Hey Winnipeg. I know we've had a bit of a rewind in terms of the weather, but not to fear! There are plenty of great events happening in the city to keep your mind off the white stuff!

There's a really interesting event happening at the Winnipeg Art Gallery Thursday night (Mar 26) called The Walrus Talks Arctic. Presented in partnership with The Walrus, it will be 80 minutes of lively, thought provoking ideas about the issues and opportunities that make the North so unique. There will be seven presenters including artist & sculptor Ruben Komangapik, Michael Maltzan, the architect of the WAG's new Inuit Art Centre and vocalist and Polaris Prize winner Tanya Tagaq.

This is part of a National series The Walrus is doing across the country on different topics called The Walrus Talks. The event starts at 7:00 PM Thursday night. Very few tickets left but you can contact the gallery 204.789.1760 or go to their website.

Watch this mini documentary on Tanya called "Passion For Food" where she talks about how food impacts her life as an Inuit, a woman and a touring artist.

 

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Friday night (Mar 27), the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra presents Beethoven's 9th. What can we say about this symphony? It has entered the consciousness of music lovers so much that each performance becomes a happening even before the first note is even played? It's a work that has everything---majesty, poetry, vision and unbounded faith – capped off by the mighty choral finale Ode to Joy. The Ninth not only heralded the epic works of all composers to come but later became an anthem for the European Community and a symbol for freedom. Also on the programme, Anton Bruckner's greatest choral work, Te Deum. Joining the symphony will be the Winnipeg Philharmonic Choir and the Canadian Mennonite Festival Chorus. Featured vocalists include sopranos Joni Henson and Elizabeth Turnball, tenor Steven Tharp and bass Stephen Hegedus.

There are two performances, Friday night (Mar 27) and Saturday night (Mar 28) at the Centennial Concert Hall. Both concerts begin at 8:00 PM with a pre concert chat in the Piano Nobile at 7:30 PM For tickets go HERE or call the WSO box office at 204.949.3999.

One of the best classical flash mobs has to be a performance of Beethoven's Ode to Joy in May of 2012. It took place in Sabadell in Catelonia, Spain at the placa de Sant Roc at 6:00 PM local time.

 

 

Friday night (Mar 27) also sees the opening of the Cluster New Music + Integrated Arts Festival here in Winnipeg. This year's festival is called Interface--- a celebration of everything Cluster has been about since year one: forging a new path forward through artistic exploration of endless possibility. You'll see art installations, exhibits, concerts, lectures, readings and more. Tomorrow night's opening event at ace art gallery features two acts – Cellist and composer Fjóla Evans who'll be performing a solo set of ambient experimental sound based on Icelandic folk songs. This will be followed by Montreal hybrid pop/classical group – Plumes Ensemble. They'll be performing original music with some detours into Bartok and Berio. Unless noted, all the events take place at ace art gallery and Urban Shaman Gallery in the Exchange District. The festival starts tonight and runs through to April 3rd.


Tickets are $15 dollars or $10, if you are a student. You can also get a pass for $50 or $30 if you are a student. For more information go to clusterfestival.com

 

Here's a taste of what the festival is all about.

 

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Classic 107's Luke Thiessen sat down with one of the co-directors of the festivel, Luke Nickel. Below is his interview.

 

 

Watch the NYU Contemporary Music Ensemble under the direction of Jonathan Haas, perform a work written by Fjóla called Hollywood. This was recorded April 23 of last year.

 

 

Classical purists beware! Friday night (Mar 27), jazz pianist John Stetch is having his way with Bach, Mozart, Chopin and Shostakovich. His first impressions of Classical music came late, having been exposed to Jazz from an early age, and he passed off the Classics as background music to films. However, he changed his mind after hearing Glenn Gould, Bach and studying Classical music. John's newest CD, "Off With The Cuffs", is a re-working of some of the great Classical masters.

