This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2012, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
The Utah Symphony, just past the midpoint in its seasonlong celebration of Beethoven, announced its 2012-13 season. It includes another symphony cycle, return visits by favorite soloists and guest conductors, a generous dose of Russian music and the world premiere of another specially commissioned work.
Music director Thierry Fischer discussed the season's programming at a Monday news conference at which Utah Symphony | Utah Opera president and CEO Melia Tourangeau also announced Fischer's contract has been renewed through the 2015-16 season.
One of the hottest tickets of the season may be for an event the orchestra is presenting, but not performing in: an October recital by superstar pianist Lang Lang. But there's plenty of star power on the regular season, including violinists Hilary Hahn and Augustin Hadelich, pianists Louis Lortie and Gina Bachauer Competition champ Lukas Geniusas, singers Erin Morley and Lisa Vroman, and conductors Gerard Schwarz, Nicholas McGegan and Andrew Grams. Three principal players from the Utah Symphony will be spotlighted as soloists: concertmaster Ralph Matson and bassist David Yavornitzky in Masterworks Series concertos, and pianist Jason Hardink on a pops program.
One thread running through the season will be the five symphonies of Felix Mendelssohn. "Symphony cycles help the orchestra reach new heights," Fischer said. Noting that this year's "Beethoven Boot Camp" has strengthened the orchestra's playing, he said he wanted to focus next on a composer whose music was more lyrical, "but still demanding in terms of style," and Mendelssohn fit the bill. (Fischer plans a symphony cycle for 2013-14 as well, but revealed only that it won't be from the Classical period.)
The season will have a pronounced Russian flavor. A mini-Tchaikovsky festival will include the composer's last two symphonies and all three of his piano concertos; Fischer also will continue his emphasis on the works of Stravinsky. The Russian music "gives diversity to the intensive work we are doing on Classical music," the conductor said.
Another Fischer priority is commissioning new works. "New music can help us understand old music," he said. The upcoming season will include an orchestral piece by British composer Simon Holt. "We've given him the fact that we don't have unlimited funds," Fischer said, joking that audiences shouldn't expect complex electronics, a stage full of video screens or a 600-voice choir. "We let the composer know what's irrealistic; irrealistic is not an option. But realistic is not an option either." In other words, expect something as adventurous as last weekend's well-received premiere of the Michael Jarrell cello concerto "Émergences."
Principal pops conductor Jerry Steichen, in town to conduct Ballet West's performances of "Don Quixote," also was at the news conference — and, he noted, meeting Fischer for the first time. Highlights of the Entertainment Series include an evening of Billy Joel hits with Michael Cavanaugh, star of the Broadway hit "Movin' Out"; a Christmas program with the ever-popular Bravo Broadway; and an evening dedicated to John Williams.
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Mucho Mendelssohn — and more
Here's the Utah Symphony | Utah Opera's 2012-13 season. Concerts are in Abravanel Hall, 123 W. South Temple, Salt Lake City. Operas are in the Capitol Theatre, 50 W. 200 South, Salt Lake City. Season tickets are on sale now; call 801-533-NOTE or visit http://www.usuo.org. There are 18 Masterworks programs, five in the Entertainment Series, four aimed at families and two Saturday Lollipops matinees. There also will be four special events, including the Oct. 9 solo recital by Lang Lang. A variety of six- and nine-concert packages are available. Single tickets will go on sale in August.
There will be four open Friday morning rehearsals in the Finishing Touches series (FT), as well as a half-dozen events apiece for Utah Symphony | Utah Opera's social and networking organizations: Vivace, Saturday get-togethers for 20- to 40-somethings (V), and Cadenza, Friday functions for those 55 and older (C).
Sept. 7-8 • Entertainment: "The Music of Billy Joel & More." Jerry Steichen, conductor; Michael Cavanaugh, vocalist and pianist.
Sept. 14-15 • Masterworks: Stravinsky, "Greeting Prelude"; Rachmaninoff, Piano Concerto No. 1 and Symphony No. 2. Thierry Fischer, conductor; Yevgeny Sudbin, piano. (C)
Sept. 18 • Family: Salute to Youth with young soloists chosen by audition.
Sept. 21-22 • Masterworks: Prokofiev, Suite from "The Love for Three Oranges" and Violin Concerto No. 1; Mussorgsky/Ravel, "Pictures at an Exhibition." Thierry Fischer, conductor; Alina Ibragimova, violin. (FT)
Sept. 28-29 • Masterworks: Bach, Brandenburg Concerto No. 3; Stravinsky, "Dumbarton Oaks"; Mendelssohn, Symphony No. 2 ("Hymn of Praise"). Thierry Fischer, conductor; Erin Morley, soprano; Colin Balzer, tenor; Utah Symphony Chorus. (V)
Oct. 9 • Special event: Pianist Lang Lang in recital. (The Utah Symphony will not perform on this program.)
Oct. 13-21 • Opera: Verdi, "Il Trovatore."
Oct. 26-27 • Masterworks: Shostakovich, "October, Symphonic Poem for Orchestra"; Rachmaninoff, Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini; Borodin, Symphony No. 2; Rimsky-Korsakov, Selections from "The Tale of Tsar Saltan." Gerard Schwarz, conductor; Lukas Geniusas, piano. (C)
Oct. 30 • Family: "Halloween Hi-Jinks." Vladimir Kulenovic, conductor.
