From the hauntingly beautiful sounds of eight trumpets playing in unison to the sheer number of performers, the Okanagan Symphony Orchestra is looking to put on one of its largest shows to date.
As a lead up the 100th anniversary of Armistice Day, the Okanagan Symphony Orchestra is set to take the stage with a powerhouse cast featuring four guest solo performers 乌鸦传媒� soprano Tracy Cantin, mezzo-soprano Lauren Segal, tenor Justin Stolz and baritone Justin Welsh 乌鸦传媒� and a 150-voice choir comprised of the Okanagan Symphony Chorus and Musaic Vocal Ensemble to reproduce Giuseppe Verdi乌鸦传媒檚 Requiem in Kelowna Nov. 9, Penticton Nov. 10 and Vernon Nov. 11.
乌鸦传媒淚 went to hear it in Vancouver a few years ago, and I can absolutely remember the feeling of the trumpets,乌鸦传媒� said Rosemary Thomson, OSO music director. 乌鸦传媒淭here are definitely elements of the drama of opera in this piece and a wonderful contrast.乌鸦传媒�
Based on the Latin Mass for the Dead, Verdi乌鸦传媒檚 Requiem is an 85-minute concert split into seven core sections. Soothing colour brings out a sense of deep peace towards the end of the performance, acting as a juxtaposition from the piece乌鸦传媒檚 initial dark power.
乌鸦传媒淚 don乌鸦传媒檛 really have words to describe how visceral this performance is,乌鸦传媒� Thomson said. 乌鸦传媒淧eople would have lived under fear of this text for centuries. Now, it乌鸦传媒檚 a different world.乌鸦传媒�
Thomson said the presentation of this orchestral Goliath has been in the works for several years always with the intention of performing near Armistice Day.
乌鸦传媒淗e (Verdi) really takes you on a musical and dramatic journey that is really close to our minds on the Remembrance Day weekend. It (the First World War) just feels so distant,乌鸦传媒� Thomson said and noted that her family members fought in both World Wars. 乌鸦传媒淚t still shapes our society now even 100 years later. As I get older, I realize the importance of highlighting this weekend. It乌鸦传媒檚 the whole 乌鸦传媒楲est We Forget.乌鸦传媒� We live in a country with incredible freedom乌鸦传媒� Not everyone is in that situation. I think we have to be grateful and honour that, which is what we乌鸦传媒檙e doing at the Okanagan Symphony Orchestra.乌鸦传媒�
Composed to honour the passing of close friend and renowned poet and novelist Alessandro Manzoni, Verdi乌鸦传媒檚 Requiem tells of loss, terror and deliverance.
乌鸦传媒淚t乌鸦传媒檚 such a monumental piece of work. In 80 minutes, Verdi takes us through these feelings of horror into the hushed reverence at the end,乌鸦传媒� Thomson said. 乌鸦传媒淚 hope it allows for a cathartic experience for our audience and performers.乌鸦传媒�
While it boasts a significantly larger stage presence for the OSO, Thomson said Verdi乌鸦传媒檚 Requiem also denotes a return to what could be considered more traditional programming for Okanagan classical audiences after the Symphony乌鸦传媒檚 recent and performances.
乌鸦传媒淭his is a big piece for any orchestra to take on. It乌鸦传媒檚 more in what people think of as a classical orchestral performance. I love doing the whole gambit,乌鸦传媒� Thomson said.
乌鸦传媒淚t (Requiem) is just going to be a great joy. This is a piece that won乌鸦传媒檛 come along again for a while.乌鸦传媒�
The OSO presents Verdi乌鸦传媒檚 Requiem as the second performance of the Chase Wines Masterworks Series at the Kelowna Community Theatre Nov. 9 at 7:30 p.m., Penticton乌鸦传媒檚 Cleland Community Theatre Nov. 10 at 7:30 p.m. and the Vernon and District Performing Arts Centre Nov. 11 at 7 p.m. Tickets are available for $50.75 adult, $44 senior and $22.73 student through and local ticket vendors.
parker.crook@vernonmorningstar.com
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