Former WSO conductor and violinist Victor Feldbrill has, arguably, done more for Canadian music than any other Canadian conductor. Last month, he turned 92, so this week, in celebration of his birthday, we are reacquainting his many friends here in Winnipeg with his contributions to Canadian music. Tune in Wednesday night at midnight for an ENCORE performance following Jazz After 9.

This week on 60 Minutes with the WSO, host Alexander Micklethwate looks at the career of Victor Feldbrill, WSO Music Director from 1958 to 1968. When he was at the helm of the Winnipeg Symphony, the WSO performed more Canadian music than every other Canadian Orchestra combined. There was at least one Canadian piece on every single classics concert throughout the season. He was the youngest Canadian conductor to become Music Director of a Canadian orchestra at 34 years old. He was also the first conductor to put the WSO under a contract for an entire season, creating a nucleus orchestra that he would add additional musicians to as needed.

 

Victor Feldbrill

 

On this week’s show, we will hear from James Manishen, we’ll talk to retired WSO violist Elsie Chrunyk about working with Feldbrill, and we’ll have some interview excerpts from Feldbrill’s In conversation with James Manishen, a documentary that was recorded for his 80th birthday.

We'll also get to hear some music by a number of Canadian composers that were personal friends of Feldbrill’s going back to his student days---including Glenn Gould, Godfry Ridout, Harry Somers and more!

 

Tune in to 60 Minutes with the WSO every Sunday at 5PM. And don't forget about our ENCORE performances every Monday evening at 8PM and Wednesday night at midnight following Jazz After 9.