Working his way across the country on a tour of the new recording, Stetch is a force to be reckoned with.  His playing is always inventive, musical and inspiring. John is a fearless pianist pushing boundaries of the traditional jazz world. A Steinway Artist, John is all about renovating and re-composing well-known and familiar material; putting his own personal stamp on everything from Mozart to The Love Boat Theme to his native Ukrainian folk music.

Showtime is 8:00 PM at Eva Clare Hall at the University of Manitoba. The concert is FREE!!!!

Listen to Michael Wolch's interview with John here. He started off by asking him how he got introduced to classical music.

 

 

Watch some of John's work here!

 

 

One more thing for Friday night (Mar 27), if you are an Eva Cassidy fan, vocalist Ashley Klassen with Garth Rempel on guitar and Lottie enns-Braun on piano will be presenting an Eva Cassidy tribute at the Young United Church Coffee House on Furby. Showtime is 7:30 PM. Tickets are $10 or $5 if you are a student and they are available at the door.

If you've never heard the late Eva Cassidy, here she is singing Autumn Leaves live.

 

 

On Sunday afternoon (Mar 29), the Women's Musical Club of Winnipeg present the one and only – Canadian pianist James Parker. A member of the highly acclaimed Gryphon Trio, Mr. Parker is also a renowned soloist. His concerts consistently garner him artistic acclaim and his style has earned him praise as "one of the most searching musical intellects and 10 of the nimblest fingers in the business according to the Globe & Mail. Mr. Parker will be performing works by Schumann, Brahms, Chopin, Debussy, Bartok and Beethoven. Showtime is 2:00 PM at the Winnipeg Art Gallery. Tickets are just $25 - $5 if you are a student. You can get those at McNally Robinson Booksellers or at the door. You can also call 204.944.9431. Please note, student tickets are only available at the door.

Watch James Parker as part of The Gryphon Trio performing some Dvorak.

 

 

And finally, calling all you Sound of Music fans out there! This year marks the 50th Anniversary of the Oscar award winning musical. To celebrate, (as if you ever need a reason to celebrate), Silver City Polo Park will be screening a digital version on the big screen Sunday afternoon (Mar 29).

Watch the original trailer here!

 

 

Showtime is 12:55 PM. If you can't make it Sunday afternoon, there will be two more screenings Wednesday night (Apr 01) at 7:00 PM and next Monday April 6th also at 7:00 PM

 

Looking ahead to next week.

Looking ahead to Monday, a special concert for all of us that love the cello! Cellist Minna Rose and Pianist Laura Loewen present Beethoven's Revolutionary Cello Sonatas with special guests cellist Desiree Abbey and pianist Kathering Lee. The programme includes Beethoven's Sonatas for Piano & Cello Op. 1 &2 plus the complete Beethoven Twelve Variations on a theme by Handel and Mozart. The concert takes place at Eva Clare Hall at the University of Manitoba – 65 Dafoe Road. Showtime is 7:30 PM. Tickets are $15 at the door. $5 for students. For more information call 894.7300.

Here is one our favourite recordings of Beethoven's Sonatas for Piano & Cello - Glenn Gould and cellist Leonard Rose . . .

 

 

On Wednesday (Apr 01) The  Winnipeg Art Gallery presents the  Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity Encore. These are the world's most prestigious advertising awards. Winners are selected from over 35,000 entries representing 94 countries, providing a fascinating window to the world. Don't miss the Winnipeg encore performance of the best commercials of 2014. The festival encore runs until Saturday April 4th. Keep in mind though that is has a PG rating. The themes and content may not be suitable for all children. Tickets are $12 of members, seniros and students. $14 for non-members.

 

 

 

 

Tune in to the Classic 107 Arts & Entertainment Calendar with Claudia Garcia de la Huerta every Thursday & Friday at 7:45 AM on Morning Light and 4:45 PM in the Diamond Lane, and at 11:15 AM Saturday mornings on the Morning Blend.*

Please note that the Classic 107 Arts & Entertainment Calendar will return Friday April 10th

Happy Easter everyone!