Welcome the Year of the Dragon: Canada Celebrates Lunar New Year
In the wake of the Lunar New Year, Canada is gearing up for the Year of the Dragon, igniting excitement with a slew of music and cultural events that mirror the traditions and creative expressions linked with this celebration. The Lunar New Year, an important festivity for East and Southeast Asian communities worldwide, is gaining substantial recognition across Canada, from Dartmouth, N.S., to Victoria.
Countrywide Celebrations Reflect Canada’s Cultural Diversity
In Dartmouth, N.S., a Cantonese opera teaser is planned, extending over a 90-minute session inclusive of a lecture and performances set for February 3 at Sanctuary Arts Centre. On the other hand, Charlottetown is preparing for its inaugural international Lunar New Year gala at the University of P.E.I.’s Performing Arts Centre on February 17. As testament to the popularity of this event, tickets are already sold out. Montreal will witness a combined recital of Chinese classical music by pipa and guqin maestros at Bourgie Hall on February 10.
A Musical Journey: From Traditional Instruments to DJ Nights
St. Catharines, Ont., offers a matinee feature where the Niagara Symphony Orchestra is slated to offer a space-themed erhu concerto among other pieces on January 28. Toronto’s Roy Thomson Hall will be enveloped in a melange of music and dance at a special event on February 13, with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra and various artists. Meanwhile, Winnipeg’s Boom Boom Room is in the throes of planning a memorable Lunar New Year blowout featuring DJ Samurai on February 10.
A Rich Tapestry of Lunar New Year Events
Calgary’s Chinese Orchestra has a Lunar New Year concert slated for February 4, which has successfully sold out, with the possibility of expanding the space due to popular demand being considered. At Vancouver’s Orpheum Theatre, the Born to Be Free concert will feature performances from the Harmonia Strings Ensemble, the West Vancouver Youth Band, and pianist Anna Sagalova on February 13. Alice Zhou, a teenage pianist, will deliver a recital at Tom Lee Music’s flagship store in Vancouver on February 10. Capping off this series of events is Victoria, with the Enter the Dragon dance feast planned at the Hallway restaurant on February 10.
Adding to the nationwide festivity, the Kamloops Museum and Archives, in coordination with the Kamloops Chinese Cultural Association and the Kamloops Chinese Freemasons, are exhibiting the year of the dragon and historic artifacts from Kamloops’ Chinese community. The celebration includes live music, delightful food, creative handicrafts, and family-friendly activities planned for February 10.
The Lunar New Year, celebrated with concerts, performances and an array of cultural expressions across Canada, serves as a testament to the nation’s multicultural structure and collective celebration spirit.
