This is always a busy time of year for those of us who support local symphony orchestras, choirs and the like. Usually by October, most seasons are underway or just about to, and that is indeed the case for both the Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra and the Niagara Symphony. Both began their new seasons within the last few weeks. Since I have been busy the last week or so updating the website for A Web of Fine Music, which you can find at www.finemusic.ca, I thought I should update you on the upcoming events for both orchestras. By the way, if you want more information on the full seasons for both orchestras plus many other events coming up over the next several months, check out the newly-updated Calendar page on the website.
Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra:
The HPO season kicked off in September with their new Artistic Director, James Sommerville, taking the podium for the first time - officially. I say officially since he conducted the final concert last season after the announcement had been made of his appointment. At the September concert, the first of the Pops series, he was joined by The Canadian Brass for a fun evening of music-making with the orchestra. Of course, James had many years ago auditioned to join The Canadian Brass and was rejected, a fact that came up more than once during the concert that evening. Still, they presented James with his very own pair of Canadian Brass sneakers, which means he is now an honourary member, I gather. The first Masterworks concert was the first week of October and unfortunately I had to miss that one, but I hear it went very well.
This weekend, the second Pops concert takes place at Hamilton Place, as the orchestra is joined by the tango group Quartango. This promises to be an interesting evening of latin favourites played both by the group in the solo spotlight and joined by the orchestra, conducted by guest conductor Andre Moisan. The concerts get underway a half-hour earlier this season, by the way, so that means they begin at 7:30 pm. Normally I would be in the lobby at my table with a collection of CDs for sale, but with both the HPO and the NSO performing at the same time, I have to be at the Niagara Symphony this weekend. But I will be in the lobby for the next Masterworks concert on November 10th, titled Lest We Forget. More on that concert next month.
Niagara Symphony:
The financially-troubled Niagara Symphony appears to have regained their financial footing over the summer months with an aggressive fundraising campaign. Although they are not out of the woods yet, the future looks much brighter than it did back in May when they thought the 60th anniversary season would not even arrive. But it did, with the first Masterworks concert getting the season underway earlier this month at Brock Centre for the Arts. The attendance level was very high, which indicated much interest in the new symphony season, and even St. Catharines' own Town Crier, Mark Molner, welcomed patrons to the new season. Even Niagara Regional Chair Peter Partington was there with his lovely wife to present the orchestra with a cheque for $ 20,000, raised during the recent regional chair's golf tournament. Thanks, Peter!
The season continues this weekend with the first Pops! concerts, both Saturday night and Sunday afternoon at Brock. The concert is titled "On The Town: Joplin, Gershwin, Bernstein", and that pretty much describes the concert. The orchestra will present everything from Scott Joplin rags to music from Porgy & Bess and West Side Story. Although it is a pops concert, maestro Daniel Swift points out the music is still notoriously difficult to play. They'll be joined onstage by vocalist Susan Lexa, singing a number of Gershwin classics such as The Man I Love, Someone To Watch Over Me and many others. Should be a good concert. And if you go, look for me at the symphony table in the lobby before and after the concerts and also at intermission. With the holiday season fast approaching (Christmas is two months from today!), we'll have plenty of tempting gift ideas for anyone on your shopping list, or even for yourself. See you there!
Mike Saunders
October 25th, 2007.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment