Music at the Millennium
June 29, 2010
Caitlin Broms-Jacob, oboe
12:00 pm – 1:00 pm
Millennium Centre, 389 Main St.

Music at the Millennium, organized by Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra principal harpist Richard Turner, has run for five years and offers a unique venue with carefully selected repertoire. Performances happen every Tuesday from noon to 1 pm featuring talented WSO musicians. See below for the schedule.

June 29 – Caitlin Broms-Jacob, oboe
July 6 – Raphael Hoekman, cello & Meran Currie-Roberts, cello
July 13 – Karl Stobbe, violin
July 20 – Darryl Strain, violin & Julie Savard, violin
July 27 – Allen Harrington, saxophone, bassoon
August 3 – Patricia Evans, French horn
August 10 – Donna Laube, piano & Simon MacDonald, violin
August 17 – Donna Laube, piano & Greg Hay, viola

Thanks to TelPay Incorporated and Bill and Shirley Loewen for making Music at the Millennium possible.

For more information on summer music, read Gwenda Nemerofsky’s article in the Winnipeg Free Press here.

December 5  2:00 pm

“For those in search of the truly zany, the undisputed king is Al Simmons…A popular, wildly original performer…”
- Maclean’s Magazine

He’s a musician! He’s an inventor! Al Simmons – iconic Manitoba children’s entertainer – presents an all-new show with a special Holiday theme. With his quick wit, lanky legs, flipper like feet and rubber face, it’s as if he was genetically engineered for comedy.

Al Simmons is a creative genius with the soul of a vaudevillian and a wizard of one-liners whose humour touches a responsive chord in people of every age. This Juno Award winner’s act is at once frantic and engagingly simple; it is a tourde-force of ingenious, charming silliness.

Richard Lee, conductor
Al Simmons, entertainer

For more info, click here.

PRE-CONCERT ACTIVITIES
Children can participate in musical activities such as crafts, rhythm ensembles and round-singing. They can visit the Conducting Station where they get the chance to conduct a group of musicians or visit the Instrument Petting Zoo for an opportunity to touch and play the orchestral instruments that they will see performed during the Sundays with the Family concerts. Pre-Concert Activities begin at 1:00 p.m.

October 31  2:00 pm

“It was without a doubt one of the best we have ever attended! The music is always wonderful, but we so enjoyed Frank Oden.”
- Patron

Frank Oden writes and performs lyrical concert programs merging original poetry, humour, education, and theatrical production values with a live symphonic performance. He began creating this unique form in collaboration on a series of Halloween concerts, resulting in the House of Halloween. Frank Oden’s spooky Halloween poems are fun, funny and simply enchanting for even the youngest listeners. Oden performs with linguistic bravado; he is a verbal stunt man with auniquely theatrical style – combining the power of a Shakespearean actor, the presence of a great magician and the physicality of a Warner Brothers cartoon.

CELEBRATE HALLOWEEN!Come to the concert in costume and be eligible to win prizes!

PRE-CONCERT ACTIVITIESChildren can participate in musical activities such as crafts, rhythmensembles and round-singing. They can visit the Conducting Stationwhere they get the chance to conduct a group of musicians or visit theInstrument Petting Zoo for an opportunity to touch and play theorchestral instruments that they will see performed during the Sundayswith the Family concerts. Pre-Concert Activities begin at 1:00 p.m.

Richard Lee, conductor
Frank Oden, poet-narrator

For more info, click here.

May 13, 14  8:00 pm
May 15  2:00 pm

“At no time have we seen anything like the Peking Acrobats. Feats of clowning, dexterity, grace, strength and coordination rippled from the stage in a series of pleasurable waves. One was left waterlogged in wonder.”
- Chicago Tribune

Welcome to the magnificent world of The Peking Acrobats! Here, the impossible is made possible, and daring only begins to describe their amazing performance. They are considered one of the finest acrobatic troupes in China today, and have received acclaim from countries around the world. An outgrowth of the Great China Circus, popular during the 1920s, this magical group became an integrated professional acrobatic company in 1958. Since then, they have consistently travelled the world sharing their special brand of enchantment with a global audience. In fact, company members were featured in Steven Soderbergh’s hit film Ocean’s 11, playing along with Hollywood elite such as Julia Roberts, Brad Pitt and George Clooney.

