Classical musicians to host unconventional concert in Okotoks

Music will be in the air as a classical duo pays a visit to Okotoks.

Soprano Cara McLeod and pianist Emilio De Mercato of the Alberta Symphony Orchestra are stopping Okotoks as part of their Music in the Air tour, a series of outdoor recitals held in informal settings.

The Okotoks stop is taking place at an acreage off of Big Rock Trail.

“It’s just been really magical, every one of them, because the audiences are all different, the locations are all different,” said McLeod.

“We talked about going to different public spaces, and it just kind of evolved from there,The connections have been amazing, because people have missed live music so much.”

With both musicians having done plenty of online and outdoor performance throughout the COVID pandemic, McLeod said the concept came together at the end of last winter.

“We got together in March and decided it would be a great idea to create a concert series,” she said. “It’s definitely a win-win for us and the audience, as it’s been really beautiful.”

During the approximately 40-minute program taking place at 6:30 p.m. on July 23, the audience can expect a blend of classic and contemporary music.

“It’s kind of unique just in the repertoire that we’re doing, classical and opera with a bit of crossover and pop music as well,” McLeod said.

The diverse environs have been far from the comforts of a world-class concert hall.

“It’s a different acoustic for me singing into a microphone with classical repertoire,” McLeod said. “It’s a challenge singing outside with the wind, the cats, the dogs, the sirens, the airplanes, helicopters, and weather.”

The difference is also real for the instrumentals of De Mercato, who is also the founder and music director of the ASO.

“And for Emilio of course, playing on a grand piano in a concert hall is kind of the pinnacle, and he’s also a conductor with the Alberta Symphony Orchestra,” she said, adding they even performed one show after electricity failed at the location.

“Our audience was amazing, they waited with us, so that was incredible,” she said. “Honestly, everything is an adventure.

“But we just really believe in the music and so it was still a labour of love.

“Even though there’s all these other kinds of issues to contend with that are outside of our norm, I do love a good adventure.”

What makes it worth it is being able to get in front of an audience again.

“I could cry, it’s really beautiful, people are grateful for the tour,” she said. “They haven’t heard live music for so long, so it’s just been really magical.”

The performance will also feature guest artist Barbara King, a mezzo soprano and co-founder of Calgary Concert Opera Company.

“I think people are really starving for these concerts since COVID,” King said. “And I think it's really important that they're putting this on.

“We were all waiting for the government to open things up again, because it hit the arts really hard.

“It’s almost surreal, because we’ve been locked down for so long, and we’ve been singing online for so long. I’ll never get used to that. It’s not the same thing. We’ve been dying for a live audience.”

The acreage where the concert will take place, belonging to King’s father-in-law, Calgary Piano House proprietor Art Gieck, will provide a “backyard concert” style experience, King added.

Patrons are encouraged to bring their own chairs or blankets.

There will be parking on site at the property, 47 Big Rock Trail, but there will be no public washrooms. 

Admission is by donation to the Alberta Symphony Orchestra Society to help cover the cost of the Music in the Air Tour, with a recommended $25 per person amount, for which a tax receipt would be issued.

Patrons are asked to RSVP ahead of time to 780-318-2981 or [email protected]

Visit www.facebook.com/MusicintheAir2021 for more information about the tour.