Cpossbilities: Making the CPO accessible to a new generation
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Bach, Beethoven and Brahms are magnificently revived through the mastery of the CPO
“Is it true that the greatest composers of music all had names that started with the letter B ?” [youtube vlkiKhWQsAg&feature=related] Of course, these classical giants that Andeas Delfs, guest conductor, and Michael Hope, one of the bassoonists in the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra smilingly refered to in the pre-concert chat were none other than Bach, Beethoven…
Classical Music Fused with Cirque Acts?!
Nowadays, joining the circus isn’t an easy alternative to “running away from home” (or so that’s what Hollywood thinks). Putting on a clown nose doesn’t make you a clown, and putting white make-up on you does not automatically make you a mime. Last Friday and Saturday, theatre-goers had the opportunity to witness the astounding Cirque…
The Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra delivers a magical performance of Arabian Nights: Scheherazade
The magicial tale of Scheherazade, and the collection of her stories from One Thousand and One Nights, captures the exotic and mysterious aura of the Middle East and South Asia. The story goes that the Sultan Shakriar, fearfully distrustful of the inconstancy of women, had sworn to execute every single one of his wives after the first…
Alberta Ballet delivers a dazzling performance of Tchaikovsky’s greatest hits
One of the most beloved composers and masters in Russia is Peter Tchaikovsky, or Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. He has composed beautiful masterpieces in many areas during the Romantic era, including ballet, symphonies, operas and chamber music. He has also written some of most familiar and popular concert music, among them the ballets Sleeping Beauty, The Nutcracker, and…
The Inventor delivers an explosive operatic play of grandeur!
A magnificent jewel that can be found in the heart of the vibrant community of Calgary is Calgary Opera, a company that enriches the lives of many Calgarians through their amazing productions of timeless classics and modern performances. Calgary Opera is committed to showcasing and developing great Canadian talent and new opera works. The evening’s…
Hot Entertainment for a Chilly Evening- Live Music, Anyone?
I hear dead people… YOU can too. Brilliant composers may be dead but you can still hear their music-LIVE. Cpossbilites is great program, with FREE membership, for people aged 15 to 29, that offers tickets for $12 to go out and see fabulous performances by the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, live. These concerts are definitely wondrous…
Handel’s Messiah- a Christmas concert holiday celebrating cheer and spirit!
George Frideric Handel was a German-British Baroque composer of exponential talent, composing many operas, oratorios and concertos. Handel’s works are most famously attributed to his use of word painting, a technique used in music to have the melody mimic the literal meaning of the lyrics. Handel’s Messiah interprets the Christian view of the Messiah, or…
Arts Around Calgary: Upcoming Events
Christmas is just around the corner, and our lovely city is already blanketed in snow. People are putting Christmas lights everywhere. It feels rather festive already even though a whole bunch of homework and assignments are weighing us poor high school students down deep inside our hearts. Well, no worries, because once winter break hits,…
Meet Robert Penner, Violin Virtuoso
The Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra (CPO) is the home to approximately 65 world class musicians, and Robert Penner is one of them. Penner fortunately happened to be the father of a very good friend, and having been overwhelmed by the grand majesty of the CPO like in the Wonder of Chopin concert and the Mozart and…
Memories of meeting Jan Lisiecki, Piano Phenomena
WeiJia, fellow blogger and I had the extraordinary chance to meet and interview Jan Lisiecki at the Wonder of Chopin concert playing in the Jack Singer Concert Hall. When do you have the chance to meet a 15 year old piano prodigy? Not everyday, at least for me, but perhaps for his friends at Western Canada…
Arts Around Calgary: Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra Presents Mozart and Salieri
Mozart’s contemporary Joseph Haydn once said this about him: “posterity will not see such a talent again in 100 years.” The extent to which this prediction was right is controversial, because along came Beethoven followed by Chopin in a couple of decades. However, the fact that Mozart was an artistic genius who pushed the boundaries…
Mozart and Salieri, A Requiem for Mozart concert- celebrating Mozart at Age 255!
This well-known portrait of Mozart isn’t what Mozart actually looked like, due to the fact that his portrait was painted only after his death and using details given by his wife. Prior to a Mozart celebration concert by the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra (CPO), Kenneth Delong, music critic, and the Calgary Philharmonic Chorus gave a brief introduction…
25th Celebration for the Epcor Centre
Various astounding art pieces were displayed for Epcor Centre’s Celebration For the Arts – 25 years in the community – in the Jack Singer Hall on Sept. 18 and 25. Many speeches were made by prominent patrons of the arts, including Peter Lougheed and Jeanne Lougheed, a message from the former Governor General Michaelle Jean and several…
Wonder of Chopin concert- celebrating Chopin’s 200th Birthday!
The Wonder of Chopin was the opening performance to start off the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra season, and this spectacular piece sets the bar high for this year. The Wonder of Chopin celebrated Frederic Chopin’s 200th birthday, highlighting his Polish heritage and culture. Calgary featured its own Polish Calgarian, accomplished pianist Jan Lisiecki in Chopin’s Piano Concerto No.…