Conductor Les Dala's final performance with the Prince George Symphony Orchestra was a triumph.
This was about as big an entertainment spectacle as it is possible to see here - complete with all the frills and flourishes. The Sunday afternoon event was timed to become the major concert event of the BC Choral Federation's Chorfest celebration hosted by the Prince George Cantata Singers.
Requiring a huge stage to hold the orchestra and choirs, the Civic Centre staff and volunteers had worked hard to transform the space into a performance venue.
Extra seats were added as the crowd grew with brisk last-minute ticket sales. Since opera libretti are more commonly in Italian or German, native speakers of those languages enjoy enhanced understanding of the performances.
Conductor and choir directors helped the audience follow the story with quick descriptions of the action.
The orchestra and choirs began the ambitious program playing excerpts from Wagner's Lohengrin and Nicolai's Merry Wives of Windsor.
Conductor Dala welcomed the audience and introduced special guest soprano Sarah Kirsch. She performed animated interpretations of the Laughing Song from Die Fledermaus and Musetta's Waltz from La Boheme. Her outstanding voice drew comments during intermission.
Those having experienced performances in the grand opera houses of Vienna, Milan and New York - acknowledged that her talent equalled any they had heard.
The BC Youth Choir, comprised of young people from all over the province, opened the concert's second half. Singing in English, they performed a beautiful lullaby and two opera choruses.
Verdi's grand and magnificent Overture to Nabucco was enthusiastically received. Dala acknowledged it was this music that caused a sensation and made the composer become a major music star.
Sarah Kirsch returned to the stage to perform the arias from Rigoletto and Un Ballo in Baschera. Once again, her impressive talent moved the audience to a spontaneous and extended standing ovation.
A stirring event took place during performance of the Anvil Chorus from Il Trovatore. A select group of PGSO stalwarts took to the stage and formed the needed "percussion" section to provide clanging sounds.
No actual anvils were used; instead they banged away on brake drums and large pieces of angle iron. Dala called the group "Prince George's Heavy-Metal Band" and they lived up to that description with energetic, rhythmic banging.
The last selection was the Grand Triumphal March from Aida. It was carried off with enough magnificence to distract the audience from a rather pathetic absence of any elephants or horses on stage.
Verdi's impressive work seemed an appropriate choice to end the concert. "It has been a pleasure to lead this wonderful orchestra," said Les Dala.
He described the PGSO as a jewel and a gem in this community and voiced a plea that classical music should continue to be supported. He urged everyone to bring in new audience members to enjoy future concerts.
After three callbacks from the enthusiastic audience, their applause was rewarded with an encore - a repeat of the Anvil Chorus and another round of raucous clanging.
A post-concert reception in the Civic Centre lobby gave people a chance to say fond farewells to Les Dala and wish him well in the next stage of his career.
"O" is also for outpouring of affection he most certainly enjoyed and deserved.
