Hurrah! The dry spell in the weather appears to be over, and it’s accompanied by a new season of excellent performances brought to you by Creston Concert Society, pleased to present another five outstanding professional acts in the genres of classical and traditional folk music, as well as innovative dance.
Virtuosic showpieces, romantic tenor arias, pyrotechnical solos, blazing gypsy show pieces and a world accordion champion — this is the season opener, the return of Quartetto Gelato. It was a big hit after its appearance in Creston several years ago, and sure to please again when it returns Sept. 29. With sold-out performances throughout the world, this dazzling ensemble has enchanted audiences and critics worldwide with its exotic blend of musical virtuosity and artistic passion. Classical in training — eclectic by design — Quartetto Gelato not only thrills its audiences with its multi-instrument mastery, but its repertoire of classical masterworks, arias, tangos, folk songs, theatrical stage presence and relaxed humour establishes an intimate rapport with audiences worldwide.
Hailing from Prince Edward Island, Gordie MacKeeman and the Rhythm Boys bring their exhilarating live show to Creston on Nov. 17. The band instantly enamours audiences with engaging, sometimes jaw-dropping, stagecraft and showmanship. With flavours of traditional bluegrass and roots music bolstered by stunning musicianship, the group takes to the world stage, including theatres across Canada, Ireland, Belgium, Malaysia and Australia, and the legendary Glastonbury Festival. The band features MacKeeman (fiddle, feet, and vocals), Mark Geddes (bass, drums, percussion, mandolin, and banjo), Thomas Webb (vocals, banjo, guitar, pedal steel guitar, and bass) and Peter Cann (vocals and guitar).
Borealis String Quartet starts the new year off right, appearing Jan. 16. One of the most dynamic and exciting world-class ensembles of its generation, the Borealis String Quartet, consisting of Bo Peng (cellist), Nikita Pogrebnoy (violist), Patricia Shih (violinist) and Yuel Yawney (violinist), has received international critical acclaim as an ensemble praised for its fiery performances, passionate style and refined musical interpretation. Borealis has toured extensively and performed to enthusiastic sold-out audiences in major cities in North America, Europe and Asia. Strongly committed to the great traditional quartet literature, the group actively seeks to promote new works and is a strong advocate of Canadian music, including R. Murray Schafer, Omar Daniels, John Stetch and Peter Tiefenbach.
The matinee presentation of iLumiDance on Feb. 28 makes it perfect to bring a young aspiring dancer to. Utilizing electro-luminescent wire, fibre optic fabric, black light and other special effects, Rainbow Dance Theatre’s artistic directors create a world of wonder in iLumiDance, delighting audiences young and adult with its magic and humour. This tour-de-force of virtuosic dancing and cutting-edge technology opens on a darkened stage with illuminated puppets and dancers, where creatures appear to float, swim and dance. The audience is transported into a world of wonder and surprises where humans morph into animals, flowers grow to amazing proportions and defy gravity, and serpents and owls disembody and reassemble in the blink of an eye!
The final performance of the season features the Symphony of the Kootenays on April 10. Founded in 1975 in Kimberley, SOTK has been delighting the region’s residents ever since. Today, the symphony boasts 46 musicians, 29 of whom live and work in the Kootenays. Jeff Faragher, SOTK’s principal cellist for several years and current music and artistic director, is known for his energy, presence and desire to connect with audiences, and brings a fresh and exciting quality to the stage that draws the listener in. Celebrating its 40th anniversary season, SOTK presents Symphonic Energy, and will feature clarinet soloist Nicole Eggerton and will include the uplifting Symphony No. 2 in C Minor by Pyotr I. Tchaikovsky, Mozart’s Clarinet Concerto in A Major, as well as Frenergy by John Estacio.
An additional bonus this season is that as you lose yourself in the entertainment, you will also lose yourself in the new comfortable seating in the Prince Charles Theatre, thanks to the efforts of the Creston Community Auditorium Society in conjunction with numerous other community groups.
Season’s passes are available at the Creston Valley Fall Fair for early bird prices of $90 for adults or two for $170; after the fair, passes are $95 for adults, $45 for students and $245 for families, available at Creative Fix. For more information visit www.crestonconcertsociety.ca or like the Creston Concert Society on Facebook.
—CRESTON CONCERT SOCIETY
