Spokane Symphony plays Sleeping Beauty and Other Tales

Feb 14, 2012

For Immediate Release

Contact: Annie Matlow 464-7071

 SPOKANE— The Spokane Symphony will delve into the magical world of fairy tales under the baton of guest conductor Danail Rachev on Saturday, Feb. 25 at 8 p.m. and again on Sunday, Feb. 26 at 3 p.m. at Martin Woldson Theater at The Fox. The concert will feature music inspired by classic tales, including Tchaikovsky’s Sleeping Beauty Suite, Stravinsky’s charming Fairy’s Kiss – Divertimento and Glinka’s musical tale of Russlan and Ludmilla. Rachev rounds out the concert with Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 9. A pre-concert talk about the music will be held in the hall one hour before each performance. 

In addition, concertgoers will be treated to a special ballet performance by Mimi Escoto.

The concert will begin with Igor Stravinsky’s Divertimento from the Ballet Le baiser de la fée (The Fairy's Kiss). The music for the ballet drew heavily from the music of Tchaikovsky, taking themes from more than a dozen of the composer’s songs and chamber pieces, and orchestrating them in the lush romantic style of Tchaikovsky’s symphonies, with a twist of Stravinsky’s signature touches.  The result is music that sounds as if written jointly by both composers.  DETAILS…

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky wrote the spectacular The Sleeping Beauty Suite based on a French 17th century tale. Tchaikovsky’s imaginative orchestration for The Sleeping Beauty, which became the model for the Russian imperial style, has been enthusiastically received by audiences around the world. DETAILS…

Mikhail Ivanovich Glinka was true founder of Russian national music; his use of Russian folk themes and Russian tales were made his music highly popular. Russlan and Ludmilla, based on a fairy tale poem by Alexander Pushkin, was completed in 1842, included a virtuosic overture reminiscent of a court wedding dinner celebration, with the mingling sounds of a chorus and orchestra and clattering plates. DETAILS…

The second half of the concert will feature Dmitri Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 9 in E-flat major, composed in 1945. In many ways, the Symphony is an expression of the composer’s views on World War II. Although the authorities decreed that artists should celebrate the victory with triumphal paeans and praises of Stalin, Shostakovich, mourned the tens of millions who were dead with its thin unpretentious orchestration and series of one magnificent wind player’s solo after another – including a very difficult piccolo part that frequently shows up on orchestra auditions. DETAILS…

Danail Rachev, guest conductor – Danail Rachev, a native of Bulgaria, is Music Director for the Eugene Symphony and assistant conductor of the Philadelphia Orchestra. Eugene Symphony’s executive director stated that: "Danail's musicianship and passion for music were evident from our very first meeting. He is a true artist and will continue to build on the proud tradition of great conductors leading our orchestra. Danail is committed to making great music for a great city and is passionate about engaging community members young and old." DETAILS…

Ticket prices for either performance begin at $14 and are available in advance at the Spokane Symphony Ticket Office, located at Martin Woldson Theater at The Fox, 1001 W. Sprague, or by calling 509-624-1200. Tickets may also be purchased online at www.spokanesymphony.org. Tickets are also available at all TicketsWest outlets. 

This concert is sponsored by Brenda and LeRoy Nosbaum.