mgrier

Getting to know Magnificat soloist Spencer McKnight

Originally from LeRoy, Saskatchewan, tenor Spencer McKnight is well known to SSO audiences for his Messiah performances. His eloquent ornaments and crystal clear sound are loved by all! We asked him some questions recently to get to know him a bit better before his performance this weekend at Bach’s Magnificat.

SSO: You’re originally from LeRoy, but where are you based from these days?
SM: Outlook

SSO: What is your favourite music based memory?
SM: One of my favourite memories is getting to perform my first hour long concert at Third Ave United Church in Saskatoon. I learned a lot from that recital!

SSO: How do you deal with nerves?
SM: Being really well prepared tends to help get rid of nerves. Before a show I might get some nerves, but if you realize that it’s just adrenaline you can use for the performance it’s less scary.

SSO: Was there an aha moment that made you realize music was the path for you?
SM: Yes, I decided to drop out of political science and focus on music. Within 6 months of that decision I was representing Saskatchewan at nationals where I won an award – and I was happier than I’d ever been. So I knew I was on the right path.

SSO: Why do you enjoy singing Bach?
SM: Bach is great because his music is so well written that it still sounds fresh today, and figuring out where you fit in all the moving pieces is always a challenge and great fun!

SSO: We recently did 6 word autobiographies with the students of St Mary’s who were a part of Kitohcikewin/Listen up! What would your six words be?
SM: ”He was there, now he’s here” (We at the SSO office think this one is a winner!!)

SSO: What is the best piece of advice someone has given you?
SM: “If you can picture yourself doing anything other than music, do that. If not – it’s worth all the hard work and heartache.”

SSO: If you could work with anyone living or dead who would it be?
SM: Cecilia Bartoli… I would sing anything with her. She is just such a consummate artist.
(For those of you who follow our Executive Director on social media you know that Mark Turner recently saw Bartoli in performance!!)

SSO:What is your favourite thing about the prairies?
SM: This will be a very pedantic answer…but the skies. When I lived in Toronto I missed looking up and seeing the huge cloud banks we have here. When I moved back home I found myself staring at the horizon and taking pictures of every single cloud and sunset.

SSO: What are some upcoming projects, or ones on the go, that you want to share with everyone?
SM: Over the past two years I’ve been developing a concert of music from the Great War with Mark Turner. We toured it to a few communities last fall – and are planning on touring it to more communities this fall to commemorate the 100^th anniversary of armistice. It has been such an amazing artistic experience crafting the show and sharing it with audiences.

Join Spencer and all our guests at Bach’s Magnificat – Saturday, May 26, 7:30 pm at Knox United Church. Tickets are available at the door or you can buy them here.

Getting to Know Contralto Lisa Hornung

We are quickly approaching our performance of Bach’s Magnificat and thought it would be fun for you to get to know our guest artists a bit better!

SSO audiences are well acquainted with the incredible voice of contralto Lisa Hornung. Originally from, and still based out of North Battleford, Lisa has continued to make the drive to Saskatoon for many years to be a part of our Messiah performances among others. She is known for her warm smooth sound and her beautiful smile.

We asked Lisa a few questions. See what she has to say below!

SSO: What is your favourite music based memory?
LH:Family sing-songs – around the campfire or in the basement around the piano.

SSO: How do you deal with nerves?
LH:Practice a lot. Delve into / discover / enjoy the text-music relationship. Remind myself it is not about me.

SSO:Was there an aha moment that made you realize music was the path for you?
LH: Honestly, I don’t remember a time without music. I have not always loved it (sometimes music is frustrating and unpredictable, especially as an asthmatic with severe allergies) but I have always needed it. Music makes me whole – not sure if there was ever a time I didn’t know that somewhere in my soul.

SSO: Why do you enjoy singing Bach?
LH: It’s beautiful, challenging, playful, whole.

SSO:We recently did 6 word autobiographies with the students of St Mary’s who were a part of Kitohcikewin/Listen up! What would your six words be?
LH: Hmmm, didn’t know how to answer this so I asked my husband. His six words for me are: passionate, fun-loving, optimistic, committed, thoughtful. Yes, I am married to a saint 🙂

SSO: What is the best piece of advice someone has given you?
LH: Enjoy today.

SSO: If you could perform any piece, regardless of voice type, what would you pick?
LH: The Lakes of Cool Finn – really, all Irish folk music. Oh! Big Band anything too 🙂

SSO: If you could work with anyone living or dead who would it be?
LH: Janet Baker

SSO: What is your favourite thing about the prairies?
LH: My Family is here.

