This weekend the Okanagan Symphony Orchestra invites music lovers to the land of fairies as they bring Shakespeare’s Midsummer Night’s Dream as well as Romeo and Juliet Fantasy Overture to the stage.
“Romance, magic, adventure are all words that come to mind when I think of this month’s concert,” said Rosemary Thomson, music director for the OSO. “We have so much talent on stage this month, including our youth orchestra who will perform side by side with your symphony. This concert makes for a perfect Valentine’s weekend date night that everyone will enjoy.”
Featured works include Three Stratford Fanfares for Brass and Percussion, composed by Louis Applebaum. For the Romeo and Juliet Overture-Fantasy, written by Piotr Ilych Tchaikovsky, the professional orchestra will be supplemented by the 80-member Okanagan Symphony Youth Orchestra.
A Midsummer Night’s Dream Op. 21 and 61, written by Felix Mendelssohn, rounds out the program.
Several guest artists are joining the OSO on stage including Calgary actor Maureen Thomas, who will portray the characters in Midsummer Night’s Dream; Okanagan native soprano Carmen Harris; Kelowna Secondary Ladies Chamber Choir, an auditioned group of 38 made up of Grade 10, 11, and 12 students; and Penticton-based soprano Mia Harris.
This Shakespeare-inspired program is a Deloitte Masterworks production and is sponsored by TD.
The performances open at 8 p.m. Friday in Kelowna with additional concerts Saturday in Penticton at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 7 p.m. at the Vernon and District Performing Arts Centre.
Tickets for the Vernon concert Sunday are available at the Ticket Seller box office in the Performing Arts Centre. Call 250-549-7469 or order online at www.ticketseller.ca.
