Think about the familiar expression “art imitating life.”
Coast Symphony Orchestra’s artistic director and conductor Edette Gagné has built an extraordinary program of music for the upcoming CSO concert, based on that wonderful phrase – and on the reality that most of us, at some point, struggle with hardships and challenges.
However, Gagné is ever hopeful, and fully believes in Nietzsche’s observation: “One must still have chaos in oneself to be able to give birth to a dancing star.” The chaos and hardships lead us to the stars.
With that belief at the core of her programming, Gagné has collected works that reflect our shared struggles and triumphs. The rough seas of Mendelssohn’s Overture to the Hebrides (Fingal’s Cave) give way to the moment of blissful clarinet duet – the anguish of Gabriel’s Oboe from The Mission soundtrack is echoed by the opening of the Mendelssohn work featuring the CSO winds, brass and percussion, which then explodes into joyful celebration in that work. Every moment of the concert is intended to take both audience and performers through an unforgettable journey, feeling our very real hardships and rejoicing in our moments of starry success.
This year’s concerto features CSO principal French horn player Danielle Stephens performing one of the most challenging works for her instrument. Saint-Saëns’ Morceau de Concert is a theme and variations form, with each subsequent variation putting even greater demands on the soloist, in terms of range, speed, dexterity and sheer courage. Danielle more than meets the demands of this work, putting all hardships to rest, and audiences will be amazed by the work.
The concert culminates in dance and jubilation, with Glinka’s Capriccio Brillante, a joyous conclusion.
Seating is limited. Please purchase your tickets early to avoid disappointment.
The concert will be held at the Heritage Playhouse in Gibsons, on Sunday, May 15, 2:30 p.m. with a pre-concert chat at 2 p.m. Tickets are $15, children 12 and under $5, available at Laedeli Gifts and Strait Music. See www.facebook/SCCcommunityOrchestraAssociation for more.
