Acclaimed guitarist Marcin Dylla performs with the Glacier Symphony Nov. 18.
A garden filled with romantic music based on Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet will fill the concert hall when the Glacier Symphony Orchestra presents “Paradise Garden,” 3 p.m. Nov. 18 at Flathead High Performance Hall in Kalispell. Complementing the program is highly regarded classical guitarist Marcin Dylla in a performance of the Spanish-influenced Concierto del sur for guitar and orchestra, by Manuel Ponce.
“It is rare to hear such a world-acclaimed master of the classical guitar perform with the symphony,” says Maestro John Zoltek.
The Glacier Symphony’s music director has programmed selections by three composers from the genres of opera, ballet and concert overture, whose pieces were influenced by the tragic romantic tale of the two young lovers. The concert will open with Frederick Delius’ work, “The Walk to Paradise Garden,” from his opera, “A Village Romeo and Juliet.”
In the second half the orchestra will perform excerpts from Prokofiev’s famous Romeo and Juliet Suite ballet and finish grandly with Tchaikovsky’s Romeo and Juliet Fantasy Overture, one of the most popular and dramatic of all his concert works with soaring themes and violent orchestral sonorities.
Maestro Zoltek explains that as he compiled the program he felt the music of Concierto del sur, translated as concert of the south, expresses nature and the outdoors and thus he came to the concert title of Paradise Garden. “It’s very Mediterranean sounding, with a Spanish feel,” he said, adding that the work is one of guest artist Dylla’s favorite pieces and he performs it frequently with orchestras.
“Mexican composer Ponce has created an evocative piece full of musical sunlight and buoyancy,” says Zoltek. “I know our audience will absolutely be impressed by Marcin Dylla’s deep artistry and technical command. He is exceptional. Not to be missed!”
Hailed by the Washington Post as “among the most gifted guitarists on the planet,” Polish guitarist Dylla is a rare phenomenon in the recent history of classical guitar. Many music critics, connoisseurs, and music lovers certify him as among the world’s elite of classical guitar players. He has garnered an unparalleled number of awards, including 19 first prizes from 1996-2007 at the most prestigious international music competitions around the world.
Tickets for the concert start at $5 for youth through grade 12, $10 for college-age, and $27 and $37 for adults in two seating tiers. Buy online at www.glaciersymphony.org or call the GS Box Office at 406-407-7000 (open 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesday to Friday at 69 N. Main St., Kalispell).