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Directly from the VSO Press Release:
The VSO’s 2010/2011 Season begins September 25th

Vancouver, BC - The VSO’s 2010/2011 season launches September 25th, 2010, and is packed with exciting concerts right through to June. World renowned guest artists and emerging talents take centre stage with the VSO in over one-hundred and forty performances this season. The VSO presents a diverse range of great classical repertoire both new and old, Symphony Pops, matinees, and concerts for children and families. Once again, the VSO takes its show in the road, with concerts performed in fourteen different venues throughout the Lower Mainland.

A few of the many Season repertoire highlights include:

Verdi Requiem

Schubert Symphony No. 9, The Great

R. Strauss Death and Transfiguration

Bach Mass in B minor

Mahler Symphony No. 1, Titan

Takemitsu Rain Coming

Nielsen Symphony No. 4, The Inextinguishable

Barber Violin Concerto

Scott Good Etudes for Chamber Orchestra

Bruckner Symphony No. 6

Sibelius Violin Concerto

Scott Good Fanfare (World Premiere)

Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto No. 2

Ravel Daphnis and Chloe Suite No. 1 and No. 2

Shostakovich Symphony No. 10

John Adams Dr. Atomic Symphony (Canadian Premiere)

Prokofiev Violin Concerto No. 1

Claude Vivier Pulau Dewata (Island of the Gods)

Mahler Das Lied von der Erde

Stravinsky Firebird (1919)

Mozart Symphony No. 39

Mendelssohn Symphony No. 5, Reformation

Beethoven Piano Concerto No. 3

The VSO is joined by an extraordinary line-up of classical guest artists:

Avan Yu piano

Hans Graf conductor

Markus Groh piano

Sarah Chang violin

Alessio Bax piano

Jesus Lopez-Cobos conductor

Han-Na Chang cello

Elgar Howarth

Kyoko Takezawa violin

Sara Davis Buechner piano

Augustin Hadelich violin

James Ehnes violin

Gunther Herbig conductor

Stephen Hough piano

Roberto Minczuk conductor

Babia Skride violin

Martin Chalifour violin

Julian Kuerti conductor

Johannes Moser cello

James Gaffigan conductor

Nareh Arghamanyan piano

John Morris Russell conductor

Daniel Bolshoy guitar

Alexander Gavrylyuk piano

Marc-Andre Hamelin piano

Louis Lortie conductor/piano

Kenneth Slowik conductor/harpsichord

The VSO is excited to welcome Nathan Zgonc as Principal Trombone. Nathan previously played Principal trombone in the Utah Symphony and Opera, Principal trombone in the Sarasota Orchestra, Principal and Second trombone in the San Antonio Symphony, and trombone in the United States Navy Band and the Oregon Symphony. Originally from Fairview, Oregon, Nathan earned his education at Indiana University, San Francisco Conservatory, and the Manhattan School of Music.

Going beyond classical music, the London Drugs VSO Pops series ranges from Broadway to the Blues. The series features great entertainment, including a Tribute to the Great Ray Charles by vocalist Ellis Hall; Celtic and folk music with John McDermott; and a Night at the Cotton Club with Byron Stripling, a swinging concert with Jazz and Blues classics. The VSO is pleased to continue our association with Principal Pops Conductor Jeff Tyzik, one of the most in-demand Pops conductors and arrangers in North America.

Matinee traditions continue to be a favorite: Symphony Sundays presents classical concerts in the afternoon, drawn from the main series classical series; and Tea & Trumpets, featuring VSO Assistant Conductor Evan Mitchell and narrator Christopher Gaze – with tea and cookies served in the lobby one hour before each concert – includes light classics mixed with narration.

Concerts for kids and families are always popular, with Tiny Tots for the little ones from toddlers to age four or five at both the Playhouse Theatre in Vancouver and the Terry Fox Theatre in Port Coquitlam, and Kids’ Koncerts, featuring the full orchestra and aimed at children from four/five to ten/eleven years of age.

And, of course, the exciting line-up of Special Concerts:

* Canadian pop superstar Chantal Kreviazuk performs her most popular songs with the full, lush sounds of the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra.
* Three extraordinary musicians, led by the great Anne-Sophie Mutter, come together to perform a very special evening of Beethoven Trios on the Orpheum stage.
* The extraordinary Lord of the Rings Symphony comes to the Orpheum, performed by the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra! This monumental work, a symphonic suite of music from Peter Jackson’s Oscar-winning movie trilogy, evokes the grand scope of J.R.R. Tolkien’s epic masterpiece.
* Performed by the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra and a full choir, PLAY! A Video Game Symphony features award-winning music from a catalogue of blockbuster video game titles.
* The Lower Mainland’s most beloved Holiday Music Tradition! This season, VSO Music Director Bramwell Tovey leads the orchestra in a celebration of the Holiday spirit.
* Vivaldi’s timeless classic the Four Seasons has been considered one of the world’s most popular pieces of music for two-and-a-half centuries. Hear the Four Seasons beautifully interpreted by Concertmaster Dale Barltrop and the VSO. Alessandro Juliano narrates.
* International sensation Arrival from Sweden is the world’s top ABBA tribute band, playing to sold out houses everywhere they go. The only ABBA tribute band with exclusive rights to the ABBA name, costumes and original music from all their greatest hits, Arrival from Sweden also includes original ABBA band members Finn Sjöberg on guitar and Roger Palm on Drums.
* If there is actually such a thing as “the greatest piece of music ever written” surely this must be it: Beethoven’s iconic Symphony No. 9 ‘Ode to Joy.’ Truly one of the most profound creations of the human mind, Beethoven’s inspiring, epic Ninth is always fresh, current and thrilling.
* Pinchas Zukerman is a master of the violin with few equals, and a champion of classical music worldwide. Hear this legendary musician in an exclusive all-Beethoven evening, with Maestro Bramwell Tovey at the helm.
* Talented and versatile singer, songwriter and performer Simone celebrates the life and music of her mother, musical icon and pioneer Nina Simone.
* Hailed as one of opera history’s greatest singing actresses, the extraordinary Angela Gheorghiu makes her long-anticipated Vancouver debut with Maestro Bramwell Tovey and the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra.
* The Vancouver Symphony Orchestra presents Last Night of the Proms, a beloved concert tradition originating with the BBC Symphony’s Promenades series, and still going strong so many years later. Maestro Bramwell Tovey conducts and hosts with his trademark wit and flair.

Directly from the Donnelly Pub Press Release:
UFC 118 - SAT, AUG 28TH

Edgar vs Penn 2
with Couture vs Toney and more

7:00PM - 10:00PM
Cinema / The Calling / The Academic / Lamplighter / Library Square / Smileys

NFL 2010 -  BEGINS SUN, SEPT 12TH

All games in HD and enter to win weekly prizes. Enter for your chance to win a Pro Bowl prize pack and trips to see the Sea Hawks.

10:00PM / 1:15PM /5:30PM
Cinema / The Calling / The Academic / Lamplighter / Library Square / Smileys

REALITY BITES - EVERY WEDS

Working is totally harsh. And mid-week can be pretty daunting if still have another 2 full work days left. That’s why we’re putting a little treat together for you guys from now on every week on Wednesday nights.

REALITY BITES is a new weekly hang out and eat junk food and drink beer and party night at The Lamplighter in Gastown every Wednesday night.

11:00PM - 1:00AM
The Lamplighter - 92 Water Street

CINEMA SATURDAYS

Party Rock & Dance Classics
DJ Kenya, Hosted by Tito Deville
…Every Saturday

$7.40 Double High Balls
$6.55 Vodka Bombs
$6.30 Bowmosas

10:00PM - 2:00AM
Cinema - 901 Granville Street

HIT EXPRESS - EVERY THURSDAY

80′S POP TUNES with DJ ALLGOOD

$4.25 Domestic Sleeves
$12.75 Domestic Pitchers
$6.50 Classic Cocktails
$13 Steak Frites

10:00PM - 2:00AM
Academic - 1619 West Broadway

VICKY SJOHALL LIVE - SUN, SEPT 5TH

Come join us for a special performance from one of Vancouver’s best live musicians. Enjoy dinner, Mojitos, drink features and much more.
Starts 9pm

9:30PM - 2:00AM
The Calling - 1780 Davie Street

Directly from the Italian Cultural Centre Press Release:
Vancouver’s only 20-metre authentic Venetian gondola on display September 11th to December 4th at the Italian Cultural Centre!

Vancouver BC, August 26th 2010  –  Il Museo at the Italian Cultural Centre is presenting the Giovanni Caboto Vancouver’s authentic Venetian gondola.  A relic of Expo86, the gondola is thought to be among the few in North America.

“It has survived, through various owners, and many grand schemes before ending up here,” says museum curator, Caelan Griffiths, “it’s a rare piece of authentic, handmade Venetian culture – made with no nails!”

The only bits of metal found on the museum-piece are the decorative brasses shaped like seahorses.  It was acquired in the 1990s by a dedicated group of volunteers led by Giorgio Oballa and Armando Petronio who saved it from possible destruction and painstakingly restored for display.

The Giovanni Caboto is part of a larger display devoted to the magical city of Venice, a city that has a special place in hearts of Vancouver’s Italian-Canadians.  Objects on display have been brought from the homes of the Italian community and from a major bequest by the late Abraham Rogatnick – a passionate scholar of Venice.  The display runs from September 11th to December 4th, 2010.  With the rich history and culture of Venice to display the museum has also scheduled activities: “Dress Like a Gondolier” day for kids and adults, slideshow lectures and much more! (check the Italian Cultural Centre website for more details).

The Italian Cultural Centre is a not-for-profit cultural organization that promotes the best of Italian culture, sharing it with all the other communities in Vancouver, in order to endorse a vibrant and colourful multiculturalism. Ample free car and bike parking available and Renfrew Skytrain station nearby: 3075 Slocan Street (Grandview Hwy) in Vancouver.   Consider taking the Central Valley Greenway to find us!