SSO: What are some upcoming projects, or ones on the go, that you want to share with everyone?
LH: Summer School for the Solo (and choral) Voice July 7-14 . Great time of learning, music making, collaborating, visiting….fun 🙂
summerschoolforthesolovoice.com

You can get tickets to Bach’s Magnificat and read Lisa’s full bio here.

Share in the Future with Executive Director Mark Turner

Executive Director Mark Turner is away in Rotterdam at Classical:NEXT. In between meeting, collaborating, and learning with his counterparts from across the globe he took a moment to reflect on Share in the Future.

I’ve always been fascinated with the wonderment we experience when hearing live music. A magic spell that’s cast by artisans and captures the hearts and souls of an audience. We all sit together, and no matter what our day has held or how much we know about what we’re hearing, in-spite of our differences and because of our ears, we can all fall under the spell.

Even more fascinating is that being spellbound can happen on music you’ve heard 100 times or something you’ve never played before. It is the truest way that we can all be understood and understand – and because of that live music needs to be fostered and protected and worked at.

As Glenn Gould used to say, music is not a momentary inspiration but rather a life long pursuit of hard work and serenity. It takes thousands of hours for each concert to come to life so to that the audience can feel the magic. It’s a labor of practice, research, planning, rehearsing, decision making, perseverance, and a drive to do it. It takes a lot of time, and a lot of money, and nerves of steal.

But truly, it all comes down to one thing: passion. The passion of a soloist to suggest a concerto, the passion of our musicians who sacrifice their time for more practice, the passion of producers to take risks and give of their energy, and the passion and audacity of a concert goer who could have stayed home and streamed something. It takes passion to move us all to the hall for each and every concert – and that is why we can feel the magic.

This year we’re again asking you to make a donation to the SSO before our year end. The economy is hurting, which means tickets sales are down – it also means that your money is more precious than ever. So I ask with the knowledge that we are doing everything we can to ensure that your donation to the SSO is put to the best possible use.; whether that’s through investing in our musicians, creating more opportunities for you to come to concerts, or giving our region’s young people a chance for their imagination to collide with live music.

Running an orchestra is difficult work, and while I love my job, it takes a remarkable amount of work from many people – and with four seasons under my belt I can honestly say that some days i feel like I might give up.

But like a musician who is finding one small run of notes nearly impossible, there’s something that keeps us all working towards a remarkable goal – passion. Eric’s passion for beautiful music, my team’s passion for their work and their orchestra, our musicians’ passion that causes them to need to make music not just listen to it, a subscriber who cannot wait for our next concert. It defies logic and economics that orchestras still exist and still play music live, but I guarantee you it’s the passion that keeps feeding us to make magic.

So please support your orchestra this May. Be part of that magic. And if you’re reading this thinking you that it’s been too long since you’ve been to the symphony, then you need to stir up the bravery to leave the house and be part of magical concert moments. Trust me, your life is so much deeper when you live passionately.

To make a gift to share in the future click here.

The Happiest Birthday of All

Even though the days are finally getting longer, January is still a dark, cold time. Thankfully there is a special day a the end of the month to bring us all hope. That day is January 27th.

There are many fantastic figures born on this auspicious day, some notable people include actor Alan Cumming (1965), astronomer Beatrice Tinsley (1941), musician Hot Lips Page (1908), author Lewis Caroll (1832), and on a very cold day in 1989, our very own Director of Communications.

As wonderful as all of us Jan 27 babies are, the SSO is paying tribute to one in particular.

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was born on January 27th in 1756. Christened as Johannes Chrysostomus Wolfgangus Theopilus Mozart it’s understandable that this prolific composer went with the shortened name.

Having an incredibly musical family father Leopold, sister Nannerl (a nickname for young Maria Anna), and Wolfgang would tour across Europe.Composing and performing before european royalty by age 5, it is no surprise that young Mozart was engaged as a musician in the Salzburg court by age 17.

Sadly Mozart passed away at age 35, leaving behind his wife Constanze, two children, and an amazing amount of music. You can see a list of his works here. One can only image what masterful works Mozart would have created had he lived longer!

In honour of the 225th anniversary of Mozart’s death, and his 261st birthday, we have partnered with Saskatoon Opera and the University of Saskatchewan to present Mozart week.

