Chamber orchestra springs back into action in big way

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This article was published 21/03/2022 (1316 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

It’s been a long time coming — three years to be precise — and finally Manitoba Chamber Orchestra’s Spring Series is back with seven concerts.

Each program, from March until June, will feature two in-person performances, on back-to-back evenings at 7.30pm at Westminster Church, plus an online concert two weeks later.

Ticket holders can automatically access online performances but those who don’t feel like attending in person can purchase online-only tickets.

“This is one of the most ambitious concert series that we’ve ever done,” says Conrad Sweatman, director of marketing and communications at the MCO.

“Historically we’ve just had one performance per concert program. We want audiences to be able spread out over two performances, or just attend the online concert if they don’t feel like attending a social gathering. It’s done with a view to maximizing accessibility and safety,” he continues.

Masks are still required during performances, Sweatman says, and music lovers will have to show vaccination cards before gaining entry into the venue.

“We will be maintaining those rules for the foreseeable future,” he explains. “Most people were under the impression that these kinds of regulations would be in place for the rest of the year and we feel it’s only fair to maintain them.

“We feel it’s our responsibility to honour the regulations that were in place when we sold the tickets for the season.”

The upcoming concert on Tuesday and Wednesday (online April 6) features violinist brothers Nikki and Timothy Chooi from Victoria, B.C., who will perform the compositions of Oesterle, Vivaldi, Bach and Geminiani.

“It’s always good to be back in Winnipeg,” Nikki Chooi says. “The last time we played here was in September 2019, mere months before everything closed due to the pandemic. We are glad to be back; it’s our musical home.”

Last year’s spring season was a strictly online-only affair and both the musicians and the organizers are looking forward to a “more organic and in-person experience” this year, Sweatman says.

“Music is meant to be experienced in the context of multiple communities and people have missed that. It’s very rejuvenating to see people’s faces reacting to the music.”

April 12 and 13 (online April 29) will see the première of Manitoba composer Sid Robinovitch’s oratorio based on the story of Jonah, performed by the home-grown talent Pembina Trails Voices, alongside the MCO and narrated by Bruce Sarbit.

On April 26 and April 27 (online May 10) Kevin Lau’s “exceptional new oboe concerto,” Prayer in a Green Cathedral, will get its première.

Other artists performing during the season include international soloists such as recorder player Lucie Horsch from the Netherlands and classical music’s leading YouTuber Nahre Sol from the United States.

The MCO recently released a music video with Nahre Sol, who has half a million subscribers on her channel. She will perform her new work Pixels on May 5 and 6 (online May 19).

“We felt it incumbent upon us to work with people who have that kind of platform. Her channel is a wonderful combo of educational content, humour and new music, as well as exercises and advice. The pandemic has compelled us to think in more international terms and use digital technology to advance traditional art forms,” Sweatman says.

On May 25 and 26 (online June 10) the MCO’s artist-in-residence Aisslinn Nosky will play works by Bach, Handel, and Mozart.

On May 31 and June 1 (online June 14) French hornist James Sommerville will play-conduct a concert that features the Canadian première of Kati Agócs‘s Horn Concerto and Mozart’s Horn Concerto No. 3.

The spring season closes on June 8 and 9 (online June 22) with Dutch recorder player Lucie Horsch playing works by Kulesha and Bach, with additional works from Oesterle and Haydn.

“There are aspects of the season we are seeing right now that were in place for previously cancelled years that we were able to revive this year,” Sweatman says.

“We have been fortunate to bring back concerts that were suspended during the pandemic. I am really optimistic about how things will unfold.”