Heroic Reflections
A Hero’s Life and Ravel’s Piano Concerto in G
Enrique Diemecke music director and conductor
Marika Bournaki piano
The Program
Maurice Ravel Piano Concerto in G major
Richard Strauss Ein Heldenleben, Op. 40 (“A Hero’s Life”)
Imagine music as a mirror – what might one see in its reflection? For Strauss, he saw a hero as reflected in his unabashedly autobiographical and self-congratulatory tone-poem, Ein Heldenleben. For Ravel, who grew up in the culturally eclectic Basque region of France, his musical reflection revealed a fusion of cultural and modern influences that shaped his unique voice.
Pianist Marika Bournaki, hailed as “the Celine Dion of classical music,” will illuminate that fusion of cultures in Ravel’s Piano Concerto, which blends American jazz rhythms with colorful Spanish traditions of the Basques.
What You’ll Hear:
Inside the Music • 6:30pm
Title: Season Secrets with Maestro
Guest Speaker: Ashley Poirier, FIM manager of patron communications interviews Enrique Diemecke, music director and conductor, regarding his vision for the 2025-26 season.
About the guest artist:
Described as “the Celine Dion of classical” by The Huffington Post, pianist Marika Bournaki is a world-class performer and passionate advocate for new music. This season, she will debut Ravel’s Concerto in G with the Flint Symphony and Vista Philharmonic. As a renowned soloist, she has performed with orchestras across North America and Europe. Featured in the award-winning documentary I Am Not a Rock Star; Marika’s journey has captivated audiences worldwide. A Juilliard graduate, she brings an innovative approach to classical music. A devoted chamber musician, Marika - and her husband, the noted cellist Julian Schwarz, were nominated for a 67th GRAMMY Award for their collaboration on soprano Fotina Naumenko’s “Bespoke Songs.”
This concert is available for digital viewing, streaming live at concert time. Available on demand for 30 days following the concert.
What you need to know:
No one under 5 admitted (including babies in arms)
Runtime: approximately 2 hours 30 minutes
(including intermission)
Sensory warning: Live, full orchestra with percussion and loud volume.
Tickets starting at $24.90 / $18.60 for Genesee County residents (total price includes fees)
