On the evening of Saturday, March 9 and the afternoon of Sunday, March 10, the Sagebrush Theatre and the Nexus at First will be transformed into a giant comic book with a beautiful orchestral soundtrack when we present our next concert, Light The Night: A Symphonic Graphic Novel. This concert is a unique audiovisual experience that combines 800 hand-drawn illustrations by artist Pauline Stive stitched together as a symphonic narrative by Catherine Varvaro, with works by Alma Mahler-Werfel and her first husband Gustav Mahler telling the story of Alma’s struggles and aspirations and as a composer and woman in the early 20th century. Light the Night creators Pauline Stive and Catharine Varvaro recently won the Prix Opus Regions award at the 27th Opus Prize gala for this extraordinary concert experience.

Joining the KSO on stage is local dramatic soprano Heidi Muendel. Heidi recently returned to Canada after 10 years singing and teaching in Europe. Some of her operatic credits include: the title roles of Turandot, Ariadne auf Naxos and Norma, Leonora from Fidelio, Amelia in Un Ballo in Maschera, and Santuzza from Cavalleria rusticana. Her concert credits include  Verdi’s Requiem, Beethoven’s 9th Symphony and solo concerts with the Vancouver, Victoria, and Winnipeg Symphony orchestras. She is returning to performing after a break to raise her daughter. Heidi continues to teach both her European and Canadian students, conduct two local choirs, and offer vocal workshops internationally. Heidi holds a Master’s in Music in Opera Performance from the University of British Columbia, was a regional finalist of the Metropolitan Opera Competition and recipient of the Canada Council Career Development Grant, and has benefited from studies at the Franz Schubert-Institute (Vienna) with a scholarship from the Johann Strauss Foundation, International Vocal Arts Institute, directed by Metropolitan Opera’s Joan Dornemann, and New York Opera Studio with Nico and Carol Castel and more recently participated in concerts and training in Spain with Janice Baird and Margaret Singer.

Inspired in part by Alma Mahler’s private diaries, Light The Night explores love, loss, creativity, and identity through stunning images and powerful music. We invite you to join them us Sagebrush Theatre and The Nexus at First to witness this fusion of artforms celebrating women’s voices in music in honour of International Women’s Day.

Tickets for the Kamloops performance start at $25 for the KSO Up Close Seats (the front three rows of Sagebrush Theatre). Tier two tickets—the upper seating area—start at $31.49 for seniors and $34.99 for adults. Tier one tickets—the lower seating area—start at $46.76 for seniors and $51.99 for adults. Tickets for the Salmon Arm performance are $37.55 if purchased in advance, or $40 at the door. KSOundcheck members (age 19-34) can get $15 tickets and Youth (under 19) tickets are only $10 to all KSO concerts. All ticket sales are through Kamloops Live Box Office by calling 250-374-5483 or going to kamloopslive.ca.