A long-time institution in Calgary’s arts scene, the Calgary Philharmonic, offers a variety of concerts throughout the year. Whether you enjoy classical or pop music, you will enjoy an spending an evening with the CPO.

They have classical concerts like "Mozart on the Mountain", and December 16th & December 17th’s performance of the holiday classic "Handel’s Messiah". However, in recent years the trend of having mainstream artists perform with the orchestra has become popular. In addition to Holly Cole on December 10th, the CPO has hosted Canadian singers like K.D. Lang, Jann Arden and rock band The Tea Party. It gives a chance to experience the orchestra to those who wouldn’t normally go.

Having had the pleasure of seeing Arden and the Tea Party with the orchestra, I can honestly say that, as amazing as these musicians are live in general, add strings and horns and it becomes an entirely new and musically striking performance.

We recently had the pleasure of seeing Lorna Luft perform with the CPO. Luft, who is the daughter of Judy Garland and the half-sister of Liza Minnelli, brought her critically acclaimed show "Songs my Mother Taught Me" to the Jack Singer Concert Hall in the EPCOR Centre for Performing Arts.

Luft equals both her mother and sister in voice and charisma. Singing classics like "Chicago" "Zing! Went the Strings of my Heart," "Rock-A-Bye Your Baby With A Dixie Melody," and "Meet me in St. Louis, Louis," Luft left her enraptured audience breathless with both laughter and amazement. During the finale, Luft sang about how those we love become stars in the sky, and how someday we will all become one too. In the final moments, her voice blended with her mother singing "Somewhere Over The Rainbow" and many in the audience were brought to tears.

In addition to paying tribute to Garland, Luft took time to also talk about her Godfather, "Uncle" Frank Sinatra, and fellow Rat Pack members Dean Martin and Sammy Davis Junior. Luft comes across as down to earth – not at all arrogant about having grown up with some of the true greats of the era.

Luft’s husband Colin Freeman was guest conductor and lead the talented CPO through the life of Garland, including a moving and amusing 17 minute medley of how Garland made it to Carnegie Hall in New York City.

Luft seemed genuinely humbled by the ovation the Calgary crowd gave her and the orchestra that evening. But as talented and amazing as Luft was, it was the inclusion of the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra that helped make the evening special.

Upcoming events vary from classical concerts (Classics: Suite, Song & Symphony on Jan 14/15, as well as The Genius of Mozart and Stravinsky on Feb 25/26) to pop music (ABBAmania on January 20, A Night at the Oscars featuring movie music on February 18/19) and even presenting an event with the Alberta Ballet on January 22nd. To listen to live orchestral music is truly an enriching experience that one should experience many times in their life.

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Contributor Jason Clevett |

Locale Calgary |

Topic Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra | Theatre |