The Kingston Symphony's Candlelight Christmas concert is just around the corner. There are so many Christmas concerts this time of year, but I truly believe this one will stand out because we’ve chosen the best of the best – the favourites in beautiful classical arrangements. The program also features my all-time favourite carol, In the Bleak Midwinter.
Candlelight Christmas, taking place at St. George's Cathedral December 21 and 22, will also include the opportunity for audience members to join in and sing along to the Hallelujah Chorus from Handel’s Messiah and traditional Carols such as Hark the Herald Angels Sing and the First Nowell.
We will also perform Beethoven’s Symphony No. 1. What does Beethoven have to do with Christmas you ask? Absolutely nothing. But this piece is a Christmas gift to myself. I chose this piece as a treat for myself, and a treat for the audience.
Queen’s University student Molly Luhta will be soprano soloist for the concert. Luhta, who is in fourth year and majoring in vocal performance, is the 2010 Queen’s University Aria competition winner. She will perform O Holy Night and Ave Maria as well as excerpts from Bach’s Christmas Oratorio.
I think Christmas is a time of year that allows people to really connect, and music is what ties that connection together.
A little bird dropped this off in my e-mail this afternoon, and because it mentions me I thought I'd pass it along...
'Twas the week before Christmas and all through the hall,
The musicians rehearsed... they were having a ball!
The tickets were printed and numbered with care,
But when December 21 and 22 come, will an audience be there?
"Don't worry," said the Maestro. "The tickets will sell."
"Candlelight will be the best concert this year, I can tell."
So the horns with their bells and violins with their bows,
Perfected the carols that everyone knows.
Then out in the lobby there arose such a clatter,
But everyone knew there was nothing the matter.
Away from the box office tickets flew like a flash,
Smiling patrons paying with credit cards and cash.
They bought symphony gift certificates and CDs, too.
Perfect gifts for music lovers, old and new.
Then what to the Maestro's eyes should appear?
A concert hall full of people... but sorry, no reindeer.
With his little baton, so lively and quick,
The Maestro kept time, tick, tock, tock, tick.
Quicker than Beethoven the symphony played,
The musicians all smiled at the joy they'd made.
"Now percussion, now winds, now brass, now strings!
Let's play this allegro, let's make sure it rings!"
"Orchestra and choir, just follow my cue,
Let's make these old songs sound youthful and new!"
The audience pondered the music they heard,
Thought of life without a symphony, oh how absurd.
So they reached into their pockets, donations to make,
These would count for the 2010 tax year, make no mistake.
The Choral Society sang songs of the season,
The orchestra played with passion and reason.
Then the Maestro exclaimed so the audience could hear,
"Merry Christmas to all, thanks for a great year!"
P.S. Here's a link to the latest Word from the Maestro video:
Candlelight Christmas
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Here’s a little Messiah trivia to get you excited…
Did you know that the first performance of Messiah was presented in Dublin Ireland on April 13, 1742, as a benefit for people in a debtors’ prison? It raised enough money to free 142 men from the jail. The Kingston Symphony and the Kingston Choral Society are teaming up to perform this famous oratorio on December 5 – but don’t worry, we won’t be freeing anyone from the Kingston Penitentiary.
Handel was almost going to land in debtors’ prison himself right up until the Messiah premiered. He shouldered a lot of negative comments on the work, as people were upset that sacred texts were being put to secular music. But the Messiah eventually triumphed, as did Handel, and he never once accepted any money for any performance of the work.
When the version we’re familiar with today premiered in 1754, the money garnered went to benefit and orphanage, The Foundling Hospital, in London.
I always get excited about the Messiah. Its one of those works that never gets old, especially around this time of year. I think it’s because there’s just so much in this work. It’s unbelievable to me that it took Handel only 24 days to complete the Messiah – what a phenomenal task!
One of the things that always stands out to me is the “word painting” aspect of this oratorio. Word painting is said to enhance the text based on its musical treatment. In the tenor aria “Ev’ry Valley Shall Be Exalted” a single syllable of the word “exalted” is written with forty-six ascending notes. That’s a lot of notes!
