The Okanagan Symphony Orchestra Pulls out ALL the Stops
with Saint-Saёns and a Stradivarius
Drama, power and panache take the stage with Okanagan Symphony Orchestra
(Kelowna, BC)- The Okanagan Symphony Orchestra (OSO) performs three awesome works of the French romantic era on The Chase Masterworks Series Nov 24-26.
The concert titled The French Connection opens with a musical hunt and storm in Berlioz’ Chasse royale et Orage (The Royal Hunt and Storm). The horn call sets the fanfare-like tone and then three sets of timpani surround the orchestra in stereo bringing the sound of ferocious thunder onto the stage.
Special guest artist, internationally renowned violinist, Timothy Chooi is featured in Lalo’s Symphonie Espagnole for violin and orchestra. Timothy is a two-time recipient of a rare violin from the Canada Council Musical Instrument Bank which puts valuable instruments into the hands of virtuosic performers.  Timothy is currently playing a 1717 Windsor-Weinstein Stradivari violin valued at $5,000,000 which is his for three years. He and his brother Nikki can often be found on CBC’s list of the top 30 classical stars under 30. Timothy loves to bring classical music to unexpected places. Check out his performance of Czardas on a Montreal underground platform. (add link)
The final work on the program is Camille Saint-Saёns’ Symphony No. 3. It is nicknamed “The Organ Symphony” because the composer added the king of all instruments, the organ to the orchestra. When organists “pull out all the stops” they open up all the levers to give the organ its maximum sound. Hearing the result is exhilarating as the full power of the organ is unleashed inspiring the orchestra to give it their all.
“This is music of power and panache” says Rosemary Thomson, Music Director and Conductor of the OSO. “I have wanted to perform Saint-Saёns’ Organ Symphony for years. The digital organs that are available now are fantastic and we are bringing in a really powerful instrument from Calgary to give this show the WOW factor.”
The French Connection will be performed in Kelowna Friday November 24th at 7:30pm, in Penticton, Saturday November 25th at 7:30pm and in Vernon, Sunday November 26th at 7:00pm. Tickets for the performance and to the entire 2017/2018 OSO season are available now at www.okanagansymphony.com.
The Okanagan Symphony Orchestra is the third largest professional Symphony Orchestra in British Columbia; entertaining residents of the Okanagan Valley and visitors from around the globe with symphonic music since 1960. To learn more about the Okanagan Symphony Orchestra visit their website at www.okanagansymphony.com or follow at www.twitter.com/OKSymponyOrch, www.facebook.com/OkanaganSymphonyOrchestra and www.instagram.com/okanagansymphony.
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