Big-city symphony to play Okanagan

The Okanagan Symphony Orchestra will open its 58th season by bringing the Vancouver Symphony to town next weekend.

The VSO will perform in Kelowna on Friday, Sept. 29, Penticton on Saturday and Vernon on Sunday.

The VSO will perform two great classics of the orchestral repertoire, Rossini’s William Tell Overture which inspired the Lone Ranger theme and Tchaikovsky’s 5th Symphony.

In addition, the VSO will feature a new work composed by their maestro, Bramwell Tovey, written to showcase B.C. mezzo-soprano, Marion Newman of the Kwagliuth and Sto:lo First Nation.

“We are all very excited to present the VSO for our audiences throughout the Okanagan,” said OSO Music Director Rosemary Thomson in a news release.

“Maestro Tovey has been a huge mentor to me, and I’m thrilled that our community will get to experience his extraordinary leadership and versatility both on the podium and through his new composition, Ancestral Voices.”

The VSO performances are the first in The Chase Wines Masterworks series presented by the OSO throughout the season. This six-part series features signature concerts and special guest artists.

Thomson will also offer insights about the music for each evening at the OSO’s Maestra’s Chat. These take place one hour before each Masterworks performance in all three cities.

Tickets to the opening night, and to the entire 2017/2018 OSO season, are available now at okanagansymphony.com.