Thursday, December 25, 2025
39.0°F

Science, sound and space combine in symphony and film Experience

HILARY MATHESON | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 2 years, 2 months AGO
by HILARY MATHESON
Daily Inter Lake | October 12, 2023 12:00 AM

Promising to be the “ultimate fusion of science and sound,” Glacier Symphony Orchestra and Chorale presents The Planets and Outer Space Film Experience event this weekend.

Glacier Symphony will perform “The Planets,” an orchestral suite by English composer Gustav Holst, while a breathtaking film by Emmy-nominated astronomer, filmmaker and visual artist Jose Francisco Salgado plays on the big screen.

The film journeys through outer space, examining each planet, the sun, and beyond, featuring visuals from NASA and the European Space Agency. This Science and Symphony film, produced by Salgado, is known for its finely tuned choreography with the music.

Salgado, who co-founded the nonprofit science and arts education organization KV 265, “collaborates with orchestras, composers and musicians to present films that provoke curiosity and a sense of wonder about Earth and the universe,” according to his biography josefrancisco.org. The Science and Symphony films have been presented to more than 474,000 people in 21 countries.

Salgado will give pre-concert lectures to discuss the music and science behind his films from 6:30 to 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 14, and from 2 to 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 15.

The concerts will be held from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. Saturday and 3 to 5 p.m. Sunday. Written from 1914 to 1916, during World War I, “The Planets” is an other-worldy massive work consisting of seven movements — Mars, the Bringer of War; Venus, the Bringer of Peace; Mercury, the Winged Messenger; Jupiter, the Bringer of Jollity; Saturn, the Bringer of Old Age; Uranus, the Magician and Neptune, the Mystic.

The event will include a performance of Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto No. 2 in C minor by acclaimed Russian pianist Ilya Yakushev. Composed in 1901, the concerto is regarded as “one of the most beautiful and technically demanding works for solo piano and orchestra,” according to a press release from Glacier Symphony. The performance is in recognition of the 150th anniversary of Rachmaninoff’s birth.

“Ilya will bring his interpretive insight and considerable technique to the interpretation of this, perhaps Rachmaninoff’s greatest work for piano and orchestra,” the release said.

The event will be held in McClaren Hall at the Wachholz College Center on the Flathead Valley Community College campus.

Tickets may be purchased online at the www.waccholzcollegecenter.org, by calling 407-7000 or visiting the Glacier Symphony box office at 1031 S. Main St., Kalispell.

photo

Emmy-nominated astronomer, filmmaker and visual artist Jose Francisco Salgado will give pre-concert lectures to discuss the music and science behind his films Saturday and Sunday at the Wachholz College Center as part of the Planets and Outer Space Film Experience. Salgado will also be presenting this programming to more than 400 middle and high school students at Flathead High School Friday. (Courtesy photo)

photo

Acclaimed Russian pianist Ilya Yakushev stops in Kalispell during his tri-continental tour to perform Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto No. 2 in C at the Wachholz College Center Saturday and Sunday in recognition of the 150th anniversary of Rachmaninoff’s birth. (Photo provided)

ARTICLES BY HILARY MATHESON

Christmas tradition: Business continues helping customers capture the holiday spirit
December 24, 2025 11 p.m.

Christmas tradition: Business continues helping customers capture the holiday spirit

Snowline Acres owners Tom and Kristin Davis are approaching a decade of helping people celebrate the most wonderful time of the year.

December 15, 2025 11 p.m.

Whitefish High School wins East Helena speech and debate tournament

Scoring 225 points, the Whitefish High School speech and debate team took first place at a weekend tournament.

Glacier High speech and debate team secures second in Bozeman
December 16, 2025 11 p.m.

Glacier High speech and debate team secures second in Bozeman

The Glacier High School speech and debate team secured second place, and Flathead High School, third in Bozeman.