The Manitoba Chamber Orchestra explores the section of the repertoire rarely touched by large symphony orchestras. Growing from its first season of just three concerts in 1972, the MCO presents nine concerts (with several CBC Stereo co-presentations) annually at Westminster United Church. Since co-presentations with CBC Stereo began in 1984, Canadians across the country (roughly 3.7million annually) have enjoyed the Orchestra in numerous CBC Stereo broadcasts.

In May of 1986, the Manitoba Chamber Orchestra responded to its first out-of-province invitation and drew outstanding reviews for its performance at the Guelph Spring Festival. The MCO represented Manitoba at the Calgary Winter Olympics as part of the International Olympic Arts Festival. At the biennial meeting of the Association of Canadian Orchestras in 1990 in Victoria, BC, the Manitoba Chamber Orchestra was presented with a SOCAN Award of Merit for ‘the imaginative programming of contemporary Canadian music,’ due in no small part to the fact that the MCO premieres up to six new compositions each season. In May of 1993, the Orchestra returned to the Guelph Spring Festival for the third time, once again as ‘Ensemble in Residence.’

In March of 1995, the Manitoba Chamber Orchestra released its first compact disc on Sweden’s BIS label; Canadian Music for Chamber Orchestra (CD 698) contains works by Andrew MacDonald, Michael Matthews and Sophie-Carmen Eckhardt-Gramatté. It is the first time a North American orchestra has been recorded on the prestigious label and the disc is distributed internationally in over 45 countries. Since this time further recordings have been released. Anniversary celebrations in 1997 included the release of a limited edition 25th Anniversary compact disc featuring a live recording of CBC Radio’s 60th Anniversary concert. In October, 1998, the Orchestra released A Britten Serenade (SMCD 5187) on CBC Records. Also, Gerald Finzi: Meditation was released by CBC Records in 2000, Sea Sketches in 2003, and So Much To Tell, with Measha Brueggergosman, in 2004, also on CBC Records.

In its most ambitious touring project to date, the MCO visited Southern Italy in August, 1999, to perform at various music festivals there under the direction of guest conductor Fabio Mastrangelo. In all, the Orchestra appeared in five cities including Taranto, Polignano, Bari, Larino and Agnone, and were very warmly received wherever they went.

Most recently, the MCO conducted a very successful tour of British Columbia in the spring of 2003, performing to sold-out crowds in six of the seven venues, and appeared on the live broadcast of the Juno Awards from Winnipeg in April, 2005.

Whether ‘at home’ in Winnipeg, on the road, or on the air, the Manitoba Chamber Orchestra continues to explore that ‘new dimension’ in its art.

 

 

MCO's 2007/08 season is sponsored by The Great-West Life Assurance Company.
Support has been received from Media sponsors The Winnipeg Free Press, CBC Radio One 990,
CBC Radio Two 98.3, Golden West Radio & Shaw Cable. MCO's Chamber Chatter newsletter
is sponsored by PricewaterhouseCoopers. Heartstrings gala
sponsor: Mackenzie Financial Corporation.

© 2007 Manitoba Chamber Orchestra