You might call Adrianne Pieczonka Canada’s Leading Lady of Lieder.

Critics worldwide have by turns called her soprano “radiant”, “creamy”, and “heartbreaking”. Hear for yourself as the diva joins the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra for its eclectic opening-night celebrations (September 20 and 21 at the Orpheum), singing Franz Schubert’s sparkling orchestrated songs, including “Der Erlkönig” (“The Elf King”). Maestro Otto Tausk pulls out all the stops, pairing that romantic beauty with Gustav Mahler’s Symphony No. 1 in D Major (The Titan), a work that takes the orchestra through peaceful nature walks, spooky funeral marches, and an all-out stormy climax. And then Tausk thrusts everything into the present, debuting a new work commissioned from a bold and exciting young Canadian composer, Bekah Simms.

Should be quite a trip.