A Manitoba Chamber Orchestra season does not often feature a flute soloist, but its next concert is an exciting exception. On Wednesday, November 26th, in Westminster United Church, the MCO will present the astonishing Israeli flutist Sharon Bezaly and a particularly intriguing programme.

Sharon Bezaly gave her debut concert as a soloist with the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Zubin Mehta, when she was just 14 years old. 'Classics Today' described Bezaly as "a flutist virtually without peer in the world today," and the 'International Record Review' has called her concerts "defining artistic events." The MCO's Anne Manson has worked and recorded with Bezaly, and has looked forward to introducing her to the MCO audience. 

Sharon Bezaly will perform in three of the programme's four works, beginning with La Notte, Antonio Vivaldi's Flute Concerto in G Minor (RV439). Things then veer off to South America and the Andes with two surprising pieces from Bezaly's acclaimed BIS Records release, 'Pipe Dreams.'

The tango manifests itself dreamily in Jose Serebrier's 'Flute Concerto with Tango,' a piece which he dedicated to Bezaly. Alberto Ginastera searched for a truly Argentinian musical language, and found its roots on plateaus of the puna, the high and dry grassland regions of the Andes. We will hear that composer's Impresiones de la puna.

The Orchestra will also take advantage of the extra brass on hand to present Joseph Haydn's 'Hornsignal' Symphony (No. 31, in Major (Hob. I:31)). Watch a video with Anne Manson, as she talks about the concert -- and the music -- at themco.ca.

McNally-Robinson event / At 7:30 pm on Monday, November 24th, enjoy a talk with conductor Anne Manson and Sharon Bezaly; McNally Robinson Booksellers, Grant Park Shopping Centre.

Pre-concert event / Arrive early for more music! Before the concert, a presentation by flute students of Laurel Ridd and Layla Roberts, University of Manitoba; 6:45 pm.

The concert begins at 7:30 pm in Westminster United Church, 745 Westminster at Maryland. Tickets are $30 for adults, $28 for seniors and $10 for students, including GST, and are available at McNally Robinson, the West End Cultural Centre (586 Ellice at Sherbrook), Organic Planet (877 Westminster Avenue) or through the MCO website (themco.ca). Call the MCO's Ticketline (204.783.7377).

Concert sponsor: LBL Holdings

MCO Guest Artist Sponsor: Marjorie & Morley Blankstein

MCO Concertmaster Sponsors: Shirley & David Permack and Liba & Tom Stillman -- in honour of Elaine & Neil Margolis's Special Anniversary

The Manitoba Chamber Orchestra's 2014/15 season is sponsored by CN. Media sponsors include the Winnipeg Free Press, Espace musique 89.9, Classic 107 and Golden West Radio. Northern outreach: OmniTRAX Canada. Music for all! program: Sun Life Financial.