When she saw her perform under the Yellowknifesa国际传媒檚 midnight sun, Rosemary Thomson knew it would be a beautiful, brazen performance far removed from the classical mainstream.
The Okanagan Symphony Orchestra, under the baton of music director Thomson, welcomes renowned to the Kelowna stage Oct. 13 and Vernon and District Performing Arts Centre Oct. 14.
sa国际传媒淭he biggest thing that Isa国际传媒檝e heard about Tanya perform is, sa国际传媒業tsa国际传媒檚 unlike anything Isa国际传媒檝e heard before,sa国际传媒檚a国际传媒� Thomson said of the Polaris Music Prize-winner. sa国际传媒淢y brother-in-law said to me, sa国际传媒榃hen I see her live, I feel like I want to weep one moment and laugh the next, and I donsa国际传媒檛 know why.sa国际传媒檚a国际传媒�
Traditional throat singing, heavy metal and rock interpretations coalesce into Tagaqsa国际传媒檚 unique, and often highly improvised, operatic presence. Drawing inspiration from her Inuk roots, the Nunavut vocalist uses her artform to express her political statement.
sa国际传媒淭heresa国际传媒檚 sort of an underlying rhythmic pulse thatsa国际传媒檚 continuant. Theresa国际传媒檚 vocalization both on the inhale and exhale sa国际传媒� thatsa国际传媒檚 what allows it to be so continuant,sa国际传媒� Thomson said of Tagaqsa国际传媒檚 throat singing. sa国际传媒淪he has the widest vocal range of anyone Isa国际传媒檝e heard. I wouldnsa国际传媒檛 describe it as pretty. Itsa国际传媒檚 such an immediate vocal expression of her being. Itsa国际传媒檚 wondrous. It bypasses your brain and goes straight to your heart. Itsa国际传媒檚 hypnotic.sa国际传媒�
Originally performed by the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, Tagaq will close the performance with her own 25-minute composition dedicated to Canadasa国际传媒檚 missing and murdered indigenous women and girls entitled Qiksaaktuq sa国际传媒� the Inuktitut word for grief. Following the K眉bler-Ross model for the five stages of grief sa国际传媒� denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance sa国际传媒� Qiksaaktuq is a five-movement piece combining improvised vocals from Tagaq and brass under Christine Duncan, while the strings, woodwind and percussion lead by Thomson provide a musical base.
While it marks a departure from traditional OSO programming, Thomson said Tagaqsa国际传媒檚 performance represents a shift in the orchestral world.
sa国际传媒淥rchestras have always been influenced by popular music. This is being influenced by a more contemporary music,sa国际传媒� Thomson said. sa国际传媒淲esa国际传媒檒l have some die-hard classical lovers in the audience sa国际传媒� this might not be for them. For some in the audience, it will make them feel uncomfortable. She pushes the envelope for sure.sa国际传媒�
Thomson said there is always a level of uncertainty when bringing in an experimental artist like Tagaq, but itsa国际传媒檚 an opportunity the OSO couldnsa国际传媒檛 bypass.
sa国际传媒淲ithout risk, life is boring,sa国际传媒� Thomson laughed, noting that when western European composers originally brought cymbals into the mix it was considered a risk whereas now itsa国际传媒檚 commonplace.
sa国际传媒淭hatsa国际传媒檚 the great thing about contemporary music sa国际传媒� it keeps it fresh,sa国际传媒� Thomson said, adding that she hopes Tagaqsa国际传媒檚 performance will instil a love of the orchestra in younger listeners.
Before Tagaq takes the stage, however, the OSO will perform Christos Hatzissa国际传媒� Thunder Drum sa国际传媒� a three-movement piece featuring a live orchestra and an electronic soundtrack and samples of Tagaqsa国际传媒檚 vocalizations.
The second half of the performance will open with Dinuk Wijeratnesa国际传媒檚 First Winter. Commissioned by the Calgary Philharmonic, First Winter is an expression of the Sri Lankansa国际传媒檚 first experiences with Canadian winter.
sa国际传媒淚 love exploring the whole gambit from across the centuries,sa国际传媒� Thomson said. sa国际传媒淭hatsa国际传媒檚 what gives us a rich entry into the world of art.sa国际传媒�
The OSO will take the Kelowna Community Theatre stage alongside Tagaq Oct. 13 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are available through Kelowna Tickets, 250-862-2867. Tickets to the Vernon and District Performing Arts Centre Show Oct. 14 at 7 p.m. are available through the Ticket Seller, 250-549-7469, .
parker.crook@vernonmorningstar.com
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