Utah Symphony Announces 2020-21 Season

Music Director Thierry Fischer leads orchestra’s 81^st season featuring continued celebration of Beethoven’s 250^th birthday with all five piano concertos;

 Additional highlights of the Utah Symphony’s 81^st season include:

Composer-in-Association Latin Grammy Award nominee Arlene Sierra’s U.S. debuts of her works “Aquilo,” and “Nature Symphony,” and the world premiere of “Bird Symphony.”

Fifteen “first-ever” Utah Symphony performances of classical and contemporary pieces, including five premieres and works by five living composers.

Flutist Emmanuel Pahud joins Thierry Fischer and the orchestra as Artist in Association for two programs of Nielsen’s Flute Concerto, Fantasy themes from Mozart’s “The Magic Flute,” and the U.S. premiere of Philippe Manoury’s “Saccades.”

Performances of “Back to the Future,” Cirque de la Symphonie, Video Games Live!, a Rodgers and Hammerstein celebration, and “Peter and the Wolf.”

Masterworks Series guest conductor Jun Märkl returns alongside seven conductors making their Utah Symphony Masterworks debuts including Shiyeon Sung, Rune Bergmann, David Afkham, David Danzmayr, Ludovic Morlot, Marc Albrecht and Domingo Hindoyan.

Masterworks Series guest artists include violist Tabea Zimmermann, pianist Ingrid Fliter, pianist Louis Schwizgebel, pianist Steven Osborne, violinist Vadim Gluzman, guitarist Pablo Sáinz Villegas, and flutist Emmanuel Pahud. Making their Utah Symphony debuts are pianist Benjamin Grosvenor and violinists Inmo Yang and Daniel Lozakovich.

Two featured Utah Symphony soloists include Concertmaster Madeline Adkins (“Scottish Fantasy” and Bach’s “Concerto for Two Violins”), and Principal Second Claude Halter (Bach’s “Concerto for Two Violins”)

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah (February 4, 2020) – Music Director Thierry Fischer and Utah Symphony | Utah Opera and Interim President and CEO Patricia A. Richards today announced the Utah Symphony’s 2020-21 season, sponsored by the George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles Foundation, with highlights including a cycle of all five Beethoven piano concertos featuring world-renowned pianists in celebration of the composer’s 250th birthday. American composer Arlene Sierra will be the Utah Symphony’s 2020–21 Composer-in-Association, and in addition to having several works premiered or given their first U.S. performances by the orchestra, she will travel to Salt Lake City to engage with the community as an ambassador for contemporary music. The orchestra also welcomes a new Artist-in-Association, flutist Emmanuel Pahud, who performs works by Mozart and Nielsen, as well as a U.S. premiere by Philippe Manoury. The orchestra’s Entertainment Series, Family Series, Films in Concert Series and other special event concerts were announced under the banner of “Live with the Utah Symphony.”

“For me, the diversity of our 2020-21 season is really exciting. From the international artists like my good friend, flutist Emmanuel Pahud, to the varied repertoire, we are in store for an inspiring season that showcases what Utah Symphony does best: bring a high level of musical excellence to the stage while interpreting a wide array of musical genres,” said Music Director Thierry Fischer, who was appointed in 2009 and will be in his tenth full season with the orchestra. “Whether it’s contemporary music by our Composer-in-Association Arlene Sierra or Michael Jarrell’s commission, smaller chamber ensembles, or classical masterworks by Beethoven, Brahms and Mozart, I am proud of the orchestra for mastering an assortment of styles that inspires and engages audiences.”

This season, Maestro Fischer will lead a continuation of Beethoven’s 250^th birthday celebration with a cycle of all five of the composer’s piano concertos featuring world-renowned guest pianists. He leads the orchestra in the season opening concert of Beethoven’s “Emperor” followed by Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 4, both with soloist Stephen Hough. He also conducts two works by contemporary composers: the U.S. premiere of Utah Symphony commission “Emergences-Résurgences” by Swiss composer Michael Jarrell, and the world premiere of “Bird Symphony” by composer in association Arlene Sierra. In addition to these works, Maestro Fischer will conduct ten Masterworks programs, including Weber’s Overture to Abu Hassan, Mozart’s Symphony No. 40, Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto, Stravinsky’s “Song of the Nightingale,” Tchaikovsky’s “Romeo and Juliet,” Haydn’s Symphony No. 11, Nielsen’s Flute Concerto, Fauré’s “Requiem,” Rachmaninoff’s “Symphonic Dances,” Bruckner’s Symphony No. 9, Strauss’s “Ein Heldenleben” (A Hero’s Life), Schoenberg’s Chamber Symphonies No.. 1 and 2, and Mozart’s “Eine kleine Nachtmusik.”

