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, there香蕉视频直播檚 no better way to introduce children to classical music than through J.K. Rowling香蕉视频直播檚 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.
香蕉视频直播淔or so many people, I香蕉视频直播檝e heard they were brought to the symphony by a special adult in their life,香蕉视频直播� Thomson said. 香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 just a perfect introduction to this whole new world.香蕉视频直播�
Scored by John Williams, Harry Potter and the Philosopher香蕉视频直播檚 Stone hit the silver screen in 2001 based on Rowling香蕉视频直播檚 1997 novel of the same name. In its opening weekend, the film earned an estimated $93.5 million. Today, the series香蕉视频直播� 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 香蕉视频直播� Philosopher香蕉视频直播檚 Stone, Chamber of Secrets and Prizoner of Azkaban 香蕉视频直播� and received Grammy and Oscar nominations for his work.
香蕉视频直播淢ost of it (our performance) is from the first movie. I love Harry Potter, the books, the movies and most of all the music,香蕉视频直播� Thomson said. 香蕉视频直播淛ohn Williams香蕉视频直播� score brings all of the characters to life in the most magical way. I can香蕉视频直播檛 wait for this show.香蕉视频直播�
To help bring the production to life, Vernon actress Nina Ogasawara will don the garb and demeanour of the series香蕉视频直播� heroine Hermione Granger while Dominik Weaver will wear the circular spectacles and lightning bolt scar of the story香蕉视频直播檚 favourite young wizard and titular character.
Fans of the movies will recognize many songs from the soundtrack, Thomson said. Her favourite, however, is Hedwig香蕉视频直播檚 Flight.
香蕉视频直播淗e does such a great job at simulating flight through this piece,香蕉视频直播� Thomson said. 香蕉视频直播淗e really pushed the orchestra to play at their best.香蕉视频直播�
Other iconic pieces include the light and sparkly sounds of Diagon Alley, the woodwind sounds of Quidditch and Fluffy the three-headed dog香蕉视频直播檚 piece featuring the contrabassoon 香蕉视频直播� a large woodwind instrument that coils around itself and boasts the title of the orchestra香蕉视频直播檚 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 child香蕉视频直播檚 involvement in music takes root, Thomson said the performance evolves into something beyond mere entertainment.
香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 like taking a kid who plays peewee hockey to the NHL,香蕉视频直播� Thomson said. 香蕉视频直播淚t inspires them to keep going.香蕉视频直播�
Unlike the OSO香蕉视频直播檚 primary ChaseWines Masterworks programming, The Music of Harry Potter falls under the annual family special umbrella, which saw Sergei Prokofiev香蕉视频直播檚 Peter and the Wolf take Okanagan stages last year. That performance also marked the introduction of the family special to Vernon audiences.
香蕉视频直播淣ot every concert we do is entertaining, but this one definitely is,香蕉视频直播� Thomson said, noting that some OSO performances could be considered more thought-provoking or demonstrative than for the sheer purpose of entertainment.
香蕉视频直播淚 just love this concert. It evokes memories of seeing the movies. It香蕉视频直播檚 just beautiful. It香蕉视频直播檚 really strong music. It will excite everyone who is young and young at heart.香蕉视频直播�
The Music of Harry Potter is at the Vernon and District Performing Arts Centre at 7 p.m. Oct. 26, Penticton香蕉视频直播檚 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 香蕉视频直播� Harry Potter related or otherwise 香蕉视频直播� are encouraged.
parker.crook@vernonmorningstar.com
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