The Orillia Silver Band celebrates folk music in the fall with an exciting Folk Festival Concert. The concert takes place on Sunday, October 23, 2022, 2:00 pm at the Orillia Opera House. Concert tickets are $25.00 for adults, $10.00 for students/children and are available from the Opera House Box Office. (Click here for tickets.) This is the band’s first concert of the 2022-2023 season.

The concert, called Folk Festival, is an eclectic look into music inspired by folk themes from many countries. Neil Barlow, the band’s Music Director and Conductor says “This concert is filled with great folk-based selections that range from operatic classics to driving Latin pop.”

The programme includes Overture to Nabucco, a stirring opera overture by Giuseppe Verdi noted for its connection to the Italian folk movements of national confederation. Ralph Pearce’s staggering Cry of the Warriors is an in-your-face rhapsody on the Welsh folk tune Men of Harlech. Two of the band’s cornetists – Fran Harvey and Robin Watson – will perform a very entertaining duet by Harry Mortimer entitled Mac and Mort. This is not to be missed! And a beautiful Dutch village is celebrated in Bliss, the recent folk-based composition of Jacob de Haan.

The title of our programme is taken from the fiery Russian “barn burner” called Folk Festival by Dimitri Shostakovich. Also included in the afternoon’s selections: Ary Barroso penned a modern folk-classic with his pop Latin tune called Brazil. And for those who love Mexican dance music, Peter Grahams’ three-movement Las Lluvias Grandes will get your feet going!

Please don’t miss this engaging afternoon of great music!