For those who are fascinated by soaring, inspirational music, combined with visions of magical moments and imaginary people, then the First Ontario Art Centre of Milton was the place to be on February 16th 2023, enjoying the mesmerizing music of the Milton Philharmonic Orchestra.
Music Director and Conductor Luca Peveroni said that he was “really excited for this concert; the repertoire is challenging, diverse but all absolutely brilliant. The thread linking all the pieces on the program is ‘Fairy Tales’ and the power that music and art has to transport us to different times and places.”
The first piece was the “Overture to Oberon” by Carl Maria von Weber. Fairies, along with the mischievous sprite, Puck, gather around their magnificent King as he sleeps in a shady place beneath the trees.
The next item on the programme was “Peer Gynt, Op. 23”. That is the incidental music to Henrik Ibsen’s 1867 play of the same name, written by the Norwegian composer Edvard Grieg in 1875. Ibsen believed Peer Gynt, the Norwegian fairy tale on which his play is loosely based, to be rooted in fact, and several of the characters were modeled after Ibsen’s own family. The entire story involves Scandinavian fairies, witches and various magical characters. The mysterious happenings include quests and adventure through seas and forests and especially “ In the Hall of the Mountain King”- a well-loved piece of music performed wonderfully by the MPO.
Jordan Jinosko composed the next musical presentation: “Freyja’s Chariot”. The concert programme describes her as a “multi-racial, queer composer who draws inspiration from history, mythology, and nature. As she grew up, music continued to provide Jordan with endless emotional excursions, distracting her from the difficulties of her life, namely the fact that she had been born into the wrong body; as a transgender child, Jordan experienced emotional pain, but she learned that, with a few notes, she could be anywhere and feel anything. Jordan’s music has been featured in the US, Canada, and Europe—in live events, on the radio, and online via streaming platforms. Through her music, she hopes to bring people together and raise awareness for important issues.”
“Freyja’s Chariot” by Jordan Jinosko takes the form of an exploration of mythology and folklore. Freyja (Old Norse for Lady) is a goddess associated with love, beauty, fertility, sex, war, gold, and magic for seeing and influencing the future. Freyja rides a chariot pulled by two cats. She is accompanied by a boar and possesses a cloak of falcon feathers. Freyja’s husband, the god Óðr, is frequently absent. She cries tears of red gold and searches for him.
Finally, the last piece on the programme, Robert Schumann’s “Symphony No. 3”, connected the spellbound audience to nature and the spiritual, depicting a journey Schumann took with his wife to the Rhineland. He described this trip as soul-soothing and spiritual, “as if I had been on a pilgrimage.”
Luca Peveroni is a conductor, trumpeter and teacher. Originally from Pavia, Italy, he is the Director of Music for the Milton Philharmonic Orchestra and the Royal Canadian Navy Band of His Majesty’s Canadian Ship, Star. Luca is also part of the conducting instruction team for the Canadian Forces School of Music, developing skills, knowledge and philosophy to prepare new conductors for service across the country.
The programme for this concert states that: “The Milton Philharmonic Orchestra is a community orchestra with a mission of bringing high-quality classical music to Milton, Ontario. A group of volunteer musicians gather every Monday from 7:30–10 PM to rehearse and make beautiful music together right here at the FOAC. Since its founding in 2014, the musicians of the Milton Philharmonic have come from many backgrounds, and all walks of life.”
The Orchestra welcomes auditions for volunteer players of all instruments to be considered for future openings or to be on the substitute list.
Proficiency on an orchestral instrument and orchestral experience are preferred.
To inquire about joining the Milton Philharmonic Orchestra, please visit:- www.miltonphilharmonic.com/auditions or lucapeveroni@gmail.com
The next much anticipated MPO concert to be presented at the First Ontario Art Centre, on May 6th, will include works by Mozart and Beethoven.
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