For our performance of the Messiah, we’ll have with us guest soloists Tracy Smith Bessette, Marion Newman, James McLean, and Kingston native Geoffrey Sirett. Both Tracy and Marion have sung with us before.
Tracy has performed with the Opéra National de Paris, and has sung in the Messiah all over the world – including performances in France and Spain. We’re lucky to have her here in Kingston.
This will be Marion’s second time performing with us. She’s a vivacious scene-stealer whose distinct voice will captivate you. What’s amazing about Marion is that she started her performance career not as a vocalist, but as a pianist. At the age of 16 she performed Mozart’s Piano Concerto K. 488 in A Major with the Victoria Symphony. She has been featured on CBC radio several times, and is the recipient of a Career Development Grant from the Canada Council for the Arts. She is a high-calibre performer who lifts the Canadian classical music scene to the next level.
When the Messiah premiered more than 250 years ago, there was so much excitement surrounding it that organizers feared the concert hall would be over capacity. Men were asked to leave their “dress swords” at home and women were asked to not wear hoop skirts.
You can wear whatever you like to our concert on December 5 (well, maybe leave your sword at home). And just like the concert halls were in the 1700s, the Kingston Gospel Temple will be general admission for this performance. Get in the spirit of the season! Buy your tickets soon before they sell out!
Don't forget to check out my latest YouTube video interview here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=lfLf7MsndjA
Thanks for reading.
Did you know that the first performance of Messiah was presented in Dublin Ireland on April 13, 1742, as a benefit for people in a debtors’ prison? It raised enough money to free 142 men from the jail. The Kingston Symphony and the Kingston Choral Society are teaming up to perform this famous oratorio on December 5 – but don’t worry, we won’t be freeing anyone from the Kingston Penitentiary.
Handel was almost going to land in debtors’ prison himself right up until the Messiah premiered. He shouldered a lot of negative comments on the work, as people were upset that sacred texts were being put to secular music. But the Messiah eventually triumphed, as did Handel, and he never once accepted any money for any performance of the work.
When the version we’re familiar with today premiered in 1754, the money garnered went to benefit and orphanage, The Foundling Hospital, in London.
I always get excited about the Messiah. Its one of those works that never gets old, especially around this time of year. I think it’s because there’s just so much in this work. It’s unbelievable to me that it took Handel only 24 days to complete the Messiah – what a phenomenal task!
One of the things that always stands out to me is the “word painting” aspect of this oratorio. Word painting is said to enhance the text based on its musical treatment. In the tenor aria “Ev’ry Valley Shall Be Exalted” a single syllable of the word “exalted” is written with forty-six ascending notes. That’s a lot of notes!
For our performance of the Messiah, we’ll have with us guest soloists Tracy Smith Bessette, Marion Newman, James McLean, and Kingston native Geoffrey Sirett. Both Tracy and Marion have sung with us before.
Tracy has performed with the Opéra National de Paris, and has sung in the Messiah all over the world – including performances in France and Spain. We’re lucky to have her here in Kingston.
This will be Marion’s second time performing with us. She’s a vivacious scene-stealer whose distinct voice will captivate you. What’s amazing about Marion is that she started her performance career not as a vocalist, but as a pianist. At the age of 16 she performed Mozart’s Piano Concerto K. 488 in A Major with the Victoria Symphony. She has been featured on CBC radio several times, and is the recipient of a Career Development Grant from the Canada Council for the Arts. She is a high-calibre performer who lifts the Canadian classical music scene to the next level.
When the Messiah premiered more than 250 years ago, there was so much excitement surrounding it that organizers feared the concert hall would be over capacity. Men were asked to leave their “dress swords” at home and women were asked to not wear hoop skirts.
You can wear whatever you like to our concert on December 5 (well, maybe leave your sword at home). And just like the concert halls were in the 1700s, the Kingston Gospel Temple will be general admission for this performance. Get in the spirit of the season! Buy your tickets soon before they sell out!
Don't forget to check out my latest YouTube video interview here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=lfLf7MsndjA
Thanks for reading.
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Tchaikovsky, Dvorak, Smetana...oh my!
