The 2022/23 concert season will be a significant one for the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra (WSO) as they look to celebrate 75 years with a full return to concerts.
Featuring local, national and international talent, the season promises stellar artists performing ambitious programs marking the milestone anniversary.
With special guests like violinist James Ehnes, originally from Manitoba and now one of the world's most sought after violinists, pianist Jan Lisiecki, actor John de Lancie of Star Trek fame, Winnipeg's Crash Test Dummies and the return of former WSO music director Andrey Boreyko as guest conductor, 2022/23 promises to be a season of exciting and entertaining performances.
(A)bsolute Classics
OPENING NIGHT WITH JAMES EHNES
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2022 | 7:30 PM
Daniel Raiskin, conductor
James Ehnes, violin
Ludwig van Beethoven: Concerto in D major for Violin & Orchestra, Op. 61
Gustav Mahler: Symphony No. 5 in C-sharp minor
BOREYKO, TCHAIKOVSKY & DE FALLA
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2022 | 7:30 PM
Andrey Boreyko, conductor
Mykola Lysenko: Overture to Taras Bulba
Manuel de Falla (after Chopin): Fuego fatuo
Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky: Suite No. 3 in G major, Op. 55
DVOŘÁK’S SEVENTH SYMPHONY
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2023 | 7:30 PM
Daniel Raiskin, conductor
Chris Fensom, trumpet
Vítezslava Kaprálová: Suita rustica, Op. 19
Johann Nepomuk Hummel: Concerto in E-flat major for Trumpet & Orchestra
Antonín Dvořák: Symphony No. 7 in D minor, Op. 70
SPECIAL: ALEXEI VOLODIN PLAYS RACHMANINOFF 3
FRIDAY, MARCH 17, 2023 | 7:30 PM
Daniel Raiskin, conductor
Alexei Volodin, piano
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Symphony No. 41 in C major (Jupiter)
Sergei Rachmaninoff: Concerto No. 3 in D minor for Piano & Orchestra, Op. 30
RACHMANINOFF, BERLIOZ & ALEXEI VOLODIN
SATURDAY, MARCH 18, 2023 | 7:30 PM
Daniel Raiskin, conductor
Alexei Volodin, piano
Larysa Kuzmenko: Fantasy on a Theme by Beethoven
Sergei Rachmaninoff: Concerto No. 2 in C minor for Piano & Orchestra, Op. 18
Hector Berlioz: Symphonie fantastique, Op. 14
ODE TO JOY! – BEETHOVEN’S NINTH & SPECIAL GUEST JAN LISIECKI
SATURDAY, MAY 13, 2023 | 7:30 PM
Daniel Raiskin, conductor
Jan Lisiecki, piano
Marie-Josée Lord, soprano
Catherine Daniel, mezzo-soprano
Michael Nyby, baritone
Charles Reid, tenor
WSO 75th Anniversary Choir
Frédéric Chopin: Concerto No. 1 in E minor for Piano & Orchestra, Op. 11
Ludwig van Beethoven: Symphony No. 9 in D minor, Op. 125, Choral
(B)eyond Classics
RAISKIN CONDUCTS SHOSTAKOVICH
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2022 | 7:30 PM
Daniel Raiskin, conductor
Bryan Cheng, cello
Maxim Berezovsky: Symphony in C Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky: Variations on a Rococo Theme, Op. 33 (original version)
Erich Wolfgang Korngold: Cello Concerto, Op. 37
Dmitri Shostakovich: Symphony No. 10 in E minor, Op. 93
VIOLINS OF HOPE
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2022 | 7:30 PM
Daniel Raiskin, conductor
Avshi Weinstein, presenter
Gwen Hoebig, violin
Sonia Lazar, violin
Sergei Prokofiev: Overture on Hebrew Themes
Joseph Achron: Hebrew Melody, Op. 33
Rudolf Sieczynski: Vienna, My City of Dreams
John Williams: Theme from Schindler’s List
Marc Lavry: Three Jewish Dances
Myroslav Skoryk: Melody
Johannes Brahms: Symphony No. 3 in F major, Op. 90
GRIEG’S PEER GYNT
SATURDAY, JANUARY 21, 2023 | 7:30 PM
