(Above: Michael Hope plays a clip of the Sorcerer’s Apprentice, from Fantasia, which he calls his favourite piece for the bassoon. “It’s not too hard,” he joked, “and really brings out the unique character of the bassoon – it’s a little menacing, but still really funny and goofy.”)
Photo courtesy Jacqueline Meyler, CPO
We had an opportunity to sit down last week with Michael Hope, one of the stars of the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra (and probably one of the friendliest people you could ever hope to meet), and talk about the past, present and future of the CPO in Calgary.
Hope, the personable assistant principal bassoonist for the orchestra, joined the CPO in 1982, making this his 31st season in Calgary. How long ago was that? Let’s just say that Hope puts another long-time Calgary icon in his place – Jerome Iginla was only five years old when Michael Hope first began playing in Calgary.
Hope, born “in this terrible place called Toronto, Ontario”, began his musical career with an education at the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia, followed by post-graduate work at the University of Cincinnati. His first audition out of school was with the CPO.
“When I won the job, I knew right away that this is where I belonged,” says Hope. “I never auditioned for another job again.”
He has since accompanied the orchestra on tours across the continent – he described the chance to play at Carnegie Hall as “super cool” – and across the world, including performances in 2000 in Czechoslovakia (yes, before it split into the Czech Republic and Slovakia), Austria, France and Switzerland, with the highlight being an opportunity to perform at the Musikverein.
As wonderful as these tours have been, Hope describes himself as “happy as a pig in mud” to continue to perform in Calgary, and says that the best part of the “modern CPO” has been the discovery of just how good the musicians have it here.
“Through the years, we have discovered that, as great as it is to play Carnegie Hall and the Musikverein, our greatest love as an organization is our own community.” In what he describes as the later part of his career, Hope says he has come to realize that “the best place to play is the Jack Singer Concert Hall – right here, for our own people; making music for our neighbours and friends, people we see every day.”
Calgary “is a unique community, with unique appetites for music,” according to Hope. “Adapting to that has been incredibly rewarding.”
Part of that adaptation has cultivated in what Hope calls a “kick-ass outreach program” that over the past five years, has seen small groups of CPO performers going out into the community to share orchestral music with those who might not otherwise have a chance to hear it.
“Instead of asking people to come to the concert hall, we are being embedded in places that we really want to be,” says Hope, including small performances at Inn from the Cold, the Alberta Children’s Hospital, and the Ronald McDonald House, among others. “We can bring what we do, and what we love so much, to people who need it – people who can get a little joy out of what we’re doing. We want to share that joy, and hopefully improve someone’s life – if even just for a second – because we have exposed them to that beautiful thing we call live classical music.”
While he was quick to name a favourite piece for his beloved bassoon, Hope was less definitive when it comes to his vocal stylings. “My favourite song is the one I happen to be singing at any moment,” he says. “Singing makes me feel great… it uses the whole body.” He says singing is “like I’m getting a massage – I always feel awesome when I’m doing it.”
To talk to Hope, however, you get the impression that he rarely takes the time to get an actual massage. “I’m a workaholic,” he says, admitting that his commute to work is usually accompanied on the car stereo by “something we’re playing that week, or reviewing my own performances.”
Unless, of course, he’s downloaded a good hockey related podcast. “I can’t help it,” says this Flames fan. “It has really bonded me to the community, that love of hockey. When I moved here, this was Hockey City, and it just felt like home.”
That home is obviously something Hope feels very strongly about, and he says that being a musician in Calgary is like being a pioneer. “I’ve been here forever,” he says, “but I always feel like what I’m doing is landing on fresh ears.
“It’s a bit of an adventure, what we’re doing, knowing that the person listening might be hearing it for the very first time. Whether it’s jazz or classical of whatever, we always have an opportunity. There are always people moving into the community – whether they come to work or settle or join family, Calgary is always a growing place, and there are always new people out there.
“The opportunities are always endless,” says Hope, “and it’s exciting to live here.”
If you want to hear more from Hope, you can pick up one of his CD’s at any CPO concerts, or on his website (michaelhope.net). The Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra will bringing a little sunshine to the Calgary winter scene with a Beach Boys themed performance, starting this Thursday, followed by a Valentines’ Day performance of Romeo and Juliet.