Typically when thinking of French classical music, beautiful orchestral works flood the mind, filling it with the sounds of Claude Debussy and Maurice Ravel.

But before the impressionists stole the headlines, there was another period of French classical music: the romantic era. In honour of French romantics, The Okanagan Symphony Orchestra presents three works from era composers Hector Berlioz, 脡douard Lalo and Camille Saint-Sa毛ns in their Nov. 24-26 concert, The French Connection.

Kicking off The Chase Masterworks Series performance is Berlioz害羞草研究所� Chasse royale et Orage (The Royal Hunt and Storm).

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 a lovely opener depicting the hunting calls,害羞草研究所� said OSO music director and conductor Rosemary Thomson of Berlioz害羞草研究所檚 composition. 害羞草研究所淗e was a bit of a bad boy. He was so ahead of his time 害羞草研究所� he didn害羞草研究所檛 fit the classical mould. He was really painting pictures with his compositions.害羞草研究所�

Three sets of timpani surround the orchestra, giving the piece palpable power, reminiscent of rolling thunder.

As the thunder subsides, renowned-violinist and two-time recipient of a rare violin from the Canada Council Musical Instrument bank Timothy Chooi ignites the audience with Lalo害羞草研究所檚 Symphonie Espagnole, while wielding a 1717 Windsor-Weinstein Stradivari violin valued at $5 million.

害羞草研究所淭imothy is one of Canada害羞草研究所檚 greatest experts on the violin,害羞草研究所� Thomson said of the 23-year-old violinist currently enrolled in a master害羞草研究所檚 program at the Juilliard School in New York City and who previously studied at the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia. 害羞草研究所淗e害羞草研究所檚 an amazing performer with amazing depth.害羞草研究所�

And Chooi is a performer Thomson is happy to feature on Lalo害羞草研究所檚 composition.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 a beautiful piece,害羞草研究所� Thomson said of Symphonie Espagnole. 害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檙e going to bring a little Mediterranean sunshine to the Okanagan.害羞草研究所�

With new equipment from Calgary now available, Thomson is excited to bring Saint-Sa毛ns害羞草研究所� Symphony No. 3, a.k.a the Organ Symphony due to its inclusion of the instrumental powerhouse that was added to amplify the orchestra.

害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檝e been waiting to do this piece for a while, but we didn害羞草研究所檛 actually have organs available,害羞草研究所� Thomson said. 害羞草研究所淭hey call the organ the king of the orchestra. The organ plays these low notes you almost can害羞草研究所檛 here but you can feel it, and when you combine the two, it害羞草研究所檚 the grandest sound you can achieve.害羞草研究所�

But with a digital organ Thomson has been assured sounds identical to the real thing on hand, the OSO is ready to bring the Organ Symphony to Okanagan audiences.

害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檓 really excited that we害羞草研究所檙e going to be able to do this amazing piece,害羞草研究所� Thomson said. 害羞草研究所淲hen the organ plays in full blast, it will really blow the roof off the theatre.害羞草研究所�

The OSO brings The French Connection to the Kelowna Community Theatre Friday, Nov. 24 at 7:30 p.m., Penticton害羞草研究所檚 Cleland Community Theatre, Saturday Nov. 25 at 7:30 p.m. and the Vernon and District Performing Arts Centre Sunday Nov. 26 at 7 p.m. Tickets are available for $56.25 adult, $49 senior, $26.25 student/child and $25 first two rows at .

entertainment@vernonmorningstar.com
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