This concert will be the first time The Peking Acrobats will be performing with an orchestra in Canada! If you enjoyed one of our sold-out performances of Cirque de la Symphonie last year, then you don’t want to miss this sizzling show! Perfect for the whole family!

Richard Lee, conductor
Peking Acrobats

For more info, click here.

MUSICIANS IN THE MAKING: Come and listen to various local schools and student groups perform on the Piano Nobile Level at 7:15 pm.

March 25, 26  8:00 PM
March 27  2:00 PM

“This was one dazzling show resplendent with smart, refreshing arrangements, courtesy of Jeans ‘n Classics leader Peter Brennan. He has a talent for gingerly melding the worlds of ’70s rock and symphonic music into a harmonious duo for the Baby Boomer crowd.”
- Wichita Falls Times Record News

Since its inception, Jeans ‘n Classics has been a star performer in the arts and entertainment scene. Its concept of combining rock musicians and headlining stars with world-class symphony orchestras has drawn record setting capacity crowds. Jeans ‘n Classics is a group of musicians who understand orchestra culture and are committed to building younger, loyal audiences for symphony orchestras across
Canada and the United States.

Join us as we present a symphonic treatment of this ground-breaking album in its entirety with the full Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra. This show features vocalist Jean Meilleur performing music from the Pink Floyd album, and will allow us to dust off the synthesizers and sequencers and take you back to 1973.

If you enjoyed “The Music of Queen” by the Jeans ‘n Classics Band this past season, then this is the place to be for another great performance.

Richard Lee, conductor
Jean Meilleur, lead vocalist
Jeans ‘n Classics Band

For more info, click here.

MUSICIANS IN THE MAKING: Come and listen to various local schools and student groups perform on the Piano Nobile Level at 7:15 pm.

December 10, 11  8:00 PM
December 12  2:00 pm

“The Nylons are entertaining, the guys from Il Divo are slick and sexy, but for my money it’s the Canadian Tenors. These four fine-voiced fellows are appealing because they’re funny, relaxed, and spending an evening with them is like hanging around old friends — who can really sing!”
- Victoria Times Colonist

With the launch of their Christmas album this fall, the Canadian Tenors holiday themed show will be a crowd pleaser! The Canadian Tenors have criss-crossed the globe thrilling millions of music lovers with their magical voices, wonderful sense of humour and memorable music. The Tenors enjoyed tremendous success in 2009 as both their debut and holiday albums were certified gold in Canada. The year 2010 has been the biggest year yet, with recent appearances on Oprah with Celine Dion, Dr. Phil, the opening ceremonies of the Vancouver Olympics and at the NBA All-Star game.

Richard Lee, conductor
Fraser Walters
Victor Micallef
Remigio Pereira
Clifton Murray

For more info, click here.

MUSICIANS IN THE MAKING: Come and listen to various local schools and student groups perform on the Piano Nobile Level at 7:15 pm.

NOVEMBER 5, 6  8:00 pm
NOVEMBER 7  2:00 pm

“It’s an exhilarating night of music and lyrics that will never die, just like Sinatra will never die, for his fans, as long as Steve Lippia is there to bring him back to life.”
- New York Daily News

Steve Lippia has become one of the most prominent, in-demand vocalists and has quickly established his place among the finest interpreters of “standards” and traditional pop music in the nation. Steve’s youthful, energetic talent and powerful show creates a perfect blend of “classic” with “today.” His show introduces a new generation to this timeless music, while appealing to long-time listeners. He not only sounds like Frank Sinatra, he also uses arrangements for symphony orchestra that closely parallels Sinatra’s own. At Steve’s last WSO appearance, the audience loved every minute – and his new show includes all your favourite Sinatra hits!

Richard Lee, conductor
Steve Lippia, vocalist

For more info, click here.

MUSICIANS IN THE MAKING: Come and listen to various local schools and
student groups perform on the Piano Nobile Level at 7:15 pm.

