Orchestras Canada

October 29 – November 16, 2012, the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra presents a new festival, designed to celebrate humanity’s quest to come to terms with war and our continuous search for peace.

The cornerstone of this event is the world premiere on November 10 of Afghanistan: Requiem for a Generation. Created in commemoration of the end of Canada’s engagement mission in Afghanistan, this is the largest, most significant commission in the CPO’s 57-year history. The Canadian creative team behind Afghanistan: Requiem for a Generation is celebrated composer Jeffrey Ryan and writer Suzanne Steele, the first poet ever to be chosen as an official “war artist” in the Canadian Forces Artist Program. Steele, writer of the text, was embedded with the 1st Battalion Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry for three years, following their preparations for Afghanistan, tracking them in daily war for 18 months, and in some cases, attending their memorial services back home.

Other festival elements include performances of a major work for organ and orchestra by Camille Saint-Saëns, written to mark the end of the first world war; Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 7, “Leningrad”; a pops program covering music of the 1940s, complete with retro radio jingles, fashion and dance styles; and the debut of Calgary’s first professional choir, Luminous Voices, makes its debut in a choral recital. Befitting a festival, the CPO has also partnered with many groups throughout the Festival to enhance the concert experience, including a panel discussion, a film screening, an art installation with portraits of the fallen, and displays by the Military Museum and other community organizations. For more information, please visit cpo-live.com.

The Calgary Philharmonic has launched its 2012-13 season, its seventh under the leadership of music director Roberto Minczuk. It’s a big season, and here are some high points: a two-week genre-crossing festival entitled War and Peace that includes a massive new work, “Afghanistan: Requiem for a Generation”, by Jeffrey Ryan with poet Suzanne Steele; Holst’s The Planets, with images from NASA; a performance by the Hong Kong Sinfonietta; the second season of the CPO’s Rush Hour series; and a Pops series dance extravaganza featuring stars from the hit TV series Dancing with the Stars and So You Think You Can Dance.

The Oakville Symphony, led by music director Roberto de Clara, has announced its 2012-13 season, a four-concert subscription program (featuring repertoire by Brahms, Mendelssohn, Verdi, Mozart and Dvorak) with two additional family-oriented programs. The OSO is almost always sold out on subscription – and we can see why from their program plans!

The Sudbury Symphony (under Dr. Victor Sawa) has launched its 2012-13 season, a six concert series that includes a family concert, light classics, operatic repertoire, a world premiere (by composer Jason Noble) and classical masterworks. The series showcases the talents of the SSO’s own musicians, along with guests, and will also welcome pops conductor Brian Jackson to the SSO’s podium for certain programs.

The Ontario Philharmonic, under Music Director Marco Parisotto, continues its growth with an intriguing 2012-13 season that sees two performances of each program – one at home in Oshawa, and the second in Toronto. Soloists include such greats as violinist Shlomo Mintz, pianist Anton Kuerti and Angela Meade. As well, the OP will present Handel’s Messiah with Amadeus Choir and brilliant young soloists. Featured orchestral works include Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 5, Brahms’s Symphony No. 4, Strauss’ Four Last Songs and Bruckner’s Symphony No. 4.