REGINA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA SHINES IN ITS SEASON-OPENER

Soprano Dahl joins an all-around engaging evening of performances

The Regina Symphony Orchestra began its 2018-19 season on Saturday with an evening of musical storytelling featuring acclaimed Canadian soprano Tracy Dahl.

The “Opening Night with Tracy Dahl” concert featured multiple opportunities for the performer to shine, as part of an engaging program that highlighted the orchestra team in varied and interesting ways.

Before the music started, RSO executive director Tanya Derksen gave symphony-goers positive news with the announcement of a $1-million anonymous donation received by the organization.

RSO music director Gordon Gerrard’s opening remarks were also celebratory, noting the “incredible” accomplishment of the orchestra’s 110-year history being marked this season. The conductor jokingly compared that number to the current 100th season for Vancouver’s counterpart and 96th for Toronto’s equivalent, resulting in laughter from the audience.

Gerrard later officially announced and recognized the RSO’S new concertmaster, Christian Robinson, selected after a search last year. Robinson was warmly welcomed with audience applause.

The very first musical bars of the evening had patrons on their feet and singing as Gerrard led the orchestra in O Canada.

Then it was off to 20th-century America, with selections from well-known composers from that period and location comprising the first half of the concert.

First, the orchestra delivered On the Town: Three Dance Episodes by Leonard Bernstein. The program notes describe the work as painting the picture of sailors on leave in New York and their adventures. The music ranged from fun and upbeat to slower and melancholy and finally highspirited and energetic. The solo and section performances were key and compelling.

For the next work, the concert’s Winnipeg-born star made her first appearance. Described by Gerrard as a Canadian “national treasure,” coloratura soprano Dahl’s biography is full of performances with world-class opera companies and orchestras. Dahl was appointed to the Order of Canada in 2017 in recognition of her many accomplishments and efforts.

Taking the stage for Samuel Barber’s Knoxville Summer of 1915, Op. 24, Dahl shared a taste of her talent. The Englishlanguage work continued the storytelling theme with its rich imagery.

Closing out the concert’s first part was Aaron Copland’s Appalachian Spring, which Gerrard called one of the greatest works of the century and among the most recognized by the wellknown composer. The colourful and evocative movements were impressively delivered Saturday.

After the intermission, Gerrard noted the setting was shifting; it changed to 19th-century France, with works from composers of that time and place filling the second half.

The orchestra welcomed back the audience with the dynamic Roman Carnival Overture by Hector Berlioz and then Ma

Mere l’oye by Maurice Ravel, which was inspired by fairy tales and was suggestive of such magical stories.

It was then time for Dahl to re-emerge and conclude the concert with two arias from comic operas. Berlioz composed

the first, Beatrice et Benedict: Je Vais le Voir. The second, Mignon: Je Suis Titania, was composed by Ambroise Thomas.

The selections, lyrical and narrative, were commandingly delivered by Dahl, who delighted with her engaging performances and top-level talent. After a standing ovation, the night ended with Dahl returning to the stage — and to 20th-century America — for a well-received encore with George Gershwin’s Summertime.

While each of the evening ’s selections told vivid stories, the journey through the concert’s two hours included a deep variety of styles and moments for both guest performer and orchestra to sparkle. Overall, it was a fantastic opening-night experience with much to take away for Regina’s symphonygoers.