Utah Symphony Announces 2011-12 Season (SLC)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 2, 2011
UTAH SYMPHONY ANNOUNCES 2011-2012 SEASON
Maestro Thierry Fischer to conduct an entire Beethoven symphony cycle in reverse chronological order in his second full year as Music Director

MAESTRO FISCHER’S SEASON HIGHLIGHTS
Each of Beethoven’s nine symphonies, including his Symphony No. 9, Symphony No. 6 “Pastorale,” Symphony No. 5, Symphony No. 3 “Eroica” and Symphony No. 1. Also, on the line-up, Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 5 “Emperor,” Berlioz’s “Childhood of Christ,” Wagner’s “Ride of the Valkyries,” Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 2, a Utah Symphony commissioned cello concerto by Michael Jarrell, Mozart’s “Requiem,” and Strauss’s “An Alpine Symphony.”

MUSICAL HIGHLIGHTS OF THE SEASON
Favorites and Masterpieces include: Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 and Symphony No. 5, Stravinsky’s Symphony No. 1, Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto, Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 2, Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 3, Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No. 1, Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 5, Brahms’ Symphony No. 1, Mahler’s Symphony No. 4 and Mozart’s “Requiem.”

Guest Artists Include: Stephen Hough, André Watts, James Ehnes, Colin Currie, Brant Bayless and Garrick Ohlsson
Guest Conductors Include: Mark Wigglesworth, Claus Peter Flor, Jun Märkl, Garry Walker, Gilbert Varga and Bernard Labadie

ENTERTAINMENT SERIES WITH PRINCIPAL POPS CONDUCTOR JERRY STEICHEN
The King’s Singers with the Utah Symphony
Bravo Broadway: Dancing and Romancing
Simply Sinatra with Steve Lippia
Classical Mystery Tour: A Tribute to the Beatles

SPECIAL EVENTS
The Vienna Boys’ Choir
Video Games Live!

SALT LAKE CITY, UT – Music Director Thierry Fischer yesterday announced the Utah Symphony’s complete 2010-2011 season, in which he will conduct 12 of the 18 Masterworks performances. Nine of those performances will feature each of Beethoven’s nine symphonies, performed in reverse chronological order.

Fischer will open the season, kicking off this unique season-long project on Friday, September 9, 2011 with Beethoven’s powerful Symphony No. 9 featuring the Madeleine Choir School and Utah Symphony Chorus.

With the music of Beethoven as the focal point of the season, complimented by other great classical works by Mozart and Haydn as well as the romantic repertoire of Lizst, Wagner, Rachmaninoff and Strauss, the Utah Symphony’s new line-up will place Maestro Fischer and the orchestra face to face with the core fundamentals of the repertoire to help them develop more ideal methods for working together musically. Maestro Fischer has also continued to program a number of works by Twentieth century composers, particularly Stravinsky. This, along with Fischer’s commitment to bringing a fresh new repertoire of music to the Utah Symphony, will balance out the 2011-2012 season.

Maestro Fischer hopes to commission one new work for the Utah Symphony each season, and has begun this initiative with a cello concerto by Michael Jarrel which will be performed by the Utah Symphony and guest artist Jean-Guihen Queyras on February 3 & 4, 2012.

Two of the orchestra’s six guest conductors will be debuting with the Utah Symphony in the 2011-2012 season: Jun Märkl, and Mark Wigglesworth. To have two new conductors of such high caliber joining the season line-up this year will be a treat for the orchestra and their audiences. Specific invitations were also made to conductors who have previously worked with the orchestra, so as to build upon those valuable relationships.

Guest artists include colleagues and friends of Maestro Fischer’s from his work in Europe and some of the community’s favorite past performers with Utah Symphony, including James Ehnes (violin), André Watts (piano), Garrick Ohlsson (piano) and Colin Currie (percussion).

ENTERTAINMENT SERIES HIGHLIGHTS
Principal Pops Conductor Jerry Steichen, who has quickly become a Utah favorite, will lead the orchestra in four of the five concerts in the Entertainment Series. The unique and light-hearted series features a Utah Symphony performance with one of the world’s most celebrated vocal ensembles, The King’s Singers, an evening of Frank Sinatra classics with Steve Lippia, the return of Bravo Broadway featuring the music of Cole Porter, Irving Berlin and George Gershwin and a Utah Symphony performance in tribute to the Beatles.

