Friday, March 28, 2014

Nanaimo-Home with the Vancouver Island Symphony

The Vancouver Island Symphony presents
Nanaimo – Home
Featuring: Audience Picks
Guest Artist: Calvin Dyck, Violin
Conductor: Pierre Simard
Saturday, April 5, 2014, 7:30 p.m.
Port Theatre, Nanaimo
Tickets: 250-754-8550 www.porttheatre.com

Classics can be such FUN with Audience Picks!

In a joyful and fun-filled evening of light, familiar, tuneful and melodic music, the Vancouver Island Symphony comes home on Saturday, April 5, after their musical journey around the world, when they present the last of this season’s Timeless Treasures Series in a very unique concert titled Nanaimo-Home.

“This city did not exist when the bulk of classical music was written,” explains Pierre Simard. So how will the illustrious Simard present a concert filled with music that represents Nanaimo? “I am sending the ball back into the audience, to make it Nanaimo’s choice. It’s essentially a one-of-a-kind show - rather like a symphonic jukebox. The orchestra will rehearse the most recognizable tunes in the light classical repertoire then throughout the evening the audience will choose. I will be doing this in various ways – but I don’t want to reveal too much… it’s just so much fun! The music is from all the periods – baroque, classical, romantic, Mozart, and situation music like Pomp and Circumstance.”

The jukebox – Before going out to the audience Simard will warm up the orchestra with the invigorating Toreador. From then on the audience picks from Air on the G string, Hungarian Dance no. 5, Morning Mood from Peer Gynt, overtures to the Marriage of Figaro, William Tell and Light Cavalry, Can-Can, Pachelbel’s Canon, Blue Danube Waltz, and selections from Swan Lake and La Traviata. Adds Simard, “The musicians are so familiar with these pieces.”

World premiere To further honour Nanaimo, the VI Symphony has commissioned a violin concerto by young Canadian composer Emily Doolittle especially for this evening. “To have violinist Calvin Dyck perform Emily’s new composition Sapling alongside great classical tunes is a perfect way to celebrate Nanaimo and Home,” says Simard.

And, how better to describe spring in Nanaimo than with musical movements titled Branching, Bending and Leafy Green. Says Dyck, “Each of the movements has their own character, and yet all flowing together. Branching is energetic, very Stravinskyesk, twiggy. Bending is much more lyrical, gentle waves of softness, like feeling the movement of the air. And Leafy Green is up-beat, cheerful and almost bouncy, happy and light; spring-like in several meanings of the word.”

“We close the show with My Homeland by Antonin Dvořák,” adds Simard. “It’s the perfect way to end this year’s Timeless Treasures as we head into celebrating our 20th season – in Nanaimo!”

Tickets - for Nanaimo-Home are available by calling 250-754-8550.

For more information visit: www.vancouverislandsymphony.com

Passport to Great Entertainment – Keeping Music LIVE!

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