The final PEI Symphony concert of the 2011-12 season was a great success- a new work (sixty-three) by Jim O’Leary was played very well by the orchestra. Jim commented that the PEISO members are getting familiar with his style and performance demands and can respond to them well.
Alan Reesor’s Variations for String Orchestra was very well received; it is a charming work with a lyrical slow variation followed by a fulsome finale, nicely exploiting the power of a full string orchestra.
The Borodin Polvetsian Dances featured some fine solos in the woodwinds, particularly Karem Simon, clarinet, Jolene Buchholz, English Horn, and Bindy Code, oboe. The strings played with energy and flair, and the brass were brilliant, making for a fine performance overall.
Beethoven’s Seventh Symphony was played with great maturity. There were wonderful moments throughout, and the second movement Funeral March was movingly poignant.
The first concert of the 2012-2013 season will consist of Peter Allen’s Hurricane Juan Concerto with the composer as soloist. Other works on the programme are Berlioz rather grotesque but exciting Rakoczy Marche from La damnation de Faust, and Dvorak’s beloved Symphony No. 9, To the New World. This concert will be on Sunday, October 14th at 2:30pm. For tickets you can contact the Confederation Centre Box Office (902-566-1267).