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In the heart of Salt Lake City, the Utah Symphony has embarked on an exciting journey to transform the way audiences experience classical music. A brand-new concert offering, Masterworks Magnified, is a revitalized and reimagined version of the previous Unwound concerts, which were popular—especially with younger symphony attendees—before being put on hold during the pandemic.
Masterworks Magnified promises to offer audience members an unparalleled symphonic experience, blending classical music with innovative elements like video projections, special lighting, entertaining and informative guidance to the music shared from the stage, interactive conversations with performers, and themed lobby activities. As concertgoers gather at Abravanel Hall, they are in for an experience that transcends the traditional boundaries of a symphony performance.
Here's a sneak peek at the three captivating concerts planned in the coming months.
Kicking off the very first Masterworks Magnified performance is Rachmaninoff's "Symphony No. 2" on Oct. 20 and 21—and its spooky theme is just in time for the Halloween season! Each piece in this performance incorporates the "dies irae"—or, "Day of Wrath"—theme, which has been cueing listeners to peril and tragedy for almost 800 years. The four notes have been the musical signifier of impending doom since the Gregorian chant of the 13th century, which called departed souls to eternal judgment in the "Mass of the Dead." The theme is used prominently in "Rachmaninoff's Symphony No. 2," "Liszt's Totentanz," and Saint-Saëns' "Danse Macabre," tying together a hauntingly good program.
Plus, dramatic lighting in the concert hall—choreographed to the music by professional lighting designer Stacey Boggs—will amplify the eerie elements of the performance!
Playing off the Halloween theme, the lobby will be transformed to a realm of eerie mystery, complete with a graveyard scene photo opportunity and a window display of Holbein's "Dance of Death" woodcuts.
As audience members make their way through the lobby before the concert, they'll also find the Utah Symphony's world-class musicians bringing the chilling sounds of a graveyard to life by demonstrating the bone-rattling effects that can be created on various instruments.
Tarot card readings and special spooky-season mocktails and concessions make the evening like a theme party at the symphony—and a post-concert Q&A with guest pianist Joyce Yang will be the nightcap on an event that is not to be missed!
The second Masterworks Magnified performance will be Prokofiev's "Violin Concerto No. 1" on Feb. 2 and 3, featuring Concertmaster Madeline Adkins as violin soloist. Pivoting themes, this charming performance showcases the rich inspiration of literature—and its effect on composers throughout the ages.
The evening's repertoire—paired with projections of literary quotes and images above the stage—will take audiences on a journey through the drama of "Macbeth," across a stunning Bohemian countryside, and along for the misadventures of the original prankster from German tales, "Till Eulenspiegel." In fact, this charming trickster will be in attendance and might play a few pranks of his own in the lobby before the performance—and quick audience members will have the chance to catch him for a photo op before he disappears for more hilarious hijinks.
Also carrying the literature theme into the lobby will be a special display crafted by a local bookseller, highlighting literary titles and the musical compositions they have inspired.
The final of this season's innovative Masterworks Magnified programs is Ravel's "Piano Concerto in G," on April 26 and 27.
Embarking on a journey of physicality and emotional resonance, this concert epitomizes the fusion of music and movement. With the help of the IMAG video-enhanced performance, audiences will be able to see the physical demands of Ravel's Piano Concerto through up-close views of piano soloist Ingrid Fliter and orchestra musicians, projected on a giant screen.
In addition, a post-concert Q&A session with composer Polina Nazaykinskaya—whose work "Winter Bells" represents the arduous journey of a traveler fighting his way through a deadly blizzard—promises an enlightening conclusion to this extraordinary evening.
As the symphony season unfolds, audiences can look forward to forging a new and profound connection with symphony music through Masterworks Magnified concerts. Symphony newcomers and longtime fans alike should get ready to see the symphony through a new lens and be transported into a world where music transcends boundaries for a total, immersive experience!
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