Last night I attended a Utah Symphony concert featuring the work of three amazing composers: Bartok, Mozart, and Strauss. I have always loved the music of Mozart (I try to see any performance which features him) but I believe that I will be adding Bartok and Strauss to my growing list of favorites! The orchestra began with Hungarian Sketches by Bartok. I really enjoyed these pieces, especially the first two because they prominently featured the clarinet (I played the clarinet in school). During the final piece I kept imagining girls with flowers in their hair dancing around a maypole in a town square of cobblestone. Next came Mozart's Rondo for Piano and Orchestra in A Major with guest soloist Marc-Andre Hamelin. It was just lovely! As with much of Mozart's music, I found it to be very lively and playful. The next piece was my favorite of the evening: Burleske for Piano and Orchestra in D Minor by Richard Strauss, once again featuring the amazing Hamelin. I was not at all familiar with this piece but it absolutely took my breath away! At times it was incredibly dramatic with Hamelin's fingers moving deftly up and down the keyboard at a furious pace to the accompaniment of timpani and an occasional fanfare by the trumpet section! At other times it was beautiful and romantic, particularly the theme played by the strings near the end. After the intermission (which I spent at a VIP Reception) the orchestra played Bartok's Concerto for Orchestra. In the first movement the cellos played an emotional theme that was almost mournful but by the end of the piece the mood was triumphant. I absolutely loved it! It was, once again, a evening of beautiful music at Abravanel Hall!
Would you like to experience an evening of beautiful music at Abravanel Hall yourself? The Utah Symphony has graciously given me two pair of tickets to give to my readers. The tickets are for next weekend (Friday Nov. 14 or Saturday Nov. 15) at Abravanel Hall in SLC at 8:00 pm and the concerts will feature Mahler's Symphony No. 2. The Utah Symphony is performing the Mahler Symphony Cycle this year and next to honor the legacy of Maurice Abravanel and to commemorate the 75th Anniversary of the orchestra next year. I think it will be an amazing concert. If you would like a pair of tickets, follow Phaedra's Adventures via Google Friend Connect (located in the sidebar) and enter the Rafflecopter below. I will notify the winners by email on Wednesday Nov. 12 and tickets will be held in Will Call at Abravanel Hall.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Good luck!
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