Around the globe temperatures, together with the pulse of world events, have been rising.
The same might be said of, figuratively speaking, the pulse of the audience at Thunder Bay Syphony Orchestra’s second bright Masterworks concert at the Auditorium this week.
When the curtain rises on Spanish Fire on Thursday evening it’s entirely likely the temperature throughout the concert hall will increase by more than a few degrees: so much fabulous sound and colourful passion live on stage at the same time.
The concert features a special guest artist from Spain: mezzo-soprano Gemma Coma-Alabert.
Descriptive phrases from critical European reviewers about her include accolades such as “sensual and gracious; a very beautiful voice; subtle coloration, precise intonation; brings (her roles) to life with elegance and understanding worthy of acclaim.”
Perhaps the best person to comment on this very first concert with Gemma Coma-Alabert here in Thunder Bay is TBSO’s Music Director Arthur Post.
“Gemma and I have worked together with orchestras a number of times before, but this is our biggest project so far. I’m delighted that Thunder Bay audiences will get a chance to hear her.”
The program of Spanish Fire offers everything a human heart can endure: love, and passion, and cold, and longing, and hot, and passion for all the colours of life. Here in northern Ontario Canada, yes the gypsies live.
“Spain has long fascinated northern imaginations as a place of brilliant contrasts. It is where the sun shines on colourful festivities by day and where an adventurous soul can find humanity’s more primitive passions flaring up like bonfires in the night.
The emotions are volatile, love never far from jealousy and hatred; and the society is still deeply rooted in family, the church, and machismo pride.
Professional flamenco performers can now be seen and heard on many of the world’s stages; but flamenco is a folk art; not unlike the blues; and was born as expression of personal grief among the dispossessed.
Many European composers were intrigued by their exotic southern neighbor, wrote music that celebrates the bright of Spanish Fire.”
TBSO’s Masterworks at the Auditorium: 8 p.m.
