The Red Deer Symphony Orchestra presents their second offering in their main series this Saturday on the Arts Centre mainstage.
Hungarian Rhaspsody, featuring guest pianist Sandor Falvai, begins at 8 p.m.
Falvai hails from Ozd, Hungary, and been a been a professor at the Franz Liszt Academy of Music since 1972. He became director in 1997.
His more than 30 recordings include the works of such masters as Chopin, Haydn and Brahms.
As to the concert, it’s an evening dedicated to the creative genius of Hungarian-born Franz Liszt, described as one of the ‘great marvels’ of the 19th century.
Saturday’s concert includes his Rhapsody Hongroise No. 2, Piano Concerto No. 1 in E Flat Major and his Piano Concerto No. 2 in A Major, along with Les Preludes – Symphonische Dichtung.
“His place in history as an idolized virtuosos of immense ability has overshadowed the countless contributions he made in the field of composition,” notes Claude Lapalme, RDSO musical director in the season program.
“As a student, Liszt was a sponge hungrily devouring all music in sight and learning at an incredibly quick pace. (His) genius is profoundly original and the product of an immensely fertile imagination.
“It is time to re-evaluate his influence on romanticism and give him a proper place in the pantheon of significant composers.”
Meanwhile, the first performance in the scaled-down, more intimate setting of the RDSO Chamber Series, Two Plus Three, is slated for Nov. 20 in the Arts Centre’s Studio A. Performance time is 3 p.m.
The main series finishes up the year with Yuletide Songs featuring local choir Soliloquy on Dec. 10 and the New Year gets off to a lovely, romantic start with French Kiss with guest Paul Grindlay (bass baritone) on Jan. 21.
Triple Fanfare, to be performed at Gaetz United Church on Feb. 18, will feature trumpet players Robin Doyon, Richard Scholz and Adam Zinatelli.
Spring Awakening with guest oboist Lidia Khaner is set for April 28 and rounds out the season.
The Chamber Series continues Feb. 12 with Nocturne at the First Christian Reformed Church. American Quartet wraps up the Chamber Series season on May 6 back in the Arts Centre’s Studio A.
For complete details about the season, visit www.rdso.ca. Tickets are available through Ticketmaster by calling 403-340-4455 or checking out www.ticketmaster.ca.
editor@reddeerexpress.com
