Kamloops Symphony brings the sounds from the “city of music” to the Salmon Arm Recreation Centre with their performance of The Magic of Vienna.
Vienna is considered the music capital of the world. More famous composers have lived there than any other city, including Mozart, Haydn, Beethoven and Brahms. The Magic of Vienna will include some of the great opera arias and duets, plus overtures, waltzes and marches in the Viennese tradition.
Soloists Lambroula Pappas, soprano, and Andrew Greenwood, baritone, will join Kamloops Symphony for arias and duets from Verdi’s Rigoletto and Lehar’s The Merry Widow.
Pappas has appeared with symphonies internationally and across Canada. She has been acclaimed for her charisma and exquisite tone. Gilda in Rigoletto is one of her signature roles.
Andrew Greenwood returns to perform with Kamloops Symphony. He is an in-demand oratorio and opera singer. He performed the title role in Rigoletto for the Stadttheater, Hildesheim and the Staddttheater Wolfsburge, Germany.
Greenwood is a full-time firefighter with the City of Vancouver, and performs in Europe and Canada whenever his work schedule allows.
Rigoletto premiered at La Fenice in Venice on March 11, 1851. It is a tragic story about the Duke of Mantua, his hunch-backed court jester, Rigoletto, and Rigoletto’s daughter Gilda.
It was originally titled, La malendizione (The Curse), which referred to the curse placed on both the duke and Rigoletto by a courtier whose daughter had been seduced by the duke with Rigoletto’s encouragement. When Gilda falls in love with the duke, and eventually sacrifices her life to save him from assassins hired by her father, the curse is fulfilled.
Martin MacDonald is the guest conductor for this performance. He has a master’s degree in orchestral conducting from McGill University and a bachelor’s degree in cello. MacDonald received the 2013 Heinz Unger Award for Orchestral Conducting from the Ontario Arts Council, and has been described as “one of Canada’s most dynamic and outstanding young conductors of his generation.”
The programme also includes compositions by Suppé, Strauss, Lehar, Waldteufel and Mozart.
“It’s a really lovely program with the KSO and I’m looking forward to it immensely,” says MacDonald, noting there are wonderful arias and duets from some fantastic soloists, along with excellent overtures, waltzes and marches all from the Viennese tradition.
He says these types of programs are very special as this great music really allows the orchestra to shine.
“And I’m very pleased to be returning to conduct the KSO once again,” he adds. “It’s an honour to be re-invited to work with these fine colleagues.”
The Magic of Vienna performance is at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 9 at the SASCU Recreation Centre.
Tickets can be purchased from Kamloops Live! Box Office at 1-866-374-5483 or www.kamloopslive.ca, at Wearabouts at 350 Alexander St. NE, or at the door.