THUNDER BAY - After several years of uncertainty, the Thunder Bay Symphony Orchestra released its latest recording, and it includes some big names in Canadian classical music.
The recording, Into the Wonder, was released on Nov. 28 and includes the Canadian strings and piano ensemble, Gryphon Trio, as well as Juno-nominated composer, Jordan Pal.
Danny Johnson, executive producer of Into the Wonder, said the recording project first began five years ago, but it never got off the ground.
“It just didn’t happen because there were a lot of parts to put together,” he said.
But it was something the TBSO leadership wanted to see through, including Paul Inksetter, chair of the board who asked Johnson to help bring the project back to life.
“He asked if I could bring it back from the dead because it was pretty much written off,” he said.
The recording includes compositions by Pal, who is the resident composer with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra. According to Johnson, it took some time and help to get the TBSO ready to take on this recording, which included a lot of hard work from conductor, Arthur Post.
“Jordan’s music is great,” Johnson said. “It’s really beautiful and powerful stuff, but it’s not the easiest to play. So Arthur really got the orchestra in shape and they really rose to the occasion.”
Into the Wonder is being released by the record company, Analekta, one of the leading classical record companies in Canada.
“They really felt a connection to Jordan’s music and they felt that the recording was really professional,” Johnson said.
The recording could also be nominated for a Juno Award, with Analekta already applying for a nomination, which Johnson said would be a really nice feather in the cap of the orchestra.
But even working on this recording with such influential names in the Canadian classical music scene has been an amazing and rewarding experience for everyone involved.
“It gives the orchestra more presence, respectability, credibility,” Johnson said. “Not that this orchestra didn’t have credibility, but when you work with the Gryphon Trio, they travel throughout the whole world, they have 17 recordings, they’ve won a couple of Junos. They are very well respected and they came and were just amazing musicians. And the orchestra really held their own and rose to the occasion.”
Into the Wonder will be available following the TBSO’s Holiday Pops concert at the Thunder Bay Community Auditorium on Dec. 16. For more information on where to purchase Into the Wonder, visit the TBSO website.
