It’s music that’s brought joy to concert halls around the globe and it’s a work that conductor Judith Yan knows intimately.

“I’ve conducted Swan Lake more than 30 times for ballet and orchestra, all over the world and the musicians love every moment,” she says. “The last time I conducted it, with the Korean National Symphony, I was a little too enthusiastic and injured my right shoulder it was so glorious.”

What the audience might not know about Tchaikovsky’s most well-known work is in performance, there’s a big difference between the score for the orchestral suite and the score the ballet. That’s why Jan decided to create a suite that tells more of the story for the SSO performance of Swan Lake at TCU Place.

“It’s so beautiful, there’s not a single moment that’s wavering.”

“Swan Lake is a complete experience, love, mistaken identity, betrayal and sacrifice. The usual orchestral score is just a greatest hits,” explains Yan. “I picked the pieces from beginning to end that tell the whole story for our audience. It’s so beautiful, there’s not a single moment that’s wavering.”

“It’s a chance to experience something bigger than themselves, to bring a bit of beauty and joy into their lives.”

To compliment, the SSO will present Regina-born cellist Jonathan Craig Penner performing Tchaikovsky’s Rococo Variations in his debut with the orchestra.

“This is a very big deal for me, I’ve always looked up to these players and performing with them is an honour,” says Penner. “Whenever people listen to music like this, it’s a chance to experience something bigger than themselves, to bring a bit of beauty and joy into their lives.”

Also on the program, the Canadian premiere of composer and former Miss America (2019) Nia Imani Franklin’s Chrysalis Extended a piece that pays tribute to transformation and beauty.

“I hope the audience delights in our performance from beginning to end,” says Yan. “We’ve selected pieces that tell a story about life and passion, it will be magical.”

This performance will also be available for in-home viewing on the SSO’s ConcertStream.tv site.

 

SSO Presents: Swan Lake

Saturday Feb. 26

7:30p.m.

Tickets $36 – $80

For more information follow this link.