NEWS RELEASE    April 26th, 2008
Bach Choir presents its annual concert of The Last Night of the Proms

LOCATION: The Orpheum

TIME AND DATE: Friday May 9th, 2008, 8.PM.

TICKETS ($25 - $45 plus booking fees) at Ticketmaster 280-3311, Ticketmaster ca.

Vancouver Bach Choir, Bruce Pullan conductor, Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, Vancouver Bach Children’s Chorus

. The Vancouver Bach Choir’s annual “Britfest” takes place this year on Friday May 9th at 8pm in the Orpheum. The Last Night of the Proms is modeled on the annual concert which ends the summer season of “Proms” concerts presented by the BBC in London’s Albert Hall. The “Proms” title comes from the tradition in London that a large part of the audience stands throughout the concert in the promenade section of the concert hall, right in front of the orchestra. (No one is asked to stand at the Orpheum).

In Vancouver, the London tradition of “serious first half, crazy second half” is followed, but with a theme for the first half. The theme this year is William Shakespeare. Well-known Canadian opera singers Roelof Oostwoud, tenor and Peter Barcza, baritone, and recent Metropolitan Auditions winner Simone Osborne, soprano, will join the choir and the Vancouver Symphony for the exciting first half of arias and choruses from Verdi’s Macbeth and Otello. A highlight of the programme will be the “vengeance duet” from Otello.

Of course, nothing will shift the “Proms” music, Land of Hope and Glory, Rule Britannia, Jerusalem, and other outrageously British patriotic songs from the second half of the programme. The audience brings noise-makers, wears bowler hats and boaters, waves flags, throws streamers and generally behaves badly. Hats and streamers are sold at the concert and words of the songs are in the programme. Look for the best dressed Shakespearean teddy bear competition and the heart-warming end to the concert when the doors at the back of the hall are flung open and the Children’s Chorus enters, carrying Canadian flags and singing This is our home, Oh Canada.
Just to set things straight!

Tickets from Ticketmaster 280-3311 or ticketmaster.ca Contact: Gillian Wilder, 604-921-8012

CLICK HERE to go directly to the concert info page, and to purchase tickets.

Media sponsor is the Vancouver Sun. The Vancouver Bach Choir gratefully acknowledges the continued support of the Canada Council for the Arts, the Province of British Columbia through the British Columbia Arts Council and the City of Vancouver.