Hey Winnipeg! What are you doing this weekend? Here is your weekly Classic 107 Arts & Entertainment Calendar to give you some ideas. A hint. You should definitely consider leaving the city this weeknd. We'll tell you why.

 As I said we're going to start outside of the city this week and trust us when we say it is ABSOLUTLEY worth the drive. Friday night (Sept 12) marks the start of Manitoba’s first and only classical music salon or coffee house presented by Flutist Haley Rempel. It takes place in Neubergthal Manitoba just before Emerson and southeast of Altona. I had the pleasure of meeting up with Haley in Neubergthal at the venue earlier this week. And it is a gorgeous venue – a 1928 barn that has been lovingly restored by Margruite Krahn and her family in the national historic Mennonite Street village. Here is Haley Remple talking about the genesis of this idea along with Rio the barn cat . . .I’m not kidding.

 

 

Haley and Laura  will be perfermong music by Bach, Schubert, Doplar and more. We should note though that Prinicple cellist for the WSO, Yuri Hooker was also suposed to perform but has had to cancel due to an injured back. We wish you a speedy recovery Yuri!

Tickets for the salon are $20 in advance or $25 at the door. They include fresh baked bread from the Russian Bake Oven, local preserves and beverages. For tickets call 204.324.1612 or email. But the salon is not the only thing happening in Neubergthal this weekend. The concert is just the kick off to the 10th annual Pembina Valley Studio Tours where local artists in the village will be opening their homes/studios and gardens to the public.  The best part is , it’s all free. You just have to head out there.

 

This week marks the ninth year for one of North America’s leading celebrations of indigenous culture. I’m talking about the Manito Ahbee Festival and it all taking place right here in Winnipeg until Sunday (Sept 14). The festival features a host of events that aim to educate and inspire—including an indigenous Marketplace and Trade show Saturday (Sept 13) & Sunday, A Metis showcase and the largest in Canada and second largest in North America International Pow Wow.

But the big ticket event happens Friday night (Sept 12) at the MTS Centre– Aboriginal People's Choice Music Awards. This awards show honours aboriginal recording artists from all over the world in 22 contemporary and traditional categories. Over the years the APCMAs have really grown in prestige. Wins here have translated into tours, festival gigs, label and management deals. You only need to look at a group like A Tribe Called Red, The electro-powow act snagged five awards at last year’s APCMA’s and then went on to a Juno for Breakthrough Group and were shortlisted for the Polaris Award. The awards show is Friday night at the MTS Centre. Tickets are available through ticketmaster. The event will be televised on the Aboriginal People’s Television Network at 7:00 PM.

Looking ahead to next week, on Tuesday (Sept 16), the Manitoba Chamber Ochestra launches its 42nd season with 2 x Juno award winning soprano Karina Gauvin. The first lady of music will sing two arias from Alcina, in addition to selections from Giulio Cesare in Egitto.

Watch Karina's video for Care Selve, a gorgeous piece by Handel.

 

 

Also on the program is an MCO audience favourite. Mozart’s Divertimento in F major for strings.

 

 

And finally, the MCO will, for the first time present a work by Pierre Jalbert, one of the most highly-regarded American composers of his generation. The chamber will be performing his autumn Rhapsody.

Jalbert says of "Autumn Rhapsody:"

My Autumn Rhapsody was inspired by the autumn landscape in Vermont, when the trees present a multi-colored tapestry, and the wind begins to blow colder than summer. One of my favorite places in Vermont is on the Long Trail, on the top of Mount Belvidere, near Jay Peak. There's a fire tower on top which one can climb up and see the surrounding mountains of Vermont and Canada for many miles. I had this image in mind when starting work on this piece.

Written for string orchestra, the piece, all in one continuous movement, begins with a slow, lyrical and somewhat mysterious music. The music is very still, creating a sense of suspended time. This gradually gives way to a faster, more animated, and energetic music ("the wind begins to blow colder than summer"). This section is characterized by strings playing measured tremolos, the rapid, rhythmic movement of the bow across the strings. This builds to a furious climax until suddenly dissipating and the opening returns, but only for a brief moment.

Throughout my formative years in Vermont, I studied piano and composition with Arlene Cleary. She was an extremely energetic and tireless advocate for music, always striving to make herself a better musician, and helped me to do so as well. This piece is dedicated to her.

Tickets are $30 with special pricing for seniors and students. You can get them at McNally Robinson Booksellers, the West End Cultural Centre, Organic Planet or through the MCO website. You can also call the MCO’s ticketline at 204.783.7377

 

And finally, we are  remised in not letting you know about this last week but here it is. As you may or may not know, to celebrate the opening of the Canadian Museum of Human Rights, one of the operas Manitoba Opera is producing this year in November is Beethoven’s sole opera Fidelio. It tells the story of Lenore, a young woman who disguises herself as a young man so that she can work in a jail where her husband is a political prisoner. In the final scene if the opera, she successfully frees her husband, as well as other prisoners and the community gathers to witness their release.

As a tribute to unfortunate fact that although this opera is 200 years old but still relevant today as people continue to suffer under oppressive regimes and many of them have sought refuge in our province, MB Opera would like to invite about 100 real Winnipeg refugees to appear in this final scene as part of the community seeing the prisoners released. All cultural backgrounds and ages are welcome to volunteer. And don’t worry, you are not required to sing! If this is something that you think would be interesting to you and you’re available Nov 22, 25 & the 28th contact MB Opera at 204.944.8824 or go online HERE.

Here is some inspiration . . .

 

 

Tune in every Thursday, Friday and Saturday for Classic 107 Arts & Entertainment Calendar with Claudia Garcia de la Huerta.