The Cowichan Camerata String Orchestra under musical director Chris Redsell will be performing their spring concert entitled A String Odyssey on Friday, April 12, starting at 7:30 p.m. at Duncan United Church.
A community-wide, amateur string orchestra that welcomes musicians of all ages to come and enjoy making beautiful music together, the gang is tacking a real variety of genres this time around.
Their special guest is Elisabeth Jahren.
The crowd is invited to join the orchestra and go on a musical journey spanning more than 400 years.
What? Yes, the program includes 17th century top of the pops from Purcell and 18th century spellbinders from Handel and Mozart.
What can top that? How about their 19th century entries, which include Grieg’s dramatic ‘Peer Gynt Suite #1’ and Bizet’s famous ‘Habanera’ aria from that beloved opera, Carmen.
Also from the 19th century is a featured piece comprising parts of two bagatelles composed by Antonín Dvorák for harmonium and strings, which has been arranged by Elisabeth Jahren for accordion (which she will play), viola (played by Chris Redsell) and string orchestra.
Rounding out the journey will be a couple of 20th century popular favorites arranged also by Elisabeth Jahren plus the contemplative, transcending 21st century work of Max Richter entitled ‘On the Nature of Daylight.’
Concertmaster Woody Reimer says, “We are excited to be playing this ageless music and hope to share it with many listeners.”
Adults get in for $15, youth aged 13-18 for $5, and children 12 and under are admitted free. Refreshments will be provided after the concert along with the opportunity to meet and talk with the musicians.
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A reminder for all you die-hard opera fans out there: Die Walküre is being broadcast at the Cowichan Performing Arts Centre on Saturday, March 30 starting at 9 a.m.
The Met Opera Live in HD is showing Wagnerian uber soprano Christine Goerke as Brünnhilde and the rest of the Valhalla heavyweights: Wotan, the licentious king of the gods, Siegmund and Sieglinde, the incestuous twins, and more in this, the second of composer Richard Wagner’s famous Ring Cycle.
This series of four monumental (and looooooong) operas draw what could be called a niche audience, and always have. There are no singable tunes, happy or sad, just gut-wrenching, thrilling music that can clear your sinuses (and probably the soprano’s) and turn you inside out if you let it.
And Die Walküre contains surely the most Wagnerian music of all: ‘The Ride of the Valkyries’. Brünhilde makes her entry to this music, which has been called electrifying, dynamic, remarkable, thrilling, and goodness knows what else. Every word true.
Tickets are $28 for adults and $26 for seniors. But, be prepared. You and Wagner will be hangin’ together for five hours if you stick it out to the end. And, you’ll want to. Stop in at the Cowichan Ticket Centre (250-748-7529) and get your seats.
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I hear from Irwin Killam that her daughter, Alora and her friend, Kassidy Beaudry, have just wrapped up a gig as professional music video dancers. It’s involved 14-hour days for the girls, but working with choreographer Lisa Metz and singer/artist Victoria Anthony has been great.
Congrats to both of these hard-working dancers. Can’t wait to hear when we can see the result.
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Another piece of super news arrived last week, too.
The folks at The 39 Days of July festival have announced, “We want to sincerely thank Buckerfield’s Duncan on sponsoring our Main Stage in Charles Hoey Park.”
The stage will be now referred to as the Buckerfield’s Stage, and planning for the upcoming festival is well underway.
lexi.bainas@cowichanvalleycitizen.comLike us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter
