Calgary Philharmonic opens season with Drake X Tchaikovsky

Come for the hits — stay for the classics.

Along with theatre companies in Calgary, the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra (CPO) says ticket sales are hot at Arts Commons for live music.

CEO Marc Stevens says there are many new faces among the familiar ones.

“Some habits have changed with the pandemic, but a lot of people tried new things after that, and a lot of people have discovered the performing arts and the orchestra sometimes for the first time,” he said. “We are seeing a lot of positive trends and we are seeing a lot of happy folks at all of our concerts.”

The CPO kicks off this season with Tchaikovsky X Drake — a mashup of a modern legend and a classical one.

It’s not the first time conductor Steve Hackman has put together a mashup medley performance with the CPO — he’s also been involved in past performances of Brahms Vs. Radiohead or Beethoven Vs. Coldplay.

Stevens says using pop culture-type performances is a gateway for people to experience the power of classical music and an orchestra. He says he himself stumbled across the classical world in that way.

“You see people coming to those concerts because they love the subject, the brand, the artist maybe. And then they realize, hang on a second, this is an orchestra. What a beautiful, powerful, amazing beast this is,” he said. “And I have every confidence that once someone has heard an orchestra in full flight and been blown away by that, the emotional roller coaster is like nothing else, and until you’ve experienced that you don’t know what you are missing.”

On Sunday the CPO is linking up with Run Calgary for the annual Beat Beethoven event at Prince’s Island Park. The run itself requires registration but the music is free.

The entire season plan is now laid out at the Calgary Philharmonic website.