Good For The Soul: WSO with LaKisha Jones at the Capitol Theatre

We chose to get balcony seats so it was a nice view. 

Quick snap before the performance on Sat. Sept 23, 2023 - 8 pm.

 

It was a fun evening out at The Capitol Theatre this past weekend here in Windsor, Ontario. There is such nostalgia entering the building as it brought back great memories of a really special Valentine's date concert experience with Bill way back in 2009, which seems like so long ago!  Since that time, we've been back many times to enjoy various performances.

The Windsor Symphony Orchestra never disappoints with another wonderful evening of music. These musicians are really hard-working and so gifted with their instruments and performances.  To elevate the experience further, Flint Michigan's powerhouse of soul, LaKisha Jones crossed onto Canadian soil to share her beautiful voice with all of us.

It was a bit of a surprise not to see Robert Franz conducting on the stage that night, but his Assistant Conductor, Francisco Hernández Bolaños took his place and definitely held his own with his comedic charm with the audience between sets and of course, his passionate conducting style.  

LaKisha Jones was truly a sight to behold, every time she appeared on the stage in a different vibrant outfit. Her grace, confidence and voice through every song showed what a superstar she truly is.   

A few highlights:

👉The unique musical style of the WSO performing 2001 - Space Odyssey

👉James Bond medley - another nostalgic moment for me, as I had a previous online handle, known as 007! 

👉I Will Always Love You  - I was transported back to The Bodyguard soundtrack. LaKisha knocked it out of the park with her vocal range and emotional performance.

Celebrating the opening of Windsor Symphony Orchestra's Toldo Pops Concert Series, there's plenty more fantastic performances to come that no doubt will earn our R-E-S-P-E-C-T.

💜Performance schedule/booking tickets: WSO website

💜IG LaKisha Jones 

Getting Into The Spirit, Eh? 12 Days of Canadian Christmas – Toldo Holiday Pops

Check out my review of Toldo Holiday Pops - 12 Days of Canadian Christmas:

This time of year carries a mix of emotions for people, myself included.  It is meant to be a time of love but it also filled with a season of loss. However, there is something magically soothing just hearing violins playing in unison and the harmony of a choir that can really lift your spirits. Going to The Capitol Theatre here in Windsor, Ontario to see Toldo Holiday Pops – 12 Days of Canadian Christmas, presented by the Windsor Symphony Orchestra (WSO), feels like that hot cup of cocoa in your belly on a cold winter’s day – especially with tiny marshmallows on top!

With his sixth season as WSO’s Musical Director, Robert Franz is truly a sight to see! His contagious spirit radiates when he is conducting. His discipline and poise really bring something very special to this show that is definitely a crowd-pleaser for all ages. With a flounce in his step, Robert’s passion is undeniable. He is a musical marvel with a cheeky humour, complete with colourful and deliberate mismatched socks.

On vocals, Sara Fontaine steps onto the stage. With an extensive background in music, teaching and owning her own studio here in Windsor-Essex County, Sara’s voice can stop you in your tracks.  Singing “Joy To The World” in a jazzy/gospel style and hitting the high note in “All I Want For Christmas Is You,” will melt your heart. She is a powerhouse of sound and those were my two favourite sung by her.

The evening started out with a beautiful Overture on French Carols, and you could hear many favourites throughout the 2-hour show, such as: Little Drummer Boy, Feliz Navidad, Waltz of the Flowers, and a medley from the Polar Express film. The WSO orchestra chorus raised the bar with a chilling rendition of O’Holy Night that deserved a standing ovation.

The highlight of the evening was bringing best-selling book, A Porcupine in a Pine Tree, written by Helaine Becker and illustrated by Werner Zimmermann, to life with music.  A hilarious tribute to all things Canadian, including beaver tails, caribous, and of course, The Stanley Cup.

Not forgetting our Jewish friends, several Hanukkah songs were played, with the adorable Music Moves Kids choir from Director, Erin Armstrong and Windsor Essex Youth Choir from Danielle Sirek.

Of course, you cannot forget the big jolly guy who made a special appearance and made all the kids eyes light up. Some children wanted slime, others asked for an Elf on the Shelf. However, the best reply to “What would you like for Christmas?” had to be a little girl name Grace, who responded with, “I want a horse!” Clearly some planning went into that gift request!

Not surprising, it was announced that the Toldo Holiday Pops had a sold-out performance. If you’ve never been to the symphony before, I would recommend dipping your toes into this holiday show in the future and experiencing Maestro Franz and his exceptional team.  After all,  “without music, life would be a mistake” ― Friedrich Nietzsche.

The WSO returns on January 26 with French Connections, a journey of musical colours and textures by French composers. The program features a traditional French song, and Claude Debussy’s impressionistic suite Printemps. Members of the Windsor Symphony Youth Orchestra will join the WSO on stage and perform Faure’s Masques et Bergamasques.

The performance also showcases the World Premiere of Toronto-based composer Jordan Pal’s Trombone Concerto and Saint Saëns innovative Symphony No. 2 in A minor.