CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. — Music lovers looking for an out-of-this-world experience will want to strap themselves into a seat for the next concert of the P.E.I. Symphony Orchestra (PEISO).
Titled “Space and the Rocket” it pairs “The Planets”, a seven-movement orchestral suite by English composer Gustav Holst with “The Hockey Sweater”, a short story by Roch Carrier, describing the childhood experience of a Maurice “Rocket” Richard fan.
“With this double experience, they’ll be immersed in an imaginative sound world where they’ll think about and enjoy the different colours of the orchestra and how these things evoke the planets themselves,” says maestro Mark Shapiro of the Nov. 24 concert in the Homburg Theatre of Confederation Centre of the Arts in Charlottetown, getting underway at 2:30 p.m.
“The Planets” also provides an opportunity for concertgoers to make associations with the heavenly spheres, which are given nicknames in this work.
“Mars is the bringer of war, Venus is the bringer of peace, Mercury is the messenger, Jupiter is jollity, Saturn is old age, Uranus is the magician and Neptune is the mystic,” says Shapiro.
Then, when it’s time for “The Hockey Sweater”, a different mood will be cast.
“It’s pure fun, and the music very vividly tells that story,” says Shapiro, adding Abigail Richardson-Schulte has written the score.
“The Hockey Sweater” is based on Carrier’s childhood experience in Sainte-Justine, Que., in 1946 as a fan of the Montreal Canadiens hockey team and its star player.
At the time, Carrier and his friends all wore Canadiens' sweaters with Richard's No. 9 on the back. When his mother orders a new sweater from the department store in Montreal after the old one has worn out, she is mistakenly sent a sweater of Montreal's rival, the Toronto Maple Leafs, instead.
Carrier faces the rejection of his peers, and his coach prevents him from playing.
“I think everybody knows that story from childhood. We’re delighted to have Patrick Ledwell narrating. I think he’s going to do a good job with that,” says Shapiro, during a telephone interview from New York City.
Back in Charlottetown, Bruce Craig, president of the PEISO, can’t wait for Nov. 24 concert.
“I’m really stoked about it. It’s one of those concerts that’s going to have really broad appeal. ‘The Planets’ is one of the most recognizable compositions,” he says.
That's because people have heard aspects of it used by John Williams in “Star Wars” and Hans Zimmer in “Gladiator”.
"It’s also an absolutely wonderful piece to introduce younger people to music. If someone has never gone to an orchestra concert, this is the one to do because it’s something they’ll recognize because they’ve heard it on television.”
Finally, “The Hockey Sweater”, the quintessential Canadian story, will add value to the program.
“Patrick Ledwell has a wonderful voice. He’s done this type of work before. And he and Mark will be bantering back and forth during the performance. And we’ll have the percussion boys in costume. It’s going to be a mini drama with lots of stuff going on in front of the stage.”
Shapiro says he can’t wait to work with Ledwell.
“He sent me some of his books, and I’ve watched some of his videos on YouTube and do think he’s hilarious. I also think our senses of humour are not dissimilar. So, I think we’re going to really click. And it’s going to be a fun show.”
If you go:
- What: “Space and the Rocket”
- When and where: Sunday, Nov. 24, 2:30 p.m., Homburg Theatre, Confederation Centre of the Arts, Charlottetown
- Tickets: Available from the Confederation Centre box office. Subscriptions can be purchased through the PEISO website, peisymphony.com
