'Heaven and Earth' in Coeur d'Alene

The Coeur d’Alene Symphony Orchestra opens it 2019-2020 season with a 7:30 p.m. performance on Friday, Oct. 4 and a matinee at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 5. With this season’s theme of “Heaven and Earth,” the first program is firmly tied to “Earth.”

Conductor and artistic director, Maestro Jan Pellant, comes to the Symphony from Prague. Beginning his second year on the podium in Coeur d’Alene, Pellant has programed two dynamic and dramatic pieces that are reflective of his homeland, created by two of his most famous countrymen: Dvorak and Smetana.

Smetana’s “The Moldau” reflects the flow of the Vlatava River through the Bohemian countryside. It incorporates folk and church music, reflections of castles and palaces, songs of mermaids and the crash of rapids before softly cursing through Prague and on into the Elbe.

Dvorak’s “Symphony No. 6” also resonates with the melodies of Czech folk-music blended with classic and romantic structures of a full symphony. In four movements, Dvorak cannot hold back his love of his country in his enthusiasm to engulf the audience in the rhythms of his homeland.

Guest artist Jim Phillips transports the Kroc audience to Venice, with his cornet virtuosity performing Joseph Jean-Baptiste Laurent Arban’s beloved “Carnival of Venice.” On the faculty at Coeur d’Alene High School, he has served as the chairman of their fine arts department and is a frequent guest conductor and clinician throughout the Northwest. A retired Air Force Major, he conducted the Air National Guard Band of the Northwest (at Fairchild) for 15 years.

Individual and season tickets for Coeur d’Alene Symphony concerts are available on the website: cdasyphony.org or by calling the office 208-765-3833 in the mornings, Monday through Thursday, or at the door. For more information, contact the Symphony at [email protected].