Victoria Symphony kicks off the New Year with an extravaganza of music, song and dance.

Victoria, BC ’Äì On January 1, at the Royal Theatre, the Victoria Symphony presents A Viennese New Year’Äôs with Maestro Brian Jackson, Ballet Victoria and guest soloists. This new production is inspired by the worldwide Viennese tradition of lively and nostalgic melodies and beautiful waltzes.

Every year over 1 billion people worldwide enjoy the televised version of this extremely popular annual New Year’Äôs Day concert performed by the Vienna Philharmonics Orchestra. In this grand tradition, the Victoria Symphony presents a live production of this beloved tradition inspired by Johan Strauss and the beautiful city of Vienna. Conducted by Maestro Brian Jackson, this extravaganza of music, song and dance includes the universally popular and beloved On the Beautiful Blue Danube, the favourite ’ÄúChez Maxim’Äôs’Äù from The Merry Widow and the colourful Champagne Polka with performances by Mark DuBois, Melanie Krueger and Ballet Victoria.

Brian Jackson, Principal Pops Conductor of the Victoria Symphony since 1994, has performed all the major symphonic and choral literature as well as being recognized as a champion of Canadian composers. Since becoming the youngest Music Director in Canada (Peterborough Symphony) at age 25, Jackson has conducted all the major Canadian orchestras and has led orchestras in the UK, Europe, US and S. America.

Mark DuBois, tenor, is universally acclaimed for his outstanding lyric tenor voice and his artistry and musicianship in performance. Mr. DuBois is featured on several commercial recordings and television specials, the most recent of which is a Juno-nominated recording Chansons D’Äôamore with pianist Gloria Saarinen.

Melanie Krueger, soprano, made her professional operatic debut in the Czech premiere of Robert Ward’Äôs The Crucible. This past season she toured with the Prague Chamber Opera’Äôs production of Xerxes, singing the role of Atalanta in theatres all around Germany.

Ballet Victoria came together in 2002 and during the fall of 2007 Ballet Victoria welcomed Paul Destrooper as artistic director. In addition to creativity, vision, and a renewed sense of enthusiasm, Destrooper brought two decades of experience as a successful international dancer and choreographer on the world stage.

The Victoria Symphony is Vancouver Island’Äôs largest and most active arts organization performing for more than 125,000 people each year, including 10,000 schoolchildren. Showcasing the outstanding talents of its musicians and guest artists, the Victoria Symphony’Äôs 2009-2010 season offers a diverse and exciting line-up of over 50 concerts led by its vibrant Music Director Tania Miller.

The Victoria Symphony Box Office will be closed December 23 to January 3.

To purchase tickets, please contact the Royal Theatre Box Office.

A Viennese New Year’Äôs

January 1 at 2:30pm, Royal Theatre

250.386.6121

Tickets starting $30 to $75.

www.victoriasymphony.ca