“The upcoming Utah Symphony season showcases the artistry and versatility of this incredible group of musicians. We are especially proud to highlight two of our own extraordinary violinists as soloists this season in our Masterworks Series, which presents some of the most beautiful and inspiring music ever written,” said Utah Symphony | Utah Opera Interim President and CEO Patricia A. Richards, who was Board Chair from 2005 to 2014 and is a Lifetime Trustee on the Board of Trustees. “And on the lighter side, from Films in Concert to show-stopping favorites like Cirque de la Symphonie and Pink Martini, we are offering programs with wide appeal. It is going to be a great year!”

London-based American composer Arlene Sierra, who “The New York Times” recognized for “vividly scored, colorful works,” is Utah Symphony’s 2020-21 composer in association. Over the course of the season, the orchestra will explore three premieres: a mysterious and evocative orchestral showpiece, “Aquilo,” appears as the first of her two U.S. premieres on November 13, and 14; “Nature Symphony,” the second of Arlene Sierra’s U.S. premieres on January 29 and 30, takes a deep look into “the mechanics and processes of nature.” The season of Arlene Sierra premieres concludes with “Bird Symphony,” which is commissioned by the Utah Symphony and has its world premiere on April 23 and 24.

As part of its mission to inspire and connect communities throughout the state with great live music, the Utah Symphony continues “run outs” to three venues. An eight-part series is presented in Ogden in partnership with the Onstage Ogden at Austad Auditorium at Val A. Browning Center for the Performing Arts on the campus of Weber State University; a six-part series in its second year brings the orchestra to The Noorda, the new performing arts center on the campus of Utah Valley University in Utah County; and a single performance of German violist Tabea Zimmermann, in her Masterworks Series debut, in partnership with the BRAVO! Series at de Jong Concert Hall at the Harris Fine Arts Center on the campus of Brigham Young University in Provo on November 19, 2020.

“As board chair, I am very proud to witness firsthand how music changes lives when I attend orchestra performances. We are so fortunate to live in a state with a full time, world-class symphony orchestra and experience the high caliber of talent this group of musicians offers citizens all across our state,” said Utah Symphony | Utah Opera Board Chair Tom Love. “This truly is Utah’s Symphony! And we can only accomplish this with the generous support of a great many community leaders, patrons and elected officials, for whom we are extremely grateful. The board and I continue to advocate on behalf of this cultural gem so that future generations will continue to have access the transformative power of music.”

2020-21 SEASON AT A GLANCE

Beethoven’s 250^th birthday
The season includes a continuation of the celebration of Beethoven’s 250^th birthday with Masterworks performances of all five of the composer’s piano concertos featuring world-class soloists.

British pianist Stephen Hough opens the 2020-21 season with Piano Concerto No. 5 “Emperor” on September 18 and 19, and Piano Concerto No. 4 on September 25 and 26, both led by Music Director Thierry Fischer; British pianist Benjamin Grosvenor performs Beethoven’s third piano concerto on October 23 and 24 in his Utah Symphony debut with guest conductor Jun Märkl at the podium; Argentine pianist and 2006 Gilmore Artist Ingrid Fliter performs Piano Concerto No. 1 with Rune Bergmann leading the orchestra on December 3 and 4; and Swiss pianist Louis Schwizgebel performs Beethoven’s second piano concerto on December 11 and 12 with guest conductor David Afkham.

Additional works by the composer will be featured during 2020-21, including Symphony No. 9 “Choral” led by Shiyeon Sung with Utah Symphony Chorus and University of Utah Choirs on November 13 and 14; “Fidelio” Overture from the composer’s only opera on December 3 and 4; and his orchestral tribute, “Coriolan” Overture, on December 11 and 12.

Fifteen first-ever performances
Fifteen “first-ever” Utah Symphony performances of classical and contemporary pieces, will include five premieres and works by five living composers. Music Director Thierry Fischer leads the Utah Symphony in seven never-before-heard Abravanel Hall performances of R. Strauss’ “The Woman without a Shadow” Symphonic Fantasy in the first Masterworks of the season on September 18 and 19; Prokofiev’s “Cinderella” Suite and Schoenberg’s groundbreaking 1st Chamber Symphony on September 24 and 25; Stravinsky’s “Agon” Ballet on February 5 and 6; continuation of his Haydn Symphony cycle with the 11th symphony; and Mozart’s “The Magic Flute Fantasy” with flutist Emmanuel Pahud on February 19 and 20; and closes the season with Schoenberg’s rarely-performed Chamber Symphony No. 2 on May 28 and 29. Korean guest conductor Shiyeon Sung also conducts Mozart’s “Misericordias Domini” with the Utah Symphony Chorus joining the orchestra for the first time on the Abravanel Hall stage on November 13 and 14.

