PEISO Welcomes Arthur Arnold for “Bloom” A Celebration of Growth, Renewal, and Local Talent
The PEI Symphony Orchestra (PEISO) continues its Nouveau season with Bloom, a radiant concert of renewal and artistic blossoming on Sunday, November 23, 2025 at 2:30 PM at the Confederation Centre of the Arts. The concert marks the long-awaited debut of internationally renowned conductor Arthur Arnold, and features celebrated PEI mezzo soprano Hannah O’Donnell in Hector Berlioz’s exquisite song cycle Les nuits d’été.
“Bloom is a concert rooted in optimism and emotional awakening,” says PEISO Music Director Jaelem Bhate. “We’re thrilled to feature Arthur Arnold—a conductor with a global reputation and deep Canadian connections—alongside Hannah O’Donnell, one of PEI’s most versatile and acclaimed voices. It’s a program that celebrates personal and collective growth.”
The program opens with Zoltán Kodály’s Dances of Galánta, a vibrant homage to the Hungarian folk tradition, followed by Berlioz’s Les nuits d’été (Summer Nights), sung by O’Donnell. The concert concludes with Johannes Brahms’ Symphony No. 2 in D major, often described as his sunniest and most pastoral symphony—full of lyrical themes and sweeping emotional arcs.
Arthur Arnold, a Dutch-born conductor and co-founder of the Pacific Region International Summer Music Association (PRISMA Festival & Academy), served for a decade as Music Director of the Moscow Symphony Orchestra. He resigned in 2022 in protest of the war in Ukraine, taking a principled stand that underscored his commitment to artistic integrity. He is also known for his ground-breaking collaboration with the Tla'amin Nation on Canada’s west coast, where traditional Indigenous music is performed alongside full orchestra—a cultural partnership he describes as “one of the most meaningful of my career.”
“I’m honoured to finally step onto the podium with the PEI Symphony,” says Arnold. “This program speaks to transformation and healing—something we all recognize, and something music expresses so profoundly.”
Island soloist Hannah O’Donnell is equally at home on the concert and opera stage. A graduate of UPEI and Memorial University, she has performed with opera companies across Canada and internationally, and made her solo debut with the PEISO in 2017. Her recent credits include Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 with the Newfoundland Symphony Orchestra and many sold-out performances of Becoming Dolly in the Charlottetown Festival. O’Donnell is also a dedicated music educator, serving on faculty at Holland College’s School of Performing Arts and through her private studio, Middle Sea Music.
“Performing with the PEI Symphony always feels like home,” says O’Donnell. “Collaborating with so many friends and colleagues in the orchestra is incredibly special, and it’s a joy to share the music with our Island audience. Les nuits d’été is such a rich and dramatic work, and I can’t wait to explore it with Maestro Arnold and the ensemble.”
Bloom is the second concert in the PEISO’s 2025–26 Island Series, themed Nouveau, inspired by the Art Nouveau movement’s vision of beauty, purpose, and transformation through art. The series continues in March 2026 with Reclaimed, featuring Juno-nominated composer and cellist Cris Derksen, and concludes in April 2026 with Blue—a season finale infused with jazz, gospel, and 20th-century cosmopolitan flair, with acclaimed PEI pianist Magdalena von Eccher as guest soloist.
New Youth Pricing Introduced: Students (30 & under) $32, Children (12 & under) $12 – All fees included
In an effort to make live orchestral music more accessible to younger audiences, the PEISO is pleased to introduce new single ticket pricing for students and children. Students aged 30 and under can now purchase tickets for just $32, and children 12 and under can attend for $12—both prices include all taxes and fees. This is a great opportunity for families and young music lovers to experience the power of a full symphony orchestra live in concert.
Season subscriptions and single tickets are available through the Confederation Centre Box Office. Visit www.confederationcentre.com or call 1-902-566-1267 / 1- 800-565-0278. For more information about the 2025-26 season visit the PEISO website at www.peisymphony.com.
BACKGROUND
The Prince Edward Island Symphony Orchestra (PEISO) is one of PEI’s most respected performing arts organizations, providing Islanders with vibrant live orchestral experiences including classical, cross- genres, family and chamber-music concerts. Currently entering its 58th season, the PEISO is a proud member of the community and enriches the region through dynamic performances, comprehensive educational activities and impactful community relationships.
MEDIA CONTACTS:
Laura Ono
PEI Symphony Orchestra
(902) 892-4333
admin@peisymphony.com
www.peisymphony.com
