Saturday, May 7, 2011

Niagara Symphony wraps up Pops! season this weekend

Well, here we are, a fine spring weekend, and Mother's Day on Sunday, too.  Any plans for Mom's Day?  Aside from the flowers or perhaps brunch or dinner out with Mom, how about another idea she would be thrilled with?  The Niagara Symphony wraps up their Pops! season this weekend with performances tonight and tomorrow afternoon at the Sean O'Sullivan Theatre at the Centre for the Arts, Brock University, and either performance would likely fit Mom to a "T".

Music Director Designate Bradley Thachuk returns to conduct the orchestra this weekend in a programme titled "Light Classics to Broadway", and will be joined by Niagara-on-the-Lake native Theodore Baerg and wife Irena Welhasch-Baerg on stage.  Selections will range from Bizet to Andrew Lloyd Webber and Strauss to even some classic Rodgers & Hammerstein II from Broadway.  Lots of operetta on the programme as well, including selections by Lehar from The Merry Widow and Giuditta.

All in all, this should be a nice, light and airy way to end up the Niagara Symphony season, and hopefully make you want more when Maestro Thachuk takes over the podium full-time in the fall to start the new season.  Overall, the Symphony has performed well this year under various conductors, but I still feel they have more to offer, and hopefully Bradley can start to draw it out of them on a regular basis when he takes over next season.  For now, let's sit back and enjoy some great music for a spring Mother's Day weekend!

A couple of quick notes to keep in mind, though.  Tickets are going fast, but some are still available for both performances, so I would suggest you call the box office at 905-688-5550, ext. 3257 for tickets in advance if you have not already done so.  And parking will be interesting this weekend, as Brock University is hosting a dance competition all weekend long as well.  Niagara Symphony General Manager Jack Mills sent out a notice this week outlining the situation and making people aware of the extra competition for parking.  But this year, a plan is in place to provide dedicated parking for Niagara Symphony patrons, either in Lot D or Lot B, which will be reserved exclusively for Niagara Symphony patrons.

Normally, I would be in the lobby manning my customary table at intermission, before and after the concerts this weekend, but a prior committment will keep me away from the Saturday evening performance, unfortunately.  I will be there Sunday afternoon, however, so please stop by and say hello, and check out the great last-minute musical gifts for Mom this weekend.

Happy Mother's Day, and enjoy the weekend with the Niagara Symphony!

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