Sooke Philharmonic Orchestra & Chorus
YARIV ALONI, Conductor
NICHOLAS FAIRBANK, Choral Conductor

Join the Orchestra & Chorus for an afternoon of relaxation, music and refreshments.

Tea & Symphony is our annual English High Tea, with live music. The audience is seated at beautifully appointed tables and served sweet and savoury goodies as well as tea and coffee, and regaled with a variety of musical favourites. This year’s program is almost entirely dedicated to Handel’s most famous “party music”, the complete Water Music.

Sooke Philharmonic Orchestra
YARIV ALONI, Conductor

Strauss Gypsy Baron Overture

Borodin in the Steppes of Central Asia

Dvorak Symphony no.9 "From the New World"

This is a program of lively colourful music. The overture to The Gypsy Baron, an operetta by Johann Strauss opens the Sunday afternoon concert, followed by Borodin’s symphonic poem, In the Steppes of Central Asia. His work is flavoured by Georgian and Russian folk music, which he loved.

Dvorak’s well-known Symphony No. 9 “From the New World” is one of the best-known symphonies in the orchestral repertoire, and deservedly. It was composed during Dvorak’s residency in the United States in 1893. Like Borodin, Dvorak was deeply interested in folk melodies and this symphony was influenced by African-American spirituals and First Nations songs.

Sooke Philharmonic Orchestra & Chorus

NICHOLAS FAIRBANK, Conductor

Carson Moore, Countertenor
Michael Kelley, Tenor
Nathan McDonald, Bass

Purcell Rejoice in the Lord Alway 

Gibbons This is the Record of John  

Sweelinck Hodie Christus natus est  

Handel Utrecht Jubilate and Dettingham Te Deum

The program begins with anthems for Advent and Christmas by English Baroque composers Purcell and Gibbons. This is followed by the motet Hodie Christus natus est by Dutch composer Jan Sweelinck.

Orchestra, chorus and soloists then join forces in two oratorios by Handel, written in thanks for peace treaties that ended the War of the Spanish Succession in 1713, and the War of the Austrian Succession in 1743. Both works provide opportunities for lively and joyful music, including trumpets and timpani, with variety provided by the solos and small ensemble movements sung by Moore, Kelley and McDonald.