I can’t wait for this weekend’s concert. And that’s an understatement. We’ve got some tremendous performances lined up this season, but A Romantic Journey is definitely one of the ones I’m most looking forward to. It features Smetana’s Overture to the Bartered Bride, Dvorak’s New World Symphony, and Tchaikovsky’s ever-popular violin concerto.
This concert is an absolute knockout. The orchestra’s going to kill me for programming these three pieces in one performance – but I hope you will enjoy it. It is full of inspiration, sentiment, and satisfaction.
Everyone experiences music differently, but it’s always my wish that we can share the emotions of the music with the audience. Music covers all the complexities of emotion, and especially all the complexities of love – tenderness, passion, and subsequently hurt and loss.
A highlight of A Romantic Journey will be Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s violin concerto, written in 1878. Tchaikovsky knew all about love and passion in his own way, a sad way really, and he poured all of that into this concerto. As a result, this particular piece is easily one of the most technically difficult concertos ever written.
Andréa Tyniec will join us for this well-known score. I stumbled upon a video of her playing the concerto on YouTube, and I made it my mission to bring her to Kingston.
She is a fabulously talented musician – I guarantee you’ll want to see her tackle this ridiculously challenging piece. To perform this concerto you need endurance, and you need to be balanced – you have to have as much sensitivity as you have strength. Andréa has all of it, and she presents it with both poise and passion.
Andréa plays on a violin constructed by Januarius Gagliano in 1747. She won the opportunity to play on this instrument from the Instrument Bank of the Canada Council for the Arts. Every three years, musicians from across Canada compete intensely in front of a jury of professional musicians who decide which competitor will have the opportunity to develop their craft on an antique instrument. The winners choose the instrument they would like to use in order of their placement in the competition.
This violin was around for more than a hundred years before Tchaikovsky wrote his violin concerto, so to hear this piece coming from an almost 300-year-old instrument adds even more fascination. There’s so much history there. And to know that a young musician who is passionate about the classical music industry is carrying on this tradition and history is a fantastic thing.
Music is so central to my core – it’s how I relate to the world. This concert is, I hope, a chance for the audience to connect with the orchestra and with the world around them. The Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto is responsible for luring many people into the world of classical music. I hope that this concert will be no exception, and that everyone in the audience – whether they are long-time classical fanatics or newbies to the world of the classics – will be affected to their very core.
There will be two special performances of A Romantic Journey on Saturday, November 20 at 8 p.m. and Sunday, November 21 at 2:30 p.m. at the Kingston Gospel Temple, 2295 Princess Street. Tickets will be available at the door.
This concert is an absolute knockout. The orchestra’s going to kill me for programming these three pieces in one performance – but I hope you will enjoy it. It is full of inspiration, sentiment, and satisfaction.
Everyone experiences music differently, but it’s always my wish that we can share the emotions of the music with the audience. Music covers all the complexities of emotion, and especially all the complexities of love – tenderness, passion, and subsequently hurt and loss.
A highlight of A Romantic Journey will be Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s violin concerto, written in 1878. Tchaikovsky knew all about love and passion in his own way, a sad way really, and he poured all of that into this concerto. As a result, this particular piece is easily one of the most technically difficult concertos ever written.
Andréa Tyniec will join us for this well-known score. I stumbled upon a video of her playing the concerto on YouTube, and I made it my mission to bring her to Kingston.
She is a fabulously talented musician – I guarantee you’ll want to see her tackle this ridiculously challenging piece. To perform this concerto you need endurance, and you need to be balanced – you have to have as much sensitivity as you have strength. Andréa has all of it, and she presents it with both poise and passion.
Andréa plays on a violin constructed by Januarius Gagliano in 1747. She won the opportunity to play on this instrument from the Instrument Bank of the Canada Council for the Arts. Every three years, musicians from across Canada compete intensely in front of a jury of professional musicians who decide which competitor will have the opportunity to develop their craft on an antique instrument. The winners choose the instrument they would like to use in order of their placement in the competition.
