Symphony Nova Scotia teams up with the Nova Scotia Youth Orchestra

Two orchestras¬Ýand 100 musicians perform together as Symphony Nova Scotia teams up with the Nova Scotia Youth Orchestra

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Halifax, NS ’Äì Two orchestras. Three masterpieces. And more than a hundred musicians! Symphony Nova Scotia and the Nova Scotia Youth Orchestra join forces for their biggest concert of the year on Sunday, March 1 at 7:30 pm at the Rebecca Cohn Auditorium.

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This performance is a unique opportunity for young musicians to perform alongside their teachers and mentors in the Symphony. It’Äôs also an exciting opportunity for audiences to hear an orchestra this large right here at home.

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’ÄúOne of my personal highlights each year is this concert,’Äù says Symphony Nova Scotia Maestro Bernhard Gueller.

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’ÄúThe young musicians always rise to the occasion of playing with their professional colleagues and it gives us the chance to program really sensational works that give every section a chance to shine.’Äù

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Audiences will hear Strauss’Äôs Death and Transfiguration, Bruch’Äôs Violin Concerto in g minor, and Berlioz’Äôs evocative Symphony fantastique. These works aren’Äôt often heard in Nova Scotia ’Äì this will be Symphony Nova Scotia’Äôs first time ever performing the full version of Symphonie fantastique.

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’ÄúSymphonie fantastique is an extreme piece ’Äì you can hear the composer describing events like the Witch's Sabbath,’Äù says Gueller. ’ÄúThen, the tone poem Death and Transfiguration takes us through the reflections of a man at the end of his life in the most wondrously bright orchestral colours. Finally, Dorothy Ro will give us Bruch’Äôs Violin Concerto, one of the all-time greats, and I have high expectations of this talented young lady's performance.’Äù ¬Ý

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’ÄúThere is such an interesting 'dreams' parallel between the Berlioz and the Strauss,’Äù adds Dinuk Wijeratne, music director of the Nova Scotia Youth Orchestra and former resident conductor with Symphony Nova Scotia.

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’ÄúThe former is about an impulsive young man's romantic visions; the latter about an old man alone with his memories. Both are masterpieces.’Äù

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Don’Äôt miss this rare opportunity to hear some of the Romantic era’Äôs most compelling music, performed in all its dramatic splendour.

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Get your tickets now! Prices range from $23-33.50 (HST included), or you can pick up a subscription and save up to 30%. Student and group discounts are also available. Call 494.3820 or 1.800.874.1669, or visit www.SymphonyNovaScotia.ca.

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About the Nova Scotia Youth Orchestra

The Nova Scotia Youth Orchestra is a non-profit organization that was founded in 1977. For 32 years, the NSYO has provided students with educational opportunities not available at any university, public school, or conservatory in the province. The Orchestra has been described by renowned professional conductors and musicians as one of the finest in Canada, and 85% of our 1000 alumni have gone on to careers in music-related fields. Past music directors include Robert Raines, Stan Fisher, Georg Tintner, and Gregory Burton. Our current music director is Dinuk Wijeratne.

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About Symphony Nova Scotia
Expect the Unexpected with Symphony Nova Scotia ’Äì from Baroque to Berlioz to bluegrass! Each year the 37-member ensemble performs for more than 40,000 audience members (including 14,000 young music lovers) in communities across Nova Scotia. Under the inspirational leadership of Bernhard Gueller, Symphony Nova Scotia is recognized as one of the finest orchestras in the country. Join the orchestra in celebrating its 25th anniversary this season!

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This concert is generously sponsored by Scotia Private Client Group and the Chronicle Herald.

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Symphony Nova Scotia is grateful to the Canada Council for the Arts, Nova Scotia Tourism, Culture, and Heritage, and the Halifax Regional Municipality for their continued support.