Get in the spirit of symphony and don't ghost the opportunity to see the Cowichan Symphony Society present the Victoria Baroque Orchestra with an afternoon performance of 'Phantasm', featuring Baroque violinist, and fiddler David Greenberg, at Brentwood College's Killy Theatre on Jan 19.
"We always enjoy supporting the Victoria Baroque Orchestra, and unlike larger symphonies they offer a much more intimate experience," said CSS president Dr. Peter Leckie. "Attendees can expect an intimate experience with some of the best classical music that was ever written by some of the premier composers of the Baroque period, plus we get to throw in the Gaelic music with Cape Breton fiddler David Greenberg, and it doesn't get any better than that."
For the last three decades Greenberg has enjoyed a double career as both a Baroque violinist, and Cape Breton fiddler — his fluency, and experience in these two genres make him uniquely qualified to interpret the wild music of 18th-century Scotland. Greenberg, who hails from Halifax, will be leading the program exploring sweet sleep, dreams, and all things that go bump in the night alongside 11 members of the Victoria Baroque Orchestra inside the Mill Bay college.
"The Killy Theatre is a unique space which provides an intimate setting, where classical musical lovers get to be so close to the stage allowing them to see clearly where each sound is coming from," said Leckie. "You can hear it and appreciate it more and more, it really is an ideal setting for this kind of music."
Members of the Victoria Baroque Orchestra will be performing all their pieces on 18th Century instrument replicas from the Baroque era including harpsichords, violins, violas, and even wooden flutes.
"It's historical, and it gives you a feeling of the actual music as it was performed when most of it was written," said Leckie. "The music itself came at a time when music was growing, and had gone from simple chanting to prolificacy and lots of new musical styles. This concert will not only feature great classic music of the Baroque period but will also give attendees the opportunity to hear the Gaelic music from Cape Breton as well as music that is part of our Canadian history."
Greenberg perform an array of Celtic folk songs as well as pieces of music from renowned Baroque era composers such as Georg Muffat, and Heinrich Ignaz Franz Biber. 'Phantasm' will also include selections from Purcell’s incidental music for A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Vivaldi’s flute concerto 'La Notte', and other night-themed music.
A graduate of Indiana University’s Early Music Institute, Greenbeerg has performed, taught, and recorded primarily in North America and Western Europe, as well as in Australia, New Zealand, and the Far East. Over the span of his musical career he has performed with the likes of Tafelmusik, Red Priest, Les Musiciens de Saint-Julien, Concerto Caledonia, Apollo’s Fire, Ensemble Caprice, La Nef, Toronto Consort, Seattle Baroque, Les Voix Humaines, Chris Norman, Suzie LeBlanc, Doug MacPhee, and Musica Pacifica.
Greenberg who is both a composer and arranger has recorded more than 80 CDs. Many of Greenberg's tunes have been recorded by great Cape Breton musicians such as Buddy MacMaster, Carl MacKenzie, Jerry Holland, The Rankins, and La Neuf.
There will be a shuttle bus leaving from the Cowichan Community Centre at 12:45 p.m. which will provide a return trip to Brentwood College for $5 on Jan. 19, for the 2 p.m. concert.
Tickets are $70, or $20 for both children and students.
"This performance itself is going to delve into the extremes of some of the classics and greats from the Baroque period but attendees will also get to experience some Celtic music, Cape Breton fiddling, and some good old Scottish Canadian sounds that we can hear and enjoy," said Leckie. "This concert is a reflection of 70 years of diversity, live music, and musical experiences that are unique, fully entertaining, inspirational, and enjoyable."