“Performing in front of an audience, it’s a way we can all experience feelings, images, and sound together.”

Ask internationally acclaimed violinist Timothy Chooi what he likes to give and receive on Valentine’s Day and he’s quick to answer… The gift of music.

“It’s my love language, a way I can bring people on a journey with me to another world,” says Timothy Chooi. “Performing in front of an audience, it’s a way we can all experience feelings, images, and sound together.”

“I love coming back.”

Chooi will join the Saskatoon Symphony Orchestra in Sleeping Beauty at TCU Place. Chooi will take to the stage for a performance of Bruch’s Scottish Fantasy, Op. 46 and the piece will sweep us away to Scotland.

“It’s a piece that really plays itself and pays tribute to folk tunes of the region,” explains Chooi. “It’s that familiarity, melodies that we’ve all heard before expanded that connects to people’s hearts. I love Saskatoon – the people, the crowd, how open you all are to connecting with artists. I love coming back.”

The concert will continue with the title performance of Tchaikovsky’s classic ballet Sleeping Beauty. Conductor Judith Yan has curated the work to show off some of the most beautiful and romantic pieces.

“My colleagues in symphony orchestras don’t get to experience the genius of these works unless they’re hidden in a pit, playing for the ballet,” says Yan. “This performance will have the musicians front and center as they play this incredible, picturesque, passionate music.”

“It’s such a gift, such a luxury.”

The suite will tell the story of Sleeping Beauty from the baptism of Princess Aurora and the curse laid upon her then, fast forwarding to her 16th birthday where she and the kingdom are frozen in time and only a kiss from Prince Charming can put things right.

“I’ve conducted this work all over the world, about 15 times and it’s the pinnacle of ballets. Every time I conduct it, I discover more things that make it special,” says Yan. “It’s such a gift, such a luxury.”

The performance will be the first time Yan and Chooi work together. An opportunity that Yan says she wouldn’t miss.

“Timothy is not only virtuosic, but also a profoundly thoughtful musician,” she says. “I can’t wait to share the stage with him and bring this much-loved work to life.”