Classical Music
Fine singers done in by Utah Opera’s disastrous Dummy’s Guide to “Fidelio” – Jan 19, 2026
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 own selections of poetry and speeches that are related to the ideals expressed in the opera — a world … 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 Beethoven’s budding … 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
Robertson leads Utah Symphony in a varied program from sax to Rachmaninoff – Oct 26, 2025
David Robertson conducted the Utah Symphony Saturday night rt Abravanel Hall.
David Robertson returned to Abravanel Hall this weekend to conduct the Utah Symphony in music of Pierre BoulezandSergei Rachmaninoff. Also joining the program was saxophonist Timothy McAllister in Steven Mackey’s Anemology.
Opening the program was Boulez’s Mémoriale, a short piece composed to commemorate the passing of his colleague and flutist Lawrence Beauregard. Scored for a small ensemble of six string players, two horns, and solo flute, Mémoriale is … Read More
Utah Opera’s strong cast provides rich and chilling advocacy for “The Shining” – Oct 13, 2025
Craig Irvin portrays Jack Torrance in Utah Opera’s production of The Shining. Photo: Dana Sohm
Christopher McBeth, Utah Opera’s artistic director, has always been a strong proponent of new American operas. And for the last several years, the company has been staging a contemporary American work each season.
True to this tradition, Utah Opera opened its new season Saturday in the Capitol Theatre with a superb production of The Shining by composer Paul Moravec and librettist Mark Campbell. Based on Stephen … Read More
Opera creators find the light of love amid the horror of “The Shining” – Oct 07, 2025
Craig Irvin as Jack Torrance (with Bella Grace Smith as Danny) in Utah Opera’s The Shining. Photo: Dana Sohm
In their adaptation of Stephen King’s iconic 1977 novel The Shining, composer Paul Moravec and librettist Mark Campbell have struck operatic gold.
Since its 2016 premiere as part of Minnesota Opera’s New Works Initiative, the opera has seen repeat productions across the country, selling out theaters and even prompting the addition of extra shows in its 2023 run at the Atlanta Opera—something virtually unheard … Read More
Lazarova and Lewis team up for exuberant performances with Utah Symphony – Sep 20, 2025
Delyana Lazarova made her first appearance as principal guest conductor of the Utah Symphony Friday night at Abravanel Hall. Photo: Marco Borggreve
The Utah Symphony’s newly appointed principal guest conductor Delyana Lazarova took the podium in Abravanel Hall Friday night to lead a crowd-pleasing program of Ravel, Mendelssohn and Beethoven.
Lazarova, who made a well-received debut with the orchestra in May 2024 proved impressive once again by virtue of her technical command of the music and her obvious rapport with the musicians.
As an oboist recovers, Poschner returns to unveil a violin concerto – May 24, 2025
Markus Poschner conducted the Utah Symphony in music of Berlioz and Bowers Friday night at Abravanel Hall. Photo: Seth Ian Mower/US
A week ago, the Utah Symphony’s Friday concert had a dramatic and abrupt ending when the associate principal oboist, James Hall, experienced a medical emergency and collapsed towards the end of the third movement of the opening work, Mozart’s Symphony No. 35. After he was taken to the hospital, a staff member eventually came onstage and announced … Read More
