The Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra is recruiting members of the public to sit among its ranks this week – and that’s everything that audience members have to do!
From the Inside Out is the WSO’s latest attempt to engage music lovers of all stripes in new and exciting ways. It sees members of the audience seated on the stage at the Centennial Concert Hall amongst the musicians in a 360-degree orchestral immersion, with maestro Daniel Raiskin standing in the middle of it all, leading the orchestra in works by Franz Schubert, Pyotr Illyich Tchaikovsky, and John Williams.
While having audience members between instrumentalists understandably creates performance challenges, WSO clarinetist Alex Whitehead says the experience is a worthwhile one. “I had a blast,” he said at the conclusion of the concert. “It was so fun to have everyone sitting so close… they could even read along my music.”
“It definitely adds a layer of challenge, but I thought it was good, and it pushed me to really dive in and listen more and become really hyper aware of what everyone else is playing.”
Whitehead found himself sitting next to two sixth graders during the performance, both of whom were just starting their own journeys on the clarinet. “It’s really great for them to see what it can be at the end.”
Another audience member learning about the instruments during From the Inside Out was Alenna Mark. Not only was she sitting in the viola section of the orchestra for the performance, but she also took advantage of what the WSO branded an “instrument petting zoo” in the lobby before the concert, where people could try out various instruments from a trumpet to a violin.
“I noticed that they put their fingers on their bow differently than I had been taught [at the petting zoo],” Mark laughed. “I wasn’t sure if that was like a novice move that they got me to do.”
The whole experience was a joyful one for Mark, who teaches musical theatre classes in Winnipeg. “They say music is a dance, but when you’re actually in it and you can feel all the instruments moving together, it was just so fantastic. I didn’t want it to end.”
“My cheeks hurt because I just smiled the entire time. It was the most amazing sound.”
Winnipeg music lovers will get two more chances to experience From the Inside Out on January 29 and 30 at 7:30 p.m. For tickets and more information, visit the WSO’s box office.