Bach fest adds second chance to hear ‘Tales of Hemingway’

By popular demand, the Northwest Bach Festival has added a second performance of the Grammy-winning “Tales of Hemingway” to the festival schedule after the Spokane premiere concert quickly sold out.

Cellist and festival artistic director Zuill Bailey will perform the work at 7:30 p.m. Friday at the Holy Names Music Center Auditorium, 3910 W. Custer Drive. The concert comes the day after Bailey is set performs the Spokane premiere of the piece on Thursday at a sold-out Barrister Winery.

“Tales of Hemingway” was written by Michael Daugherty. It features solo cello and orchestra with four movements based on the works of Ernest Hemingway: “Big Two-Hearted River,” “For Whom the Bell Tolls,” “The Old Man and the Sea” and “The Sun Also Rises.” Bailey joined the Nashville Symphony Orchestra and conductor Giancarlo Guerrero in performing and recording the world premiere of the piece in April 2015.

In Spokane this week, Bailey will perform an arrangement of the piece for cello and piano, with guest pianist Elizabeth DeMio. On Friday, he’ll also play Camille Saint-Saens’ cello concerto.

At the most recent Grammy Awards, “Tales of Hemingway” won all three categories in which it was nominated: best classical composition, best classic compendium for the 2016 CD release, and best solo instrumental performance for Bailey’s work.

Tickets to the Friday concert are $50 and are available at www.brownpapertickets.com or by calling (800) 838-3006.