Tag: Classical Music

Opera Kelowna Recital

by SillyGilly, posted in Concert

Acclaimed Tenor, Colin Ainsworth, in Concert

Tenor Colin Ainsworth

Pianist Laura Loewen

Opera Kelowna welcomes back Tenor Colin Ainsworth for a live recital, with tickets available for Vernon and Kelowna. He was last with the company in 2019 at St Michael’s Cathedral, Kelowna and we are delighted to announce his return to the Valley, with pianist Laura Loewen.

Join us for an evening of extraordinary art song performed by one of Canada foremost opera artists.

  • Thursday, September 30th, 2021 7:30pm Trinity United Church (Vernon) 
  • Friday, October 1st, 2021 7:30pm St. Michael’s Cathedral (Kelowna) 
  • Sunday,October 3rd, 2021 7:00pm private residence (Naramata) SOLD OUT

To purchase tickets, click here.

The Artists:

Praised equally for his incredible voice and his magnetic stage presence, Ainsworth enjoys an international career performing across North America and throughout Europe. At ease performing in major opera houses or on intimate recital stages, his radiant tenor voice has been described as being “as clear and warm as a sunny August day” (Seattle Times) and “a true gift to audiences” (Toronto Star).

Ainsworth will be joined at the piano by Laura Loewen, one of Canada’s most sought after collaborative pianists, who was last heard in the Okanagan performing with soprano Tracy Dahl. Loewen enjoys a national reputation as a collaborative pianist with a robust technique and musical sensitivity. Local violist Ashley Kroecher will join the stage for two selections.

The Program:

  • Ralph Vaughan-Williams 4 Hymns for Tenor, Piano & Viola
  • Louis Andriessen, arr.  Beatles Songs 

Intermission

  • Michelle Poirer Brown & Jeffrey Ryan The Length of Day  
  • Peter Tiefenbach Chanson do mon placard (songs from my cupboard) 

Ainsworth and Loewen have crafted an imaginative program of music designed specifically to bring their listeners from a place of reflection to a place of joy. From the gorgeous Hymns for Tenor by Ralph Vaughan Williams to the ingenious treatment of Beatles songs set by Louis Andriessen the music offers a wonderful variety. The heart of the recital will feature The Length of a Day for tenor and piano by Jeffrey Ryan which sets four poems by Michelle Poirier Brown tracing a dramatic arc which descends into darkness then emerges into light. These moving songs were commissioned by Pacific Opera Victoria specifically for Colin Ainsworth and premiered in April 2021. The recital closes with a madcap romp with Peter Tiefenbach’s (of CBC fame) Chansons de mon placard, a tongue in cheek ode to household items found in the composer’s kitchen cupboards. Opera Kelowna is thrilled to share this exciting concert with Okanagan audiences.

Colin Ainsworth – http://www.colinainsworth.ca

For more information, visit Opera Kelowna’s website here.

 Covid-19 Safety Information:

Seating for this performance will be spaced between parties and safely distanced from the performers with limited tickets available.  Masks are mandatory in all indoor spaces.  Proof of double vaccination will be required for entry as per provincial guidelines for large events.

2020-21 Concert Season Update

by SillyGilly, posted in News

Pentaedre Woodwind Quintet

Greetings! Here’s hoping all is well with everybody, and that you’re coping with the new lifestyle imposed by COVID-19.

As you may have guessed, NOCCA is in a holding pattern at present. We’re in a constant “wait-and-see” mode; our ability to operate determined by the restrictions regarding audience size. Trying to put on concerts with a 50-patron maximum is not financially feasible, and, in addition, most of our performers would have to travel from other centres in Canada (and North America) which further restricts our activity.

We had one concert scheduled for the fall of 2020 and we’ve had to cancel that. There was also a concert scheduled for the spring of 2021 which also had to be cancelled. That leaves three concerts not yet cancelled, but, in all likelihood, they will have to be. Which leaves us with the hope that we will be able to start up again in the fall of 2021.

This is all dependent on our ability to present concerts for an audience much larger than the 50-patron maximum current restrictions allow. And this may well depend on the introduction of a vaccine.

We do have a full concert series planned for the 2021-2022 season, and we will be revealing it once we know we can go ahead with it.

We’re sincerely counting on our existing subscribers returning to the fold, and maybe bringing a few new faces along. One of the things that has been emphasized by all the concerts in Vernon being cancelled is how important live music is to us, and how dearly we miss it. Here’s hoping that we will all come back with renewed appreciation of everything that music has to offer us.

