MUSIC: Heaven in his hands

Coeur d’Alene is a town that boasts many of nature’s greatest gifts. Just walking our streets and paths is testament to that.

In the past year, we have imported a fine gift from Prague, Czechoslovakia, who is polishing and inspiring our culture in a whole new dimension. Jan Pellant, the new Artistic Director and conductor of the Coeur d’Alene Symphony has graced us with his enthusiasm, passion and vibrancy.

The 2019/2020 season is rightfully titled “Heaven and Earth” and on the opening night this Friday our orchestra and conductor gave us both in full measure. Reaching into his personal composers of the Czech Republic, we felt Smetana’s Moldau and Dvorak’s Symphony No. 6, as if we were in the Prague State Opera House (currently closed for restoration but opening January 2020!).

Mr. Pellant is a towering figure on and off the podium. His pageboy hair, engaging lilt and lively demeanor are refreshing and youthful. When he slowly raises his baton, he connects to all his musicians as if through invisible threads. Many of the talented members have been gracefully sharing their talents under past batons, but with Mr. Pellant’s oft raised heels, surprising hops and dramatic urgings he has ignited the whole. Heaven was ours as the musicians became one.

As we observed last season, Jan Pellant is also willing to share the stage and celebrate his soloists and Friday night was one to remember. One of Coeur d’Alene High School’s teachers and member of the military, Jim Phillips, enraptured mere mortals with his trumpet skills and his lung capacity. His trills and seamless flow of lengthy and complex elements held the audience rapt. Every seat should be filled for these rare bits of heaven and Earth as they conjoin and land in our small hamlet.

Jan Pellant breaks a sweat when he leads his musical ensemble. His artists draw from his energy and the Earth truly vibrated as joy took the audience to the Czech countryside and historic places. We are blessed to see a rebirth of our symphony and look forward to Mozart when winter arrives — hopefully in December, not October!

LYNN M. FLEMING

Coeur d’Alene