Utah Symphony gets standing ovation at NY's Carnegie Hall


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NEW YORK — What a way to celebrate the diamond anniversary of Utah's premiere musical ensemble!

The Utah Symphony received a standing ovation during its Friday night performance at New York's famed Carnegie Hall. The symphony is commemorating its 75th anniversary this year and launched the season in grand style on one of the nation's most famous concert stages.

"As we like to say at the beginning of our 75th anniversary season, this is not an end, it's just one step of unlimited ones," said Utah Symphony music director Thierry Fischer.

Dozens of Utah community and business leaders attended the Carnegie Hall performance, including Gov. Gary Herbert.

"We're building on a foundation that Maestro Maurice Abravanel built and we see the fruits of his labor, and isn't it wonderful that we're here at Carnegie Hall?" Herbert said. While in New York, the governor — joined by a group of Utah business leaders — also visited Wall Street and rang the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange.

Among the business leaders in attendance for the symphony performance was Zions Bank president and CEO Scott Anderson.

"The fact that they're playing here in Carnegie Hall shows the world that, in fact, in Utah we have a first-class orchestra," Anderson said.

Other dignitaries on hand included Gardner Co. CEO Kem Gardner, Spencer Eccles, chairman of the George S. and Dolores Dore Eccles Foundation, Lew Cramer, president and CEO of Coldwell Banker Commercial Advisor, along with Bishop Gerald Causse, presiding bishop of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Decades ago, the Utah Symphony was called the orchestra that Maurice Abravanel built. He brought the musicians to Carnegie Hall four times in the 1960s and 1970s. His widow was present for this most recent concert.

"It's so emotional and it's such a thrill, and Maurice would be so proud of this orchestra," said Carolyn Abravanel. "I think it sounds better today."

The Utah Symphony opened the evening with the violins and violas standing — in the pre-20th century manner — for that classical music jewel “The Miracle," Joseph Haydn’s Symphony No. 96, an elegant salute to the jewel box interior of Carnegie Hall.

In strong contrast to the comfort of Haydn was a newly commissioned piece by Andrew Norman, “Switch,” that had premiered in Abravanel Hall last November. Virtuoso percussionist Colin Currie literally jumped onto the Carnegie Hall stage after a stealthy side entrance from the audience to perform a physically demanding tour de force with a battery of gongs, drums, xylophones and other percussion instruments.

For the orchestra, it was a night to remember in front of a very appreciative audience.

"The best thing for me in a great performance is when the audience erupts into thunderous applause afterward," said Travis Peterson, first trumpet of the Utah Symphony. "We couldn't have asked for a better performance tonight, I think we were all very happy with it."

Contributing: Carole Mikita, Alan Neves, KSL News; Paul Edwards, Deseret News

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