Trio Montreal Arrivants joins the Glacier Symphony Feb. 22-23 in Kalispell.
Glacier Symphony tells the musical tale of Scheherazade, one of the world’s most beloved orchestral works by Rimsky-Korsakov, Feb. 22-23 at Wachholz College Center in Kalispell.
This dynamic work, conducted by Music Director John Zoltek, has dazzled audiences since its premiere in 1888, remaining on the “top of the charts” of today’s classical music world. Inspired by “Tales of One Thousand and One Nights,” Scheherazade weaves episodes together depicting Sinbad, Prince Kalandar, the Festival in Bagdad and more.
The engaging orchestral work combines two features typical of Russian music and of Rimsky-Korsakov – dazzling, colorful orchestration and an interest in the East, which was central to the history of Imperial Russia.
Also on the program will be the world premiere of six orchestral works featuring the world music trio Les Arrivants from Montreal, performing their unique and audience-pleasing fusion of Persian, Arabic and Argentine Tango with orchestral accompaniment by the Glacier Symphony.
Les Arrivants Trio, performing on bandonion, oud, and percussion, will fuse their unique world influences with vibrant symphonic textures in works titled Home, Shaymaa’s Dance, Gifts of Light, Ad Matai, Bagelissimo (Mile-End Tango), and Burkaan (Volcano) – all composed specifically for this performance.
Les Arrivants (The Arrivals) is comprised of Amichai Ben Shalev (bandoneon), Abdul-Wahab Kayyali (oud), and Hamin Honari (percussions), three musicians who settled in Montréal during the COVID-19 pandemic between the summers of 2019 and 2020. Through the lens of this unique moment in history, they met and discovered their new home city as lockdowns and uncertainties permeated their lives.
Their repertoire is informed by the traditions the instrumentalists have mastered throughout their lives and reflects the musical possibilities that can only emerge out of a cosmopolitan center such as Montréal.
Concerts begin at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 22, and 3 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 23, at McClaren Hall.
For information and tickets, visit glaciersymphony.org or call 406-407-7000.