CHEK Upside: Victoria Symphony’s Christmas Pops returning to Royal Theatre

CHEK
WatchFor the Victoria Symphony, their 2020-2021 season was unlike any other before. Cole Sorenson explains.

For the Victoria Symphony, their 2020-2021 season was unlike any other before.

“At the end of every piece you expect applause and there was nothing,” says associate conductor Joey Pietraroia.

The symphony played to a virtual audience for all of their performances, which meant that most of the members needed to adjust to a different atmosphere.

“There’s a certain energy you draw from an in-person audience and it really challenged us all as musicians,” says principal pops conductor Sean O’Loughlin.

“But we’re all pros here, you know the players in the Victoria Symphony are first-rate across the board.”

Their virtual performances included their annual Christmas Pops, a highlight on the calendar that this year will once again have an in-person audience.

“Last year the Christmas show that we recorded was just brass and percussion for COVID reasons,” says Pietraroia. “So now we’ve got everyone lined up … plus we have a tenor, David Curry, who is going to be coming in to sing some well-known Christmas classics.”

“It’s just a big bag of Christmas cheer that will be unloaded and unpacked,” says O’Loughlin.

It’s a concert that has everyone involved excited.

“It feels more special this year just because of the circumstances and we’re going to be getting ourselves back into the mode of performing live for everyone,” says O’Loughlin.

Christmas Pops takes place Sat. Dec. 11th at the Royal Theatre. For more information visit the Victoria Symphony website.

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Cole SorensonCole Sorenson

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