To commemorate the 100th anniversary of George Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue, the Saskatoon Symphony Orchestra is giving its audience a blast from the past with a Roaring Twenties themed concert.

The production’s conductor, Melanie Leonard, says the orchestra will be performing Rhapsody in Blue and American in Paris, both by Gershwin, as well as Symphony No. 1 Afro American by William Grant Still. “Symphony No. 1 by William Grant Still was the first symphony written by an African American and performed for a United States audience by a leading orchestra. It was premiered in 1931,” she states. She adds that Grant Still and Gershwin had an interesting correlation. “We know that Gershwin would go to concerts by William Grant Still, and actually, the third movement of the symphony, the theme that William Grant Still wrote, we think is what inspired Gershwin to write the famous I Got Rhythm”.

Leonard adds that the musicians will be joined on stage by Daniel Clarke Bouchard, a talented pianist that has worked with world-renowned orchestras, and even appeared on Ellen as a child prodigy. Leonard says she is most excited for the jazz-influenced music, meeting the audience, and sharing the stage with the musicians. She notes that although these songs are a century old or more, their quality will ensure that they are timeless for years to come. “It reaches through time because it resonates with people. The piece is extremely well written.” The production is February 10th at TCU Place.