Glacier Symphony presents 'Danubia' MasterWorks 3
Maestro John Zoltek conducts the Glacier Symphony Orchestra in two MasterWorks 3 performances of “Danubia” Nov. 23 and 24 at Flathead High School.
The Glacier Symphony Orchestra under the direction of conductor John Zoltek presents two performances of “Danubia” MasterWorks 3 Nov. 23 and 24.
Danubia highlights music from cultures of Central Europe including Austrian, Czech and Romanian. The concert opens with George Enescu’s Romanian Rhapsody No. 2 in D major composed in 1901. The nostalgia and romance of this music is palpable and seduces the listener into a cultural world few have known.
Internationally acclaimed Chinese-Canadian pianist Sheng Cai, currently based in Toronto, will be the featured soloist in one of Mozart’s most romantic sounding and popular piano concertos, the “Piano Concerto No. 23 in A Major.” Composed in 1786, its captivating lyricism has immediate audience appeal. The first movement is musically full and satisfying as the piano and orchestra take part in a delightful dialogue between two beautiful theme groups. The “Adagio in F# minor” features a wonderful simplicity of melody with beautiful clarinet responses. The work ends with a lighthearted dance-inspired Allegro.
Antonin’ Dvorak’s somewhat dark “Symphony No. 7 in D minor” from 1884-85 is considered by some Dvorak scholars to be his best. According to Dvorak himself, when composing he set out to reflect the struggles of the emerging Czech nation into this particular work. As the symphony progresses, the piece moves from the dark and powerful motives toward the jubilant 4th movement finale where Dvorak tried to capture the stubbornness and resilience of the Czech people in the face of political oppression. The D minor Symphony was the first of Dvorak’s last three great symphonies.