New works by living composers begin with Latin Grammy Award-nominated U.S. composer Arlene Sierra’s mysterious and evocative orchestral showpiece “Aquilo” in its U.S. premiere on November 13 and 14; “Nature Symphony,” the composer’s second U.S. premiere on January 29 and 30; and concludes with “Bird Symphony,” which has its world premiere by Utah Symphony on April 23 and 24.

On November 20 and 21, the orchestra presents the U.S. premiere of Swiss-born Michael Jarrell’s Utah Symphony commission “Emergences-Résurgences” with viola soloist Tabea Zimmermann, to whom he dedicated the piece in 2016. Jarrell previously wrote “Emergences (Nachlese VI)” for the orchestra in 2012 as a co-commission with the Orchestre de la Suisse Romande, the Orchestre Philharmonique du Luxembourg and the Orchestre National de Lyon.

The orchestra performs “Clepsidra” by Mexican composer Mario Lavista, under the baton of Maestro Fischer on February 26 and 27; Chinese-American composer Zhou Tian’s “Trace” on April 9 and 10, which tells of the composer’s own disappearing homeland and the ways industrialization has obscured the past; and “Saccades” by French composer Philippe Manoury for Emmanuel Pahud in its U.S. premiere on May 21 and 22.

Guest soloists sharing the stage
Eleven internationally renowned guest soloists share the Abravanel Hall stage during the 2020-21 season, including five piano and four strings soloists, and the return of two virtuosos of the classical guitar and flute. British piano sensation Stephen Hough opens the 2020-21 season in two consecutive Masterworks programs performing Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 5 “Emperor” on September 18 and 19, and Piano Concerto No. 4 on September 25 and 26; British pianist Benjamin Grosvenor, winner of Gramophone’s Young Artist of the Year and Instrumental Awards, performs Beethoven’s third piano concerto on October 23 and 24 in his Utah Symphony debut; Argentine pianist and 2006 Gilmore Artist Ingrid Fliter performs Piano Concerto No. 1 on December 3 and 4; Swiss pianist Louis Schwizgebel, a BBC New Generation Artist and Leeds International Piano Competition finalist, returns to perform Beethoven’s second piano concerto on December 11 and 12; two-time Gramophone Award-winning Scottish pianist Steven Osborne, also 2013 Winner of the Royal Philharmonic Society’s Instrumentalist of the Year, makes his orchestra debut with Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 12 on March 26 and 27.

Other guest string soloists featured on Masterworks concerts include German violist Tabea Zimmermann, in her Masterworks Series debut on November 20 and 21, performing Romantic melodies in Berlioz’ “Harold in Italy” as well as the U.S. premiere of Michael Jarrell’s art-inspired concerto “Emergences-Résurgences,” a Utah Symphony commission dedicated to her in 2016; the return of Israeli violinist Vadim Gluzman on January 8 and 9 to perform Prokofiev’s Violin Concerto No. 2 on his incredible 1690 “ex-Leopold Auer” Stradivarius; the Utah Symphony debut of Korean violinist Inmo Yang on February 5 and 6 playing Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto; and Swedish violinist Daniel Lozakovich, who has performed with Royal Stockholm Philharmonic, the Moscow Philharmonic and the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic orchestras, playing the virtuosic Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto on April 23 and 24.

Two additional international guest artists make their return to the Abravanel Hall stage: Spanish classical guitar sensation and audience favorite Pablo Villegas joins the orchestra on January 29 and 30 to perform Rodrigo’s “Fantasía para un gentilhombre,“ a work written for one of his idols, the legendary Andrés Segovia; flute virtuoso and Artist in Association Emmanuel Pahud returns to Utah for two dates, on February 21 and 22 to perform Nielsen’s playful concerto and a fantasy on themes from Mozart’s most magical opera, “The Magic Flute,” and again on May 21 and 22 to play the U.S. premiere of Philippe Manoury’s “Sacaddes.”

Two Utah Symphony principal players are featured soloists on Masterworks programs: Concertmaster Madeline Adkins performs Bruch’s “Scottish Fantasy” on April 9 and 10 with guest conductor Domingo Hindoyan; on April 30 and May 1, Ms. Adkins joins Principal Second Violin Claude Halter to play J.S. Bach’s only concerto for violin duo, a work that dazzles with unique textures and a mesmerizing interplay between the soloists under the baton of Maestro Fischer.

