A suggested in my last post, our dalliance with the arts over the winter months here on Vancouver Island has not been confined to the theatre alone. This follow-up missive takes us into the wonderful world of music in Victoria… and a surprisingly varied world that is. Herewith a few of the highlights from a wide spectrum of celebratory events. As chance would have it these all feature predominantly the human voice
First up – an event for which we had purchased tickets way back in the summer of 2025 – the extraordinary Ladysmith Black Mambazo at The Royal Theatre.
Now – just in case any gentle reader should be unaware of this legendary ensemble, herewith a brief extract from their extensive entry in Wikipedia:
“Ladysmith Black Mambazo is a South African male choral group singing in the local vocal styles of isicathamiya and mbube. They became known internationally after singing with Paul Simon on his 1986 album “Graceland”. They have since won many awards, including five Grammy Awards.
Formed by Joseph Shabalala in 1960, they became one of South Africa’s most prolific musical groups. Their releases received gold and platinum disc honours in both South Africa and abroad. The group became a mobile academy of South African through their isicathamiya music”.
At The Royal – on a virtually unadorned stage and behind a simple row of microphones – the nine members of the current choir quickly captivated the sell-out crowd with their infectious call-and-response routines, their silky harmonisation and their soulful melodies – the which were energetically underscored by their exuberant choreography. Our faces were wreathed with delighted smiles throughout.
(Sadly, we hear that Albert Mazibuko – one of the founders of Ladysmith Black Mambazo – recently passed away. Rest in peace).
At the opposite end of the spectrum from The Royal Theatre may be found the ‘Brentwood Bay Village Empourium’. This delightful meeting place bills itself thus:
“Welcome to Greater Victoria’s Favourite place to meet up with friends, enjoy great food and drink and browse our selection of merchandise – much of it locally and regionally procured. From apparel to dishware, greeting cards, candles, decor, jewellery and gifts – we’re your friendly neighbourhood general store and more”!
In addition to decent coffee and rather good snacks this hospitable cafe is also a live music venue. On Friday nights the display cabinets in the centre of the shop are pushed back to create an intimate 35 seat cabaret-style venue at which local musicians just love to play.
I am slightly embarrassed to admit that – in the decade since we came to Canada – we had not until recently attended any of these shows. This omission was corrected a few weeks back for the visit of Victoria legend, Louise Rose. This from the BC Entertainment Hall of Fame website:
“Musical from a very early age, Louise’s capabilities and interests haven’t exactly been restricted to making music. A native of the United States, she has, among other things, been a police officer, a Baptist missionary and a sociology teacher. But all that changed after she arrived in Victoria in the early 1970’s and fell in love with British Columbia’s capital city. A pianist, vocalist, and actress, she was formally trained in piano, organ, voice, conducting and arranging. Her teachers included Oscar Peterson, Duke Ellington and Leonard Bernstein. She is host of ‘Let’s Sing Again’ – and leader of the Louise Rose Trio. Louise is also conductor of the highly successful Victoria Good News Choir, which specializes in blues, gospel, semi-classical and jazz”.
We have seen Louise before and can attest to the fact that she truly lives up to her legend. She improvises on the piano with an extraordinary harmonic sense and is a character very much larger than life. At the Empourium she declared that she did not hold with breaks between sets – and that she would simply play until she had run out of requests.
Finally in this eclectic smorgasbord of musical treats is one that I had not expected to experience. The Victoria Symphony Orchestra (VSO) were closing out their season with a performance of Mozart’s Requiem at the Royal – the which event was sold out long before we heard about it. In part this was because the VSO was to be joined for the performance by the choir of King’s College, Cambridge.
When I did finally hear the news it came in the form of a flyer advertising the availability of a very limited number of seats at one of the final rehearsals for the concert. This would take place at the Farquhar auditorium at the University of Victoria and only one hundred and seventy five tickets would be issued. The choir and the VSO would be led through the Requiem by the King’s College Director of Music, Daniel Hyde, with his instructions amplified for the edification of the fascinated attendees.
I have long had a tangential interest in the King’s College Choir – and not just because I was a boy soprano back in the day before my voice broke. I grew up listening to the recordings of the King’s College Choir (in particular those of their Christmas choral music, the which I still reach for come the season). Also, my penultimate employment in the UK was at a very well known school that not only had its own excellent choir but was also blessed with strong links to Cambridge. For a number of years I sang in impromptu Christmas Eve choirs in the chapel there and can attest to some of the magic involved.
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