Enter a 'New World' with the Glacier Symphony

Glacier Symphony’s February Masterwork “Winter’s New World” concerts feature an iconic work by Czech composer Antonin Dvorak.

Both concerts will be held at Flathead High Performance Hall in Kalispell on Saturday, Feb. 22, at 7:30 pm and Sunday, Feb. 23, at 3 p.m. 

 “Symphony No. 9 in E” is commonly referred to as the “New World Symphony” and is one of the most popular works in the Romantic symphony repertoire. It also has the special designation of being the first piece of music to land on the moon, when astronaut Neil Armstrong took a recording of it with him on the Apollo 11 mission in 1969.

Considered to be Dvorak’s signature work, “New World Symphony” was composed in 1893 while Dvorak was living in the United States working as director of the National Conservancy of Music in New York City. Dvorak greatly missed the rural life and rolling hills of his native homeland and wrote this symphony as his reflection on “the new world” he had landed in. He admired the beauty of African American spirituals and plantation songs of the American south and musicologists speculate that many melodies of the New World Symphony were based on such spirituals.

John Zoltek, GSC’s music director and conductor, says the piece and the entire concert will be a great introduction to some of the magnificent music of the Romantic era.  

“This enjoyable concert will be great for seasoned and new audiences alike. All the works are very well known to symphony enthusiasts and have been performed regularly for over 100 years. Dvorak’s ‘New World Symphony’ always sounds refreshing with its abundance of memorable melodies and invigorating orchestral punch!”

Also programmed for the concert will be another widely recognized and thrilling piece of classical music: Edvard Grieg’s “Piano Concerto in A.” Zoltek has engaged New York-based pianist Alon Goldstein to perform this dynamic musical work. 

“The Grieg piano concerto is a beloved work that combines a solid piano-soloist’s presence with the nature-inspired orchestral timbres of the famous Norwegian composer. Our guest soloist, Alon Goldstein, will definitely excel in this piece, as he is a pianist of considerable interpretive power and artistic flair,” Zoltek said.

Goldstein, an Israel native, makes his return appearance to the Flathead valley, having been a featured artist with Festival Amadeus in 2012. He is highly regarded both internationally and in the United States as one of the most original and sensitive pianists of his generation, greatly admired for his musical intelligence, dynamic personality, artistic vision and innovative programming. He is described as “an irresistible powerhouse,” by the New York Times, and “a stylish and spirited player” by the Chicago Tribune.

For more information, visit www.alongoldstein.com

All youth through grade 12 are admitted free to this Masterworks concert. Tickets for adults are available in a range of seating tiers starting at $15. Please reserve a seat for your student when purchasing tickets either online at www.gscmusic.org or by calling the GSC box office at 407-7000 or stopping by 69 N. Main St. in Kalispell. 

 On Thursday, Feb. 20, Glacier Symphony provides a chance to meet Alon Goldstein as a soloist in a casual and intimate setting during the Symphony Soloist Spotlight. The evening is held at the Alpine Lighting Ballroom, 333 Main St. in Kalispell. Doors open at 7 p.m. for socializing with the artist over a glass of wine or beer and the music begins at 7:30 pm. Tickets are priced at $15 and seating is informal. Call the GSC for advance tickets.

 A free bus ride from Whitefish to the Saturday concert in Kalispell is provided by DePratu Ford/Volkswagen. The bus leaves the parking lot at Whitefish Mountain Mall at 6:30 p.m. for the 7:30 pm concert. Please call the Glacier Symphony and Chorale at 407-7000 to reserve your seat on the bus. Tickets for the concert can be purchased at the door of Flathead High Performance Hall.