There's an added bonus to the Prince George Symphony Orchestra's Saturday Con Amore concert, featuring Vivace, a group of four pop opera singers.
Audience members can look for world-reknown cellist, Hans Nygaard, who joins the orchestra for the concert at Vanier Hall Saturday at 7:30 p.m.
Nygaard is a Scandinavian cellist who has recorded more than 35 CDs as a soloist, conductor and chamber musician. He has earned more than 40 prizes and awards including the Royal Philharmonic Award, Wilhelm Hansen Award, Music Critics Award and is the only musician to receive the prestigious Jacob Gade Award twice, in 1987 and 1992. He has performed for radio and television in more than 80 countries.
Nygaard is a sought-after teacher who instructs at Conservatoire of Ghent and Hochschule fur Music in Berlin and conducts master classes in England, France, Hong Kong, Brazil and the Middle East where he took part in the creation of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in Oman. Since 2012, he has been a professor at the Birmingham Conservatore.
Nygaard is considering making his home in Prince George.
"I did a lot of research first and this place has a lot going for it - especially lately," said Nygaard. "The orchestra and the conservatory of music are pointing very much in the right direction and it's very interesting to come into that at an early stage so the hope is that you can attract some of the right students with some of the right material so you can create something sustainable."
Nygaard said that in the symphony environment there are limited employment opportunities and very little opportunity for advancement.
"In the UK (United Kingdom) you feel very lucky to get a position and you appreciate it and in return you are very badly paid for your efforts, and your salary doesn't increase no matter how long you stay," explained Nygaard. "So no matter at what level you are, it can at times be very frustrating, which is why I went to the Middle East to help build the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in Oman."
Music is a global language, said Nygaard.
"And for me it's never been about the income, it's always been about the outcome," said Nygaard.
During the evening Nygaard and the rest of the orchestra will join Vivace, a group of four musicians including Melody Courage, Tiffany Desrosiers, Marc Devigne, and DJ Calhoun, as they put a new take on classical and modern music.
Con Amore will be Vivace's first concert with full orchestral back-up band, featuring a new arrangement by PGSO music director Kevin Zakresky during this one-night-only performance.
Vivace will perform classical favourites Flower Duet from Lakm, the tenor/bass Duet from The Pearl Fishers, the Puccini arias O mio babbino caro and Nessun dorma, plus crossover numbers like the Celine Dion/Andrea Bocelli hit, The Prayer.
Tickets are on sale at the PGSO office, through Ticketmaster, and at Studio 2880 Ticket Centre. Adults are $30, seniors $26, students $15.
