A world premiere of an American composer’s new work, four U.S. premieres, five Beethoven piano concertos, and a trip “Back to the Future” are all part of the Utah Symphony’s 2020-2021 season, the symphony announced Tuesday.
Subscription renewals and purchases are available, starting Tuesday, online at utahsymphony.org.
“We are in store for an inspiring season that showcases what Utah Symphony does best: Bring a high level of musical excellence to the stage while interpreting a wide array of musical genres,” Thierry Fischer, the symphony’s musical director and principal conductor, said in a statement.
The season will include the return of guest conductor Jun Märkl, and the debuts of seven other guest conductors — as Fischer begins his transition to his new job with the São Paulo Symphony Orchestra.
Fischer announced last year he would leave the Utah Symphony when his current contract runs out in August 2022. He takes up the baton in São Paulo in March, so he will be conducting both orchestras for the next two years.
[Read more: ‘Hamilton’ is returning to Salt Lake City. So are ‘Les Miz’ and ‘Chicago.’]
Among the highlights of the 2020-2021 season:
• The world premiere of “Bird Symphony,” a new work by composer-in-association Arlene Sierra, on April 23 and 24, 2021. Two other Sierra works, “Aquilo” (Nov. 13-14) and “Nature Symphony” (Jan. 29-30, 2021), will have their U.S. premieres next season.
• The return of flutist Emmanuel Pahud, as artist-in-association, performing the Mozart-based “The Magic Flute Fantasy” on Feb. 19 and 20, 2021, and the U.S. premiere of Philippe Manoury’s “Saccades” on May 21 and 22, 2021.
• A continuation of the symphony’s celebration of Ludwig van Beethoven’s 250th birthday, with a cycle of all five of his piano concertos, featuring world-renowned pianists as soloists.
• The Unwound series, which features shortened symphony programs with a more casual vibe, returns for a third season, with Saturday performances of Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 3 with pianist Benjamin Grosvenor (Oct. 24) and Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto with violinist Inmo Yang (Feb. 6, 2021).
• The Films-in-Concert series will feature four movies with the scores performed live: “Back to the Future” on Oct. 29-30; Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast” on Dec. 23 and 24; “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 1” on March 5 and 6, 2021; and “Star Wars: Return of the Jedi” on June 25 and 26, 2021.
Starting Tuesday, current season subscribers have until March 31 to renew their subscriptions or request seat changes for the 2020-2021 season. After that, their seats will be released to new subscribers or those requesting seat changes. Single seats will go on sale starting June 9.
Here, in chronological order, are the programs for the 2020-2021 season of the Utah Symphony at Abravanel Hall, Salt Lake City (unless otherwise noted):
Sept. 14 ¡Celebración Sinfónica! (Special Event Concert) • The symphony’s annual celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, featuring works by Latin American composers. Carlos Miguel Prieto, conductor.
Sept. 17-19 Beethoven’s “Emperor” with Stephen Hough (Masterworks Series) • Weber’s Overture to “Abu Hassan,” Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 5 (“Emperor”); Richard Strauss’ Fantasy from “The Woman Without a Shadow”; and Elgar’s “In the South (Alassio).” Thierry Fischer, conductor; Stephen Hough, piano. (The Sept. 17 show is at Weber State University’s Val A. Browning Center, Ogden.)
Sept. 24-25 Prokofiev’s “Cinderella” and Beethoven (Masterworks Series) • Prokofiev’s Suite from “Cinderella,” Schoenberg’s Chamber Symphony No. 1, and Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 4. Thierry Fischer, conductor; Stephen Hough, piano. (The Sept. 24 show is at Utah Valley University’s Noorda Center, Orem.)
Oct. 22-24 Oktoberfest: Beethoven & Brahms 2 (Masterworks Series) • Schumann’s “Genoveva” Overture, Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 3, and Brahms’ Symphony No. 2. Jun Märkl, conductor; Benjamin Grosvenor, piano. (The Oct. 22 show is at UVU’s Noorda Center, Orem. The Oct. 24 show is part of the Unwound series.)
Oct. 29-30 “Back to the Future” (Films in Concert Series) • The time-travel classic, with the score performed live. Connor Gray Covington, conductor. (Signature concert; no discounts available.)