This violin was around for more than a hundred years before Tchaikovsky wrote his violin concerto, so to hear this piece coming from an almost 300-year-old instrument adds even more fascination. There’s so much history there. And to know that a young musician who is passionate about the classical music industry is carrying on this tradition and history is a fantastic thing.
Music is so central to my core – it’s how I relate to the world. This concert is, I hope, a chance for the audience to connect with the orchestra and with the world around them. The Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto is responsible for luring many people into the world of classical music. I hope that this concert will be no exception, and that everyone in the audience – whether they are long-time classical fanatics or newbies to the world of the classics – will be affected to their very core.
There will be two special performances of A Romantic Journey on Saturday, November 20 at 8 p.m. and Sunday, November 21 at 2:30 p.m. at the Kingston Gospel Temple, 2295 Princess Street. Tickets will be available at the door.
Monday, October 18, 2010
The lazy, hazy days of summer are officially gone and the busy fall season is well underway. As you pull out sweaters and scarves and start spending your free time keeping warm next to the fire, we hope you consider spending some time with the symphony -- we promise to warm up your soul with plenty of great music.
We had our first -- very successful -- concert on Sunday, October 3, and there are two great concerts just around the corner on Friday, October 22 and Sunday, October 31 (not to mention the rest of our stellar season). Both will be filled with passion and excitement – in very different ways.
Coming up this Friday night is Gettin’ Dizzy: A Tribute to the Swingin’ Trumpet. Mike Herriott is a fabulous trumpet player who is sure to get your toes tapping and bring back some great memories with tunes like Johnny’s Theme (the theme from the Johnny Carson Show), Harry James’ And the Angels Sing and Stardust, and many more from some of the greatest jazz musicians.
I think a highlight of the evening might just be when we take on the famous Flight of the Bumblebee – and to see Mike play lead trumpet for this one will be truly astonishing.
We can’t get Louis Armstrong, Dizzy Gillespie, Mile Davis, and Doc Severinsen on the stage together – but this is pretty close. And Mike will do these jazz greats more than justice with his skill and passion for this music. It’s going to be a fast-paced trip down a swingin’ memory lane, and I can’t wait.
Just this morning I spoke to early morning host Jack Thompson on 102.7 The Lake about this concert and you can hear just how excited I am when you hear this interview. Click here to listen to it!
On Sunday, October 31 our musicians will be full of passion once again, but in a completely different vein. Fire & Passion will feature Rimsky-Korsakov’s gypsy-inspired Capriccio Espagnol, Grieg’s Piano Concerto, and Stravinsky’s Firebird Suite.
Stravinsky wrote The Firebird, a ballet, in 1910, based on Russian folk tales. It is at times dark and brooding and at times diatonic and somewhat plain. It features glissando harmonics in the strings; this is said to be Stravinsky's attempt to outdo Rimsky-Korsakov in orchestral effects. (You can be the judge as we are featuring both on October 31.)
The Firebird Suite continues into an orchestral tour-de-force with a strong rhythmic pulse and ferocious almost demonic notes and builds to a great climax that I’m sure will inspire everyone in the audience. Actually, I guarantee it.
Here’s a random trivia fact: The Beastie Boys sampled Firebird in the song Electrify on the album Hello Nasty. Even punk kids are rocking out to it.
The Firebird celebrates its 100th anniversary this year and is still one of the most referenced and reproduced piece in classical music.
We’ve got jazz and swing, American and Russian, popular and not-so-well-known. We’ve got a bit of everything coming up. We’ve got anything you could want!
Be sure to have a listen to Mike Herriott in action by clicking here.
And don't forget to check out the Symphony's Youtube video series featuring yours truly! The latest video (click here) is a bit of foreshadowing for this Friday's concert, and we'll post a new one shortly that will highlight the people and pieces to be featured in Fire & Passion.
See you this Friday! (I’ll be the one at the podium holding the baton!)
We had our first -- very successful -- concert on Sunday, October 3, and there are two great concerts just around the corner on Friday, October 22 and Sunday, October 31 (not to mention the rest of our stellar season). Both will be filled with passion and excitement – in very different ways.
