The Kamloops Symphony Orchestra finished the 2023 season with a masterworks concert to beat all: Poem for Orchestra by Canadian Violet Archer (Berlin, 1940) and Ludwig van Beethoven’s career highlight, Symphony No. 9 in D minor (Vienna, 1824).
It is an impossible challenge for an amateur reviewer to do even a modicum of justice to these composers. One can simply be grateful that Kamloops has a symphony orchestra and chorus that can ably perform the works, as it did at Sagebrush Theatre on May 12 and May 13.
Placing Archer’s piece as the prelude to this Beethoven symphony was effective. Her use of the cellos and bass was a nice preparation for the moment when the long-anticipated theme of the Ninth is introduced by the same instruments.
We can learn so much from these two greats. From Archer, with her early association with major 20th-century composers and her long career of teaching and innovation, we can see how music has advanced in Canada. From Beethoven, we can see that music is the art form that most draws us to each other.
The ending of the Ninth, with the chorus going full tilt, is a call that continues to thrill us 200 years later — and it’s an ideal one to practise during this summer’s gatherings.
On the business side, there was loud applause for the gift of Kelson Hall from the Fawcett family.
Outgoing KSO executive director Daniel Mills made reference to the welcome received and the friendships made in Kamloops over the past four years, while KSO conductor Dina Gilbert praised Mills for the added value he gave to the symphony on account of his performing experience.
There will be 10 concerts in the 2023-2024 KSO season, which begins on Sept. 22. Details on the season to come can be found at kamloopssymphony.com.
