While we would rather be seated at the hallowed Centennial Concert Hall, we can at least take solace in how Winnipeg performance groups are still keeping us entertained.
This month is no exception, with a brand-new initiative from Folklorama and even more intimate performances from the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra.
Folklorama: The Virtual Experience
Beginning this Friday, January 15 at 7 p.m. on YouTube and continuing on a weekly basis into March, Folklorama: The Virtual Experience works like Folklorama Talent, but instead of it being a live performance and workshop for your group, it is presented virtually while still maintaining a hands-on component.
During these performances/sessions, there will be time for Q & A's with the entertainers. Folklorama’s Tanya Williams will host each episode. To pay homage to last year’s Manitoba 150 celebrations (most of which were postponed and will thankfully be rescheduled in 2021) Folklorama is also creating 150 activity packages that correspond with some of the workshops. These packages, all free of charge, support the Safe at Home MB program – come with materials and goods that work in concert with the workshop, all sourced from local vendors with free delivery to your door.
This is a great way to be introduced to many of the city’s hugely talented, ethnically diverse artists, with themes like Latin American acrylic painting (Feb. 26), Indigenous hand drumming (Jan. 22), Métis beading (Jan. 29), Japanese origami (Feb. 19), Brazilian samba (March 12), the art of Chinese Lion Dance (Feb. 12), and Ghanese and West African dance and rhythms (Feb. 5).
It all starts Friday when A Voyageur Adventure, with entertainer and Master Storyteller TiBert le Voyageur (aka Rob Malo) demonstrates the ways voyageurs lived, played and entertained, all while celebrating the region's Métis and Francophone heritage.
The actual Folklorama Festival (Aug. 1-14, *pandemic permitting), combines food, drink, artisans, music and dance at pavilions representing nations and cultures from around the world. It is the world’s largest and longest-running multicultural festival.
You can book your free Folklorama: The Virtual Experience here.
WSO at Home’s winter season and New Music Festival
The Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra is continuing to livestream incredible performances in 2021, including the forthcoming New Music Festival (WNMF - Jan. 23, 26, 29), an annual marquee event that is celebrating three decades this month.
During WNMF music fans will be treated to works by Philip Glass, Emilie LeBel, Jessie Montgomery, Andrew Balfour and John Adams – all performed by WSO musicians and conducted by Daniel Raiskin. On top of this, the Jan. 26 performance comes courtesy of New York City chamber music collective Decoda Ensemble and will be streamed live from New York. As part of this, there will be a taped pre-concert chat and live post-concert chat hosted by Daniel Raiskin and Harry Stafylakis with composer Kinan Azmeh and composer/co-artistic director Brad Balliett.
Individual tickets are $25, with a full WNMF pass available for $49.
Fans of Mozart and Strauss (which really should be everyone) can also enjoy a livestream performance ($25) on Jan. 16 with WSO principal French horn player Patricia Evans and some of the symphony’s string section, while more performances are scheduled for February and March that you can find here.
