On Friday, February 5, violinist Edmond Agopian and Mount Royal Conservatory’s flagship string orchestra, the Calgary Youth Orchestra (CYO), will premiere a piece by Claude Debussy, one of the most famous and well-loved composers of all time.

Debussy began Poeme pour violon et orchestra in 1910, but had not completed the piece at the time of his death in 1918. Ninety years later, English historical musicologist Robert Orledge has completed and orchestrated the work. Mr. Orledge will be in attendance for its world premiere, which will be conducted by CYO and University of Calgary (U of C) alumnus Dan Bartholemew.

The concert, which is co-sponsored by the U of C’s Department of Music, and the CYO, will also feature excerpts from Handel’s Water Music, J.C. Bach’s Sinfonia Op. 18 No. 4, Mozart’s Symphony No. 26, and will conclude with a special performance by Edmond Agopian and Beth Root Sandvoss of Zoltán Kodály's arresting Duo for Violin and Cello.

For the Handel, Bach and Mozart performances, the CYO’s string players will employ baroque-style bows, and will perform without a conductor, as per the practice of the time.