The Calgary Civic Symphony is set to enchant audiences with Whimsical Birds, a captivating program inspired by the songs of birds in nature that features guest saxophonist, Jeremy Brown in the Calgary premiere of local composer Vincent Ho’s Whimsical Concerto of Fanciful Birds!
“Vincent Ho approached me about doing the Calgary premiere of his saxophone concerto, which of course is an honour for the Civic Symphony,” explains Rolf Bertsch, the Civic Symphony’s Artistic Director and Conductor. “This Calgary premiere has the added bonus of featuring one of Calgary’s best musicians, Dr. Jeremy Brown, as the saxophone soloist.”
At the heart of the concert, Vincent Ho’s concerto is an innovative piece that uses the saxophone to create bird-like sounds. Adding to the immersive atmosphere of the performance is a special collaboration with ten of Jeremy Brown’s saxophone students from the University of Calgary School of Creative and Performing Arts. In a creative twist, they will be positioned throughout the upper reaches of the Jack Singer Concert Hall, creating a surround-sound effect of birds calling from the skies.
To build a program around this stunning concerto, Bertsch sought works that would complement its bird-inspired themes and selected two works by Finnish composers that highlight birdsong in nature. “I immediately thought of Sibelius’ Symphony No. 5 with its famous swan theme,” stated Bertsch. The theme in Sibelius’ masterpiece, with a soaring melody that mimics the flight of swans, will be very familiar for audiences.
As an opener, Bertsch turned to another Nordic composer known for his evocative nature-inspired music: Einojuhani Rautavaara. His Cantus Arcticus incorporates actual recordings of Arctic bird calls, seamlessly blending natural sounds with a lush orchestral score. “Now you have what I think is a unique, compelling, and inspiring program that features music inspired by the nature around us,” says Bertsch.
Whether you’re a longtime symphony lover or someone attending your very first concert, Whimsical Birds promises to be an engaging and unforgettable experience. Audiences will soar alongside Sibelius’ swans, fly high with Rautavaara’s Arctic birds, and be thoroughly captivated by Ho’s unique and innovative concerto. Don’t miss this uniquely immersive concert experience - join the Calgary Civic Symphony for its first performance of 2025.
Written by Jennette Miller
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