The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
On Tuesday evening, the R.H. Channing Auditorium was filled with the sounds of the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra (WSO), aboriginal throat singers and our superb Flin Flon Community Choir. The packed house was treated to a wide variety of music, all of which was pleasing to the ear because it was performed so well. The WSO last graced our stage four years ago with a different composer in residence as well as a different Maestro. In talking to Patrick Carrabre, the resident composer, he said that this is his fourth year with the WSO. He has composed dozens of pieces for the symphony. The throat singers, Pauline Pemik and Inukshuk Aksalnik, were very easy to talk to. When asked if their type of 'singing' is hard on the throat, Inukshuk said, "Not if it is done right!" Pauline went on to explain that the sounds are made by tightening the vocal cords and breathing in. When you breath out that is the way a 'singer' softens the sound. The composer of their music for this particular concert lives in Brandon and the girls are from Rankin Inlet, so getting together for practicing took some planning. The Maestro, Andrey Boreyko, what a passionate man he was to watch conduct this concert. He obviously loves music. When speaking to him, he said that he actually conducts three orchestras ? one in Hamburg, Germany (which is his home base where his family lives), one in Switzerland and then of course Winnipeg. When asked if he always wanted to be a conductor, he replied, "Actually no, I wanted to be a composer but my teacher died and someone suggested that I try conducting. I just love it and consider myself so lucky that I am able to do a work that I love. Not everyone in the world is so fortunate." What a pleasant person to talk to! Actually, the whole WSO were very obliging and made themselves available to talk. Their first concert was at the The Pas and their next concert is in Thompson, Their northern trip includes plane, bus and train rides with the conclusion of their tour taking place in Churchill, where many are hoping to see a polar bear. Anyone who attended the concert last night, I am certain, felt it was well worth the price of the ticket.
