The Lethbridge Symphony Orchestra is excited to celebrate their sixtieth anniversary albeit a year late due to Covid.
The first performance is tonight at 7:30 p.m. where Casa hosts Intimus 1 Revolutions featuring classical guitarist Illiana Matos and the Musaeus String Quartet. They will be performing Debussy’s String Quartet in G Minor and Turina’s “The Bullfighter’s Prayer for String Quartet” and Brouwer’s “Quintet for Guitar and String Quartet.” All Intimus concerts are $35.
Musaeus will be featured at all of the Intimus shows.
“ Tonight is really our soft opening where our audiences can get used to being able to see classical music again and our musicians can get used to playing together again,” said Ross Jacobs, Lethbridge Symphony Orchestra president, noting the first performance of the season is Oct. 18 at the Symphony’s usual home base, Southminster United Church. Series 1— Striking Rhythms features special guests Adam Mason playing Marimba.
“It’s an opportunity to remind the public that we’re still here,” Jacobs said, noting tickets are reasonably priced ranging from $25-$75, but there are special discounted tickets for students.
“Even though this is our sixty-first year, we were supposed to celebrate our sixtieth anniversary last year, but had to cancel because of Covid,” Jacobs continued.
“The Symphony is especially important for for kids playing music in school. Professional musicians are here for them to look up to and the Symphony gives them a place to perform when they graduate,” he continued.
The Lethbridge Symphony is adhering to Covid protocols, so patrons must show proof of vaccination and wear masks during the concert.
And they are operating a reduced capacity to allow for proper social distancing between seats.
“We also have contingency plans in case of more restrictions,” he said.
The musicians are excited to perform together again.
“They’ve been rehearsing together for three or four weeks. And under conductor/ musical director Glenn (Klassen)’s guidance, they gell pretty quickly. A lot of them play together on their own. They’re professionals,” he said.
“ We’re grateful for any opportunity to provide classical music to the community. So if you’ve been on the fence about coming to see it, take a chance and come out to a concert,” he said.
They are working on collaborations with other community groups like the Galt Museum for kids concerts, which will allow curious kids to ask the musicians questions. They are also working on another presentation with the U of L Opera Society.
They are also collaborating with Love Notes for a Swinging Sixties Gala on March 21. And there will be Kids Choir presentation featuring local choirs, Nov. 23-25. And They are bringing back Handel’s Messiah just in time for Christmas, Dec. 19 and 20.
“ It depends on the availability and Covid protocols. But we’ll be making some more announcements,” he said.
The Lethbridge Symphony has scheduled two performances almost every month up to the season finale, May 2.
The schedule and link to the box office is at https://www.lethbridgesymphony.org
— By Richard amery, L.A. Beat Editor