KAMLOOPS – Kamloops Symphony will honour the centennial of the beginning of WWI with their performance Remembering on Nov. 15.

This will be the first time Kamloops Symphony does a performance of remembrance.

“We believe that it is important to acknowledge the sacrifices of those who served in WWI during this 100th anniversary year,” said Kathy Humphreys, general manager of Kamloops Symphony. “They are remembered.”

Four of the five composers included in the program are Canadian, including Abigail Richardson-Schulte. Richardson-Schulte’s Song of the Poets was commissioned this year by The National Arts Centre, The World Remembers, The Thunder Bay Symphony Orchestra, and The Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra in honour of WWI. It will be performed by choirs and orchestras across the country.

Song of the Poets is a piece that incorporates five poems written by poet soldiers, including “In Flanders Fields” by Canadian John McCrae. Richardson-Schulte chose these poems because they look beyond the soldier, to the outcome of the war in different languages and perspectives. The poems were originally written in English, French, and German, but KSO Chorus will perform the English translation of the entire piece.

This performance will also include the world premiere of Canadian composer Michael Conway Baker’s Concerto for Piccolo, Piano and String Orchestra. The piccolo soloist, Jeff Pelletier, is second flute/piccolo with the Kamloops Symphony. In addition to the Kamloops Symphony, Mr. Pelletier is a flutist with the Vancouver Chamber Players, Ventos Wind Quintet, the touring ensemble Winter Harp, and performs regularly with Vancouver Island Symphony.

Also included in this program is British composer Vaughan Williams’ Symphony #3 (Pastoral). It is considered one of his two responses to WWI. Ralph Vaughan Williams was a stretcher-bearer during the war, and stopped composing for the duration of the war.

This Classic Series performance will be at Sagebrush Theatre on Saturday, Nov 15 at 7:30 p.m. Buy tickets at the door, at Kamloops Live! Box Office: 250-374-5483 or 1-866-374-5483, or online at www.kamloopslive.ca. There will be a pre-concert chat led by Ray Chatelin at 6:45 p.m. in Sagebrush Theatre lobby.

News from © iNFOnews, 2014