A sea of people filled Victoria's Inner Harbour on Sunday night (Aug. 3) as the long-awaited Symphony Splash returned with an evening of classical music and fireworks.
Canoes, kayaks, and paddle boards clustered before the floating stage, while tens of thousands of spectators gathered on the Legislature lawn and surrounding streets to enjoy the concert, which began shortly after 7:30 p.m.
Held for the first time in five years, the event featured its very own orchestra performing from a barge under the direction of conductor Sean O香蕉视频直播橪oughlin.
The night香蕉视频直播檚 program included highlights from past Symphony Splash events, with pieces such as Shostakovich香蕉视频直播檚 Festival Overture, Holst香蕉视频直播檚 Jupiter from The Planets, selections from Star Wars, Tchaikovsky香蕉视频直播檚 1812 Overture and Amazing Grace.
Victoria Symphony CEO Matthew White, who experienced his first-ever Symphony Splash, qualified the celebration as an 香蕉视频直播渋nternationally recognized, iconic event.香蕉视频直播�
香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 just one of the best opportunities to go hear a world-class orchestra in an incredibly beautiful central setting for free,香蕉视频直播� he said. 香蕉视频直播淚t's a joyous, beloved civic tradition.
香蕉视频直播淭here's no other event like it anywhere else.香蕉视频直播�
While the event was out for a five-year hiatus, caused by COVID and financial challenges, it was atop White香蕉视频直播檚 priority list to revive this unique tradition that returned for a 30th year after the inaugural concert in 1990.
香蕉视频直播淔rom the moment I got here, people were telling me, 香蕉视频直播楢s soon as this whole pandemic mess is over, you need to make sure that you get Symphony Splash back on the water because it's become a calling card for arts and culture on Vancouver Island,香蕉视频直播櫹憬妒悠抵辈 he said.
While working to get the festivities back on track, White discovered that Symphony Splash香蕉视频直播檚 DNA was deeply rooted in the community and a celebration of local talent.
香蕉视频直播淪ymphony Splash香蕉视频直播� was designed as a community engagement event to remind the city that we had these professional musicians at the core of the Victoria Symphony that we should treasure,香蕉视频直播� he said. 香蕉视频直播淎nd it grew year after year after year into something that became more than just a local event.香蕉视频直播�
After trials and tribulations, the festival was reborn from its ashes, stronger than ever, delivering its biggest event yet.
Thanks in large part to a grant from the City of Victoria, Symphony Splash evolved into a two-day festival, featuring dozens of local and international musicians performing across four stages throughout the downtown core.
In addition to the symphony香蕉视频直播檚 traditional performance, the event included concerts by the National Youth Orchestra of Canada, Juno-nominated Indigenous artists Celeigh Cardinal and Shawnee Kish, renowned percussionist Sal Ferreras and his Latin jazz septet, among others.
As the weekend event came to a close, White emphasized that the iconic celebration stands as a testament to Victoria香蕉视频直播檚 vibrant arts and culture scene.
And for those who missed it, White extends an open invitation to the next event.
