Classical Music
Utah Opera hits the Puccini heights with a vibrant “Tosca” – Mar 14, 2022
Katie Van Kooten and Dimitri Pittas star in Puccini’s Tosca at Utah Opera. Photo: Dana Sohm
Rarely does a tragedy feel as triumphant as Puccini’s Tosca. Although the couple we’re rooting for dies in the end, they die heroically, after vanquishing the story’s villain and glorying in their love for one another. Their story is told at the brisk pace of an episode of Law and Order and is underscored by beautiful melodies over lush, full orchestrations.
Utah Opera’s vibrant, faithful production, which … Read More
A Brazilian gem and Swedish phenom strike sparks with Fischer, Utah Symphony – Feb 20, 2022
Daniel Lozakovich performed Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto with Thierry Fischer leading the Utah Symphony Friday night at Abravanel Hall. Photo: Kathleen Sykes
Utah Symphony music director Thierry Fischer is on a roll. Perhaps the five months he spent apart from the symphony during the first half of this season gave both parties the chance to grow and appreciate one another more. Or maybe it’s just the programming. Whatever the reason, Fischer’s three concerts since his return have been among the best of his 12-year tenure.
Yang’s Liszt thrills and Fischer’s Ravel sways with Utah Symphony – Feb 05, 2022
Joyce Yang performed Liszt’s Piano Concerto No. 1 with Thierry Fischer and the Utah Symphony Friday night at Abravanel Hall. Photo: KT KIm
With a program including John Adams, Liszt, and a quirky collection of Ravel pieces, Thierry Fischer’s second concert with the symphony after his five-month absence displayed the eclectic programing that has marked his 12 years as music director.
The evening led off with Adams’ Slonimsky’s Earbox. Written in 1995, this tribute to the Russian-born musician and scholar Nicolas Slominsky … Read More
Fischer finally returns and Utah Symphony responds with gleaming performances – Jan 29, 2022
Thierry Fischer led his first Utah Symphony concert of the season Friday night at Abravanel Hall. Photo: Mike Lund
After a string of guest conductors spanning the first five months of the 2021-2022 season, the Utah Symphony once again performed under the baton of its music director Thierry Fischer Friday night. The program showcased his strengths as a conductor and featured a new violin concerto written specifically for concertmaster Madeline Adkins.
On Friday night, that new work, The Maze was sandwiched between Honegger’s … Read More
Dove’s “Flight” explores human relations in soaring Utah Opera debut – Jan 17, 2022
Utah Opera’s production of Jonathan Dove’s Flight runs through January 23. Photo: Utah Opera.
When performing an opera set in an airport, it’s a cute idea to have uniformed flight attendants take the stage to make the “Turn off your cell phones” announcement.
At Utah Opera’s first-rate opening night performance of Flight at the Capitol Theatre, the introduction made the audience members feel like fellow travelers on what would prove to be a delightful and poignant journey. Less welcome was the next announcement: … Read More
Grosvenor brings freshness, depth to Grieg in Utah Symphony debut – Jan 08, 2022
Benjamin Grosvenor performed Grieg’s Piano Concerto with Robert Trevino conducting the Utah Symphony Orchestra Friday night. Photo: Kathleen Sykes
Once in a great while a musician will play an old warhorse with such nuance and freshness that one is reminded of all the reasons it became a concert mainstay.
Such was the case with Benjamin Grosvenor’s performance of Grieg’s Piano Concerto Friday night with the Utah Symphony at Abravanel Hall. Under the baton of Robert Trevino, who, like Grosvenor, was making his Utah … Read More
Orli Shaham brings captivating Chopin to Utah Symphony – Dec 11, 2021
Orli Shaham performed Chopin’s Piano Concerto No. 2 with the Utah Symphony Friday night at Abravanel Hall Photo: Aleks Karjaka
Another week, another guest conductor at Abravanel Hall.
Case Scaglione, a native Texan who currently serves as chief conductor of the Wuttemberg Chamber Orchestra in Germany and the Orchestre National de France, made a somewhat uneven debut with the Utah Symphony Friday night.
Scaglione came through effectively on the climactic moments of each piece, including several during pianist Orli Shaham’s engaging rendition of Chopin’s Piano … Read More
Robertson’s return bolsters close rapport with Utah Symphony musicians – Dec 04, 2021
Inmo Yang performed Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto with David Robertson conducting the Utah Symphony Friday night at Abravanel Hall. Photo: Kathleen Sykes
After a well-received concert with the orchestra last year, conductor David Robertson returned to Abravanel Hall Friday as the Utah Symphony’s fifth guest conductor in this season of unofficial auditions to succeed Utah Symphony music director Thierry Fischer when his contract expires in 2023. With a program featuring Stravinsky, Mendelssohn, and Brahms, the Southern California native greatly improved his chances and … Read More
Female soloists and chorus provide the highlights in Utah Symphony’s “Messiah” – Nov 28, 2021
Conner Gray Covington conducted the Utah Symphony and Utah Opera Chorus in Handel’s Messiah Saturday night at Abravanel Hall.
After a year off due to the pandemic, the annual performance of Handel’s Messiah by the Utah Symphony and Utah Opera began with a reminder by conductor Conner Gray Covington that to avoid spreading Covid, this year’s performance would not be a “singalong” as it in years past.
Judging by the smattering of scores in the hands of patrons—about a third of whom were … Read More
Shiyeon Sung quietly shines in Utah Symphony debut – Nov 20, 2021
Vadim Gluzman performed Prokofiev’s Violin Concerto No. 2 with Shiyeon Sung conducting the Utah Symphony Friday night at Abravanel Hall. Photo: Kathleen Sykes
The fourth guest conductor — and first female – this season for Utah Symphony, Shiyeon Sung of South Korea did not arrive at Abravanel Hall on Friday night straight from central casting, as the saying goes. Given how shockingly few female conductors helm major orchestras, and the related tendency to visualize imposing male figures in the role, central casting might … Read More