Nov. 4-7 Revolution: The Music of The Beatles (Entertainment Series) • More than 25 hits, arranged by Jeff Tyzik, accompanied by a video display of rare and unseen photos, plus video and animation. (The Nov. 4 show is at UVU’s Noorda Center, Orem. The Nov. 5 show is at Weber State’s Val A. Browning Center, Ogden.)
Nov. 12-14 “Ode to Joy” with Mozart & Arlene Sierra (Masterworks Series) • Mozart’s “Ave velum corpus,” Arlene Sierra’s “Aquilo” (U.S. premiere), Mozart’s “Misericordias domini,” and Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 (“Choral”). Shi-Yeon Sung, conductor; Celena Shafer, soprano; Kirsten Chávez, mezzo-soprano; Arnold Livingston Geis, tenor; Andrew Foster-Willias, bass-baritone; Utah Symphony Chorus, University of Utah Choirs, Barlow Bradford, chorus director. (The Nov. 12 show is at Weber State’s Val A. Browning Center, Ogden.)
Nov. 19-21 Mozart 40 & Berlioz (Masterworks Series) • Mozart’s Symphony No. 40, Michael Jarrell’s “Emergences-Résurgences” (Utah Symphony commission, U.S. premiere) and Berlioz’s “Harold in Italy.” Thierry Fischer, conductor; Tabea Zimmerman, viola. (The Nov. 19 show is at Brigham Young University’s Harris Fine Arts Center, Provo.)
Nov. 25 Salute to Youth (Special Event Concert) • The 61st anniversary of the competition that selects up-and-coming musicians to perform.
Nov. 28-29 Messiah Sing-In (Special Event Concert) • The holiday tradition, with the audience joining the symphony in performing Handel’s famous choral work. Conner Gray Covington, conductor.
Dec. 4-5 Beethoven & Nielsen 4 (Masterworks Series) • Beethoven’s “Fidelio” Overture, Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 1, and Nielsen’s Symphony No. 4, “The Inextinguishable.” Rune Bergmann, conductor; Ingrid Filter, piano.
Dec. 8 Celtic Woman: The Best of Christmas with the Utah Symphony (Special Event Concert) • The quartet known for their Celtic flair performs a holiday show. Conductor TBD.
Dec. 11-12 Beethoven & Shostakovich 5 (Masterworks Series) • Beethoven’s “Coriolan” Overture, Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 2, and Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 5. David Arkham, conductor; Louis Schizgebel, piano.
Dec. 14 and 19 Here Comes Santa Claus! (Family Series) • Traditional holiday tunes, and a guest appearance by a large guy in a red suit. Conner Gray Covington, conductor. (The Dec. 14 show is at Weber State’s Val A. Browning Center, Ogden.)
Dec. 17-19 Cirque de la Symphony: Holiday Spectacular (Entertainment Series) • Acrobats, jugglers and aerialists accompany the Utah Symphony. (The Dec. 17 show is at Weber State’s Val A. Browning Center, Ogden.)
Dec. 23-24 Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast” (Films in Concert Series) • The 1991 animated version, with the score performed live. Conner Gray Covington, conductor.
Jan. 2, 2021 Video Games Live: Bonus Round! (Special Event Concert) • An immersive concert featuring music from major video games. Tommy Tallarico, host/creator/producer/guitarist.
Jan. 7-9, 2021 Brahms 1 & Prokofiev (Masterworks Series) • Schubert’s Overture to “The Magic Harp,” Prokofiev’s Violin Concerto No. 2, and Brahms’ Symphony No. 1. David Danzmayr, conductor; Vadim Gluzman, violin.
Jan. 29-30, 2021 Pablo Sáinz Villegas plays Rodrigo (Masterworks Series) • Arlene Sierra’s “Nature Symphony” (U.S. premiere), Rodrigo’s “Fantasia para un gentilhombre,” and Schumann’s Symphony No. 1 (“Spring”). Ludovic Morlot, conductor; Pablo Sáinz Villegas, guitar.
Feb. 4-6, 2021 Tchaikovsky’s “Romeo & Juliet” with Mendelssohn & Stravinsky (Masterworks Series) • Stravinsky’s “Agon,” Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto, Stravinsky’s “The Song of the Nightingale,” and Tchaikovsky’s “Romeo & Juliet.” Thierry Fischer, conductor; Inmo Yang, violin. (The Feb. 4 show is at UVU’s Noorda Center, Orem. The Feb. 6 show is part of the Unwound series.)
