Kinetic Catching of Ballet Kelowna dancers on stage during company
class Tuesday, February 6th at 12 noon – 1:15 pm.Anyone who wishes to photograph (no flash), sketch or ‘doodle’ what
they see and can capture from the anatomical and expressive gestures
of the dancers is invited to attend.

Kindly arrive by 11:45 for a brief overview of the use of space, no
pastels or paints to be used please.

We request that anyone interested please RSVP to Tix@venablestheatre.ca

No latecomers unless previously arranged please.

“Dancing” duo on piano and cello prove live music is magic

Passionate expressions, balletic graceful arms, muscular hands, caressing fingertips, joyful energy. Something utterly magical occurred onstage at the recent South Okanagan Concert Society presentation: dancers sat down and played the piano and cello. One might be forgiven for thinking the Cheng²Duo had Russian ballet in their blood.

Silvie Cheng, 26, on piano and her brother Bryan Cheng, 20, on cello held the audience spellbound through an evening of “Russian Soul”, celebrating the music of such Slavic giants, as Prokofiev and Rachmaninoff. As Bryan revealed in a charming anecdote, he has been trained and mentored by Russian teachers, and has developed a “Moscow sound”. The Chengs have been playing together as siblings for fourteen years and touring professionally as Cheng²Duo (pronounced Cheng Squared Duo) for the last six. Do the math on that one. Among their numerous individual awards and accolades, the duo has recently been named by CBC as one of Canada’s “30 Hot Classical Musicians Under 30”.

The Cheng Squared program alternated between dramatic sonatas and short romantic pieces. The duo opened with a piece perfectly suited to their sibling relationship: Prokofiev’s Sonata in C Major. As Sylvie described in their introduction, the music is a “witty and mischievous conversation” between the two instruments. Like a watchful older sister, the piano took the lead in tempo and musical theme. Then like an irrepressible younger brother, the impish cello broke in with virtuosic brilliance.

Those tempted to close their eyes to listen missed the reason why nothing matches a live concert. The concert was as much about the athletic as the aural. Commanding centre stage, Bryan Cheng gave a riveting performance, pouring his energy into the bow and strings. His long lithe bowing released deep tones like golden honey. Then, moods shifting like sun and cloud on his face, he would bend to passionately “pizz” (pluck) the strings, tossing his head rhythmically with every note. On lush pieces by Scriabin (Romance), Arensky (Petit Ballade), Glazunov (Chant Du Menestrel) and Faure (Apres un reve), he lovingly massaged every vibrato, with his audience scarcely daring to breathe until even the shadow of a final note had died away. His artistry was as much a pas de deux with his cello as it was a musical performance.

Like a ballerina en pointe, Sylvie Cheng was precise, agile, but never lightweight. Dancing over the keys, her playing appeared so like delicate raindrops of sound, it needed a close look to see her fingers were actually touching the keyboard. And yet in the final movement of Rachmaninoff’s Sonata in Gm, with its rippling virtuosic passages for piano, Sylvie’s athletic playing received enthusiastic applause that brought the audience to its feet, demanding an encore.

Cari Burdett

The magic of live music returns to the Frank Venables Theatre on Friday February 9 when Cari Burdett’s rich mezzo voice stirs the heart with an evening of dramatic cabaret-style song.

Cari and her ensemble shift seamlessly between gypsy jazz, folk, musical theatre, light opera, and world music. This sensual performance, presented by the South Okanagan Concert Society, is perfect for a Valentine gift. Tickets available online at www.venablestheatre.ca or Tuesdays to Thursdays from the Venables box office (250) 498-1626.

Oliveronline digs up the dirt!To plant the seeds for more murals in town.We do love the graffiti, however that is not the goal. Murals good! Graffiti illegal!Murals are a great way to advertise businesses . . . . . . and leaves us great art by fabulous Artists like Glenn Clark. He may be from Pentiction but he left his grapes in Oliver! Next time you are at Medici’s for a fabulous cup of coffee take moment to enjoy this beautiful piece of art.And the bluff . . . spearheaded by Sally Franks and me, Leza Macdonald with a great crew most over 70, we brought this 90 x 20 ft mural in on time and with enough money left over for flowers for the Artists.

Happy Sunday, make it a great one!

NOT

The little train that could!Just add a little decorator light and . . magic!

SOUTH OKANAGAN CONCERT SOCIETY   3^rd  concert  February 9, 2018

Friday, February 9^th, Cari Burdett and her ensemble will be on stage at Venables Theatre at 7:30 pm as part of the South Okanagan Concert Society’s winter season.

The program entitled “Sweet Love” is the perfect Valentine treat!

Recently returned from studying on the big island of Hawaii with Rhiannon and Grammy Award winner, pianist and composer Lawrence Hobgood, Burdett’s rich mezzo voice stirs the heart and takes the audience around the world in song.

She delivers a vibrant genre-defying, fusion of jazz, folk, opera and world music seamlessly blending multiple European languages with a timeless, theatrical air.

Feel yourself transported into the night clubs of Paris, Rome, Berlin and New York.   Enjoy the timeless enchanting romantic performance of 40’s French Swing, Spanish Gypsy Jazz and aching Italian love songs that sizzle with energy and passion.

Cari will be accompanied by some amazingly  talented instrumentalists.   Juno award winning violinist Meredith Bates will be there with gypsy jazz guitarist Marc Atkinson, John Lee on bass and Adrian Dolan on piano, accordion and mandola.

Get your tickets on line at http://www.venablestheatre.ca or, for those who prefer to buy in person, at the theatre box office on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday between 10 and 3 pm.

Tickets $21 when you purchase a ticket or tickets to 2 shows.  A single ticket in advance is $23 and a single ticket at the door is $25.   Children and youth are only $2.50.

Burdett’s style, ‘Dramatic Gypsy Cabaret’ is the culmination of years of study and performance.  Like her gypsy ancestors, Cari is a troubadour, performing and teaching across Canada, Europe, USA and China.   Her multifaceted education includes classical voice, new music, opera, vocal improvisations, art song, dance, acting and musical theatre.

Burdett holds a music degree from McGill University and a Master’s degree in Opera from the Royal Academy of Music, London.   She presently resides in the Cowichan Valley on Vancouver Island and joyously shares the fruits of her training through performances and teaching as Director of Lila Music Centre in Duncan, B.C.

On February 10^th, the day after this concert, Cari will be hosting in Summerland a Vocal Training Workshop for adults and teens from 1 – 3 pm.

The workshop is geared towards those who love to sing and harmonize but want to dive in and explore rhythm, musical structure, harmonies, resonance and blending.

Don’t miss Cari and her Ensemble on their Valentine themed tour, “Sweet Love”.

We may have our differences but the bottom line, Oliver BC Canada is a great place to live with great people. Oliveronline is where our differences come together.

Read a book!

Sarah’s Book Lounge at Beyond Bliss, pamper your brain.

Between the Art Gallery and the Spa

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