Vocalists and Choral Performances

The combined forces of the Utah Symphony Chorus and choirs from the University of Utah prepared by Utah Symphony Chorus Director Barlow Bradford are prominently featured on November 13 and 14 performing Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 “Choral”, and a pair of Mozart’s most important liturgical works, “Ave verum corpus” and offertory “Misericordias domini,” featuring melodies that foreshadow Beethoven’s “Ode to Joy” theme, alongside vocalists MET soprano and Utah native Celena Shafer, mezzo-soprano and Associate Professor of Voice at the University of Utah Kirstin Chávez, and the Utah Symphony debuts of tenor Arnold Livingston Geis and bass-baritone Andrew Foster-Williams.

On February 26 and 27, Utah Symphony Chorus joins the orchestra for Fauré’s gorgeous and moving “Requiem,” and are later joined by University of Utah Choirs for Tchaikovsky’s “1812 Overture” for a rarely heard chorus component.

Guest Conductors
Guest conductors during the Utah Symphony’s 2020-21 season include the return of Jun Märkl (who will also be making his Utah Opera conducting debut with “The Flying Dutchman” in the opening season October opera) on October 23 and 24 to lead the concerts featuring pianist Benjamin Grosvenor; and the Masterworks debut of Chief Conductor of the Zagreb Philharmonic Orchestra David Danzmayr, on January 8 and 9 in a Brahms and Prokofiev program featuring violinist Vadim Gluzman.

Six guest conductors make their Utah Symphony debut during the 2020-21 season. They include South Korean conductor Shiyeon Sung, the first woman to win top prize in the Sir Georg Solti International Conductors’ Competition in 2006, and second prize winner in Bamberg’s Gustav Mahler Conducting Competition in 2007on November 13 and 14 conducting Mozart’s liturgical works, Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 “Choral” and Arlene Sierra’s “Equilo” U.S. premiere; Norwegian conductor Rune Bergmann, Music Director of Canada’s Calgary Philharmonic, and Artistic Director & Chief Conductor of Poland’s Szczecin Philharmonic, on December 4 and 5 leading the orchestra in two Beethoven works with pianist Ingrid Fliter and Nielsen’s “The Inextinguishable”; Chief Conductor and Artistic Director of the Orquestra y Coro Nacional de España, German David Afkham, on December 11 and 12 with pianist Louis Schwizgebel on a program featuring Beethoven and Shostakovich; Conductor Emeritus of the Seattle Symphony Ludovic Morlot, under whose baton that orchestra completed 19 recordings, leading the Utah Symphony and fan-favorite classical guitarist Pablo Villegas on January 29 and 30 featuring the U.S. premiere of Arlene Sierra’s “Nature Symphony,” Rodrigo’s “Fantasía para un gentilhombre,” and Schumann’s “Spring” symphony; an all-Mozart and Mahler program with Marc Albrecht, ‘Conductor of the Year’ at the International Opera Awards 2019, on March 26 and 27; and Venezuelan-Swiss Principal Guest Conductor of the Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra Domingo Hindoyan on April 9 and 10 with Concertmaster Madeline Adkins performing Bruch’s “Scottish Fantasy” on a program also featuring Zhou Tian’s “Trace” and Stravinsky” “Pétrouchka.”

“Live with the Utah Symphony” Concerts
During the 2020-21 season, the orchestra will feature a wide gamut of Broadway, family, film and special performances under the banner “Live with the Utah Symphony.” These 13 programs include favorites such as the 2^nd annual ¡Celebración Sinfónica! honoring Hispanic Heritage month with guest conductor Carlos Miguel Prieto on September 14; REVOLUTION: The Music of The Beatles with rare footage seen on the big screen on November 6 and 7; Cirque de la Symphonie with live feats of acrobatic athleticism soaring above the orchestra performance on December 18 and 19; Video Games Live! with music from iconic video games on January 2; a Rodgers and Hammerstein celebration on February 12 and 13; Pixar in Concert featuring favorite music from Pixar movie classics on April 13 and 17; and the return of Portland’s favorite “little orchestra” with big sounds of vintage pop, jazz, classical and global styles, Pink Martini, on April 16 and 17.

Some annual classics return: The 61st anniversary Salute to Youth on November 25, 2020; Handel’s “Messiah” Sing-in holiday favorite tradition on November 28 and 29; “Here Comes Santa Claus!” concert on December 19; “Peter and the Wolf on March 17, and the All Star Evening on May 25 featuring prodigious youth musicians playing alongside Utah Symphony.

