Classical Music
Jensen tamps down Utah Symphony sound in rich Russian program – Apr 30, 2022
Eivind Gullberg Jensen conducted the Utah Symphony in music of Rachmaninoff and Tchaikovsky Friday night at Abravanel Hall. Photo: Kathleen Sykes
In a season filled with new works that challenged the audience—including three pieces from composer- in-association Arlene Sierra —Friday’s Utah Symphony program consisting solely of music by Rachmaninoff and Tchaikovsky seemed bracingly retro.
While the orchestra does “play the hits”, most concerts this season have included a 20th or 21st century piece—like Ginastera’s serialist Violin Concerto, which Hilary Hahn performed earlier … Read More
Sierra’s “Bird Symphony” soars in a rich Utah Symphony program – Apr 16, 2022
Composer Arlene Sierra acknowledges applause from the Abravanel Hall audience following the world premiere of her Bird Symphony performed by Thierry Fischer and the Utah Symphony Friday night. Photo: Kathleen Sykes
World premieres of orchestral works are sometimes fraught with mishap, and worse, indifference. Where a new piece is tucked away between Beethoven and Shostakovich, it is sometimes under-rehearsed, misinterpreted, or under-appreciated by an audience.
Fortunately, in Thierry Fischer and the Utah Symphony, Arlene Sierra—the orchestra’s composer-in-association—had the privilege of premiering her Bird Symphony … Read More
Sierra’s avian world premiere to take flight with Utah Symphony – Apr 13, 2022
The world premiere of Arlene Sierra’s Bird Symphony will be performed by the Utah Symphony Friday night at Abravanel Hall. Photo: Ian Phillips-McLaren
This season the Utah Symphony seems to be encouraging audience members to leave the house and enjoy the great outdoors.
Recent programs included Beethoven’s “Pastoral” symphony (No. 6), Debussy’s Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun, and The Maze, a new violin concerto by Nathan Lincoln de Cusatis inspired by Canyonlands National Park. The Symphony will even perform Oliver … Read More
Utah Symphony conjures nature in extremes with Arlene Sierra and Hilary Hahn – Apr 09, 2022
Hilary Hahn performed music of Ginastera and Sarasate with Thierry Fischer and the Utah Symphony Friday night at Abravanel Hall. Photo: Kathleen Sykes
With a pair of distinguished guests as guides, the Utah Symphony is on something of an extended hike through the wilds this weekend and next at Abravanel Hall. Friday’s concert saw the U.S. premiere of Nature Symphony by Composer in Association Arlene Sierra and two other distinct takes on the natural world.
The program also featured violinist and Artist … Read More
Muñoz at his best in Beethoven with Utah Symphony – Mar 27, 2022
Tiro Muñoz conducted the Utah Symphony Saturday night at Abravanel Hall.
For many of this season’s Utah Symphony guest conductors, the concert serves as an informal audition to replace Utah Symphony music director Thierry Fischer when he leaves next year. If Tito Muñoz – whose regular job is the same post with the Phoenix Symphony – is interested, his transcendent interpretation of Beethoven’s Symphony No. 6 (“Pastorale”) Saturday night should earn him a second look.
The Queens, New York native began the … Read More
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, … 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 … Read More
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 … 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 … 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 … Read More
