Not Your Typical Symphony Concert with CBC’s Tom Allen

Tom Allen
Tom Allen

Tom Allen, host of CBC Radio 2’s Shift, is bringing his well-known wit and love of classical music to New Brunswick, accompanying Symphony New Brunswick in the upcoming concert Tom Allen’s Classical Good Time Variety Show.

For the past decade, Mr. Allen has teamed up with many symphony orchestras across Canada, including the Toronto Symphony Orchestra and the Hamilton Philharmonic, to create concerts which offer an insightful look into classical music.

Starting with the Sunday Light Classics series for the Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony, this Montreal-native helped orchestras reach new audiences with his enchanting storytelling.

In 2009, he began putting together his own orchestra program, a light-hearted, fun evening of classical music and stories, with audience participation, history, demonstrations and, of course, wonderful music. Tom Allen’s Classical Good Time Variety Show was born.

“Tom Allen, who also happens to be a professional trombonist, is one of the funniest and most articulate people speaking on the subject of classical music today,” mentions Michael Newnham, Music Director and Principal Conductor of Symphony New Brunswick. “He is a national treasure.”

With humour and spontaneity, Tom Allen will delight the audience with little-known bits of relevance, very juicy gossip and his own explanation as to why some instruments are funnier than other. The Classical Good Time Variety Show is such a good time that you’ll be singing the tunes on the way home before you notice that nobody told you not to clap between the movements.

Not Your Typical Symphony Concert, click to enlarge.
Not Your Typical Symphony Concert, click to enlarge.

Tom Allen’s Classical Goodtime Variety Show Concert Schedule
Moncton – February 18, 2013 – 7:30 pm – Capitol Theatre
Fredericton – February 19, 2013 – 7:30 pm – Wilmot United Church
Saint John – February 20, 2013 – 7:30 pm – Imperial Theatre

Tickets are on sale at the Capitol Theatre in Moncton (www.capitol.nb.ca), at The Playhouse in Fredericton (www.theplayhouse.nb.ca) and at the Imperial Theatre in Saint John (www.imperialtheatre.nb.ca). Adults cost $40 and students $10.