Vernon Proms 2020

by SillyGilly, posted in News

Hello NOCCA friends! We hope you are all doing well during these strange and trying times. We are still in a wait-and-see mode for many things regarding NOCCA’s 2020/21 concert season, but will be in touch with more information very soon.

In the meantime, for all of you pining for some live musical events, we wanted to tell you about the 5th annual Vernon Proms Classical Music Festival which will go ahead July 10th – August 6th with modified programming to keep Vernon and Kelowna (safely) buzzing with live classical music this summer.

Vernon Proms 2020 will be physically distanced, but socially connected and full of inspiring and uplifting music. The range of paid and free performances will take place at several indoor and outdoor venues in Vernon and Kelowna.

The decision to go ahead was made just a few weeks ago, so there still might be a couple of changes in the program. Please check their website for updates. You can find links to information and tickets at  https://www.vernonproms.ca/events.

Il Violoncello Italiano!

Il Violoncello Italiano! Concert Cancelled

by SillyGilly, posted in Concert
Il Violoncello Italiano!Il Violoncello Italiano!
CONCERT CANCELLED
Saturday March 28, 2020 7:30 pm

 

Unfortunately due to the Covid-19 virus outbreak and other presenters in BC cancelling their concerts, Il Violincello Italiano! have had to cancel their whole BC tour. So the NOCCA concert on March 28th, 2020 has also been cancelled. We are sorry for any inconvenience. Ticket seller will be contacting all patrons with information on how to obtain a refund or credit.

TICKET SELLER
Phone: (250) 549-SHOW (7469)
E-mail: boxoffice@ticketseller.ca

– or –

Visit The Performing Arts Centre Foyer
3800-34th Street, Vernon
All concerts are held in the Vernon and District Performing Arts Centre.

Charles Richard-Hamelin and Noah Wessels

Supernatural Concert from Two Talented Pianists!

by SillyGilly, posted in Review

Charles Richard-Hamelin and Noah Wessels
Charles Richard-Hamelin (right) and Noah Wessels (seated)

Review by Jim Leonard

The concert began with 17 yr. old Noah Wessels – a student at Vernon Christian School. He began the concert with 3 Chopin pieces; the most dazzling being the “Revolutionary” Etude by Chopin. The piece has a difficult passage for the left hand that surges up and down the keyboard while the right hand issues fanfare like chords. Noah was certainly up to the task even though he began studying piano in 2015!

After hearing Charles Richard-Hamelin play only the first few passages of Beethoven’s Piano Sonata No.13 in Eb major (In a fantasy style), I knew I was in the presence of one of the world’s great pianists. To quote Robert Harris of the Globe and Mail (January 17, 2016) “His sense of time, harmony, above all, his structural originalities, are immensely sophisticated and daring. He seemed to be aware of the total Chopin by exposing inner voices and harmonic twists in both left and right hands.” I agree whole heartedly with Robert. All these accomplishments at the age of 30! His virtuosity never got out of hand nor did his playing become grotesque during loud passages.

During the Moonlight Sonata ( which was named such after Beethoven’s death) opening Adagio, I heard the real intention of the music with the rising sounds of sadness and despair brought forward by Richard-Hamelin’s skill. A furious Presto ensued, possibly representing anger or despair. This man gets you thinking by the way he plays!

Before intermission, Richard-Hamelin played a little known Fantasia in F sharp minor by Mendelssohn. I know why the piece was not played often – it is so difficult. No problem for our soloist. He breezed through the 3 movements with total abandon. His playing was so steady and confident throughout the piece.

After intermission we were treated to 12 Preludes, from opus 28 by Chopin. There was lots of variation in the length and character of each. They were played close together like a Suite. To finish the program, Richard-Hamelin played Chopin’s Andante Spianato and Grande Polonaise op. 22. The latter of the two was a stunning close to the concert; with cascading octave runs played with great confidence and skill; giving the effect of two players. After a short encore (I couldn’t hear the title as it was announced off mic) and a second standing ovation, Charles Richard- Hamelin bid his audience adieu. What a wonderful evening indeed!

The next NOCCA concert will be on Saturday March 28, 2020 at 7:30 pm. It features a cellist, harpsichordist and archlutist. More information can be found at nocca.ca.

Review by Jim Leonard for the Vernon Morning Star.