Coming up this Friday night is Gettin’ Dizzy: A Tribute to the Swingin’ Trumpet. Mike Herriott is a fabulous trumpet player who is sure to get your toes tapping and bring back some great memories with tunes like Johnny’s Theme (the theme from the Johnny Carson Show), Harry James’ And the Angels Sing and Stardust, and many more from some of the greatest jazz musicians.
I think a highlight of the evening might just be when we take on the famous Flight of the Bumblebee – and to see Mike play lead trumpet for this one will be truly astonishing.
We can’t get Louis Armstrong, Dizzy Gillespie, Mile Davis, and Doc Severinsen on the stage together – but this is pretty close. And Mike will do these jazz greats more than justice with his skill and passion for this music. It’s going to be a fast-paced trip down a swingin’ memory lane, and I can’t wait.
Just this morning I spoke to early morning host Jack Thompson on 102.7 The Lake about this concert and you can hear just how excited I am when you hear this interview. Click here to listen to it!
On Sunday, October 31 our musicians will be full of passion once again, but in a completely different vein. Fire & Passion will feature Rimsky-Korsakov’s gypsy-inspired Capriccio Espagnol, Grieg’s Piano Concerto, and Stravinsky’s Firebird Suite.
Stravinsky wrote The Firebird, a ballet, in 1910, based on Russian folk tales. It is at times dark and brooding and at times diatonic and somewhat plain. It features glissando harmonics in the strings; this is said to be Stravinsky's attempt to outdo Rimsky-Korsakov in orchestral effects. (You can be the judge as we are featuring both on October 31.)
The Firebird Suite continues into an orchestral tour-de-force with a strong rhythmic pulse and ferocious almost demonic notes and builds to a great climax that I’m sure will inspire everyone in the audience. Actually, I guarantee it.
Here’s a random trivia fact: The Beastie Boys sampled Firebird in the song Electrify on the album Hello Nasty. Even punk kids are rocking out to it.
The Firebird celebrates its 100th anniversary this year and is still one of the most referenced and reproduced piece in classical music.
We’ve got jazz and swing, American and Russian, popular and not-so-well-known. We’ve got a bit of everything coming up. We’ve got anything you could want!
Be sure to have a listen to Mike Herriott in action by clicking here.
And don't forget to check out the Symphony's Youtube video series featuring yours truly! The latest video (click here) is a bit of foreshadowing for this Friday's concert, and we'll post a new one shortly that will highlight the people and pieces to be featured in Fire & Passion.
See you this Friday! (I’ll be the one at the podium holding the baton!)
Friday, September 24, 2010
My first podcast!
This past week I sat down with Michael Morreale to talk about the concerts we have coming up in 2010. Check out my first podcast below. We will be providing similar interviews about each Masterworks Series concert, which we will post online at least a week before the performance.
I'd love your feedback. Please let me know what you think.
Have a good weekend,
Glen
I'd love your feedback. Please let me know what you think.
Have a good weekend,
Glen
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Can you believe it? I'm on YouTube!
Who’d have guessed I’d be a star of stage AND screen?
This being my 20th year as Maestro of the Kingston Symphony, I can honestly say I’ve been around the musical block more than a few times. But this is the first time I’ve been asked to be in a movie! And truth be told, I’m now in several!
Prior to each concert this season, audience members will gain some insight into the music being performed through a series of short films starring yours truly. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll… okay, maybe not. But hopefully my words will provide some facts and fun and prepare you for some amazing music.
For those who are interested in seeing my YouTube debut, an introduction video is now online at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WxQI4hzD8Nk and here:
Other, slightly more informative, videos will become available prior to each concert throughout the season. Stay tuned!
And I’ve had so much fun writing blogs and making YouTube videos that I thought I’d add another information age phenomenon to the list – a podcast. We’re exploring the idea of a regular podcast, and while the details have yet to be finalized, I’m excited to promote the Kingston Symphony through any and all avenues. And if it means I’ll become a little more hip throughout the process, I’m okay with that too.
For now, though, I’m still most comfortable on the podium. We’ve got a great season lined up, which kicks off on Sunday, October 3 and continues until May. There are several concerts you won’t want to miss. Visit www.kingstonsymphony.on.ca/concert_listings.cfm for more information.
