From the hauntingly beautiful sounds of eight trumpets playing in unison to the sheer number of performers, the Okanagan Symphony Orchestra is looking to put on one of its largest shows to date.

As a lead up the 100th anniversary of Armistice Day, the Okanagan Symphony Orchestra is set to take the stage with a powerhouse cast featuring four guest solo performers sa国际传媒� soprano Tracy Cantin, mezzo-soprano Lauren Segal, tenor Justin Stolz and baritone Justin Welsh sa国际传媒� and a 150-voice choir comprised of the Okanagan Symphony Chorus and Musaic Vocal Ensemble to reproduce Giuseppe Verdisa国际传媒檚 Requiem in Kelowna Nov. 9, Penticton Nov. 10 and Vernon Nov. 11.

sa国际传媒淚 went to hear it in Vancouver a few years ago, and I can absolutely remember the feeling of the trumpets,sa国际传媒� said Rosemary Thomson, OSO music director. sa国际传媒淭here are definitely elements of the drama of opera in this piece and a wonderful contrast.sa国际传媒�

Based on the Latin Mass for the Dead, Verdisa国际传媒檚 Requiem is an 85-minute concert split into seven core sections. Soothing colour brings out a sense of deep peace towards the end of the performance, acting as a juxtaposition from the piecesa国际传媒檚 initial dark power.

sa国际传媒淚 donsa国际传媒檛 really have words to describe how visceral this performance is,sa国际传媒� Thomson said. sa国际传媒淧eople would have lived under fear of this text for centuries. Now, itsa国际传媒檚 a different world.sa国际传媒�

Thomson said the presentation of this orchestral Goliath has been in the works for several years always with the intention of performing near Armistice Day.

sa国际传媒淗e (Verdi) really takes you on a musical and dramatic journey that is really close to our minds on the Remembrance Day weekend. It (the First World War) just feels so distant,sa国际传媒� Thomson said and noted that her family members fought in both World Wars. sa国际传媒淚t still shapes our society now even 100 years later. As I get older, I realize the importance of highlighting this weekend. Itsa国际传媒檚 the whole sa国际传媒楲est We Forget.sa国际传媒� We live in a country with incredible freedomsa国际传媒� Not everyone is in that situation. I think we have to be grateful and honour that, which is what wesa国际传媒檙e doing at the Okanagan Symphony Orchestra.sa国际传媒�

Composed to honour the passing of close friend and renowned poet and novelist Alessandro Manzoni, Verdisa国际传媒檚 Requiem tells of loss, terror and deliverance.

sa国际传媒淚tsa国际传媒檚 such a monumental piece of work. In 80 minutes, Verdi takes us through these feelings of horror into the hushed reverence at the end,sa国际传媒� Thomson said. sa国际传媒淚 hope it allows for a cathartic experience for our audience and performers.sa国际传媒�

While it boasts a significantly larger stage presence for the OSO, Thomson said Verdisa国际传媒檚 Requiem also denotes a return to what could be considered more traditional programming for Okanagan classical audiences after the Symphonysa国际传媒檚 recent and performances.

sa国际传媒淭his is a big piece for any orchestra to take on. Itsa国际传媒檚 more in what people think of as a classical orchestral performance. I love doing the whole gambit,sa国际传媒� Thomson said.

sa国际传媒淚t (Requiem) is just going to be a great joy. This is a piece that wonsa国际传媒檛 come along again for a while.sa国际传媒�

The OSO presents Verdisa国际传媒檚 Requiem as the second performance of the Chase Wines Masterworks Series at the Kelowna Community Theatre Nov. 9 at 7:30 p.m., Pentictonsa国际传媒檚 Cleland Community Theatre Nov. 10 at 7:30 p.m. and the Vernon and District Performing Arts Centre Nov. 11 at 7 p.m. Tickets are available for $50.75 adult, $44 senior and $22.73 student through and local ticket vendors.

parker.crook@vernonmorningstar.com
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