Cold weather has set in, but Edmonton is busier than ever

The World at Winspear
This popular series of world music continues at the Winspear Centre for Music with An Evening of North-African Music featuring Hamza El Din & Hassan Hakmoun (January 22). Hassan Hakmoun is originally from Marrakech and a master of Gnawa music, while Hamza El Din hails from Nubia, in Egypt, and is considered the father of modern Nubian music. On February 8, Paco De Lucia, considered by many to be perhaps the greatest living flamenco guitarist, will return to the Winspear stage.

In the theatre
Perhaps the most anticipated eventat least for those who remember it fondly from too many years ago to mentionis Jesus Christ, Superstar, playing at the Jubilee Auditorium from February 12 to 16. This was the first masterpiece from the legendary writing team of Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber, and includes hits like “I Don’t Know How to Love Him” and “Everything’s Alright.” At the other end of the theatre spectrum, Blue/Orange is the latest offering of The Citadel’s Big Rock Rice Theatre Series from January 20 to February 15. The series produces thought-provoking pieces; Blue/Orange is a battle of the minds in which two psychiatrists slug it out behind the closed doors of a mental ward, debating a patient’s treatment. The concept of “sanity” becomes relative in the frenzied rhythm of the dialogue. The Citadel also offer Measure for Measure, Shakespeare’s most psychologically complex play, from February 21 to March 21, and also Stones in his Pockets, from January 24 to February 15, the story of a sleepy Irish village invaded by the crew of a Hollywood mega-epic. Both are part of the Citadel’s Main Stage series (Citadel). Shadow Theatre’s The Last Train, running January 22 to February 8, is the world premier of a historical drama by the Edmonton playwriting team Beth Graham and Daniela Vlaskalic. In 1944 as Paris is about to be liberated, five women find themselves on the last train out of France, travelling towards Switzerland and an unknown fate. (Tix on the Square, 420-1757). Other plays worth investigating: Happy Birthday Wanda June at the Walterdale community theatre (January 28-February 7), Vincent in Brixton, a case study of the young Vincent Van Gogh, by the Theatre Network (February 5-22). The French-speaking La Cité Francophone’s Kaboom Theatre Festival features plays from February 5 to 21.

Dance
The Arden in St. Albert is hosting Decidedly Jazz Danceworks’ Pivoting Echoes on January 22a combination of live jazz music with jazz dance, while the Alberta Ballet offers Arias, on February 20 & 21: Four acclaimed female choreographers of diverse ages and styles will create bold new works set to vocal music possibly from the world of opera. The unique contemporary dance group Compagnie Marie Choinard will be at the Arden February 3 to present Etude #1, and Chorale.

For Kids
Kids have not been forgotten post-Christmas, either. In the continuing Symphony for Kids series at the Winspear Centre, The Flying Karamazov Brothers take the stage on January 24th, with combination of mayhem, music and laughter. The Fringe Theatre for Young People offer Pacamambo, a story by the award winning playwright Wajdi Mouawad, a Québec-based writer, actor and director, originally from Lebanon. Pacamambo premiers for the first time in English, at the brand new Transalta Arts Barns, January 30 to February 8. TV tots will delight in the stage show of Big Comfy Couch, at the Jubilee Auditorium on February 22.

Concerts
The Pink Floyd Experience returns to the Jubilee Auditorium on January 16. A tribute band, the Pink Floyd Experience recreates the psychedelic musical high spots in the life of Pink Floyd, one of the world’s most successful rock bands. Martyn Joseph, described as a “Welsh troubadour,” appears at the Arden, January 20th. Jann Arden fans can see the songstress on January 20 & 21 at the Winspear Centre. Critically acclaimed blues musician Otis Taylor appears at Festival Place on January 23, while the revolutionary Celtic fusion band Slainte Mhath (pronounced Slawncha Va) take over the Arden stage January 30th‹the same night Jerusalem Ridge, the bluegrass folk band who participated in the Edmonton Folk Music Festival, appear at Festival Place. Country /Cajun singer-songwriter Mary Gauthier is at Festival Place on February 6; soaring soprano grass roots singer Iris Dement is at the Arden, on February 11th; and Alberta-born French/English/Cree fusion singer Crystal Plamandon at the Horizon, February 14. Sarah Brightman, once Mrs Andrew Lloyd Webber, and singer extraordinaire, appears in her Harem World Tour at Rexall Place on February 25th.

Classical Concerts
The Edmonton Symphony Orchestra offer a smorgasbord of choices, including their Opus 1 & 2 series (January 31, February 21 & Febrary 7 & 28 respectively), the Robbins Pops series on January 23 & 24, featuring the Flying Karamazov Brothers, and the Nutron Lighter Classic series’ Much Ado About Mozart on January 15, and The Age of Elegance on February 12. Their Sunday Showcase on January 18 & February 22 showcase Canada’s finest emerging musicians, and solo orchestral players. The Edmonton Chamber Music Society bring one of Canada’s premier chamber music group, The Gryphon Trio, to the University of Alberta’s Convocation Hall on January 24; and the Baroque group, Camerata Koln, on February 28. The Horizon Stage present The Borealis String Quartet, a leading-edge young Canadian ensemble, on February 18.