Enjoy!
This being my 20th year as Maestro of the Kingston Symphony, I can honestly say I’ve been around the musical block more than a few times. But this is the first time I’ve been asked to be in a movie! And truth be told, I’m now in several!
Prior to each concert this season, audience members will gain some insight into the music being performed through a series of short films starring yours truly. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll… okay, maybe not. But hopefully my words will provide some facts and fun and prepare you for some amazing music.
For those who are interested in seeing my YouTube debut, an introduction video is now online at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WxQI4hzD8Nk and here:
Other, slightly more informative, videos will become available prior to each concert throughout the season. Stay tuned!
And I’ve had so much fun writing blogs and making YouTube videos that I thought I’d add another information age phenomenon to the list – a podcast. We’re exploring the idea of a regular podcast, and while the details have yet to be finalized, I’m excited to promote the Kingston Symphony through any and all avenues. And if it means I’ll become a little more hip throughout the process, I’m okay with that too.
For now, though, I’m still most comfortable on the podium. We’ve got a great season lined up, which kicks off on Sunday, October 3 and continues until May. There are several concerts you won’t want to miss. Visit www.kingstonsymphony.on.ca/concert_listings.cfm for more information.
Enjoy!
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
Fort Henry was a blast!
The concerts at Fort Henry July 16 and 17 were a blast, to say the least! While Friday night’s weather was perfect, Saturday’s wind and hail storm threatened to shut down the evening completely. My podium almost blew away and the musicians’ chairs were water logged. Without the use of some drenched technical equipment, the orchestra was able to play “au naturale,” which created a balanced, acoustic sound that the musicians actually preferred. Some audience members commented on the orchestra’s sound and said they liked it better.
The cannons and fireworks capped off both evenings spectacularly and allowed the tradition of the 1812 Overture at the Fort to continue its legacy for another year.
To kick off the upcoming season, the orchestra will share the stage with pianist Janina Fialkowska, and premiere a brand new piece. “Two Centuries Later” will take the stage at the Grand Theatre on Sunday, Oct. 3 at 2:30 p.m. Help us celebrate the 200th anniversary of two musical masters – Chopin and Schumann – and usher in a modern-day master: Juno Award winning composer John Burge. I’ve just received the score for John’s new piece Prelude Variations, which is inspired by Chopin. I can’t wait to start working on it.
While the 2010-2011 season hasn’t commenced yet, we’re already planning the line up for my 21st season in 2011-2012. Now’s the time to let us know what you’d like to hear and which guest performers you’d like to see on stage with the orchestra.
I’ve got some tricks up my tuxedo sleeve – including Symphony No. 2 by Gustav Mahler, known as “the Resurrection.” It would be a huge undertaking, but a dream come true for me. The ninety-minute spectacle might be the event of the season in Kingston – and quite possibly the most memorable event of my career. We’re still looking at the feasibility of pulling off this mammoth mission. Stay tuned for more information.
The cannons and fireworks capped off both evenings spectacularly and allowed the tradition of the 1812 Overture at the Fort to continue its legacy for another year.
To kick off the upcoming season, the orchestra will share the stage with pianist Janina Fialkowska, and premiere a brand new piece. “Two Centuries Later” will take the stage at the Grand Theatre on Sunday, Oct. 3 at 2:30 p.m. Help us celebrate the 200th anniversary of two musical masters – Chopin and Schumann – and usher in a modern-day master: Juno Award winning composer John Burge. I’ve just received the score for John’s new piece Prelude Variations, which is inspired by Chopin. I can’t wait to start working on it.
While the 2010-2011 season hasn’t commenced yet, we’re already planning the line up for my 21st season in 2011-2012. Now’s the time to let us know what you’d like to hear and which guest performers you’d like to see on stage with the orchestra.
I’ve got some tricks up my tuxedo sleeve – including Symphony No. 2 by Gustav Mahler, known as “the Resurrection.” It would be a huge undertaking, but a dream come true for me. The ninety-minute spectacle might be the event of the season in Kingston – and quite possibly the most memorable event of my career. We’re still looking at the feasibility of pulling off this mammoth mission. Stay tuned for more information.
