From baroque legend Antonio Vivaldi to opera composer Giuseppe Verdi, to compostional poet Ottorino Respighi, Italy乌鸦传媒檚 influence on the world of classical music is as coveted as their presence in the culinary world.

In honour of such Italian greats, the Okanagan Symphony Orchestra presents Viva L乌鸦传媒橧talia 乌鸦传媒� the fourth performance of the Chase Wines Masterworks series 乌鸦传媒� in Kelowna Feb. 16, Penticton Feb. 17 and Vernon Feb. 18.

乌鸦传媒淭his is the perfect Valentine乌鸦传媒檚 Day gift for anyone who forgot it乌鸦传媒檚 Valentine乌鸦传媒檚 Day,乌鸦传媒� said OSO music director Rosemary Thomson. 乌鸦传媒淚t乌鸦传媒檚 a good show for someone who might be new to classical music.乌鸦传媒�

The performance kicks off with the slow, dramatic intro of Verdi乌鸦传媒檚 opera Nabucco 乌鸦传媒� one of the renowned composer乌鸦传媒檚 most well-known compisitions, if not by name, then sound 乌鸦传媒� and quickly builds into orchestral thunder.

乌鸦传媒淭here乌鸦传媒檚 just a great feeling with it,乌鸦传媒� Thomson said. 乌鸦传媒淚t乌鸦传媒檚 a fun piece and a great way to open the show.乌鸦传媒�

Verdi, born 1813 in rural Italy, rose to fame through his operas that championed the Risorgimento movement, better known as the unification of Italy, and served a brief term as elected politician.

乌鸦传媒淚n his day, he was like the national hero of Italy,乌鸦传媒� Thomson said. 乌鸦传媒淗is music kind of brought the country together and became like the anthem of Italy. He乌鸦传媒檚 still super popular around the world.乌鸦传媒�

Picking up the brass alongside the OSO in Viva L乌鸦传媒橧talia is German-born Canadian trumpeter Jens Lindemann. Now based in Los Angeles, Lindemann is the only solo brass player to be awarded with the Order of Canada and has performed at Carnegie Hall and for Queen Elizabeth II.

乌鸦传媒淟indemann is a thundering trumpet player,乌鸦传媒� Thomson said. 乌鸦传媒淭here乌鸦传媒檚 nothing he can乌鸦传媒檛 do on the trumpet.乌鸦传媒�

To showcase the UCLA teacher乌鸦传媒檚 natural flair and virtuosity, Lindemann will ring through three short concertos: two baroque pieces and one finely-tuned concerto, crafted specifically for Lindemann乌鸦传媒檚 talent.

Armed with a piccolo trumpet, the smallest of it乌鸦传媒檚 kind that rocks one octave higher than its standard-tuned cousin, Lindemann will perform a baroque concerto by Tomaso Albinoni.

乌鸦传媒淲hen its in the hands of a master, the sound (of a piccolo trumpet) is beautiful,乌鸦传媒� Thomson said of the high octave achieved on the brass. 乌鸦传媒淚t乌鸦传媒檚 never shrill.乌鸦传媒�

Joining forces with Lindemann on Vivaldi乌鸦传媒檚 Concerto for Two Trumpets is OSO principal trumpet Audrey Patterson.

乌鸦传媒淪he乌鸦传媒檚 really an amazing trumpet player,乌鸦传媒� Thomson said of Patterson while humming to the tune in perfect pitch. 乌鸦传媒淚t乌鸦传媒檚 hard for people to recognize music in print. Once they hear it, they go, 乌鸦传媒極h. I乌鸦传媒檝e heard this.乌鸦传媒櫸谘淮�媒�

However, Lindemann乌鸦传媒檚 expertise doesn乌鸦传媒檛 remain solely in the world of classical music, Thomson said.

Written by Alan Gilliland specifically to showcase Lindemann乌鸦传媒檚 talent, Dreaming of the Masters rounds off the trumpeter乌鸦传媒檚 three concertos with the OSO.

乌鸦传媒淭his piece has nothing to do with Italy,乌鸦传媒� Thomson laughed. 乌鸦传媒淗e (Gilliland) wrote it specifically for Jens knowing what he can do virtuosically. It was sort of a tip of the hat to past greats of the jazz world.乌鸦传媒�

Like a true jazz standard should, Dreaming of the Masters leaves room for Lindemann to imrprovise, bending the tune to the current vibe.

乌鸦传媒淚t乌鸦传媒檚 really a lot of fun,乌鸦传媒� Thomson said. 乌鸦传媒淚 can乌鸦传媒檛 wait to dig into this piece.乌鸦传媒�

As Lindemann closes off his jazz swing, the Okanagan Symphony Youth Orchestra will grace the stage alongside the OSO, for a grand total of 120 players, to end the performance with Respighi乌鸦传媒檚 grandiose compositional poem, Pines of Rome.

The 22-minute, four-movement tone poem tells stories of Italy through the common-ground of pine trees, beginning with Pines of Villa Borghese, followed by The Pines Near a Catacomb, The Pines of the Janiculum and finally The Pines of the Appian Way.

Moreover, Respighi乌鸦传媒檚 composition marks the high point in the OSYO program: the opportunity for kids to take up their instruments alongside professionals.

乌鸦传媒淚t would be like starring a pee-wee team in the NHL,乌鸦传媒� Thomson said, adding that the kids learn both consciously and through osmosis. 乌鸦传媒淭he kids bring this wonderful energy. It乌鸦传媒檚 palpable. It changes everything and the audience rides the waves.乌鸦传媒�

Prior to the OSO performance in Kelowna Friday night, 250 middle school band students have the opportunity to participate in 75-minute clinics in their instrument of choice led by OSO and OSYO players. While the clinics are currently only available in Kelowna, Thomson said she hopes to expand the program to Penticton and Vernon as well.

Hours after the clinics are done and the OSO and OSYO closes the show with The Pines of the Appian Way movement, Thomson said she hopes the performance will be a memorable one.

乌鸦传媒淚 think this is a show that will be really delightful,乌鸦传媒� Thomson said. 乌鸦传媒淏y the end of that piece, we will blow the roof off the theatre.乌鸦传媒�

The Okanagan Symphony Orchestra presents Viva L乌鸦传媒橧talia at the Kelowna Community Theatre Feb. 16 at 7:30 p.m., Penticton乌鸦传媒檚 Cleland Theatre Feb. 17 at 7:30 p.m. and the Vernon and District Performing Arts Centre Feb. 18 at 7 p.m. Tickets are $56.25 adult, $49 senior and $26.75 student and are available at .