Concert Season
Past Concerts
Concert Season
Masterworks Series II ~ MASTERS OF MELODY
Kelowna Community Theatre, Saturday, November 21, 8:00 p.m.
Vernon Performing Arts Centre, Sunday November 22, 7:00 p.m.
In November, the Okanagan Symphony celebrates two of the great compositional masters, Mozart and Schubert.
Program:
The Schubert Birds, Michael Colgrass;
Concerto for Flute, Harp and Orchestra, K. 299 [Allegro; Andantino, Rondeau], W. A. Mozart;
Symphony No. 3 in D major, D200 [Adagio maestoso, Allegro con brio; Allegretto in G major; Menuetto Vivaco; Presto Vivace], Franz Schubert
Guest Artists: Heidi Krutzen, harp and Lorna McGhee, flute
**The Okanagan Symphony and the Rotary Centre for the Arts invite you to spend a uniquely entertaining evening combining the November 21, 2009 Symphony concert "Masters of Melody" with the classic EVERGREEN fundraiser, all in support of the arts. See your invitation here.****
"Twittering" takes on new meaning in composer Colgrass' fancifully titled work: a "little concerto" (in 41 variations) for orchestra based on Franz Schubert's Kupelwieser Waltz. Colgrass portrays Schubert as a bird who spent his life singing, surrounded by a circle of others who were attracted by his lyricism and sang with him. The rich tableau of sustained musical discourse involves instrumentation which takes on roles similar to those of characters in a play. There is conflict, a hilarious jazzy duet for oboe and contrabassoon, really, a documentary on life itself in which emotions merge and fade to a final waltz-based resolution. Pulitzer prize-winner Colgrass is a jazz percussionist and composer who lived and worked in Chicago and New York, and now makes his home in Toronto.
Concerto for Flute, Harp and Orchestra, K. 299 is one of only two true double concertos that Mozart wrote, as well as his only piece containing harp. One of the most popular such concerti in the repertoire, it was written in 1778 in Paris for the Court of Guinness. In the classical period, the harp was still in development, and was not considered a standard orchestral instrument; thus, harp and flute was considered an extremely unusual combination. Today, the concerto is often played in chamber ensembles, regarded as technically challenging for both instrumentalists.
Heidi Krutzen is Principal Harpist with the Vancouver Opera Orchestra and is a member of Trio Verlaine, along with Lorna McGhee. A graduate of the Eastman School of Music, Krutzen is on the faculty of UBC and has performed widely around the world. Scottish-born Lorna McGhee was co-principal flute of the BBC Symphony Orchestra before immigrating to Canada in 1998. She has performed as guest principal with many orchestras, including the London Symphony, Academy of St-Martin-in-the-Fields, and Pittsburgh Symphony. As a soloist, she has performed internationally. Currently, she teaches at UBC.
Franz Schubert's Symphony No. 3 in D major, D. 200 was written between 24 May and 19 July 1815, a few months after his eighteenth birthday. The four movements cover forms which range from slow and dramatic, to the lyrical charm and interplay of solo clarinet with syncopated strings. The symphony is breathtaking, full of grace and humour, with high spirits and dynamic contrast throughout.
The Okanagan Symphony welcomes the outstanding duo of Krutzen and McGhee to our stages, secure in the knowledge that the soloists will dazzle our audiences and create professional stimulation as they work hand in hand with our musicians.
Open dress rehearsal...
Kelowna Community Theatre, from 2-4:30 pm on Saturday November 21. Admission is free.
Pre-concert talks...
One hour before each mainstage concert (except Christmas and The Andrew Lloyd Webber Experience) our Music Director and Conductor Rosemary Thomson will greet ticket holders with an in-depth discussion and Q&A session on each mainstage concert. Just plan on joining us in the theatre one hour before showtime, and enjoy and learn from this in-depth presentation on that evening's music, compositions, and composers.
Afterthoughts...
In every city, Rosemary invites the concert's guest artist/s to join her onstage post-concert with one or two musicians from the orchestra to share questions and thoughts with the audience.
