Over the summer months music lovers have been coming by the office to get their season tickets for the upcoming year. While following ticket buying trends, and listening to the excitement of our patrons, we’ve compiled a list of the concerts that are going to be remarkable musical experiences this fall!
People are excited that we have some of the greatest living musicians performing with us this fall; there’s excitement about new works that you’ll get to hear for the first time in the west; there’s a buzz around some of the SSO’s trademark unique programming…so, in no particular order, here’s the top five most buzzed about events this fall.
The Return of James Ehnes
The great gentleman of the violin hasn’t performed with the SSO in far too long, so its about time! Ehnes will be performing Beethoven’s iconic Violin Concerto paired alongside Eric Paetkau leading the SSO through Dvorak’s passionate 8th Symphony.
It’s a season kick off worthy of the excitement of an opening night.
Opening Night with James Ehnes – Sept 23rd
Jan Lisiecki’s Schumann
When the 22 year old released his recording of the Schumann Piano Concerto, critics around the globe wondered if it might indeed be the best recording ever of the work. Jan is out on tour this fall with Alexander Shelley and the National Arts Centre Orchestra, and with tickets ranging between just $30 and $50 this is the not to be missed concert of the year.
A Saskatchewan audience favourite playing one of his favourite concertos!
Jan Lisiecki with NACO – Oct 23rd
A Tango Four Seasons
If you love a tango, we have a concert for you! Our first Baroque Series concert of the year takes a twist and turn with renowned violinist Pascale Giguere. Pascale is our guest concert master for our Baroque Residency this year, and while her Vivaldi will be worth more than the price of the ticket, its her Piazzola you do not want to miss. The Argentine composer’s Four Seasons of Buenos Aires is sexy, passionate, filled with drama and Latin rhythms.
Piazzola’s take on the seasons has to be heard!
Pascale Giguere with the Four Seasons – November 4th
Three New Pieces
We have a passion for new music in this town…so this fall you have the chance to hear three of the most t
alked about new Canadian works. John Estacio’s I Lost My Talk is based on the poetry of Rita Joe and has become a trademark of the National Arts Centre Orchestra’s Canada 150 tour. Tanya Tagaq’s last SSO performance was one of the most talked about musical performances in Saskatoon in 2016…she returns to the SSO stage with two new works. Cristos Hatzis’ Thunder Drum has had rave reviews in its first performances, and a collaboration between Tagaq, Christine Duncan, and Christopher Mayo Quiksaatuq is a musical dialogue about Missing and Murdered Women featuring powerful strings, improvised brass, and Tagaq.
These pieces have deep stories to tell and will shake you to your core.
Tanya Tagaq and Thunder Drum – November 18th
Our Jazzy Nutcracker
Two years ago we had an idea…what if we put the SSO on stage alongside the Saskatoon Jazz Orchestra and pair Tchaikovsky’s seasonal classic Nutcracker Suite with Duke Ellington’s jazz take on the work. The result of the collaboration was incredible. This time we have a few surprises up our sleeve…and did we mention the concert is being filmed?!
A orchestral classic with a big band twist.
Duke Ellington Meets the Nutcracker – December 2nd
…..and then we have a few surprises in store…
You know the SSO likes to keep some surprises in store for its audience…well this fall has two epic surprises. All we can say for now is that you need to make plans with the SSO for Friday, October 6th – we’re throwing a concert that night with some classical music superstars as a fundraiser for a new education initiative.
And we say that the season starts on September 23rd…..but like, maybe there’s going to be a special something the weekend before that. It’s no House of Cards cliffhanger, but it will get your political juices flowing!