The Timmins Symphony Orchestra has another way to use technology to put on a concert despite COVID-19 restrictions. Director Josh Wood says an in-person concert that was planned for this weekend will be recorded, and livestreamed on Saturday, March 12th.
“We couldn’t rehearse with the full orchestra during January with restrictions,” Wood explains. “So we actually divided the orchestra into three groups – two string groups and a wind-brass group — and we’ve called it ‘Diversions.’”
That name comes partly from it being a diversion from the orchestra’s normal performances. The other reason is that three pieces that it will perform are called “divertimentos”.
“It’s just a fancy way of saying a diversion,” says Wood. “So this is music that was written to be performed at a party. Except this is music by Mozart and Haydn, people that really knew what they were doing.”
Another innovation is recording accompaniment to guest violinist Mary Beth Brown’s performance, and putting them together digitally for the presentation.
The concert will be streamed on the internet on Saturday, March 12th. Wood hopes a donation of $30.00 per viewer is made to the orchestra. That’s the standard price for a ticket to a live TSO concert.