Daniel Raiskin, conductor
John de Lancie, narrator
Andrea Lett, soprano
Julie Lumsden, soprano
Kyle Briscoe, tenor
University of Manitoba Singers • Elroy Friesen, director
Edvard Grieg: Peer Gynt, Op. 23
AMY BEACH’S GAELIC SYMPHONY
SATURDAY, MARCH 4, 2023 | 7:30 PM
Daniel Raiskin, conductor
Demarre McGill, flute
Andrew Balfour: new work
Michael Tilson Thomas: Notturno
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Concerto No. 1 in G major for Flute & Orchestra
Amy Marcy Cheney Beach: Symphony No. 2 in E minor, Op. 32, Gaelic
BRAHMS’ REQUIEM
SATURDAY, APRIL 1, 2023 | 7:30 PM
Yuri Klaz, conductor
Winnipeg Philharmonic Choir • Yuri Klaz, artistic director
Gregory Dahl, baritone
Lara Ciekiewicz, soprano
Antonin Dvorák: Te Deum, Op. 103
Johannes Brahms: Ein deutsches Requiem, Op. 45 (A German Requiem)
Live at the WSO
(Formerly Pops)
CRASH TEST DUMMIES
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2022 | 7:30 PM
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2022 | 7:30 PM
Julian Pellicano, Conductor
Hometown heroes the Crash Test Dummies reunite to perform favourites from their catalogue for two nights with your WSO.
SYMPHONY OF ILLUSIONS
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2022 | 7:30 PM
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2022 | 2 PM
Julian Pellicano, conductor
Michael Grandinetti, magician
Witness a jaw-dropping performance by a master illusionist, accompanied by spectacular symphonic selections.
A CELEBRATION OF NATIONS
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2022 | 7:30 PM
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2022 | 2 PM
Julian Pellicano, conductor
SYMPHONIC FLY
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2023 | 7:30 PM
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2023 | 2 PM
Julian Pellicano, conductor
FLY Dance Company, dancers
Attend an unforgettable performance where theatrical hip-hop dance meets the power of classical music.
THE ULTIMATE ABBA TRIBUTE WITH RAJATON
SATURDAY, APRIL 15, 2023 | 7:30 PM
SUNDAY, APRIL 16, 2023 | 2 PM
Julian Pellicano, conductor
Rajaton, vocal group
Rejoice in the upbeat re-creation of your favourite ABBA tunes with the WSO and Finnish a cappella group Rajaton.
Kids Concerts
ALLIGATOR PIE
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2022 | 2 PM
Naomi Woo, conductor
Canadian poet Dennis Lee’s well-loved children’s rhymes come to life through music and song with a fun and whimsical orchestral score by Canadian composer Abigail Richardson-Schulte.
A FLICKER OF LIGHT ON A WINTER’S NIGHT
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2022 | 2 PM
Platypus Theatre
Naomi Woo, conductor
Through the magic of music, a mysterious stranger helps three cranky children discover the true spirit of the holidays by weaving a tale about our best-loved holiday traditions.
MELODIUS PRIME VS. THE BOYZ OF NOISE
SUNDAY, JANUARY 15, 2023 | 2 PM
Mr. Mark, entertainer
Manny Tuba, WSO mascot
Naomi Woo, conductor
Winnipeg’s one and only Super-Duper Symphonic Superhero needs your help to save conductor Naomi Woo and the orchestra from the diabolical schemes of Kaos and Konfuzed, the evil Boyz of Noise!
THE MYSTERIOUS MAESTRO
SUNDAY, MARCH 26, 2023 | 2 PM
Dandi Productions
Naomi Woo, conductor
A little girl who loves to sing moves to the town of Hamelin, where music is forbidden, 30 years after the infamous Pied Piper has led all of Hamelin’s children away. Hannah breaks this musical silence with the help of a talkative rat and her passion for grand music.