Hey Winnipeg! Put on your seatbelts because this weekend is crazy with the amount of stuff that's going on!

You know Fall has arrived when theatre season begins. Thursday night (Oct 15), Prairie Theatre Exchange launches the 2015/2016 season with a fun and thrilling chase through the back roads of Ireland with the Irish hit Little Thing, Big Thing by Donal O'Kelly. The play tells the story of Sister Martha and Larry, the ex con who discover that little things have the power to become big things and they find themselves at the centre of Big Oil corruption. Little Thing, Big Thing runs until November 1st at Prairie Theatre Exchange. Go online for more information and tickets or call 204.942.5483.

 

                               

           Jennifer Lyon is Sister Martha and Gordon Gammie is Larry in PTE's season opener Little Thing, Big Thing Oct 15-Nov 01

 

Friday night (Oct 16), the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra presents the multi-faceted ensemble Quartetto Gelato! Chosen Best Classical ensemble at Canada's 2010 INDIE Awards, Quartetto Gelato commands the stage with latin rhythm, gypsy showpieces and beautiful Neopl songs. This is going to be a fun concert! Quartetto Gelato performs with the WSO Friday night (Oct 16) & Saturday night (Oct 17) at 8:00 PM and Sunday afternoon (Oct 18) at 2:00 PM. All the concerts are of course at the Centennial Concert Hall. Tickets start at $25 and you can get them online or by calling the WSO box office at 204.949.3999.

Don't forget to tune in Friday (Oct 16) morning at 8:30 AM when Quartetto Gelato accordionist Alexander Sevastien will be Michael Wolch's live in studio.

Here's a taste of the unique sound and performance style of Quartetto Gelatto. Can't wait to see what they'll vook up with the WSO!

 

 

Saturday night (Oct 17) the University of Winnipeg's premier recital & chamber music series, Virtuosi, presents pianist Pavel Kolesnikov and the Dover Quartet. Pavel is the winner of the 2012 Honens International Piano Competition and The Dover Quartet are winners of the 2013 Banff International String Quartet Comeptition. Both are in high demand and quickly becoming international stars. For us, they unite their talents on the stage Saturday night with a programme that includes Beethoven and Shostakovich. Showtime is 8:00 PM at Eckhardt-Grammatte Hall in the University of Winnipeg. For tickets call the Virtuosi box office at 204.786.9000 Tickets: Adults: $39 Under 30: $22 Students: $13

Programme: Beethoven Seven Bagatelles, Op. 33; String Quartet No. 7 in F major, Op. 59, No. 1, "Razoumovsky"; Shostakovich Piano Quintet in G minor, Op. 57.

Watch this great artist profile done by Honens on Pavel Kolesnikov below.

 

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Watch the Dover Quartet's winning performance at the 2013 Banff International String Quartet Competition below.

 

 

Also happening Saturday night (Oct 17) Izzy Asper Jazz Performances presents Mediterranean Mix: The Omer Avital Quintet. Praised by critics as "extraordinary" (New York Times) "roaringly inventive" (JAZZIZ), and, "one of the most exciting musicians to come onto the jazz scene in the 20 years" (DownBeat), this ensemble is led by Israeli-born Omer Avital. Omer has recorded and toured with Wynton Marsalis, Kenny Garrett, Brian Blade, Brad Mehldau and more. This weekend's concert will fuse exotic Middle Eastern grooves, joyful rhythms with traditional jazz to create a unique blending of musical traditions and cultures. The Omer Avital Quintet performs Saturday and Sunday at the Berney Theatre at RadyJCC. Showtime is 8:00 PM. For more information and tickets click HERE or call 204.477.7534.

Watch the Omer Avital Quintet in a performance of 'Old School' below.

 

 

On Sunday (Oct 18), the Women's Musical Club of Winnipeg launch their 2015/2016 concert series with a wonderful award winning quintet called WindSync.

 

 

Internationally recognized for their dramatic and engaging interpretations of classical music, this ensemble focuses on building a connection with audiences through adventurous programming and charismatic stage presence. Show time is 2:00 PM at the Winnipeg Art Gallery and tickets are just $25 dollars which you can get at McNally Robinson Booksellers or at the door. Students pay just $5 dollars.

Tune in Saturday morning morning on The Morning Blend when host Simeon Rusnak will welcome Garrett Hudson from the group . . .who also happens to be from Winnipeg and one other member from WindSync.

 

 

At 3:00 PM Sunday afternoon (Oct 18), The Winnipeg Singers launch their new season with a concert called He said/She Said: The Men & Women of The Winnipeg Singers. The programme has been selected to highlight the guys and gals of the choir. Selections include Liebeslied Lieder by John Greer, Ave Maria by Eleanor daley and Richte mich, Gott by Felix Mendelssohn and more. The concert is at 3:00 PM Sunday afternoon at the Crescent
Fort Rouge United Church. Tickets range from $15 to $30 and you can get them at McNally Robinson Booksellers, at the door or by calling 204.944.9100

 

                                            

 

 

Tune in to the Classic 107 Arts & Entertainment Calendar with Claudia Garcia de la Huerta every Thursday & Friday at 7:45 AM and 4:45 PM and Saturday mornings at 11:15 AM on The Morning Blend.