The Vancouver
Island Symphony presents
Back... by Popular Demand: Ken Lavigne
Conductor: Pierre Simard
Saturday, February 9, 7:30 p.m.
Qualicum Civic Centre - Tickets: Mulberry Bush Books, Parksville & Qualicum
Sunday, February 10, 2 p.m.
Port Theatre, Nanaimo - Tickets: 250-754-8550 www.porttheatre.com
He’s quite the salesman, a tenor who obviously believes passionately in his art and performance. “I’ll be singing a lot of romantic tenor love songs through the ages – love songs with a symphony orchestra – definitely stirring! There will be romance from around the world – French, Italian, German, Scottish... and of course there will be surprises!”
Back... by Popular Demand: Ken Lavigne
Conductor: Pierre Simard
Saturday, February 9, 7:30 p.m.
Qualicum Civic Centre - Tickets: Mulberry Bush Books, Parksville & Qualicum
Sunday, February 10, 2 p.m.
Port Theatre, Nanaimo - Tickets: 250-754-8550 www.porttheatre.com
Romancing with tenor Ken Lavigne
When it comes to Valentine’s
Day, Chemainus tenor Ken Lavigne, a popular charmer, storyteller, songwriter and
humorist says; “I think Valentine’s Day is one of those days that strikes
terror in men to be ultra romantic.” Then he paused while thinking about his
upcoming Back... by popular demand concerts
with Pierre Simard and the Vancouver Island Symphony at the Qualicum Civic Centre on Saturday, February 9 at
7:30 p.m., and the Port Theatre in Nanaimo on Sunday February 10 at 2 p.m. “You can only give so many cards and
chocolates. If you want to be creative, don’t give your loved one ‘things’,
give them an experience, like this concert!”
He’s quite the salesman, a tenor who obviously believes passionately in his art and performance. “I’ll be singing a lot of romantic tenor love songs through the ages – love songs with a symphony orchestra – definitely stirring! There will be romance from around the world – French, Italian, German, Scottish... and of course there will be surprises!”
Lavigne has been working on
not doing the same-old, same-old. “We are crafting the show to use the VI
Symphony to its greatest ability, and to highlight the songs and time of year.
Pierre is an absolute dream of a conductor. We have such a wonderful time
together on stage.”
It’s been a busy year: Lavigne has added to his list of great easy-listening
recordings with Show Time, released
in June. “It was inspired by the desire to finally record some of my favourite
musical theatre ballads. I love these songs and each one is special to me. Keep Holding On is doing well. The title
song was chosen to represent the mission of the Salvation Army and was used to
kick off their media campaign for their annual Christmas Kettle drive.”
Back to shows and opera: In 2012 Lavigne performed in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat at the Chemainus
Theatre Festival, Fallujah for City
Opera Vancouver, and Rattenbury with
the Other Guys Theatre Company in Victoria. “When getting back on stage in my
own show it’s a much more relaxing environment; it’s second nature to me to
sing a few songs and spin a few stories.”
A romantic
journey:
Lavigne’s choice of song and often hilarious unscripted stories embrace the
audience as he takes them on an inspiring journey of life, love, dreams, hope
and parenting. That’s real entertainment,
warm and fuzzy style with the rapturous sounds of a full orchestra. “In any kind of
romance you have to build trust,” he explains. “The first two or three songs of
any concert are about building a trust with the audience so they can go on a
journey with you for the next two hours knowing they are in good hands.” That’s
romance, Ken Lavigne style! With Lavigne the audience will indeed be in good
hands on a cozy, exciting and amorous musical journey.
Tickets for the Qualicum Civic Centre are at Mulberry Bush
Books in Parksville and Qualicum, and for the Port Theatre call 250-754=8550. For
more information visit www.vancouverislandsymphony.com. Keeping
Music LIVE! For information and formal biography of Ken Lavigne visit: www.kenlavigne.com.
