'Peter and the Wolf'
The Glacier Symphony will bring the symphonic fairytale “Peter and the Wolf” to concert halls in Whitefish and Kalispell on Dec. 9 and 10 with a holiday pops concert for the whole family. Adding to the show will be costumed dancers from Kalispell’s Noble Dance, interpreting the piece that was written as a way introduce children to the instruments of an orchestra.
The concert opens with Serge Prokofiev’s classic work that tells the story of Peter, a Russian boy who sneaks out of his yard into the forest against his grandfather’s wishes. While in the woods he befriends a bird, a duck and a cat and then confronts a wily wolf. Instruments in the orchestra represent each character while a narrator tells the vivid story, known for its humor and good-natured tunefulness.
Glacier Symphony board member Mark Holston will narrate and the Noble Dance performers will portray the characters in choreography designed by founding director Natalie Molter.
The second half of the concert will feature harp soloist Brittany Barnes, of Whitefish, in music by Handel and Vaughan Williams. The orchestra will then expand in size to present “Suite from The Polar Express” and two rock-infused symphonic pieces by the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, A Mad Russian’s Christmas and Christmas Eve/Sarajevo that will feature orchestral musician Maybelline Green on electric violin. The concert will conclude with “A Christmas Festival” by Leroy Anderson featuring a medley of Christmas favorites.
The concerts will be led by Maestro John Zoltek and will include a number of surprises, including a wild and furry conductor from the forest. Santa is also rumored to be planning a special appearance.
Performances will be held in Whitefish at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 9, at the Whitefish Performing Arts Center, and at 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 10, at the Flathead High School Performance Hall in Kalispell.
Tickets are available in a range of prices and seating tiers. Tickets can be purchased online at https://www.gscmusic.org, by phone at 406-407-7000 and at the Glacier Symphony Box Office, located at 69 N. Main St., Kalispell.
Support for the Holiday Pops Polar Express concert is provided by Whitefish Mountain Resort and Northern Rockies Anesthesia Consultants.