June 15, 2026

AND THE BAND PLAYED ON. … MOTHER NATURE COULDN’T STOP MUSKOKA PHILHARMONIC FROM PLAYING LIGHTS OUT CONCERT SATURDAY. NOT SO ABBA AT OP

GRAVENHURST — While hydro crews continue Monday to pick up the pieces after a second successive torrential downpour that left many powerless, many concert goers here Saturday were divided with one group surviving the storm while the others were left disappointed.

ABBA fans were rained out at the Opera House when lights and sound went out shortly after 5 p.m. and the evening show was cancelled.

Not so at the United Church where the Muskoka Philharmonic got in mostly just under the wire. No pun intended.

Earle Laycock reports that he and his wife Evelyn McLachlan attended to hear their daughter-in-law, principal clarinetist Marielle Deurloo, play starting at 3 p.m.

Strawberry Moon was the first part of their annual weekend concert series in Gravenhurst and Huntsville.

“The concert was lovely until the beginning of the second half,” he said, “when suddenly the wind came up outside and the sky turned dark.

“The power went off around 5:25 p.m.

“The orchestra bravely played on after a slight hesitation under the direction of Alana Nuedling. A number of members had small LED lights on their stands to illuminate their music.”

Aided by one slight ambient skylight a 50-foot distance above and shining as if divinely down on the orchestra, which made for a couple of eerily beautiful photographs for Laycock.

He said although the power briefly flickered on for a second or two in the second half, the lights then went dark and stayed that way for the balance of the concert.

“Since most of the instruments did not require power, except for the keyboard (a grand piano substituted), the quality of music remained high and was perhaps more inspired by the challenge of playing in darkness.

“Congratulations to the Muskoka Philharmonic Orchestra for not letting Mother Nature spoil the concert by taking out the lights and power.”