She has heard it time and time again: an introduction to the symphony at a young age is what keeps patrons returning for years to come.
And, according to Okanagan Symphony Orchestra music director Rosemary Thomson, theresa国际传媒檚 no better way to introduce children to classical music than through J.K. Rowlingsa国际传媒檚 acclaimed series Harry Potter. To that end, the OSO presents The Music of Harry Potter in Vernon Oct. 26, Penticton Oct. 27 and Kelowna Oct. 28.
sa国际传媒淔or so many people, Isa国际传媒檝e heard they were brought to the symphony by a special adult in their life,sa国际传媒� Thomson said. sa国际传媒淚tsa国际传媒檚 just a perfect introduction to this whole new world.sa国际传媒�
Scored by John Williams, Harry Potter and the Philosophersa国际传媒檚 Stone hit the silver screen in 2001 based on Rowlingsa国际传媒檚 1997 novel of the same name. In its opening weekend, the film earned an estimated $93.5 million. Today, the seriessa国际传媒� eight films and spin-off prequel flick Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them have generated more than $8.5 billion worldwide. Of those eight films, Williams left his mark on the first three sa国际传媒� Philosophersa国际传媒檚 Stone, Chamber of Secrets and Prizoner of Azkaban sa国际传媒� and received Grammy and Oscar nominations for his work.
sa国际传媒淢ost of it (our performance) is from the first movie. I love Harry Potter, the books, the movies and most of all the music,sa国际传媒� Thomson said. sa国际传媒淛ohn Williamssa国际传媒� score brings all of the characters to life in the most magical way. I cansa国际传媒檛 wait for this show.sa国际传媒�
To help bring the production to life, Vernon actress Nina Ogasawara will don the garb and demeanour of the seriessa国际传媒� heroine Hermione Granger while Dominik Weaver will wear the circular spectacles and lightning bolt scar of the storysa国际传媒檚 favourite young wizard and titular character.
Fans of the movies will recognize many songs from the soundtrack, Thomson said. Her favourite, however, is Hedwigsa国际传媒檚 Flight.
sa国际传媒淗e does such a great job at simulating flight through this piece,sa国际传媒� Thomson said. sa国际传媒淗e really pushed the orchestra to play at their best.sa国际传媒�
Other iconic pieces include the light and sparkly sounds of Diagon Alley, the woodwind sounds of Quidditch and Fluffy the three-headed dogsa国际传媒檚 piece featuring the contrabassoon sa国际传媒� a large woodwind instrument that coils around itself and boasts the title of the orchestrasa国际传媒檚 lowest instrument.
In addition to entertaining the kids through familiar tones, Thomson said the performance also acts as a way to introduce children to the different sections and sounds of the orchestra through section solos. And, once that love of the symphony is born and a childsa国际传媒檚 involvement in music takes root, Thomson said the performance evolves into something beyond mere entertainment.
sa国际传媒淚tsa国际传媒檚 like taking a kid who plays peewee hockey to the NHL,sa国际传媒� Thomson said. sa国际传媒淚t inspires them to keep going.sa国际传媒�
Unlike the OSOsa国际传媒檚 primary ChaseWines Masterworks programming, The Music of Harry Potter falls under the annual family special umbrella, which saw Sergei Prokofievsa国际传媒檚 Peter and the Wolf take Okanagan stages last year. That performance also marked the introduction of the family special to Vernon audiences.
sa国际传媒淣ot every concert we do is entertaining, but this one definitely is,sa国际传媒� Thomson said, noting that some OSO performances could be considered more thought-provoking or demonstrative than for the sheer purpose of entertainment.
sa国际传媒淚 just love this concert. It evokes memories of seeing the movies. Itsa国际传媒檚 just beautiful. Itsa国际传媒檚 really strong music. It will excite everyone who is young and young at heart.sa国际传媒�
The Music of Harry Potter is at the Vernon and District Performing Arts Centre at 7 p.m. Oct. 26, Pentictonsa国际传媒檚 Cleland Community Theatre at 2 p.m. Oct. 27 and the Kelowna Community Theatre at 2 p.m. Oct. 28. Special ticket pricing is in effect for these family performances. Tickets are $20.50 for adults, $17 for seniors and $12.50 for students and are available through . As the performance precedes Halloween, audience costumes sa国际传媒� Harry Potter related or otherwise sa国际传媒� are encouraged.
parker.crook@vernonmorningstar.com
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