By Jennifer Mustoe, Jennifer Andelin, Bene Dansie, Sarah Re, and Megan Holley
Utah Symphony used an interesting and exciting venue to introduce their 2019-20 season, named “Feel it For Yourself” at the Clark Planetarium. We were pleased to have a gorgeous Fremont Quartet begin the program, Concertmaster Madeline Adkins, Principal Second Violin Claude Halter, Principal Viola Brant Bayless, Principal Cello Rainer Eudikis, and this lovely piece set the tone for the entire program.
Next, Seth Jarvis, Clark Planetarium’s Executive Director spoke and I was touched with his sensitivity to the complement between music and the stars. Paul Meecham, President and CEO of Utah Symphony/Utah Opera spoke. And then, Theirry Fisher, Utah Symphony’s amazing Music Director took the stage.
I’m not sure what delighted me more–Fischer’s adoration of Utah or his immense knowledge and love for music. He explained that much thought and care went into the upcoming 2019-20 season, with focuses on Utah and its beauty, our young people in the community, and the Latina community. When they have offered something for everyone, they aren’t kidding. Fischer was electric with excitement, thrilled with the new innovation of showing slides of the Utah landscape during performances. His enthusiasm inspired us all. I thought, hurry! Let’s get to it. (But then I looked what is still on up until Sept 2019 and thought, but what’s coming in this season is pretty awesome, too.)
But don’t let me gush on. Here’s what our reviewers said:
Megan Elizabeth Holley: (FRR’s youngest reviewer): The Utah Symphony is starting a new kind of performance that is more casual. They’re trying to get younger people to the symphony more. When Thierry was explaining about the new season and how they’re spreading out the songs he got the score to (from Messiaen’s “Des canyons aux étoiles”–written while the composer camped in Utah for three months) , it was super intriguing and made me want to shout from the rooftops telling people my age to go to the symphony. It’s going to be an amazing season.
Jennifer Oscanyan Andelin: I’m excited for Utah’s landscape to be highlighted this next season. I think the Utah Symphony’s emphasis on feeling and creating those moments of emotional reflection will be enhanced so much by their collaborating partners. Their collective contribution will be a tribute to the state’s amazing wonders and beauties. I loved when Utah Symphony’s Music Director Thierry Fischer shared that he likes to take walks by the Great Salt Lake because of its vastness and beauty despite the smell. Throughout his presentation, I couldn’t help but think of how much I too admire and love Utah’s landscape. Seeing that landscape with the Utah Symphony as its soundtrack will be an inspiring experience felt all season long.
Bene Dansie: When the 2019-2020 Utah Symphony season was announced I was absolutely ecstatic. Sitting under the star dome in the Clark Planetarium, listening to the Fremont Quartet was an experience of the soul, and an incredible preview into what is to come. The innovative integration of images and features from Clark Planetarium, The Utah Natural History Museum, Tracy Aviary, and many more will I’m sure be a stunning audio visual masterpiece that is sure to wow attendees. As Seth Jarvis the Executive Director of Clark Planetarium said, “You can’t have the Moonlight Sonata without the moon”, so why not have the Symphony display the otherworldly connection between music and this beautiful world and universe we live in?
Sarah Re: I’m stoked for some out of this world music next season! And I quote, “Music has the power to transport is to places we could not ever otherwise go.” Utah Symphony
Utah Symphony has some amazing collaborating partners and it will be exciting to see what they bring to next year’s season. The partners (so far) are:
The Nature Conservancy @nature-utah, Utah Office of Tourism @visitutah and #yesvisitutah, Tracy Aviary @tracyaviary, Natural History Museum of Utah @nfmu, Clark Planetarium @clarkplanetarium, KUED @kued7, and Dark Sky Cooperative @darkskycooperative.
A full schedule is here on their site. Start planning now for what you will attend next year, purchase your tickets, and plan to be amazed with our own Utah Symphony.
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