Arts thrive at this time of year

2017-11-22 - ANNA JACYSZYN

Today, I decided to setup my laptop at my dining room table to give me a different perspective and perhaps inspiration for this week’s column. As I sit with coffee in hand, I look through to the living room and out the front window to notice my lack of yard care since the snow melt from the Nov. 3 snow day.

The fall leaves and debris need sweeping and to be put in the green bin before the end of November, as that is when the yard waste stops being collected.

I also notice corners of clutter that I didnít seem to mind walking past every day, yet sitting here, I am amazed how much it annoys me.

A different perspective is all I needed. Some may say “go back to your usual writing place and don’t worry about stuff like that,” but then if I hadn’t noticed, I wouldn’t feel this good that I actually did something about it.

As the weeks glide towards the eve of a new year, I find that our community begins to thrive artistically with concerts, choirs, craft fairs, and shows of much diversity start emerging onto entertainment calendars — each with a different perspective to allow us a choice. I bet if you try something new, you will feel good about it.

Tonight, Theatre Kelowna will start its seasonal run of family-fun, British-style pantomime with The Big Bad Wolf. This adaptation has a little of everything to include a magic reindeer, Little Red Riding Hood, pigs building houses, bunnies and of course a Big Bad Wolf and a bigger dose of slapstick entertainment to encourage all to sing along and make the magic happen.

Red Riding Hood and her reindeer pals must get Rudolf back to the North Pole before Christmas. Directed by Noelle Jefferys, this festive folly runs from today through Sunday with matinees on Saturday and Sunday, all at Mary Irwin Theatre in the Rotary Centre for the Arts, 421 Cawston Ave.† Tickets are $20 each or $50 for a family of four. Call the box-office on 250-717-5304. Curtain up at 7:30 p.m.

Our own Okanagan Symphony Orchestra is putting us in a romantic mood, French style.

The French Connection features Hector Berlioz’s Les Troyens: Chasse Royal et Orage (Royal Hunt and Storm). This is Berlioz’s most ambitious work and the summation of his artistic career.

The second piece is Eduardo Lallo’s Symphonie Espagnole, Op 21. The work was written in 1874 for violinist Pablo Sarasate and premiered in Paris in February 1875. It’s named “Spanish Symphony” because of the trends in music at the time. (Georges Bizet’s opera, Carmen, premiered a month later.)

I’m guessing that guest artist Timothy Chooi will be the featured violinist on this piece. Canadian Chooi recently won top prize at the International Yehudi Menuhin Violin Competition and will be performing on his multi-million-dollar instrument.

Camille Saint-Saens’ Symphony No. 3, The Organ Symphony, is the third piece to be performed. Of composing

the work, Saint-SaÎns said “I gave everything to it I was able to give. What I have here accomplished, I will never achieve again.”

The OSO is at Kelowna Community Theatre on Friday, in Penticton on Saturday and Vernon on Sunday.

Ticket and box-office information is available at okanagansymphony.com

A classical harmony of joy comes to the Evangel church stage on Saturday when Opera Kelowna presents A Classical Christmas. This annual program of seasonal favourites and timeless classics is sung with the soaring voices of an ensemble of four stellar operatic artists, including acclaimed tenor Scott Rumble, rising star soprano Taylor Pardel, as well as past Opera Kelowna favourites, soprano Barbara King and baritone Aaron Durand.

They will also be joined by the angelic voices of Kelowna Children’s Choir and accompanied

on piano by Maestro Leslie Dala, associate conductor of the Vancouver Opera. Dala will also perform a series of seasonal solo selections.

This concert begins at 7:30 p.m. There is plenty of parking available, so no need to stress, but I would get there early to claim your seat. Tickets from $25 at kelownatickets.com, by calling 250-862-2867, or in person at Orchard Park mall. Evangel Church is at 3261 Gordon Drive.

Last week, I jumped the gun and wrote about a dance troupe called the Army of SASS. They are actually performing this week, Friday at 9 p.m., and two shows on Saturday, at 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. They perform their saucy take of the fantasy thriller Wizard Of Oz.

“Follow the #Yolo brick Road” as each lady depicts a character from the classic tale, but pimps it up. The show has audience interaction, slightly reminiscent of a British pantomime, but it’s very much a sexy cabaret with an emphasis on classy and sassy.

Tickets are $20 in advance through an AOS member or at armyofsass.com/kelowna/#shows, or $25 at the door at Kelowna Forum, 1317 Ethel St.

There is a after-party dance on Friday.

One thing I did not mention last week is that AOS is also affiliated with On Pointe Dance Company, which is a pre-professional dance company fundraising to go to Los Angeles next summer. Empty bottles and ticket sales support them as they actively support the women’s shelter.

I always wonder if any of my creations in music, recipes, good deeds or even arts and crafts that I made will ever have a remaining impact on anyone.

When writing, I allow myself to let ideas flow free form to let any new thoughts or creations form into art that I could share.

For most of us, expressing ourselves in this way is healing.

The Arts Council of the Central Okanagan (ARTSCO) has partnered with Interior Health to commission a body of work that will bring colour into the Mental Health and Substance Use Treatment Clinic located in downtown Kelowna.

Tina Siddiqui, has designed a series of simple pieces that will be painted by community members during two free, artist-led workshops on Monday.

Community members interested in learning about painting and wishing to contribute to the art pieces are invited to attend one of two workshops that will be held at the Rotary Centre for the Arts on Monday from 4:30-6:30 and 7-9 p.m.

To register, visit: https://www.artsco.ca/news/communityart-workshops-with-tina-siddiqui/.

For more information, contact Givonna De Bruin at givonna.debruin@interiorhealth.ca or 250469-7070.

Anna Jacyszyn is an awardwinning jazz singer. Email her at artafactevent@gmail.com.

bottles and ticket sales support them as they actively support the women’s shelter. I always wonder if any of my creations in music, recipes, good deeds or even arts and crafts that I made will ever have a remaining impact on anyone.