Orchestra reaches for wider audience with 62nd season
Ambitious program and renowned guest performers highlight Calgary lineup
The Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra (CPO) is taking its music to the global stage with its next season, new music director and world-famous guest performers.
A Calgary musical staple since 1955, the CPO offers an average of 83 concerts per season and plays everything from classical music to rock ’n’ roll. It announced the lineup for its 62nd performance season Wednesday.
“It’s all bright and shiny and new,” said Paul Dornian, president and CEO of the CPO. “We’re even going to put new seats in the (Jack Singer) Concert Hall.”
Last year, the CPO announced Norwegian conductor Rune Bergmann would replace Roberto Minczuk as music director. Bergmann said he was surprised he had never heard of the orchestra before landing in Calgary.
“I think this is something that can change,” Bergmann said. “This should be an orchestra for the world.”
The CPO plans on attaining this status through hosting renowned guest performers, utilizing modern technology and playing music from popular properties such as Harry Potter and The Little Mermaid. Yo-Yo Ma, Erin Wall, Fred Penner and the Kronos Quartet will be among the guest performers this season.
“Put them together with Maestro Rune Bergmann, and you are sure to find the sweet spot for worldclass music in Calgary,” Dornian said, adding the CPO would put an emphasis on discovering new talent in the Calgary area while also attracting old talent.
This season will also feature True North, a commissioned symphony that honours Canada’s 150th anniversary and acts as the centrepiece for the True North Festival. The 45-minute symphony will premiere Oct. 28 and will consist of five movements set to ballet by choreographer Yukichi Hattori.
A different composer, from a group recruited from across Canada, will be responsible for each movement.
“Together, the five movements will form a symphony that expresses and celebrates Canada’s cultural mosaic in musical form,” said Vincent Ho, new music adviser for the CPO and one of the five composers.
The True North Festival will also include a performance by country artist Corb Lund, who has never worked with the orchestra before.
“It’s really interesting for me because, obviously, my genre is entirely different,” said Lund, who was on hand at the announcement. “I’m always trying to present myself in different ways.”
Mayor Naheed Nenshi expressed his admiration for the CPO and said he was eager to see what the orchestra has in store for Calgary.
“Of course, I was in the 61st season, so you set a pretty high bar.”
Ricardo Miranda, the minister of culture and tourism for Alberta, also congratulated the CPO and said he was excited for the 201718 season.
“If this season is like anything we have seen before, then more than 100,000 visitors are in for some amazing performances this year.”