Feb. 11-13, 2021 Bravo Broadway! A Rodgers and Hammerstein Celebration (Entertainment Series) • Songs from “The Sound of Music,” “South Pacific,” “Oklahoma!,” “The King & I” and more. Jerry Steichen, conductor; Utah Symphony Chorus. (The Feb. 11 show is at Weber State’s Val A. Browning Center, Ogden.)
Feb. 18-20, 2021 “Pictures at an Exhibition” with Mozart & Haydn (Masterworks Series) • Haydn’s Symphony No. 11, Mozart/Fobbes’ Fantasy on Mozart’s “The Magic Flute,” Nielsen’s Flute Concerto, Mussorgsky/Ravel’s “Pictures at an Exhibition.” Thierry Fischer, conductor; Emmanuel Pahud, flute. (The Feb. 18 show is at Weber State’s Val A. Browning Center, Ogden.)
Feb. 26-27, 2021 Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture (Masterworks Series) • Fauré’s “Requiem,” Ginastera’s “Estancia,” Mario Lavista’s “Clepsidra,” and Tchaikovsky’s “1812” Overture. Thierry Fischer, conductor; Utah Symphony Chorus, University of Utah Choirs, Barlow Bradford, chorus director.
March 5-6, 2021 “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 1” (Films in Concert Series) • The seventh film in the J.K. Rowling-based series, with the score performed live. Conductor TBD. (Signature performance; no discounts available.)
March 16-17 and 20, 2021 Peter and the Wolf (Family Series) • A young listener’s introduction to the orchestra, based on Prokofiev’s work. Conner Gray Covington, conductor. (The March 16 show is at Weber State’s Val A. Browning Center, Ogden. The March 17 show is at UVU’s Noorda Center, Orem.)
March 26-27, 2021 • Mozart & Mahler 5 (Masterworks Series) • Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 12 and Mahler’s Symphony No. 5. Marc Albrecht, conductor; Steven Osborne, piano.
April 8-10, 2021 Madeline Adkins plays a “Scottish Fantasy” (Masterworks Series) • Zhou Tian’s “Trace,” Bruch’s “Scottish Fantasy,” and Stravinsky’s “Pétrouchka.” Domingo Hindoyan, conductor; Madeline Adkins, violin. (The April 8 show is at UVU’s Noorda Center, Orem.)
April 13 and 17, 2021 Pixar in Concert (Family Series) • Music from the “Toy Story” series, “The Incredibles” franchise, “Coco” and "Up.” Conner Gray Covington, conductor.
April 15-17, 2021 Pink Martini with the Utah Symphony (Entertainment Series) • The pop/jazz/classical “little orchestra” joins the Utah Symphony. Enrico Lopez-Yañez, conductor; China Forbes, vocalist. (The April 15 show is at Weber State’s Val A. Browning Center, Ogden.)
April 23-24, 2021 Tchaikovsky & Rachmaninoff (Masterworks Series) • Arlene Sierra’s “Bird Symphony” (world premiere), Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto, and Rachmaninoff’s “Symphonic Dances.” Thierry Fischer, conductor; Daniel Lozakovich, violin.
April 30-May 1, 2021 Bach & Bruckner 5 (Masterworks Series) • J.S. Bach’s Concerto for Two Violins and Bruckner’s Symphony No. 5. Thierry Fischer, conductor; Madeline Adkins, violin; Claude Halter, violin.
May 21-22, 2021 “A Hero’s Life” (Masterworks Series) • Berlioz’ “King Lear” Overture, Philippe Manoury’s “Saccades” (U.S. premiere), and R. Strauss’ “Ein Heldenleben (A Hero’s Life).” Thierry Fischer, conductor; Emmanuel Pahud, flute.
May 25, 2021 All-Star Youth Pro-Am (Special Event Concerts) • The state’s talented high school musicians play alongside Utah Symphony mentors. Conductor TBD.
May 28-29, 2021 Tchaikovsky 5 with Mozart & Schoenberg (Masterworks Series) • Mozart’s “Eine kleine Nachtmusik,” Schoenberg’s Chamber Symphony No. 2, and Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 5. Thierry Fischer, conductor.
June 25-26, 2021 “Star Wars: Return of the Jedi” (Films in Concert Series) • The conclusion of George Lucas’ original trilogy, with the score performed live. Conner Gray Covington, conductor.
