The album Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts’s Club Band has been, as it says in the song, going in and out of style since it was released in June 1967.

For many years, the album topped critic and fan best-album lists, placing it at number one, not just among Beatles albums, but as the best album ever released in the history of rock and popular music. On the occasion of its 50th anniversary, theatre critic Kenneth Tynan called Sgt. Pepper “a decisive moment in western civilization.”

Today there is a lot less hyperbole. Recent reissues of remixed and remastered Beatles albums have pushed Revolver (1966) and Abbey Road (1969) to the top spots on many critic lists and in fans’ hearts.

This is part of the reason why the Art of Time Ensemble’s performance of Sgt. Pepper at Base31’s Drill Hall last week was such a revelation: it offered the album in a brand new light. Artistic Director Andrew Burashko commissioned new arrangements of the songs that reimagined them as chamber music, while maintaining the original vocals and harmonies. 

The Ensemble included twelve musicians and four singers. Mr. Burashko played piano and was joined by two violins, two violas, two cellos, and a rhythm section of bass, guitar and percussion, as well as a trumpet and a woodwind. The vocals featured four Canadian pop icons: Steven Page, Chris Murphy, Andy Maize and Jeremy Fisher.

I think these four singers have waited their whole lives to be asked to sing Beatles songs, and each of them is an amazing vocalist. Steven Page naturally took on the role of Paul McCartney to Chris Murphy’s John Lennon and Andy Maize’s George Harrison, although all four singers contributed equally, singing both lead and harmony vocals.

As Mr. Page pointed out at the beginning of the show, two songs were recorded for the Sgt. Pepper album but were released as a double A side single not included on the final album. One of these songs, “Strawberry Fields Forever,” set the tone for the concert: psychedelic music with sweeping strings, orchestral percussion, subtle guitar and stabbing horns. This was not a tribute show by musicians slavishly copying from the record. This was a whole new concept altogether. The audience responded enthusiastically.

There were many highlights, particularly “Getting Better,” “She’s Leaving Home” and “Within You, Without You.” The orchestra was tight, with some marvellous playing from woodwind wizard John Johnson who played clarinet, oboe and several different saxophones. Never mind the amazing guitar work of Rob Piltch, and Mr. Burashko’s piano.

When the final chord of “A Day In The Life” sounded through the Drill Hall it was clear that the audience wanted more. The Ensemble was happy to oblige; Steven Page performed a show-stopping version of “Oh, Darling” and Andy Maize sang a beautiful “Here Comes The Sun.”

The sound in the packed Drill Hall was very good. The mix was excellent. Every voice and instrument could be heard clearly. A splendid time was had by all, as was evident from the impressive dancing from Andy Maize and Steven Page and the standing ovation at the end of the evening. The men and women in the orchestra had a blast performing with the Ensemble, and the audience responded, creating a  thrilling evening.

The concert was a co-production between Base31 and Biglake, and a teaser for its summer festival, “Evolution,” which takes place the last week of August in various venues around the County. This concert was a perfect vision of just how stunning Evolution can be.