Kelowna and Vernon fans can get a double dose of the Okanagan Symphony Orchestra this weekend, as the symphony brings in a family matinee in the afternoon and renowned Canadian talent at night.

The Okanagan Symphony Orchestra presents the Russian classic Peter and the Wolf in Penticton April 6, Kelowna April 7 and Vernon April 8. Following the Kelowna and Vernon matinees, the symphony also welcomes the modern-day Renaissance woman Sarah Slean at night.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 a little crazy that we害羞草研究所檙e doing two shows in one weekend,害羞草研究所� laughed music director and conductor Rosemary Thomson.

While they often try to balance shows out and spread them over a couple of weeks, Thomson said the orchestra couldn害羞草研究所檛 pass on the chance to feature Slean.

害羞草研究所淪arah, she害羞草研究所檚 just such a consummate artist,害羞草研究所� Thomson said of the three-time Juno nominee.

Slean, who performs with the symphony on the heels of her 2017 release Metaphysics, boasts a career spanning more than two decades and 11 albums alongside two volumes of poetry and a handful of short films.

害羞草研究所淗er level of artistry is so high but very personal,害羞草研究所� Thomson said. 害羞草研究所淧eople will love her. She puts on a wonderful show.害羞草研究所�

Performing songs from Slean害羞草研究所檚 repertoire, Thomson said the audience is in for a thrilling ride of deep music inspired by musical greats like Leonard Bernstein, Joni Mitchell and Johann Sebastian Bach.

害羞草研究所淚n the age of pop music, it can be often derivative,害羞草研究所� Thomson said of the current state of the music world. 害羞草研究所淪he (Slean) has the ability to touch, imagine and stay with you for a while.害羞草研究所�

Beautiful imagery is abundant in Slean害羞草研究所檚 work, weather audio or visual, Thomson said, noting a piece of Slean害羞草研究所檚 that has a woman sitting at a grand piano.

害羞草研究所淥ne is influenced by the other,害羞草研究所� Thomson said of Slean害羞草研究所檚 talent. 害羞草研究所淵ou can really be inspired with music because of artwork.害羞草研究所�

Featuring Slean害羞草研究所檚 original compositions alongside Broadway hits, it害羞草研究所檚 a sampling of music outside of the traditional OSO box that Thomson is excited to offer.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 going to be quite eclectic and unique. It害羞草研究所檚 exemplary of the things she does. There are some fantastic arrangements for orchestra. It害羞草研究所檚 really fun when the orchestra gets music they can really sink their teeth into,害羞草研究所� Thomson said. 害羞草研究所淎nd, if we have patrons who don害羞草研究所檛 know either (Sloan or the OSO) it害羞草研究所檚 such a musical feast.害羞草研究所�

But, before Kelowna and Vernon audiences can enjoy the offerings of Slean, the OSO will grace the Penticton, Kelowna and Vernon stages with Peter and the Wolf, a performance meant to inculcate a love of the performance arts in young audiences.

Peter and the Wolf, which has been expanded by playwright Allison Green, marks the reintroduction of the family matinee in Vernon, the last of which occurred roughly eight years ago in one of Thomson害羞草研究所檚 first seasons with the OSO.

害羞草研究所淚 would love to do a season of three matinees,害羞草研究所� Thomson said. 害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 a great way to introduce kids to theatre.害羞草研究所�

Written by Russian composer Sergei Prokofiev in 1936, Peter and the Wolf was expanded into a full-blown theatrical production that has the orchestra wrap around the stage and has an instrument to back each of the main characters. The violin is attributed to Peter, the flute to the bird, an oboe to the duck, a clarinet to the cat and three horns to the Wolf.

Complete with seven actors on stage under direction by Tracy Ross, the one-hour performance features largely the original score with the addition of singing, such as a tango-piece to lessen the Wolf害羞草研究所檚 frightening demeanour.

害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檝e seen four-year-olds love it and 94-year-olds love it,害羞草研究所� Thomson said. 害羞草研究所淚 think the piece has a lot of familiarity. It害羞草研究所檚 a great, iconic piece.害羞草研究所�

Following the adventures of Peter and his animal friends, Peter and the Wolf is ripe with comedic bursts.

害羞草研究所淭here害羞草研究所檚 a lot of that old-style cartoon humour,害羞草研究所� Thomson said. 害羞草研究所淭he animals bicker with each other. Gosh, they remind me of my kids.害羞草研究所�

And, whether it害羞草研究所檚 a production that aims to pique interest in the arts or a performance that features renowned Canadian talent, Thomson said that love of the art form is what the Okanagan Symphony Orchestra is all about.

害羞草研究所淲hen you害羞草研究所檙e in the space with the audience and the orchestra is playing, it害羞草研究所檚 just magical. Our tag-line is see it, hear it, love it,害羞草研究所� Thomson said. 害羞草研究所淭hat害羞草研究所檚 the magic of live music.害羞草研究所�

The Okanagan Symphony Orchestra presents Sarah Slean 7:30 p.m. April 7 at the Kelowna Community Theatre and 7 p.m. April 8 at the Vernon and District Performing Arts Centre. Tickets are $56.25 adult, $49 senior, $26.75 student and child and $25 first two rows and are available at .

笔谤辞办辞蹿颈别惫害羞草研究所檚 is 6:30 p.m. April 6 at Penticton害羞草研究所檚 Cleland Community Theatre, 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. April 7 at the Kelowna Community Theatre and 2 p.m. April 8 at the Vernon and District Performing Arts Centre. Tickets are $23 adult, $19 senior, $14 student and child and $62 for family (four tickets) and are available at .