It’s a prime time for classical music in Vancouver. Here’s what to see in November

As always, November is prime time for classical music events, and the performance docket is overflowing with good things.

The month begins with one of the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra’s more interesting fall concerts, Nov. 6 to 7 at 7:30 p.m. at the Orpheum (vancouversymphony.ca).

Guest conductor Antony Hermus, until recently chief conductor of the Belgian National Orchestra, offers an all-Russian program, with some rarely heard Scriabin to start and Prokofiev’s fairy tale ballet music for Cinderella to end.

The anchoring work is a performance of Shostakovich’s extravagant, sometimes terrifying First Violin Concerto, featuring American violinist Kevin Zhu.

The VSO prides itself on its way with Russian repertoire, so this has the makings of a memorable evening.

That same weekend, mezzo-soprano Ema Nikolovska and guitarist Sean Shibe make return visits with their Orlando Project (Nov. 8 at 3 p.m. at the Telus Studio Theatre in The Chan Centre for the Performing Arts (chancentre.com).

This features a wildly diverse selection of works from Dowland to Bob Dylan, all brought together as a musical reflection of the intertwining of Ariosto’s Orlando Furioso, that touchstone of the 16th century, and Orlando: A Biography, Virginia Woolf’s 1928 novel.

That the program takes place in the fabulous Telus Studio Theatre just makes it even more special.

The next Sunday, the Vancouver Recital Society presents harpsichordist Jean Rondeau playing Couperin and Rameau at the Barnet Recital Hall (Nov. 15 at 3 p.m., vanrecital.com).

Alas, if you’re just now hearing about the Rondeau recital, you need to act fast to secure tickets: the performance space in the University of B.C.’s School of Music is small, and Rondeau has a ferociously dedicated fan base.

Despite the fact that a number of local groups have taken up the idea of serious music in and around Remembrance Day, Nov. 11 programs remain a highlight of Chor Leoni’s season.

This year’s concert, The Soul Flies Away, is The Lions’ 35th annual Remembrance Day event. (2 and 5 p.m. at St. Andrew’s-Wesley church, chorleoni.org).

Two days later, hard choices must be made between two simultaneous events.

Early Music Vancouver offers the highlight of its fall season with The Magic of Monteverdi by the French ensemble Les Arts Florissants, co-directed by William Christie and Paul Agnew (Nov. 17 at 7:30 p.m. at the Chan Centre, earlymusic.bc.ca).

The concert spotlights music from Monteverdi’s influential books of madrigals for mixed voices, including his proto-opera, Il Combattimento di Tancredi e Clorinda.

At the exact same time, downtown at the Vancouver Playhouse, Friends of Chamber Music (friendsofchambermusic.ca) hosts the young American Terra String Quartet, winner of the 2025 Naumburg Chamber Music Competition and prizewinners at the 2025 Bordeaux and Wigmore Hall International String Quartet Competitions.