PEI Symphony Orchestra
Season opens with a talk, concert and reception—Oct 20
The Prince Edward Island Symphony Orchestra (PEISO) kicks off its 2024–25 season with Jaelem Bhate, making his conducting debut as the new PEISO Music Director on October 20 at the Sobey Family Theatre, Confederation Centre of the Arts.
“I simply can’t wait to make music with and for this community,” says Bhate. “This will be the first of many seasons that will celebrate music from composers and artists of all backgrounds in concerts that are created for all who call PEI home.”
The October 20 concert, titled People, Places and Things, celebrates the uniqueness of PEI. This program is designed to thrill, engage, and welcome a new era for the PEISO. The concert opens with “Surge and Swell” by Canadian composer Jared Miller, which begins with a few strings and xylophone and ends with the entire orchestra playing in unison at full volume. Helena Munktell’s “Bränningar” reflects how water and oceans unite us, whether in her native Sweden or along Canada’s coasts. This is followed by Erik Satie’s delicate and entrancing “Gymnopédies,” enhanced by Claude Debussy’s orchestration. The afternoon concludes with Sergei Rachmaninoff’s “Symphonic Dances,” a piece with a rich backstory and one of the most romantic, bombastic, and indulgent works in the orchestral repertoire.
“Whether you are a subscriber, a seasoned listener, or a first timer, it’s a chance to fall in love with the sheer sound of the orchestra,” continues Bhate. “Orchestras can tell stories through music, making us laugh, cry, engage with our communities both local and global, and can be a powerful call to action.”
Concert attendees are invited to a free pre-concert talk at 1:30 pm at Confederation Centre, as well as a post-concert reception to celebrate the start of the new season.
All concerts are held on Sundays at 2:30 pm. Tickets and subscriptions can be purchased by phone at 902-566-1267, online at confederationcentre.com, or in person at the Centre’s box office.