Friendly French

Fort Smith Symphony takes diverse tour of Paris

Audiences may not immediately recognize all the names on the expansive roster of songs the Fort Smith Symphony plans to play on Saturday. But concergoers need not worry.

The songs featured in the program "Bonjour Paris," which will be presented at the Arkansas Best Corp. Performing Arts Center, are all tied in some way to Paris or the country in which it resides. Perhaps the French names of songs by Django Reinhardt and Edith Piaf might not be immediately clear, but "As soon as the piece starts, they'll say, 'I know that,'" musical director John Jeter says.

FAQ

‘Bonjour Paris’

With the Fort Smith Symphony

When — 7:30 p.m. Saturday

Where — Arkansas Best Corp. Performing Arts Center in Fort Smith

COST — $15-$40

INFO — 452-7575

The symphony's latest pops program is atypical for the group, Jeter adds. Instead of collecting bits from film scores or holiday classics, this one creates a mood. Specifically, that of a 1930s Parisian cafe.

The "Bonjour Paris" program comes from the Minnesota Orchestra in Minneapolis. Joining the Fort Smith Symphony for the program are four artists who worked with the Minnesota Orchestra on the project -- vocalists Christina Baldwin and Robb Asklof, guitar player Robert Bell and accordion player Patrick Harison. The evening starts with the namesake piece, "Bonjour Paris" from the musical "Funny Face," and continues with songs such as "La Vie en rose," "Come What May," and "Un Homme et une Femma (A Man and a Woman)." The symphony will also play several selections on its own, including Debussy's "Clair de lune" and the big band arrangement "April in Paris."

The selections conjure a musical feeling, Jeter says. Even so, there are several layers of depth, and the songs are alternately romantic, calm or upbeat.

"It's pretty artistic. It's popular music that has a lot of depth," Jeter says.

Even if the audience doesn't immediately recognize the names of the songs.

"They are trusting us on it," Jeter says. "It's the idea of really trying to raise the bar (musically)."

NAN What's Up on 04/25/2014

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