Glacier Symphony opens its 36th concert season, “The Muse of Love,” Oct. 14 with two orchestral showpieces written by Maurice Ravel, Bolero and LaValse. The program also features guest violinist William Hagen in Korngold’s Violin Concerto in D. The concert begins at 3 p.m. Sunday in Kalispell’s Flathead High School Performance Hall.
Music Director John Zoltek says that the concert repertoire will be a showpiece for the orchestra. “Ravel’s intricately orchestrated musical fantasy is based on variations of the 19th century waltz. His version though, is quite modernized and begins with melodic fragments shrouded in a misty texture and culminates in an exciting and bombastic conclusion!”
He adds that both works by Ravel, along with Korngold’s romantically lyrical violin concerto, will illustrate the artistic accomplishments of both the fine orchestra and invited soloist William Hagen. “This 20th century program will be subtly expressive, dynamic and powerful.”
Hagen, age 25, is an emerging young artist who placed third in the 2015 Queen Elizabeth International Music Competition, and is the highest-ranking American since 1985 to achieve that honor.
Since his debut with the Utah Symphony at age 9, Hagen has become a seasoned international performer who has played with major symphony orchestras and music festivals both in the U.S. and Europe. He has been hailed as a “brilliant virtuoso … a standout” by the Dallas Morning News, with “an innate command of line and score, and just the right amount of power” by violinist.com.
Tickets for the Classical Sunday series range from $5 to $37, and free for youth through grade 12.
Glacier Symphony’s ”Muse of Love” continues …
“The Muse of Love” is the theme for Glacier Symphony’s season, which showcases music that embraces the notion of love in all its complexities.
Nosferatu – A Symphony of Horrors: 7:30 Oct. 27 at Whitefish Performing Arts Center and 3 p.m. Oct. 28 at Flathead High School Performance Hall. This 1922 silent movie, based on Bram Stoker’s Dracula, offers an original score for orchestra with piano improvisations by guest artist and composer, Rick Friend. Wear a costume for the costume contest!
Classical Sunday – Paradise Garden: 3 p.m. Nov. 18 at Flathead High School Performance Hall. Marcin Dylla, hailed by the Washington Post as “among the most gifted guitarists on the planet,” performs the Concierto del sur for guitar and orchestra by Ponce. Also on the program will be Delius’ Walk to Paradise Garden and Prokofiev’s Romeo and Juliet Suite.
This Sacred Season and Messiah: Dec. 15 at the Whitefish Performing Arts Center and Dec. 16 at Flathead High School. Glacier Symphony, Orchestra and Chorale combine for two concerts featuring selections of both sacred and contemporary holiday music, including Bach’s Magnificat, Lauridsen’s O Magnum Mysterium, Vaughan Williams’ Fantasia on Christmas Carols, Zoltek’s A Christmas Round and selections from Handel’s Messiah.
Gershwin Gala, ‘The Man I Love”: 7:30 p.m. Jan 19 and 3 p.m. Jan. 20, at the O’Shaughnessy Performing Arts Center in Whitefish. An elegant party with cabaret seating, food and wine, showcases two of Gershwin’s most revered compositions, “An American in Paris” and “Rhapsody in Blue.” The elegant Russian pianist Natalia Lauk is guest artist.
Classical Sunday – Romancing the Soul: 3 p.m. Feb. 17 at Flathead High School. The ever-romantic music of Scheherazade by Rimsky-Korsakov will be performed as well as Chopin’s Piano Concerto No. 1 featuring Andrew Staupe, a favorite of Glacier Symphony audiences.
Spring Festival: April 26-28, at Glacier High School and Flathead High performance halls in Kalispell. This three-concert orchestra and chorale festival offers three distinct concerts featuring works by Beethoven, Brahms, Mozart and more. Pianist Scott Cueller is the featured guest artist.
For tickets or details, call 406-407-7000 or visit www.glaciersymphony.org.