Issue link: http://digital.canadawide.com/i/157485
Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Hall As the WSO winds up for New York, Paddy McGee hits the streets for a preview tour (Carnegie Hall) Jeff Goldberg/ESTO, Keith Levit/WSO, Paddy McGee, (NYC) Michael S. Yamashita/Getty Images, (A. Mickelthwate) Nardella Photography Inc. A s the old joke goes, a man asks After all, his impressive resume cites such a pedestrian on a New York roles as assistant conductor with the Atlanta street, "How do you get to Symphony, and assistant conductor and Carnegie Hall?" The pedes- associate conductor with the Los Angeles trian answers, "practice, prac- Symphony. Of the latter, the Los Angeles tice, practice." Well, all the practice in the Times wrote: "No musical style seems to faze world will not get me there. Even if I tried, him." He's certainly reached great heights I'd simply go broke from the noise pollution since his time as a young man living in New fines. Instead, I'm riding there on the coat- York. Chuckling during a recent conversatails of no less than Alexander Mickelthwate. tion, the 43-year-old maestro tells me how A talented musician who has trained and he would "walk into Carnegie Hall to hear performed around the world, Mickelthwate its acoustics. I pretended that I was working is the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra's and belonged there, so nobody stopped music director and the driving force behind me." It amazes me to imagine that young its performance at Carnegie Hall's 2014 dreamer in Carnegie. Now the Germanborn director's dreams are coming to fruiSpring for Music Festival. The WSO has been working hard this tion, and he's bringing our symphony year in preparation for the event. In sym- along for this fantasy-turned-reality ride. With a spark in his eye and his hands phony terms, the maestro compares it to "the Winnipeg Jets winning the Stanley practically dancing in the air, Mickelthwate Cup." It's a big deal. And every Manitoban is undeniably passionate about our province should be proud. Of 36 symphony orches- and its music. Standing near the stage at tras, the WSO was one of seven chosen for Centennial Concert Hall in Winnipeg, he its unique program. Incorporating aspects of explains the WSO's Carnegie program: the province's culture and indigenous music, "What inspired me was that . . . literally the lineup will be performed on the world 50,000 years ago, in the wide deserted plains, stage by musicians who call Manitoba home. there was this powerful spiritual experience In conjunction with the May 8, 2014, show, of people drumming and singing that is CAA Travel is offering the WSO Spring for deep rooted in each one of us . . . and it Music Festival Tour. But that's months away; comes out still, here. It's something mysteriI'm lucky to be going on a preview trip this ous and powerful." I've come to think year to scope out all the high notes. of Mickelthwate as the pied piper leading Manitobans to Manhattan. I must confess I'm a symphony rookie. No matter how I try to convince myself, I It's been 23 years since I've been to the don't think my years playing the eupho- town that inspired the setting for Batman's nium in high school band class will give Gotham City. And like the comic, villains me much concert cred with Mickelthwate. could be found on every corner. Back then, I p18-23_MadeinMan.indd 19 WSO music director Alexander Mickelthwate. GOING PL ACES >> fa l l 2 0 1 3 19 13-08-14 1:24 PM