The Arrow Lakes Arts Council (ALAC) is announcing its concert series for the 2012-2013 season. Now in our 35th year of supporting arts related activities in the Arrow Lakes region, the ALAC is offering six concerts in the concert series.
The concert series is being offered in three ways again this year. You may purchase tickets for each concert or you may purchase a package of three or six series tickets. Those who purchase the package of three or six will have an assigned seat, and the single ticket holders will have open seating.
The season ticket holders from last year will be contacted and their seats from last year will be held for them until Sept, 30. The renewed packages will be available at this time. Anyone else who wishes to take advantage of the package deals may contact Marilyn Massey at 250-265-4087.
All concerts are being held at the Bonnington Arts Centre except for Ballet Kelowna, which will be held at the auditorium of the Nakusp Arena Complex. The concerts start at 7:30 p.m., with the doors opening 30 minutes before each concert. The Sunday concert by Duo Solista will start at 3 p.m.
This year’s concert series starts on Saturday, Oct. 20. A respected soloist, pianist Jane Coop, has worked with eminent conductors such as Sir Andrew Davis, Sir John Eliot Gardiner, Rudolf Barshai and with orchestras around the world, including all major orchestras in Canada. Also a successful chamber artist, she has worked with many esteemed Canadian and international musicians, and continues to perform in recitals throughout Canada and internationally. Elegant, experienced and brilliant are words to describe Jane Coop. Renowned for her highly appealing performance style, she is considered Canada’s premiere Mozart interpreter by The Calgary Herald.
The second concert of the concert series will be Ballet Kelowna, performing at the auditorium of the Nakusp Arena Complex. Ballet Kelowna celebrates its 10th anniversary with a program of contrasts and collaborations: good versus evil in Swan Lakes’s White Swan and Black Swan ‘pas de deux’, a battle of ballerina egos and a world premiere from two of Vancouver’s most exciting choreographers. Inspired by the Canadian masterpiece Lignes et Points, the new ballet Double Variations is co-choreographed by two of Vancouver’s most dynamic and divergent talents, Simone Orlando and Joe Laughlin.
The third concert is on Saturday, Dec, 1, at the Bonnington Arts Centre. This is our Kootenay artist’s concert performed by Mirror Theatre. Mirror Theatre is presenting Sinbad a pantomime (traditional British-style farce that is anything but silent and has no mimes anywhere), with something for everyone — spectacle, physical comedy, visual jokes, verbal comedy and slapstick. Sinbad wants to marry Shaleen, daughter of the Caliph of Warezit, but there are a few obstacles. For a start, there’s the quest the Caliph has set. Sinbad has to bring back a rok (a dangerous bird), braving shipwreck, a whale, sharks and pirates on the way. This is our family show this season.
For the first time in our concert series, we are bringing in world music. This concert will be on Wednesday, Jan. 30, at the Bonnington Arts Centre. One of the world’s most exciting Cuban music ensembles, the Luis Mario Ochoa Quintet is renowned for virtuosity and incredible musicianship. This acoustic group, led by guitarist and lead vocalist Luis Mario Ochoa, features music ranging from rumba to samba, bolero to waltz, son to cha and features Toronto’s leading jazz and world musicians. With their fresh approach to traditional and original Cuban songs, one is unlikely to find an ensemble with more “fire, finesse and authenticity.” (JazzTimes.com). The quintet has made appearances in world music and jazz festivals from St. John’s to Victoria, and internationally at the Barbados Jazz Festival and Jazz at Lincoln Centre’s Dizzy Club.
On Sunday, Feb. 10, at 3 p.m., Duo Solista will be performing in the Bonnington Arts Centre. Violinist Olga Kotova and pianist Dmitry Nesterov like to reflect their dedication to being both solo artists and partners as Duo Solista. Since the age of 17 they have performed together as classmates at the Moscow Central Music School. Before coming to Canada in 1994, they toured Europe as soloists and joint recitalists in Russia, Eastern Europe, Germany, England and the USA. Now they reside in Calgary, where Dmitry is a faculty member at Mt. Royal University and Olga performs in local chamber ensembles and the Calgary Philharmonic.
The final concert of the season will be on Friday, Apr. 5, at the Bonnington Arts Centre. Jesse Peters Trio is a jazz group based in Edmonton. In concert, Jesse and his trio traverse a musical path of originals written over the past 10 years and classics that give wing to his vocal range. The trio is audience engaging and musically captivating. “The style and flair of this young cat, coupled with a polished songwriting sense, ensures that we’ll be hearing an awful lot about Jesse Peters if there is any justice in the world” (Jordan Richardson, Biogecritic.org). Nakusp was privileged to have Jesse perform here about 10 years ago in The Peters Drury Trio.
