Romp & Repose: A Musical Journey with the Okanagan Symphony Orchestra
The Okanagan Symphony Orchestra (OSO) takes audiences on a musical journey with ROMP & REPOSE in the theatre and by Livestream, showcasing music that moves from fresh exuberance to quiet contemplation.
Performances for the OSO’s first concert of 2022 are:
- Friday, January 21 at 7:30 pm in Kelowna
- Saturday, January 22 at 7:30 pm in Penticton
- Sunday, January 23 at 7 pm in Vernon.
Romp & Repose will feature three OSO musicians: Karmen Doucette, principal bassoon, Audrey Patterson, principal trumpet, and Lauris Davis, principal oboe (featured for this occasion on english horn).
“Romp and Repose describes this concert to a T,” says Music Director Rosemary Thomson. “The new year is the perfect time to both reflect and renew, and this show will offer the perfect music to inspire both of those energies.”
Audiences will be treated to a captivating performance by Karmen Doucette, who shares her joy and love for the beautiful tone of the bassoon in Romp & Repose by Calgary composer Aura Pon. Written in 2011 for a friend who is both a jazz saxophonist and a classical bassoonist, Pon says, “[this] music showcases the lyrical voice of the bassoon, with a sprinkling of jazz and blues idioms.” Aura Pon also “…took some inspiration from the quirky capricious essence of kitty spirit” as an homage to two feline friends. The contrasting energies of the piece, which cats master so well, is clearly denoted by the title.
As well as the piece that gave this concert its name, Aaron Copland’s Quiet City for english horn, trumpet and strings featuring Lauris Davis & Audrey Patterson will provide a moving musical treat. Also on the program are Benjamin Britten’s Soirées Musicales, Ottorino Respighi’s Trittico Botticelliano, and Maurice Ravel’s Le Tombeau de Couperin.
While the bassoon is not often in the spotlight as a solo instrument, Karmen likes to point out that American musician, singer, composer, songwriter, and bandleader Frank Zappa once said, “some people crave baseball… I find this unfathomable, but I can easily understand why a person could get excited about playing the bassoon.”
Tickets for the weekend concerts and livestream access (Friday’s performance only) are available at www.okanagansymphony.com/tickets.
With audience capacity restricted to 50 per cent, 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.
