Community Editor

A.P. McCredie

985-2131 (113)

re look
bright for
symphony

Evelyn Jacob
SPOTLIGHT FEATURE

IT ALL began on Jan. 6,
1919. On that day, the
Vancouver Symphuuy
Orchestra played its first of
27 concerts in two seasons,
thus establishing itself as a
civic tradition that has blos-
somed into Western
Canada’s most enduring
musical institution.

It was New Zealander Henry
Greea who convinced Mary
Isabella Rogers, the daughter of a
local sugar baron, to help launch
his orchestra in the winter of 1919.
Just two years later, however, the
infant symphony felt into a web of
woeful debt and collapsed, and
would not be heard froin again until
1930.

Cash troubles, staff layoffs,
slashed seasons and squabbles
among board members have haunt-
ed the group ever since — and yet
somehow, it has survived. Like the
cat that came back, the VSO has
spent at least eight of its lives.

But these are not ordinary times
in Vancouver. The cultural makeup
of the city is changing, mega-the-
atres are being built to house equal-
ly colossal musical spectacles, and
high-tech machines that can repli-
cate the best music hal! acoustics
have made it unnecessary to leave
one’s living room to hear the
world’s greatest symphonies. All of
whict: has some wondering if the
VSO can survive another 75 years.

Two symphony musicians who

SVS SCSTCHE SSS OSES PSOOOSSHE DOS

WHAT’S FOR DINNER?

Marion's Travelling Fare Personal Chef Service offers busy people a
unique, healthy alternative to meal planning, cooking, and fast food.
® We shop specifically for you on day of service

© We bring all our own utensils and "basics" with us -even our own

salt and pepper!

@ Menus are customized to your personal requirements and

preferences

% Mealj-.ve prepared in yor r own kitchen, then packaged and
tefridgerated for you to enjoy later.
Dinner Parties and Special Occasions Also!

Special Introductory Offer
50% OFF First Time Service

Call today for your free consultation
Marion's Travelling Fare Personal Chef Services
(604) 895-9090

Wednesday, November 9, 1994 — North Shore News — 25

STORIES

NEWS photo Paul McGrath

SYMPHONY MUSICIANS Kathleen Rudolph and Roger Cole, both North Shore residents, are
confident of the future of the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, now in its 75th year.

live on the North Shore, mean-
while, say they are confident of the
orchestra's future.

“T think the naysayers who insist
the electronic age will put sym-
phonies out of business are totally
wrong,” says North Vancouver's
Roger Cole, who joined the VSO in
1976 as the orchestra’s principal
oboist. “I think it (new technology)
will provide us with more employ-
ment and allow us to reach a broad-
er spectrum of people.

“I can see the day when concerts
will be broadcast on satellite all
over the world.”

Vancouver will continue to sup-

{

°o
>
©
ie
5
>
+
¢
>
>
®
>
o
¢
¢
¢
3
*°
eo
°
°
6
°
°
>

port a symphony orchestra well into
the future, Cole believes, and he
says he has every reason to be opti-
mistic.

This is his 18th season with the
VSO after music studies at Yale
and Juilliard, and the first lime in
two decades the orchestra has post-
ed a sizeable surplus.
(Nevertheless, the VSO has an
accumulated deficit of about $1
million.)

Subscriptions are up 20% over
last year and critics agree the

orchestra is sounding better than
ever. This despite internal struggles
that saw the disappearance of sever-
al senior staff members last season.
Cale says there's no magic to
the group’s new-found success. It
all comes down to having just the
right mix of people leading the
way: a committed board, an equally
dedicated group of musicians and
an inspirational music director who
he believes is capable of delivering

See VSO page 30

Explorer gives you a Nokia pocket phone for just $149.

And for only $49.95° a month you get:

* Unlimited local calling for the first 50 days and nights

* 50 minutes of business airtime a month

* And unlimited local weekend calling

BOOKS... escessccesscsconee BD

@ Business.......................53

8 Connected....................33

«Ml Fashion..........................56

atenernrcnsrnnoineinin

- Tabie Hopping...........37 : :

B Travel... 5S

_ MTV Listings.............34 |
2); nn

NORTH SHORE CELLULAR LTD.

1234 Marine Drive, North Van.

(1/2 Block west of Pemberton)
984-7017