The program began by finishing off the Symphony's cycle of Carl Nielsen's six symphonies. Nielsen isn't a well-known composer to the ordinary non-musician patron of the symphony, but a welcome addition. Many of his symphonies found their Abravanel premier this season to enthusiastic audiences and proved welcome and thoroughly enjoyed. Maestro Thierry Fischer excellently combines education and entertainment in his mission for the symphony and we are grateful for it. The Sixth Symphony, "Siphonia semplice," is a more subtle and subdued than some of his other symphonies, yet represents some of Nielsen's most mature writing. With a wide range of emotional content, autobiographical elements, and intellect, the symphony treated the piece with the dignity it deserved giving a stirring rendition and giving the Carl Nielsen symphony cycle a well-deserved send-off.
Cellist, Matthew Zalkind, performed Tchaikovsky's Roccoco Variations. Zalkind has the dexterity and interpretive skills of a much more mature player. He absolutely stunned the audience with his virtuosic playing of the popular piece proving he has an incredibly bright future ahead of him.
Finishing the concert, and the season, the Utah Symphony concluded with the ever popular Symphonic Dances by Sergei Rachmaninoff. Always thrilling, the symphony pulled out all their stops with the exciting and energetic performance. This piece is a summation of Rachmaninoff's magnificent composition output, showing off his array of style and quoting some of his other works. With Maestro Fischer at the helm of the symphony, this piece showed off their capabilities, as well as confirming this piece among the great works of orchestral literature.
No comments:
Post a Comment