Mozart Week events include:

Music of Mozart
Sunday Chamber
Sunday, January 22, 2pm
Delta Bessborough Hotel

The Genius of Mozart
Music Talk at McNally Robinson
With Guest Panellists
Tuesday, January 24, 7pm

Amadeus
Special one time screening
Wednesday, January 25, 7:30pm
Roxy Theatre

LovePlay
Saskatoon Opera Performance
January 26 & 27, 8pm
Saskatoonopera.ca

Mozart’s Violin
With the University of Saskatchewan
Friday, January 27, 12:30pm
Quance Theatre, UofS

Mozart Festival
With Timothy Chooi
Saturday, January 28, 7:30pm
TCU Place

Mozart Festival with Timothy Chooi is the jewel to top the crown of Mozart Week. Timothy is an incredibly talented (and young!) violinist who is swiftly carving out a career for himself that rivals older bother Nikki. Described as “Le miracle”, Timothy has performed with symphonies across North America. He makes a conscious effort to make music more accessible through social media and by promoting causes that further music education.

Timothy will treat us to Mozart’s Concerto for Violin No. 5 in A Major, and then Eric Paetkau will masterfully take the SSO on a wonderful musical journey to Mozart’s Jupiter.

After our Saturday concert for Mozart Festival please join us for a birthday party across the street at the Hub! There will be a chance to visit with other patrons, our guest artist, musicians, and best of all, birthday cake.

So come help us celebrate the life and sounds of Mozart (and all the other excellent people that happen to share his birthday).

Top 5 SSO Gift Ideas

Christmas time is here! Happiness and cheer don’t necessarily go hand in hand with gift buying this season, so we’ve put together our top 5 SSO gift ideas. You can shop from the comfort of your own home, support the SSO, and give the gift of music to your loved ones.

Number 5: Brahms’ Violin Concerto in Feburary

Toronto Symphony Orchestra’s Concertmaster Jonathan Crow will be joining the SSO on February 25th to play Brahms’ Violin Concerto in D Major. It has been ages since the SSO has played this piece! We were certainly overdue and we found a fantastic soloist to join us. Jonathan Crow is an incredible musician and teacher. Since 2011 Jonathan has been the Concertmaster for the TSO and was at one time the youngest Concertmaster in North America (between 2002 and 2006 he was Concertmaster of the Orchestre symphonique de Montréal). He is currently an Associate Professor of Violin at the University of Toronto and is a founding member of the New Orford String Quartet.

Also on the program is Valse très lente – Massanet, and Sybelius Symphony no. 5. You can find out more and buy tickets here!

Number 4: Careless Whisper – the SSO does the 80s

Feel like your best years in fashion are behind you? Do you miss the glory days of the 80s? It’s Alright, we Feel For You. We are Head Over Heels for this pops concert. Jeans ‘n Classics returns to the SSO for big hair, parachute pants, and neon to spare. On Saturday, March 11 wear your Diamonds and Pearls and your favourite 80s inspired outfit to the Symphony as you Walk Like an Egyptian over to TCU for this fun night! (Just make sure to look both ways before you cross the street).

The program includes one of the our favourite numbers for 2 o’clock dance party. How can you sit still to Earth, Wind, & Fire?

Tickets and a full list of songs that make These Dreams come true are available here!

Number 3: Mozart Fest

A whole week of Mozart is coming your way in January (January 22-28 to be exact). Beginning with our Chamber Concert on Sunday, a music talk Tuesday, Amadeus screening Wednesday, LovePlay with Saskatoon Opera, and a lecture from Mozart Project’s founder and Artistic Director David Bowser, it already seems like a full week. The cherry on top of this fantastic week is our Mozart Fest Concert on Saturday with violinist Timothy Chooi. Known as “le miracle” this young artist will blow you away with his performance with the SSO. Timothy will be treating us with Mozart’s Concerto for Violin No. 5 in A Major, K 219, on his 1717 Windsor-Weinstein Stradivarius (on loan from the Canada Council for the Arts). At age 23, Timothy uses social media as a tool to reach out to his audiences across the globe. He shares bits of music and humour across facebook, instagram, twitter, and youtube.

Tickets for this amazing concert are available here.

Number 2: Star Wars – The music of John Williams

Joined onstage by the Saskatoon Youth Orchestra we will be a mighty force, of sound that is.

It’s no big secret that we are all music nerds at the SSO, but not just for classical. John Williams has composed music for over 120 films, several tv shows, and important events including a presidential inauguration, royal weddings, and fanfares for many a celebration including Leonard Bernstein’s 70th birthday. In his spare time, Williams also composes concertos for Boston Pops and his friend Yo-Yo Ma. With such an exceptional array of works, it would be impossible to do the complete works of John Williams in one concert.

We decided to focus on the music of Star Wars. It will be 40 years since the release of A New Hope, and what better way to celebrate than dressing up in our best Jedi outfit, and have a concert filled with selections from all the Star Wars films!

Tickets are available here. Join us April 22nd for a concert fit for a young Jedi (and those that are young at heart).

Number 1: Jan Lisiecki – An Encore

Described by the New York Times as “a pianist who makes every note count”, Jan Lisiecki is no stranger to Saskatoon. He is a true virtuosi and plays with maturity and talent that seem well beyond his 20 years. It’s exciting to know that Jan is just at the beginning of what we hope is a long life and incredible career!

The concert Jan played with the SSO was one that our audiences still talk about. This time we thought it would be wonderful to have Jan on his own in a more intimate setting. For two nights, February 21 and 22, Jan will fill Convocation Hall with the music of Bach, Schubert, and more. As there are only 350 seats available in Convo, we thought it was only fair to have Jan give two recitals (with the same program) so more people could enjoy what is certain to be a magical night! This recital is sure to be a much needed mini staycation in the middle of winter, as Jan will warm our hearts and distract us from our winter woes.

Jan says his aim is to always perform in a way that carries forward the beauty and brilliance of the original work. He has demonstrated that he is capable of rendering compositions remarkably close to the way they were intended. “Going into a concert hall should be like going into a sanctuary. You’re there to have a moment of reflection, hopefully leaving feeling different, refreshed and inspired.”

Just take a listen to Jan now and let him soothe your holiday stress away.

Tickets for this amazing recital are available here.

There are several other great concerts this season so take a look at what the SSO has to offer. There is certainly something for everyone!

We hope this holiday season is full of good food, family, friends, and most of all, good music.

From all of us at the SSO – Merry Christmas

A chat with Julia Wedman

When trying to write a short post about our guest artist baroque violinist Julia Wedman, we realized that it’s hard not to gush about this talented Saskatoon sweetheart. Julia’s bio is incredible. She has been a member of Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra since 2005, she is a part of Eybler Quartet, and Julia a member of the innovative baroque ensemble I FURIOSI. She has travelled all over the world with the ensembles and as a solo artist. She is also a talented educator and coach having done residencies across North America. To top everything off, in 2011 Julia released her debut solo recording of Biber’s Mystery Sonatas (Sonoluminus) to rave reviews.

Amazing resume aside, we know that Julia is a wonderful person to work and chat with. Instead of parroting more of her bio to you (which you can read here), we asked her to answer a few questions.

SSO: What was your “aha” moment that made you realize you love baroque?

J: My first term at Indiana University, I was placed in one of the big symphony orchestras, with a conductor that was mediocre and music that I wasn’t interested in. One day at rehearsal the conductor accidentally threw his baton, and it hit me just under my eye. Two millimetres higher and it would have taken out my eye. I went home and complained bitterly to my best friend. He said “Come to the baroque orchestra concert tomorrow – you will love it!” So I went, and he was right! The director was the baroque violin guru, Stanley Ritchie, who was so graceful and elegant as he played, it was like he was dancing on stage. The whole orchestra was having such a great time, smiling and dancing together, playing so beautifully and joyfully that I was immediately smitten. I signed up for baroque orchestra and lessons with Stanley the next day.

SSO: Favourite piece of music to play?

J: Bach C major Solo Violin Sonata. Well – that is my favourite piece to practice. I never get bored – which is good, because it is so difficult that I need to practice it a LOT! Also anything by Bach, Biber, Rameau or Mozart.

SSO: What is the best piece of advice you received early in your career that still holds true today?

J: Listen

SSO: Guilty pleasure?

J: Prince. 80s rock. I think I memorized every song played on CKOM in high school, and I still know them. Sometimes we do covers of the best ones for encores with my group I Furiosi. Last week we did Eye of the Tiger.

SSO: Favourite SSO memory?

J: One of the first concerts I ever played with the SSO…Beethoven’s 9th Symphony! I was so thrilled to be part of such an incredible musical experience!

This was also my most embarrassing moment. At the beginning of the Scherzo, Beethoven sets up a pattern of play-rest-play-rest but the third time he writes rest-play. And I played. Alone. When everyone else was resting. A study was done a few years ago on violinists who made mistakes in concerts, and they found that when they played accidental “solos” their heart rates would shoot up so high, it was like they were in a car accident. I know that feeling.

SSO: How does it feel to be back in Saskatoon to perform?

J: It is so heart-warming to be here playing with dear friends, and having the honour of sitting beside a former (wonderful, inspirational) teacher. It is a real treat to be here playing with this wonderful orchestra. I feel so grateful to have had the support of such a fantastic musical community as a young person growing up here.

SSO: Any other fun facts you would like people to know?

J: One of the best things we get to do in Tafelmusik is a residency with Opera Atelier at Versailles every 18 months or so. It is a magical week in Paris. I take the train into the city to see incredible art at the Louvre or Musee D’Orsay in the daytime, rehearse and perform Lully in the opera house at Versailles in the evenings, and explore the palace and gardens in my “downtime”. Being a musician isn’t always very glamourous. I love it, but it is a lot of sacrifice and a lot of hard work. Every once in a while I find myself in an experience so incredible that I have to pinch myself to see if I am dreaming, and being at Versailles is always one of those times. Last year November we were there just days after the terrorist attacks, and we were even more grateful than ever to be there supporting the French people. I think everyone should come with me to Paris some time. If you love music, art, history, and food, you will love it!

We will be there again in May!

Julia joins the SSO at 7:30pm, this Friday (October 28th) at Knox United Church.

Take a listen to the samples below and let Julia serenade you while you buy your tickets!

After Dark – With Free Flow Dance

Classical music and dance have more in common than you think.

Aside from the obvious connections, both artistic mediums seem to constantly battle against the perception that they are passé. The misconception that it’s all been done, or that it isn’t relevant any more is one that seems to persist. This couldn’t be farther from the truth.

The SSO created After Dark to push boundaries. There is an abundance of contemporary music out there and our musicians are always excited to be able to explore works that don’t fit in our regular concert series.

Free Flow Dance Company is known for its innovative and modern choreography. They are constantly thinking outside the box when it comes to movement and performance spaces. Free flow brings dance to people who may not traditionally attend what we think of as a stereotypical dance performance.

This is why After Dark and Free Flow are a perfect fit. Joined by Free Flow dancers and choreographer Jackie Latendresse the concert features the music of living composers including Gyula Csapo, Don Sweete, Max Richter, and many more. After Dark will make you rethink what a concert should be. Think new music meets cocktail party. Think contemporary dance meets sound experiment. Think pub trivia meets concert.

After Dark tickets are available here. There are limited seats for each performance so make sure to save your spot!

Friday September 30th & October 1st at 8pm in the SSO office (408 20th St).

Orient Express 101

The SSO brings Quartetto Gelato to Saskatoon to take us for a musical ride on the Orient Express. We are very excited about this fantastic concert – where we get to sit back, sip some wine, and enjoy wherever the music takes us.

But where are we going? What is the Orient Express? Isn’t there a chance of murder I should be worried about?

Many are familiar with the Orient Express described in Agatha Christie’s 1934 novel Murder on the Orient Express, or perhaps their introduction came from the 1974 film by the same name.

The actual Orient Express began in 1883 as the Express d’Orient, a luxury sleeper car train run by Belgian company La Compagnie Internationale des Wagons-Lits. The initial route ran twice a week from Paris (Gare de L’Est) and then traveled to Constantinople (Istanbul) via Strasbourg – Munich – Vienna – Budapest – Bucharest – Giurgiu, with a short ferry ride across the Danube to Ruse, then back on a train to Varna. Once in Varna, passengers would take a steamer to their final destination.

In it’s heyday of the 1930s two more variations were added; the Simplon-Orient Express (which Christie’s novel is based on) and the Arlberg-Orient Express. These iconic trains were the epitome of class and high society. It’s no wonder this journey has been taken by many literary and film characters like Christie’s Hercule Poirot, James Bond, and Alfred Hitchcock’s vanishing Lady.

Our journey with Quartetto Gelato will take us on a slow train from London, under the skies of Paris, pass through Munich, take a heartfelt stop in Budapest, and then we will dance our way through Prague and Milan. The musical ride comes to a rousing finish in Bucharest.

The last true Orient Express train ran in December of 2009. If you really feel like you missed the adventure of a lifetime there is a luxury vacation package based on the Simplon Orient Express route. The 1930’s art deco train voyages start at $3,200 Canadian (not including airfare), and can run upwards of $9,000! As beautiful as this looks, we’ll stick to enjoying the Orient Express route right here and Saskatoon with the SSO and Quartetto Gelato.

So join us for a night of fantastic music, mystery, romance, and perhaps a glass (or two) of wine. See you there!

Quartetto Gelato Travels the Orient Express
7:30pm, Thursday August 18
Remai Arts Centre
Tickets are available here, or contact the Persephone Theatre box office (306-384-7727)