Rae Porter /Monday Magazine contributor

Could there be a more idyllic way to pass time than to stroll along the Ogden Point Breakwater; sea breeze warm against your face, sunbeams bouncing off the ocean waves, all framed by the impressive outline of the Olympic Mountains.

What if you added the soaring melodies of some of the great classical composers; Beethoven, Handel, Strauss, performed by the talented musicians of the Victoria Symphony Orchestra. Add to that a cold beer or sweet, summer cider, and well, thatB次元官网网址檚 damn near paradise.

Now in its third year, the VSOB次元官网网址檚 wildly successful Beer & Beethoven event, and itB次元官网网址檚 sister concert Mozart & Martinis, are a dab hand at creating such moments of magic, as well as introducing a whole new audience to the work of the orchestra and the realm of classical music in general.

B次元官网网址淲e have some familiar faces, but plenty of new ones too,B次元官网网址� says Jill Smillie, VSO director of marketing. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a very different concert experience and very accessible to everyone, even if they arenB次元官网网址檛 familiar with classical music. To watch a cruise ship dock as you listen to Beethoven is a pretty incredible experience.B次元官网网址�

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Thanks to sponsor Island Savings, the VSO has been able to add a second performance to this yearB次元官网网址檚 sure-to-sell-out event on Saturday, July 27. Led by conductor Giuseppe Pietraroia and taking place on The Breakwater Barge, the concerts start at 2:30 and 5 p.m., respectively, and feature classic compositions such as BeethovenB次元官网网址檚 Symphony No. 5 (mvt. 4) and HandelB次元官网网址檚 Water Music (mvt. 1 & 6).

Of course, majestic waterfront performances are not the only thing lined up for the orchestra this summer.

Their multi-event Symphony in the Summer festival will also see them perform at Butchart Gardens on July 24, followed by an appearance at Christ Church Cathedral on the 31st. Closing out their summer series on Aug. 4 in the Inner Harbour is the always magnificent Victoria Symphony Splash, now in its 30th year.

B次元官网网址淲hat I like about summer is the variety in venues,B次元官网网址� Smillie says. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a great opportunity for the Symphony to get out into the community and share the experience of extraordinary live music.B次元官网网址�

WeB次元官网网址檙e lucky enough to live in a pretty awe-inspiring place, so it seems only fair that there should be an equally awe-inspiring soundtrack to accompany it, and thatB次元官网网址檚 something the VSO is more than happy to provide.

editor@mondaymag.com
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