Sault Symphony Orchestra launches new season with ‘European Tour’

The Sault Symphony Orchestra won’t be travelling to Europe in the near future so they’ll be bringing the sounds of European classical music here as the orchestra launches its 2023-24 season.

The SSO will perform European Tour beginning at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 22 at The Machine Shop.

“We have the work of six composers representing different countries in Europe,” said Stephen Mallinger, SSO artistic director and conductor speaking to SooToday.

“Bartok was Hungarian, Parry was English. Gabriel Faure was French and his Pavane is a short piece but very famous. The Dvorak pieces are Czech, De Falla is Spanish and Grieg was Norwegian. There’s a lot of different styles and a lot of different countries and therefore you’re going to hear a lot of variety in the music,” Mallinger said.

The program’s unifying element lies in the fact that it’s composed of classical dance music.

“It’s up and down in tempo. It’s a real variety of styles, sounds, colour and speed. It’s a huge pallet of music we’ll be presenting,” Mallinger said.

“We’ve had some really great practices. This is a real quality program. It’s so fun to play music written by well known composers. You can immediately hear their signature on the music.”

The orchestra begins its new season with the ever-present need for sponsors.

“Our board members have really worked hard to get sponsors,” Mallinger said of the orchestra’s current financial situation. 

It was announced Sept. 21 that the Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony had declared bankruptcy and had ceased all future operations after its 78-year history.

“That orchestra was the third-largest professional orchestra in Ontario. That doesn’t make me nervous, but with orchestras and any arts organization in Ontario, in Canada, you’re always thinking ‘can we actually afford to do this?’ and without the support of the community, both in terms of attendance and sponsorship, we simply can’t exist,” Mallinger said.

“Things are OK. We’re stable, but we always need help. The minute we stop asking for help, it disappears and we won’t be able to function. That’s the reality of running an orchestra in an isolated community.”

All but one of the orchestra’s four 2023-24 performances will be held at The Machine Shop.

For its Christmas performance, the SSO will be presenting The Nutcracker beginning at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 16 at the Sault Community Theatre Centre.

Ballet Jorgen, a Toronto-based professional ballet company, will join the orchestra for that performance.

“They usually perform with pre-recorded audio but we play live with them. We’re one of the few orchestras that they play live with,” Mallinger said.

The SSO has played with Ballet Jorgen on several previous occasions.

“It’s so exciting having live dance and live music together, especially with The Nutcracker because it’s so well known,” Mallinger said.

The season will continue with Classical Spectacular Sunday, Feb. 25 beginning at 2 p.m.

That performance will include Sault native James Gardiner, a Toronto Symphony Orchestra trumpet soloist.

“It will be great to have him with us. Jim’s a fantastic player. He makes an absolutely great sound on the trumpet and he’s a very easy musician to work with. He’s a totally professional player,” Mallinger said.

The orchestra will present On Broadway as its last show of the season beginning at 2 p.m. Sunday May 12 - Mother’s Day.

“Our last concert always seems to fall on Mother’s Day which is a nice way to entertain your mother. Why not take her to a concert?” Mallinger said.

“On Broadway will include melodies that everybody knows, from the big popular Broadway shows.”

Before its 2023-24 season officially starts, the SSO will present a Kids Concert event for children at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 21 at Precious Blood Cathedral's church hall.

There is room for approximately 50 attendees. 

Admission to that event is free but donations to the SSO are accepted.

Looking back, Mallinger said the SSO’s 2022-23 season, its first full series of performances after COVID, was very well attended.

The orchestra will have a roster of approximately 40 musicians for its upcoming shows, closer to 50 for The Nutcracker.

The SSO includes 14 musicians from Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan.

“We couldn’t do without them,” Mallinger said.

“It’s great for both sides, Ontarians and people from Michigan. It’s great to be able to mix two international communities together and play music.”

More information on the Sault Symphony Orchestra’s 2023-24 performances - and how to become a sponsor - can be found on the SSO website.