From a Mighty Maestros concert to a “magical” multi-media storytelling experience, the Red Deer Symphony Orchestra is gearing up for the first full season of of live music since 2020.
Seven concerts are on the 2022-23 RDSO program. That’s one less than before the pandemic, but the orchestra had to do some belt-tightening after nearly three lean years, said music director Claude Lapalme.
“We have to walk before we can run,” explained Lapalme, who aims to return to an eight-show season next year.
In the meantime, he hopes audience members will be as excited as he is to have a full season of live orchestral music back in Red Deer — especially when the special guests will include baroque music ensemble Rosa Barocca, the Rosedale Valley Strings, saxophonist Chee Meng Low, pianist Mikolaj Warszynski and others.
The season kicks off on Oct. 29 with the Mighty Maestros concert, featuring music by Beethoven (Pastorale) and Schumann (Piano Concerto in A Minor), with a soloist performance by Edmonton pianist Warszynski.
The Dec. 3 Christmas features the Rosedale Valley Strings and RDSO’s strings delivering a seasonal confection, while the New Year will usher in the Jan. 14 Suite Francais concert. Saxophone Low, of Lethbridge, will perform Jacques Ibert’s Concertino de Camera while the orchestra tackles 20th-Century compositions by Francis Poulenc and jazzy Darius Milhaud.
International Women’s Day will be celebrated with a March 4 Break the Bias concert of compositions by Jocelyn Morlock and Ethel Smyth — as well as a special performance by Red Deer’s 2021 Festival of the Performing Arts winner Holly Parker on violin.
The April 29 Baroque Delights show will spotlights the Rosa Barocca ensemble, which will roll back the centuries on period instruments.
Perhaps the most adventurous RDSO performance will be the last one, on May 27, with a premiere of the original film Wandering With Wonder. The live-action movie with puppetry was produced by RDSO musician Samantha Whelan Kotkas, who wanted to create a multi-media experience that reconnects people with nature.
Lapalme helped compose the soundtrack, along with award-winning composer and pianist Chris Andrew, and will lead the orchestra during an on-stage performance of this original score while the film is screened.
“It’s one of the nicest things we’ve worked on…I really, really enjoyed working on this project,” recalled Lapalme, who believes the musical storytelling experience, featuring choral music delivered in the Cree language and other surprises, will delight the audience.
By early indications, the RDSO is already getting good support from previous subscribers — as well as gaining some new ones, said Lapalme. “It’s hard to express how happy we are to be back.”
For more information about tickets or subscriptions, please visit the www.RDSO.ca.
lmichelin@reddeeradvocate.com
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