It’s almost Mother’s Day, and you forgot to put something together, didn’t you? If that’s not the case, good job! Because I absolutely forgot. I swear if it were the same numbered day every year, like Christmas or Halloween, it’d be easier to remember, but it’s that second Sunday in May timing that just seems unnecessarily deceptive. It’s as if the calendar gods were intent on testing us head-in-the-sky children who really ought to be paying more attention. Luckily, if you’re reading this, and it’s not May 13, you probably have time to put together a little Mother’s Day magic. And what’s better than a fully catered cabaret-style performance of show tunes with the ladies of the Edmonton Metro Chamber Choir?
Mireille Rijavec says it’s something that the choir hasn’t done before during her time as a member. This performance will be comprised of an all-woman chorus of 25 and is one of the performances in which Edmonton Metro steers away from the classical and into popular music.
“It’s good to get out of our comfort zone,” says Rijavec, who feels confident ahead of her first performance conducting with Edmonton Metro. “It’s been fun because I do a warmup with them, and then we talk about a musical theatre sound, what the difference is, and how to produce it.” Since most members are classically trained, they often find it more challenging to engage in some of the different expressions that Broadway employs.
The show started off as a standard performance for the choir, but due to scheduling, it ended up landing on Mother’s Day. Then it started to shift focus as the themes of Mother’s Day and the all-woman performance began to overlap, which then influenced the song choices as well. “There’s kind of a story from childhood to women coming into their own personalities, a bit of a progression in theme,” says Rijavec.
And, of course, a Mother’s Day performance wouldn’t be complete without a traditional afternoon tea, all at the beautiful Strathearn United Church.
Treat mom to a performance composed, performed and led by women.
