A large, male sperm whale underwater in the waters off of Sri Lanka. This male was seen with two females and was making the 'clang' sound, a mating call. Sperm whales seem to be most common here during late March and early April. But little research has been done and almost nothing is known about their family units, dialects and culture. (Brian Skerry)

The Saskatoon Symphony Orchestra will be having a whale of a time at Sid Buckwold this Saturday. 

In partnership with National Geographic and the University of Saskatchewan, the SSO will be performing a live soundtrack to an adaptation of ‘Secrets of the Whales’, a documentary series by James Cameron. Meanwhile, USask President Peter Stoicheff will be doing a live narration. 

Monica Chen from the Winipeg Symphony Orchestra will be a guest conductor for the show. She says this is her first time conducting alongside a live narrator.

“It is quite fascinating in terms of how the narrator is able to keep synced with the movie,” she explains.

Chen says the performance will be immersive, interesting, and educational for all ages. 

“I hope that the attendedees come away with an appreciation for the mammals, but also an awareness of how music can really transform the experience; how music is really a key player in all of the things that we watch and appreciate.” 

Chen says the audience will learn all there is to know about whales while also enjoying local talent and an immersive atmosphere. 

“The music itself is written in a way that transports the audience into the world of the whales.” 

Tickets are available online at saskatoonsymphony.org, and the show runs at 7:30 at Sid Buckwold Theatre.