One of Canada’s premiere concert pianists will perform as a soloist at the Vancouver Metropolitan Orchestra’s Spring Concert. Robert Silverman, a former director of the UBC School of Music, will play Ludwig van Beethoven’s Choral Fantasy for Piano and Orchestra, Op. 80. Often referred to as the “Choral Fantasy”, it premiered at a benefit concert at Theater at der Wien in Vienna shortly before Christmas in 1808.
“This piece is known for its majestic structure, profound emotion, and moving lyrics,” the VMO states in its newsletter. “For Beethoven, this work is a rare masterpiece incorporating keyboard, voice and orchestra; in fact, it could be considered a prelude to the monumental Ninth Symphony!”
The concert begins with a pre-concert talk at 7 p.m. on Saturday (February 22) at the Orpheum Theatre. That will be followed by Silverman’s performance of Beethoven’s piece.
Silverman has recorded a dozen LPs. They include an album of Franz Liszt’s piano music that received a Grand Prix du Disque from the Liszt Society of Budapest. In addition, Silverman received a Juno nomination for his 10-CD recording of 32 Beethoven sonatas.
He has appeared with every major orchestra in Canada, as well as with the Chicago Symphony, Sydney Symphony, BBC Symphony, and St. Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra.
Silverman joined by Vancouver Bach Choir
In addition to Silverman’s solo performance, the VMO’s Spring Concert will feature the Vancouver Bach Choir. Now under the direction of Leslie Dala, this marks the choir’s 94th season.
Students in the UBC Opera Ensemble will also perform under the direction Nancy Hermiston, chair of the UBC voice and opera divisions.
“Closing the evening will be the colossal cantata Carmina Burana by German composer Carl Orff, based on 24 medieval poems,” the VMO states. “This piece, whose first and last sections start with the shocking ‘O Fortuna’ overture, covers a wide range of topics from the joy of the return of Spring, to the fickleness of fortune and wealth, the ephemeral nature of life, and the pleasures (and perils) of drinking and other ‘bad’ habits.”
Maestro Ken Hsieh founded the VMO in 2003. The company has declared that its Spring Concert is a tribute to three Japanese conductors Morihiro Okabe, Seiji Ozawa, and Kazuyoshi Akiyama, who all mentored Hsieh.
In an interview with Pancouver last year, he revealed that he performed Carmina Burana on percussion many years ago with the Vancouver Youth Symphony. He was conducted back then by the recently deceased Akiyama, a former VSO music director.
“Now, to be conducting this piece, is actually terrifying in a way,” Hsieh said last year with a smile. “But it is also something I’m really looking forward to.”
The Vancouver Metropolitan Orchestra’s Spring Concert begins with a pre-concert talk at 7 p.m. on Saturday (February 22) at the Orpheum Theatre. It features conductor Ken Hsieh, the Vancouver Bach Choir and its chorus director, Leslie Dala, and piano soloist Robert Silverman. For tickets, visit Showpass.com. For more information on the VMO, visit its website.
Follow Pancouver on X @PancouverMedia and Bluesky @pancouver.bsky.social, as well as on Instagram @PancouverMedia.
