It was standing room only at Abravanel Hall last night. The Utah Symphony and guest conductor Kazuki Yamada performed a wildly entertaining concert featuring two quintessentially American composers as well as a quintessentially Russian one and I really enjoyed it. The orchestra began with El Salon Mexico by Aaron Copland (which was particularly appropriate for Cinco de Mayo). This piece is based on Mexican folk music and is meant to represent an imaginary dance hall full of dancing couples. I thought it was lively, exuberant, and full of whimsy and it was a lot of fun to listen to it. Next came the popular classical jazz piece Rhapsody in Blue by George Gershwin with pianist Benyamin Nuss. A thrill went through the audience as we heard the instantly recognizable glissando from a solo clarinet (I have always thought that Tad Calcara, Utah Symphony's Principal Clarinet, would be right at home in a jazz band from the 1920s) and that feeling continued as the theme was repeated in various forms as the piece progressed. Nuss was absolutely amazing and I honestly can't tell you what was more interesting to watch: his fingers flying up and down the keyboard or Yamada hopping about on the podium! After the intermission the orchestra played Scheherazade by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov. I didn't recognize this piece by name but as soon as I heard the big booming notes from the brass I remembered hearing it before. I loved it! I especially loved the beautiful theme repeated by a lone violin (Concertmaster Madeline Adkins played brilliantly) and a harp which is meant to represent Scheherazade beguiling her husband with tales of the Orient. The various movements correspond, loosely, to The Thousand and One Nights and the music is incredibly dramatic. When the piece ended, the man sitting next to me exclaimed, "That was beautiful!" I certainly agree! If you can get a ticket (there were very few empty seats last night) to tonight's performance of the same program, I highly suggest you do so (go here).
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