Cellist Ariel Barnes has been recruited as the special guest musician for the Okanagan Symphony Orchestra’s latest tour, Classic Beauty, which is the second in the Masterworks series.
Barnes is the principal cellist of the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra and will be performing with his Okanagan counterparts to revive the music of Mozart’s era, which OSO music director Rosemary Thomson said is described as “Classical elegance and courtly charm.”
“Featuring music written in or inspired by the 18th Century, this concert will be luminous and graceful, showing off the classic beauty of the era,” Thomson said.
Barnes is able to comfortably navigate through musical languages, from the Baroque period right up to modern music. His time spent recording solo and chamber music has earned him a nomination for a Juno Award and two Western Canadian Music Awards.
Mozart was born in 1756 in a part of the Holy Roman Empire which is now Austria. As one of the world’s most famed prodigies, he began composing music at the age of five and went on to write over 600 works.
“The music from this concert includes Dances of the Furies and Blessed Spirits from Orfeo ed Euridice, Gluck; Luminous Light, Lee; Variations on a Rococo Theme op. 33, Tchaikovsky; and Symphony No. 40, K.550 in G Minor, Mozart,” said Thomson. “Guests will experience an evening of some of the most popular classics showcased by our talented professional orchestra and the exceptional Ariel Barnes on cello.”
Thomson has also produced a short video which will outline one of the pieces that will be performed in Penticton, which can be found through their website at okanagansymphony.com.
The show takes place at the Cleland Community Theatre on Nov. 21 at 7:30 p.m, with doors opening for a pre-concert chat at 6:30 p.m.
Tickets cost $56.25 for adults, $49.00 for seniors and $26.75 for youth.
They’re available through the orchestra’s website and phone by calling Kelowna Tickets at 250-862-2867.