The Marquette Symphony Orchestra will intertwine two cultures in their “East Meets West” concert.
MARQUETTE -- The familiar tale of star-crossed lovers has a different spin in the Marquette Symphony Orchestra's performance of The Butterfly Concerto.
"It's actually a Chinese version of Romeo and Juliet,” explained Dr. Jacob Chi, the orchestra’s conductor. “So they wrote a violin concerto, and it's beautiful."
Dr. Chi admits it's been a challenge for his group of talented violinists. "It's a little bit different from the western concerto, like a Beethoven, but it's very nice and pentatonic."
It's not all Far East influences in their "East meets West" concert. Dr. Chi set his sights on Italy with the addition of Respighi's Pines of Rome, and says audiences can expect a seamless performance of the two.
"I have very high standards. I want the symphony to sound like a recording,” Dr. Chi stated with a smile.
The chance to experience both cultures at the Marquette Symphony Orchestra's concert is this Saturday, November 22, at 7:30 p.m. at Kaufman Auditorium in Marquette.
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