I have spent some time looking at the arts and culture calendar for Flin Flon and area in the last couple of weeks, to try and get myself prepared for writing these columns and I have to say, again, it’s impressive! There is so much happening, it is completely insane for a community and a region of our size/population.
NorVA Centre and Gallery still have their Manitoba Arts Network Exhibit, “Fever Dreams” by Joseph Reyes on display in the Johnny’s building, 177 Green Street. It will be in place until the end of the month. They are also offering another palette knife poppies paint night on Jan. 19, complete with a palette knife safety talk by Karen Clark and Jan Modler. Call them at 204-687-4237 for more information.
The Central Canada Film Group presents another in their series of TIFF films, on Jan.18 at Hapnot Collegiate’s Dorothy Ash Theatre. This time it is “Their Finest” a Second World War drama that has received very good notices from the New York Times, The Guardian and Rotten Tomatoes. It’s a British film that harkens back to those phenomenal black and white films of the 1940’s, with Vaseline on the lens for the heroine’s close-up but made with entirely modern technology.
It stars Gemma Arterton and Bill Nighy, actors who may not be household names in North America but who are enormous talents nonetheless, in a sweet movie about making war propaganda films. The Brits want the Americans to enter the war so they set about making a film that will entice them. This film-within-a-film sets the stage for a romance. Rotten Tomatoes gave it a 90 per cent freshness rating – pretty high praise. The movie starts at 7:30 pm but come early to buy your treats and settle in. The cost is $10.
On Jan. 24 we are in for a very special treat when Quartetto Gelato brings their brand of music to our R. H. Channing Auditorium stage. We will be blown away by this group of amazing musicians who have been playing concert stages all over the world for several years. Each is multi-instrumental, with Peter DeSotto playing violin and mandolin and singing. He is a glorious tenor (and yes, I am partial!) who seems to float effortlessly through “Danny Boy,” “Besame Mucho” – a jazz standard, all the way to Nessun Dorma from “Turandot.” He is very exciting.
Then there is Alexander Sevastian, who was born in Minsk, Belarus and joined the group in 2002. He plays accordion like you have never heard before, piano and bandoneon, a kind of concertina usually featured in Argentinian tango bands. He plays an extraordinary range of music from classical to gypsy jazz. Oh boy!
Next, there is Colin Maier from Calgary, Alta. In his undergraduate studies he focused on the oboe but he also plays clarinet, English horn, bassoon, violin, banjo, acoustic and electric bass, piano, saxophone, flute, guitar, mandolin and the saw! As if that is not enough, he has had an extensive career in musical theatre, dance and even a Cirque du Soleil show. He is currently coordinator and professor of oboe in the Music Ed program at Brock University in St. Catherine’s Ont.
The fourth member of the quartet is Lisa McClelland who graduated from the Glenn Gould School of Music at University of Toronto and has recently completed her Masters of Music degree at University of Western Ontario in London ON. She plays cello but in a range from symphony to rock and roll. She seems to favour chamber ensembles, however, and recently premiered Canadian composer R. Murray Schaeffer’s new work called ‘The Children’s Crusade’.
This is going to be a remarkable performance and the R.H. Channing Auditorium is really big so there are many good seats left. There will be treats for sale, new art to view and perhaps another Arts Council surprise so do get your tickets for this event. They are only $30 and are available at Northern Rainbow’s End. Next column look forward to Swingin’ ‘50’s and Home Routes.
