Utah Symphony - Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto

On February 14th, 2014, Utah Symphony presented a brilliant Valentine to a sold-out audience in Salt Lake City.

Conducted by Artistic Director, Maestro Thierry Fischer, the symphony, brilliant as ever, accompanied Israeli violinist virtuoso Itamar Zorman in an exciting rendition of Piotr Tchaikovsky's Violin Concerto in D Major, opus 35. Originally panned by many critics (some suggesting that rather than playing the violin, that the piece has the player beating the violin black and blue), the Violin Concerto has become one of the world's best-loved concerti, probably due to it's highly virtuosic nature. Zorman commanded the stage at Abravanel Hall with strength and confidence. His playing was nimble and passionate. Tchaikovsky wrote the concerto almost certainly with his current lover in mind, and the melodies are incredibly emotional with a sense of yearning, contained passion, and unbridled explosion of that passion. One could only image Tchaikovsky and Kotek away at his winter retreat composing and performing; and then this marvelous work coming from their time together. In it is contained a powerful foreboding of knowledge that their relationship is doomed due to circumstances and personalities. The freedom of living the moment versus the terror of the future is intrinsic to the piece and creates a true work of genius and dense art. The performers and Itamar Zorman under the masterful conducting of Maestro Fischer, clearly understood this because a more well-informed and passionate performance is rarely heard.

The second half of the program was dedicated to famous and familiar love-themed music including Tchaikovsky's "Waltz of the Flowers," Mozart's "Overture to the Marriage of Figaro," Bizet's "Suite No. 1" from "Carmen," and Mendelssohn's "Wedding March" from "A Midsummer Night's Dream." The pieces were well-played and enjoyed greatly by the audience, but left this reviewer reminded how these works are meant to be part of larger works, and are not as transcendent as when played as they were intended by the composer.

Jason Hardink on piano, along with members from the percussion section, presented John Cage's "Amoures." A technically smart piece, most brilliant was Hardink playing the prepared piano pieces. Inspired by eastern musics and philosophies, Cage's music was interpreted expressively and exquisitely. Though very modern, these were stand-out pieces of the program.

The two great moments from the orchestra of the second half were Mahler's "Blumine" symphonic movement and the final piece, Astor Piazolla's "Libertango." Piazolla is a brilliant composer and the "Libertango" is a fun, exciting, an intelligent piece. The evening was well-programed and excellently executed for an extremely large audience. A wonderful Valentine treat.