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Jun
30
Thursday
Jun
30
Thu
Music :: Classical
Pablo Casals Celebration
7:30 PM
O'Shaughnessy Center
Pablo Casals Celebration Description:
Pablo Casals Celebration features Amit Peled performing on the master's own instrument

Pablo Casals was a giant of a musician known as much for his skillful artistry as a cellist as he was for his outspoken stance against fascism. Born in the Spanish region of Catalonia in 1876, Casals lived to age 96 performing nearly to the end of his life. He is regarded as one of the greatest cellists and conductors of the 20th century.

On June 30, the Glacier Symphony and Chorale will present a Pablo Casals Celebration featuring Israeli cellist, Amit Peled in recital performing on the famous Matteo Goffriller cello owned and played by Pablo Casals himself. Peled says this magnificent cello, made in 1733 by the Venetian luthier, has recently been painstakingly restored, and is "like a wild horse ready to run."

The concert offers a chance to hear Peled's playing as well as the rejuvenated sound of the Casals cello, which he calls "Pablo." The program will offer a glimpse into the sort of concert fare that a world-class cellist would have presented in the early-to-mid 20th century and will include a variety of pieces for cello and piano. Accompanying pianist will be Christopher Hahn, an accomplished performer and professor at the University of Montana.

Mr. Peled has appeared as soloist with the Glacier Symphony and Festival Amadeus under the direction of GSC Music Director, John Zoltek. "Amit is a cellist's cellist, that rare musician who posses both a natural technical command of the instrument and a soulful expressive musical heart that reaches out effortlessly to touch listening audiences. This concert will certainly be very very special," Zoltek says.

According to an article in the Nov. 4, 2014 Wall Street Journal the decision to entrust the cello to Mr. Peled and to have it restored fell largely to Marta Casals Istomin, Mr. Casals's 78-year-old widow and onetime student. She married him in 1957 when he was 80 and she was 20.

Soon after receiving the Casals cello, Mr. Peled realized the instrument couldn't produce a big enough sound to fill a concert hall and in fact seemed "muted." Months later, he nervously asked Mrs. Casals Istomin about having it worked on. To his relief she agreed, even after it was clear a major overhaul was needed.

Amit Peled fell in love with the cello after hearing a recording of Pablo Casals at age 10 while living on an Israeli kibbutz. Now a 42-year-old cellist, he has been touring the country performing on the very instrument that dazzled him in late 1983 and that has made him believe in destiny.

The concert will be held at 7:30 p.m. June 30, at the O'Shaughnessy Center in Whitefish. A Premium seating option, priced at $50, offers seats in the first three rows of the auditorium close to the musicians and includes an after concert reception with the cellist. Call to reserve - (406) 407-7000. Reserved seats are $20 all ages, buy online at www.gscmusic.org.
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Age Group: All Ages
Venue: O'Shaughnessy Center
Address: 1 Central Ave Whitefish, MT 59937
Phone: (406) 862-5371

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