FAMILY AND LOLLIPOPS HIGHLIGHTS
The highlights of the Utah Symphony’s Family series, for ages 8-14, will include a performance of the popular movie music of John Williams, the always popular Halloween-themed concert in October and the Utah Symphony’s annual Salute to Youth and All-Star Evening performances with young Utah musicians. The Lollipops Series (for ages 3 and up) will be highlighted by a performance of Saint-Saëns’ “Carnival of the Animals,” a musical exploration of the animal world which will come to life with Children’s Dance Theatre. The series will also include the yearly treat, “Here Comes Santa Claus” concerts in December.

SPECIAL EVENTS
For one night only in December, the Utah Symphony will present the orchestral phenomenon that is selling out halls all over the country: “Video Games Live!” The beloved Vienna Boys’ Choir will also grace the stage of Abravanel Hall as another Utah Symphony special event.

BEETHOVEN FESTIVAL
Utah Symphony | Utah Opera opens its 2011-2012 season with a festival celebrating the life and works of Ludwig van Beethoven. During September and October, the organization will feature performances of Beethovens “Emperor” Piano Concerto, his Ninth and Eighth Symphonies and his only opera, Fidelio. Around these performances, community members can delve deeper by attending lectures, film screenings and chamber and vocal music events, all offered in collaboration with local scholars and arts organizations. Visit usuo.org/festival for details.

VIVACE AND CADENZA
Utah Symphony | Utah Opera offers two social and networking organizations, Vivace and Cadenza. Vivace subscribers receive discounted tickets, special program notes, after-parties with guest artists, great catering and the chance to mingle with musicians and guest artists. The coming Vivace series includes Utah Symphony performances on November 12, 2011 (Beethoven’s “Pastoral” Symphony), December 3, 2011 (Liszt’s Piano Concerto No. 2), February 4, 2012 (Beethoven’s Fifth), March 3, 2012 (Brahms’ Symphony No. 1) and a Utah Opera performance on May 5, 2012 (Of Mice and Men). Cadenza performances include Utah Symphony performances on September 9, 2011 (Beethoven’s Ninth), October 21, 2011 (Tchaikovsy’s “Little Russian”), February 3, 2012 (Beethoven’s Fifth), April 27, 2012 (Mozart’s Requiem), May 25, 2012 (Beethoven Cycle Concludes) and a Utah Opera performance on March 16, 2012 (Elixir of Love).

FINISHING TOUCHES
The Utah Symphony’s four-concert Finishing Touches Series will return in the 2011-12 season. These concerts, which take place at 10:00 am, are a behind-the-scenes look at the orchestra during the final rehearsals. They will impress upon you the diligence and dedication that goes into each performance. They will take place on Friday, October 21, 2011 (Tchaikovsk’s “Little Russian”), Friday, December 2, 2011 (Liszt’s Piano Concerto No. 2), Friday, February 3, 2012 (Beethoven’s Fifth and Friday, May 18, 2012 (Brahms’ Piano Concerto No. 1).

PRE-PERFORMANCE LECTURES
Pre-performance lectures offer insightful information about performances and take place 45 minutes before each classical concert in the Abravanel Hall First Tier Room.

CLASSICAL 89 BROADCASTS
Utah Symphony concerts are broadcast on Classical 89.1 each Thursday at 2:00 pm and Saturday at 9:30 am. A performance schedule is located at http://www.utahsymphony.org/broadcasts.php.

