琉璃神社 and Vernon fans can get a double dose of the Okanagan Symphony Orchestra this weekend, as the symphony brings in a family matinee in the afternoon and renowned Canadian talent at night.

The Okanagan Symphony Orchestra presents the Russian classic Peter and the Wolf in Penticton April 6, 琉璃神社 April 7 and Vernon April 8. Following the 琉璃神社 and Vernon matinees, the symphony also welcomes the modern-day Renaissance woman Sarah Slean at night.

鈥淚t鈥檚 a little crazy that we鈥檙e doing two shows in one weekend,鈥� laughed music director and conductor Rosemary Thomson.

While they often try to balance shows out and spread them over a couple of weeks, Thomson said the orchestra couldn鈥檛 pass on the chance to feature Slean.

鈥淪arah, she鈥檚 just such a consummate artist,鈥� Thomson said of the three-time Juno nominee.

Slean, who performs with the symphony on the heels of her 2017 release Metaphysics, boasts a career spanning more than two decades and 11 albums alongside two volumes of poetry and a handful of short films.

鈥淗er level of artistry is so high but very personal,鈥� Thomson said. 鈥淧eople will love her. She puts on a wonderful show.鈥�

Performing songs from Slean鈥檚 repertoire, Thomson said the audience is in for a thrilling ride of deep music inspired by musical greats like Leonard Bernstein, Joni Mitchell and Johann Sebastian Bach.

鈥淚n the age of pop music, it can be often derivative,鈥� Thomson said of the current state of the music world. 鈥淪he (Slean) has the ability to touch, imagine and stay with you for a while.鈥�

Beautiful imagery is abundant in Slean鈥檚 work, weather audio or visual, Thomson said, noting a piece of Slean鈥檚 that has a woman sitting at a grand piano.

鈥淥ne is influenced by the other,鈥� Thomson said of Slean鈥檚 talent. 鈥淵ou can really be inspired with music because of artwork.鈥�

Featuring Slean鈥檚 original compositions alongside Broadway hits, it鈥檚 a sampling of music outside of the traditional OSO box that Thomson is excited to offer.

鈥淚t鈥檚 going to be quite eclectic and unique. It鈥檚 exemplary of the things she does. There are some fantastic arrangements for orchestra. It鈥檚 really fun when the orchestra gets music they can really sink their teeth into,鈥� Thomson said. 鈥淎nd, if we have patrons who don鈥檛 know either (Sloan or the OSO) it鈥檚 such a musical feast.鈥�

But, before 琉璃神社 and Vernon audiences can enjoy the offerings of Slean, the OSO will grace the Penticton, 琉璃神社 and Vernon stages with Peter and the Wolf, a performance meant to inculcate a love of the performance arts in young audiences.

Peter and the Wolf, which has been expanded by playwright Allison Green, marks the reintroduction of the family matinee in Vernon, the last of which occurred roughly eight years ago in one of Thomson鈥檚 first seasons with the OSO.

鈥淚 would love to do a season of three matinees,鈥� Thomson said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a great way to introduce kids to theatre.鈥�

Written by Russian composer Sergei Prokofiev in 1936, Peter and the Wolf was expanded into a full-blown theatrical production that has the orchestra wrap around the stage and has an instrument to back each of the main characters. The violin is attributed to Peter, the flute to the bird, an oboe to the duck, a clarinet to the cat and three horns to the Wolf.

Complete with seven actors on stage under direction by Tracy Ross, the one-hour performance features largely the original score with the addition of singing, such as a tango-piece to lessen the Wolf鈥檚 frightening demeanour.

鈥淚鈥檝e seen four-year-olds love it and 94-year-olds love it,鈥� Thomson said. 鈥淚 think the piece has a lot of familiarity. It鈥檚 a great, iconic piece.鈥�

Following the adventures of Peter and his animal friends, Peter and the Wolf is ripe with comedic bursts.

鈥淭here鈥檚 a lot of that old-style cartoon humour,鈥� Thomson said. 鈥淭he animals bicker with each other. Gosh, they remind me of my kids.鈥�

And, whether it鈥檚 a production that aims to pique interest in the arts or a performance that features renowned Canadian talent, Thomson said that love of the art form is what the Okanagan Symphony Orchestra is all about.

鈥淲hen you鈥檙e in the space with the audience and the orchestra is playing, it鈥檚 just magical. Our tag-line is see it, hear it, love it,鈥� Thomson said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 the magic of live music.鈥�

The Okanagan Symphony Orchestra presents Sarah Slean 7:30 p.m. April 7 at the 琉璃神社 Community Theatre and 7 p.m. April 8 at the Vernon and District Performing Arts Centre. Tickets are $56.25 adult, $49 senior, $26.75 student and child and $25 first two rows and are available at .

笔谤辞办辞蹿颈别惫鈥檚 is 6:30 p.m. April 6 at Penticton鈥檚 Cleland Community Theatre, 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. April 7 at the 琉璃神社 Community Theatre and 2 p.m. April 8 at the Vernon and District Performing Arts Centre. Tickets are $23 adult, $19 senior, $14 student and child and $62 for family (four tickets) and are available at .