Thursday, June 3, 2010
Blogging, running, celebrating
Who knew that my summer project would be to learn how to blog? If you haven’t already checked out the Kingston Symphony’s newly designed website, please do so at www.kingstonsymphony.on.ca.
I confess that I have felt "blog" before but this will be my first ever Blog experience. What does blog stand for? The first person to send me a comment with the answer wins a fantastic Kingston Symphony CD! Please write me with your questions, comments and suggestions and I will be happy to respond.
In the meantime, we are looking forward to our two traditional summer events. Join us Sunday morning, June 6, in front of City Hall for a free concert of Beethoven’s Eroica symphony. Approximately 1,000 runners and walkers will start the race at 10:30 a.m. to "Beat Beethoven." Everyone wins! This is a great chance for kids of all ages to hear great music in an informal and exciting setting. (You don't have to walk or run.)
On Friday and Saturday, July 16 and 17, we once again present evening concerts at wonderful Fort Henry. These concerts will feature music for all ages and will be great fun. Of course as usual we will end the concerts with Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture with the Fort Henry Guard, real cannon fire and spectacular fireworks.
I really look forward to next year's concerts and celebrating my 20th season with the Kingston Symphony Association. In the meantime, have a safe and happy summer!
Glen
I confess that I have felt "blog" before but this will be my first ever Blog experience. What does blog stand for? The first person to send me a comment with the answer wins a fantastic Kingston Symphony CD! Please write me with your questions, comments and suggestions and I will be happy to respond.
In the meantime, we are looking forward to our two traditional summer events. Join us Sunday morning, June 6, in front of City Hall for a free concert of Beethoven’s Eroica symphony. Approximately 1,000 runners and walkers will start the race at 10:30 a.m. to "Beat Beethoven." Everyone wins! This is a great chance for kids of all ages to hear great music in an informal and exciting setting. (You don't have to walk or run.)
On Friday and Saturday, July 16 and 17, we once again present evening concerts at wonderful Fort Henry. These concerts will feature music for all ages and will be great fun. Of course as usual we will end the concerts with Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture with the Fort Henry Guard, real cannon fire and spectacular fireworks.
I really look forward to next year's concerts and celebrating my 20th season with the Kingston Symphony Association. In the meantime, have a safe and happy summer!
Glen
Friday, April 30, 2010
Welcome to my blog. Throughout the season, I will provide you with insights into what I'm thinking about a particular piece of music, information about a guest artist we'll be featuring, or updates on Kingston Symphony concerts and events.
I'm proud of what we have accomplished this season. Our concerts were well attended and our musicians performed beautifully. Our concert last Sunday was certainly a terrific way to finish the season.
I hope you have had a chance to take a look at our new season brochure. It's my 20th anniversary season and I think it has something for everyone including some of my own favourite works. It's hard to believe that I've made Kingston my home for 20 years. Time sure flies when you're having fun!
Several concerts this past season sold out, so if you're not already a subscriber, please consider becoming one. I don't want anyone to be disappointed.
We're starting to work on our program for 2011-2012, so if you have any suggestions of repertoire you'd like to hear or soloists you may like us to feature, please let me know at gfast@kingstonsymphony.on.ca.
Thanks for reading.
Glen
I'm proud of what we have accomplished this season. Our concerts were well attended and our musicians performed beautifully. Our concert last Sunday was certainly a terrific way to finish the season.
I hope you have had a chance to take a look at our new season brochure. It's my 20th anniversary season and I think it has something for everyone including some of my own favourite works. It's hard to believe that I've made Kingston my home for 20 years. Time sure flies when you're having fun!
Several concerts this past season sold out, so if you're not already a subscriber, please consider becoming one. I don't want anyone to be disappointed.
We're starting to work on our program for 2011-2012, so if you have any suggestions of repertoire you'd like to hear or soloists you may like us to feature, please let me know at gfast@kingstonsymphony.on.ca.
Thanks for reading.
Glen
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