Christopher Gaze co-hosts VSO's Musical Picnic With Friends, premiering June 10

The virtual concert features “Summer” from Vivaldi’s Four Seasons, an appearance by pianist Jane Coop, and other highlights

Vancouver Symphony Orchestra presents A Musical Picnic With Friends June 10 at 2 pm via TheConcertHall.ca, with viewing available for the remainder of the season.

VANCOUVER SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA is willing summertime here with A Musical Picnic With Friends. It all starts with “Summer” from Vivaldi’s timeless Four Seasons. Also on the program is Mozetich’s Postcards from the Sky and Martinů’s playful, absurdist ballet, La Revue de Cuisine—complete with kitchen utensils.

Distinguished pianist Jane Coop joins in as leader for her arrangement of Mozart’s beloved Mvt. III. Allegro Assai from Concerto for Piano and Orchestra No. 23 in A Major, K. 488.

Christopher Gaze, artistic director of Vancouver’s Bard on the Beach Shakespeare Festival, joins VSO associate conductor Andrew Crust to co-host the virtual concert. The program also features appearances by VSO concertmaster Nicholas Wright as concertmaster and leader and VSO conductor Otto Tausk as music director.

Featured

Gail Johnson

Gail Johnson is cofounder of Stir. She is a Vancouver-based journalist who has earned local and national nominations and awards for her work. She is a certified Gladue Report writer via Indigenous Perspectives Society in partnership with Royal Roads University and is a member of a judging panel for top Vancouver restaurants.

Articles

Stir Cheat Sheet: 5 pieces that celebrate rising choral composers at Chor Leoni's The Big Roar

From Miranda Currie’s world premiere “Pass on the teachings” to a work with Bollywood rhythms, two-day choir fest celebrates fresh, diverse voices

Canada and the U.S. seek choral harmony at Tapestry International Festival

Vancouver’s own Elektra hosts adult treble choirs from Nova Scotia, Illinois, and California in this triennial celebration

VSO brings full forces to the Orpheum for Mahler’s monumental Third Symphony, May 29 and 30

Music director Otto Tausk is at the podium for this concert, which features mezzo-soprano Rihab Chaieb and the Vancouver Bach Choir

Indian Summer Festival unveils first 2026 programming, spanning comedy and music

Vidura Bandara Rajapaksa, Rashmeet Kaur, Julian Brave NoiseCat, and Modern Biology at event that runs July 9 to 19

Buena Vista Social Club’s Eliades Ochoa brings his never-ending tour to the Chan, May 9

At the age of 79, the veteran Cuban performer shows no signs of slowing down, declaring that “a troubadour never retires”

A Voynich Manifesto probes the unsolved mysteries of a medieval manuscript

In Terri Hron’s Vancouver New Music show, performers Mind of a Snail, SJ Kirsch, and Viviane Houle improvise on themes including nature and the roots of capitalism

Vancouver Bach Family of Choirs joins forces for SummerSing on May 10

Annual event kicks off the warmer months with performances of folk songs, highlighting the voices of choirs of all ages

Zeena Parkins and William Winant perform Modesty of the Magic Thing at Western Front, May 9

Album pays tribute to American visual artist Jay DeFeo’s 1989 series “The Seven Pillars of Wisdom”

Music review: Vancouver Opera’s La Bohème pours its heart into a classic production that lives up to expectations

With glowing garret windows, lush orchestrations, and powerhouse singing, season closer is everything you imagine when you think of Giacomo Puccini’s tragic masterpiece