OCTOBER 22, 23  8:00 pm
OCTOBER 24  2:00 pm

“Her performance is a virtual roller coaster of emotion, illuminating the poetry of her lyrics with an aching growl. Be prepared for the wave of tears that may come.”
- Billboard

Chantal returns to her hometown of Winnipeg to perform with the WSO in the world premiere of her all-new symphony show complete with new arrangements! Classically trained in piano, Kreviazuk has become one of Canada’s top music artists. The charming singer-songwriter began recording her luscious melodies in 1997, and her soulful sounds have garnered widespread acclaim across North America. Although she is one of Canada’s top stars, Kreviazuk is also one of Canada’s most genuine. She has demonstrated an outstanding commitment to human rights causes.

Kreviazuk’s debut album, Under These Rocks and Stones (1996), went double-platinum in Canada following its release and featured  Surrounded, the single that became her first major Canadian hit. Her second album, Colour Moving and Still (1999) includes tracks co-written by her husband and longtime musical collaborator Raine Maida (Our Lady Peace) and helped earn her two Juno Awards in 2000. Her fifth and most recent studio album, Plain Jane, was released at the end of 2009. Kreviazuk is also one of the headlining artists for the  much-acclaimed return of Lilith Fair.

Richard Lee, conductor
Chantal Kreviazuk, vocalist

For more info, click here.

MUSICIANS IN THE MAKING: Come and listen to various local schools and
student groups perform on the Piano Nobile Level at 7:15 pm.

April 14  8:00 pm

“I go to a lot of movies, and I can’t remember the last time I heard a paying audience actually applaud at the end of a film. But this one did. And the talk afterward in the aisles, the lobby and in line at the parking garage was genuinely excited; maybe a lot of these people hadn’t seen much Chaplin before, or were simply very happy to find that the passage of time have not diminished the man’s special genius.”
- Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun Times

There is no other movie experience like sitting in front of a large screen in a theatre, watching a silent film, listening to the movie score and then leaning forward in your seat only to realize that a 65-piece orchestra is performing all the music and sound effects!

Charlie  Chaplin’s classic film Modern Times (1936) is the pièce de résistance!
Sound had come to the movies in 1927 but Chaplin resisted it, instead using music to express everything in the film. The only speaking in Modern Times comes through electronic devices (phonograph record; PA system) so as not to humanize person-to-person spoken contact, which is much of the story.

Chaplin spent many hours in the recording studio getting the music exactly right, creating specific musical moments to fit the hundreds of physical motions on the screen. This is evident when the WSO  performs this demanding music score live with the film!

Modern Times marked the last screen appearance of the Little Tramp – the character which had brought Charlie Chaplin world fame, and who still remains the most universally recognized fictional image of a human being in the history of art.

Charlie Chaplin: Modern Times (film with orchestra)
Richard Lee, conductor

For more info, click here.

November 4  8:00 PM

Join celebrated Winnipeg filmmaker Guy Maddin as he takes you on a journey of music and movies, and explores how classical music is used in Hollywood’s famous films such as: The Incredibles, 2001: A Space Odyssey, Amadeus, Apocalypse Now, Austin Powers, The Shining, Blues Brothers, Manhattan, Platoon, 10, Excalibur and Fantasia.

Guy Maddin’s most distinctive quality is his fondness for recreating the look and style of silent or early sound era films. His award-winning feature films include Tales from the Gimli Hospital, The Saddest Music in the World, Brand Upon the Brain, and My Winnipeg, to name a few.

Along with resident conductor Richard Lee, you will be surprised and mesmerized by how classical music is interwoven into popular culture.

Richard Strauss: Thus Spake Zarathustra (2001: A Space Odyssey)
Mozart: Symphony No. 25 (Amadeus)
Barber: Adagio for Strings (Platoon)
Wagner: Ride of the Valkyries (Apocalypse Now)
Berlioz: Symphonie fantastique (The Shining)
Beethoven: Symphony No. 5 (Austin Powers in Goldmember)
Khachaturian: Sabre Dance (Blues Brothers 2000)
Gershwin: Rhapsody in Blue (Manhattan)
Ravel: Bolero (10)
Dukas: The Sorcerer’s Apprentice (Fantasia)
Mozart Requiem: Dies Irae (The Incredibles)
Orff: “O Fortuna!” from Carmina Burana (Excalibur)

Richard Lee, conductor
Guy Maddin, host

For more info, click here.