Throw down your blanket, open up your picnic basket and be entertained at the fifth annual Picnic in the Park. A legacy from St. Albert's 150th anniversary, this alfresco feast and concert is a great way to make the most of summer.
Throw down your blanket, open up your picnic basket and be entertained at the fifth annual Picnic in the Park.
A legacy from St. Albert's 150th anniversary, this alfresco feast and concert is a great way to make the most of summer.
Held this Sunday afternoon at the St. Albert Botanic Park on the banks of the placid Sturgeon River, this highly desirable expanse is a scent-filled paradise of flowers and verdant spaces visitors like to explore.
People looking for a musical fix are encouraged to veer towards the gazebo where the Sturgeon String Quartet will play three half-hour sets between 1 p.m. and 4 p.m.
“It's always nice to play outside in the fresh air. It's fun for us – a change from orchestra repertoire,” said spokesperson Neda Yamach, a full-time violinist with Edmonton Symphony Orchestra.
Nancy Watt, one of the founders of St. Albert Chamber Music Society, contacted Yamach asking the St. Albert violinist to put together an ensemble for the event.
Yamach invited three elite musicians. Second violinist Christine Yu is a former member of the Malaysian Symphony and is now an on-call substitute with ESO.
Viola player Leanne Maitland is a founding member of Vif String Quartet and on occasion performs with Enterprise String Quartet and ESO.
Last but not least, Yamach added St. Albert's own Julia Dolman, a professional cellist who honed her chops at Edmonton Youth Orchestra, Kamara Quartet, University Symphony Orchestra and Academy Strings.
“It's fun to play with different people. You need to listen and adapt and I always find it a good challenge. A lot about your own personal playing is how well you blend with others in the group.”
The chamber quartet is designing an entertaining repertoire of light classics, pop tunes and movie tunes from the 1950s and 1960s.
A sampling of the program includes a new arrangement of French chanteuse Edith Piaf's La Vie En Rose, a sparkling Mozart piece and Etta James' huge crowd-pleaser At Last.
“We blend so well together and the different registers complement each other beautifully and we're lucky to have a lot of repertoire to choose from.”
In past years, the Spirit of St. Albert hosted the entire event. This year the St. Albert Chamber Music Society approached Margaret Plain, a major player at the botanic park and chair of the former St. Albert's 150th Anniversary Committee, to find ways of incorporating chamber music in the tranquil setting at the park.
“It's the first time we're doing it and we want to see how it goes. We want to see if there is an appetite for classical music. My wish is to see if it grows, we'd like to make it a weekend event or hold more frequent concerts through the summer,” Watt said.
Playing the devil's advocate, I mention some people head for the hills when they hear the words “chamber music.” As Watt explains, chamber music doesn't have to be classical.
“I can be contemporary leading into jazz. And I think it's wise for a quartet to do a variety so they can show chamber music does many things.”
As the quartet plays inside the park's wooden gazebo, several 20-foot by 20-foot wall-less tents with chairs will be pitched for visitors to escape either the blazing sun or pattering rain.
The event is free. With the park's huge grassy area, visitors can pack a picnic and blanket and stretch out enjoying a relaxed eat-and-sleep afternoon.
Lemonade, popcorn, ice cream and cookies will be available. A half-dozen visual artists are also bringing their canvasses for painting demonstrations.
As Yamach noted, “It'll be something different from an everyday Sunday. You listen to beautiful music, relax and enjoy the company of family and friends. And if you want to bring a few snacks and drink, it's fine. That's something I'd go to.”
