In one particular sense, B茅la Fleck fulfilled a birthright in writing his acclaimed banjo concerto, commissioned by the Nashville Symphony and premi猫red in 2011 鈥� despite its tellingly, albeit deceptively, humble title: The Impostor. The native New Yorker and 15-time Grammy-winner鈥檚 full name, B茅la Anton Leo拧 Fleck (鈥淭he torture started in kindergarten,鈥� he once told Time), is for Bart贸k, Webern and Jan谩cek - as if his parents, in referencing two folk-inspired and one avant-garde classical greats, somehow prefigured Fleck鈥檚 uniquely genre-spanning career, including this first solo-penned orchestral work.
Tonight鈥檚 European premi猫re features its author amidst the full might of the 大象传媒 Scottish Symphony Orchestra. The strings of the orchestra also provide aptly classy accompaniment to the man many regard as Ireland鈥檚 greatest living uilleann piper, Liam O鈥橣lynn, who鈥檚 also flanked by legendary guitarist Arty McGlynn and Rod McVey on keyboards, in a programme of his previously orchestrated repertoire, including excerpts from Shaun Davey鈥檚 The Brendan Voyage.
This concert is promoted by Glasgow Life.
The concert is being recorded for broadcast on 大象传媒 Radio 3 on Thursday 28 January at 7.30pm.
