Hey Winnipeg! We're officially into Autumn 2015 and there is no shortage of things to do and see in this beautiful city of ours. Let us be your guide!

Thursday night (Sept 24) Manitoba Opera presents 'Let's Talk Opera' backstage at the Centennial Concert Hall (Rehearsal Room #1). General Director & CEO Larry Derochers will talk about the latest trends in the world of opera, he'll give us a sneak peek at future MB Opera seasons, plus a look at the Manitoba Opera experience. The audience will then have a chance to share their thoughts about Manitoba Opera and how the organization can better serve the community. It all starts at 7:00 PM.  If you can't make it Thursday night, there will be another session Saturday morning (Sept 26) at 11:00 AM. To register call Natasha Macdonald-Sawh, 204-944-8824,or email nmacdonald-sawh@manitobaopera.mb.ca, or click HERE to register online.

                                                                         

Friday (Sept 25) the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra has a double header. If you're not busy in the morning and have an hour you can steal away starting at 10:30 AM. The orchestra is presenting a behind the scenes open rehearsal and concert performance of Beethoven's Symphony No. 4. The conductor for this performance is Brazillian born Marcelo Lehninger. Marcelo is currently in his third season as Music Director of the New West Symphony Orchestra in Los Angeles. He is also the Assistant Conductor of the Boston Symphony Orchestra and he'll be conducting our WSO this whole weekend. Along with an introduction to the work, you'll be able to hear all of Marcelo's comments to the orchestra and you'll be invited to participate in a question and answer session. For more information call the 204.949.3999 or go online. Tickets start at $25.

 

          

                                             

                       Marcelo Lehninger is the guest conductor this weekend with the WSO (Photo by Stu Rosner)

 

This of course all leads into this weekend's WSO concert featuring 15-year-old piano prodigy Umi Garrett. In a recent concert one critic wrote that Umi's piano skills "may well duplicate the effect felt by European audiences encountering Mozart in his earliest prodigy years." So what better work to include on the programme than a concerto from the Master himself---Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 23. Audiences will also be treated to Verdi's Overture to La Forza del destino and Beethoven's Symphony No. 4. At the helm will be guest conductor Marcelo Lehninger. Show time is 8:00 PM Friday night(Sept 25) at the Centennial Concert Hall. There is a second show Saturday night (Sept 26)—also at 8:00 PM. Tickets start at $25 and you can get through ticketmaster or directly through the WSO.

Watch this talk that Umi gave at a local TEDx event, produced independently of the TED Conferences. Umi says: "The power of music is that music is more beautiful if it is played for someone rather than yourself." In a mix of talk and performance, Umi showcases skillfully and beautifully a little part of her immense talent.

 

 

Friday (Sept 25) is also the launch of Culture Days 2015. The sixth annual event runs through to Sunday and will feature hundreds of free, hands on, interactive activities that invite the public to participate "behind-the-scenes", to discover the world of artists, creators, historians, architects, curators, designers and other creative people in communities here in Winnipeg and throughout Manitoba. Culture Days happens right across Canada and in fact, last year an estimated 2 million people participated in close to 8-thousand free activities hosted by artists and cultural organizations in 891 cities across the country. Here in Winnipeg there will be art exhibits, films, Photo exhibits, Music, Performance Art etc. For a list of all the activities click HERE.

 

 

 

Part of Culture Days is Nuit Blanche – a free all-night exploration and celebration of contemporary art. Saturday night (Sept 26) there will be dozens of independent events that happen throughout the night and into the wee hours of the morning in Winnipeg's downtown, The Exchange District and right here in St. Boniface. Every year Nuit Blanche attracts thousands of people who just want to celebrate and experience art. For example, starting at 10:30 PM just outside of the Royal Winnipeg Ballet Company, dancers from Prairie Sol – Fire Dance Productions will be igniting the night with their fire dances, the WAG is open until 3:00 AM and offering up music, dance, film & more. Starting at 6:00 PM and going through to 4:00 AM Graham Avenue , from Vaughan St. to Fort will become a spectacular display of illumination created by a group called In the Middle. I think you get the picture. To find out about all the things happening click HERE. Most of the events are absolutely free.

Here are some pictures from last year's Nuit Blanche.

 

                      

                                                   

 

 

On Sunday (Sept 27)afternoon the Manitoba Registered Music Teachers Association presents Megan Dufrat in concert at the Fort
Garry Mennonite Fellowship on Bayridge Ave. Megan, who is currently studying under the tutelage of Dr. David Moroz at the University of Manitoba, is the winner of the MRMTA Advanced Piano Scholarship. She was also a competitor for the Canadian Federation of Music Teachers National Piano Competition. Megan will be playing works by Oliver Messiaen, Haydn, Liszt and Alexina Louie. The concert is at 3:00 PM and tickets are $15 at the door. $5 for students and cash only.. If you are a MRMTA member, it is absolutely free.

 

Sunday night (Sept 24) marks the opening the Winnipeg Chamber Music Society's new season. The ensemble is made up of some of the top WSO chamber musicians – Concertmaster Gwen Hoebig, Associate Concertmaster and Western Canadian Award Music Award winner Karl Stobbe, Principal violist Daniel Scholz, Prinicipal cellist Yuri Hooker and from the Faculty of Music at the University of Manitoba pianist David Moroz. Sunday night's programme includes Beethoven's Trio in G major, Op. 9 no. 1 and Elgar's Quintet in A minor, Op. 84. This is the 29th season for the group and they kick it all off Sunday night, 8:00 PM at the Winnipeg Art Gallery in the Muriel Richardson Auditorium. Tickets are $25, $10 if you're a student and you can get them by calling the WSO Box Office at 204.949.3999 or at the door.

 

 

And finally, looking ahead to the week to come, The Royal Winnipeg Ballet will open its 76th season this coming Wednesday (Sept 30) with the Hamlet of ballet . . .the beautiful and haunting Giselle. Hailed as one of the greatest of all ballets and a supreme achievement of the Romantic era, It has captivated audiences worldwide since its premiere in Paris back in 1841. The run starts Wednesday night and goes through to next Sunday at the Centennial Concert Hall. Show time is 7:30 PM every night with the exception of a 2:00 PM matinee next weekend. For tickets call 204.956.2792 or go online.

***** WINNIPEG WHITE OUT: The RWB is bringing back the #WPGwhiteout! Jets fans might recognize the tradition of wearing white, but it is actually a French tradition. In Paris, the audience for a ballet blanc dress in white for the performance. Join the RWBwhite out and show your Winnipeg spirit!

 

 

Those are just some of the events happening in Winnipeg this weekend. Tune in to the Classic 107 Arts & Entertainment Calendar with Claudia Garcia de la Huerta every Thursday and Friday at 7:45 AM & 4:45 PM and Saturday mornings at 11:15 AM.