"The Barber of Seville Overture” and “Habanera” from composer Georges Bizet’s opera Carmen are just two of the 11 well-known opera pieces to be played by qathet Symphony Orchestra during an upcoming afternoon concert at Powell River Academy of Music.
The instrumentalists want to engage the audience in James Hall with familiar opera pieces and demonstrate for the community what the orchestra has been up to.
“Kevin Wilson is the conductor and he arranged some of the pieces for our orchestra,” said Angelika Hackett, a flutist in the group.
Some unusual elements that will be seen on stage are genuine metal anvils that were sourced locally.
“Someone [Chris Arkell] is going to be playing an anvil during the piece ‘Anvil Chorus’ from Il Trovatore by Verdi,” added Hackett.
A German exchange student has been invited to play a piano solo piece by Hungarian composer Franz Liszt at the halfway point of the concert.
“I joined when the orchestra formed in September 2021,” said Hackett. “We are all local amateur musicians at all different levels of playing.”
The orchestra welcomes anyone with an interest in stringed or symphonic instruments to join for practice, no matter what level. For more information, go to facebook.com/qathetorchestra.
The concert, An Afternoon at the Opera with qathet Symphony Orchestra, is by donation and takes place from 2 to 3:15 pm on Sunday, May 28.
