Intimate Christmas with the Vancouver Island Symphony

The Vancouver Island Symphony presents
Intimate Christmas
Guest Choir: musica intima
Conductor: Pierre Simard
Saturday, December 15, 7:30 p.m.
Port Theatre, Nanaimo
Tickets: 250-754-8550 www.porttheatre.com

Welcome! Come on in where it’s warm, cozy and comfortable! It’s a Christmas party – an Intimate Christmas party with the Vancouver Island Symphony! The halls of the Port Theatre will be decked out for the season on Saturday, December 15 as the VI Symphony presents their traditional family Christmas concert featuring joyous seasonal music, a cheerful sing-along - and surprises! Adding to the celebration are the young and exciting voices of Western Canada’s award-winning choral gem – musica intima.

Pure and beautiful - musica intima

Founded in 1992, musica intima has graced the stages of Canada’s best known festivals and concert halls. Their concerts and recordings are frequently heard on national and international radio broadcasts. “I originally heard musica intima in concert on CBC Radio while I was studying in Montreal,” says alto Melanie Adams, the East Coast member of this professional twelve-voice ensemble. “Their sound really struck me as being so pure and beautiful, blended. I thought as I listened; I could be happy singing with that group like that.” It was several years later and a series of coincidences that led Melanie to the West Coast in 2000 and a successful audition for the ensemble. “It was how they work, in consensus, that fascinated me, without a conductor. Every piece has a musical leader. We stand in a semi-circle and the audience becomes the 13^th member.”

Music to get comfortable with

Like being curled up in front of a blazing Yule fire, this is music to warm the heart, from the traditional audience sing-along that includes Deck the Halls and Silent Night, to excerpts from Bach’s Cantata no. 132, Berlioz’ L’enfance du Christ and Gustav Holst’s Christmas Day performed in perfect harmony by musica intima. But let’s not forget the well-loved and soul-stirring music from Tchaikovky’s Nutcracker played to perfection by the musicians of the VI Symphony, under the baton of the illustrious and popular Pierre Simard. Then, with assistance from musica intima, comes the grand finale with excerpts from Handel’s Messiah, and the all-powerful Hallelujah Chorus! “I really love the Messiah,” adds Melanie. “I’ve performed it many times. It is amazing music!”

So come join the party, toast the season and the reason for the season, meet the musicians of the VI Symphony and singers from musica intima, and celebrate the joy of an Intimate Christmas with music and song - in total comfort.

Tickets for Intimate Christmas are available at 250-754-8550.
For information visit www.vancouverislandsymphony.com. Keeping music LIVE!