Utah Arts Review – Critic’s Choice for 2019-20

by Edward Reichel

Cagney. Pioneer Theatre Company. September 20-October 5.  
Pioneer Theatre Company opens its season with Cagney, a new musical about James Cagney, the legendary song-and-dance man turned acclaimed film star. The story chronicles Cagney’s career from vaudeville performer to Hollywood tough guy. The show makes an extended stop in Salt Lake City on its way to Broadway and features Robert Creighton in the title role. pioneertheatre.org

“No Tenors Allowed.” Thomas Hampson, baritone; Luca Pisaroni, bass-baritone. Brigham Young University. October 1.
Performing together since 2010, veteran baritone Thomas Hampson and his son-in-law, bass-baritone Luca Pisaroni, bring their show, “No Tenors Allowed,” to Brigham Young University. The program will have the duo performing selections from opera, including Donizettti’s  Don Pasquale and Mozart’s Don Giovanni, along with Broadway show tunes and popular songs. arts.byu.edu

“Balanchine’s Ballets Russes.” Ballet West. October 25-November 2
Ballet West celebrates the 110th anniversary of the founding of Serge Diaghilev’s groundbreaking Ballets Russes with a triple bill focusing on the choreography of a very young George Balanchine, in his earliest collaborations with the famed company. The program features Stravinsky’s The Song of the Nightingale, in a reconstruction of the original production, and the same composer’s Apollo, which will include the rarely performed original childhood scene and the final ascent to Mount Olympus. Rounding out the program will be Prokofiev’s Prodigal Son. balletwest.org

Itzhak Perlman, violinist. Brigham Young University Philharmonic/Kory Katseanes. Brigham Young University. January 9, 2020.
Grammy and Emmy Award winning violinist Itzhak Perlman makes a rare visit to Utah, and his first to Brigham Young University, when he joins the school’s orchestra in a performance of Beethoven’s Violin Concerto, celebrating the composer’s 250th birthday. Also on the program are Dvorak’s Carnival Overture and Richard Strauss’ Till Eulenspiegel’s Merry Pranks. arts.byu.edu

“Isabel Leonard Sings Mozart.” Utah Symphony/Bernard Labadie. Abravanel Hall. January 10-11.
Canadian conductor Bernard Labadie makes a welcome return to the Utah Symphony, this time teaming up with American mezzo-soprano Isabel Leonard, who will sing a set of Mozart operas arias, as well as the composer’s concert aria Exsultate, jubilate. The orchestra will also play Mendelssohn’s Symphony No. 4, “Italian.” utahsymphony.org

View full list at utahartsreview.com