Classical Music
Utah Opera serves up a fine cast, clever updating with “Elixir of Love” – Mar 08, 2026
Katrina Galka and Daniel O’Hearn star in Donizetti’s The Elixir of Love at Utah Opera. Photo; Dana Sohm
Utah Opera’s production of Donizetti’s two-act comedy The Elixir of Love, which opened Saturday night,, is a clever re-imagining that transports the setting from early 19th century Italy to the orange groves of Southern California a century later.
Oftentimes moving an opera to a different locale and time period fails miserably. But this new staging — premiered at Minnesota Opera in 2024 and the … Read More
A pair of Utah Symphony debuts deliver vibrant Mendelssohn, Debussy – Feb 28, 2026
Nicholas Carter conducted the Utah Symphony in music of Bax, Mendelssohn and Debussy Friday night at Abravanel Hall. Photo: Douglas W. Carter
This weekend, two newcomers to the Abravanel Hall stage made impressive Utah Symphony debuts. On Friday evening, pianist Nelson Goerner gave an electrifying reading of Mendelssohn’s Piano Concerto No. 1, and conductor Nicholas Carter led the orchestra in a vibrant account of Debussy’s La mer.
Mendelssohn’s brief 20-minute concerto opens with fiery, romantic passion. The Argentinean-born pianist put on a fine display … Read More
Adkins shines with Adams in Utah Symphony’s American program – Feb 21, 2026
Madeline Adkins performed John Adams’ Violin Concerto with David Robertson and the Utah Symphony Friday night at Abravanel Hall. Photo: Seth Ian Mower
David Robertson, the Utah Symphony’s creative partner, led the orchestra in an all-American program Friday night at Abravanel Hall. The program featured works by Christopher Rouse, John Adams, Elliott Carter and Roy Harris, with concertmaster Madeline Adkins soloing in Adams’ Violin Concerto.
Adkins is a marvelous violinist and it’s always a treat to see her in the soloist’s … Read More
Hough returns to Utah Symphony with impassioned Rachmaninoff – Feb 07, 2026
Stephen Hough performed Rachmaninoff’s Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini with conductor Alpesh Chauhan and the Utah Symphony Friday night at Abravanel Hall. Photo: Douglas W. Carter
Sir Stephen Hough is no stranger to Utah Symphony concertgoers. The British pianist has collaborated with the orchestra countless times over the years, most recently in January 2024 when he gave the local premiere of his Piano Concerto, “The World of Yesterday.”
This weekend, Hough is back onstage in Abravanel Hall playing Rachmaninoff’s Rhapsody … Read More
Conlon’s mastery makes for memorable Mahler with the Utah Symphony – Jan 31, 2026
James Conlon conducted the Utah Symphony in music of Mozart and Mahler Friday night at Abravanel Hall. Photo: Seth Ian Mower
Thierry Fischer, the Utah Symphony’s music director emeritus, was scheduled to lead the orchestra this weekend; however, delays in getting his visa forced him to cancel.
Instead, James Conlon, making a long overdue Utah Symphony debut, agreed to replace him. The program remained the same, except for one substitution: Mozart’s Symphony No. 32 replaced the originally scheduled Ser by Cuban-American composer … Read More
Fine singers done in by Utah Opera’s disastrous Dummy’s Guide to “Fidelio” – Jan 19, 2026
Wendy Bryn Harmer as Leonore and Thomas Kinch as Florestan in Utah Opera’s production of Beethoven’s Fidelio. Photo: Dana Sohm
Utah Opera’s new production of Beethoven’s Fidelio, which opened Saturday night in the Capitol Theatre, is notable for some fine vocal performances. Yet the worthy vocalism is done in by an utterly disastrous staging that shows interventionist opera direction at its worst.
First and foremost, stage director Tara Faircloth jettisons the opera’s spoken dialogue for this production and replaces it with her … Read More
Beethoven fares best with return of Inkinen and Wosner to Utah Symphony – Dec 13, 2025
Pietari Inkinen conducted the Utah Symphony Friday night at Abravanel Hall.
Pianist Shai Wosner and conductor Pietari Inkinen haven’t been on the Abravanel Hall stage in a number of years, but this weekend they are making a joint return engagement with the Utah Symphony. And at Friday’s performance they showed themselves to be worthy musical partners in Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 3.
Written in 1800, the Third is still a product of the classical era in its framework, yet also exhibits … Read More
Poschner, Utah Symphony and Gluzman shine in Strauss and Shostakovich – Dec 06, 2025
Markus Poschner conducted the Utah Symphony in music of Strauss and Shostakovich Friday night at Abravanel Hall.
After an absence of several years, violinist Vadim Gluzman made a return visit to Abravanel Hall Friday night playing a work that hasn’t often been performed in Salt Lake City: Shostakovich’s Violin Concerto No. 1.
The Ukrainian-born violinist gave an impassioned reading that delved into the complex emotional fabric of the work. And music director designate Markus Poschner and the … Read More
Poschner, Utah Symphony explore tragedy, deliverance with Tchaikovsky and Fauré – Nov 08, 2025
Markus Poschner conducted the Utah Symphony Friday night at Abravanel Hall.
Markus Poschner, the Utah Symphony’s music director designate (he assumes the position full-time in the 2027-28 season), is back on the Abravanel Hall podium this weekend leading the Utah Symphony in two works: Gabriel Fauré’s Requiem and Tchaikovsky’s ever-popular Symphony No. 6, “Pathétique.”
Fauré worked on the Requiem over a period of nearly 15 years. He began writing it in the 1880s, revised it considerably in the following … Read More
Poschner returns to Utah Symphony with music of Bartok and Mahler – Nov 02, 2025
Markus Poschner conducted the Utah Symphony Saturday night at Abravanel Hall.
Markus Poschner returned to Abravanel Hall this weekend for his first performances of the 2025-26 season, conducting the Utah Symphony in Gustav Mahler’s Symphony No. 1. Pianist Vadym Kholodenko joined the orchestra for Béla Bartók’s Piano Concerto No. 3.
Poschner appeared as a guest conductor in 2022 and 2023 and in November 2024 was announced as the music director designate. His first full season as music … Read More
