The Okanagan Symphony Orchestra is bringing four time award winning Minsoo Sohn back to the stages of the Okanagan for three performances of Colours of Russia March 10-12.
“We welcome the Honens Laureate, Korean Pianist Minsoo back. He brought the house down on his last visit and returns to show off his incredible musicianship,” said Rosemary Thomson, music director Okanagan Symphony Orchestra. “Everyone who experienced his extraordinary performance when he was last here will remember his poetic vision and virtuosity. He will bring Rachmaninov's Rhapsody on a Theme Paganini to life. To make the evening even more memorable, the orchestra will play Mussorgysky's epic composition Pictures at an Exhibition. Although the piece was originally composed for piano, Ravel created this version for orchestra, making the colours of the piece even more vibrant.”
Born in Korea, Sohn began piano studies at age three. He moved to Boston to study with Russell Sherman and Wha Kyung Byun at New England Conservatory where he received his artist diploma in 2004. He is currently on the faculty of Michigan State University.
Sohn has been described by the Boston Globe as an artist, a man who will create a life in music, find listeners and reward them. Known as a performer with poetic vision and musical intelligence, Sohn continues to garner praise from critics and audiences alike for his masterful virtuosity and deep musicianship. The latest accolade, published in the New York Times, called his Honens-label recording of Bach's Goldberg Variations a "beautifully articulated, radiant interpretation" and named it one of the top classical recordings of 2011.
Sohn has toured extensively throughout North America, Europe and Israel at important venues including Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall, Toronto's Glenn Gould Studio and St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts and Boston's Symphony Hall. He has also appeared at New Hampshire's Monadnock Festival, Spain's Santander Festival, Israel's Eilat Festival, Canada's Ottawa International Chamber Music Festival, Colors of Music festival, Tuckamore Festival and Gilmore Rising Stars Series.
“Minsoo is brilliant, his reviews express how audiences leave in awe over his performance,” said Thomson. “Mission City Record expresses it well with their comment Sohn is a perfect example of the synergistic miracle that can happen between composers and performers — how minds can meet at impossible distances of time and space, and create together.”
Colours of Russia opens in Kelowna on Friday, March 10 at 7:30 p.m. (doors open 6:30 p.m.) with performances in Penticton Saturday, March 11 at 7:30 p.m. (doors open 6:30 p.m.) and Vernon on Sunday, March 12 at 7 p.m. (doors open 6 p.m.). Tickets are $56.25 for adults; $49 for seniors and $26.75 for youth; the OSO also offers the front three rows of seating for $25 in all three theatres. Tickets are available for the Kelowna concert by phone through Kelowna Tickets or by phone 250-862-2867; for the Penticton through the Shatford Centre or by phone 888-974-9170 and the Vernon & District Performing Arts Centre phone 250-549-7469 or online via www.okanagansymphony.com.