OSO presents VIVACIOUS VIVALDI
featuring the iconic FOUR SEASONS
Antonio Vivaldi had over 500 concertos to his credit, more than any other composer in history. But his iconic Four Seasons tops the list for longevity and popularity — each one of this group of four violin concertos gives a musical expression to a season of the year. Vivaldi’s vivid musical pictures of the cycle of nature are liberally imbued with other images.
“If I do my job right, you’re going to hear all sorts of amazing sounds,” says OSO concertmaster Rachel Kristenson, who is both soloist and orchestra leader for these performances. “You’ll hear barking dogs and trilling birds. You’ll hear the blazing sun, and also the icy cold wind of winter.”
With five performances throughout the Valley to choose from, these one-hour-long concerts — presented in smaller, more intimate venues that boast wonderful acoustics — are a perfect interlude for a late-winter weekend.
Most symphony patrons recognize the concertmaster as the musician who is applauded as she enters the stage to tune the orchestra just before the entrance of the conductor, but the concertmaster role goes much farther. A concertmaster is leader of the first violin section (usually required to be the most skilled musician in the section), plays violin solos in orchestral works, leads the process for all principal string players to determine bowing gestures, and takes a key role in auditions, programming decisions and other artistic matters. And occasionally, as in our presentation, when an orchestra plays without a conductor, it is the concertmaster to whom the other musicians look to “keep everyone on the same page.”
Fri, Mar 1 at 6 & 8 pm – Cathedral Church of St. Michael’s and All Angels
Sat, Mar 2 at 2 & 4 pm – St. John’s Lutheran Church
Sun Mar 3 at 2:30 pm – All Saints Anglican Church
Okanagan music lovers have had other chances to hear the Four Seasons recently, but the OSO’s stand apart on several counts. Unlike the string quartet options that have recently been mounted, ours features a full string orchestra with harpsichord continuo — the way Vivaldi wrote it — no musical short cuts or adaptations. Our presentation will also include some other unique elements that will delight and surprise those in attendance. An OSO presentation that you will not want to miss
Join concertmaster Rachel Kristenson and her OSO string colleagues for a performance of one of the most recognizable and beloved works of the Baroque era, if not the entire canon of classical music. Two performances in Kelowna, two in Summerland, and one in Vernon. Further information and tickets are available here. With general seating and a flat rate for all categories of tickets, these concerts are an easy way to enrich your day, and at just one hour, would be easy to pair with a brunch or dinner out. They are also a great length for young music lovers. For Kelowna and Summerland shows, contact the KCT Box Office at 250.469.8940; for the Vernon show, contact Ticket Seller at 250.549.7469.
ABOUT RACHEL KRISTENSON
Rachel Coltvet Kristenson is a sought-after performer, delighting audiences across Canada and the USA. In addition to her position as Concertmaster of the OSO, Rachel often sits Principal Second Violin of the Manitoba Chamber Orchestra. She has played with orchestras in Cleveland, Canton, Calgary, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Kamloops, Fairbanks(Alaska), and Winnipeg.
Rachel holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the prestigious Cleveland Institute of Music, both in Violin Performance and Suzuki Pedagogy. She founded and taught in the Rocky Mountain Suzuki school and was a founding member of the Lily String Quartet.
Most of her energy and time without her instrument is spent raising her seven children, ages 16 to 1. If she has any free time, she likes coffee and dark chocolate while reading.
