One of the world's greatest concert halls has exciting news for Vancouver audiences.
UBC's Chan Centre for the Performing Arts is announcing a new era of co-presentations featuring internationally acclaimed artists and performers.
"With the Vancouver Recital Society (VRS) we will co-present a 2000/01 series which includes opera stars Dawn Upshaw and Renee Fleming, Korean violinist Kung-Wha Chung and pianist Jon Kimura Parker," says Michael Noon, director of the centre, which has earned an international reputation as one of the top three concert halls in the world since opening in May 1997.
"Clearly there is a limited audience in the city and we now have tremendous opportunities to pool resources," says Leila Getz, artistic director and founder of the VRS.
The society will stage five additional premier performances in its upcoming season at the centre, which she describes as "acoustically awesome."
Noon is confirming many other concerts for 2001 which include performances by the legendary Preservation Hall Jazz Band, the Vienna Boys Choir, Paragon Ragtime Orchestra and Christopher Parkening with Jubilant Sykes.
He says a Feb. 25 concert by Canadian singer-songwriter Connie Kaldor is the "realization of a dream." Co-producer, Vancouver's Rogue Folk Club, heartily agrees.
"Ordinarily we would book multiple nights at a small venue," says Steve Edge, president of the club which presents dozens of local concerts each year.
"We now have this great opportunity to co-present a significant event in a prestigious location with its reputation as a wonder of acoustic engineering. It's something Michael, Connie and I have wanted to try for several years."
Noon was well aware that it would take five years to firmly establish the $25-million multipurpose complex, which includes the 1,400-seat Chan Shun Concert Hall, the TELUS Studio Theatre and the Royal Bank Cinema.
He is currently concentrating on building a broader audience profile by joining forces with other professional and community-based arts organizations.
Recent successful co-presentations with the Chinese Cultural Society, the UBC Opera Ensemble, the VRS and other organizations have set this new course.
Over the past 22 months the centre has become extremely popular. The UBC Music at the Chan Centre Series regularly features outstanding artists and performers.
The Vancouver Symphony Orchestra plays nine concerts a year and the CBC Symphony Orchestra has moved its Avison Series from the Orpheum Theatre to UBC.
Local jazz aficionados and swing phenomena fans have been treated to big band performances such as the Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Glenn Miller and Bill Holman bands. The Tommy Dorsey Orchestra is scheduled for Sept. 29. The Chan Centre for the Performing Arts is also an integral part of valuable training for UBC music, theatre and film students and home to Congregation ceremonies.
more information
Free tours are available by calling 604-822- 1815 or e-mailing tours@chancentre.com.
The Web >site is www.chancentre.com. Tickets for performances
at the Chan Centre are available from Ticketmaster (604) 280-3311, or in person
at the Chan Centre ticket office (6265 Crescent Road) after noon each day.