New conductor Christian Kluxen takes up the baton to guide the Victoria Symphony for the first time as director on Saturday, Sept. 16 at the Cowichan Performing Arts Centre.
He’ll be conducting an evening of modern works by Miller, Ravel, and Mahler.
In an introduction on the Victoria Symphony, the man who has replaced Tania Miller is seen as a fresh face from Europe.
It’s been a lot of work, planning who would follow Miller.
After a multi-year search that reviewed hundreds of applicants and interviewed dozens of candidates, the Victoria Symphony announced the appointment of Kluxen as the New Music Director 2017/18.
“After a thorough search, we’re thrilled to have someone of his talent lead the orchestra. His musicality, vitality and charismatic energy are a huge asset to the Symphony and to Victoria. I look forward to watching the orchestra continue to flourish under his leadership. We’re in good hands,” said Brian Butler, president of the Victoria Symphony board of directors.
Since completing his three-year assistant conductorship at the Royal Scottish National Orchestra in 2013, Kluxen held the post of Dudamel Fellow at the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra in the 2014/15 season.
His bio says Kluxen has conducted many orchestras across Europe including the London Philharmonic, Royal Northern Sinfonia, Royal Philharmonic, and Turku Philharmonic as well as regular engagements with the Copenhagen Philharmonic and South Denmark Philharmonic.
Kluxen’s experience also extends to the opera world including an extensive tour of Madama Butterfly with the Danish National Opera and debut engagements in Norway with the Artic Opera and Philharmonic and in Germany with Komische Oper Berlin.
Coming to Vancouver Island is a new adventure.
On the Symphony website, Kluxen says: “Having now visited Victoria twice, I’ve experienced the total and immense dedication of every single musician of the Victoria Symphony. This is not something to take for granted. The openness, the hunger for musicmaking and the enthusiasm for new ideas, is something very special…No matter in which direction the world develops, music remains the strongest form of communication, and we, the Victoria Symphony, will continue to inspire people to listen. This is why I am so excited about the birth of this new musical partnership.”
The music for this special performance, organized by the Cowichan Symphony Society, includes the world premiere of Jared Miller’s Sesquicentennial Commission, Ravel’s Piano Concerto for the Left Hand, with pianist Stewart Goodyear, and Mahler’s Symphony No. 1.
Tickets are $50 each for adults, children and students get into the concert for $10. Groups of 10 or more adults will pay $30 per person. And even if you’re a garden variety adult, if you’re ready to sit in the first three rows of the theatre, you can enjoy this event for $30 each.
Contact 250-748-7529 or cowichanpac.ca to book online.