The 2020-21 Films in Concert Series features the Utah Symphony performing the scores live to picture for “Back to the Future” on October 29 and 30; Disney Pixar’s “Beauty and the Beast” on December 23 and 24; the seventh installment of the Harry Potter™ Film Concert Series, “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows™ Part 1” on March 5 and 6; and “Star Wars: Return of the Jedi,” the third installment of the “Star Wars” film series, on June 25 and 26.

2020-21 MASTERWORKS SERIES GUEST ARTISTS

CONDUCTORS
Jun Märkl
Shiyeon Sung (*Utah Symphony debut)
Rune Bergmann (*Utah Symphony debut)
David Afkham (*Utah Symphony debut)
David Danzmayr (*Utah Symphony Masterworks debut)
Ludovic Morlot (*Utah Symphony debut)
Marc Albrecht (*Utah Symphony debut)
Domingo Hindoyan (*Utah Symphony debut)

PIANISTS
Stephen Hough
Benjamin Grosvenor (*Utah Symphony debut)
Ingrid Fliter
Louis Schwizgebel
Steven Osborne

STRING SOLOISTS
Tabea Zimmermann, viola (*Masterworks Series debut)
Vadim Gluzman, violin
Inmo Yang, violin (*Utah Symphony debut)
Daniel Lozakovich, violin (*Utah Symphony debut)
Claude Halter, violin (Utah Symphony Principal Second)
Madeline Adkins, violin (Utah Symphony Concertmaster)

ADDITIONAL SOLOISTS
Pablo Villegas, classical guitar
Emmanuel Pahud, flute

VOCAL SOLOISTS

Celena Shafer, soprano
Kirstin Chávez, mezzo-soprano
Arnold Livingston Geis, tenor (*Utah Symphony debut)
Andrew Foster-Williams, bass-baritone (*Utah Symphony debut)

UTAH SYMPHONY CHORUS

UNIVERSITY OF UTAH CHAMBER CHOIR AND A CAPPELLA CHOIR

Tickets and Subscriptions

Subscription renewals and purchases are available online at www.utahsymphony.org starting February 4, 2020. Current season subscribers have until March 31, 2020 to renew their subscriptions or request seat changes for the 2020-21 season before seats are released to new subscribers and subscribers requesting seat changes. Subscriptions may also be renewed or purchased by calling (801) 533-6683 or by visiting the Abravanel Hall Ticket Office (123 West South Temple, Salt Lake City, Utah).

To request a printed 2020-21 Utah Symphony season schedule, please call Utah Symphony | Utah Opera Patron Services at (801) 533-6683, email [email protected], or write to ATTN: USUO Patron Services, 123 West South Temple, Salt Lake City, Utah 84101.

Single tickets for select concerts in the 2020-21 Utah Symphony season will be available starting June 9, 2020.

To view a full season schedule, visit utahsymphony.org.

UTAH SYMPHONY — 2020–21 SEASON

2020-21 O.C. TANNER COMPANY MASTERWORKS SERIES

Beethoven’s “Emperor” with Stephen Hough
September 17, 2020 | 10 AM | Abravanel Hall (Finishing Touches)
September 17, 2020 | 7:30 PM | Austad Auditorium at the Val A. Browning Center (Ogden)
September 18 & 19, 2020 | 7:30 PM | Abravanel Hall

Thierry Fischer, conductor
Stephen Hough, piano

WEBER: Overture to Abu Hassan
BEETHOVEN: Piano Concerto No. 5 “Emperor”
R. STRAUSS: Fantasy from The Woman without a Shadow
ELGAR: In the South (Alassio)

Prokofiev’s “Cinderella” & Beethoven
September 24, 2020 | 7:30 PM | Concert Hall at UVU’s Noorda Center for the Performing Arts (Orem)
September 25 & 26, 2020 | 7:30 PM | Abravanel Hall

Thierry Fischer, conductor
Stephen Hough, piano

PROKOFIEV: Suite from Cinderella
SCHOENBERG: Chamber Symphony No. 1
BEETHOVEN: Piano Concerto No. 4

Beethoven & Brahms 2
October 22, 2020 | 7:30 PM | Concert Hall at UVU’s Noorda Center for the Performing Arts (Orem)
October 23, 2020 | 7:30 PM | Abravanel Hall

Jun Märkl, conductor
Benjamin Grosvenor, piano

SCHUMANN: Genoveva Overture
BEETHOVEN: Piano Concerto No. 3
BRAHMS: Symphony No. 2

“Ode to Joy” with Mozart & Arlene Sierra
November 12, 2020 | 7:30 PM | Austad Auditorium at the Val A. Browning Center (Ogden)
November 13, 2020 | 7:30 PM | Abravanel Hall
November 14, 2020 | 5:30 PM | Abravanel Hall

