The University of Lethbridge's Recital Hall will welcome a bona fide "festival" when the Windy Mountain Music Festival kicks off its concert series here, Thursday, May 28.
Celebrating works by composers of the past and executed by musicians and performers of the present, Windy Mountain promises a variety of music and musicians across a variety of locations.
The Recital Hall is a new venue this year, hosting the first concert of the series. A pre-concert talk begins at 7:15 p.m. with the concert to follow at 8 p.m. An opportunity to meet the musicians follows the concert.
"We chose the U of L Recital Hall for the first performance for two reasons," says Gerard Gibbs, general manager, Windy Mountain Music Festival. "It is the finest recital space in the city of Lethbridge and it's also home to the Faculty of Fine Arts, a new partner in the music festival. The hall holds 200 guests, and we are sure you will agree it is a great fit to showcase the hard work and dedication of the performers featured at the festival."
The concert in the Recital Hall is entitled Glass Reflections and includes music from Italian composer Nino Rota, a work by American composer Phillip Glass (performed by special guests the Smith Quartet), a Rondeau for Glass Harmonica, violins, viola, cello and bass and music by Schubert.
The second and third concerts in the series allow patrons to take a step back in time, as they will be held in Fort Macleod's Empress Theatre.
"This venue is the province's oldest operating theatre, and is at the heart of Fort Macleod," says Gibbs. "Be sure to notice many of the original features from the past exhibited throughout the building while enjoying works performed by the wonderful guest performers of today."
The fourth concert, at the Anglican Christ Church of Fort Macleod, honours the rich history of southern Alberta with an inspirational piece written as a tribute to the life of Jerry Potts by composer Allen Bell. Throughout the performance, author Fred Stenson will also recite segments from his written work on the life of Jerry Potts.
The festival closes at a third new venue, Christ Church Elbow Park in Calgary.
"As a member of the Calgary classical music community, I've had the opportunity to perform in Christ Church Elbow Park numerous times and I'm very pleased we were able to add this as our final venue of the festival. Aside from being one of the most outstanding acoustic spaces in the city, it is located in a serene neighborhood that you might think is an extension of our customary rural settings," says Gibbs.
A Festival Pass for all five concerts is priced at $98, while tickets for individual performances are $26 for regular admission and $12 for students. To purchase tickets, call toll free 800-540-9229, or locally 403-553-4404 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday to Friday. Tickets may also be purchased online at www.windymountain.ca