The Vancouver Recital Society has announced details of its upcoming 2016–17 season and it’s chock-full of returning favourites and a few new faces.

Opening September 18, the classical music organization will, for the first time in its history, present an accordion recital from up-and-coming star Ksenija Sidorova. A native of Latvia, Sidorova has become a recognized ambassador for the accordion since debuting at London’s Wigmore Hall in 2009.

VRS audiences can also look forward to a new winter retreat titled “Winterlude”, which will feature a number of shows during the weekend of January 21 to 22, 2017 at the Vancouver Playhouse (600 Hamilton Street). Among these will be a performance of Bach’s Cello Suites by Jean-Guihen Queyras and a recital of Rachmaninov and Debussy by pianist Alexander Melnikov.

Other highlights include the Vancouver debut of international opera singer Joyce DiDonato, Israeli mandolinist Avi Avital, and renowned pianist Murray Perahia. In support of his new album, classical guitarist Miloš Karadaglić is also returning to the city with a mixed program of Bach, de Falla, Granados, and The Beatles.

Peep the full list of musicians performing in the VRS’s 2016–17 season below. For more information about the upcoming season, including ticket information and the complete show schedule, click here.

KSENIA SIDOROVA, accordion

DANISH STRING QUARTET

ISTVÁN VÁRDAI, cello

ANNA FEDOROVA, piano

BEHZOD ABDURAIMOV, piano

JOYCE DiDONATO, mezzo-soprano with Il Pomo d’Oro Chamber Orchestra

JEAN-GUIHEN QUEYRAS, cello

Alexander MELNIKOV, piano

DOVER STRING QUARTET with AVI AVITAL, mandolin

BENJAMIN BEILMAN, violin

HARRIET KRIJGH, cello

FLORIAN BOESCH, baritone and MIAH PERSSON, soprano

MILOŠ: Bach to Beatles

PAUL LEWIS, piano

MURRAY PERAHIA, piano   

JAVIER PERIANES, piano

BENJAMIN GROSVENOR, piano