Shiyeon Sung, conductor
Celena Shafer, soprano
Kirstin Chávez, mezzo-soprano
Arnold Livingston Geis, tenor (*Utah Symphony debut)
Andrew Foster-Williams, bass-baritone (*Utah Symphony debut)
Utah Symphony Chorus
University of Utah Choirs
Barlow Bradford, chorus director

MOZART: Ave verum corpus
ARLENE SIERRA: Aquilo (U.S. Premiere)
MOZART: Misericordias domini
BEETHOVEN: Symphony No. 9 “Choral”

Mozart 40 & Berlioz
November 19, 2020 | 7:30 PM | de Jong Concert Hall at the Harris Fine Arts Center (Provo)
November 20 & 21, 2020 | 7:30 PM | Abravanel Hall

Thierry Fischer, conductor
Tabea Zimmermann, viola

MOZART: Symphony No. 40
MICHAEL JARRELL: Emergences-Résurgences (Utah Symphony Commission, U.S. Premiere)
BERLIOZ: Harold in Italy

Beethoven & Nielsen 4
December 4, 2020 | 10 AM | Abravanel Hall (Finishing Touches)
December 4 & 5, 2020 | 7:30 PM | Abravanel Hall

Rune Bergmann, conductor
Ingrid Fliter, piano

BEETHOVEN: Fidelio Overture
BEETHOVEN: Piano Concerto No. 1
NIELSEN: Symphony No. 4 “The Inextinguishable”

Beethoven & Shostakovich 5
December 11, 2020 | 7:30 PM | Abravanel Hall
December 12, 2020 | 5:30 PM | Abravanel Hall

David Afkham, conductor
Louis Schwizgebel, piano

BEETHOVEN: Coriolan Overture
BEETHOVEN: Piano Concerto No. 2
SHOSTAKOVICH: Symphony No. 5

Brahms 1 & Prokofiev
January 7, 2021 | 7:30 PM | Austad Auditorium at the Val A. Browning Center (Ogden)
January 8, 2021 | 7:30 PM | Abravanel Hall
January 9, 2021 | 5:30 PM | Abravanel Hall

David Danzmayr, conductor
Vadim Gluzman, violin

SCHUBERT: Overture to The Magic Harp
PROKOFIEV: Violin Concerto No. 2
BRAHMS: Symphony No. 1

Pablo Sáinz Villegas plays Rodrigo
January 29 & 30, 2021 | 7:30 PM | Abravanel Hall

Ludovic Morlot, conductor
Pablo Sáinz Villegas, guitar

ARLENE SIERRA: Nature Symphony (U.S. Premiere)
RODRIGO: Fantasía para un gentilhombre
SCHUMANN: Symphony No. 1 “Spring”

Tchaikovsky’s “Romeo & Juliet” with Mendelssohn & Stravinsky
February 4, 2021 | 7:30 PM | Concert Hall at UVU’s Noorda Center for the Performing Arts (Orem)
February 5, 2021 | 7:30 PM | Abravanel Hall

Thierry Fischer, conductor
Inmo Yang, violin

STRAVINSKY: Agon
MENDELSSOHN: Violin Concerto
STRAVINSKY: The Song of the Nightingale
TCHAIKOVSKY: Romeo and Juliet

“Pictures at an Exhibition” with Mozart & Haydn
February 18, 2021 | 7:30 PM | Austad Auditorium at the Val A. Browning Center (Ogden)
February 19 & 20, 2021 | 7:30 PM | Abravanel Hall

Thierry Fischer, conductor
Emmanuel Pahud, flute

HAYDN: Symphony No. 11
MOZART/FOBBES: Fantasy on Mozart’s The Magic Flute
NIELSEN: Flute Concerto
MUSSORGSKY/RAVEL: Pictures at an Exhibition

Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture
February 26 & 27, 2021 | 7:30 PM | Abravanel Hall

Thierry Fischer, conductor
Utah Symphony Chorus
University of Utah Choirs
Barlow Bradford, chorus director

FAURÉ: Requiem
GINASTERA: Estancia
MARIO LAVISTA: Clepsidra
TCHAIKOVSKY: 1812 Overture

Mozart & Mahler 5
March 26, 2021 | 10 AM | Abravanel Hall (Finishing Touches)
March 26, 2021 | 7:30 PM | Abravanel Hall
March 27, 2021 | 5:30 PM | Abravanel Hall

Marc Albrecht, conductor
Steven Osborne, piano

MOZART: Piano Concerto No. 12
MAHLER: Symphony No. 5

Madeline Adkins plays the “Scottish Fantasy”
April 8, 2021 | 7:30 PM | Concert Hall at UVU’s Noorda Center for the Performing Arts (Orem)
April 9 & 10, 2021 | 7:30 PM | Abravanel Hall

