Kingston Symphony to perform second Masterworks concert for live audience

This Sunday marks the first time in nearly 18 months that the Kingston Symphony will perform for a live audience. The second Masterworks concert of the 2021-2022 season will take place at the Isabel Bader Centre for the Performing Arts.

Sunday’s concert explores the theme “Greatness from Small Things” and features Gounod’s Petite Symphonie, Mozart’s Symphony No. 25, and Schubert’s Symphony No. 6, according to a release from Kingston Symphony. Although written for a small orchestra, each of these symphonies showcases the composers at the height of their craft, the Symphony stated, adding that Gounod, Mozart, and Schubert have written masterworks that represent, without question, some of their very best. 

A limited number of in-person tickets are on sale for this event, which will take place at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 7, 2021. In September the Symphony live streamed their first Masterworks concert, and this month’s concert is available as a live stream as well. The live stream will be broadcast on the Kingston Symphony’s YouTube channel on Sunday and will be available to view for up to 48 hours after the performance, according to the release.

In describing his musical choices for this concert, Maestro Evan Mitchell urged audiences not to be fooled by the size of the pieces being performed. “These pieces are absolute powerhouses and I think they represent some of the finest compositions that these three composers ever created,” he stated. “I have no doubt you’re going to be humming the tunes from [these pieces] for days after the concert. They’ve certainly been ear-worms for me!”

Kingston Symphony musicians, too, are eager to perform to a live audience once again, according to the release. Principal Oboe Melissa Scott stated she’s most excited to perform Gounod’s Petite Symphonie. “I haven’t played it since my undergraduate degree,” she explained. “So it will be a different experience, especially playing it [on stage] with all the talented woodwind players in the Kingston Symphony.” 

Evan Mitchell and Melissa Scott speak further about the upcoming performance in a video on the Symphony’s YouTube page here.

In addition, the Meet The Music pre-concert talk, hosted by Maestro Evan Mitchell, will be available via a digital link sent out prior to the concert on Sunday. Access is free when you purchase a ticket to either the live performance or the live stream. 

Limited tickets are available to attend in person and an unlimited number are available to access the concert online. In-person tickets are $40 each and live stream tickets are $15 each, both plus HST. They can be purchased online at www.kingstonsymphony.ca or by calling the Isabel Box Office at 613-533-2424.