Fastnacht Day brings out the Pennsylvania Dutch in everyone

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<p>WILKES-BARRE &#8212; Within the next few months M&#233;lisse Brunet will jet back and forth across the Atlantic four times to conduct orchestras in the United States and France.</p><p>Despite all her traveling, the Paris native has never had a chance to go to Latin America.</p><p>&#8220;Oh my God, I wish,&#8221; she said. &#8220;That is one of my dreams.&#8221;</p><p>But Brunet will get a taste of romantic Latin music when she serves as guest conductor of the Northeastern Pennsylvania Philharmonic Pops on Feb. 12 in Scranton and Feb. 13 in Wilkes-Barre.</p><p>&#8220;They are a great group of musicians who want to play at the highest level. They want to be challenged,&#8221; Brunet said, recalling how she conducted the regional orchestra during her audition process and again for one piece during the September concert.</p><p>The Valentine&#8217;s Day weekend concerts will include an appearance by the jazz ensemble the Mambo Kings as well as the orchestra, and Brunet is looking forward to presenting the audience with &#8220;a lot of energy and rhythm, a lot of color.&#8221;</p><p>&#8220;The pieces are very complementary. They express different feelings and atmospheres. I like every one of them.&#8221;</p><p>At this time last year, the conductor was leading an orchestra in the large French city of Nancy.</p><p>So, how do people celebrate this holiday in her homeland?</p><p>Brunet&#8217;s musical laughter erupted over the telephone line as she answered. &#8220;Everything about love and romance is very important in France.&#8221;</p><p>Children in school don&#8217;t exchange valentines with classmates as they do here, she said. &#8220;It&#8217;s really something more for adults. People will go to restaurants together in couples or go out to concerts.&#8221;</p><p>That said, she doesn&#8217;t want individuals to think they should only attend the Philharmonic concerts this weekend as half of a couple. &#8220;I know if you are single it can be hard to go out on Valentine&#8217;s Day,&#8221; she said, &#8220;but this concert will warm your heart.&#8221;</p><p>In addition to attending a concert at the Theater at Lackawanna College at 8 p.m. Feb. 12 or at the F.M. Kirby Center at 8 p.m. Feb. 13, the Philharmonic, music lovers can make reservations for a pre-concert dinner.</p><p>The Feb. 12 dinner will be held at POSH at the Scranton Club, where the menu will feature filet of beef, Parmesan tilapia, shrimp cocktail shooters, an Italian table, signature salad and special dessert.</p><p>The pre-concert dinner on Feb. 13 will be held at Genetti&#8217;s, where diners can enjoy a Valentine&#8217;s Chocolate Decadence Dinner that includes filet mignon and pork, a pasta station, potato and vegetable station, salad and grand dessert bar.</p><p>Dinner for two plus two concert tickets is $165 at both locations. Dinner for two, if you already have tickets, is $75. Tickets, for concert only, begin at $30 and student tickets are $15. For reservations call 570-270-4444.</p><style>
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<div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/web1_chocolate2-1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">You can expect chocolate-infused foods and a grand dessert bar if you opt for the pre-concert dinner at Genetti&#8217;s. Pre-concert meals have been planned for POSH at the Scranton Club on Feb. 12 and at Genetti&#8217;s in Wilkes-Barre on Feb. 13. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/web1_chocolate2-1.jpg</photo0><caption0>You can expect chocolate-infused foods and a grand dessert bar if you opt for the pre-concert dinner at Genetti&#8217;s. Pre-concert meals have been planned for POSH at the Scranton Club on Feb. 12 and at Genetti&#8217;s in Wilkes-Barre on Feb. 13. </caption0><photoCredit0>Times Leader File Photo </photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/web1_Mlisse-Brunet-1-1-1.jpeg">
<div class="neCaption">M&#233;lisse Brunet </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/web1_Mlisse-Brunet-1-1-1.jpeg</photo1><caption1>M&#233;lisse Brunet </caption1><photoCredit1>Submitted photos </photoCredit1></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/web1_mamboguys-1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">The Mambo Kings will bring a variety of rhythms to the Northeastern Pennsylvania Philharmonic Pops Concert on Feb. 12 in Scranton and on Feb. 13 in Wilkes-Barre. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo2>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/web1_mamboguys-1.jpg</photo2><caption2>The Mambo Kings will bring a variety of rhythms to the Northeastern Pennsylvania Philharmonic Pops Concert on Feb. 12 in Scranton and on Feb. 13 in Wilkes-Barre. </caption2><photoCredit2>Submitted photos </photoCredit2></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p><strong>By Mary Therese Biebel</strong></p><p>mbiebel@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><factboxMeta><p><strong>IF YOU GO</strong></p><p><strong>What:</strong> &#8216;Music from Latin America&#8217;</p><p><strong>Scranton concert:</strong> 8 p.m. Feb. 12 at the Theater at Lackawanna College, 501 Vine St., Scranton</p><p><strong>Wilkes-Barre concert:</strong> 8 p.m. Feb. 13 at the F.M. Kirby Center, Public Square, Wilkes-Barre.</p><p><strong> Optional pre-concert Valentine&#8217;s dinner</strong> served at 5:30 p.m. at POSH in Scranton and Genetti&#8217;s Hotel in Wilkes-Barre.</p><p><strong>Info:</strong> 570-270-4444.</p></factboxMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Mary Therese Biebel at 570-991-6109 or on Twitter @BiebelMT</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Northeastern Pennsylvania Philharmonic offers Valentine’s weekend concerts in Scranton and Wilkes-Barre