Okanagan Symphony welcomes guest conductor Ivars Taurins for “Bach’s Playlist”
“Music of this historic era simply sparkles, especially when in the hands of a master of this style. I am so thrilled to welcome Ivars Taurins to our stages. One of Canada’s foremost interpreters of Bach and his contemporaries, Ivars will bring out the dance of these works with wild abandon,” says Music Director Rosemary Thomson.
Renowned baroque specialist Ivars Taurins will lead Bach’s Playlist — featuring fascinating scores found on Bach’s shelves as well as pieces he performed in Leipzig — in Kelowna on Friday, November 19, Vernon on Saturday, November 20 and Penticton on Sunday, November 21. The program includes works by Bach and his contemporaries Vivaldi, Handel, Albinoni, Telemann and others. For patrons who are not yet ready to return to the theatre, livestream access to the November 19 performance, through Unicorns.live, is available by donation.
Ivars Taurins is the founding director of the Tafelmusik Chamber Choir, now celebrating its 40th anniversary season. He was also a founding member and violist of the Tafelmusik Orchestra for 23 years. He is equally at home conducting symphonic or choral repertoire, and is one of Canada’s leading conductors specializing in baroque music.
“Ivars comes from the self-described ‘Fred Astaire school of conducting’. His gestures are unique, and paint and dance the music through the air. He is extraordinary and speaks about music in a beautiful and deep way that makes music that is centuries old feel absolutely relevant today,” says Rosemary Thomson, recalling one of Ivar’s lectures she attended as an undergraduate student.
With the recent passing of Jeanne Lamon (former Artistic Director and Concert Master of Tafelmusik), OSO dedicates this series of concerts to her memory. “Jeanne was the driving force of the Tafelmusik orchestra for decades and one of, if not, the creative force in baroque music in Canada and internationally for the past forty years,” says Thomson.
Please join us for what is sure to be a moving musical treat. Tickets and livestream access (Friday’s performance only) are available at www.okanagansymphony.com/tickets.
Aficionados of baroque music may be interested in another opportunity: Maestro Taurins will present a masterclass for pre-selected, advanced young musicians on Saturday, November 20 from 1:00 – 3:00 pm at the Centre Culturel Francophone de l’Okanagan, 702 Bernard Avenue in Kelowna. The public is welcome to attend and observe this masterclass. Admission is by donation at the door.
With audience capacity restrictions and mask mandates, the OSO continues to follow all public health directives to ensure the safety of musicians, Symphony staff, and patrons. Ticket holders will be required to show their BC Vaccination card, as proof of vaccination to access the theatres.
