Symphony Matters — May 3, 2024
Bring on Beethoven!
The Okanagan Symphony Orchestra wraps up its 2023/2024 season with the majesty, beauty and energy that defines so much of Ludwig van Beethoven’s music: the Egmont Overture, his beloved Symphony No 7, and the iconic Piano Concerto No. 5 (Emperor), brought to life in the expert hands of Canadian pianist Ian Parker. Bring it on!
Friday May 10, 7:30 pm
Kelowna Community Theatre
Saturday May 11, 7:00 pm
Cleland Theatre
Sunday May 12, 2:00 pm
Vernon & District Performing Arts Centre
Ludwig van Beethoven can be excused for his high opinion of himself — “There are and always will be thousands of princes, but there is only one Beethoven!” — because he was right. One of a small, elite group of composers whose stature and influence has spanned centuries and has not faded with time, his commanding Piano Concerto No. 5 (Emperor) and his vibrant, powerful Symphony No. 7 are the perfect works to conclude the OSO’s 2023/2024 season.
OSO audience favourite Ian Parker is ready to do justice to the Emperor Concerto. Magnetic, easy-going, and delightfully articulate, Ian captivates audiences wherever he goes. He has appeared as piano soloist with virtually every Canadian orchestra, notably the symphonies of Toronto, Quebec, Vancouver, Montreal, Winnipeg, Edmonton, the Calgary Philharmonic and Orchestre Métropolitain. Other highlights include the San Francisco, Cincinnati, National/Washington D.C., Santa Barbara, Richmond, and Honolulu symphonies, the Cleveland Orchestra at Blossom, Buffalo Philharmonic, and Hong Kong Sinfonietta, to name a few. We’re delighted to have Ian back with us to close the season.
“The Emperor Concerto is the most virtuosic and celebratory of all of Beethoven’s concerti. It has so much contrast between royalty, stateliness, reflection and triumph,” Ian says.
Beethoven dedicated his fifth and final piano concerto to his patron, close friend and pupil, Archduke Rudolf. The concerto’s public premiere took place on November 28, 1811 in Leipzig, with Friedrich Schneider as the soloist and Johann Philipp Christian Schulz conducting the Gewandhaus Orchestra. For the first time, Beethoven was not at the keyboard for the premiere of one of his piano concerti, his advancing hearing loss making it impossible.
Before Ian takes the stage, the OSO performs Beethoven’s Egmont Overture and his Symphony No. 7 under the baton of Maestro Rosemary Thomson. The history of this symphony is interesting. Premiered in late 1813 in Vienna as part of a benefit concert in aid of Austrian and Bavarian troops who had been wounded in skirmishes with the armies of Napoleon Bonaparte, the concert’s worthy cause enticed many of Vienna’s most famous musical figures to participate; it also attracted a glittering audience, dotted with important political figures. Also on hand was the sixteen-year-old Franz Schubert, a great admirer of Beethoven, who had just completed his own first symphony six weeks earlier.
The Seventh Symphony was very warmly received at its premiere, the audience demanding an immediate encore of the second movement. The entire benefit program was repeated four days later, with equal success. This marked a turning point in Beethoven’s career. Previously, opinions on the merits of his music had been deeply and widely divided. Following these concerts, his acclaim as one of the great masters of his day became virtually unanimous.
“What I have in my heart and soul – must find a way out.
That is the reason for music.”
— Beethoven
The range of moods the symphony covers is striking, even by LVB’s standards. Three of its four movements overflow with energy and high spirits; the finale being a perpetual motion engine, joyfully hurtling along from the first bar to the last. The second movement, contrasting the other three, is the most profound expression of grief and despair that had been heard in symphonic music to that time. So beloved was it that for the rest of the nineteenth century it was regularly inserted into other Beethoven symphonies (particularly the Second), replacing slow movements that audiences liked less. To this day it is used in popular culture when music of a tragic nature is called for, including in the soundtrack of the 2010 Best Picture winner, The King’s Speech.
Closing the 2023/2024 season with such transcendent music will have you yearning for the 2024/2025 season as you leave the concert hall next week. To tide you over the intervening months, we encourage you to attend the pre-concert chats (one hour before each performance) to hear details of the new season.
Tickets to Bring on Beethoven are moving quickly (Kelowna and Penticton are close to sold out) so we encourage concert goers to purchase soon to avoid disappointment. Evening performances on May 10 in Kelowna and May 11 in Penticton are complemented by a 2:00 p.m. matinee in Vernon on May 12. (Hint: still looking for a way to treat your mom, grandma or favourite aunt on this special day? Look no farther!) For Kelowna and Penticton shows, contact the KCT Box Office at 250.469.8940; for the Vernon show, contact Ticket Seller at 250.549.7469.
The public is welcome to observe Ian Parker’s masterclass on Saturday, May 11. Piano students may also find that they can learn and grow in their skill and musicality simply by watching Ian work with the four masterclass participants. If you have an interest in seeing a master teacher work with advanced piano students, we encourage you to take advantage of this opportunity. Admission is by donation at the door.
COF grant funds purchase of Orff instruments
With the aid of a grant from the Central Okanagan Foundation, the OSO was delighted to take delivery last month of a large collection of Orff instruments, for use in our popular Symphony Storytime program. School District 23 has been loaning us instruments for every Storytime show, and while we are so grateful for their generosity over many years, owning our own instruments will greatly simplify these productions. Thank you to the Central Okanagan Foundation for making this purchase possible!
The two remaining Symphony Storytime shows are already sold out. but we’ll be back next season with four more interactive shows. Catch us in October!
OSYO Auditions
The OSYO is designed to provide a rigorous orchestral education to young musicians of the Okanagan Valley. It fosters a supportive community where they can thrive and offers opportunities for growth and development within the orchestra. At this time a warm invitation is extended to dedicated musicians between 12–25 to audition for the OSYO Whether learning to play a string or band instrument privately or in school, young players who are seeking a challenging and enriching ensemble experience can learn more about the audition process and dates here.
It’s a wrap on Swing Into Spring!
With deepest gratitude to all those who participated in our second online auction, Swing Into Spring, we are delighted to announce a fund-raising total of $16,399, exceeding last year’s total by $3,100. Feedback indicates that we also provided a bit of fun through the “auction action,” with some final bids being made literally in the last few minutes. We were also pleased to highlight many local artists, wineries, and businesses that supported the OSO with donated items, experiences, and services. Thank you, one and all!
