Triumphant Launch at the new Frank Venables Theatre

…..Tenor Ken Lavigne’s “Road to Carnegie Hall” hits a high note.

An uplifting story.  A good looking, gifted tenor with a personality and a voice to match. An entertainer backed by equally skilled musicians. A compelling program of stories matched by songs. A “standing room only” audience spilling onto hastily placed stage seats..  A truly impressive performance space. A genuinely appreciative and understandably proud audience.

What a magnificent way to launch the brand new Frank Venables Theatre on Friday night. If you weren’t there, you missed something special!

From the first notes of “Funiculi Funicula” that started the program of Canadian tenor Ken Lavigne to the show stopping “Granada” a full two hours later, we were in the hands of five talented artists: Angus Kellet on the new grand piano and electric keyboard, Susan Cosco on  violin,  Simon Millington on base  and Casey Ryder on guitar. Over top of it all soared Ken’s magnificent voice, one that offers pure, powerful and controlled notes. Its no wonder he’s said to have “a voice of liquid gold”. Together these artists raised many of the pieces from lovely to sublime.

But there was more to Friday evening than grand music, it was Ken’s own story.  One that offers a seemingly impossible journey from naïve university music student to a gifted but financially strapped artist who finds a way to give an outstanding performance on the boards in one of the world’s most prestigious – and expensive – concert venues, Carnegie Hall and in front of 1,200 often jaded New Yorkers. How he got there involves a huge range of unlikely supporters including a pub owner, a car salesman and even a crusty, world weary  backstage manager at Carnegie Hall.  His narrative was delivered  in a humorous and self-deprecating style, perhaps channeling his inner Stuart McLean?  Each event in his story, however, also gave rise to glorious music. It allowed us to savour ballads such as the Scottish air “Loch Lomond”, opera classics like “Nessun Dorma” and popular show tunes like “Bring Him Home” from Les Miserables and King Arthur’s narcissistic “C’est Moi” from Camelot .  We were even treated to a pretty respectable imitation of Elvis Presley, complete with shiny jacket and swivel hips!

There were two highlights for me.  The first was Ken’s own composition written after his brother-in-law suffered near fatal climbing accident. As the young man struggled  to live, Ken began to think of his Carnegie Hall dream as a vanity project.  His subsequent mental struggle working through a deep time resulted in an inspiring song  with a hopeful message: when things get tight and you have to tie a knot in your lifeline always remember,  you are never alone. “Keep Holding On” subsequently went on to inspire an entire community to get behind the dreams of two young men; the one struggling to live and the other struggling to sing. You could have heard a pin drop as the last notes died away.  We were transported, moved and grateful for truly beautiful music and heartfelt words. Both of them were ultimately successful and achieved their dream.

Secondly, Ken’s personal story offered a parallel to that of the very theatre in which we were sitting Friday night. In both cases, a grand dream was kept alive in the face of unthinkable adversity thanks to a huge group of people who refused to let it die. That message resonated loud and clear with the audience but especially so when Ken applauded the community for pulling together to create “this truly remarkable space. You should be very, very proud.” He went on to say “we’re thrilled and honoured to be the first to perform here and be part of its history.”

Huge thanks have to go to the South Okanagan Concert Society under the leadership of Jan Marcotte for capping off a simply wonderful season with a delightfully entertaining and engaging finale. They not only  filled our fabulous new facility with music but set a high standard for all the performances that will follow in this wonderful space. People didn’t leave disappointed.

They left wanting more.

Photos supplied by Tom Szalay