Domingo Hindoyan, conductor
Madeline Adkins, violin

ZHOU TIAN: Trace
BRUCH: Scottish Fantasy
STRAVINSKY: Pétrouchka

Tchaikovsky & Rachmaninoff
April 23 & 24, 2021 | 7:30 PM | Abravanel Hall

Thierry Fischer, conductor
Daniel Lozakovich, violin

ARLENE SIERRA: Bird Symphony (World Premiere)
TCHAIKOVSKY: Violin Concerto
RACHMANINOFF: Symphonic Dances

Bach & Bruckner 9
April 30, 2021 | 7:30 PM | Abravanel Hall
May 1, 2021 | 5:30 PM | Abravanel Hall

Thierry Fischer, conductor
Madeline Adkins, violin
Claude Halter, violin

J.S. BACH: Concerto for Two Violins
BRUCKNER: Symphony No. 9

“A Hero’s Life”
May 21 & 22, 2021 | 7:30 PM | Abravanel Hall

Thierry Fischer, conductor
Emmanuel Pahud, flute

BERLIOZ: King Lear Overture
PHILIPPE MANOURY: Saccades (U.S. Premiere)
R. STRAUSS: Ein Heldenleben (A Hero’s Life)

Tchaikovsky 5 with Mozart & Schoenberg
May 28, 2021 | 10 AM | Abravanel Hall (Finishing Touches)
May 28 & 29, 2021 | 7:30 PM | Abravanel Hall

Thierry Fischer, conductor

MOZART: Eine kleine Nachtmusik
SCHOENBERG: Chamber Symphony No. 2
TCHAIKOVSKY: Symphony No. 5

2020-21 ZIONS BANK FILMS IN CONCERT SERIES

“Back to the Future” in Concert with the Utah Symphony
October 29 & 30, 2020 | 7 PM | Abravanel Hall
Conner Gray Covington, conductor
Signature Concert: No discounts available

Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast” in Concert with the Utah Symphony
December 23, 2020 | 7 PM | Abravanel Hall
December 24, 2020 | 12:30 PM | Abravanel Hall
Conner Gray Covington, conductor
Presentation Licensed by Disney Concerts © Disney

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows in Concert with the Utah Symphony
March 5 & 6, 2021 | 7 PM | Abravanel Hall
Signature Performance: No discounts available.

“Star Wars: The Return of the Jedi” in Concert with the Utah Symphony
June 25 & 26, 2021 | 7 PM | Abravanel Hall
Conner Gray Covington, conductor

2020-21 ZIONS BANK ENTERTAINMENT SERIES

REVOLUTION: The Music of The Beatles
November 4, 2020 | 7:30 PM | Concert Hall at UVU’s Noorda Center for the Performing Arts (Orem)
November 5, 2020 | 7:30 PM | Austad Auditorium at the Val A. Browning Center (Ogden)
November 6 & 7, 2020 | 7:30 PM | Abravanel Hall

The Beatles come to life in REVOLUTION, the new authorized symphonic tribute to the Fab Four. Featuring top vocalists and musicians accompanied by GRAMMY-winner Jeff Tyzik’s new arrangements, REVOLUTION includes music transcribed and arranged for orchestra from the original master recordings at Abbey Road. Your favorite Beatles’ hits will be accompanied by hundreds of rare and unseen photos from the historic, London-based archives of The Beatles’ official fan magazine – The Beatles Book Monthly – along with stunning video and animation. REVOLUTION will take you on a magical musical and visual journey of The Beatles. The production features arrangements of over 25 top hits including “Ticket to Ride,” “Penny Lane,” “All You Need Is Love,” “Get Back,” “Here Comes the Sun” and “Hey Jude.”

Cirque de la Symphonie: Holiday Spectacular
December 17, 2020 | 7:30 PM | Austad Auditorium at the Val A. Browning Center (Ogden)
December 18 & 19, 2020 | 7:30 PM | Abravanel Hall

The circus has invaded Abravanel Hall! Music takes flight in Cirque de la Symphonie, where – you guessed it – acrobats, jugglers, and aerialists join the Utah Symphony for a jaw dropping experience that will have you on the edge of your seat.

