Symphony takes ‘Midwinter’ detour

Next week, the Spokane Symphony returns to their ongoing Classics series, filling the Fox Theater with the sounds of Claude Debussy and Gustav Mahler. But tonight the symphony, along with featured pianist Kendall Feeney, lets loose with another of their Splash concerts, which boast a more laidback atmosphere and showcase more avant-garde compositions than a traditional symphony soiree.

One of the composers being highlighted tonight is Mason Bates, who is best known for blending the synthetic with the organic. Bates’ style is an interesting one: He combines lush symphonic soundscapes with elements of electronic music, and even the title of the piece being performed tonight (“The Rise of Exotic Computing”) illustrates how he incorporates industrial components with lush strings.

Also on the program is Michael Daugherty, whose work tends to be inspired by art history and pop culture – some of his pieces have been inspired by Jackie Onassis, Elvis Presley, Frida Kahlo and Fritz Lang’s science-fiction classic “Metropolis.” The symphony will perform Daugherty’s ode to famed pianist and showman Liberace, who will forever be remembered for his flashy, extravagant Las Vegas shows.

The concert closes out with Beijing-born composer Julian Yu’s interpretation of Modest Mussorgsky’s “Pictures at an Exhibition” – the symphony performed Maurice Ravel’s well-known arrangement last May. “Pictures” is one of the most frequently reworked pieces in late 19th-century music, and Yu’s version is notable for incorporating musical flavors from China.

As with all Splash events, the concert is preceded by even more music – tonight’s pre-show entertainment will be provided by Spokane’s DJ Case. A happy hour menu, including discounted drinks and a dinner special from Beacon Hill Catering, will also be available.