Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra In Concert
Founded in 1955, the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra has long been one of Alberta, Canada's most esteemed musical institutions. The Calgary Philharmonic plays in the acoustically acclaimed Jack Singer Concert Hall at Arts Commons, as well as its former home the Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium. It is also the resident orchestra for the Calgary Opera, the Alberta Ballet Company, and the Honens International Piano Competition. But a long and storied history led to the CPO's becoming what it is today.
In 1910, violinist A.P. Howell founded the First Calgary Symphony, which re-formed as the New Calgary Symphony in 1947, a synthesis of the Mount Royal Orchestra and the First Calgary Symphony. In 1955, under the baton of Dutch conductor Henry Plukker, the New Calgary Symphony merged with the Alberta Philharmonic, and became the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra. Today, the group often performs with the Calgary Philharmonic Chorus.
The CPO has made numerous recordings for CBC Records, taking on works by composers like Beethoven, Gershwin, Mahler, and Liszt. Since its inception, the CPO has worked with a number of incredible music directors, including Austrian conductor Hans Graf. The current music director is Norwegian conductor Rune Bergmann.
The CPO's repertoire combines traditional programming like Salute to Vienna New Year's Concert and programs featuring works by Ravel, Debussy, and Berlioz, with more modern shows featuring music by the likes of Radiohead, Marvin Gaye, and various film composers. Additionally, the orchestra has been known to perform live film scores alongside the films, pleasing fans of movie franchises like Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings.
The CPO's season runs until early summer 2019 and will feature, in addition to the aforementioned music, a number of exciting programs, including May's Controversial Classics, which places music by Stravinsky alongside challenging contemporary works by lauded composer John Corigliano. For the Romantics out there, catch the CPO's reading of Brahms' rapturous Double Concerto in March.