By Amanda Berg Whittle
¡Feliz Día de los Muertos! The Day of the Dead is not the same as Halloween and the Utah Symphony is here to remind audiencesof this by playing the score of Coco, a Disney and Pixar collaboration, at Abravanel Hall. This film was the 2018 Golden Globe, Critic’s Choice, and Academy Award winner for Best Animated Feature Film and iIts signature song, “Remember Me,” also won an Academy Award for Best Original Song that year. I fell in love with the story, humor, and message the first time I saw Coco
The movie follows a young boy, Miguel, on a musical journey to find his family and himself during Día de los Muertos, a Mexican holiday wherein families honor their ancestors by leaving offerings for these family members on an altar called an ofrenda. They also believe if an ancestor’s photo is upon the ofrenda, that person’s spirit will visit during this time. Throughout his holiday journey, Miguel ends up learning the true meaning of family after he accidentally ends up with his ancestors in the land of the dead.
One thing that is truly amazing is the score by Michael Giacchino (conducted by Conner Gray Covington in this performance). It is traditionally Mexican, with plenty of mariachi influences, but it also has its fair share of movie score flair. Watching a movie with the Utah Symphony playing the music adds a whole new experience. One normally recognizes the music in a movie when big moments happen or when characters sing songs, but the background music is exactly that–in the background. However, when the movie plays in accompaniment to the symphony, it places the gorgeous background music in the foreground, completely transforming the movie-watching experience because the audience’s focus is changed. The seemingly insignificant subtleties in the music become significant, the motifs become prominent, and the listener’s awareness is enhanced.
The Utah Symphony is immensely talented, but one thing that truly stands out about this symphony is their willingness to be versatile when it comes to the genres they play. I have heard them play every genre from classical to Broadway to jazz, and tonight, they added mariachi to this never-ending list. Particularly impressive are the featured performers of the night, guitarists Tim Berens and Nate Ostermiller. In the movie, Miguel yearns to be a guitarist like the famous Ernesto de la Cruz, so guitar is the most prominent instrument. It is remarkable that the animators go so far as to correlate the fingerings the characters use in the movie with the live guitarists who are playing the parts, so it is especially realistic. Berens and Ostermiller play with incredible emotion, especially present during poignant parts of the movie that make even stoic members of the audience tear up.
Despite being classically trained, trumpeters Travis Peterson, Jeff Like, Paul Torrisi, and Alex Pride and trombone player Sam Elliot play into the mariachi theme wonderfully and even add various sound effects throughout the movie. This is a performance where it is advised that the audience bring tissues.
The Utah Symphony has a mission to be inclusive, welcoming to all, and family-friendly. They, of course, still have their “fancy” performances with 40-minute symphonic works, but it is wonderful they are willing to have performances such as these. The concerts allow the patrons to be exposed to many types of music, and allows children to develop curiosity and love for music. Their performances traditionally begin at 7:30pm, but this one begins at 7:00, which allows it to be even more family-friendly. They also have Día de los Muertos merchandise, snacks, and even a decked-out composer ofrenda. They go all out for this nearly sold-out performance, so bring the whole family and a few boxes of tissues to Abravanel Hall for a Día de los Muertos of a lifetime.
Utah Symphony Presents: Disney and Pixar’s Coco in Concert
Abravanel Hall, 123 West South Temple Salt Lake City Utah 84101
November 1-2, 2019 at 7:00PM
Tickets: $25-88
www.usuo.org
Contact: 801-533-NOTE
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