
NOVEMBER 26 – DECEMBER 3 / 2020
THE GEORGIA STR AIGHT
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