Niagara Symphony Pops! series gets underway this weekend

The Niagara Symphony Pops! series gets underway this weekend at the Sean O'Sullivan Theatre down at the Centre for the Arts, Brock University, and it promises to be a fun couple of concerts.  They go this evening at 7:30 and again tomorrow afternoon at 2:30.  In keeping with the time of year, they are calling this a Hallowe'en Spooktacular.

Music Director Bradley Thachuk and Associate Conductor Laura Thomas team up to lead the Niagara Symphony in music ranging from music from Star Wars and Phantom of the Opera to Pirates of the Caribbean; from the March to the Scaffold from Berlioz' Symphonie Fantastique to Mussorgsky's Night on Bald Mountain and Grieg's In the Hall of the Mountain King.  In other words, music for next weekend, this weekend to inspire you for kids coming to the door trick or treating.  Heck, the Symphony is even inviting people to dress in costume for the concerts, although I would be rather surprised if many actually do.

Tickets should still be available for either concert, although I would imagine this evening would be easier than Sunday afternoon for getting good seats.  Contact the Brock box office at 905-688-5550, ext. 3257 for ticket availability, or just show up at the box office before either concert and take your chances.  For both shows, I will be in the lobby with a wide selection of music available for purchase from A Web of Fine Music, many at special sale prices.  If you don't see what you want, let me know and I will do my best to get it for you.

Earlier this month the Niagara Symphony got their season underway with their first Masterworks concert of the season, and generally speaking it was a well-performed and very well-attended start to the new season as Bradley Thachuk began his new tenure with the orchestra.  The McMillan Overture, rarely heard these days, was nice to hear again, and the second half performance of the Dvorak Symphony No. 9 "From the New World" was very well performed and great to hear again.  The Romeo & Juliet Fantasy-Overture by Tchaikovsky that rounded out the concert was interesting, but a little ragged in spots, I found.  But overall, a good start to an important season for the Niagara Symphony.

Maestro Thachuk has said he wants to reach out and find new ways to communicate with the audience and build the audience, and to that end this week many people who attend the Niagara Symphony received an email called "In Your Ear", which is basically a short version of program notes and recommended recordings near and dear to the conductor's heart.  I like the idea, and it is quite well done.  Keep in mind, though, not all the recommended recordings might be available at the moment; with that in mind, you can always contact me through my website at www.finemusic.ca or email me directly at music@vaxxine.com to see if one you're interested in is indeed available.  If it is, I can certainly get it for you; if not, I can usually come up with a suitable substitute.

So, a new and so far promising season gets underway for the Niagara Symphony, and the first with Bradley Thachuk at the helm officially.  Time will tell if the 64th season will turn out to be a vintage year for music-making, but let's hope it is.  The Niagara Symphony needs to grow their audience and at the same time, fulfil the hope and promise generated by the extensive talent search of a couple of seasons ago.

See you at the symphony!

October 22nd, 2011.