A Fantasia on Greensleeves
This exquisite four-minute orchestral miniature has far eclipsed the song it was inspired by: namely, ‘Greensleeves’, a traditional melody that was doing the rounds in the days of the Tudors and which was put to …
Discovering Tusen Tankar
A year ago, trumpeter Dean McNeill introduced us to a piece called Tusen Tankar…and we knew it had to be part of our 2020 Christmas live streams. Conservation efforts come in all shapes and sizes. …
Share Christmas with Seniors
Normally the month of December means upwards of 30 performances for the musicians of the SSO – on top of our annual Holiday Pops concert and performances of Messiah, the SSO Chamber Ensemble usually go …
Watch party ideas for a Night at the North Pole!
This post was created for our 2020 concert A Night at the North Pole, but we loved the recipes so much we decided to bring them back! We all need a little Christmas this year …
A Nutcracker’s Story
Listening to Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker Suite during the Holidays is cherished by many as a beloved tradition, one that gets them into the festive spirit of the season in no time flat. Surprisingly, the original ballet …
Sachertorte for a Watch Party
For our year of musical tourism as part of our reimagined 90th season, we have been so thrilled to see people enjoy fondue for a trip to Paris, bison meatballs for Paris of the Prairies, …
The City of Dreams
Vienna: a sprawling city of expression, flavor, and beauty. Known the world over as the wellspring of Western Classical Music, Vienna is also recognized by many as the City of Dreams. But how did it …
Brahms’ Haydn Variations
As a child, you may have been told that (through fairy tale magic) Rumpelstiltskin spun straw into gold. A neat parlor trick, perhaps, but how does it stack up against a Red Hedgehog spinning a …
Composers Series – Brahms
In 2016 the SSO reached out to artist Denyse Klette to pitch the idea of having her create an portrait of Mozart to help the SSO celebrate its Mozart Festival in 2017 – what was …
Conductor Shah Sadikov
Shah Sadikov is new to Saskatoon, and because of the pandemic He saw his travel schedule come to a halt and its a treat to have him joining us for his first time with the …
Cellist Oleksander Mycyk
The pandemic brings a few bright shining moments of silver lining – and the SSO jumped on the opportunity to seize this silver lining. Cellist Oleksa Mycyk came home to Saskatoon to be with family …
Haydn’s Cello Concerto in C
Haydn’s Cello Concerto No. 1 in C major is believed by music historians to have been composed between 1761 and 1765. Dedicated to the composer’s good friend Joseph Franz Weigl, who served as the principal …
The Bavarian Connection
For most, the music performed at A Night at Oktoberfest brings to mind a big party, tons of tourists, and a great pretzel recipe. For me, family comes to mind. Like many Canadians, my family …
Oktoberfest Beer Tasting
We asked our musicians what their favourite drinks were for our virtual Oktoberfest tasting. Here’s what some of them had to say!
Pretzels for Oktoberfest!
Well it isn’t Oktoberfest without a Bavarian pretzel – the tasty golden brown salty treat is iconic. If you’re like us, you’re too intimidated to make them from scratch…but thanks to a friend of the …
What’s with all the clapping for Radetzky
The year was 1848. Revolution shook Europe with wave after wave of civil unrest. Territories then occupied by the Austrian Empire (and today a part of Italy) decided to make a push for independence. The …
Watch Party Ideas for Oktoberfest!
It’s one of the biggest parties in the world…and its a whole lot of fun! Oktoberfest is a celebration that happens every fall in Munich. Oktoberfest is the world’s largest Volksfest (beer festival and travelling …
Roll out the Barrell – the Beer Barrel Polka
Of the sixty compositions the Czech composer Jaromir Vejvoda left us, none have garnered a more enduring international popularity than his “Beer Barrel Polka”. Known the world over as one of the most popular drinking …
The Clarinet Polka has a wild history!
Some fans of folk music may tell you that the Beer Barrel polka is the most famous polka in the world. To that, we say…there is another! The Clarinet Polka (often catalogued as “Klarinett-Polka” or …
Learning and making music with Cris Derksen
by SSO Principal Oboe Erin Brophey “When you meet Cris Derksen for the first time, you are so aware of her infectious energy. She is a force.” Erin Brophey Principal Oboe- SSO Through a Canada Council …
Watch Party Ideas for the Prairies
We loved seeing all of the folks watching Postcards from Paris at home, with family, even from their campsite! We wanted to help with ideas for how you can turn your live streaming experience into …
Meeting Murray Adaskin
Growing up in a Jewish and Latvian household, Murray Adaskin was taught from a very early age to strive for excellence and persevere towards his passions. As a young man, Adaskin showed promise on the …
The Music of Jocelyn Morlock
Over the last few years, Jocelyn Morlock’s music has become an audience favourite at the SSO. We’ve been so fortunate to play a number of her works, most recently the March 7th performance of Oisieux …
A Picasso Suite for the SSO
Harry Somers’ “Picasso Suite” was commissioned by the SSO in 1964 and received its premiere performance in Saskatoon. Since that first performance, it has gone on to be one of Canada’s most loved orchestral suites, …