THIERRY FISCHER
Swiss conductor Thierry Fischer was announced in September 2009 as the new Music Director of the Utah Symphony. He remains Principal Conductor of the BBC National Orchestra of Wales with whom he as performed throughout the UK (including annual appearances at the BBC Proms), toured Europe and the USA, and is currently recording for Hyperion (French and Swiss composers) and Signum Records (Stravinsky). He is also Chief Conductor of the Nagoya Philharmonic. From 2001-2006 he was Principal Conductor and Artistic Advisor of the Ulster Orchestra.
Fischer studied flute with Aurèle Nicolet and began his musical career as Principal Flute in Hamburg and at the Zurich Opera, where he studied scores with Nikolaus Harnoncourt and was profoundly influenced by him. His conducting career began in his 30's when he replaced an ailing colleague, subsequently directing his first few concerts with the Chamber Orchestra of Europe where he was Principal Flute under Claudio Abbado, who encouraged and inspired him in his newfound talent for conducting. Spending his apprentice years in Holland, Thierry Fischer has since appeared with many leading orchestras in the UK and Europe.
Fischer's hallmarks are a lightness of touch and transparency of texture, allowing room for vivid characterization. He has a keen stylistic sense and brings a fresh approach to repertoire which extends from Bach, the classical repertoire and early Romantics; the 2nd Viennese school, the great French composers of the early 20th century, a keen advocacy of his compatriots Frank Martin and Honegger, and a particular feel for the music of Prokofiev, Stravinsky and Shostakovich. Fischer regularly programs contemporary composers such as Simon Holt (Composer in Residence at the BBC National Orchestra of Wales), and is a regular guest of the London Sinfonietta.
Already well-established in Europe, Fischer has conducted orchestras such as the Philharmonia, Orchestre National de Lyon, Berlin Konzerthausorchester and the radio orchestras of Paris, Stockholm, Hanover, Lugano and Saarbruecken. In parallel to his symphonic career, Fischer's collaborative approach has fostered strong relationships with several prestigious chamber orchestras, notably the Scottish Chamber, Northern Sinfonia, Dutch Radio Chamber, and Ensemble Orchestral de Paris.

PURCHASING TICKETS
Season ticket packages are now on sale. Information on becoming a Utah Symphony season ticket holder is available by calling 801-533-NOTE (6683) or visiting www.myusuo.org. Tickets to individual concerts will go on sale to the general public on August 30, 2011.

CLASSICAL GUEST ARTISTS

CONDUCTORS
Garry Walker (Oct. 21 & 22)
Gilbert Varga (Dec. 2 & 3)
Claus Peter Flor (Jan. 6 & 7)
Jun Märkl (March 2 & 3)
Mark Wigglesworth (March 23 & 24)
Bernard Labadie (April 27 & 28)

VIOLINISTS
James Ehnes (Nov. 4 & 5)
Simone Lamsma (Feb. 10 & 11)

PIANISTS
Garrick Ohlsson (Sept. 23 & 24)
Denis Kozhukhin (Oct. 21 & 22)
Kirill Gerstein (Dec. 2 & 3)
Conrad Tao (Jan. 6 & 7)
André Watts (Feb. 17 & 18)
Stephen Hough (March 23 & 24)
Ronald Brautigam (April 13 & 14)
Nelson Goerner (May 18 & 19)

PERCUSSIONIST
Colin Currie (Nov. 11 & 12)

SOPRANO
Lisa Milne (April 6 & 7)

CELLIST
Jean-Guihen Queyras (Feb. 3 & 4)

VIOLIST
Brant Bayless (March 2 & 3)

CHORUSES
The Madeleine Choir School (Sept. 9 & 10)
Vienna Boys’ Choir (Nov. 3)

UTAH SYMPHONY CHORUS
Sept. 9 & 10
Nov. 18 & 19
Feb. 3 & 4
April 27 & 28

FULL SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

MW 6A / MW 9D
September 9–10, 2011 | 8 PM
Abravanel Hall
BEETHOVEN’S NINTH
In honor of the heroes and in memory of the victims of the attacks of September 11, 2001
Thierry Fischer, Conductor
Utah Symphony Chorus
The Madeleine Choir School

John ADAMS On the Transmigration of Souls
INTERMISSION
Ludwig van BEETHOVEN Symphony No. 9 in D Minor, op. 125 “Choral”
Utah Symphony Chorus
The Madeleine Choir School


MW 6B / MW 9D
September 23–24, 2011 | 8 PM
Abravanel Hall
BEETHOVEN’S “EMPEROR” CONCERTO
A grand iconic concerto performed by one of the great pianists of his generation.
Thierry Fischer, Conductor
Garrick Ohlsson, Guest Pianist

Igor STRAVINSKY Suite No. 1
Andante
Napolitana
Espanola
Balalaika
Igor STRAVINSKY Suite No. 2
Marche
Valse
Polka
Galop
Ludwig van BEETHOVEN Symphony No. 8 in F Major, op. 93
INTERMISSION
Ludwig van BEETHOVEN Piano Concerto No. 5 in E-flat Major, op. 73 “Emperor”
Garrick Ohlsson, Piano