Glacier Symphony Maestro John Zoltek continues the 25th anniversary of his tenure as music director and conductor.
The 39th season of the Glacier Symphony and Chorale continues Nov. 20-21 at Flathead High Performance Hall in Kalispell with “Illumination,” featuring an original work by Maestro John Zoltek in an ongoing celebration of his 25th season with the organization.
The concert unveils Zoltek’s newly-composed cello concerto, Through Tamarack and Pine, written for and performed by Robert deMaine, acclaimed principal cellist of the Los Angeles Philharmonic.
A first-prize winner in many national and international competitions, deMaine was the first cellist ever to win the grand prize at San Francisco’s prestigious Irving M. Klein International Competition for Strings. As soloist, he has collaborated with many of the world’s most distinguished conductors, and has performed nearly all the major cello concertos with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, in his decade there as principal cellist. A founding member of the Ehnes Quartet in 2010, he also performs in a piano trio with violinist Hilary Hahn and pianist Natalie Zhu.
The conductor and performer have a long history and friendship. “We share a special bond through a common ancestral bond and a commonality of music aesthetics,” says Zoltek. deMaine has twice appeared as soloist with the Glacier Symphony, and is enthused about his third appearance for this world premiere. He calls the new piece a “blockbuster ‘showy’ concerto that I truly believe has the potential to be one of the important American cello concertos in the repertoire.”
Also on the program is the exciting Firebird Suite by Igor Stravinsky, compiled from his complete ballet of the same name, and Jean Sibelius’s pivotal work, the Symphony No. 3 in C major.
The concerts take place at the Flathead High School Performance Hall at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 20, and 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 21.
Concert-goers are strongly encouraged to wear facial coverings while in attendance at the venue. Tickets are available by calling the box office at 406-407-7000 or online can be found on the website.