"Music begins where the possibilities of language ends," —Jean Sibelius.
The Cowichan Symphony Society kick off their season opener on Sept. 27 starting with the Finnish as they present Jean Sibelius: The Sound of Finland featuring Finnish conductor Christian Kluxen along with the talents of the Victoria Symphony. In 1940, Walt Disney paired famous classical symphonic music with his cartoons in the animated classic Fantasia which featured music from top tier composers such as Tchaikovsky, Bach, Beethoven, Dukas, Stravinsky. A fun fact is that Sibelius's 'The Swan of Tuonela' was originally to be part of it but due to expenses and the film becoming too long; it ended up being omitted.
"We're celebrating the 70th season for the Cowichan Symphony Society which means we're just a little bit younger than Fantasia is," said society president Peter Leckie. "We're starting the year with Finnish composer Jeaan Sibelius, and conductor Christian Kluxen who is presenting music from his own country, which is both internationally accepted, and extremely beautiful music."
Sibelius was known for being intimately connected with his environment, nature, animals and the setting of Finland, which was the inspiration for all of his music. Those attending the CSS season opener will be treated to works such as 'Symphony No. 7 in C Major', 'Sibelius Symphony No. 6 in D minor', and 'The Swan of Tuonela', which is about a mystical swan that is swimming in the dark black waters of Tuonela, the Hades or the realm of the dead in Finnish culture and tradition. The Finnish hero then goes off to kill the swan. This piece will feature English Horn player Russell Bajer who will be representing the swan of Tuonela.
"The music is incredibly beautiful, and simple," said Leckie. "The Cowichan Valley will get to experience what Walt Disney knew 85 years ago, and that is that Sibelius is fantastic and that he is one of the top composers of both the romantic and the modern era."
Attendees of the symphony season opener will be in for a special treat with the B.C. premiere of a piece co-commissioned by the National Arts Centre Orchestra and Houston Grand Opera. Ten years following the tragic death of his sister, opera star Joshua Hopkins showcases a powerful song cycle titled 'Songs for Murdered Sisters' which features poetic verse of Canadian author Margaret Atwood. This musical work featuring baritone Hopkins speaks out against domestic violence as it both honours Hopkins's sister's memory and comforts those who are in grief.
"It's a more modern piece about domestic violence and coping with death," said Leckie. "When we listen to the news, and hear about all that is going on in the world today how we cope and deal with it is important. It sounds kind of dark, and negative but it is really about how music helped him and others deal with horrible situations and how it helped him and others to grow, live, and survive these horrible experiences."
This will be one classical concert that lovers of symphony will want to experience so be sure to put a pin in your calendar; and then once there attendees can don a pin themselves. To celebrate 70 years of bringing the sounds of symphony to the Cowichan Valley, CSS are selling bronze pins for $70, silver for $350, or gold for $700 which works out to either $1, $5, or $10 for every one of the 70 years that CSS has been sharing light symphonic music.
"All the money raised from the selling of the support pins goes into our endowment fund which means it not only provides money for the symphony society, but it will continue to gain interest and help to pay for the future of our concerts," said Leckie. "Not only do you get to support the society, but you also help to guarantee we will keep having live symphonic, and Canadian music for many years to come."
The sounds of Finland will begin to fill the Cowichan Performing Arts Centre stage at 7:30 p.m. on Sept. 27. Adult tickets are $70 while admission for both children and students is $20. To purchase tickets for shows, go to cowichanpac.ca, or call the Cowichan Ticket Centre at 250-746-2722 or visit in person in the lobby of the Cowichan Community Centre on James Street in Duncan.
"In some ways music often transcends time, languages, and politics," said Leckie. "It can help you express yourself, and in the end it becomes a part of you and everyone in the Cowichan Valley [can find out] what Walt Disney knew all along; that Sibelius and his music are well worth listening to."
