The Kamloops Symphony returns to Salmon Arm with The Red Violin, a concert that promises to explore how virtuosity shows up in many forms.
Featuring music from the film The Red Violin, paired with arrangements of Balkan folk music, and reinterpretations of familiar tunes from Bizet’s forever-loved opera Carmen, the concert will be held at The Nexus at First at 3 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 11. Doors open at 2:30 p.m.
The concert begins with Russian composer Rodion Shchedrin’s Carmen Suite, crafted as the music for a ballet by Cuban choreographer Alberto Alonso using music from Bizet’s opera. Shchedrin conceived of his arrangement not as a 19th-century pastiche, but rather “a creative meeting of the minds,” with Bizet’s melodies redressed in a variety of fresh instrumental colours, set to new rhythms, and often phrased with a great deal of sly wit. Initially banned by the Soviet hierarchy as “disrespectful” to the opera for precisely these qualities, the ballet has since become Shchedrin’s best-known work.
Next is Serbian-American composer Milica Paranosic’s Roma Suite, an arrangement of Balkan folk music. After growing up in Serbia where she said it was frowned upon to engage with influences stemming from their own musical heritage, Paranosic was inspired to delve into her cultural roots after moving to New York and meeting violinist Lara St. John, the KSO’s guest artist for this concert, who shares her passion for Balkan and Roma folklore and collaborated on creating this suite.
The concert concludes with John Corigliano’s Suite from The Red Violin, highlights of the music he wrote for the film. The movie spans three centuries in the life of a magnificent but haunted violin in its travels through space and time. Corigliano evokes the different locales and eras the violin travels through, while creating a score that has a coherent musical voice throughout.
Joining the KSO on stage is the dazzling Canadian-born violinist Lara St. John, who began playing the violin when she was two years old, first appearing as a soloist with an orchestra at the age of four and making her European debut at age 10. She has received several awards and accolades, including a Juno Award in 2011, a “best CD of Spring” from Der Tagsesspiegel in 2014, and several five-star reviews. In 2021 was invested with the Order of Canada for service to society and innovations that “ignite our imaginations.”
Tickets, $37.55 for adults if purchased in advance, or $40 at the door, $10 for youth (under 19), and $15 for KSOundcheck members, are through Kamloops Live! Box Office, by calling 1-866-374-5483 or going to kamloopslive.ca.
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