Paetkau bids farewell to SSO with concert featuring Mahler

After seven years with the Saskatoon Symphony Orchestra, music director Eric Paetkau is ready to explore something new.

For his final performance with the orchestra, Paetkau chose the work of Gustav Mahler.

“You can't sum up all seven years in one piece, but if any composer can pay tribute to the relationships and experiences I've had here, for me that's Mahler,” Paetkau said in a news release.

“It's the perfect way to pay tribute to my time here in Saskatoon,” he added.

In his time with the SSO, Paetkau introduced film into Pops concerts, opening up classical music to a new generation.

When the pandemic closed concert halls, he found a new way to connect with the community, creating the online series Meet the Musicians in Your Neighbourhood.

“He wanted everyone to feel like they were a part of it ... He involved

himself in the community in a great way and never threw up barriers between him and the audience,” said CEO Mark Turner.

As Paetkau leaves Saskatoon, he said he is confident in the SSO'S future.

“I love when there's new blood, new ideas. I feel as a team we've done so many wonderful things. It's time for me to explore something new.

“I've formed bonds with the musicians, the audience, and the city

and that's what I'll always cherish. It's an exciting, new beginning for all of us,” he said.

Juno-nominated soprano Miriam Khalil joins the SSO for what should be an uplifting and emotional performance of romantic music.

SSO will perform Mahler Symphony 4 at TCU Place Saturday at 7:30 p.m. The show will also be available on live stream. Tickets can be found at saskatoonsymphony.org.