Earlier this week, the Calgary Philharmonic launched its Tchaikovsky Festival – an eight-event blend of lectures, films, chamber concerts and Tchaikovsky’s best-loved orchestral music, in venues ranging from the Leacock Theatre at Mount Royal College to the Plaza Theatre to the Jack Singer Concert Hall.   CPO Music Director Roberto Minczuk conducts all of the orchestral concerts, and festival guests include the Calgary Youth Orchestra (joining the CPO for a performance of the Symphony No. 5), dancers from the School of Alberta Ballet, violinist Mayuko Kamio, cellist Yegor Dyachkov, pianist Markus Groh and the Moscow Quartet.

Festival sponsor is the Haskayne School of Business at the University of Calgary, which has contributed not only hard currency to the CPO, but also the research and presentation skills of its Dean, Dr. Leonard Waverman, who is offering Festival goers insights into the impact of the Russian economy of the day on Tchaikovsky’s life and work.

The festival runs from February 23 to March 6.  You can learn more, here.