PROGRAM
Béla Fleck: Night Flight Over Water
Born in New York City and named for the classical giants Bartok, Webern, and Janacek, Béla Anton Leos Fleck first tuned into his musical soul through TV, radio and a lucky encounter on a train ride (just after having received his first banjo from his grandfather) with a banjo player who saw the instrument young Béla was toting, tuned it up, and pointed him to Pete Seeger's book How To Play The Five-String Banjo. A move to Kentucky some years later immersed him in the sound's heartland, and led to a spot in the acclaimed progressive bluegrass band New Grass Revival.
The Opal String Quartet, born in Asheville in 2006, is the only local ensemble of its kind, performing masterworks of the string quartet repertoire and collaborating with living composers to premiere new works. Known for its polished precision, fiery intensity, and richness of tone, Opal is dedicated to bringing the art of chamber music to the people by performing in all kinds of venues, from schools, bars, and art galleries, to street corners and concert halls.