These are strange times, there’s no doubt. With all of the disruption to the performing arts over the past month, audiences have their first taste of what to look forward to when the 2020/2021 season begins, thanks to the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra.
In an online announcement today which opened with a video performance by the CPO’s Grammy Award-winning Principal Oboist, Alex Klein, Music Director Rune Bergmann shared a message from his home in Norway expressing his excitement for the upcoming season.
“Right now we’re all going through a difficult time and it’s hard to be apart,” he said, “but today we’re looking ahead in a spirit of optimism and hope.”
The season kicks off with Broadway sensation Bernadette Peters in September, which in itself is something to look forward to. Along with the finale of The Year of Beethoven, audiences can also take in performances featuring works by Mozart and Mahler, Vivaldi, Bach and Strauss.
Special guest performers throughout the year include Joshua Bell, award-winning fiddler Ashley MacIsaac who will take the stage for One Yellow Rabbit’s High Performance Rodeo in January, classically trained pianist Chantal Kreviazuk performing her hit songs as well as selections from her Christmas album, and multiple award-winning Cree singer-songwriter and activist Buffy Sainte-Marie will be joined by the CPO for a one-night-only performance next spring.
The upcoming season has something for everyone. For those more into the pop offerings of the CPO, there’s the music of Freddie Mercury and Queen, a tribute to rock band Chicago, and a celebration of Paul Simon and much more. Film buffs can look forward to seeing a Halloween presentation of the 1931 horror classic Frankenstein starring Boris Karloff, and kids can look forward to seeing the original Toy Story in the fall.
For a detailed look at today’s announcement, head to https://calgaryphil.com/.
Kari Watson is an Editor at theYYSCENE, a writer and former Listings Editor of FFWD Weekly, and continues to work within the Calgary arts & culture scene to promote the city’s numerous and varied events. Contact her at kari@theyyscene.com.
