Birds of a Feather - with the Vancouver Island Symphony

The Vancouver Island Symphony presents

Birds of a Feather
Guest Artist: Paolo Bortolussi, Flute
Conductor: Pierre Simard
Saturday, April 20, 7:30 p.m.
Port Theatre, Nanaimo
Tickets: 250-754-8550 www.porttheatre.com
Pre and Post-Concert Talks

Soaring with the sound of birds and nature

The Vancouver Island Symphony, with Pierre Simard conducting, takes flight with a spectacular season finale, Birds of a Feather. On Saturday, April 20, the Port Theatre will be filled to the rafters with the beauteous melodies of birds and nature in a fascinating blend of music that creates images of the natural life in the far north, birds in flight, and tranquil European pastures. And for bird-watching enthusiasts, in the lobby there will be avian displays.

Cantus Articus (Concerto for Birds and Orchestra) – by Finnish composer Einojuhani Rautavaara, is mystical and breath-taking, rich and spring-like, and brings nature to life. With beautiful and rhapsodic music the listener is carried gently in flight over the northern landscape.

Ornithomancy – soars and moves with flocks of birds in its world premiere performance. Commissioned by the VI Symphony Ornithomancy is composed by Jocelyn Morlock, one of Canada’s most distinctive voices. In 2011 she was nominated for a Juno Award for Best Classical Composition of the Year and is now firmly established on the international new music scene. “I am intrigued by the concept of divination through the flight patterns of birds,” says Morlock. “I have a long-held fascination with birds of all kinds, their flight and songs, flocking activities and synchronized group motion. Birds are never really at rest. Their heads and eyes move constantly. Even when they are restful they can fly at any time.”

Adds Bortolussi, who is known as a passionate and provocative performer of a wide range of musical styles, “Ornithomancy is a beautiful piece; you can imagine birds in flight, diving and swooping, a very moment-to-moment type of piece, like watching bird formations in the sky – at times so close and active, and at other times distantly high, seemingly still, yet moving at a high rate of speed.”

Pastoral Symphony – by Beethoven, is the perfect season finale, not only for the joyful feelings that emanate from the music but from the images that reflect the rapture and beauty of nature. Beethoven himself was a lover of nature, and wrote in his diary, “No man loves the country more.” And in his music – the sounds of walking, country dancing, wind and rain, the shepherd’s song – and birds.

To find out more about this great music and the musicians take in the Pre-Concert Talk (at 6:30 p.m.) and stay afterwards for the Post-Concert Talk; and about birds, check out the avian displays in the lobby. Tickets for this grand finale concert are available by calling 250-754-8550.

For more information visit www.vancouverislandsymphony.com.

For information about Jocelyn Morlock visit www.jocelynmorlock.com