Nov. 2-3 • Entertainment: "Rhapsody in Blue." Jerry Steichen, conductor; Jason Hardink, piano; Lisa Vroman, vocalist.
Nov. 9-10 • Masterworks: Stravinsky, "The Fairy's Kiss: Divertimento"; Ravel, "Pavane for a Dead Princess," "La Valse" and "Bolero"; Saint-Saens, Piano Concerto No. 2. Thierry Fischer, conductor; Ingrid Fliter, piano.
Nov. 16-17 • Masterworks: Mozart, Symphony No. 41 ("Jupiter"); Mahler, Adagio from Symphony No. 10; Korngold, Violin Concerto. Thierry Fischer, conductor; Hilary Hahn, violin. (C, V)
Nov. 24-25 • Special event: "Messiah" Sing-in. Susanne Sheston, conductor; Utah Symphony Chorus; soloists TBA.
Nov. 30-Dec. 1 • Masterworks: Debussy, "Scottish March"; Bruch, "Scottish Fantasy"; Mendelssohn, Symphony No. 3 ("Scottish"). Thierry Fischer, conductor; Fumiaki Miura, violin.
Dec. 7-8 • Masterworks: Debussy, Petite Suite and "Iberia"; Ravel, Piano Concerto in G Major and "Rapsodie Espagnole." Jun Markl, conductor; Pascal Roge, piano. (FT)
Dec. 21-22 • Entertainment: Holiday celebration with Bravo Broadway. Jerry Steichen, conductor; Doug LaBrecque and Capathia Jenkins, vocalists.
Dec. 22 • Lollipops: "Here Comes Santa Claus!" Vladimir Kulenovic, conductor.
Jan. 4-5 • Masterworks: Mendelssohn, "The Fair Melusina"; Sibelius, "The Swan of Tuonela"; Vivaldi, "La Tempesta di Mare"; Bach, Violin Concerto in A Minor; Handel, Selections from "Water Music"; Britten, "Four Sea Interludes" from "Peter Grimes." Nicholas McGegan, conductor; Ralph Matson, violin. (C)
Jan. 11-12 • Masterworks: Grieg, Two Elegiac Melodies for String Orchestra; Sibelius, Violin Concerto; Kodaly, "Dances of Galanta"; Enescu, Rumanian Rhapsody No. 1. Gilbert Varga, conductor; Tobias Feldmann, violin.
Jan. 19-27 • Opera: Daniel Catán, "Florencia en el Amazonas."
Feb. 1-2 • Special event: "Ballroom With a Twist." Jerry Steichen, conductor; Louis van Amstel, director and choreographer.
Feb. 8-9 • Masterworks: Elgar, "In the South 'Alassio' "; Stravinsky, Violin Concerto; Mendelssohn, Symphony No. 4 ("Italian"). Thierry Fischer, conductor; Baiba Skride, violin. (V)
Feb. 14-16 • Masterworks: Prokofiev, ballet music from "Romeo and Juliet"; Schumann, Piano Concerto; Tchaikovsky, "Romeo and Juliet" Fantasy Overture. Thierry Fischer, conductor; Nicholas Angelich, piano. (C)
Feb. 22-23 • Masterworks: Mendelssohn, Symphony No. 1 and Symphony No. 5 ("Reformation"); Hans Werner Henze, Double Bass Concerto. Thierry Fischer, conductor; David Yavornitzky, double bass. (FT)
March 1-2 • Entertainment: "Do You Hear the People Sing — From 'Les Miz' to 'Miss Saigon.' "Jerry Steichen, conductor; Utah Symphony Chorus.
March 8-9 • Masterworks: Gounod, Ballet Music from "Faust"; Copland, Suite from "Appalachian Spring"; Stravinsky, "Jeu de cartes"; Gershwin, "An American in Paris." Andrew Grams, conductor. (V)
March 16-24 • Opera: Mozart, "The Magic Flute." (C)
March 30 • Lollipops: "El Salon Mexico." Vladimir Kulenovic, conductor.
April 12-13 • Masterworks: Tchaikovsky, Symphony No. 6 ("Pathetique") and Symphony No. 5; Schoenberg, "Peace on Earth" and "My Horses Ain't Hungry." Thierry Fischer, conductor; Utah Symphony Chorus.
April 16 • Family: "The Magical Firebird." Vladimir Kulenovic, conductor.
April 19-20 • Masterworks: Tchaikovsky, Piano Concertos Nos. 3, 2 and 1; Schoenberg, "Accompaniment to a Cinematographic Scene." Thierry Fischer, conductor; Louis Lortie, piano. (V)
April 26-27 • Masterworks: Simon Holt, world premiere for orchestra; Mozart, Piano Concerto No. 24; Berlioz, "Symphonie fantastique." Thierry Fischer, conductor; Yu Kosuge, piano.
May 3-4 • Entertainment: "The Music of John Williams." Jerry Steichen, conductor.
May 11-19 • Opera: Rossini, "The Barber of Seville." (V)
May 21 • Family: All-Star Evening. Vladimir Kulenovic, conductor.
May 24-25 • Masterworks: Dvorak, Slavonic Dances and Violin Concerto; Brahms, Symphony No. 2. Christian Arming, conductor; Augustin Hadelich, violin. (FT) —
On sale now
Season tickets are on sale now at 801-533-NOTE or http://www.usuo.org. —
On sale now
Season tickets are on sale now at 801-533-NOTE or http://www.usuo.org.