IF YOU GOWhat: Chattanooga Symphony & Opera presents "Bolero."When: 8 p.m. Saturday.Where: Tivoli Theatre, 709 Broad St.Admission: $19-$79.Phone: 267-8583.Website: www.chattanoogasymphony.org.
For the first Masterworks concert of 2012, the Chattanooga Symphony & Opera presents "Bolero," an evening of works by Maurice Ravel.
The first half of the concert is Ravel's Concerto in G major for Piano & Orchestra featuring guest pianist Inon Barnatan.
Bringing in guest artists, said CSO music director Kayoko Dan, "is actually kind of fun. It's like adding a different element. It's refreshing."
After the intermission, the orchestra will return for a program of "Rapsodie Espagnole," "Alborada Del Gracioso," "Pavane for a Dead Princess" and "Bolero."
"You never hear these four pieces all at once," Dan said. "Ravel's music is so beautiful. It's like a concert full of eating cake. It's a really wonderful way to explore orchestrations of Ravel."
The first three pieces were originally written for the piano. He orchestrated them himself later on.
The orchestrations, Dan said, "create effects and beautiful colors."
Ravel was born in Ciboure, France, near Biarritz, close to the Spanish border. His mother was Spanish, his father Swiss. Many of his compositions are influenced by the Spanish folk songs his mother sang during his childhood.
"There are some parts that the flutes and trumpets are playing really fast notes with harp, and it almost sounds like guitar," Dan said.