Utah Symphony to feature new director in concert

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    By ESTHER YU

    The Utah Symphony’s performance tonight will be the first time Keith Lockhart, its new music director as of January 1998, has conducted the Symphony at BYU. In addition, the performance will feature guest pianist Garrick Ohlsson.

    “This is Lockhart’s first time in Provo and outside of the Abravanel Hall,” said Katie Sadler, promotions director at the Utah Symphony, of the significance behind this particular performance.

    However, Lockhart has already conducted several Utah Symphony concerts in Salt Lake City.

    Lockhart has also conducted the Boston Pops Orchestra in over 200 concerts since 1995. He continues to conduct that orchestra, too.

    In tonight’s performance, Lockhart will conduct Ohlsson and the orchestra in Dvorak’s “Piano Concerto in G minor.” In addition, the orchestra will play Mendelssohn’s “Scottish Symphony” and Davies’ “An Orkney Wedding, with Sunrise” which includes bagpipe solos by Nancy Tunnicliffe, according to a news release from the Utah Symphony.

    In his first season with the Utah Symphony, Lockhart will conduct six Masterworks pairs. In the 1999-2000 season, he will extend to nine Masterworks pairs, two Pops weekends, two Chamber Orchestra concerts, one Family concert, one Youth pair and several summer programs, according a biography from the Utah Symphony.

    The orchestra members have really begun to warm up to Lockhart since he began conducting them, Sadler said.

    “He is very musical. It will be a great concert because we have two really great musicians,” Sadler said.

    Ohlsson, the other great musician Sadler mentioned, is considered one of the leading pianists of today, appearing with the world’s most distinguished orchestras, according to information on the College of Fine Arts and Communications Calendar.

    He is noted as one of today’s best interpreters of the music of Chopin, as well as having a large repertoire ranging from works of Mozart and Beethoven to the music of the 20th century, according to a Utah Symphony press release. Ohlsson also tours continuously, performing with some of the world’s most respected orchestras.

    The same performance will also be given again on Friday and Saturday but those will be held at the Abravanel Hall, not BYU.

    Tonight’s performance will be held in the de Jong Concert Hall at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $14, with $4 off with BYU or student identification. Tickets may be purchased at the Fine Arts ticket office in the HFAC. Call 378-4322.

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