Spokane Symphony Presents Popular Favorites in Coeur d' Alene

Nov 11, 2004

For Immediate Release

Contact: Annie Matlow

SPOKANE - The Spokane Symphony will bring a great program featuring popular favorites selected especially for Coeur d'Alene listeners by Music Director Eckart Preu in the season opener of its Symphony by the Lake series at Boswell Hall, North Idaho College Friday, Nov. 19, 2004 at 8 p.m.

The wonderful acoustics of Boswell Hall provide a great setting for the Spokane Symphony's first concert of the season in Coeur d'Alene. For his first concert for the Coeur d'Alene listeners, Preu has chosen great music listeners are sure to enjoy, including Nielsen's Aladdin Suite, Stravinsky's Firebird Suite, and Vivaldi's The Seasons - Autumn and Winter.

Stravinsky, brings the audience into the exotic world of an old Russian fairy tale featuring Prince Ivan, the magician Kastchei and the Firebird. Stravinsky's score for the fairytale ballet The Firebird is far and away his most popular work. For nearly six decades, the composer conducted it hundreds of times, even though he had since moved on to more radical and astringent styles. It became almost impossible to believe that this fearless modernist had actually once written such a lush and sensual score. This audience favorite is bound to be a fabulous fit to Eckart Preu's first concert in Coeur d'Alene.

Nielsen's Suite from the Ballet Aladdin is full of colorful stories of the Arabian Nights and Aladdin's adventures. This suite is remarkable for the variety, ranging from the Technicolor brazenness of its opening Oriental Festive March to the fragile, understated loveliness of Aladdin's Dream and the Hindu and Chinese dances. Nielsen manages throughout to conjure a gorgeous Asian exoticism. In each number he displays a wonderful gift for finding an evocative melodic idea and then coloring it perfectly with unusual harmonies and vivid orchestration.

Vivaldi's Season's has timeless appeal. Although there have been many Seasonal compositions, none are as vivid and vibrant. Each season is composed as its own violin concerto featuring soloists from the orchestra. Listeners will enjoy Autumn and Winter featuring Concertmaster Kelly Farris and Principal Second Violin Jason Bell.

Tickets range from $20 to $28 and are available Monday through Friday from 9:30-5:00 p.m. the Boswell Hall Ticket Office and at the Spokane Symphony Ticket Office at 818 West Riverside Avenue or by calling 208-769-7780 or 509-326-3136 Tickets are also available on weekends and evenings, with a service charge, through TicketsWest at 325-SEAT, 1-800-325-SEAT or www.spokanesymphony.org.