It鈥檚 a performance to ring in the New Year, steeped in years of global tradition.
The Okanagan Symphony Orchestra presents Viennese Delights Jan. 21 in Vernon, Jan. 19 in 琉璃神社 and Jan. 20 in Penticton.
鈥淚t (performing Viennese compositions) has been a longtime New Years tradition globally,鈥� Rosemary Thomson, OSO music director said. 鈥淲e鈥檙e not having it on New Year鈥檚 Day, but it鈥檚 a tip of the hat to that tradition.鈥�
Waltz classics and operettas crafted by 19th century Austrian composers, including Johann Strauss Jr. and Franz Leh谩r, comprise the soundtrack Thomson and the OSO cultivated.
鈥淚n it鈥檚 early days, waltz was considered quite scandalous due to the close personal contact. If they could only see us now,鈥� Thomson laughed.
And, Thomson said, no Viennese Delight would be complete without ballroom dancers on stage. Vernon鈥檚 own City Dance Studio ballroom dancers Heather Stranks and Jens Goerner will grace the Vernon and District Performing Arts Centre stage to accommodate such a requirement.
鈥淭hey will be there to bring the waltz to life,鈥� Thomson said of Stranks and Goerner.
While waltz is traditionally an instrumental form of music, the OSO take on these Viennese classics also features nine singers from the University of British Columbia Vancouver Opera Ensemble Studio to sing excerpts from two famous operettas: Leh谩r鈥檚 The Merry Widow and Strauss Jr.鈥檚 Die Fledermaus.
鈥淥perettas became a very big thing in Austria in the second half of the 1800s,鈥� Thomson said, adding that this will be the OSO鈥檚 third collaboration with the UBC Vancouver Opera Ensemble Studio. 鈥淭he quality (of the studio) is so high. Many of their graduates have gone on to lustrous careers.鈥�
The combination of all four components 鈥� the orchestra, City Dance Studio ballroom dancers, UBC Vancouver Opera Ensemble Studio singers and the greatest hits of 19th century Austria 鈥� is a match about which Thomson is personally excited.
鈥淓verybody loves that all the relationships work out in waltz. In the end, it鈥檚 very happy music,鈥� Thomson said of the composition choices. 鈥淚 think it was such that theatre was a place of real escapism, a place to go to have your spirits lifted. It鈥檚 so beautiful and I鈥檓 just instantly transported to a place with so much optimism.鈥�
To add to the illusion of pre-First World War Austria, the orchestra will take the stage in full ballroom regalia.
鈥淵ou have to imagine the ballroom full of dancers. It鈥檚 this formalized beauty,鈥� Thomson said, adding that the audience is also invited to don their ballroom-best.
With the beauty of ballroom dancing, Austrian operetta and waltz numbers, Thomson hopes the evening will act as an auditory transporter for the audience as it has previously done for her.
鈥淚t reminds me of being a kid and my dad would teach me to waltz by dancing with my feet on his. It鈥檚 a very nostalgic music,鈥� Thomson said.
鈥淚 hope people will come and be swept away.鈥�
The Okanagan Symphony presents Viennese Delights, the third installment of the OSO Masterworks series, at Vernon and District Performing Arts Centre. Jan. 21 at 7 p.m., at the 琉璃神社 Community Theatre Jan. 19 at 7:30 p.m., and the Cleland Community Theatre Jan. 20 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $56.25 adult, $49 senior, $26.75 student and are available or in Vernon from the Ticket Seller, 250-549-7469, .
entertainment@vernonmorningstar.com
Like us on and follow us on .