Bravo Broadway! A Rodgers and Hammerstein Celebration
February 11, 2021 | 7:30 PM | Austad Auditorium at the Val A. Browning Center (Ogden)
February 12 & 13, 2021 | 7:30 PM | Abravanel Hall

Jerry Steichen, conductor
William Michals, vocalist
Hugh Panaro, vocalist
Scarlett Strallen, vocalist
Utah Opera Chorus
Michaella Calzaretta, chorus master

Let us transport you back to the Golden Age of Broadway with a tribute to Rodgers and Hammerstein with the return of audience favorite pops conductor Jerry Steichen. This dazzling concert will feature Broadway stars performing showstoppers from critically acclaimed musicals such as “The Sound of Music,” “South Pacific,” “Oklahoma,” “The King & I,” and many more.

Pink Martini with the Utah Symphony
April 15, 2021 | 7:30 PM | Austad Auditorium at the Val A. Browning Center (Ogden)
April 16 & 17, 2021 | 7:30 PM | Abravanel Hall

Enrico Lopez-Yañez, conductor
China Forbes, vocalist

Portland’s favorite “little orchestra” returns to the Abravanel Hall stage with the Utah Symphony to perform their cosmopolitan blend of vintage pop, jazz, classical and global styles with vocalist China Forbes. Drawing inspiration from music from all over the world and crossing genres of classical, jazz and old-fashioned pop, Pink Martini was founded by Thomas Lauderdale in 1994. Twenty years later, Pink Martini still tours the world, singing in 22 languages at opera houses, concert halls, film festivals, museums, and fashion shows.

2020-21 FAMILY SERIES
Sponsored by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Foundation

Here Comes Santa Claus!
December 14, 2020 | 7 PM | Austad Auditorium at the Val A. Browning Center (Ogden)
December 19, 2020 | 11 AM & 12:30 PM | Abravanel Hall

Conner Gray Covington, conductor

Nothing sets the holiday scene like hearing your wintry favorites performed live by the Utah Symphony. Kids from one to ninety-two will enjoy the musical gifts on stage, with a joyful sing-along closing out the concert. There may even be a special appearance by the jolly man himself.

Peter and the Wolf
March 16, 2021 | 7 PM | Austad Auditorium at the Val A. Browning Center (Ogden)
March 17, 2021 | 7 PM | Concert Hall at UVU’s Noorda Center for the Performing Arts (Orem)
March 20, 2021 | 11 AM & 12:30 PM | Abravanel Hall

Conner Gray Covington, conductor

Are you brave enough to outsmart the Big Bad Wolf? Let your imagination run wild in this symphonic adventure that introduces listeners to the instruments of the orchestra.

Pixar in Concert
April 13, 2021 | 7 PM | Abravanel Hall
April 17, 2021 | 11 AM | Abravanel Hall

Conner Gray Covington, conductor

From the “Toy Story” trilogy to “The Incredibles”, “Coco” and “Up,” Pixar has forever changed filmmaking while giving us some of the most beloved characters in cinematic history. Now, Pixar is coming to you like you’ve never heard or seen it before: in concert with live with the Utah Symphony.

2020-21 SPECIAL EVENT CONCERTS

¡Celebración Sinfónica!
September 14, 2020 | 7:30 PM | Abravanel Hall

Carlos Miguel Prieto, conductor

When was the last time you danced during a Utah Symphony concert? Join us for our annual celebration of Hispanic Heritage month where you’ll have to fight yourself to stay in your seat. You may not know some of these Latin American composers, but they’ll soon be your favorites.

61^st Anniversary Salute to Youth
November 25, 2020 | 7 PM | Abravanel Hall

Conner Gray Covington, conductor
Winning soloists from the Salute to Youth Competition

Enjoy the best of classical music played by Utah’s most up-and-coming musicians. Don’t miss the chance to see these break-out performers. You’ll be bragging to all your friends that you “saw them when they were young!”

Messiah Sing-in
November 28 & 29, 2020 | 7:30 PM | Abravanel Hall

Conner Gray Covington, conductor

Ranked as one of the top 100 Things to do in Salt Lake Before You Die (Jeremy Pugh), this holiday spectacular will be a staple to kick off your holiday traditions. This cherished tradition invites all to share in singing Handel’s masterpiece with the Utah Symphony. Bring your family and your score, and join in the majesty of Handel’s Messiah.

Video Games Live: BONUS ROUND!
January 2, 2021 | 7:30 PM | Abravanel Hall

Tommy Tallarico, host/creator/producer/guitar

Video Games Live™ is an immersive concert event featuring music from the most popular video games of all time. Hear the Utah Symphony perform along with exclusive synchronized video footage,well-known internet solo performers, and unique interactive segments to create an explosive one-of-a-kind entertainment experience.

Picture the energy and excitement of a rock concert mixed with the power and emotion of a symphony orchestra combined together by the technology, interactivity, stunning visuals, and fun that only video games can provide.