Concert roundup: Alexander Korsantia for Bachauer, Red Desert Ensemble, NOVA Chamber Music Series’ Contrasts, Samba Fogo

Salt Lake City’s music calendar is filled regularly with concerts offering a superior level of musicianship that would be envied in any major U.S. urban cultural center. The Utah Review summarizes four concerts from the last four weeks as a sampler of what is available in the local community throughout the fall, winter and spring … Read more

Utah Symphony’s America’s Wonders concert in 3-D registered plenty of sensory delights

What does it mean to taste sound, or connect it to other senses besides hearing? Some individuals have synesthesia, a neurological phenomenon, in which music, for example, allows the listener to see musical notes in different shades of colors. Scientists also believe that even individuals who do not have synesthesia actually can experience similar effects … Read more

Repertory Dance Theatre’s Sounds Familiar concert to be double-barreled adventure of music, dance appreciation

Anthony Tommasini, a New York Times music critic who has written some of the best-selling books about classical music, says that no one really has to be knowledgeable about the art to appreciate it. “Newcomers to other performing arts, like theater or dance, don’t seem to feel this level of intimidation. I’d encourage those who … Read more

NOVA Chamber Music Series upcoming Contrasts concert to feature Utah composer world premiere; Fry Street Quartet’s Gallery Series concert sparkles in Mozart, Britten offerings

Countermeasures is an apt title for a piece of music. The term typically refers to political or military tactics or to a biological instinct of nature where plants and animals respond to a threat or combat danger. Like authors, composers sometimes struggle with titles. “My working title initially for this piece was ‘Four for the … Read more

Samba Fogo upcoming Xiré concert to feature dances, music signifying the Candomblé tradition honoring the Orixá

The upcoming Xiré concert by Samba Fogo will offer a different facet of Utah’s Brazilian dance and music company, which many audiences have known for their exuberant celebrations especially of Carnaval culture. The concert (with two performances Nov. 15 and Nov. 16 at 7 p.m. in the Regent Street Black Box Theatre at the The … Read more

Red Desert ensemble plans Oct. 28 concert at Westminster College as blockbuster sampler of contemporary music

As part of its artistic residency at Westminster College’s school of music, the Red Desert ensemble, the duo project of clarinetist Katie Porter and composer/percussionist Devin Maxwell, will present a blockbuster sampler of contemporary music including a world premiere by Maxwell and music by Stockhausen, Cage, Xenakis and Tenney along with works by 21st century composers Johannes Kreidler and … Read more

World-class performances in Salt Lake City: Pianist Hong Xu at Bachauer, Ligeti and Brahms concert for NOVA Chamber Music Series

HONG XU: GINA BACHAUER INTERNATIONAL PIANO FOUNDATION It was a perfect homecoming for Chinese pianist Hong Xu, who opened the 2019-2020 season series of concerts for the Gina Bachauer International Piano Foundation. Xu, who won the bronze medal at the 2001 Bachauer competitions at the age of 17 in Salt Lake City, returned last week … Read more

Strong examples of arts and education integration: Plan-B Theatre’s Flora Meets a Bee, Mundi Project’s 3-D Printed 6-String Violin Experience

PLAN-B THEATRE FREE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TOUR (FEST): FLORA MEETS A BEE The sense of feeling borrowed can become alienation. In Morag Shepherd’s Flora Meets A Bee, the latest play in Plan-B Theatre’s successful Free Elementary School Tour (FEST) program, Flora, 8, is committed to making her new friendship stick. In one scene, Flora recalls seeing … Read more

Close ties abound in upcoming NOVA Chamber Music Series concert of string chamber masterpieces by Ligeti, Brahms

Close ties of several varieties will connect the upcoming NOVA Chamber Music Series concert featuring string chamber music of György Ligeti (1923-2006) and Johannes Brahms (1834-1897), also featuring the Fry Street Quartet in its first performance as the organization’s new music directors. One broad but close tie is how the music of Ligeti and Brahms … Read more

Hong Xu, 2001 Bachauer bronze medalist, set to return to Salt Lake City for opening concert of 2019-2020 season

In 2001, Hong Xu was just 17 years old when he made his first trip to the U.S. to compete in the Salt Lake City finals for the Gina Bachauer Young Artists International Piano Competition. Just a year before, he made his orchestral debut as a soloist with the Wuhan Symphony Orchestra in China, playing … Read more