Glacier Symphony will perform "Evocations" the finale concert of its 32nd season on May 1 and 2, bringing together classical works by two composers experiencing life events; one who was working to establish his career and one whose career was at its end. Bela Bartok's Piano Concerto No. 3 featuring American pianist Claire Huangci will be followed by Jean Sibelius' Symphony No. 1 in E. The concert will open with Theme from Jurassic Park, by composer John Williams written for the 1993 blockbuster movie.
Hungarian composer Bartok wrote the concerto in 1945 in the final year of his life, as a gift to his wife, a pianist, for her birthday. Unfortunately, he died before he could finish the piece and his good friend, Tebor Serly finished the orchestration of the last 17 bars. Since Bartok had emigrated to the United States after World War II, the piece premiered in Philadelphia under the baton of Eugene Ormandy in 1946.
Music Director of the GSC, John Zoltek, describes the Bartok work as very approachable with a refined musical style. "It is rhythmically active, with complex harmonies and melodies. Bartok was an amateur entomologist and the bare elements of nature seem to dance-insect like-over a webbing of orchestral counterpoint."
Sibelius was just beginning his career seeking recognition outside of his native Finland when he wrote his Symphony No. 1. At age 23 the young composer was greatly influenced by Tchaikovsky and the German Romantics but this piece shows many original touches including an evocative solo clarinet melody. The piece premiered in Helsinki in 1899 and was the 'first time out' for this soon-to-become-legendary composer.
Claire Huangci began her international career at the age of nine and was billed as a prodigy and played a concert for President Bill Clinton at the age of ten. Since then, Claire has been awarded many grants, performed numerous concerts and won several prizes, long out-growing the image of a prodigy and coming into artistic maturity. With her technical brilliance, deep musical expression, playful virtuosity and her keen sensibility, she captures her audiences all over the world.
The "Evocations" concerts will be held on Saturday, May 1 at 7:30 pm and Sunday, May 2, at 3 pm at Flathead High Performance Hall in Kalispell. As with all GSC Masterworks concerts, all youth through grade 12 are admitted free to this concert when accompanied by an adult. Tickets must be reserved in advance by calling 407-7000 or on the web at www.gscmusic.com