The Fraser Valley Philharmonic Society is presenting Mostly Mozart 2013 on June 15 at the UFV Theatre in Chilliwack.
In the vocal spotlight will be soprano Emili Losier, as featured soloist, accompanied by Orchestra Philomusica.
Losier has local ties, as she is returning home to the region from Finland where she had been studying.
It’s not by accident that Conductor Leonard Camplin has hand-picked a lively concert program celebrating the stellar work of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.
The concert also includes wonderful works by Handel, Gluck, Marcello and Pachelbel.
“Maestro Camplin has a particular devotion to Mozart,” said spokesperson Paula Quick. “One might even say he’s a Mozartist, with the utmost respect and devotion for not only how much music he produced, but for his incredible genius.”
The Philomusica is fortunate to have Camplin at the helm, said Quick. He was a former oboe player before realizing his calling was to conduct.
“He’s more than a conductor. He’s a real musician’s musician. His breadth of knowledge for the repertoire is stunning.”
Mozart’s La Finta Giardiniera Overture K196, will open the concert.
“La Finta is one of his earliest,” said Quick. “Mozart was 18 when he wrote it.”
Camplin points out in his program notes, that opera was Mozart’s favourite musical form, and that he went on to write several.
“This short overture is full of excitement and fun, and skips along with its scalic runs and chirpy sounds,” he wrote.
The UFV Theatre is a perfect venue for the soloist and orchestra, said Quick, and they performed there for a fundraiser last December. She appreciated the acoustics and lighting of the venue.
“It was a concerted decision on part of the board, not to see that beautiful theatre go unused,” she said. “It’s a perfect size for this type of concert, where the ideal number of patrons is 150 to 200.”
Another program highlight will be Canon in D Major.
Pachelbel’s beautiful Canon is immediately recognizable to many.
“But people don’t get to hear it that often with an orchestra,” noted Quick.
For fans of the Italian style, there’s Exsultate Jubilate, a work for voice and orchestra.
Camplin takes the audience back in time, when he introduces Handel’s Entry of the Queen of Sheba.
“The music depicts the Ethiopian Queen of Sheba arriving at King Solomon’s palace in Jerusalem with gifts of gold and precious stones as an expression of her adoration of his great wisdom and wealth.
“It is a sprightly, spirited work featuring two oboes,” and will be performed by Alex Maier and Margaret Smiley.
The soloist’s opera journey began in 2005 with a fourth place national prize in the Canadian television series, So You Want to be an Opera Singer? and recently Losier took second prize in the Lappeenranta Singing Competition. This year alone Losier will perform four opera roles.
She was born in Hope and took her musical training in Chilliwack at the Academy of Music, and then at Sibelius Academy, in Helsinki, Finland, where she obtained a Master’s of Opera.
Mostly Mozart 2013, Saturday, June 15 at 7:30 p.m., University of the Fraser Valley Theatre. Tickets $25 /$20 for seniors/youth available at the Cultural Centre. For more go to www.fraserphilharmonic.com or emililosier.com or 604-316-2729 or 604-391-7469.